Becky Bishop
MaSC, BEd
Senior Manager, Youth and Adult Programs
Learn More Executive Function Assessment
The Behavioural Rating Index of Executive Function (BRIEF) can help you (or your child) understand your learning profile and advocate for suitable support.
What is Executive Functioning?
Executive functioning refers to a set of mental skills that help us plan, focus, remember instructions, manage time, regulate emotions, and shift between tasks. These skills are like the brain’s management system—helping us organize our actions, thoughts, and goals in real time.
Neurodivergent individuals tend to experience executive function differently, which can lead to challenges with starting or finishing tasks, keeping track of time or materials, switching focus between activities, and regulating big emotions during learning or transitions.
Who
The BRIEF-2 can be administered to children ages 5-18 and the BRIEF-A can be administered to adults ages 18 and up.
Where
Assessments are done virtually or at our Vancouver location.
What
The Behavioral Rating Index of Executive Function (BRIEF) is a standardized Executive Function Assessment for children, youth and adults. The BRIEF assessment produces an executive functioning profile in various areas.
Why get an executive function assessment?
You may know your child is capable, but sense that they need more support to reach their full potential.
Does your child (or you):
- Need many reminders?
- Find it hard to start a new task or switch between tasks?
- Forget things shortly after hearing them?
- Misplace things often?
If so, an executive functioning assessment can help you better understand yourself or your child. Everybody struggles with organization, planning, and self-regulation from time to time. But if you experience significant disruptions to your well-being and productivity, further exploration can help.
The first step is getting an in-depth look at your strengths and opportunities for growth. Results from an executive functioning assessment can help you know yourself better, access the right support, and maximize your potential.
Children (BRIEF-2)
The BRIEF-2 creates a report that provides an executive functioning profile across three main domains:
- Behavioural regulation: the monitoring and inhibition of behaviours
- Emotional regulation: control of emotions in various situations; transitioning between tasks
- Cognitive regulation: initiating and monitoring tasks, planning, organizing, and using short-temr/working memory
Global Executive Composite: This summary can help you understand your child’s executive functioning profile and find the support they need to succeed. You can also incorporate executive functioning goals into your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Adults (BRIEF-A)
The BRIEF-A creates a report that provides an executive functioning profile across three main domains:
- Behavioural regulation: monitoring and inhibiting behaviours; control of emotions and shifting between tasks
- Cognitive regulation: initiating and monitoring tasks, planning, organizing, using short-term/working memory
- Global Executive Composite: Understand your executive functioning profile as the first step in determining the support you need.
Learn More
How it Works
- Apply here to get started.
- Complete the assessment (approximately 20 minutes).
- Children: Parent/guardians complete a parent-report form, and a teacher who has worked with the child for at least 6 months can complete a teacher-report form. If you want to complete these forms separately, you can for an additional fee.
- Adults: You will complete a self-report form, and another adult (e.g., spouse, family member, etc.) will complete an observer-report form. If you want to complete these forms separately, you can for an additional fee.
- Submit the assessment: If you complete it digitally, it will submit automatically upon completion. If you complete a paper copy of the assessment, please drop it off at our Vancouver location (3292 E Broadway).
- Attend a debrief session: A Lightwell team member will contact you to schedule a debrief session where we’ll walk through your or your child’s report.
Cost
EFA Package: $240
This includes the assessment, scoring, a comprehensive report, and a debrief session with a qualified professional.
Additional forms: $10
E.g., teacher-report form; observer-report form
Payment is required before you can receive your assessment. You will be billed when you are given your assessment.
Note: BRIEF is not included in other RISE programs. The cost is in addition to other program fees.
Sliding Scale Fees
To promote equitable access, we charge fees based on household income.
We fundraise tirelessly to offer a generous sliding scale for all our programs. Please find the fees for September 2026 to August 2027 below:
| Net Household Income | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $62 |
| $30,000 – $70,000 | $62 |
| $70,000 – $85,000 | $80 |
| $85,000 – $120,000 | $90 |
| $120,000 – $160,000 | $185 |
| $160,000+ | $240 |
Taking the Executive Function Assessment
This short video gives you simple steps to complete the Executive Function Assessment.
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