CDS Disability Assessment & Diagnosis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law requires that schools use a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) before identifying a student as having a learning disability?
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- IDEA 2004 (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- No Child Left Behind Act
Correct answer: IDEA 2004
IDEA 2004 allows states to use a Response to Intervention (RTI) model within MTSS as part of the evaluation process for specific learning disabilities.
Question 2: A disability specialist is reviewing an assessment for a client with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Which domain is most critical to evaluate first?
- Vocational interests
- Cognitive and neurocognitive functioning (Correct answer)
- Social support networks
- Educational history
Correct answer: Cognitive and neurocognitive functioning
Cognitive and neurocognitive functioning is the foundational domain for TBI assessment as it directly impacts all other functional areas.
Question 3: The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) measures which of the following?
- Intelligence quotient across three domains
- Adaptive behavior in communication, daily living, and socialization (Correct answer)
- Presence and severity of psychiatric symptoms
- Academic achievement across core subjects
Correct answer: Adaptive behavior in communication, daily living, and socialization
The VABS assesses adaptive behavior in domains including communication, daily living skills, socialization, and motor skills.
Question 4: During a functional capacity evaluation (FCE), a client consistently stops a task before measurable physiological limits are reached. This is called:
- Symptom magnification
- Submaximal effort (Correct answer)
- Malingering
- Pain avoidance behavior
Correct answer: Submaximal effort
Submaximal effort refers to a client performing below their actual physical capacity during functional testing, which may or may not be intentional.
Question 5: Which assessment model emphasizes examining the interaction between a person's health condition, body functions, activities, and environmental factors?
- Medical model of disability
- WHO International Classification of Functioning (ICF) (Correct answer)
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) framework
- Social Security Administration criteria model
Correct answer: WHO International Classification of Functioning (ICF)
The ICF framework from the World Health Organization evaluates disability as the interaction between health conditions and contextual factors.
Question 6: A CDS professional notices a significant discrepancy between a client's reported pain levels and observable behavior during assessment. The appropriate next step is to:
- Dismiss the client's self-report entirely
- Document the discrepancy and explore further with standardized validity measures (Correct answer)
- Immediately refer for psychological evaluation
- Conclude the client is exaggerating symptoms
Correct answer: Document the discrepancy and explore further with standardized validity measures
Documenting and further investigating with validity measures ensures objective, ethical, and thorough assessment practices.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a situational assessment in disability evaluation?
- Measuring IQ in a standardized testing environment
- Observing a client's work performance in a real or simulated job setting (Correct answer)
- Reviewing medical records and diagnostic history
- Administering personality inventories in a clinical office
Correct answer: Observing a client's work performance in a real or simulated job setting
Situational assessments evaluate actual or simulated work performance to determine functional work capacity in realistic conditions.
CDS Disability Assessment & Diagnosis 2
Which federal law requires that schools use a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) before identifying a student as having a learning disability?