Intellectual DisabilityPhase 1NCT06586827
Impact of Competency-Based Training and Technical Assistance Employment Outcomes of Individuals With ID/DD
A Phase 1 study testing VCU-RRTC Online Course and Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total) in people with Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disability, run by Virginia Commonwealth University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Currently, there are no national pre-requisites for training to become or to be hired as an ES (Employment Specialist). Staff providing employment services have a broad range of educational and training backgrounds. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disability
- What is being tested?
- VCU-RRTC Online Course and Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total)
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 3 Jun 2024to 7 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Use the VCU RRTC listserv
- Residing or working in the United States
- 18 and older
- have not participated in ACRe training
- Currently providing or will be providing employment services to individuals with ID/DD
Who cannot join
- Unable to consent
- Under 18
- Pregnant women
- Prisoners
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, 23298
About this study
Official title: The Impact of Competency-Based Training and Technical Assistance on the Competitive Integrated Employment Outcomes of Individuals With ID/DD
Currently, there are no national pre-requisites for training to become or to be hired as an ES (Employment Specialist). Staff providing employment services have a broad range of educational and training backgrounds. Some individuals have a masters and have completed an ACRE approved course to earn a ACRE (Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators) Basic Employment Certificate in Employment Services while others may have a high school diploma and have not received any additional training. The first phases of the study were important in identifying if the currently identified ACRE competencies are relevant and if the ACRE approved online training course does impact knowledge.
Read the detailed description
The final phase of the study aims to identify if the addition of technical assistance to the current course not only impacts knowledge of participants but also their self-reported engagement in skills that are outputs of their knowledge acquisition. Additionally, the third phase will link participation in the course and TA (technical assistance) to employment outcomes of individuals with ID/DD (individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disability). These additions address large gaps in the extant literature and research on employment specialists, training, and its impact on employment outcomes.
While, evidence-based practices in SE (Supported Employment) exist, research indicates that these practices are not often put into practice. Furthermore, of the few studies that have explored ES(Employment Specialist) training and its effectiveness, very few have identified if training impacts the employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Employment specialists and their skill directly impact the successful employment of individuals with ID/DD. Despite the introduction of SE into the field over four decades ago as well as legislative support, employment outcomes of individuals with remain dismally low. It is necessary to begin to gather evidence of the impact of training as well as feasibility and dosage in order to identify how to prepare employment service providers to better support individuals with disabilities to access employment.
- Conditions
- Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disability
- Being tested
- VCU-RRTC Online Course, Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total)
- Keywords
- Employment Specialist, Job Coaches
- Medical subject headings
- Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disabilities
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
VCU-RRTC Online CourseOther
Approved by ACRE as its accrediting body and has been offered virtually through the VCU RRTC for over 15 years. The course currently entails:
- Six modules ii. Six online discussion boards iii. Assignments in each module iv. One quiz per module v. Final assignment
Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total)Other
Technical Assistance sessions will be provided to small groups of participants of 5-7 via Zoom technology. There will be one virtual TA session for each of the six modules that will last for 1 hour. The TA sessions will be provided by a trained SE expert/ mentor. The TA sessions will have instructional plans so that they are delivered consistently and will align with the associated module's content and will entail application and discussion that facilitates implementation and reflection of the material.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | Placebo comparator | The current VCU-RRTC online course. Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators, accrediting body that has developed competencies for job coaches and that approved the online curriculum that has been provided through the VCU-RRTC for over a decade. Receives: Other: VCU-RRTC Online Course |
| Experimental | Experimental | The VCU-RRTC course plus TA (Technical Assistance). Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators, accrediting body that has developed competencies for job coaches and that approved the online curriculum that has been provided through the VCU-RRTC for over a decade. Receives: Other: VCU-RRTC Online Course; Other: Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Impact of VCU ACRE on skills and knowledge
Identify if VCU ACRE Online Course impact skills and knowledge of employment profession The VCU Supported Employment Online Course is designed to provide knowledge and skill development in competitive integrated employment to include supported and customized employment.
The 40-hour training is presented in six modules. Each module is posted for two weeks for a total of twelve weeks. Course content is delivered through an online course format with recorded audio and video presentations, required reading, practical activities, and online discussions covering the following topics:
Module 1: Overview and Introduction to Employment First Module 2: Customer Profile and Discovery Module 3: Marketing and Job Development Module 4: Customized Employment Module 5: Job Site Supports Module 6: Social Security and Other Special Topics
Measured: after study completed-9 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Impact of VCU ACRE course plus technical assistance
The VCU Supported Employment Online Course is designed to provide knowledge and skill development in competitive integrated employment to include supported and customized employment.
