The Effect of Total Task Chain Training on the Acquisition of Busperson Job Skills at a Full Service Community Restaurant

Competitive job training for individuals with severe handicapping conditions has recently emerged as a programmatic focus. This study examined competitive on the job training with a 20-year-old institutionalized severely handicapped nonverbal male with Down's Syndrome. The job selected was that of a busperson at a full service community restaurant. Training consisted of systematic instructional procedures focusing primarily on behavioral chain training for acquisition and combined verbal prompts and self-selected reinforcement during break time for rate building. A multiple probe design was employed across four skill clusters to evaluate the effects of instruction. Results demonstrated acquisition of the 152 step task analysis in 45 one hour sessions. The need to give serious consideration to competitive employment instruction with students who are severely handicapped is discussed.