Educational Resources

Educating Students with Brain Injury

It is likely that most educators will encounter students with brain injuries at some time - from the student who sustained a severe brain injury in a motor vehicle crash to the student who sustained a concussion on the soccer field. In an effort to assist school professionals, parents and students, the following materials were created.  It is important to keep in mind that there is no one size fits all to meet the educational needs of students with brain injury, requiring a flexible approach for each student.  

  •  Brain Injury: A Guide for Educators - This guide is written for general and special education teachers, school psychologists, educational consultants, social workers, guidance counselors, principals, speech and language pathologists and other professionals who work with students with brain injuries.This guide provides a foundation to train all educators, including suggested accommodations and strategies for working with students with brain injury. 
  • Brain Injury: A Guide for Families About School - This guide is for families who are looking for information and resources to help their child return to school and negotiate the academic system throughout their education, including information on the initial referral to special education services, the Planning & Placement Team, and the differences between the IEP and 504 Plan. 
  • The Helping Students with Brain Injury Series is meant to be a tool for school professionals and parents.  Each sheet in the series addresses various areas that can be affected after brain injury, and includes strategies for the classroom and sample IEP goals.  The series was originally developed by the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, and adapted, with permission, by the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut.  We encourage you to explore the various sheets and remain flexible in trying different strategies until you find the one that works.  All brain injuries are unique and all students have different strenghts and weakeness, therefore different strategies may or may not work depending upon the student, the class, and the time of the day, among other factors.  Once you find a strategy that works, use it consistently and share it with others who work with that student.  Also, if you have additional ideas for strategies that have worked for you, please share them with us at general@biact.org. 

Helping Students with Brain Injury

The following links provide educators, students and others with additional resources for information about the brain and brain injury. A link to each organization’s web site is included where available.

Educational Resources for Parents

Navigating the educational system following a brain injury can be a daunting and challenging task for parents.  The following are resources to assist parents in understanding their child's rights, and how to navigate the educational systeam as the parent of a child with a disability.

  • CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC), Phone: 1-800-445-2722. Email: cpac@cpacinc.org, Website: www.cpacinc.org - The CT Parent Advocacy Center, Inc. (CPAC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that offers information and support to families of children with any disability or chronic illness, age birth through 26 in addressing educational support. Services are free. 
  • Disability Rights Connecticut, Phone: 860-297-4300  -  Case Services Advocates and Attorneys implement federal and state Protection & Advocacy mandates to protect the rights of adults and children with disabilities & to intervene on behalf of children with disabilities who are receiving special education services and are experiencing difficulty obtaining relevant educational supports.

  • State Education Resource Center (SERC), Phone: 860-632-1485, Website: http://ctserc.org/s/  -  SERC is a nonprofit agency primarily funded by the CT State Department of Education. SERC provides information dissemination in the latest research and best practices to educators, service providers, and families throughout the state.

  • LEARNet, Website: http://projectlearnet.org/project_learn.html  -  LEARNet is a resource for teachers, clinicians, parents, and students. LEARNet is an interactive web-based problem-solving program designed to enable families and school staff to create effective intervention and support plans for students with Acquired brain injury/ Traumatic brain injury.

  • Center on Post Secondary Education, Website: http://cped.uconn.edu/  -  Lists Connecticut Resources for Assessment Services · For a listing of Disability Services contacts on the CT college and universities go to:  http://cped.uconn.edu/learning-disability-ld-and-disability-services-ds-contact-personsfor-students-on-connecticut-college-and-university-campuses/

  • Gateway Community College Step Forward Programs: Contact for Step Forward is: Jaime French, Director 203-285-2505 jfrench@gatewayct.edu  -  A 10-month transition program for young adults (18-21) with mild cognitive disabilities. This non-credit program focuses on interpersonal communication skills, career exploration and workplace readiness. In addition to classroom instruction, students are placed in a community or campus-based work experience. Topics covered in the Step Forward I program may include vocational exploration & career planning, job search essentials, personal finances, interpersonal & workplace communications, self-advocacy & disability awareness, and nutrition & fitness.  There is a follow up Step Forward 2. 

About the brain & brain injury,

resources for educators & students:

Neuroscience for Kids - Brain Development - Created for students and teachers who would like to learn about the nervous system.  Discover the exciting world of the brain, spinal cord, neurons and the senses. Use the experiments, activities and games to help you learn about the nervous system.

Your Brain & Nervous System - KidsHealth / Nemours Foundation  (Written in kid friendly language)

General Resources:

Brain, Brain Information, Facts, News, Photos  - National Geographic - Create a free online account with National Geographic to gain access to this and other useful information.

Brain Development: Frequently Asked Questions - Zero To Three

Inside the Teenage Brain - PBS Frontline
What’s going on in there? How science may help explain the mysteries of the teenage years.

The Baby's Brain - The Secret Life of the Brain, PBS

En Español

Traumatismo cerebral y de cabeza – Medline Plus