Traumatic Brain Injury
CONTACT :: Caroline Hexdall, Consultant
Sherry Abernethy, Section Chief
Definitions
From the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 Final Regulations and North Carolina Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities – Traumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.
Specific Policies
- Evaluation requirements
See page 73 of Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities
- School Psychologist requirements
See page 74 of Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities
Resources
State
- North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
The lead state agency in addressing traumatic brain injury issues in North Carolina
- Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning
North Carolina's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service
- Brain Injury Association of North Carolina
- TBI State Plan
Link coming soon
- TBI Project STAR
A state-funded program of Carolinas Rehabilitation to provide information about TBI, link to community resources, and offer educational training and community program development.
