AAMR Adaptive Behavior Scales: Second Edition (ABS-2)

AAMR Adaptive Behavior Scales: Second Edition (ABS-2)
The ABS-2, developed by the American Association on Mental Retardation, assesses the
ability of individuals who are mentally retarded, emotionally maladjusted, or developmentally disabled to cope with the natural and social demands of their environment. It is available in
two versions, one for residential and community settings, the other for schools.

Residential and Community Edition (ABS-RC:2)
by Kazuo Nihira, Henry Leland, and Nadine Lambert

This version of the ABS-2 can be used with adults in residential settings. Items have been modified to better discriminate among mentally retarded individuals
who are institutionalized
and those who are in the community, functioning at various levels.
The first part of the scale covers skills and habits in 10 behavior domains:

• Independent Functioning
• Physical Development
• Economic Activity
• Language Development
• Prevocational/Vocational Activity • Domestic Activity
• Numbers and Time
• Self-Direction
• Responsibility
• Socialization

The individual completing the ABS-RC:2 simply checks the items that apply to the person
being evaluated.

The second part of the scale assesses maladaptive behavior in eight domains:

• Violent and Antisocial Behavior
• Rebellious Behavior
• Eccentric and Self-Abusive Behavior
• Untrustworthy Behavior
• Withdrawal
• Stereotyped and Hyperactive Behavior
• Inappropriate Body Exposure
• Disturbed Behavior

Raw scores for each domain can be quickly computed and then converted to standard scores and percentiles. The scale also yields five factor scores:
Personal Self-Sufficiency, Community Self-Sufficiency, Personal/Social
Responsibility, Social Adjustment, and Personal Adjustment. Norms are based
on a sample of 4,000 people with developmental disabilities (ages 18 and over).
The scale can be completed by institutional aides and nurses, parents, teachers, workshop supervisors, home service workers, and home trainers, as well as psychologists, social workers, and speech-language-hearing professionals.

School Edition (ABS-S:2)
by Nadine Lambert, Henry Leland, and Kazuo Nihira
A second form of the scale, the ABS School Edition (ABS-S:2), is available
specifically for
school-based assessment. This edition helps school personnel evaluate
children's independence, social skills, and need for special programs. It can
help schools provide appropriate educational experiences in the least restrictive environment, and is especially
useful in evaluating the functional level of children with mental retardation, developmental problems, or autism.
The ABS School Edition assesses the same domains as the residential and community version (except Domestic Ability and Inappropriate Body Exposure), providing standard scores and percentiles, plus the same five factor scores.
Norms are based on two samples: 1,000 public school children with developmental
disabilities and 1,000 students with no disabilities (from 3 through 16 years of age). The ABS-S:2 Manual tells you how to use scale results in instructional planning and IEP development.

The ABS-2 can be used to help make curriculum and placement decisions, to evaluate curricula or training programs, to compare an individual's adaptive behavior in different settings, and to compare ratings made by various individuals. These scales are an important supplement to the IQ score because they tell the evaluator how the individual handles the demands of daily living.

Content:

25 Examination Booklets; 25 Profile and Scoring Forms; 1 Examiner’s Manual

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