Abstract

In a descriptive-testing study to design and develop a tool for measuring the ‎capabilities and resources that affect the development and adaptation of children with ‎Down Syndrome, 300 children with Down Syndrome in Sistan and Baluchistan ‎Province were selected via total sampling method. The required data were collected ‎through a 19-item researcher-made questionnaire, namely the Down Syndrome ‎Empowerment Scale, and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale. The results of ‎Exploratory Factor Analysis with oblique rotation (direct oblimin) revealed a 17-item ‎construct with three subscales of personal (9 items), family-related (4 items) and social ‎‎(3 items). Suing AMOS software, the results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis also ‎supported the adequacy of the extracted factors to the data. The significant positive ‎Pearson correlation coefficient confirmed the concurrent validity of the Down ‎Syndrome Empowerment Scale compared to the Vineland Social Maturity Scale. ‎Calculating Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest correlation, the reliability of the ‎Empowerment scale was also confirmed. Normative tables were calculated based on ‎the percentage ratings and standard t-scores by gender for the Down Syndrome ‎Empowerment Scale. The results of this study supported the adequacy and reliability of ‎the designed 3-construct scale for the assessment of capabilities and resources ‎affecting the development and adaptation of children with Down Syndrome‎‎‎‎‎.