Self-monitoring: Are Young Adults with MR and Autism able to Utilize Cognitive Strategies Independently

Effectiveness of a self-monitoring procedure was evaluated for increasing work task completion and verbal requesting in two young adult men with autism and severe mental retardation. The study was conducted in a vocational training program at times when the men were expected to complete vocational tasks independently. A changing criterion design was used to evaluate the procedure on number of required tasks completed and number of verbal requests. When the self-monitoring procedure was applied to task completion and verbal requests for help, performance increased systematically and in line with the changing criteria design for each participant. Results suggest that individuals with autism and severe mental retardation can be taught to use a self-monitoring procedure to increase independent task completion and verbal requesting in a vocational training program. © Division on Developmental Disabilities.