Assessments for School Children with Disabilities

Level ll/lll Assessments help ensure that a student’s transitional plans and interests are clearly outlined and incorporated into their IEP’s.

A Level II assessment (to assist students ages 13-21) provides standardized testing based on an individual’s need related to job interests, skills, aptitudes, motor dexterity/speed/coordination, and learning style. This unique one day assessment is administered and scored by a certified and experienced Vocational Evaluator. This assessment can take place in small groups at a local school district or on site at The Viscardi Center.

Information gathered is focused on:

• Behavioral/Work Readiness observations
• Short and long-term vocational interests
• Writing skills
• Learning styles
• General aptitudes

Level II assessments build on information gathered from Level I assessments (completed within the student’s district).  The Level II assessment is recommended for students in grades 9 to 12 who are transitioning from school to work, vocational training, post-secondary education, or other alternative adult services.

Once carefully analyzed and interpreted, the assessment results are professionally gathered into a comprehensive narrative report and are forwarded to the individual student’s school district. If requested, our trained counselor who interpreted the assessment results may meet with district personnel or attend a student’s Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings.

Level III Assessment

A Level III vocational assessment is a more comprehensive and complete vocational evaluation that focuses on real or simulated work experiences.  Level III is a more comprehensive assessment during which information is collected in an eight to 10 day period. Informal assessments (interviews and situational assessments) are used in addition to more formal assessments (work samples, standardized instruments and tests).  The Level III evaluation should take place at least one year after a student with a disability has completed a Level II and results of the Level II should be incorporated into this phase and used as a comparison where applicable for growth and change in the youth’s life.

This assessment is administered and scored by a certified and experienced Vocational Evaluator. Information gathered is focused on:

• Student academic skill capability in: reading, math, language, vocabulary and spelling
• Vocational interests and exploration
• Work samples, including manual dexterity, range of motion, weighing and measuring etc.
• Situational assessment and hands-on testing specific to a student’s expressed goal
• Exploration of alternatives, i.e. post high school academics, vocational trainings,  competitive/supportive employment or Day Habilitation programming.

The Level III assessment is recommended for students in grades 9 to 12, who have completed a Level II and require further, more specific guidance regarding their transition from school to work, vocational training, post-secondary education, or other alternative adult services.

Once carefully analyzed and interpreted, the assessment results are professionally gathered into a comprehensive narrative report and are forwarded to the individual student’s school district. If requested, our trained counselor who interpreted the assessment results may meet with district personnel or attend a student’s Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings.

For more about Level ll and Level lll Assessments for students with disabilities, contact btussman@viscardicenter.org.