Assessment Tools
Everyone thinks, learns and expresses differently. It is the job of the professional working with people with intellectual disabilities ( ID) to tap into their individual skills, talents and support needs. The assessment process involves gathering information on a person’s interests, preferences, and needs and matching them with the demands of the various environments he or she will be entering: employment, community, independent living, education, and social settings. With people with intellectual disabilities, assessments should be conducted in real-life situations as often as possible. Assessing individuals in the environments that they will be entering will provide the most accurate data collection and lead to the most realistic skill training. There are tools that can guide professionals through the assessment process, but keep in mind that no single form or tool will ever give a complete picture; this information matched with observation in actual life situations will offer the clearest picture of a person's current level of performance and needs for future training.
One useful resource for assessment is Career Planning Begins with Assessment, which can be downloaded here.
A text that many have found helpful is Transition Assessment: Wise Practices for Quality Lives by Colleen Thoma and Caren Sax
Other helpful resources are below.
- Transition Services Assessment (Word document)
- Community Assessment (Word document)
- Employability Checklist (PDF)
- Developing a Positive Personal Profile (PDF)
