Supports Intensity Scale

The Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) is a standardized assessment developed by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) to measure the pattern and intensity of the supports a person with intellectual or developmental disability needs to participate in everyday life. Rather than cataloguing deficits or measuring impairment, the SIS reframes assessment around the supports paradigm articulated by Thompson and colleagues, asking what kinds and amounts of help a person requires to take part in valued activities. It surveys support needs across six life-activity domains — home living, community living, lifelong learning, employment, health and safety, and social activities — together with protection and advocacy and exceptional medical and behavioral needs. Each relevant activity is rated on three independent dimensions: how often support is needed, how much daily support time it consumes, and what type of support is required. These item ratings are converted into standardized subscale scores and an overall Supports Intensity Index that supports person-centered planning and the equitable allocation of resources.