Learning Outcome 4: 

Assessment Structure

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Section 1: 34 Item Assessment rating Confidence and Importance in 9 Domains

(NextEd's 9 Pillars of Independent Living) 

• The 34 items are divided into the 9 domains as follows:

  • Self-Determination (4)

  • Routines (3)

  • Personal Safety (4)

  • Connection to Community (1)

  • Leisure & Wellness (4)

  • Cooking & Nutrition (5)

  • Managing Living Spaces (4)

  • Money Management (5)

  • Communication (4)

• 4-Point Scales for Confidence and Importance

  • Confidence:

    • 1: I have a big problem doing this 

    • 2: I have a little problem doing this

    • 3: I do this OK

    • 4: I am really good at doing this​

  • Importance: 

    • 1: Not really important to me

    • 2: Important to me

    • 3: Really important to me

    • 4: Most important of all to me

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Section 2: Three Questions on 4-point scales

• How do you make decisions?

  • 1: I don't make my own decisions

  • 2: I make some of my own decisions

  • 3: I may most of my own decisions

  • 4: I make all of my own decisions​

• How do you feel about living on your own?

  • 1: I never want to live on my own

  • 2: Maybe someday I will live on my own

  • 3: I would like to live on my own sometime soon

  • 4: I am ready to move out today​

• How frequently do you use technology to support independence?

  • 1: I never use technology supports

  • 2: I sometimes use technology supports 

  • 3: I use technology supports every day

  • 4: I use technology supports multiple times a day

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Section 3: Participant Identified Goals for the Program 

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Post-Assessment Additions

• How well does the NextEd  Program meet your needs?

  • 1: Does not meet my needs

  • 2: Sometimes meets my needs

  • 3: Mostly meets my needs

  • 4: Always meets my needs

• Did you learn any skills in the NextEd Program that you will use immediately or in the near future? 

  • 1: Did not learn anything I will use

  • 2: Learned some new things that I will use

  • 3: Learned a lot of new things that I will use

  • 4: Learned everything and will use it all in my life

• Participant suggestions for the program

• Personal accomplishments

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Preliminary Outcomes to Highlight

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Examples of Participant Pre-Program Goals:

• "To leave feeling ready to live on my own and handle supports to assist in my life... and manage my life" 

• "Make a friend"

• "Get safety skills"

• "Cooking and cleaning without anyone asking me to do it"

• "Creating and sticking to a budget - learning to cook"

• "Show parents I can be trusted"

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Participant Pre-Assessment Overall Confidence

• Median Pre-Assessment Score of Confidence: 106/136

• Score Range: 85-135

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Participant Post-Assessment Overall Confidence

• Median Pre-Assessment Score of Confidence: 114/136

• Score Range: 80-136

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7 of 9 participants stated the NextEd Program mostly or always met their needs

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8 of 9 participants stated they learned at least some new skills from NextEd that they will use

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Examples of Participant Post-Program Accomplishments:

• "Doing everything on my own"

• "Handling my own room and being aware of how much money I have to spend"

• "Being more independent"

• "Using my money wisely"

• "Taking medication without anyone asking me to and making new friends"

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Examples of Participant Suggestions for the Program: 

• "Going further with individualism"

• "More opportunities for learning how to clean"

• "Learning how to do laundry"

• "Too much walking - be closer to the dining hall"

• "More cooking"

• "Longer breaks"

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