# Precision Teaching to Develop Key Word Sign Skills in Practitioners in Intellectual Disability Services: A Proof‐of‐Concept Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that Precision Teaching can improve staff's use of Key Word Signs with people who have intellectual disabilities, but extra support is needed for lasting results.

## Contribution

The study introduces Precision Teaching as a novel method to effectively train practitioners in Key Word Signs.

## Key findings

- Experimental participants achieved fluency and maintained KWS skills over time.
- Participants trained with Precision Teaching signed more frequently than those with standard training.
- Additional elements like practice leadership are needed alongside training for better outcomes.

## Abstract

People with intellectual disabilities frequently communicate through Key Word Signs (KWS). Although various methods have trained practitioners to sign, they have not led to increased use. This study evaluated whether Precision Teaching would lead to improved outcomes.

Practitioners were divided into experimental (n = 4) and control conditions (n = 5) using a multiple baseline across participants design. Experimental participants received Precision Teaching for 60 signs three times a week for 14 weeks. Control participants had completed a one‐day training event via Makaton at least 1 year before. Naturalistic observations were conducted for all participants to measure signing while supporting service users.

Experimental participants demonstrated fluency, emergent application, and maintenance of improvements. They also signed more than control participants when supporting clients.

Precision Teaching can lead to increased usage of KWS under naturalistic conditions. However, training in isolation might be inadequate. Additional elements, such as practice leadership, are required.

Many people with intellectual disabilities rely on Key Word Signs (KWS), but standard staff training methods often fail to increase their use.This study used Precision Teaching to train four staff members in 60 KWS.Staff showed fluent signing, maintained their skills, and signed more than colleagues who had received standard training when supporting service users.Precision Teaching may improve training outcomes, but additional support, like practice leadership, is needed to enhance sign use in practice.

Many people with intellectual disabilities rely on Key Word Signs (KWS), but standard staff training methods often fail to increase their use.

This study used Precision Teaching to train four staff members in 60 KWS.

Staff showed fluent signing, maintained their skills, and signed more than colleagues who had received standard training when supporting service users.

Precision Teaching may improve training outcomes, but additional support, like practice leadership, is needed to enhance sign use in practice.