Guidelines are presented to special educators and adapted physical educators for assessing the psychomotor development of severely handicapped students. The importance of determining whether there is an abnormality in central nervous system development is emphasized. Assessment information is presented for 15 topic areas: reflex analysis, muscle tone, associated reactions ("overflow" reactions from one movement to another), functional mobility, analysis of gait, developmental gross motor patterns, developmental fine motor proficiency, sensory strengths and weaknesses, developmental play levels, levels of competition, game readiness, cardiovascular/health fitness, leisure/recreation skills, lifetime sports and social intelligence-self concept. The need for ongoing observation in each of these categories is pointed out. (CL)