Traumatic Brain Injury Introduction

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury usually results from a sudden or traumatic injury such as a car accident, sports accident, or severe fall. Families must cope with the injury while learning to navigate a maze of information to find services available to them and their child. Educators must understand the injury in order to understand how to provide instruction in a manner that meets the unique of the child.
A multitude of information can be located by accessing the internet. Family members can find information related to services and resources available such as in the following web site, The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. Other web sites like TBI Home offer support groups for families of children with traumatic brain injury. Other web sites provide information about laws and regulations regarding special education. Parents can begin to understand learning what their rights are and what to expect in the educational setting for their child with web sites such as National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
Other resources are available on line such as children's books and augmentative or assistive technology devices. Several children's books are listed although there are many other books available for educators and parents. Some of those listed relate dealing the with a traumatic brain injury such as “Elvin: The Elephant Who Forgets” while others help children who have parents with a traumatic brain injury cope with the injury. An example listed is “The Get Well Soon... Balloon! When a parent has a brain injury.” In addition to books that are available for children, family members, and educators, the assistive technology devices listed can be used in the home or classroom setting. These devices can aid persons with traumatic brain injury function by aiding with daily living skills such as eating or walking and can also assist with communication. Some of the popular types of devices are listed such as braille readers and embossers, computer related equipment and programs, and motorized wheelchairs.

This video shows how something like a TBI can alter a person and those close to them from the inside out.