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Two Nonverbal Screeners: The Universal Multidimensional Abilities Scales and the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test-Group Abilities Test

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Abstract

This chapter describes two screening instruments developed to provide screening of examinees, regardless of language or cultural differences—hence the term Universal in their titles. Developed by R. Steve McCallum and Bruce Bracken, authors of the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT; Riverside 1998) and the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test-2 (PRO-ED 2016), these assessment tools share the goal of the UNIT instruments, to provide a fair assessment of examinees regardless of language abilities or language of origin. The Universal Multidimensional Abilities Scales (UMAS), designed to screen examinees in several domains related to academic success, is a six subscale rating scale (Cognition, Creativity, Leadership, Literacy, Math, and Science) completed by a teacher who knows the examinee well. The Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT-GAT) is a two subtest, group administered screener of cognitive abilities (Analogic Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning). Used together or separately, these instruments efficiently provide information about examinees’ levels of functioning across several domains and can be useful in the process of screening examinees for further assessment to determine eligibility for special services. These instruments share in common the philosophy that it is important to provide a fair assessment, despite cultural and language differences.

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Correspondence to Sherry Mee Bell .

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Bell, S.M. (2017). Two Nonverbal Screeners: The Universal Multidimensional Abilities Scales and the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test-Group Abilities Test. In: McCallum, R. (eds) Handbook of Nonverbal Assessment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50604-3_13

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