The Washington Learning Needs Screening Tool

We reviewed this tool and tested it with Literacy and Basic Skills practitioners and learners!

Brief description and background development:

This screening tool is used to indicate the need for formal learning disabilities diagnostic testing. It was designed to help identify possible learning needs that may impact an adult's employability. The tool was designed for caseworkers from the state of Washington Department of Social and Health Services, WorkFirst Division. The caseworkers administered this tool to participants who manifested a special learning need. For more information on this tool, please visit the following website: http://www.nifl.gov/nifl-ld/2000/0239.html

In the development phase of the screening tool, the Payne Learning Needs Inventory was tested to identify the critical items on the inventory that distinguished individuals diagnosed with learning disabilities from those who have not been diagnosed. Based on the testing, a total of 13 items were identified and incorporated into the screening tool. The validity of these scales was tested in Phase II.