Independence Assessment Rubric

Independence is the underpinning for lifelong learning; and gives merit to all other learning
(Lebrun and Zuccala, 2013)

SAFETY OF SELF AND OTHERS

To ensure a safe environment for self and others
1. With what frequency is direct service provided?

2. What is the duration of direct support provided?

3. What possible strategies can be put in place in our school to

allow the student to develop independence?
4. What are the interventions that can be put in place in our school
to meet the safety needs of students?
5. What programs and services are available to respond to the
needs of the students to allow them to develop independence (e.g.
classroom teacher, Principal, EST-Resource, EST- Literacy, ESTNumeracy, EST-Guidance, ASPEA services, School Intervention
Worker, Behaviour Mentor, Educational Assistant, Social Worker,
School Psychologist, S-LP, etc.)?

Totally Dependent
Communication

The student is fully dependent on an adult to facilitate

all communication with peers and other adults to
ensure safety of self and others.

Partially Independent

Mobility

The student is fully dependent on an adult for all

mobility to ensure his or her physical safety.

The student can communicate his or her needs

with adult reminders and prompting to ensure
safety
The student can communicate with prompting
from an adult using his, her or their
communication device
The student requires adult assistance to update
vocabulary/program device

The student requires adult assistance to ensure safe

access/pathways

Independent

The student communicates his or her needs in

all school settings independently, without the
prompting of another person.
The student uses an alternative and/or
augmentative system independently to
communicate with peers and school staff
(responds and initiates communication)
The student is able to program/update own
device independently

The student is independently mobile.

from an adult using his, her or their

communication device
The student requires adult assistance to update
vocabulary/program device

augmentative system independently to

communicate with peers and school staff
(responds and initiates communication)
The student is able to program/update own
device independently

Mobility

The student is fully dependent on an adult for all

mobility to ensure his or her physical safety.

The student requires adult assistance to ensure safe

access/pathways

The student is independently mobile.

Behaviour

The student demonstrates behaviour that is of concern to

the safety of self and/or others.

The student demonstrates behaviour that is of concern, but

is not harmful to self or others

Student self-regulates his, her or their behaviour

without immediate prompting from an adult

Supervision is required at all times to support

the student to ensure the safety of self and
others.
The student has an individualized behaviour
support plan (IBSP).

The student requires support to self-regulate his

or her behaviour. Immediate prompts (verbal,
gesture or visual) from an adult is required.

The student needs to learn a new, appropriate

behaviour. Immediate prompts (verbal, gesture
or visual) from an adult is required.

The student has an individualized behaviour

support plan (IBSP)

Routine and essential medical care recommended by a doctor or pediatrician (e.g. oral or injectable medication, tube feeding, catheterization, etc.)
Note: It is important to follow Policy 704 - Health Support Services

ROUTINE AND ESSENTIAL MEDICAL CARE

1. With what frequency is direct service provided?
2. What is the duration of direct support provided?

3. What possible strategies can be put in place in our school to

allow the student to develop independence?
4. What are the interventions that can be put in place in our
school to meet the routine and essential medical care needs of
students?
5. What programs and services are available to respond to the
needs of the students to allow them to develop independence
(e.g. classroom teacher, Principal, EST-Resource, ESTLiteracy, EST-Numeracy, EST-Guidance, ASPEA services,
School Intervention Worker, Behaviour Mentor, Educational
Assistant, Social Worker, School Psychologist, S-LP, etc)?
Totally Dependent

Partially Independent

Independent

students?
5. What programs and services are available to respond to the
needs of the students to allow them to develop independence
(e.g. classroom teacher, Principal, EST-Resource, ESTLiteracy, EST-Numeracy, EST-Guidance, ASPEA services,
School Intervention Worker, Behaviour Mentor, Educational
Assistant, Social Worker, School Psychologist, S-LP, etc)?

Partially Independent

Totally Dependent

Independent

Medication (e.g. oral,

liquid, injection,
pumps, drops, etc.)

An adult must administer the medication, ensuring the

correct dosage and time.

The student is able to take the medication

independently, however, an adult must be verify the
dosage.

The student is able to take the medication without the

supervision of an adult.

