ABLLS: Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills
Jan 17
I have spent most of the last two mornings updating a few students’ ABLLS assessment and I am extra excited to share with you the joys of this assessment… because I secretly want to brag about my kiddos progress. Okay, maybe not so secretly. ABLLS stands for the assessment of basic language and learning skills. It’s assessment, curriculum guide, and tracking program for children with language delays. It’s used very commonly with children with autism and cognitive disabilities.
I LOVE this assessment for my students who are lower functioning or have emerging verbal/academic skills. I do not use this assessment with my higher functioning students because it’s a little too basic. The skill set is focused on a typically developing kindergartener. If I had a younger class I may use this with all my students because it’s more relevant but for my group now I use it with 4 students.
Why I LOVE this assessment (yes it’s necessary to use all caps): This assessment gives such valuable knowledge of what skill sets your student is missing. In doing so it gives great insight into what you should be writing for IEP goals or program goals. This has been especially helpful for the students I have had for a few years and aren’t quite sure where to go next. The other reason I love this assessment is you can update the progress tracking chart to show progress. It gives this incredible visual depiction of growth (that parents love!).
So basically there are 26 skill areas (ranging from visual performance to labeling to reading). Within the skill that there are a bunch of tasks. You rate how well the student can accomplish the task with the rubric. If they can’t do it at all you leave it blank. The rubric will indicate how many boxes to fill in if they can somewhat do the task.
Once you go through all of the tasks your progress tracking sheet will look something like this:
While I go through this assessment, I find it gets overwhelming with how many goal ideas I could use. I always keep plenty of post its near by to start a list of significant areas of difficultly I am finding.
Now the cool part: the color you fill out the form with is associated with a date. Every few months or twice a year you can update this to show progress. The next time you fill it out – use a new color. This has a great visual cue of how much progress your student has made 
Check out my student’s rockstar progress: (the orange and blue are two different assessment dates since I have had him as a student and the gray is his baseline when he came to me) AHHHH!
What do you use for the higher functioning students? Do you use/like VB-MAPP?
I have used the VB-MAPP but don’t currently have a copy – it’s up on my to-do list to ask my principal to buy for me. Have to space out my requests
Do you use the VB-MAPP? What are your thoughts comparing the two?
I like VB-MAPP. I like the layout of it and the content seems more relevant to my kiddos.
Good to know! Thanks Amanda!
I have used both the ABLLS and the VB-MAPP. I think the VB-MAPP was less intensive and easier and I liked that it gave general age ranges (in months) for the results. But my district purchased a materials kit for the ABLLS and its pretty awesome for assessing and working on the skills so that is why I have made the switch.
oooohh I have always wanted on of those material kits!!
Hi, Great post! I was just thinking about this assessment today on the way home from school. (I’ve learned about the ABLLS when I got my Autism credential but it seem like it would be overwhelming to set up. How have you you organized all the items needed to give this assessment?) I am an SDC teacher (mild/moderate) and don’t have any students dx with Autism, but I can see how some of the sections would be very helpful for me to see what subskills other of my students are lacking.
Thanks Lisa! When I get ready to do the ABLLS, I pull all relevant materials and put in a bin so it’s nearby. By now I kind of know which materials I will need for which sections and have made some activities for specific sections. And yes you can buy a set with all materials but it’s super expensive!
I should also add to my previous post that all I have is the assessment book (which I was got in the classes I took). Is it possible to purchase all the materials needed to give it? (I have thought that I would have to come up with all the materials and organize them in small bins or something!)
Could anyone please let me know if this would be a good resource for a speech language pathologist? I really don’t know what to use to assess the needs of my middle school severe and profound students. Thank you!
I will ask my SLP and get back to you!
Hello! Did you get a chance yet to ask your SLP if she thinks a speech therapist could use the ABLLS? Thank you!
She said that she does think the ABLLS would be helpful for basic assessment!