Advances Comprehensive Social Skills Assessment (ACSSA)
About ACSSA
The Advances Comprehensive Social Skills Assessment is a criterion-referenced assessment tool for students with social skills deficits. It assesses students' strengths and weaknesses within and across sub-domains. Its primary function is to arrive at appropriate social objectives to guide instruction in social skills and to mark social progress from year to year. It is not necessary that all areas be assessed; each domain may be assessed individually.
Sub-Domains Assessed
- Body Langage
- Beginning Conversation
- Advanced Conversation
- Independent Play
- Pretend Play
- Cooperative Play
- Social Conventions
- Perspective Taking
Methods of Evaluation
The ACSSA uses the following methods:
- Parent Interview
- Teacher Interview
- 1:1 Testing
- Direct Observation in the Natural Environment
Testing Environment
The environment in which the Advances Comprehensive Social Skills Assessment is used varies depending upon the specific areas being assessed and the age of the student. For instance, in order to assess cooperative play, the observation portion must include other children. Observations may be done at school, during after-school activities, or within playdates at home. When 1:1 testing is appropriate, it may be done on-site at Advances Learning Center or in a student's home or school. Parent and teacher interviews may occur at Advances Learning Center or over the phone.
Evaluators
Evaluators from Advances Learning Center all have strong backgrounds in Applied Behavior Analysis and are experienced in data collection and assessment. Additionally, evaluators have experience managing social skills groups, and overseeing social instruction. Often, two evaluators are assigned to a student to maximize the amount of data collected in an observation period.