Feifer Assessment of Written Expression (FAW)

Examines the underlying processes that support written language skills.

By Steven G. Feifer, DEd

Assess the Underlying Processes that Support Written Language Skills

The FAW is a diagnostic achievement test designed to examine the underlying cognitive, motoric, and linguistic processes that support proficient written language skills. It joins the FAR and the FAM as the third and final member of the Feifer Family of diagnostic achievement test batteries, all of which examine subtypes of learning disabilities using a brain–behavior perspective.

Students spend nearly 60% of their school day engaged in the process of written expression. Deficits in the writing process can wreak havoc on students’ education. The FAW examines the underlying processes that support proficient written language skills. In addition to identifying the possibility of dysgraphia, the FAW is able to determine the specific subtype of dysgraphia (graphomotor, executive, and dyslexic).

Features and Benefits:

• Designed to measure three subtypes of written language disorders, or dysgraphia. Results help specify, from a neuropsychological perspective, exactly why a student struggles with written language so you can develop appropriate, customized interventions.
• Provides qualitative information about a student’s writing skills, including a skills analysis available within most subtests that allows you to dig deeper into a student’s abilities.
• Examinees in prekindergarten take five subtests, examinees in kindergarten to Grade 1 take seven subtests, and examinees in Grade 2 to college take 10 subtests.
• Can be used for an array of purposes including general screening of dysgraphia, directing diagnosis of a learning disability as part of a comprehensive psychological evaluation, progress monitoring of discrete skills for school systems operating in an RTI paradigm, and designing a deficit- or skill-specific intervention.
• A detailed Administration and Scoring Guide, available for purchase, provides instructions that simplify administration and make scoring straightforward and objective. Meant to be a go-to resource during administration, the guide provides targeted advice and helpful tips.
• Online Scoring via PARiConnect: The FAW Interpretive Report provides scores for all FAW subtests and includes detailed interpretations of index, discrepancy, and subtest scores. It offers targeted intervention recommendations tailored to each individual’s age and FAW scores, aiding clinicians in creating personalized and targeted interventions. (Online scoring must be purchased through PARiConnect)
• Screening forms, ideal for progress monitoring, are also available.

Screen Students at risk for Dysgraphia in only 20 minutes

The FAW Screening Form measures the core features of writing from both a graphomotor and cognitive–linguistic perspective in order to best inform intervention decision-making at various developmental levels of the writing process.

Derived from the FAW, the FAW Screening Form was designed to identify children at risk for developmental dysgraphia within a multitiered system of support service delivery model. The FAW Screening Form measures the core features of writing from both a graphomotor and cognitive–linguistic perspective in order to best inform intervention decision-making at various developmental levels of the writing process.

Due to the developmental nature of the written language process, the FAW Screening Form has two versions. For examinees in kindergarten and Grade 1, the FAW Screening Form concentrates more on the graphomotor demands of the writing process. For examinees in Grade 2 and above, the FAW Screening Form focuses more on the cognitive–linguistic demands of the written language process. The FAW Screening Form is not available for prekindergarten.

Features and Benefits:

• Examinees in kindergarten to Grade 1 complete three subtests: two from the Graphomotor Index (Alphabet Tracing Fluency [ATF] and Motor Sequencing [MS]) and one from the Dyslexic Index (Isolated Spelling [IS]).
• Examinees in Grade 2 and above complete three subtests: one from the Graphomotor Index (ATF), one from the Dyslexic Index (IS), and one from the Executive Index (Executive Working Memory [EWM]). These subtests were selected as the best representation of each of the three FAW index structures.
• Yields a single index score that indicates risk for dysgraphia or a written language LD.
• Intended to assist examiners in deciding whether the risk of dysgraphia or a written language LD is high enough to warrant further assessment.
• Online Scoring available via PARiConnect. (Online scoring must be purchased through PARiConnect)

Purchasing Options:

Feifer Assessment of Written Expression (FAW) Comprehensive Kit (33621) includes FAW Scoring Templates (pk/8), FAW Response Forms (pk/10), FAW Stimulus Book, FAW Record Forms (pk/10), FAW Cards For Sentence Scaffolding W/Box, FAW Manual, and FAW Scoring Guide

Kit items available for purchase separately:

• FAW Record Forms, Pk/10 (33621R)
• FAW Response Forms, Pk/10 (33621-RS)
• FAW Manual (33621M)
• FAW Stimulus Book (33621A)
• FAW Cards For Sentence Scaffolding W/Box (33621E)
• FAW Scoring Guide (33621G)
• FAW Scoring Templates, Pk/8 (33621D)

FAW Screening Form Kit (33621S) includes FAW Manual, FAW Screening Form Scoring Templates (set of 4), FAW Screening Form Stimulus Book, FAW Scoring Guide, FAW Screening Form Response Forms (pk/10), and FAW Screening Record Forms (pk/10)

Kit items available for purchase separately:

• FAW Screening Record Forms, Pk/10 (33621-SR)
• FAW Screening Response Forms, Pk/10 (33621-SP)
• FAW Screening Stimulus Book (33621C)