Identify if VCU ACRE Online Course plus technical assistance impact skills and knowledge of employment profession. The 40-hour training is presented in six modules. Each module is posted for two weeks for a total of twelve weeks. Course content is delivered through an online course format with recorded audio and video presentations, required reading, practical activities, and online discussions covering the following topics:
Module 1: Overview and Introduction to Employment First Module 2: Customer Profile and Discovery Module 3: Marketing and Job Development Module 4: Customized Employment Module 5: Job Site Supports Module 6: Social Security and Other Special Topics
Measured: after study completed-9 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Sep 2024
- Study start3 Jun 2024
- Primary completion7 Apr 2025
- Study completion7 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Intellectual DisabilityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Virginia Commonwealth UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The proposed study will be a randomized control trial, participants will be recruited for the study and once consented they will be randomly assigned to the Control group which entails accessing the current VCU-RRTC online course or the intervention group which will receive the VCU-RRTC course plus TA. TA activities and outlines are attached. Participants who are assigned to the control group will have the opportunity to opt in to the TA sessions after the completion of the third data collection time period. The decision to use an RCT is a natural evolution of the initial two phases of the study and will help provide a comparison of the impact and benefit of additional TA. The addition of the additional two measures that will ask participants to self-report on their employment skills and employment outcomes will also provide important information for future studies.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Whitney Ham, Principal investigator, Virginia Commonwealth University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06586827
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HM20029287
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 26 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 31 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Competency-Based Training and Technical Assistance on the Competitive Integrated Employment Outcomes of Individuals With ID/DD
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06586827
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HM20029287
- Conditions
- Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disability
- Keywords
- Employment Specialist, Job Coaches
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
- Study start
- 3 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 7 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 7 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Currently, there are no national pre-requisites for training to become or to be hired as an ES (Employment Specialist). Staff providing employment services have a broad range of educational and training backgrounds. Some individuals have a masters and have completed an ACRE approved course to earn a ACRE (Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators) Basic Employment Certificate in Employment Services while others may have a high school diploma and have not received any additional training. The first phases of the study were important in identifying if the currently identified ACRE competencies are relevant and if the ACRE approved online training course does impact knowledge.
Detailed description
The final phase of the study aims to identify if the addition of technical assistance to the current course not only impacts knowledge of participants but also their self-reported engagement in skills that are outputs of their knowledge acquisition. Additionally, the third phase will link participation in the course and TA (technical assistance) to employment outcomes of individuals with ID/DD (individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disability). These additions address large gaps in the extant literature and research on employment specialists, training, and its impact on employment outcomes.
While, evidence-based practices in SE (Supported Employment) exist, research indicates that these practices are not often put into practice. Furthermore, of the few studies that have explored ES(Employment Specialist) training and its effectiveness, very few have identified if training impacts the employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Employment specialists and their skill directly impact the successful employment of individuals with ID/DD. Despite the introduction of SE into the field over four decades ago as well as legislative support, employment outcomes of individuals with remain dismally low. It is necessary to begin to gather evidence of the impact of training as well as feasibility and dosage in order to identify how to prepare employment service providers to better support individuals with disabilities to access employment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The proposed study will be a randomized control trial, participants will be recruited for the study and once consented they will be randomly assigned to the Control group which entails accessing the current VCU-RRTC online course or the intervention group which will receive the VCU-RRTC course plus TA. TA activities and outlines are attached. Participants who are assigned to the control group will have the opportunity to opt in to the TA sessions after the completion of the third data collection time period. The decision to use an RCT is a natural evolution of the initial two phases of the study and will help provide a comparison of the impact and benefit of additional TA. The addition of the additional two measures that will ask participants to self-report on their employment skills and employment outcomes will also provide important information for future studies.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | Placebo comparator | Other: VCU-RRTC Online CourseThe current VCU-RRTC online course. Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators, accrediting body that has developed competencies for job coaches and that approved the online curriculum that has been provided through the VCU-RRTC for over a decade. |
| Experimental | Experimental | Other: VCU-RRTC Online Course, Other: Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total)The VCU-RRTC course plus TA (Technical Assistance). Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators, accrediting body that has developed competencies for job coaches and that approved the online curriculum that has been provided through the VCU-RRTC for over a decade. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Use the VCU RRTC listserv
- Residing or working in the United States
- 18 and older
- have not participated in ACRe training
- Currently providing or will be providing employment services to individuals with ID/DD
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Unable to consent
- Under 18
- Pregnant women
- Prisoners
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| VCU-RRTC Online CourseApproved by ACRE as its accrediting body and has been offered virtually through the VCU RRTC for over 15 years. The course currently entails: i. Six modules ii. Six online discussion boards iii. Assignments in each module iv. One quiz per module v. Final assignment | Other | Control Group, Experimental |
| Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total)Technical Assistance sessions will be provided to small groups of participants of 5-7 via Zoom technology. There will be one virtual TA session for each of the six modules that will last for 1 hour. The TA sessions will be provided by a trained SE expert/ mentor. The TA sessions will have instructional plans so that they are delivered consistently and will align with the associated module's content and will entail application and discussion that facilitates implementation and reflection of the material. | Other | Experimental |
Primary outcome
Impact of VCU ACRE on skills and knowledge
Time frame: after study completed-9 months
Identify if VCU ACRE Online Course impact skills and knowledge of employment profession The VCU Supported Employment Online Course is designed to provide knowledge and skill development in competitive integrated employment to include supported and customized employment. The 40-hour training is presented in six modules. Each module is posted for two weeks for a total of twelve weeks. Course content is delivered through an online course format with recorded audio and video presentations, required reading, practical activities, and online discussions covering the following topics: Module 1: Overview and Introduction to Employment First Module 2: Customer Profile and Discovery Module 3: Marketing and Job Development Module 4: Customized Employment Module 5: Job Site Supports Module 6: Social Security and Other Special Topics
1 secondary outcome
Impact of VCU ACRE course plus technical assistance
Time frame: after study completed-9 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 Jul 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Whitney Ham principal investigator
Virginia Commonwealth University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing VCU-RRTC Online Course and Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions (6 total) in people with Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disability, run by Virginia Commonwealth University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Impact of VCU ACRE on skills and knowledge (time frame: after study completed-9 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Jul 2025.