Which statement is true about test usage in DCD for participation?

• A. COPM
• B. GAS
• C. MABC2
• D. PEGS

Answer: (C)

Participation means how a child engages in everyday activities and meaningful life roles, not just how well motor tasks are performed in a clinic. To capture participation outcomes in DCD, you want a measure that reflects the child’s or family’s view of real-life functioning and satisfaction with those activities. The COPM does this directly: it guides a child or caregiver to identify everyday activities, rate how important they are, and then rate current performance and satisfaction. Repeated administration shows changes in participation over time, making COPM a clear read on participation impact.

In contrast, a motor performance test like MABC2 focuses on how well motor tasks are executed in structured tasks and environments. It provides impairment-level data about coordination but doesn’t inherently tell you how participation in daily life has changed. GAS can document progress toward personalized participation-related goals, but it requires individualized goal setting and scoring, whereas COPM offers a standardized way to gauge participation across several activities. So for directly assessing participation in DCD, COPM is the most appropriate choice.