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Truamatic Brain Injury - Educational Considerations
Although TBI is very common, many medical and education
professionals may not realize that some difficulties can be caused by
a childhood brain injury. Often, students with TBI are thought to have
a learning disability, emotional disturbance, or mental retardation. As
a result, they don't receive the type of educational help and support
they really need.
When children with TBI return to school, their educational and emotional
needs are often very different than before the injury. Their disability
has happened suddenly and traumatically. They can often remember how they
were before the brain injury. This can bring on many emotional and social
changes. The child's family, friends, and teachers also recall what the
child was like before the injury. These other people in the child's life
may have trouble changing or adjusting their expectations of the child.
Therefore, it is extremely important to plan carefully for the child's
return to school. Parents will want to find out ahead of time about special
education services at the school. This information is usually available
from the school's principal or special education teacher. The school will
need to evaluate the child thoroughly. This evaluation will let the school
and parents know what the student's educational needs are. The school
and parents will then develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
that addresses those educational needs.
It's important to remember that the IEP is a flexible plan. It can be
changed as the parents, the school, and the student learn more about what
the student needs at school.
| A Success Story - William, Age
22 |
| William was born full term.
His delivery was uneventful and was able to go home after the required
length of stay at the hospital. William progressed in school and was
reported to be an average child with no outstanding behavior problems.
William was struck by a car at the age of 6. As
a result of the accident, he sustained a spinal cord injury with
partial quadriplegia. He requires a wheelchair while at school and
has a tracheal tube that requires occasional suctioning. He is also
unable to use his right hand.
In his early school years, psychological evaluation
indicated average intellectual ability but academic achievement
was below age expectations. William was out of school for one year
and received school tutoring while recuperating. Afterwards, he
entered in a graded special education program.
At the age of fourteen, it was determined
that with special education resource services, William should be
able to thrive in a regular education program. He entered a regular
seventh grade junior high school program where he received one hour
of resource help to assist with homework and study skills. He excelled
and went to senior high school. William graduated with honors from
high school at the age of 19 and is now attending college where
he is pursuing a degree in Business Administration.
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Adapted from information
published by the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
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