Your child has a learning picture that is very unique to them. In order to have the most learning success for your child it is essential that a behavioral assessment (strengths and needs assessment) be completed prior to beginning any behavioral service, skill acquisition or behavior reduction, in order to determine your child’s current skill level (baseline skills).
Steps required to complete a Behavioral Assessment:
- Provision of informed consent, review of confidentiality, and privacy.
- Discussion with parents as we gather information (i.e., developmental concerns, current/past diagnoses, current/past assessments and services, family history).
- Completion of rating scales and/or clinical interview.
- Direct testing of child. A behavioral assessment should be broad in scope and assess a wide range of developmental areas. Structured assessments such as the ABLLS-R (Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills-Revised), the VB-MAPP (Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program), HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile), and the Brigance Early Childhood Assessment are all commonly used to help pinpoint skills that lead to learning and school success. Assessments from other professionals may be recommended to help guide programming decision making.
All of this information will be used to develop your child’s unique learning plan.