Quality of Life Assessment

Deana Colbert, English Valley High School (North English IA) Resource & Alternative Programs, shared the Quality of Life Assessment that was shared with her in a Drake University graduate class taught by Kim Davis, Principal of Walnut Creek Alternative School. In addition to providing data for the IEP, Deana states the assessment is great vehicle to promote discussion with outside service providers on a student's future past high school. The associated spreadsheet produces scores in seven categories (Location, Education, Medical Services, Professional Supports, Leisure, Career, and Family& Social) when the formulas from the example student are copied to the next row. For instructions on how to copy the assessment go to Broeg Google Doc Transition Assessments.

AIR Self-Determination Scale

The AIR Self-Determination Scale was developed by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), in collaboration with Teachers College, Columbia University, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Discussion of how to use the scales, validity, reliability, and factor analysis can be found in the guide. All four scales, calculate the level of self determination. The authors of the scale argue that the scales can be used to promote discussion and measure progress over time. Three of the scales, Educator, Student, and Parent, can be found on my google site with the associated spreadsheets. I have entered formulas to calculate all of the scores as instructed in the guide. To use the scales, you need to make a copy of the spreadsheet (data file). After each entry, the formulas will need to be copied from the example student row to the new student.

Student Directed IEPrezi

After joining a forum on student directed IEPs, I was a greatly humbled to find that I was not doing near enough to encourage the self determination of my students. I found out that other teachers were having students run their IEPs. While I knew this was “best practice”, I had settled into thinking I was being successful if I could get the student to attend the meeting. The positive peer pressure forced me to change the way I approach the planning of the IEP. Over the last few years I have included students in the assessments, but when they attended the meeting, students were reluctant spectators. Based on Daniel Pink's theory that the most effective motivation is found in the task, I decided to have a student create a Prezi to guide their IEP. Based on the six critical elements I provided the student a template and a draft of their IEP. As the student went through their IEP, they asked me questions which facilitated discussions that probably would not have occurred. I was curious to see the Prezi but I waited till the meeting as the point of the Prezi was to give more control to the student. I will definitely use the Student Directed IEPrezi for both an assessment and scaffolding for student directed IEPs. Please view Kris's Directed IEP. I believe Kris has more ownership of his future and in case you are wondering, Kris will be in choir next year. The Prezi fostered a healthy discussion among all team members and a solution was found in which Kris could take both choir and more electives.

Wisconsin Transition Health Care Checklist

I have converted an extensive health assessment, Wisconsin Transition Health Care Checklist, that includes 18 areas and 168 skills. The assessment, originally a checklist, has been converted to indicate whether the skill is developed or needs to be developed. A description and rationale for the assessment can be found in Transition Health Care Checklist: Preparing for Life as an Adult. The authors of the assessment suggest annual assessment to denote progress and plan instruction. Given its length, you may want to consider breaking the assessment into multiple parts. To make your own version, copy Wisconsin Transition Health Care Checklist for Student Name Data and edit. Note if you have a google account within a domain you may not be able to copy. The quickest solution to this issue is to create a google account outside of the domain.