The Job Coach Curriculum Development of Job Preparation for Individuals with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Objectives To develop a job preparation curriculum for individuals with intellectual disabilities intended for use by job coaches.

Materials and Methods This study is a research and development (R&D) design comprising two phases. Phase 1 involved descriptive research to examine the current situation, needs, and necessity for developing a curriculum related to job preparation among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Data was analyzed and synthesized systematically through a comprehensive literature review. Phase II utilized a participatory research approach to develop the curriculum. Focus group discussions were conducted to experiential insights and critically examine tacit knowledge among practitioners, experts, and stakeholders (n = 20). The findings were subsequently used to construct a draft curriculum consisting of three components: (1) curriculum structure, (2) instructional manual, and (3) training program focusing on basic work skills and social adaptation skills. The draft curriculum was then evaluated for content validity by three experts in intellectual disability rehabilitation and job preparation. The Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) was employed, based on Tyler’s objective-centered evaluation model, which emphasizes the alignment between curriculum components and predetermined objectives. The curriculum was subsequently piloted with a group of five participants with characteristics similar to the target population. Outcome measures were analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically mean scores, to compare expected and actual results.

Results The curriculum demonstrated a high level of content validity, with an IOC value of 0.87. Following implementation, participants showed improvement in both social skills and basic work skills, with mean scores increasing from 76.95% to 80.95% upon completion of the program.

Conclusion The developed job preparation curriculum for individuals with intellectual disabilities, designed for job coaches, demonstrated satisfactory quality and is appropriate for practical implementation.