What strategy is recommended for effectively assessing children suspected of having disabilities?

Incorporating both formal and informal assessments is a recommended strategy for effectively assessing children suspected of having disabilities because it provides a comprehensive understanding of a child's strengths and challenges. Formal assessments, such as standardized tests, offer objective data that can help identify specific areas of disability and measure a child's performance against established norms. Informal assessments, on the other hand, may include observations, interviews, and work samples, which provide context to the formal data by incorporating the child's day-to-day experiences and behaviors.

Combining these two approaches allows practitioners to gather a more holistic view of the child's abilities and needs, which is essential for accurate diagnosis and subsequent educational planning. It also helps ensure that assessment is not biased towards any single method and considers multiple sources of information, reflecting the child's functioning in various settings. This multi-faceted approach supports better decision-making for interventions and supports, making it crucial in the assessment process for children suspected of having disabilities.