1. Assessment Batteries Triangulation Social Skills Assessment
Environment Assessment
Strengths-Based Assessment

2. Terms Battery Triangulation Several assessments used together
Variety of assessment methods
Variety of assessment data
Variety of sources
Interview, observation, self-report

3. Social Skills Assessment
Assessment of Social Skills for Therapeutic Recreation Intervention
Stumbo, 1994/95

4. Environment Assessment
Shank & Coyle, 2002
Individual can’t be understood without examining environments
“A person’s ability to function effectively is often as much a reflection of his environment and supports as it is a reflection of his specific skills and deficits”
Selz, Bullock, & Mahon, 2000, p. 290

5. Principles of Strengths-Based Approach (Anderson, & Heyne, 2008)
Every individual, group, family, & community has strengths
Difficulties (illness, disability, etc.) are also sources of opportunity & challenge
Collaboration (not expert) with participants
Strengths can be nurtured (thus, must be assessed, planned, focused on)

6. Internal Strengths Aspirations & goals Interests & preferences Talents
Skills & competencies
Knowledge
Character strengths & virtues

7. External Strengths Family support Social support, friends
Community resources
Home resources
Opportunities for participation & contributions

8. Strengths-Based Assessment
Strength Approach
Focus on strengths
Participant is potential waiting to happen
Understanding strengths leads to understanding & creative ways for OofL
Focus on whole person in context of life
Deficit Approach
Focus on problems
Participant is viewed as problem needing to be fixed
Understanding of problems may not lead to solutions or understanding
Focus is on deficits & remediation

9. Rationale for Strengths-Based Assessment
To get to know the person
What is meaningful to person?
To develop a positive relationship with person & support system
To establish baseline
To measure outcomes
To focus on solutions, not on problems

10. Rationale for Strengths-Based Assessment
The TR Specialist is the professional who can help people realize that what remains when they face disability & treatment is a life worth living

11. New Definition of Assessment
Assessment is a treasure hunt
TR assessment is the systematic process of learning about a person, his or her strengths, and his or her aspirations for recreation and well-being
Through assessment, collaborative planning about the person’s goals and dreams, leisure becomes possible

12. Assessment Techniques
Interviews
Observations
Test/inventories
Record review

13. Sample Assessments Quality of Life Interview Supports Intensity Scale
Strength Discovery Assessment
Home & Community Social Behavior Scales
Aspiration Index
Signature Strengths Questionnaire

14. Sample Assessments Leisure Diagnostic Battery
Life Effectiveness Questionnaire
Life Satisfaction Scale
Quality of Life Profile
Oxford Happiness Questionnaire

15. Strengths-Based Assessment Sample
Focus on strengths vs. problems
Looks at desires & resources
Daily living
Financial/insurance
Vocational/educational
Social supports
Health
Leisure/recreation
Spirituality