Brain Injury Support (BrainSTEPS)
Children and youth, up to age 19, are the highest risk age group for receiving a brain injury after birth. Whether the injury is mild or severe, with short- or long-term effects, the student and their teachers, school and psychologists, and administrators can find help from us on how to create an optimal learning environment that will address the special learning circumstances the child is now facing. We also include family/guardians to ensure ongoing support and engagement.
Students with brain injuries acquired after birth may now have issues focusing on conversations, comprehension, formulating language, or they may have physical changes in areas such as sight, hearing, or mobility. As each person’s injury can manifest itself with varying degrees and types of challenges, we will assess the situation and develop customized approaches for each student.
TBI is defined as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force after birth. This would include events such as a fall, assault, motor vehicle, or sports injury.
An Non-TBI has occurred after birth due to an event such as a stroke, aneurysm, tumor, near drowning, infectious disease that affects the brain (i.e. meningitis), or a lack of oxygen supply to the brain (i.e. heart attack).
Our brain injury program features:
- BrainSTEPS – a nationally recognized brain injury school consulting program developed in Pennsylvania through the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania.
- Collaborations within our community includes the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania as well as many other community hospitals and rehab centers.
- Executive functioning supports, which focus on the areas of self-control, flexibility of thinking, impulse control, and organizational techniques are included in our scope of practice.