Fundamentals of Vocational Assessment
Mike Ahlers
MMDS, CVE
Roles of the Evaluator
Vocational/Career Expert
 Disability Specialist
 Educator

Vocational Assessment
A general term for the process of
identifying and appraising an
individual’s level of functioning in
relation to vocational preparation
and employment decision making.
Purpose of Assessment
To gather employability related
information with an individual that
will assist/empower that individual in
making vocational decisions.
Outcome of Assessment

To help identify and plan for services
or activities needed to assist the
person in his/her career goals.
Outcome of Assessment

To increase the individual’s
knowledge of his/her capabilities and
jobs so appropriate occupational
choices can be made.
Principles of Assessment
Behavioral observation and personal
interaction are critical
 Information (findings) must be
verified
 It is essential to use a variety of
approaches and methods to provide
fair and accurate vocational
assessment

Principles of Assessment
Assessment is ongoing and
developmental
 Assessment is required to make
decisions and develop plans
 Assessment represents an integral
part of larger processes or systems
 To have value, it must be used and
useful

Principles of Assessment
Assessment requires collaboration
and several sources of input
 Information must be current, valid,
and relevant
 Assessment is systematic and
organized, but flexible

Informed Choice

A decision made by a person served
that is based upon sufficient
experience and knowledge, including
exposure, awareness, interactions,
or instructional opportunities, so that
the choice is made with adequate
awareness of the alternatives and
consequences of the options
available.
Team
The team, at a minimum, should
include the person served and the
primary personnel directly involved
in the participatory process of
defining, refining, and meeting goals.
2002 CARF Standards Glossary
Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Standards
Comprehensive Vocational
Evaluation Services
Vocational Evaluation
1.
2.
3.
An individual written evaluation plan
is developed for each person
The plan is prepared by the person
seeking employment and the
evaluator
The plan identifies questions to be
answered, how they will be answered,
who will answer them, and assistive
technology to be used
Vocational Evaluation
4.
5.
6.
The plan is modified as necessary
A vocational evaluator or vocational
specialist provides or supervises
the services
One or more of the following are
used: Work samples, situational
assessment, psychological testing
Vocational Evaluation
7.
8.
9.
When work samples are used, written
instructions specify the materials used,
layout, methods, and scoring
When situational assessments are
used they are evaluated as to
appropriateness based upon individual
needs
When psychological testing is used, it
is done by qualified persons
Vocational Evaluation
10.
When a functional capacities
assessment is performed, the
report identifies functional
strengths and needs,
accommodations, and supports
available for community inclusion.
Vocational Evaluation
11.
Vocational Evaluation services have the
capability to assess or obtain the
following:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Ability to learn about oneself
Educational and vocational achievements
Assistive technology needed
Community and employment supports
needed
e. Environmental conditions needed
Vocational Evaluation
f.
Tool/job site modification or adaptive
equipment needed
g. Work and non-work needs
h. Independent living skills
i. Intellectual capacities
j. Interests, aptitudes, and career aspirations
k. Job-seeking and job-keeping skills
l. Knowledge of occupational information
Vocational Evaluation
m. Learning styles, including ability to
understand, recall, and respond
n. Loss of access and/or loss of earnings
o. Personal, social & work related behaviors
p. Physical and psychomotor capacities
q. Possible employment objectives
r. Transferable skills
s. Work skills and tolerances
t. Modes of communication
Vocational Evaluation
12.
The information in each written
evaluation report:
a. Answers the referral questions
b. Is shared with the person seeking
employment
c. Is disseminated in a timely manner
d. Is relevant to the desired employment
outcome
Transferable Skills
“Occupationally significant
characteristics not directly affected
or eliminated by the individual’s
physical or emotional disabilities.”
Skills Transfer Definition

A person is considered to have skills
that can be used in jobs other than
those performed previously when the
skilled or semi-skilled work activities
from past jobs can be used to meet
the requirements of skilled or semiskilled work activities of other jobs
or kinds of work.
Adaptive Transferable Skills
Arrives to work on time
 Comes to work regularly
 Works scheduled hours
 Calls in when absent
 Works without constant supervision
 Gets along with others
 Follows rules
 Turns out quality work

Functional Transferable Skills
Makes complex decisions
 Deals with people
 Works to standards
 Performs a variety of duties
 Lifts/carries
 Applies common sense
 Sees pertinent details
 Performs arithmetic operations

Content Transferable Skills
Machines
 Methods
 Tools
 Equipment
 Work Aids
 Knowledge

Rehabilitation Hierarchy
1)
2)
3)
The client can return to work at the
same job with the same employer
without modifications;
The client can return to work at the
same job with the same employer
with modifications;
The client can return to work with
the same employer at a different job
without modifications and at equal
or better pay;
Rehabilitation Hierarchy
4)
5)
6)
The client can return to work with the
same employer at a different job with
modification at equal or better pay;
The client can return to work with a
different employer at the same job
without modifications at equal or better
pay;
The client can return to work with a
different employer at the same job with
modifications at equal or better pay;
Rehabilitation Hierarchy
7)
8)
9)
The client can return to work with a
different employer at a job in which he
or she has never been employed, but
for which the client has transferable
skills and formal training is not
required;
The client may return to work only if
formal training is available and the
client has the ability to successfully
complete such training;
The client does not have potential for
competitive employment.
Referral Questions
What do you want to know?
 What information do you already
have?
 Type of assessment will depend
upon the questions asked.

