Concussion Management for Youth with Learning Disabilities by Dr. Ashley Harbin

In this presentation, you’ll learn everything you need to know to support a student with concussion/mTBI. Give us an hour and we’ll give you what you need (and more!) to take an informed, proactive approach to concussion management -- specifically for youth in special education or for those with a protracted recovery.

Produced by the SC Brain Injury Safety Net Project (“Safety Net”) you’ll hear from subject matter experts Dr. Ashley Harbin, PhD, CBIS and Safety Net Coordinator Katie Zenger, MPH, who guide you through a robust presentation with informative slides and accessible narration. This presentation was created, presented, and recorded for the 2021 Virtual Conference facilitated by the South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children.

This Webinar is for You
If you work with youth with disabilities or special healthcare needs, this webinar is for you. This content is also valuable for those supporting youth whose concussion does not resolve within the typical 28-day period.

If you don’t currently have a student with concussion, this webinar offers vital information to prepare you for the future -- your future student with concussion will count on you and your classroom to help facilitate the best possible health outcome.

If you have a current student with concussion, this presentation will bring you up to speed quickly and comprehensively. You will come away from this webinar knowing you have the most current tools and resources you can implement today to help your student.

 

Do You Know What to Do? What Not to Do?

It’s not a matter of if your student has a concussion -- it’s when. Informed and consistent concussion management is essential for the health and recovery of your student; don’t wait until you need to know when everything you need is here. This presentation introduces you to the SC Brain Injury Safety Net Project and the role it plays, as well as up-to-date education and resources that include:

●       What May Surprise You About mTBI -- Facts, Figures & Fiction

●       How research and guidelines have changed for mTBI best practices

●       Short- & long-term considerations for concussion management in schools

●       Why Concussions Matter; a serious but manageable injury

●       Understanding which students are at risk for longer recovery

●       Taking the Stress out of Laws, Guidelines, and Recommendations

●       The Symptom Wheel & Understanding Your Student’s Cues

●       Communicating with Parents - Suggestions & Language

●       Tips & Tools: State & Federal Resources available right now

 

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

You will also learn how to approach, ask and answer questions like:

●       What is a Concussion?

●       Return to School vs Return to Learn: What’s the Difference?

●       The Empowered Educator: How does your school handle short-term needs?

●       What are the real consequences of concussion mismanagement?

●       Acting Out: Is it disruptive behavior or is it symptomatic of a concussion?

●       What contributes to a protracted recovery and what part do I play?



Additional Resources Available & Continued Education
Please visit the following links for more information, tips, and tools:

●       SC Brain Injury Safety Net Project

●       Key Terms & Definitions to Know

●       Resources for Educators

●       Special Education & Traumatic Brain Injury (p. 68-72)

●       Get Schooled on Concussions (GSOC)

●       The REAP Protocol

●       Colorado Kids with Brain Injury

●       Resources for South Carolina

●       National Resources

●       Teacher Acute Concussion Tool (TACT)

About the Presenter:

Ashley Harbin Headshot.jpeg


Ashley Harbin, PhD, CBIS, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist trained to guide students with concussions and their families through the lengthy and challenging route to recovery. Dr. Harbin serves on the Brain Injury Safety Net (BISN) Taskforce, a youth-focused program of the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina (BIASC) and on the South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council (SC BILC).  She is currently leading a task force for the BIASC to bring return-to-learn resources to the state of South Carolina and presents at local and national conferences on the psychological and neuropsychological sequelae of brain injury and concussion. Dr. Harbin holds both a master’s degree and a doctorate in Medical Clinical Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Brain Injury Association of South Carolina remains in gratitude to Dr. Harbin for her continued contributions and leadership.

If you found this presentation helpful and know someone who might benefit, we encourage you to like, share, and subscribe to and subscribe to our Brain Injury Safety Net Listserv by emailing safetynetcoordinator@biaofsc.com

Thank you  for watching. You never know when you just might be a child’s safety net.

Katie Zenger