Commonly Used OT School Based Assessments

Based on my observations and experiences within a school setting, it is common for an occupational therapist to use both informal and formal assessment tools when evaluating a student. I will report upon the assessments which I have seen most commonly used within the school district I am in.  It should be noted that other school districts or therapists may prefer different assessments. There are no right or wrong answers as long as the therapist is able to obtain the information needed :-)

Informal assessments may include a classroom observation, assessment of strength through a variety of different motor activities, and evaluation of any or all of the following: grasp, ability to complete a fine motor task, visual tracking, sitting posture, ability to attend to a task, and so much more.

Formal assessment measures may include standardized or non-standardized tests:

Standardized:

• The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration which includes the following subtests: 
• Visual Motor Integration (assesses one's ability to copy shapes that gradually increase in complexity)
• Visual Perception (assesses one's ability to match a picture to the stimulus within a field of distractors).
• Motor Coordination  (assesses one's ability to draw a line that follows a path while staying within the designated area).
• Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (assesses developmental milestones, targeting specific subtests related to occupational therapy including object manipulation, grasping, and visual-motor integration). 

Non-standardized:

• The Motor-Free Visual Perceptual Test 
• The Brain Highways screener (assesses lower brain development especially of the pons and midbrain, proprioception, vestibular abilities, visual tracking, and eye teaming). 
• The Handwriting Without Tears Print Tool (assesses elements of handwriting such as orientation, line placement, sizing, spacing, and letter formation). 
• Handwriting samples from class (assess the elements of handwriting listed above).