I CAN-B MONEY SAVVY! TEACHING ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO MAKE PURCHASING DECISIONS ONLINE

Online shopping is a common feature of modern adult life and is made easy with targeted advertisements, a large buy now button, and pre-entered credit card information. However, these features do not support making purchasing decisions based on what is best for the individual. Decision making about buying items requires an understanding of basic mathematics, one’s current finances and circumstances, and information about the product, then choosing whether to purchase the item. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) need explicit instruction on how to make informed decisions regarding online purchases.
The current study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention package consisting of a mnemonic and behavior skills training (BST) delivered remotely to improve the decision making of three adults with IDD when shopping online through a multiple probe across participants design. Inter-observer agreement and procedural fidelity was assessed throughout each phase of the study and social validity interviews were conducted to measure perceptions of participants, parents, and professionals on the importance of the goals, procedures, and outcomes of the study.