Teaching young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to recognize and respond to coworker victimization

Peterson et al. (2021) worked with four young adults who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The team used Behavioral Skills Training plus Model-Expert Training. Half also got in-situ practice at a real job site.

Everyone learned the same four-step script: notice the put-down, say “stop,” tell a supervisor, and walk away.

All four adults mastered the script and used it in new work settings.

Three still had the skill two months later.

The fourth lost some steps, showing you may need booster sessions.

Stannis et al. (2019) ran a near-copy study with older adults. Their data match: BST first, then IST if needed.

Berube et al. (2021) tried the same BST-IST package on preschoolers learning stranger-danger. Again, most kids passed after BST; IST caught the stragglers.

Sievert et al. (1988) taught young adults to speak up for their legal rights. Both studies show BST turns adults with disabilities into confident self-advocates, just in different life areas.

Your adult clients with IDD are easy targets for coworker teasing or worse. This paper gives you a ready script and a clear roadmap: train in the clinic, test on the job, and return for tune-ups. Add IST only if the learner stalls. You can start Monday with the four-step plan and a simple role-play.