Authors: Kirsty Forsyth, with: Marclle Salamy, Sandy Simon, and Gary Kielhofner

     By providing a structured way to view communication and interaction, occupational therapists can use the ACIS with clients to identity areas of strength and habits interfering with effective interaction. Specific communication and interaction skills, such as gesturing, focusing, and respecting, can be practiced to facilitate participation in meaningful occupations and valued social groups.

     The ACIS is an observational assessment that gathers data on communication and interaction skills. Three domains, physicality, information exchange, and relations, are used to describe different aspects of communication and interaction. The ACIS gathers data on skill as it is exhibited during performance in an occupational form and/or within a social group.

     To see an example of the ACIS items and for the “ACIS Summary Sheet”, click here (PDF file).

     The following forms in DOC format have been modified for use with multiple subjects by Kath Smith, BSc OT.

• ACIS Explanation for Parent Child and Interpersonal Interaction
• ACIS Interpersonal Interactions
• ACIS Interpersonal Interactions example
• ACIS Parent Child Interaction
• ACIS Interpersonal Interactions Summary Longitudinal Change

      The ACIS manual includes “ACIS Score Sheet” for each domain and an “ACIS Score Summary Sheet”. All forms are reproducible.

This assessment is discussed and illustrated with a case in chapter 15 of The Model Of Human Occupation: Theory and Application (Kielhofner, 2008).

Additional information (references, research, and clinical discussion regarding this assessment) can be found in the Evidence-Based Practicesection of this website by selecting this assessment.