1. Verification Guidelines for Children with Disabilities
Technical Assistance Document
Nebraska Department of Education
Special Education Office
September 2008

2. Traumatic Brain Injury
Introduction
Each year about 1 in 500 children
Boys are twice as likely as girls to sustain a TBI
Youth between 15 and 19 years are most likely (

3. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
Most injuries occur in motor vehicle crashes
Other causes include falls, sports-related injuries, gunshot wounds, and physical abuse (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
As a result of TBI, 30,000 children are left with significant functional impairment that impacts their ability to learn (

4. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
Three Part Eligibility Requirement
Meet verification criteria (92 NAC )
Documentation: Adverse Effect on Educational Performance
Determination: Need for Special Education Services

5. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
State Definition
The child must have an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment;
Adversely affects a child's educational performance, or in the case of a child below age five, developmental performance.

6. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
State Definition (cont’d)
Includes open or closed head injuries.
Impairments in one or more areas, such as; cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problems solving; sensory; perceptual and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech.
Does not include brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or brain injuries induced by birth trauma.

7. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team Composition
Verification Guidelines
A description of an event that has resulted in an acquired insult to the brain.
Evidence of impaired functioning that has been determined to produce an adverse effect on the child’s educational or developmental performance.

8. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
Verification Guidelines (cont’d)
Impaired functioning evident in one or more areas including:
Cognition;
Sensory functioning;
Motor functioning;
Behavior

9. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)

10. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
Procedures to Determine Adverse Effect on Educational Performance:
Factors to Consider
Psychologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, occupational therapists, and physical therapists, are the primary professionals who can determine an adverse impact on the child’s educational performance.

11. Traumatic Brain Injury (cont’d)
Related Definitions
Frequently Asked Questions
References and Resources

12. For Additional Information
Special Education Office Nebraska Department of Education Telephone: Web Address: