Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
News & Announcements
Revisions to Regulations Governing Special Education Services for Children with Disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia
In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation that necessitated revisions to the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (8 VAC 20-81-20 et seq.) (the Virginia Regulations). Accordingly, on September 23, 2021, the Virginia Board of Education approved the revisions to be effective November 24, 2021. The required revisions related to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are summarized as follows:
- The definition of “traumatic brain injury,” for the purpose of the provision of special education for children with disabilities, was amended to include an acquired injury to the brain caused by a medical condition, including stroke, anoxia, infectious disease, aneurysm, brain tumors, and neurological insults resulting from medical or surgical treatments.
The text of the revisions are located on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
website. Please note that an updated version of the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia (PDF) with the changes incorporated will be forthcoming. Refer to Superintendent’s Memo #330-21-This is a PDF document. for more information.
“Traumatic brain injury” means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force or by other medical conditions, including stroke, anoxia, infectious disease, aneurysm, brain tumors, and neurological insults resulting from medical or surgical treatments, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma (34 CFR 300.8(c)(12)).
VDOE Resources
Outside Resources
- Community for Online Accredited Schools, Students with Traumatic Brain Injuries-Student and Teacher Resources for Success in School after a Head Injury
- Brain Injury Association of Virginia – Information and personal support for individuals, families, and professionals. Includes link to the Brain Injury and the Schools: A Guide for Educators. The guide provides an overview of brain injury and its cognitive, behavioral, and physical consequences, with resources for teaching and non-teaching personnel.
- Brain Injury Partners Navigating the School System
- Brain Injury Resource Center
- Center for Neuro Skills
- Consortium for Handheld Technology
- Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) – general information about children and youth with disabilities.
- Early Intervention (Part C, IDEA) services
- I’m Determined
- National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) – Information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children and youth, IDEA, NCLB and effective educational practices.
- National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury
- University of Virginia TBI Network
- University of Virginia Children’s Hospital - Neurology
- Traumatic Brain Injury.com is an internet resource for education, advocacy, research and support for brain injury surviviors, their families, and medical and rehabilitation professionals.
- Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide
- TTAC Online – A community linking people and resources to help children and youth with disabilities.
- Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS)
- Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services
- Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center Brain Injury Services