Eligibility for Students with Traumatic Brain Injury
- Diagnosis
Certain criteria should be met in order for the DRC to serve a student who has a brain injury. For students with sensorimotor disorders, a report from a neurologist or other appropriate health care practitioner is necessary to document the impairment and the resultant prognosis. For students with cognitive or psychological disorders who request adademic accommodations, a neuropsychological evaluation is required. A thorough neuropsychological evaluation tests cognitive abilities to determine whether, with appropriate academic accommodations, college is viable, and what accommodations need to be instituted. If a student has not had neuropsychological testing, the DRC will offer a list of qualified evaluators in the community.
Neuropsychological evaluations typically involve an assessment of cognitive and psychological strengths and limitations, readiness for college, learning style, interests and individual needs. The report should make recommendations regarding appropriate academic accommodations such as testing adaptations and learning strategies. It is important that the neuropsychological evaluation be performed by a person trained in such assessments. The DRC utilizes professionals with a Ph.D. in Neuropsychology or in Clinical or Counseling Psychology with post-doctoral training in Neuropsychology. Also recommended is membership in a neuropsychology professional group such as INS, NAN, or Division 40 of the APA.
- Diagnosed Condition Satisfies Definition of a Disability
- Behavior must be consistent with the University of Georgia Conduct Code