Welcome to the Ignite Challenge
The Ignite Challenge is a dynamic assessment of advanced motor skills that was developed for use with children with autism or other neuromotor disorders such as developmental co-ordination disorder who are age 6 years and up and are able to do a 30+ minute movement skills test (including breaks) under an assessor’s guidance without parent’s additional assistance. It was designed to extend upon the foundation skills of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) and was adapted in terms of items and administration style from the Challenge measure that was created for with children with cerebral palsy aged; 6 years and up who are ambulatory without devices (i.e., in GMFCS Level I or II).
Accessing Ignite Challenge Forms and Videos
To access Ignite Challenge forms, manuals and training videos, you must complete a training course. If you have taken the Ignite Challenge training course, you will have access to the materials on our Ignite Challenge Manual and Training Videos page.
Ignite Challenge online course
The next Ignite Challenge on-line course for pediatric physical therapist, kinesiologist/exercise physiologist or physical education teacher will be held via Zoom on Tuesday February 4 2025 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM Eastern Standard (Toronto, Canada) time, with the second half of the course occurring on Tuesday February 11 2025 from 7:00PM to 11:00 PM Eastern Standard (Toronto, Canada) time.
Participants must attend both sessions. Note that this time was set up to work for people in Australia and New Zealand (it will occur in the morning on February 5 and 12, 2025 there). If you are elsewhere, please contact vwright@hollandbloorview.ca to arrange another session.
For more details, please visit the course registration link!
The Ignite Challenge comprises skills that:
- Are considered important for children and youth to be able to perform in school and recreation
- Focus on impairments of speed, balance and coordination that are typical in children with autism
- Integrate upper/lower limb movements and dual task performance.
Each of its 13 skills is scored on a 5-point response scale (0 to 4) using item-specific response options described on the Ignite Challenge score form. Test administration takes 30 to 60 minutes and is done on and around the Ignite Challenge 10 metre 'track'. Individual item scores enable discernment of the areas of strength and challenge for purposes of goal setting and intervention planning. The Ignite Challenge should be scored by a pediatric physical therapist, or kinesiologist/exercise physiologist or physical education teacher who has experience with administering advanced motor skills tests with children, and who has taken the Ignite Challenge training course and passed the Ignite Challenge criterion test.
