Developmental Assessment Resources

Aboriginal Infant Development Program (AIDP)
Aboriginal Infant Development Programs in B.C. support families of infants who are at risk for or have been diagnosed with developmental delays. Programs are voluntary, family centered, and primarily focused on children ages 0–3 (in some communities 0–6). AIDP consultants support families by providing home visits, activity planning, and developmental and family needs assessments in culturally sensitive and meaningful ways. Consultants also assist families in accessing other health, social, and community services.
http://www.aidp.bc.ca/
Ages and Stages Questionnaire
Brookes Publishing publishes this widely used developmental assessment tool, as well as a large, focused selection of books, tools and other resources for professionals who work with children with developmental disabilities and their families.
http://brookespublishing.com/
Early Childhood Measurement and Evaluation Resource Centre (University of Alberta)
Resource centre to assist in understanding the purposes, use, and limitations of early childhood measurement tools. Brief reviews of assessment, evaluation and screening tools most commonly used in the ECD community.
http://www.cup.ualberta.ca/content/view/92/190/
A Guide for Culturally Focused Early Intervention Programs For Aboriginal Children and Families in British Columbia
(Booklet, 33 pages; BC-ACCS, 2004)
Information about early intervention therapies to help families access early intervention therapy services, advocate for funding for services, and partner with early intervention therapists. Uses stories to illustrate examples of therapy services.
http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/
Handbook of Best Practices in Aboriginal Early Childhood Programs
(Booklet, 124 pages; BC-ACCS, 2003)
The last section in this manual looks at developmental assessments, with brief rationale for and critique of assessments, guiding principles to follow in developing an assessment strategy, best practices for doing assessments, and overview of several types of assessment tools available. Cost: free. Order from BC-ACCS.
http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/
New Portage Guide: Birth to Six
(Kit; The Portage Project, 2004)
The well-known Portage developmental assessment materials were originally created to support parents through home-based intervention programs, but have been revised and updated and are now equally useful for outreach or centre-based programs. The Portage assessment looks at: communication/language/literacy, exploration and approaches to learning, social/emotional development, purposeful motor activity, and sensory organization. Tools are easy to understand, and include developmental information and excellent practical suggestions for how to nurture children in daily routine activities. Kit includes: observation and planning tool, planning forms, activity and interaction cards, user’s guide, and wall chart of developmental stages. (Note: this is a generic tool and not developed especially for aboriginal children).
Cost: US$50. Order on-line or by mail from The Portage Project.
http://www.portageproject.org/
Nipissing District Developmental Screen (NDDS) Tool
(Checklist; The Nipissing District Infant Development Program, Ontario, 2001)
The NDDS is a uniquely Canadian developmental screening tool which examines 13 key developmental stages between one month and 6 years of age, focusing on vision, hearing, speech, language, communication, gross and fine motor, cognitive, social/emotional, and self-help. Checklists are accompanied by a series of detachable play activities that promote the development of key skills in each age group. (Note: this is a generic tool and not developed especially for aboriginal children). Cost: $50. Order from: Nipissing District Developmental Screen. Note: The NDDS™ can provide trainers/ facilitators to assist customers with the correct use of the screen. Contact NDDS for details.
http://www.ndds.ca/
“Making Sensitive Assessments of the Development of Infants and Toddlers”
(On-line article, 8 pages; Child & Family Canada, 2003) General discussion of developmental assessment. Especially useful are the reflections on “Parents as Partners”, and “Development of Observation Skill”. Note: document uses academic language.
Cost: free.
http://www.cfc-efc.ca/docs/cccf/00001090.htm
An Overview of the Portage Guide to Early Education
(Video, 25 minutes; The Portage Project) How to use the Portage checklist and assessment and activity cards, with examples of how to embed goals into daily routines and play, and practical suggestions for using the process with families. Cost: US$35. Order on-line or by mail from The Portage Project.
http://www.portageproject.org/
The Portage Classroom Curriculum
(Curriculum kit; The Portage Project)
Designed specifically for working with children aged 2–6 in a classroom setting, this adaptation of the Portage materials helps early childhood educators plan for each child’s involvement in ways that are appropriate and that support developmental progress. Includes administrative manual, classroom checklist, individual child profiles, 8 instructional units, and over 90 family activity letters. Cost: US$66. Order on-line or by mail from The Portage Project http://www.portageproject.org/
Available for loan from BC-ACCS.
http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/
Steps In The Right Direction: Connection and Collaborating in Early Intervention Therapy With Aboriginal Families and Communities in B.C.
(Booklet, 53 pages; BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, 2007). Early Intervention Therapy Guide. Free download online from BC-ACCS.
http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/
VORT Family-centred, Curriculum-based Assessment & Intervention
American, based in California. “HELP” (Hawaii Early Learning Profile) products for curriculum-based assessment of children 0–6 years. Early intervention tools, tools for family interviews and assessments.
http://www.vort.com/

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