Other medical care

(ex : tube feeding,
catheterization)

An adult must provide routine and essential medical

care to the student.

The student is able to carry out his or her routine and

essential medical care under the supervision of an
adult.

The student is able to carry out his or her routine and

essential medical care independently, without he
supervision of an adult.

Tasks of adaptive functioning and daily living (e.g. feeding, personal hygiene, dressing, etc.).

PERSONAL CARE
1. With what frequency is direct service provided?

2. What is the duration of direct support provided?

3. What possible strategies can be put in place in our school to

allow the student to develop independence?
4. What are the interventions that can be put in place in our
school to meet the personal care needs of students?
5. What programs and services are available to respond to the
needs of the students to allow them to develop independence
(e.g. classroom teacher, Principal, EST-Resource, ESTLiteracy, EST-Numeracy, EST-Guidance, ASPEA services,
School Intervention Worker, Behaviour Mentor, Educational
Assistant, Social Worker, School Psychologist, S-LP, etc.)?

Totally Dependent

Partially Independent

Independent

Personnel Hygiene

The student is fully dependent on an adult for personal

hygiene routines, including toileting.

The student is able to carry out personal hygiene

routines with some supervision.

The student is able to carry out personal hygiene

routines independently, without supervision.

Feeding

The student is fully dependent on an adult or feeding

and drinking.

The student requires assistance or adult reminders and

prompting when feeding.

The student is able to feed themselves independently.

School Intervention Worker, Behaviour Mentor, Educational

Assistant, Social Worker, School Psychologist, S-LP, etc.)?

Totally Dependent

Partially Independent

Independent

Personnel Hygiene

The student is fully dependent on an adult for personal

hygiene routines, including toileting.

The student is able to carry out personal hygiene

routines with some supervision.

The student is able to carry out personal hygiene

routines independently, without supervision.

Feeding

The student is fully dependent on an adult or feeding

and drinking.

The student requires assistance or adult reminders and

prompting when feeding.

The student is able to feed themselves independently.

Dressing

The student is fully dependent on an adult for all

dressing.

The student is can dress themselves with some

assistance and/or prompting.

The student is able to dress themselves independently.

LEARNING SUPPORTS
1. With what frequency is direct service provided?

2. What is the duration of direct support provided?

3. What possible strategies can be put in place in our school to

allow the student to develop independence?
4. What are the interventions that can be put in place in our
school to meet the learning access needs of students?
5. What programs and services are available to respond to the
needs of the students to allow them to develop independence
(e.g. classroom teacher, Principal, EST-Resource, ESTLiteracy, EST-Numeracy, EST-Guidance, ASPEA services,
School Intervention Worker, Behaviour Mentor, Educational
Assistant, Social Worker, School Psychologist, S-LP, etc.)?

Totally Dependent
Accessing Learning

The student requires specialized and

individualized instruction involving frequent
prompting and reinforcement, to develop
learning skills in order to access learning
The student is fully dependent on an adult to
facilitate all communication (oral and written)
with peers and other adults to access learning

Partially Independent

Independent

The student requires occasional prompting and

reinforcement in order to access learning

The student can independently access learning

with universal or justified accommodations

The student can communicate his or her needs

with adult reminders and prompting to access
learning

The student communicates his or her needs in

all school settings independently, without the
prompting of another person.

The student can communicate with prompting

from an adult using his, her or their alternative
and/or augmentative system and/or assistive
technology device

The student uses an alternative and/or

augmentative system and/or assistive
technology independently to communicate with
peers and school staff (responds and initiates
communication)

learning skills in order to access learning

The student is fully dependent on an adult to

facilitate all communication (oral and written)
with peers and other adults to access learning

The student can communicate his or her needs

with adult reminders and prompting to access
learning

The student communicates his or her needs in

all school settings independently, without the
prompting of another person.

The student can communicate with prompting

from an adult using his, her or their alternative
and/or augmentative system and/or assistive
technology device

The student uses an alternative and/or

augmentative system and/or assistive
technology independently to communicate with
peers and school staff (responds and initiates
communication)

The student requires adult assistance to update

vocabulary and/or to program device

The student is able to program/update own

device independently

Department of Education & Early Childhood Development, New Brunswick

2016