Goal Attainment Scaling for Children With Disabilities: Supporting Inclusive Practice

• In Event: Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Special Education Research SIG: Instruction and Students With Disabilities

Abstract

Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is an evaluation method used in human services and has been used effectively for children with disabilities. GAS, employed in a Head Start early literacy project to monitor individual progress of children with disabilities, inform team decision making and measure program impact is described. Three case narratives illustrate GAS procedures for individualized progress monitoring. Methods for using GAS to measure program impact are described and outcome data is summarized. Results indicate that children with disabilities with low or moderate needs achieved or exceeded goal expectations in a majority of instances but no children with high needs did although progress was documented. The use of GAS to support inclusive special education practice is discussed.

Authors

• Gretchen D. Butera, Indiana University

• Alina Mihai, Indiana University Kokomo

• Potheini Vaiouli, Indiana University - Bloomington