Adult Skills Evaluation Survey (ASES) for Persons with Mental Retardation

This paper explains the reasons for developing an assessment tool that would answer the increasingly apparent need for an evaluation instrument to measure developmental levels of performance in programs training adults with mental impairment but little physical disability. The four sections of the assessment are described in terms of content and concepts. The results indicate findings from four years of testing and retesting, providing data useful for appropriate placement in therapy services, for writing measurable goals, for recording progress and for programming tailored to the needs of both individual trainees and groups. The unique contributions of occupational therapists in this field are discussed.