Assessment Protocol for the National Ability Center

Review Assessment Protocol

a. Before beginning, recreational therapist conducting assessment is required to review the
following:
a. Protocol
b. Standardized assessment procedures: Idyll Arbor Leisure Battery
c. Interview questions
d. Observation assessment procedures: Leisure Motivation Scale Summary Page-
Client Behavior
e. Diagnostic protocol to understand diagnosis
b. Recreational therapist needs to ask any questions they may have following the review and
prior to the assessment.

Prepare Assessment
a. Record review: read client’s chart and program application
b. Recreational therapist is required to gather materials necessary to complete all portions of
assessment (standardized, observation, interview):
a. Idyll Arbor Leisure Battery sheets with simple instructions
b. Pencil and sharpener
c. Leisure Motivation Scale Summary Page-Client Behavior sheet
d. Interview questions
c. Recreational therapist is responsible for preparing the environment in which the
assessment will be conducted:
a. Location: quiet and free of distraction for at least 45 minutes
b. Assessment may be conducted inside or outside, weather permitting
c. Lighting
d. Temperature
e. Volume

Administer the Assessment to the Client

The following information is a guide for the recreational therapist to follow. The duration of the
assessment will depend on the nature of the client.
a. Welcome and Introductions: recreational therapist will introduce him/herself as well as
the practice of recreational therapy and the National Ability Center.
b. Record Review: gather background information about the client before performing
assessment. This will eliminate repetition as well as provide credibility as the information
comes from a reliable source.
a. Review records before assessments
b. Do not duplicate client records
c. Standardized Tests: gather information in a quick fashion. Recreational therapist will
present mostly close-ended questions to obtain standardized information.
a. refer to the instructions for the Idyll Arbor Leisure Battery
b. be consistent
c. provide complete written instructions for the client to follow
 d. Interview Questions: allows client to provide in-depth answers to open-ended questions.
Recreational therapist needs to be consistent to ensure reliability.
a. know client’s characteristics
b. establish introduction
c. ask open-ended questions to allow for in-depth answers
d. restate for clarification and use probes when appropriate
e. close the interview
f. see attached question sheet
e. Observation: recreational therapist is to observe client in a situation as close to their
natural environment as possible. RT will observe through standardized measurement or
other processes.
a. refer to instructions and scoring for Leisure Motivation Scale Summary Page-
Client Behavior
b. be consistent
c. understand what behaviors are being observed during duration of assessment

Analyze Score or Assessment Results

a. Standardized Testing: Idyll Arbor Leisure Battery
a. Leisure Motivation Scale—see instructions for determining four sub-scores:
intellectual, social, competence-mastery, stimulus-avoidance
b. Leisure Attitude Measurement—see instructions for determining three sub-scores:
cognitive, affective, behavioral
c. Leisure Interest Measurement—see instructions for determining eight sub-scores:
physical, outdoor, mechanical, artistic, service, social, cultural, reading
d. Leisure Satisfaction Measure—see instructions for determining six sub-scores:
psychological, educational, social, relaxation, physiological, aesthetic
b. Interview Questions
a. Evaluate each of the five domains of functioning as they pertain to the client and
the program
b. Understand the client’s support system
c. Validate client’s purpose in the program
d. Know and validate what the client hopes to get out of the program
c. Observation: Leisure Motivation Scale Summary Page-Client Behavior
a. Follow instructions for scoring provided on sheet

Interpret Results
a. Standardized Testing: Idyll Arbor Leisure Battery
a. Leisure Motivation Scale
i. Each of the four sub-categories measure the extent to which a client is
motivated by activities that benefit said category
b. Leisure Attitude Measurement
i. Each of the three sub-categories measures how one’s perspective on
leisure contributes to his/her quality of life
c. Leisure Interest Measurement
 i. Each of the eight sub-categories determines the extent to which a client is
interested in a type of activity, thus allowing the RT to choose
interventions which will be engaging and fun
d. Leisure Satisfaction Measure
i. Each of the six areas indicate what form of satisfaction a client receives
from leisure
b. Interview
a. Recreational therapist has baseline understanding of the five functional domains
and leisure functioning.
b. Recreational therapist has baseline knowledge of client’s response to:
i. Stress
ii. Coping techniques
iii. Social skills
iv. Communication skills
c. Observation
a. Recreational therapist will have an understanding of the client’s current behaviors
in the following areas:
i. Appearance
ii. Attention span
iii. Attitude during assessment
iv. Body posture
v. Eye contact
vi. Frustration/agitation level
vii. Apparent comprehension
viii. Response time
d. Interpretation takes place only once scores have been calculated and evaluated from the
record review, standardized assessment, interview, and observation.
e. Use analyzed material to determine:
a. Goals and objectives
b. Programming
c. Adaptations which may be necessary

Documentation and Results

a. Standardized assessment results will be placed in client’s record
b. Assessment summary will be placed in client’s record
a. Scores
b. Data summary
c. Functioning in the 5 domains
d. Suggested treatment and/or specific program
e. Any adaptations which will be necessary

Reassess Client as Necessary or Required

a. Reassess after a period of 6 months
b. Ensure goals are being met and client is satisfied with ongoing assessment during
program
c. If client returns after absence of 6 or more months, reassess