The Adolescent and Adult Psychoeducational Profile: assessment of adolescents and adults with severe developmental handicaps.

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Adolescent and Adult Psychoeducational Profile (AAPEP), an assessment instrument designed for adolescents and adults with severe developmental handicaps. Subjects were 60 adolescents and adults, 30 with autism and 30 with mental retardation but without autism. The groups were matched on age and IQ. Results suggested high interrater reliability on all function areas of the AAPEP (Vocational Skills, Independent Functioning, Leisure Skills, Vocational Behavior, Functional Communication, Interpersonal Behavior) and on all three scales (Direct Observation, Home, School/Work). Validity measures suggested that the recommendations generated from the AAPEP were viewed by blind experts as more helpful than those already generated for the individual clients and contained in their Individual Education Programs (IEPs) or Individual Habilitation Plans (IHPs). Informal measures indicated that parents and/or group home staff also found AAPEP recommendations helpful. Finally, reliability and validity measures were also encouraging for moderately and severely handicapped adolescents and adults without autism. The AAPEP appears to be an effective new instrument for those working with older handicapped clients.