New Programming
Each year, more that 1 million children and adolescents in the United States sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury, (TBI) through accidents, sports related injuries or abuse. Many more suffer an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) from other causes, including brain tumors, strokes, ingestion of toxic substances, infections of the brain, lack of oxygen and seizure activity.Advances in medical technology over the past 25-30 years have led to an increased number of children and adolescents surviving a Traumatic or Acquired Brain Injury. With the advent of managed health care, students are being transferred from medical settings back to school much more quickly, and it is often in school that the long-term effects of a brain injury become apparent over time. Many are placed on home instruction and linger there for far too long. Approximately 75% of the children who return to school following a brain injury require special services to meet their needs, yet according to the National Pediatric Trauma Registry, only 2% are referred for special education and community/state agency services to which they are entitled.
Research indicates that the education of a child with an Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury becomes more complex over time, as the school work gradually becomes more demanding with each grade level entered. While previously learned skills may come back readily, new learning and changes in behavior pose a challenge to staff and peers, and students with Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury do not seem to fit into any of the existing programs school districts have to offer. A large percentage of those who return to school without the proper planning and support services end up requiring more intensive services over time, while many others are lost to juvenile correction and mental health facilities.
Although TBI was added as an eligibility category under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act almost 20 years ago, only 8% of educators have had training specific to this population in their teacher credentialing/certification programs.
The Kelter Center is now providing services for students who have sustained an acquired/traumatic brain injury. Our staff has been provided detailed training in understanding and working effectively with these students from nationally recognized brain injury education consultant Sharon Grandinette. Sharon not only trained the staff, but will be consulting as a part of the Kelter Center team for all children with all A/TBI cases served at The Kelter Center. Students who have their specific cognitive needs addressed before or as they return to school after a brain injury will have a much greater chance of being successful in school and community settings.
Sharon Grandinette, M.S., Ed., CBIST, is a nationally recognized consultant and trainer in the field of Special Education who focuses her work on children and adolescents with acquired/traumatic brain injury. She owns and operates Exceptional Educational Services in Redondo Beach, California, where she provides consultation and training services to school districts, families and attorneys. Sharon has worked in public as well as in private special education school settings as a special educator and administrator for over 29 years. Since 1989, her work has centered on children and adolescents with acquired and traumatic brain injury, and other medical conditions, assisting them with accessing school and state services, transition to school and the community, and addressing their long term needs. She has designed, certified and was the director of two California non-public schools for children with acquired/traumatic brain injury, and directed pediatric programs in post-acute brain injury rehabilitation facilities. Sharon has published in the field, and presents extensively at local, state and national conferences. She is a nationally Certified Brain Injury Specialist/Trainer through ACBIS: The Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists, and has been an adjunct faculty member for over 10 years at California State University Dominguez Hills in the Teacher Education Department-Graduate Special Education Division.
Sharon currently is president of The California Association of Physical & Health Impairments (CAPHI) and serves on the board of The California Brain Injury Association (Charter member), ACBIS-The Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists (Brain Injury Association of America), The Sarah Jane Brain Project (National Advisory Board Member), The We Can Pediatric Brain Tumor Network (Secretary, Past Board Chair) and the California Department of Mental Health TBI advisory board.
