Gil Acostaand Jeff Wheatley

ED443G: Adaptive and Assistive Technology in

Special EducationNovember 13, 2008

Dr. Cyrus

Objectives: By the end of the presentation, you will be able to:

Know the two ways TBI occurs.Identify and apply different ways of

preventing or reducing the chances of TBI.

Understand ways in which educational, social and community needs are fulfilled for those afflicted with TBI.

Definition: (IDEA) TBI is an acquired injury to the

brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment or both.

“Layman’s” Definition: TBI is an injury to the head that can be

caused “externally” or “internally.” And can affect a person’s cognitive, behavioral, and/or physical abilities.

Prevalence:Of 1.4 million cases of TBI in the U.S.

annually:

Among children 0-14, TBI results in an

estimated:

50,000 die 235,000 are

hospitalized 1.1 million are

treated and released from hospital emergency rooms

2,685 deaths37,000

hospitalizations435,000

emergency visitsOn Guam there is one case of TBI

(GPSS)

TBI Characteristics:COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL

Poor MemoryReduced

Concentration and Attention Span

Difficulty Solving Problems

Mood Changes: Possibly including irritability or anger

RestlessnessOver Emotional

TBI Characteristics: PhysicalLimb Weakness

Poor BalanceSpeech Problems

FatigueDisrupted Sleep Patterns

Sensory Problems (headaches, poor sense of smell, visual

disturbances, poor or heighten hearing)

Source: CDC

Two Ways TBI Can Occur :Closed Brain

Injury Open Brain InjuryThere is a

penetration or open head injury to the skull

There is a penetrating injury to the brain

No penetrating injury to the brain; no break in the skull

Can occur from the rapid back and forth movement or shaking of the brain within the skull

Can occur due to poor health, disease, or neurological problem

PreventionWear seatbeltsBuckle up children in child safety seats;

booster seat for children that weigh 40 lbs.

Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Wearing a helmet for adults and/or children when:

1. Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, or

ATV 2. Playing contact sports like

football or ice hockey 3. When riding a horse

Assessment/Diagnosis(Tests indicated below can assess from mild to severe TBI)

Glasgow Coma Scale Score: measures the severity of a TBI

CT Scan (Computerized Tomography): can detect physical changes in the brain

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scan: produces a high resolution image of the brain

Angiogram: injection of a dye into an artery checks blood flow to the brain

EEG (Electroencephalograph): measures electrical activity in the brain

Early Intervention

Family is Key

Most cases identified before 6 months of age

Receive more federal funding than other

children with special needs

Fully inclusive preschool programs

Teaching Tips

Symantic Feature Analysis- helps student

organize learning

Functional Behavioral Assessment

Technology

TransitionCommunity Presence

Integration into workplace, residential and

recreational settings

Community Based Instruction

Functional skills occur in real community

settings

College Participation

Collaboration

Family and IndividualMulti-Disciplinary

TeamsGeneral & Sp.Ed.AidesAT SpecialistsSLP'sOT'sPT's

Partnership with Family & Community

Services and programs for all individuals with low incidence disabilities must be a part of the community.

Professionals must provide support for each and every family and the decisions they encounter.

Assistive TechnologyCognitive AidsCommunication AidsAdaptive ToysAids to Augment HearingFeeding DevicesAlternate Computer AccessVisual AidsAids to assist with walking, dressing, and other

activities of daily living

Video Clipshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwNnwi87

GzMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jMlfNwgO

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Questions

In what ways can we improve our community to better assist anyone with low incidence disabilities (TBI)?

How can we, as educators, support the individual and the family affected by low incidence disability (TBI)?

What can we provide, as community members, to assist any individual with a disability?

ReferencesBrain Injury. Retrieved September 28, 2008. From

Brain Injury Wales Website: http://www.braininjurywales.com/brain_injury.html

Smith, Deborah (2007), Introduction to Special Education: Making a Difference 6th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc

What is Brain Injury? Retrieved September 28, 2008. From the Center for Disease Control Website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/TBI.htm

TBI Facts and Stats. Retrieved September 28, 2008. From the Nero Skills website: http://neroskills.com/tbi/facts/shtml

Brain Injury Information. Retrieved September 30, 2008. From the Brain Injury Association of America website: http://www.biausa.org/index.html