The Instruments
Are SIS-A and SIS-C specifically for use with people with intellectual disability?
Yes. The SIS-A was normed on a population of over 1,200 people with IDD in the US and Canada. The SIS-C was normed on a population of over
4,000 children with IDD.
What are norms?
Norms are created with math. Norms compare one person’s score with the scores of a group of people who are like them. The SIS-A norms say if a person’s scores are higher, lower, or the same as
other adults with IDD. The SIS-C norms say if a person’s scores are higher, lower, or the same as other children with IDD.
Can the SIS-A and SIS-C be used with other populations?
The SIS-A and SIS-C are designed to be used with those with IDD. Researchers have also found that the assessments
can accurately measure the support needs of individuals with other types of disabilities.
How are the SIS-A and SIS-C different from adaptive behavior scales?
These tools measure different things. The SIS is designed to assess and describe the pattern and intensity of supports an individual needs to have in order to met the demands of their environment; this information may be used to inform the
provision of individualized supports. In contrast, adaptive behavior scales are designed to assess the extent to which an individual independently performs age-appropriate skills for typical daily life. Adaptive behavior scales are used as part
of a diagnostic evaluation for intellectual disability or to assess the strengths and weaknesses of an individual's adaptive functioning.