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UGA Logo TEXT-ONLY VERSION THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER

Services for Students with Traumatic Brain Injury

It is estimated that 1.4 million Americans sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI) each year, with a resultant 5.3 million with permanent disabilities. Traumatic brain injuries are not degenerative or congenital, rather are caused by a blow or insult to the brain by some sort of physical force. High risk populations for TBI include young people, aged 15 to 19. Brain injuries incurred during the conflict in Iraq could account for more than 20% of the surviving combat casualties. Many of those injured veterans may return to college. An increasing number of students who have experienced a TBI enter or return to college each year. Students with TBI may experience cognitive problems in such areas as memory, attention, and organization. Others may have disabilities such as psychological, hearing, visual or mobility impairments. Only students who possess the abilities to succeed in an academic environment will enter or return to college.

Acquired brain injuries (ABI) are caused by an internal disturbance or physiological changes of the brain. An ABI is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. Taking place at the cellular level within the brain, an ABI can affect cells throughout the entire brain, instead of just in specific areas as with traumatic brain injury. Causes of ABI include strokes, brain tumors, infection, poisoning, hypoxia, ischemia, or substance abuse. An acquired brain injury may result in impairments in cognition, speech-language communication, memory, attention and concentration, reasoning, abstract thinking, physical functions, psychosocial behavior, and information processing.

Problems in the cognitive area usually pose the greatest challenge in the classroom. Due to the symptoms associated with their brain injuries, the Disability Resource Center provides academic and support services to these students.

References

  1. Brain Injury Association of America
  2. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
  3. Centre for Neuro Skills TBI Resource Guide
  4. After Brain Injury Tools for Living
  5. Brain Injury Resource Foundation
  6. National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
  7. National Brain Injury Research, Treatment & Training Foundation
  8. National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)
  9. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  10. North American Brain Injury Society
  11. Defense and Veteran's Brain Injury Center
  12. Social Security Administration Online

Eligibility

Services include:

  1. Auxiliary Aid Services
  2. Curriculum counseling regarding course selection and scheduling
  3. Regularly scheduled meetings to monitor academic progress and issues related to the disability
  4. Assistance in consulting with faculty to advocate for student needs
  5. Restructuring class assignments
  6. Student support groups
  7. Priority registration
  8. Access to the Assistive Technology Lab
  9. Referral to campus and private tutorial services
  10. Referral as needed to other campus resources
  11. Referral as needed to community agencies and resources