Autism Speaks Survey

Community-based Skills Assessment Survey - Autism Speaks, VCU and Identifor

The Community-based Skills Assessment Survey (CSA)

The challenges associated with the transition from school services to adulthood for individuals with autism are well documented. Every individual with autism is different and as a result, there is no "one size fits all" plan for the path to adulthood. The most important factor in creating a plan is to focus on the individual. His or her strengths, needs, challenges and preferences will play a critical role in ensuring a successful transition process.

To help with the transition planning process, Autism Speaks worked with Virginia Commonwealth University's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center to design the Community based Skill Assessment Survey (CSA), which aims to help parents and professionals assess the current skill levels and abilities of individuals with autism beginning at age 12 and continuing into adulthood in order to develop a comprehensive plan.

The CSA is the first tool to assess needs in the area of community-based living, from transportation to financial management to peer relationships and more. The tool is divided into three levels based upon the age of the individual being assessed. Eight critical areas of functional life skills will be assessed:

Career path and employment

Self-determination/advocacy

Health and safety

Peer relationships, socialization and social communication

Community participation and personal finance

Transportation

Leisure/recreation

Home living skills

The assessment uses both a criterion-based observation and interview-based process to measure the individual's knowledge, skills and behaviors.

This application was developed by Identifor and provided as a free service to Autism Speaks and the broader community. This automates the survey process and enables easy use of the tool by professionals and individuals with autism. The Autism Speaks and Virginia Commonwealth University Logos are used with permission of the respective institutions.