Learning to Recruit Assistance to Attain Transition Goals

This study evaluated a program to develop help-recruiting competencies as a strategy to facilitate the transition of adjudicated male youths with disabilities residing in a segregated institution. six adjudicated male youths with disabilities participated in the study. a multiple baseline design across behaviors was used to evaluate the youths' acquisition of help-recruiting skills. self-reported measures of the actions taken by the youths in the process of pursuing transition goals were also collected. youths' performance in role-play situations and generalization probes indicated consistent improvements in help-recruiting skills following training. the youths established a total of 17 transition goals at the beginning of the study, of which 11 were attained as planned, 4 were still in progress at the end of data collection, and 2 were dropped. participants also increased the size of their social support network and reported improved satisfaction with their social competencies. the limitations and benefits of developing help-recruiting competencies to facilitate attainment of transition goals among at-risk youths with disabilities are discussed.