Skills Based Assessments: Understanding Assessments and Their Application

Course Description

This presentation introduces behaviour analysts to the purpose, selection, and evaluation of skills-based assessments. It explains the difference between assessments and curricula, explores ethical standards for assessment practices, and highlights how to match tools to a learner’s goals, age, and support needs.

Assessments Reviewed

Participants will examine widely used measures such as ABLLS-R, VB-MAPP, PEAK, AFLS, and Essentials for Living, along with Naturalistic Developmental Behavioural Intervention tools and the Early Behaviour Intervention Curriculum. Each section reviews target populations, skill areas, time demands, and research support.

Why It Matters

Selecting the right assessment is essential for designing meaningful, individualized programming. This course equips behaviour analysts with practical strategies to analyze pros and cons, avoid common pitfalls (like programming directly to assessment items), and uphold ethical standards. By understanding each tool’s scope and limits, practitioners can better track progress, foster functional skills, and enhance quality of life for their clients.

Course Objectives

Identify and compare the purpose, target populations, and content areas of major skills-based assessments used in ABA (e.g., ABLLS-R, VB-MAPP, PEAK, AFLS, Essentials for Living, NDBI tools, EBIC).

Evaluate strengths, limitations, and research support for each tool to select the most appropriate assessment for a learner’s goals, age, and support needs.

Apply ethical guidelines when administering, interpreting, and sharing assessment results, including avoiding common pitfalls such as teaching directly to test items.

Develop a decision-making framework for ongoing assessment selection and progress monitoring across diverse learners and settings

Participants will:

• Confidently identify which skills-based assessment best fits a learner’s age, goals, and support needs.
  
• Use a downloadable comparison chart/tool to quickly review the purpose, scope, strengths and limitations of major assessments.
  
• Apply clear criteria for evaluating research support, practicality, and ethical considerations before choosing an assessment.

Why Choose This Course?

This workshop is designed for behaviour analysts, clinical supervisors, and advanced practitioners working with children, youth, or adults who benefit from individualized skill programming. It’s a valuable investment for professionals who want to refine their assessment practices and enhance client outcomes by confidently choosing and applying the most appropriate tools for each learner.

This training offers tools for critical reflection and adapting behavioural approaches to honour Indigenous perspectives, language, and relationships. Whether you're new or building on prior learning, the course provides a safe space for thoughtful growth and practical application.

It also meets CEU standards for the BACB and includes interactive components designed to promote lasting shifts in awareness and action.