Benefits of Coding Training on Young Adults With Developmental Disabilities

Evaluation of a Technology Early Career Preparation Intervention (TECH-Prep) for African American Young Adults With Developmental Disabilities

The purpose of the present study is to develop and evaluate the Technology Early Career Preparation Intervention (TECH-Prep) program with African American high school students with developmental disabilities. Developmental disabilities include conditions such as Autism spectrum disorders, seizure disorders, behavior disorders, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and fetal alcohol syndrome/effects. This program is designed to increase technology career interests, self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, goal persistence, and increase entrance into post-secondary education or work subsequent to high school completion of African American youth with developmental disabilities.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Developmental Disability
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: TECH-Prep Intervention

Detailed Description

The investigator's goal is to recruit 30 African American high school students with developmental disabilities to participate in this TECH-Prep study each year for the next five years (2019-2024). The TECH-Prep program integrates many empirically supported strategies identified in the STEM education and the secondary transition research literature. The program will incorporate overview of coding careers, reviewing video testimonials of individuals working in technology fields, and reviewing/responding to training materials intended to facilitate workplace social skills development.

The program will require participants complete three surveys to track their progress. To receive incentives for completing program components, data on program component completion will be tracked of participants in the treatment group. This involves tracking data on when a participant completes review of the final segment of each learning module.

Data collection for this study will consist of three surveys completed at baseline, immediately after completion of the program, and six weeks after completion of the program.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 94
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Wisconsin
    • Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53705
      • University of Wisconsin

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 24 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds
• Diagnosed with a developmental disability
• Over 18 but under 24
• Have the capacity to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons who are Caucasian
• Do not have a developmental disability
• Older than 24 years of age
• Unable to provide informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Online Training Program; An online intervention for people with disabilities intended to increase social skills and interest in coding careers.	Other: TECH-Prep Intervention; Participants in the treatment program will be asked to complete 10 online training modules (1 hour each), attend 5 online motivational speaker forums (1 hour each), and view 5 coding workshops. The activities will be completed over an 8 week period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Outcome Expectation Sub-score on the Tech-Prep Survey	The Tech-Prep survey is a 90-item survey. Scores are calculated on sub-scales included in the survey. These subscales focus on Social Cognitive Career Theory concepts of outcome expectation, career readiness, and goal persistence. Change scores from baseline at post-training and post-internship will be evaluated. Higher scores indicate increased outcome expectations.	baseline, 2 weeks (immediately after intervention), 8 weeks (6 weeks post intervention)
Change in Goal Persistence Sub-score on the Tech-Prep Survey	The Tech-Prep survey is a 90-item survey. Scores are calculated on sub-scales included in the survey. These subscales focus on Social Cognitive Career Theory concepts of outcome expectation, career readiness, and goal persistence. Change scores from baseline at post-training and post-internship will be evaluated. Higher scores indicate increased goal persistence.	baseline, 2 weeks (immediately after intervention), 8 weeks (6 weeks post intervention)
Change in Career Readiness Sub-score on the Tech-Prep Survey	: The Tech-Prep survey is a 90-item survey. Scores are calculated on sub-scales included in the survey. These subscales focus on Social Cognitive Career Theory concepts of outcome expectation, career readiness, and goal persistence. Change scores from baseline at post-training and post-internship will be evaluated. Higher scores indicate increased career readiness.	baseline, 2 weeks (immediately after intervention), 8 weeks (6 weeks post intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Collaborators: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Timothy Tansey, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 23, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 12, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 12, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): November 24, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 25, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2026
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: education; STEM; Career Interest; underserved populations
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Developmental Disabilities
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020-0842; A177800 (Other Identifier: UW Madison); EDUC/REHAB PSYCH & SPEC ED (Other Identifier: UW Madison); FP00010584_SA003 (Other Grant/Funding Number: DHHS)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No