Employment-Related Soft Skills for Young Adults with Disabilities

Background Young adults with disabilities face significant challenges to securing competitive employment. Soft skills deficiencies have been identified as a significant contributor to unemployment and under employment of young adults with disabilities. Objective This study examined the effectiveness and feasibility of an employment-related small group soft skill development program (“Soft Skills at Work”) for young adults with disabilities seeking employment. Methods The program included four soft skills training modules “Presenting Qualifications”, “Conversing with Others”, “Asking for Help”, “Responding to Feedback”. Each module included four sessions designed to improve one targeted work-related soft skill. Thirty-three young adults with disabilities receiving vocational and mental health services from community-based agencies participated the study. Participant wage information and other employment outcome measures were collected at baseline, post-intervention and 6-month-post-intervention. Participant satisfaction surveys for each module were also collected. Results Results of the program yielded high satisfaction among participants and significant changes in work self-efficacy and job-related social skills. Conclusion Young adult employment seekers with disabilities could benefit from participation in the soft skills intervention “Soft Skills At Work.”