Meet SIS Venture

No more transferring data from paper to online. With the introduction of this stand-alone software, professionals on the move can fill in SIS interview data offline and upload the assessment to the SISOnline™ system once Internet connection is available. Catherine Villaire, SISOnline Operations Manager gives us a round up of SIS Venture software.

AAIDD: What is SIS Venture and how does it fit in into our world of offerings of SIS as an assessment tool?
Villaire: SIS Venture is a product that allows for stand-alone entry and completion of SIS assessments. The SIS questionnaire, rating scales, and validation are identical to the SISOnline^TM but SIS Venture does not require connection to the Internet. SIS Venture replaces the need to have paper forms which then have to be entered into SISOnline. SIS Venture was created so that users could have mobile devices such as a laptop or a tablet PC which can be carried onsite to where the SIS interviews take place.

AAIDD: What are the benefits of SIS Venture?
Villaire: SIS Venture allows work to be completed securely from a remote location such as working in the field. SIS Venture uploads completed assessments to the SIS assessment database when the laptop or tablet PC is reconnected to the internet. This eliminates the need for paper assessment forms and data entry of the completed paper forms.

Another feature of SIS Venture is its ability to download an existing assessment from the SIS assessment database. This enables having electronic copies of SIS assessments on a mobile computing device that can be taken out of the office for meetings with individuals being assessed. Note that any of the assessments used by SIS Venture located on the laptop or tablet PCs hard drive are encrypted to prevent exposure of sensitive and private data.

Integrating the use of SIS Venture with a state's existing case management system is also a possibility. Another advantage is that in the event that SISOnline is undergoing maintenance or unexpectedly fails, it will not interrupt a SIS interview. Interviewers can complete an entire assessment and then upload when they have internet connection to SISOnline has been restored.

AAIDD: How does it tie in with SISOnline?
Villaire: Once an assessment is completed on SIS Venture, it then can be uploaded to the SIS assessment database for access through SISOnline. Likewise, in-progress assessments can be downloaded to SIS Venture from SISOnline to be completed in the field and then re -uploaded to SIS-online when completed.

SIS Venture is currently being used by 3 states whereas at least 5 states have used SIS Venture as part of a major state-wide project. For questions, please contact AAIDD at books@aaidd.org.