What is the TASS?
The Talkabout Assessment of Social Skills (TASS) is an assessment tool using a software programme which allows you to input and analyse your assessment of social skills. It gathers information from key sources to provide a holistic view of a person’s social communication. It also uses rating scales to enable quantitative analysis of intervention.
The TASS includes a rating of a person’s social communication skills (nonverbal, verbal and assertiveness) but also assesses a person within a broader context of social skills including associated factors and quality of life indicators, and an assessment of self-awareness and self-esteem.
The TASS includes 4 assessment forms and a summary section.
The TASS includes 4 assessment forms and a summary section.
1
Initial information (f.1)
This gathers information from significant others and includes personal information, reason for referral, long-term goal, and an initial action plan. There is also a rating of associated factors and quality of life on a rating scale from 1-6 (never to always), and an ability to rate each factor in terms of priority. This form generates summary charts for both associated factors and quality of life, which can be viewed in the summary section.
2
Interview (f.2)
This is a one-to-one interview with the person to assess self-awareness and self-esteem, which is an updated version of the interview from the Talkabout series. The results of this interview are scored using a six-point rating scale and this can be viewed as a bar chart in the summary section.
3
Self-rating scale (f.3)
This is an optional part to the assessment, dependent on the person’s age and ability. It assesses awareness of their own social communication using a six-point rating scale from very difficult to very easy. It also asks the person to identify any factors which are important to them. This form generates a bar chart which can be viewed in the summary section.
4
TASS (f.4)
This is an updated version of the original Talkabout Assessment Tool and includes sections on body language, the way we talk, conversational and assertiveness skills. The TASS uses a six-point rating scale from ‘never’ to ‘always’ and a priority rating. This form generates the TASS wheel which can be viewed in the summary section.
5
Summary
In this section the assessor can view the assessment information from all sections, including a summary of areas of high priority. So, in total, there are summary charts for:
- f.1 Associated factors and quality of life (s.1)
- f.2 Self-awareness and self-esteem (s.2)
- f.3 Self-rating scale (s.3)
- f.4 TASS wheel (s.4)
- f.1-f.4 Areas of high priority (s.5)
| ASSESSMENT | |||
| Assessment | Method | Purpose | Form |
| Initial information | Gathers information from significant others followed by completion of rating scales | Gather personal informationReason for referralAssociated factorsQuality of lifeLong term goal | f.1 |
| Interview | 1:1 interview with person, followed by completion of rating scale | Assess self-awarenessAssess self-esteem | f.2 |
| Self-rating scale | Individual self-rating | Assess person’s awareness of their own social communication | f.3 |
| 4. TASS | Assessment of social skills | Assess social skills and to establish a score for body language, the way we talk, conversational and assertiveness skills | f.4 |
| Summary charts | n/a | Summary charts of: Associated factors and quality of lifeSelf-awareness and self esteemSelf-rating Social skillsAreas of high priority | |