Unlocking Everyday Potential: How Occupational Therapists Use the Allen’s Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS)

At Forbes Care, Occupational Therapists are always looking for ways to truly understand how a person functions in daily life. When it comes to planning the right supports and setting goals that are not only meaningful but achievable, one tool that often plays a vital role is the Allen’s Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS-5) — and its larger version, the LACLS-5.

These aren’t your typical cognitive assessments. Rather than focusing on what a person can’t do, the ACLS shines a light on what they can do — and how they think, learn, and solve problems in real-world situations.

The assessment involves a series of leather-lacing tasks that increase in complexity. While the activity may look simple at first glance, it’s carefully structured to allow the therapist to observe how someone responds to verbal directions, visual cues, and hands-on guidance. Through this process, therapists gain valuable insight into how a person engages with tasks, manages challenges, and adapts their approach — all essential information for daily functioning and support planning.

Understanding these patterns helps the therapist determine what kind of assistance someone may need to be safe and successful in their environment. For example, someone who benefits from repetition and visual prompts might need supports like picture-based schedules or step-by-step checklists for daily routines. Others may demonstrate enough problem-solving ability to live independently with occasional check-ins or safety measures in place.

But the ACLS does more than guide day-to-day support — it also helps shape realistic, person-centred goals. When an individual’s cognitive level is clearly understood, therapy becomes more tailored and empowering. Instead of setting goals that may feel overwhelming or out of reach, therapists can design plans that celebrate progress, support independence, and align with the person’s natural way of thinking and doing. This could mean learning to use assistive technology, safely participating in a favourite hobby, or maintaining existing skills that are important to the person’s quality of life.

Importantly, the insights gained from the ACLS can also help inform NDIS funding decisions, support worker rosters, and recommendations for assistive equipment or home modifications — ensuring supports are both clinically sound and practically helpful.

At Forbes Care, tools like the ACLS are more than assessments — they’re part of a broader approach to understanding the whole person and delivering occupational therapy that makes a real difference in everyday life.

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