Learner: ______________ The Essential for Living Quick Assessment Date: ______________

THE ESSENTIAL EIGHT

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Alternative Method of Speaking

Matching

Retrieving
Waiting

Naming and Describing

Following Directions: Health and Safety

Safety

Tolerating Situations: Health and Safety

Accepting 'No'
Spoken Words

Making Requests

Sharing, Taking Turns

Previously Acquired Tasks

Other Daily Living Skills

Tolerating Other Situations

Following Directions, Recognizing,

Answering Questions
Completing 10 Consecutive, Brief,

Imitation

Problem Behavior
Accepting Removals, Making Transitions,

Completing Daily Living Skills: Health and

Spoken Words: the extent to which a learner exhibits spontaneous, understandable spoken words and the conditions under which
spoken-word repititions occur
Exhibits many spontaneous, spoken-words, nearly typical spoken-word interactions, and spoken-word repititions when
4 asked
to do so,aall
Exhibits fewof spontaneous
which are understandable. 6. MS-Profile
spoken words and 1 repititions, both of which are understandable. 6.MS-Profiles
spoken-word
3 2/3
2 Exhibits occasional words or spoken-word repititions, but neither are understandable 6. MS-Profiles 4/5
1 Exhibits only noises and a few sounds 6. MS-Profile 6

Alternative Method of a method of speaking used by learners, who do not exhibit understandable spoken words or
Speaking: spoken-word repitions
4 Has been using an effective, alterative method of speaking for more than 6 months.
3 Has been using an effective, alterative method of speaking for 1-6 months.
2 A new alternative method of speaking is being tested. 6. MS- Tables 15 and 16
1 Has no formal method of speaking or is using one or more ineffective methods. 6.MS-AMS1-46
THE ESSENTIAL EIGHT
One. Making Requests - the tendency to make requests for highly preferred items and activities
4 Makes requests for 10 or more preferred items or activites without prompts using an effective method of speaking. 7a. R14,
R17-21, R22-24, R27-28, R30-31
3 Makes requests for 1-3 preferred items or activities with or without prompts. 7a. R7-8
2 Makes requests by leading others to items. 7a. R1-5, R6, R7-8
1 Makes requests by exhibiting problem behavior. 7a. R1-5, R6, R7-8

Two. Waiting - the tendency to wait when access to items or activities is delayed after a request
4 Waits for 20 minutes without complaints.
3 Waits for 5 minutes without complaints. 7a. R9
2 Waits for 1 minute with complaints or other minor disruptions. 7a. R9
1 Exhibits problem behavior when access is delayed for a few seconds. 7a. R9

Three. Accepting Removals, Making Transitions, Sharing, and Taking Turns - the tendency to accept the removal of preferred
items and activities by persons in authority or peers, to make transitions from preferred activities to non-preferred ones,
and to share and take turns with preferred ones.
4 Accepts the removal of items and activities, transitions, shares, and takes turns without complaints.

Created by Scott Dueker

Learner: ______________ The Essential for Living Quick Assessment Date: ______________

3 Makes complaints when preferred items or activities are removed, during transitions, or during required sharing or taking
turns, but only when motivating events are strong. 7a. R10, R12-13
2 Makes complaints when preferred items or activities are removed, during transitions, or during required sharing or taking
turns. 7a. R10, R12-13
1 Exhibits problem behavior when preferred items or activities are removed, during transitions, or during required sharing or
taking turns. 7a. R10, R12-13

Four. Completing 10 Consecutive, Brief, Previously Acquired Tasks - the tendency to complete brief, previously acquired tasks
between opportunities to make requests.
4 Completes 10 or more consecutive, brief, previously acquired tasks of varying durations and requiring varying degrees of
effort without complaints.
3 Completes 4-6 consecutive, brief, previously acquired tasks without complaints. 7a. R11
2 Completes 1-3 consecutive, brief, previously acquired tasks without disruptive behavior. 7a. R11
1 Exhibits problem behavior when directed to complete a brief, previously acquired task. 7a. R11

Five. Accepting 'No' - the tendencey to accept 'no' when access to items or activities is denied following requests that were
taught and requests for dangerous items and activities that were not taught.
4 Readily accepts "no" by continuing with ongoing activities
3 Complains only when motivation related to the requested item or activitiy is strong. 7a. R15-16
2 Complains when told "no". 7a. R15-16
1 Exhibits problem behavior when told "no". 7a. R15-16

Six. Following Directions Related to Health and Safety - the tendency to follow directions from others that ensure safety and
that permit safe movement throughout the community
4 Follows all directions that involve matters of health and safety and can be taken anywhere with minimal supervision
3 Follows many directions related to safety and can be taken most places in a group of three with one supervisor. 7b. LR1-11
2 Follows only a few directions and requires "hands on" supervision at all times. 7b. LR1-11
1 Does not follow any directions that involve matters of safety and cannot be taken most places within the community without
problem behavior or risking safety. 7b. LR1-11

Seven. Completing Daily Living Skills Related to Health and Safety - the tendency to perform daily living skills which have an
immediate impact on the health and safety of the learner.
4 Completes most daily living skills related to health and safety.
3 Completes 4-6 daily living skills related to health and safety. 8a. DLS-EDF1-9, Slp1-2, MT1-5, AHS1-15, HS1-8
2 Completes 1-3 daily living skills related to health and safety with complaints, some resistance to prompts, or some problem
behavior. 8a. DLS-EDF1-9, Slp1-2, MT1-5, AHS1-15, HS1-8
1 Does not complete any daily living skills related to health and safety without prompts, resistance to prompts, or problem
behavior. 8a. DLS-EDF1-9, Slp1-2, MT1-5, AHS1-15, HS1-8

