Accommodating
Students with
Traumatic Brain Injuries

at Florida Atlantic University

An Informational Brochure from the
Office for Students with Disabilities
Division of Student Affairs

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is defined as an injury to the brain caused by external force to the skull. Although there are often physical manifestations of the injury, many times the effects are more subtle cognitive, emotional, and/or social changes. Most moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries lead to long-standing problems with deficits in communication, language functioning, visual motor skills, attention and/or memory. The student with a brain injury who has no obvious physical problems will often appear to be able to resume a normal course of study; however, cognitive and/or behavioral changes may necessitate some accommodations to the student’s educational programming.

As veterans return from active duty, college campuses will see an increased number of students with TBI. Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) has been designated as the “signature” disability from the current war. The effects of MTBI, while more subtle and easily camouflaged, can be as devastating to an individual’s daily life as a more severe brain injury.

SOME LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

COGNITIVE

• Memory loss (short and long term)
• Slowed thought processing
• Deficits in sensory arousal, attention, and concentration
• Difficulty with problem-solving
• Problems in initiating, planning, and completing action
• Impaired judgment
• Inability to recognize cognitive deficits/limits
• Spatial disorientation
• Difficulty with use of language

PSYCHO SOCIAL

• Anxiety and depression
• Mood swings
• Denial
• Inappropriate behaviors
• Impulsivity
• Egocentricity
• Agitation
• Feelings of isolation
• Reduced endurance
• Rigidity
• Lack of motivation
• Suicidal ideation

PHYSICAL

• Paralysis or weakness affecting some or most of the body
• Seizures
• Spasticity
• Speech impairment
• Visual impairment
• Loss of taste/smell
• Fatigue

No individual with a brain injury will possess all of the above characteristics. The symptoms presented and their severity will depend on a variety of factors, including portion of the brain damaged, extent of the injury, age at time of injury, and duration of time since the injury. Full recovery is rare, and prognosis for partial recovery can vary greatly.

MYTHS ABOUT TBI

• Loss of consciousness is necessary for TBI to occur
• “Mild” or “Minor” means insignificant
• Certain cases of TBI are not that serious because they manifest “only in psychological issues”
• A direct blow to the head is necessary to sustain a brain injury

SUGGESTIONS FOR FACULTY

• Provide a detailed course syllabus with a clear explanation of course expectations and adhere to it as closely as possible.
• Start each class with an outline of material to be covered and summarize key points at the end.
• Utilize group discussion and visual supports (e.g., graphs, charts, lists, pictures) rather than straight lecture format as much as possible.
• Repeat or rephrase important points.
• Give instructions in both verbal and written form. Encourage the student to ask for clarification and rephrase instructions as needed.
• If certain behaviors (e.g., perseveration on a discussion topic or calling out answers) are problematic, it may be helpful to consult with the OSD regarding ways to alleviate these concerns.

DOCUMENTATION


To be eligible for services at Florida Atlantic University, a student must provide appropriate documentation of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). The documentation must be in the form of a neuropsychological evaluation conducted by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist. The evaluation must include, at a minimum, tests of aptitude and academic achievement. It may also include the following: Bender-Gestalt, Halstead-Reitan Battery, Detroit Test of Psycholinguistic Ability, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and/or Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitude-Adult. Standard scores and a clinical interview should be included in the evaluation.  The documentation must include anticipated effects of the student’s functional limitations within the academic setting as well as suggestions for accommodating the student.


The evaluation must have been conducted at least one year post injury and preferably completed within the last five years; however, the OSD reserves the right to make modifications to this time frame.


For general documentation guidelines, please refer to the OSD Documentation Guidelines brochure.

GENERAL ACCOMMODATIONS

After a student has submitted appropriate documentation of a disability and an Application for Support Services to the OSD, an OSD counselor will review this information and then contact the student for an intake interview. At the intake, accommodations are determined. The student, depending on documentation of the disability, may be eligible for one or more of the following accommodations:

• Advocacy
• Professor notification
• Notetaking assistance
• Audio recording of classes
• Use of calculator/spellchecker
• Exam adaptations (e.g., extended time to take exams, use of computer, distraction-reduced setting, alternate formats)
• Time management, study skills, and social skills training

These accommodations are necessary for ensuring complete access to, and full participation in, the educational process. Academic standards are not to be lowered, nor should there be an alteration in the essential nature of the course or degree requirements.


For more information: www.biausa.org


Note: Professors will be notified of the student’s approved accommodations in an OSD Letter of Notification presented by the student. If the student is not registered with the OSD, please refer her or him to the office.

 

Boca Raton Campus:
777 Glades Road, SU Room 133
Boca Raton, FL 33431
tel: 561.297.3880     fax: 561.297.2184
tty: 561.297.0358

Broward Campuses:
2912 College Avenue, LA Room 240
Davie, FL 33314
tel: 954.236.1222      fax: 954.236.1123


Jupiter Campus:
(Diversity Student Services)
5353 Parkside Drive, SR Room 117
Jupiter, FL 33458
tel: 561.799.8585     fax: 561.799.8721
tty: 561.799.8565

Treasure Coast Campus:
500 NW California Blvd., JU Room 312
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
tel: 772.873.3441     fax: 772.873.3444

Website address: http://osd.fau.edu

Alternate format available upon request

Rev 07/09