Best Practices

The presentation by Dr. Ozonoff was very informative on the topic of assessments for individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Considering the range of differences between individuals with ASD, I can understand how assessments can be challenging.  Dr. Ozonoff discussed ways of creating an environment for a more effective assessment including creating a team of professionals to assist with different areas of the assessment, including developmental history and reports from parents and assessment follow-ups . As a behavior therapist I do not clinically assess children, I perform behavioral assessments on children who have already received a diagnoses. Although I have no part in providing a diagnosis to the children I work with, as an educator it is helpful to be aware of any diagnoses the child may have.  A part of assessing a child’s behavior involves looking at their medical, developmental and behavioral history.

An FBA is an assessment tool used to find the functions of certain behaviors an individual may engage in. FBAs can also help educators bridge the gap between clinical assessments and classroom practice by creating programs that benefit the student’s individual needs. Educators can also use clinical assessments to set goals for students and collaborate during IEPs and/or assessment follow-ups.