SCL Questions and Answers

Questions Related to Supports Intensity Scale (SIS)
Q.
If there is a change in the client’s behavioral status, can a new SIS Assessment be recommended by the team and completed ASAP?
A.
Yes, if there is a significant change in a person's support needs, the case manager would need to make the request to the SIS trainer and the DDID staff person who is listed as "Contact" in the Contact Information box at the right of this page.
Q.
Are there any time constraints on the SIS (i.e., can only have an assessment every years, etc.)?
A.
The SIS is completed once every other year; however, the case manager can request that an SIS be completed as referenced above. Send requests to the person who is listed as "Contact" in the Contact Information box at the right of this page.
Q.
If the information or scoring on the SIS appears to be inaccurate, may a new SIS assessment be requested? If so, who can request a new assessment?
A.
Yes, the case manager would need to make the request to the SIS trainer and send it to the person who is listed as "Contact" in the Contact Information box at the right of this page.
Q.
What is a Respondent?
A.
The DDID SIS assessor contacts the case manager to schedule. The case manager is responsible for inviting the family/guardian as applicable, and work with the individual and family/guardian to identify the best respondents. To be a respondent, the only criteria is that you must have known the person for at least three months, have spent significant time with the individual recently, and also be able to answer questions in a group interview format. There must be at least two qualified respondents. However, if there is a large group of attendees, the SIS may take longer, which may frustrate some. Research with the assessment has not shown that the results are any more accurate.

DDID encourages case managers to look for respondents from different areas of the person's life, if possible, as that helps to get the most complete picture. A clinician could certainly be one of the respondents, as long as the clinician really knows the person well enough to be able to answer detailed questions about the person's support needs (what does it take for the person to be successful in home living, community living, lifelong learning, etc.).