Traumatic brain injury

Definitions

My Own Words:

This type of injury is acquired during one's life, not something they are born with (ie not present from birth or caused by birth trauma). Such an injury can come from an fall or trip where one's head is hit hard or from a medical problem involving their brain (ex stroke). The injury itself can be shown in many different cognitive aspects (ex memory, language, abstract thinking, etc) at varying degrees (mild, moderate, severe). There is no required ways of impairment or necessary level of impairment, all that needs to be present is a negative affect one one's academic performance due to their symptoms.

NYSED, Part 200 Regulations:

"An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force or by certain medical conditions such as stroke, encephalitis, aneurysm, anoxia or brain tumors with resulting impairments that adversely affect educational performance. The term includes open or closed head injuries or brain injuries from certain medical conditions resulting in mild, moderate or severe impairments in one or more areas, including cognition, language, memory, attention, reasoning, abstract thinking, judgment, problem solving, sensory, perceptual and motor abilities, psychosocial behavior, physical functions, information processing, and speech. The term does not include injuries that are congenital or caused by birth trauma."

Notes

The Inclusive Classroom:

• General Information:

  • 0.04% of student population

  • Result of external injury

    • Bicycle accidents, falls, motor vehicle accidents, child abuse, intensive sports

  • Impedes learning abilities on a spectrum:

    • Mild to severe

  • May result in difficulties in:

    • Attention, memory, problem-solving, physical, cognitive, sensory, psychosocial

  • IEPs may need to be adjusted or modified due to changing conditions from TBI

  • Students with TBI may resemble students with learning disabilities

• Adaptations for Students with a TBI:

  • Preparing peers foe possible changes

  • Assist with reintegration and transition into school from hospital or home

Speical Education in Contemporary Society:

• General Information:

  • Does not apply to congenital or degenerative brain injuries or brain injuries from birth trauma

  • Some can regain abilities lost from a TBI while others may not

• Characteristics of TBI:

  • Range of characteristics

    • No lasting side effects to severe disabilities

  • Memory problems

  • Distractability

  • Fatigue

  • Perceptual motor slwoing

  • Difficulties with setting goals, monitoring, and evaluating performance

  • Impulsive behaviors

• Adaptations for Studentw with a TBI:

  • Divide up information

  • Repeat direction one at a time

  • Teach using visual strategies

  • Encourage "thinking time"

Class:

• Professor Kerry Dunn

  • Kerry has a TBI and has shared her struggles with accessibilty on Naz's campus. She also itteriated that if you have met one person with a TBI, you have met one person with a TBI.

Experiences

Field Work:

• N/A

Personal:

• N/A

Lingering Questions

• When can the process of an IEP for a TBI begin?

• How often are IEPs for TBIs reviewed and/or modified?

Additional Resources:

• Living with Brain Injuries Taught Us Advocacy