AFLs (Assessment of Functional Living Skills): Supporting Independence in Children with Autism

Heyyy, BCBA Ruby here!

As behavior analysts, we strive to help children with autism develop skills that are not only essential for academic success but also crucial for independence and functional living. One tool that can help us assess these skills is the AFLs (Assessment of Functional Living Skills). This tool is designed to evaluate and promote the acquisition of life skills that children need in everyday situations, from personal care to community involvement.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through what AFLs is, how it works, and how it can help you support children with autism in becoming more independent.

What is AFLs (Assessment of Functional Living Skills)?

The AFLs is a comprehensive assessment tool that measures the ability of children (and adults) with autism or developmental disabilities to perform daily living tasks that are critical for independence and community participation. These tasks include basic self-care (e.g., dressing, eating), household chores (e.g., cleaning, laundry), social skills (e.g., communication, interactions), and safety skills (e.g., crossing the street, following emergency protocols).

The goal of the AFLs is to assess whether the individual can complete these tasks independently, or if additional supports are needed.

Why is AFLs Important?

Independence is a key goal for many individuals with autism, and the AFLs provides behavior analysts with an evidence-based way to measure and track progress in these functional areas. Here's why AFLs is such an important tool for children with autism:

• Focuses on Real-World Skills: Unlike traditional academic assessments, AFLs targets skills that children will use every day. These include activities that are necessary for personal care, community engagement, and safety, all of which lead to increased independence.

• Promotes Self-Sufficiency: The AFLs is an invaluable tool in creating treatment plans that work toward enhancing a child’s ability to complete essential tasks on their own. The more skills children can acquire, the less reliance they will have on others for daily activities.

• Comprehensive Evaluation: AFLs covers a wide range of skills, from basic living skills to complex community participation. This makes it a holistic tool that provides insights into all areas of a child’s life.

• Tracks Progress Over Time: By using AFLs, you can track the child’s progress toward independence over time. With continuous data collection, you’ll be able to identify areas of growth and determine which skills need further attention.

What Skills Does AFLs Assess?

AFLs is divided into various domains to capture a child’s ability in the following key areas:

1. Self-Care:

   • Dressing

   • Grooming (brushing teeth, hair)

   • Toileting

   • Feeding

2. Household Skills:

   • Cleaning

   • Cooking or meal prep

   • Laundry

   • Organizing belongings

3. Safety Skills:

   • Following road safety rules

   • Identifying dangerous situations

   • Following emergency protocols (e.g., calling 911)

4. Community Participation:

   • Shopping for groceries

   • Navigating public transportation

   • Social skills for interacting in the community (e.g., waiting in line, asking for help)

5. Social Skills:

   • Communicating effectively with others

   • Maintaining relationships

   • Making decisions in social settings

How Does AFLs Work?

To implement AFLs, you first need to conduct an initial assessment to evaluate the child’s current skill level across the different domains. The AFLs assessment consists of a series of tasks that you observe and measure the child’s performance on. This can be done by:

1. Direct Observation: Observe the child completing tasks like dressing, making a snack, or following safety rules. Note whether the child is able to complete these tasks independently, or if they require assistance.

2. Parent and Caregiver Input: Since parents and caregivers know their child best, incorporating their insights is key. They can provide valuable information about the child’s abilities at home and in the community, which will inform the AFLs assessment.

3. Data Collection: Collect data on how much support the child needs to complete each task. This will give you a clear picture of the child’s strengths and areas of need.

4. Development of a Treatment Plan: Based on the assessment, you can create an individualized treatment plan that targets specific skill deficits. The focus will be on building the child’s ability to complete tasks independently, with an emphasis on generalization across different environments.

How to Use AFLs in Your ABA Practice

AFLs can be a powerful tool in your practice as a BCBA when working with children with autism. Here’s how to get started:

1. Conduct the AFLs Assessment: Start by assessing the child’s current skills in each area. This may involve observing the child performing tasks, asking parents and caregivers for their input, and collecting data on how much support the child needs.

2. Create Individualized Goals: Use the data from the AFLs assessment to create specific, measurable goals. For example, if a child needs assistance with dressing, a goal might be to independently put on a shirt by a specific date.

3. Use ABA Principles for Teaching: Implement your treatment plan using ABA strategies, such as reinforcement, prompting, and task analysis. Teach the child new skills in small, manageable steps, and gradually reduce the level of support as they become more independent.

4. Track Progress and Make Adjustments: Regularly collect data to monitor progress. If the child is struggling with a specific task, you may need to adjust your approach and provide more intensive teaching or additional supports.

5. Generalize Skills: Focus on ensuring that skills are generalized across different environments and people. This will increase the child’s ability to perform tasks independently in real-world settings, whether at home, in school, or in the community.

Conclusion

AFLs (Assessment of Functional Living Skills) is an invaluable tool in helping children with autism acquire the skills they need for independent living. By assessing a wide range of functional skills, AFLs provides behavior analysts with the data needed to create personalized treatment plans that promote self-sufficiency. Whether it’s mastering self-care, household chores, or navigating social situations, the goal is always to help the child gain the skills they need to succeed in everyday life.

By using AFLs, you’ll be able to enhance the child’s quality of life and empower them to become as independent as possible.