Skip to Content

New This Year

navigator

New Resources

Research

Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS) User's Manual and 25 Interview Forms

Non-Member Price
$155.00
  • TrimSize:
    8.5 x 11
  • Format:
    Paperback
  • ItemNum:
    702
  • MemberPrice:
    131.75
  • Year:
    2017
  • Author:
    Marc J. Tassé, Robert L. Schalock, Giulia Balboni, Henry (Hank) Bersani, Jr., Sharon A. Borthwick-Duffy, Scott Spreat, David Thissen, Keith F. Widaman, and Dalun Zhang

This product bundle is one copy of the DABS User's Manual and a pack of 25 DABS interview forms. 

The Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale ® (DABS®) is an instrument for assessing the adaptive behavior of people between the ages of 4 and 21 for the purpose of determining whether the person meets the second criterion for a diagnosis of intellectual disability (ID). The second criterion is a significant limitation in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. The DABS is a norm-referenced instrument that uses data obtained from an interview with a respondent who knows the person very well.

The DABS has a number of unique features that support its precision, accuracy, validity, and credibility in making a diagnosis of ID, including:

  • Measures some aspects of adaptive behavior that are not currently measured by other standardized instruments, including naiveté, gullibility, and technology-based skills.
  • Designed using item response theory (IRT) and reliably measure individual performance levels across the continuum of adaptive skills and ages.
  • Provides precise information to assist users in determining significant limitations in adaptive behavior.


Because the DABS relies on IRT, it cannot be scored by hand, and requires a specially developed computer program for scoring. A complimentary, single-use voucher code for the scoring platform is included with the purchase of each manual.

AAIDD’s online scoring platform for the DABS provides reports for each assessment scored, there is a nominal fee for each use of the scoring platform ($1 per score). The scoring platform is accessed through single-use code(s) emailed to users immediately following their purchase in the bookstore.

Purchase a single code ($1)

Purchase a pack of 10 codes ($10)

    Availability: In stock