WorkRight SkillBuilder: A Customized State-of-the-Art Simulation Software System to Support Vocational, Social Skills Training for Students and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

In Phase I, research demonstated the feasibility of using state-of-the-art computer avatars for providing social skills training for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The results showed a significant improvement in social skills knowledge when engaging in an independently usable mutimedia framework, and training system that utilizes state-of-the-art computer simulation, animation, a multimedia framework, and universal design concepts. The WorkRight SkillBuilder builds upon these results to create, validate, and evaluate a robust series of social skills training modules. In Phase II, additional research and development includes: (1) generating and validating 50-100 social skills training scripts; (2) developing scripts into computer animated vignettes; (3) researching options for pesonalizing scripts to meet the real world needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities; and (4) conducting an extended field evaluation determining the efficacy of the system for improving social skills knowledge and transference of this knowledge into practice.