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Supports Intensity Scale - Children's Version
(SIS-C)

SIS

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What is the SIS-C?


The Supports Intensity Scale - Children's Version® (SIS-C®) is a standardized assessment tool designed to measure the pattern and intensity of supports that a child aged 5 to 16 years and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) requires to be successful in age-appropriate community settings.

For a child with IDD, there may be a mismatch between what a child is able to do and the environmental demands placed on the child, which results in a need for types and patterns of support that most other children do not need.

The SIS-C provides measures that are specific to the support needed by children in typical, age-appropriate environments. It reflects the general measurement framework, rating system, and common support need domains as the Supports Intensity Scale - Adult Version®  (SIS-A®).

SIS-C Information

 

SIS-C Measures

The SIS-s measures an individual's 

  • Exceptional Medical and Behavioral Support Needs
  • Support Needs for Life Activities in the areas of home living, community & neighborhood, school participation, school learning, health & safety, social activities, and advocacy.

The Scale ranks each activity according to frequency, amount, and type of support needed.


The SIS-C is Different

The SIS suite of tools shift the focus from deficiencies to support needs, by evaluating the practical supports a child needs in age-appropriate settings.

Administration

The assessment is done through an interview with the person being assessed and those who have known the individual for at least three months.

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SIS FAQs

From sample interview forms to conducting a pilot program, here's what your colleagues are asking about the SIS.

Support Needs

Support needs are the pattern and intensity of supports necessary for a person to participate in activities linked with typical human functioning.


SIS-C Formats

Print

A paper and pencil-based test using a 12-page Interview and Profile form.

The User's Manual is necessary to complete training and administer a valid interview.

SISOnline

SISOnline is an advanced web application accessed through a standard web browser. Assessment data is entered, stored, and used to generate a variety of reports and statistics.

SISVenture

SISVenture is a data entry module for laptops to temporarily store interview data for later upload into SISOnline.

The SIS-C was published in 2016. The authors of the SIS-C are James R. Thompson, Michael L. Wehmeyer, Carolyn Hughes, Karrie A. Shogren, Hyojeong Seo, Todd D. Little, Robert L. Schalock, Rodney E. Realon, Susan R. Copeland, James R. Patton, Edward A. Polloway, Debbie Shelden, Shea Tanis, and Marc J. Tassé.

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