Families of Children with Traumatic Brain Injury as Advocates in School Reentry

Abstract

This article provides a framework for guiding families with a child or adolescent who has sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) through the transition from rehabilitation center to home and school. The process promotes the development of positive attitudes about what can be accomplished and advocates empowering the family, when feasible, to become primary decision makers. The impact of TBI on the patient’s family and peers, methods for empowering the family to aid in the school reentry process, and suggestions for establishing roles and responsibilities for professionals and families are discussed. The focus of this article is the family with a child who has sustained a TBI; however, the procedures outlined are applicable to any family whose child was a normally achieving student before becoming injured or ill and is in need of special planning for school programming.