What is the ABLLS-R? A Guide for ABA Clinicians

Next up in our ABA Assessments Series is a guide to the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS-R).

The ABLLS-R is a common tool ABA clinicians use to inform treatment planning and programming. In this guide, we'll break down this assessment, highlighting what it is and how it's used.

What is the ABLLS-R?

The ABLLS-R is a comprehensive assessment, curriculum guide, and skill-tracking system used in ABA and educational settings. It's designed to evaluate the basic language and learning skills of children. This tool is primarily used with autistic children and those with other developmental delays.

Created by Dr. James Partington, the ABLLS-R is grounded in B.F. Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior. It provides a structured framework to evaluate verbal behavior and learner readiness skills, as well as guide individualized intervention planning.

What Skills Does the ABLLS-R Evaluate?

The ABLLS-R covers 544 skills across 25 domains, making for a comprehensive assessment. It encompasses verbal behavior skills, such as manding and intraverbals, along with adaptive and life skills, early learner academic skills, social skills, and more.

The ABLLS-R domains include:

• Cooperation & Reinforcer Effectiveness

• Visual Performance

• Receptive Language

• Imitation

• Vocal Imitation

• Requests

• Labeling

• Intraverbals

• Spontaneous Vocalizations

• Syntax & Grammar

• Play and Leisure

• Social Interaction

• Group Instruction

• Classroom Routines

• Generalized Responding

• Reading

• Math

• Writing

• Spelling

• Dressing

• Eating

• Grooming

• Toileting

• Gross Motor

• Fine Motor

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How Can the ABLLS-R Inform Treatment Planning?

BCBAs can use the ABLLS-R to evaluate a learner's skills and develop treatment goals that address skill needs.

Identifying Skill Strengths & Deficits—BCBAs use the ABLLS-R during initial assessments and reassessments to identify areas of skill strengths and areas of skill needs.

Guiding Goal Selection—Based on the results of the assessment, BCBAs create goals to target areas of skill deficits that are socially significant for the learner.

Writing Programs—The ABLLS-R Skill Acquisition Program Manual, created by Tammy Frazer, is an addition to the ABLLS-R. These manuals provide specific guidance to simplify ABLLS-aligned programming. It includes a step-by-step teaching plan for each of the tasks within the assessment. Of course, these should be individualized to each learner. However, it's a helpful guide, especially for new analysts who are developing competencies related to programming.

Benefits & Potential Drawbacks of the ABLLS-R

The ABLLS-R offers several potential benefits for ABA clinicians. Most notably, it's a comprehensive skill tracker that covers a vast range of skills. It also has an evidence-based foundation and is widely accepted by clinicians and funders.

The main drawback is that the ABLLS-R can be time-intensive, particularly for an initial assessment. With subsequent assessments, it becomes easier to update. For clinicians looking for a quick overview of skills, this may not be the best option. However, if you're looking for a comprehensive understanding of your learner's skills, the ABLLS-R could be a good option.

Do Insurance Payors Approve of the ABLLS-R?

It's always best to check with individual payors to confirm approved assessments. However, in my experience, most funders approve of the ABLLS-R for toddlers and children up to around age 12. Once a learner approaches teenage years, funders tend to push back on the use of the ABLLS-R, requesting a more "age-appropriate" assessment, like the MOTAS or AFLS.

ABLLS-R vs VB-MAPP: What are the Differences?

The VB-MAPP is another commonly used assessment tool in ABA. Let's compare and contrast these two tools.

	ABLLS-R	VB-MAPP
Structure	544 skills across 25 skill domains	170 milestones skills + a Barriers Assessment & Transitions Assessment
Ages Used	Primarily used with children aged 2-12	Primarily used with early learners, from toddlers to 6-year-olds
Skills of Focus	Comprehensive, covering communication, social, adaptive/life skills, pre-academics, and learner readiness.	Primarily focused on verbal behavior skills, but also covers learner readiness, social and play skills, and some pre-academics.

Learn more about the VB-MAPP here. 

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Is the ABLLS-R a Norm-Referenced Assessment?

The ABLLS-R is not a norm-referenced assessment. It is a criterion-referenced assessment. This means it measures a learner's performance against a predefined set of skills, not against the performance of a normative peer group. In other words, the goal is to determine whether or not the learner has the skills outlined in the ABLLS-R. It's not to compare a learner's abilities to other children.

Where Can You Purchase the ABLLS-R?

You can purchase a physical copy of the ABLLS-R on Different Roads to Learning's website. The ABLLS-R is also available as a digital platform on CR Assessments.

From Assessment to Action

The ABLLS-R can be a useful tool for ABA clinicians and educators to holistically evaluate their learners' abilities. When paired with the ABLLS-R Skill Acquisition Program Manual, it offers a clear path from assessment to individualized treatment planning.

Interested in learning about more ABA assessments? Stay tuned for the next article in our ABA Assessment Series!

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Related Articles in our Assessments Series:

Shining a Spotlight on Assessments Commonly Used in ABA

Explore the Meaningful Outcomes Treatment & Assessment Scale (MOTAS)

What is the VB-MAPP? A Guide to the ABA Professionals

Evaluating Social Skills with the Socially Savvy Assessment

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