History & Development of the MDS & CVES

The McCarron-Dial System (MDS) was developed as an empirically based, multifactor assessment battery. Originally introduced to the field of rehabilitation as a vocational evaluation tool, its use has been expanded to include applications in virtually all areas of neurocognitive assessment and treatment (Chan, et al., 1993; Botterbusch, 1982). Expansion of the MDS was necessary to meet the continued demand for appropriate assessment technology to address the growing needs of consumers in traditional rehabilitation settings, clinics and public schools. Also, legislative standards set by federal as well as local governmental agencies (e.g., the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act [IDEA]), have resulted in the need for appropriate assessment tools to facilitate diagnostic and vocational placement decisions for special needs groups (Nelson, Dial & Joyce, 2002). In this regard, the MDS has been adapted for use to assist individuals with a variety of different disabilities, including persons with visual impairment or blindness, and has found wide acceptance in the diagnostic and rehabilitation community of professionals and agencies providing services to these populations (McBroom, Shinden & Elston, 1997); the adaptation of the MDS for specific application to persons with visual impairments or blindness is referred to as the Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation System, or CVES. This manual describes the theoretical background and the application of the MDS in vocational, educational and clinical settings. Also described are recent studies supporting the validity and reliability of the MDS and its expanded components.