Like the BRAIN BOOK^® System itself, the “Skills in Action” assessment battery was developed to fill a void. Efforts were made to find a commercially available, normed, standardized assessment tool that appropriately evaluated a brain-injured person’s ability to learn compensatory strategies. None existed.

With the help of BRAIN BOOK^® System’s consulting psychologist, Michael O’Connell, Ph.D. (Rogue Valley Psychological Associates), a mix of improved assessment tools were configured. They include standardized neuropsycholgical assessments, functional ADL assessments and BRAIN BOOK^® System’s “Skills in Action” Assessment.

When all the recommended components are used, BRAIN BOOK^® System is able to offer a refreshingly useful evaluation to families, third-party funding agencies, consulting physicians, vocational counselors and others who work with persons with brain injury who they think may be an appropriate candidates for BRAIN BOOK^® System’s program.

MicroCog Assessment of Cognitive Functioning
This is a normed, standardized neuropsychological assessment that is administered via computer. It provides a baseline for assessing inherent abilities related to memory, organization and other cognitive functions. Although it does little to predict functional potential, it is useful for establishing a baseline.

ILS (Independent Living Scales)
This is a normed, standardized functional assessment that provides a baseline for various activities of daily living (related to money, self-care in the home, health and safety, transportation and social adjustment.)

"Skills in Action" Assessment
This is a battery of five assessments designed to measure a person’s willingness and ability to use compensatory skills. While it is not normed or standardized, it is considered to have so much face validity that it does not need to be normed. Those who have used it in the vocational setting report that it is a highly useful tool.

The “Skills in Action” assessment addresses the following specific areas:

	insight (self-awareness) about deficits and strengths
	ability to follow instructions for completing a task, when coached to write Memory Notes
	willingness and ability to write, find and use “Memory Notes”
	ability to communicate with others to get needs met
	ability to brainstorm options, when coached to use visual cues

The “Skills in Action” Assessment was used extensively in the successful Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation Pilot.

Review of Medical Records
A review of medical history and records completes the assessment battery. The ideal scenario is that BRAIN BOOK^® System would review a person’s medical records in conjunction with results of the standardized assessments and the “Skills in Action” assessment (training is available for administration of the “Skills in Action” assessment).

The entire evaluation process is supervised by Dr. Michael O’Connell, BRAIN BOOK^® System's consulting psychologist. Dr. O’Connell has worked with BRAIN BOOK^® System students since 1992 and supports its use in situations where individuals with brain injury can be expected to use it successfully. Together with BRAIN BOOK^® System staff, a report is produced that identifies the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses, in the context of compensatory skills training. The report outlines the functional areas expected to require attention, and includes a schedule and time-frame for completion of the program.

In vocational rehabilitation situations, the client’s vocational plan is an integral part of the evaluation process. With the vocational plan as the benchmark, BRAIN BOOK^® System will provide a realistic time-line and budget the client can be expected to follow to achieve their vocational goals.

For more information on the “Skills in Action” assessment, contact:

Kathy Moeller, Founder, BRAIN BOOK^® System
Medford, Oregon (541) 779-5646
e-mail: KathyM@brainbook.com

Keri Bennett, Vocational Rehabilitation,
Kearney, Nebraska (308) 865-5343
e-mail: k_bennett@vocrehab.state.ne.us