Daily Living Skills Assessments

Occupational therapists utilize assessments and clinical observations to evaluate a student's skills when performing daily tasks at school. Daily living skills assessments assist occupational therapists in identifying a student's need in performing ADL/IADLs at school.

This list is by no means exclusive of common assessments that evaluate daily living skills in the schools.

School Function Assessment (SFA)

Type: Criterion referenced. Rating scales completed by educational team
Key Areas Assessed: Strengths and needs in the school
Age Range: K to 6th grade
Description: Assessment to rate functional performance for academic tasks in school, using 3 scales: participation, task supports, and activity performance.

Roll Evaluation of Activities of Life (REAL)

Type: Performance-based rating scale
Key Areas Assessed: ADL & IADLs
Age Range: 2 to 18 years old
Description: A screening tool to assess children’s ability to care for themselves at home, at school, and in the community.
- ADL domain addresses 6 skill areas: dressing, hygiene/grooming, feeding, toileting, functional mobility, and personal care devices.
- IADL domain addresses 6 skill areas: housework/chores, money management/shopping, meal preparation, personal safety, traveling, and school-related skills.

Goal-Oriented Assessment of Life Skills (GOAL)

Type: Standardized, Activities
Key Areas Assessed: Functional fine and gross motor skills for daily activities
Age Range: 7 to 17 years old
Description: Assessment to rate functional performance for daily tasks (use of utensils, managing locks, coloring/cutting/folding paper, organizing binder, donning/doffing clothes, kicking/bouncing ball, carrying tray).