A Video-Tape Peer/Self Modeling Program to Increase Community Involvement

Abstract

AN ABACD design was utilized to examine the effectiveness of a video-taped modeling program. The purpose of the program was to increase community involvement of a man with developmental disabilities who was refusing to go on outings following recent invasive medical procedures. The initial program consisted of a baseline phase, during which the subject most often refused to go out into the community, and an intervention phase involving the presentation of a brief video as a prompt lo go on an outing. The video portrayed two of the subject's peers going out to eat, shopping, or going to a bank. A return to baseline was followed by a phase involving therapist contact in which taping and program redevelopment occurred. Following this phase, intervention was again implemented. This intervention phase involved brief video presentations that portrayed the subject himself going on outings. The results suggest clinically significant improvement during both intervention phases. This study illustrates the utility of peer- and self-modeling programs in treating populations with severe disabilities and endorses the usefulness of video as a modeling tool.