Current Research Studies

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​Vocational Fit Assessment and Employment Status in People with Intellectual Disabilities

  • NIH funded research study through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) that focuses on quantifying the reliability and validity of the Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA).
  • The intended population is people with intellectual disabilities in diverse special education, Project SEARCH and vocational rehabilitation settings.
  • We are enrolling participant dyads that include:
    • ​Adults with intellectual disabilities, aged 18-22
    • A person who knows them well and has been a part of their life for at least 60 days (partner reporters, e.g., teacher, parent, job coach, employer)
  • Participant dyads complete interviews with researchers to gather data about the VFA and other related measures.

Evaluation of Vocational Fit Assessment Clinical Utility

  • ​​​This sub-study focuses on quantifying the responsiveness and clinical utility of the Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA).
  • Participants will complete a survey about their opinions on the VFA and its usefulness and relevance to their practice.
  • A subsample of participants will participate in focus groups to add depth of understanding to survey responses.

Evaluation of Vocational Fit Assessment Algorithm Accuracy

  • This sub-study focuses on evaluating the algorithm that the Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA) uses.
  • Participants will complete a survey designed to allow key stakeholders to use their professional judgment to evaluate data that results from the VFA reports.​
  • A subsample of participants will participate in focus groups to add depth of understanding to survey responses.​ ​
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Vocational Fit Assessment - Self-Report (VFA-SR) for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

  • ​Master student thesis project that focused on the development and content validity assessment of the Vocational Fit Assessment - Self Report (VFA-SR), an adaptation of the Vocational Fit Assessment that will be intended for self-report by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • The VFA-SR was adapted and optimized using simplification of language and structure, enhanced accessibility features, and addition of features including images accompanying each question.
  • Development of the VFA-SR is continuing as the focus of a doctoral student's dissertation.
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Enabling Self-Report Outcomes for Youth with Developmental Disabilities: The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - Patient Reported Outcome (PEDI-PRO)

  • Funded research study through National Institutes of Health (NIH) that aims to develop a clinically robust self-report software on patient reported outcomes, called the PEDI-PRO, for youth with developmental disabilities.
  • Conducted in collaboration with the University of Florida, the principal site, as well as collaborators from Boston University and the University of Temple.