The current study will examine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) intervention entitled IMPRoving Expression of Skills and Strengths In Interviewing in a Virtual Environment (IMPRESSIVE) which targets social competency skills needed for successful job interviewing. Specifically, 2 VR tools are utilized in the IMPRESSIVE intervention. The first tool is VR-Job Interview Training (VR-JIT), a VR program which offers the opportunity for repeated practice with a virtual human interviewer. Preliminary evidence suggests that the VR-JIT is successful in adults with ASD1 and schizophrenia14 in improving interview abilities. However, the efficacy of VR-JIT has not been evaluated in adolescents with ASD. This represents a significant void in our knowledge, as we do not know whether this program is effective for youth. In addition to VR-JIT, a newly developed VR tool is included in the currently proposed intervention: the Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (VR-STRIDE). KF-STRIDE is focused on improving the ability to express personal strengths during the job interview, a skill that is not taught with VR-JIT. The proposed IMPRESSIVE intervention, which combines the learning of 2 critical abilities (social skills and strength identification), has never been examined in individuals with ASD. Thus, the current proposal will be the first to examine the efficacy of these 2 combined tools in this at-risk population.
The current study will examine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) intervention entitled Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT) as well as a newly developed Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (VR-STRIDE) with adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.