A leading cause of disability in children and adolescents

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was added to special education law in 1990, as a disability group requiring specialized educational understanding. Students return to school following TBI with unique and varied needs due to the sudden impact of the injury on the developing brain. The full effects of TBI typically aren’t realized for several years as the brain continues to mature over time.

Schools in Pennsylvania have access to the BrainSTEPS Program, an educational initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, implemented by the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania through the statewide intermediate units. BrainSTEPS is a Child and Adolescent Brain Injury School Re-Entry Program under the funding of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania and in partnership with the Bureau of Special Education and PaTTAN. This program is working to make certain that those who must provide educational support to children with acquired brain injuries, or those previously identified as having a brain injury that may begin to develop educational effects, have a good understanding of brain injury and the resulting challenges. Supports and interventions, designed from researched-based practices, are provided to help these students achieve educational success.