Book Description

This volume presents an integrative framework for conducting individualized assessments of children and adolescents with a wide range of disabilities and chronic conditions. Expert contributors first provide an overview of the field, reviewing general strategies and approaches to developmental assessment. The volume then addresses the issues that arise in working with young people with particular challenges, including motor impairments, auditory and visual impairments, autism, chronic health conditions, neurological problems, and exposure to trauma. Described are concepts and tools to guide the practitioner in deriving an accurate diagnosis, planning appropriate interventions in clinic or school, evaluating progress, and monitoring treatment outcomes. Structured in a cohesive format, chapters review the nature of each condition and its implications for health, development, and functioning at different ages and in various domains. The uses of specific assessment instruments are considered, and needed modifications in settings, tasks, and procedures identified. Emphasizing methods that are flexible and multidimensional, the volume includes numerous illustrative case vignettes.