The Behavioural Assessment Scales for Indian Children with Mental

Retardation

(BASIC-MR) has been designed to elicit systematic information on the current level of behaviours in
school going children with mental handicap. The Scales are suitable for mentally handicapped
children between 3 to 16 (or 18) years. However, the teacher may find the Scales useful for even
older severely retarded individuals. The Scales are relevant for behavioural assessment and can also
be used as a curriculum guide for programme planning and training based on the Individual needs of
each mentally handicapped child.

BASIC-MR has been developed in two parts:

Part A: The items included in Part A of the Scale helps to assess the current level of skill behaviours
in the child.

Part B: The items included in Part B of the Scale helps to assess the current level of problem
behaviours in the child.

The BASIC-MR, Part A, consists of 280 Items grouped under the following seven domains,

1. Motor

2. Activities of daily living (ADL)

3. Language

5. Number-Time

6. Domestic Social

7. Prevocational-Money

4: Reading-Writing

There are forty items under each domain.

The BASIC-MR, Part B, consists of seventy-five items grouped under the following ten domains.

1. Violent and destructive behaviours

2. Temper tantrums

3. Misbehaves with others

4. Self injurious behaviours

5. Repetitive behaviours
6. Odd behaviours

7. Hyperactive behaviours

8. Rebellious behaviour

9. Antisocial behaviours

10. Fears

Functional Assessment checklist for programming (FACP)

The trend in special educational assessment and programming has changed from 10 based grouping
to functional level-based grouping without compromising on age-appropriate programming. Any
educational assessment tool should lead to appropriate programming for the child. It should also
provide inbuilt periodic evaluation facility for monitoring progress and modifying programme. The
tool also should provide for qualitative and quantitative measurement of the child's progress. It
should also help in homogeneously grouping children and provide for promotion of children
objectively to next level. The items listed in the tool should be such that they are (1) easy to
understand, (2) activities necessary for daily living, (3) easily observable, (4) age appropriate as far as
possible, (5) ultimately contribute to living competently in the society.

Domains

Pre-primary Primary – 1 Primary – 2 Secondary Prevocational 1 Care giver

and 2