Eight. Tolerating Situations Related to Health and Safety - the tendency to tolerate unpleasant situations which have an
immediate impact on the health and safety of the learner
4 Tolerates most routine activities related to health and safety without problem behavior.
3 Tolerates 4-6 routine activities related to health and safety. 9. T-BH1-5, T-EDF1-11, T-DM1-9, T-Slp1-5, T-Toil 1-5, T-PRM1-6,
T-PTA1-11, T-PEMR1-10, T-BPH1-8, T-DD1
2 Tolerates 1-3 routine activities related to health and safety with some complaints or problem behavior.9.T-BH1-5, T-EDF1-11,
T-DM1-9, T-Slp1-5, T-Toil1-5, T-PRM1-6, T-PTA1-11, T-PEMR1-10, T-BHP1-8, T-DD1
1 Because of intense episodes of problem behavior, instructors and care providers occasionally avoid routine
activities related to health and safety. 9. T-BH1-5, T-EDF1-11, T-DM1-9, T-Slp1-5, T-Toil1-5, T-PRM1-6, T-PTA1-11,
T-PEMR1-10, T-BPH1-8, T-DD1

Matching: the tendency to match items-to-items, photographs-to-items, and text-to-items

Created by Scott Dueker

Learner: ______________ The Essential for Living Quick Assessment Date: ______________

4 Matches photographs for miniature items, but not text, with items, or activities, and vice versa. 11. M12-13
3 Matches a few photographs or miniature items with items or activities and vice versa. 11.M6-11
2 Matches only identical items. 11 M2-11
1 Does not match identical items. 11. M1

Imitation: the tendency to imitate motor movements made by others

4 Imitates finger, hand, and arm movements and motor movements with items, but does not copy words that have been written,
typed, or Braille-written. 11. Im3
3 Imitates many finger, hand, arm movements and a few motor movements with items. 11. Im2
2 Imitates some finger, hand, arm movements, but not motor movements with items. 11. Im1-2
1 Does not imitate any movements. 11. Im1

Other Daily Living Skills: the tendency to perform daily living skills that do not have an immediate impact on the health and
safety of the learner
4 Completes most daily living skills not related to health and safety
3 Completes 4-6 daily living skills not related to health and safety. 8a. DLS-____
2 Completes 1-3 daily living skills not related to health and safety with complaints, some resistance to prompts, or some
problem behavior. 8a. DLS- ____
1 Does not complete any daily living skills not related to health and safety without prompts, resistance to prompts, or problem
behavior. 8a. DLS- ____

Tolerating Other Situationsthe tendency to tolerate unpleasant situations which do not have an immediate impact on the
health and safety of the learner
4 Tolerates most routine activities not related to health and safety without problem behavior
3 Tolerates 4-6 routine activities not related to health and safety. 9.T-___
2 Tolerates 1-3 routine activities not related to health and safety with some complaints or problem behavior 9.T-___
1 Because of intense episodes of problem behavior, instructors and care providers occasionally avoid routine activities not
related to health and safety. 9.T-___

Naming and Describing: the tendency to name and describe items, activities, people, places, locations, and items with
features that are part of routine events
4 Names or describes many items, activities, familiar people, places, locations, and items with features that are part of 7 or
more routine events. 7b.LRND 11-13 or LRND 14-15
3 Names many items, activities, familiar people, and places that are part of 4-6 routine events. 7b. LRND 7-13
2 Names some items and activities that are part of 1-3 routine events. 7b. LRND1-3.1, 1-3.2, and 1-3.3
1 Does not exhibit any names or descriptions. 7b. LRND1-3.1, 1-3.2, and 1-3.3

Following Directions, the tendency to follow directions, to recognize items, activities, people, places, locations, and
Recognizing, and items with features, and to retrieve items, people, and items with features that are part of routine
Retrieving: events
4 Recognizes and retrieves many items, activities, familiar people, places, locations, and items with features that are part of 7
or more routine events. 7b. LRND11-13 or LRND14-15
3 Recognizes and retrieves many items, activities, familiar people, and places that are part of 4-6 routine events. 7b. LRND7-13
2 Follows directions to complete routine activities, and recognizes and retrieves some items that are part of 1-3 routine events.
7b. LRND1-3.1, 1-3.2, and 1-3.3
1 Does not follow directions to complete routine activities and does not recognize or retrieve any item that is part of a routine
activity. 7b. LR1-11, LR12-17, LRND1-3.1, 1-3.2, and 1-3.3

Answering Questions: the tendency to answer questions that occur before, during, or after routine events
4 Answers many questions like "What are you going to do after lunch?", "Where did you put your blue pants?", and "Who is
driving you to the movies?" that are part of 7 or more routine events. 7c. AQ11-13 or AQ14-15
3 Answers many questions like "Where are the napkins?", "Who is that?", "What are you going to do?", "What are you going to

Created by Scott Dueker

Learner: ______________ The Essential for Living Quick Assessment Date: ______________

get at the mall?", "Who is helping you?", "Where are you going?", and "When do you want your cigar?" that are part of 4-6
routine events. 7c. AQ7-13
2 Answers some questions like "Do you want juice?", "Can you help me?", "What do you want?", or "Which one do you want?"
that are part of 1-3 routine events. 7c. AQ1-3.1, 1-3.2, and 1-3.3
1 Cannot answer any commonly occurring questions. 7c. AQ1-3.1, 1-3.2, and 1-3.3

Problem Behavior: the tendency for the learner to exhibit problem behavior
4 Does not exhibit problem behavior
3 Exhibits disruptive behavior or frequent complaining that presents a problem. 10
2 Exhibits infrequent and less intrusive self-injurious, aggressive, or destructive behavior. 10
1 Exhibits frequent and intense self-injurious, aggressive, or destructive behavior. 10

Created by Scott Dueker