Title: Assessing levels of functioning
Headings: Assessing levels of functioning
Assessing levels of functioning
What functional assessment covers
Functional assessment domains
Examples of functional assessment tools
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Content: It emphasises support needs rather than deficits and considers health, wellbeing and activities of daily life. The assessment produces a written psychological report which can be used to inform, guide and improve the individual support plan. Where an intellectual disability has been identified, the tool takes approximately 70 minutes to administer, but applications in mental health settings show a shorter length of time, and Version 5 (currently under development) will include a brief version which is being trialled at 30 minutes. Training in the I-CAN is required, and is available through the Centre for Disability Studies, University of Sydney ( www.i-can.org.au ).The cost to an organisation is $550 sign-up fee plus $22 per assessment. The Scales of Independent Behaviour - Revised (SIB-R) is a comprehensive, norm-referenced assessment of adaptive and maladaptive behaviour designed to establish the type and amount of special assistance needed by people with cognitive disabilities. The short form acts as a brief screening tool and can be administered in 15-20 minutes, and an Individual Plan Recommendation provides a plan for and tracks an individual's support and service needs and goals. The tool, including the manual, interview handbook and 25 forms, can be purchased from ACER for $559 ( www.shop.acer.edu.au ). Back to top
Find out more
NADA (Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies) (2013b) Brief Guide to Cognitive Impairment Screening and Assessment Tools, NADA: Sydney. Back to top