Assessment
There are three levels:
 Level I – Screening
 Level II – Clinical/Exploratory
 Level III – Vocational Evaluation
Level I – Screening
The initial process designed to arrive
at a decision for vocational planning.
This approach may consist of
interviews, functional assessment,
limited standardized testing,
collecting and analyzing background
information. It is used to assess one
or two specific skills related to a
specific vocational option.
Level II – Clinical/Exploratory
A process to further investigate
vocationally relevant information. It
may include additional interviewing,
additional vocational counseling,
additional standardized testing,
transferable skills analysis and/or job
matching. Adaptive transferable
skills are usually not an issue.
Vocational options are not yet known.
Level III – Vocational Evaluation
A comprehensive process when more indepth information is needed beyond Levels I
and II that systematically uses work to assist
individual’s vocational development and
career decision making. The process can
use work samples, standardized tests,
situational assessments, behavioral
observation, community based assessment,
transferable skill analysis, job matching and
background analysis. Adaptive and
functional transferable skills are
questionable or not known.
Taxonomy
The DOT, O*Net & SOC
Occupational Network replaces the
Dictionary of Occupations Titles
Over 12,000 job titles reduced to 900
Standard Occupational Classification
Assessment Tools
Behavior observation
 Psychometric testing
 Work samples
 Situational Assessment
 Community-based work assessment
 Additional Services:

– Rehabilitation Engineering
– Physical Therapy assessment
– Occupational Therapy assessment
Psychometric Testing
Interest Inventories
Personality profiles
Aptitude tests
Achievement tests
Dexterity performance tests
Learning style assessments
Values identification surveys
Work Sample
A well-defined work activity involving
tasks, materials, and tools that are
identical or similar to those in an
actual job or cluster of jobs.
Valpar
JEVS
McCarron Dial
Situational Assessment
Systematic observation process for
evaluating work related behaviors
and skills within a controlled or semicontrolled work setting. Although
any type of task or situation may be
used, real work is most often
recommended for relevance and
authenticity.
Community-based Work Assessment
Prior to the community-based work
assessment, the evaluator should
have information from a Job
Analysis. This Job analysis
describes what the worker does in
terms of activities or function; How
the work is done; Results of the
work; Worker characteristics; and
context of the work in terms of
environmental and organizational
factors.
Community-based Work Assessment
A specific tool used in the Level III
Vocational Assessment
Usually part of an individualized
comprehensive vocational assessment
Uses real work in a competitive, integrated
setting
Work consistent with the client’s stated,
implied, tested interests
Community-based Work Assessment
Performances are evaluated by
evaluation personnel in coordination
with the employer and supervisor.
Not intended to result in employment.
This is an assessment tool, not a
placement tool!
Community-based Work Assessment
Answers the referral questions
Results / report should include:
 Learning style
 Performance, quality, consistency,
stamina
 Transferable skills
 Potential for success, possible training
 Accommodations
 Other options
Community-based Work Assessment
Done when the questions are
answered
 Paid for participating
 Workers Compensation coverage

Additional Services
Rehabilitation Engineering
Physical Therapy Assessment
Occupational Therapy Assessment
Vocational Assessment Report
A synthesized interpretation of
assessment information that
provides rationale for recommended
steps and plans.
Report Format
Basic Headings
 Services Provided
 Identifying Information
 Assessment Summary
 Behavior Observations
 Conclusion

Report Format
Dream
 Intermediate
 Entry-level

Program Evaluation
KANSAS REHABILITATION SERVICES
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
CUSTOMER ASSESSMENT FOLLOW UP
We are very interested in your comments about the Career Development Centers (CDC) services. Please
spend a few minutes completing this form so we can collect information about our program. Please mark
one answer for each statement corresponding to whether you agree or disagree with the statement. Any
suggestions on how we can improve our services will be welcomed and appreciated.
KANSAS REHABILITATION SERVICES
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
Your Name:_________________________________
90 DAY FOLLOW UP
1) The assessment results were helpful to make some decisions about work options In
or to
develop
a
order
to measure
our program effectiveness, we need to collect some brief information on the
vocational plan.
Circle one:
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
person listed below. Please take a minute to respond. Any suggestions on how we can improve
our services will be welcomed and appreciated.
Strongly Disagree
Comments or Suggestions:
__________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Consumer Name
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________
Referral Counselor
2) I felt I was included throughout the assessment.
Circle one:
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Comments or Suggestions:
______________
Admit date
______________
Exit date
_______________________________
CDC Staff
Strongly Disagree
1. Is the consumer identified above, employed or in training consistent with the individual’s
unique strengths, priorities, concerns, capabilities, career interests and informed choice?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
YES
NO
2) When did the employment or training start?
__________________________________
3) If employed, what is the job title?
__________________________________
3) Job options and support services were identified for me.
Circle one:
Strongly Agree
Agree
Comments or Suggestions:
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
4) If employed, what is the consumer’s present salary? _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5) If employed, does the consumer’s job include benefits?
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
YES
NO
Comments:____________________________________________________________________
4) Overall, I was generally satisfied with the services provided by the Career Development
Center.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Circle one:
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly______________________________________________________________________________
Disagree
______________________________________________________________________________
Comments or Suggestions:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Method of data collection:
Please return to:
Diane Allen
Kansas Rehabilitation Services
White Lakes Mall
3640 SW Topeka Blvd. Suite 150
Topeka, KS 66611
dib@srskansas.org
Please return to:
1)exit interview 2)phone consumer 3)phone DO 4)mail consumer
Diane Allen
Kansas Rehabilitation Services
White Lakes Mall
3640 SW Topeka Blvd. Suite 150
Topeka, KS 66611
dib@srskansas.org
5)mail DO
Quality

“The age of the customer” has
arrived in employment and
community services…

We should accept for our families
only those services that measure up
to the ultimate criterion —“those we
would want for ourselves!”
2001 Consumer and Family Guide to Quality Services - CARF
Mike Ahlers
smxa@srs.ks.gov