Research Study #3
Inspiring and Preparing Disempowered Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Pursue Technology Training and Careers: Scaling up the TECH-Prep Intervention.
Research by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Purpose

This research will expand and refine a tech-prep program to increase technology-based, career focused skills in underserved youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
Overview
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the scalability of the Technology Early Career Preparation Intervention (TECH-Prep). This intervention was already evaluated by University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) through a collaborative program with Chicago Public Schools in 2019-2024, and yielded increases in the career readiness, career direction, career engagement and subsequent entry into either post-secondary education or CIE in technology-related fields for youth of color with IDD. The goal of TECH-Prep is to inspire and prepare urban youth with IDD to pursue career interests in science and technology fields, complete high school, obtain technical training certificates (e.g., Microsoft offers certifications for AI engineers, data engineers, developers, etc.) and ultimately fill in-demand technology positions.
The purpose of this study is four-fold: (a) expand/refine the existing TECH-Prep manual to encompass the most up-do-date technology career development knowledge, (b) scale-up TECH-Prep to new sites in different states (i.e., Spokane, Washington and Hampton Virginia), (c) evaluate the effectiveness of TECH-Prep to help disempowered urban youth with IDD increase academic self-efficacy, career self-efficacy, community support, and outcome expectancy, and (d) evaluate the effectiveness of the TECH-Prep program to increase postsecondary education (PSE) and/or CIE outcomes.