Developmental Disabilities Division
1250 Punchbowl Street, Room #463
Honolulu, HI 96813 | Phone: 808-586-5840
What it is and why it matters
The Supports Intensity Scale is an assessment tool that measures the type and amount of support a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) needs to successfully participate in life at home and in the community.
There is a version for adults, the SIS-A and one for children, the SIS-C. Support needs are assessed in the areas of home living, community living, lifelong learning, employment, health and safety, and social activities. It also addresses how a person’s medical and behavioral needs affect their support needs.
Who attends the SIS Interview?
The assessment involves a face-to-face interview conducted by a SIS Assessor who has beencertified[GCY1][TAN2] by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The person receiving the supports participates in the interview as long as they are able. At least two people are required to be present for the entire interview. This could mean the person receiving the supports and another respondent, or at least two others who know and understand the person and are able to talk about the types of supports the person needs. Interviews can take two to three hours.[TAN3]
Attendees can be:
- Parents / guardian, spouse, or other family member
- Support staff from the person’s home, day program, or employment
- Friends
What types of questions will the assessor ask?
The SIS assessment is designed to be a conversation about the type and amount of support the person needs to successfully participate in various life activities.The assessor’s job is to facilitate this conversation.For each item on the SIS, the assessor will ask:
- What type of support is needed?
- How often is support needed?
- How much time is needed?
There are no right or wrong answers. It’s important that all the questions are asked and responses are given even if certain questions do not seem to apply to the person. [GCY4][TAN5]The assessor will help attendeesagree on the most accurate answersto the questions.
During the assessment, the person may be asked to imagine doing things they may have not done before. For example, even if the person hasn’t had a job, this is a chance to think about the supports they would need in order to work
How will SIS information be used?
People’s wants, needs, and life goals differ. It’s important for the circle of support to understand just what each person [TAN6]needs in order to live a [TAN7]full life in their community. The SIS information helps to determine the type and amount of support each person needs to be successful in a given activity. In the future, the SIS information will be used to determine an individual’s general level of support. During the individualized service planning process, the level of support will be used to help each person decide on the types and amounts of services they could use to meet their needs and achieve their goals and outcomes.
[GCY1]“certified” ?? as suggested by Laine. I think “certified” is better.
[TAN2]I agree
[TAN3]I revised this. Is this any clearer?
[GCY4]This is a formatting question – Do we repeat this again since it’s stated in the box above?
[TAN5]I think it’s important to highlight the thought because this point has caused problems for interviewers
[TAN6]I would leave “wants” out because the SIS focuses on needs. “Wants” should be discussed in service planning
[TAN7]How about “full”? This is because the SIS questions covers the “full” spectrum of life activities.