The federal definition in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment or both. The term applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in the impairment of 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. The following resources will help you explore this topic.

Books Published by Houghton Mifflin Company

• Hunt, N., & Marshall, K. (1999). Exceptional Children and Youth (2^nd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 342-343, 365.
• Kirk, S.A., Gallagher, J.J. & Anastasiow, N.J. (2000). Educating Exceptional Children (9^th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 504.
• Lerner, J. (2000). Learning disabilities: Theories, Diagnosis, and Teaching Strategies. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, p.46.
• Ysseldyke, J.E., Algozzine, B., & Thurlow, M.L. (2000) Critical issues in special education (3^rd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 73.

Books Published by Other Companies

• Bigler, E. D., Clark, E., & Farmer, J. E. (Eds.) (1997). Childhood traumatic brain injury: Diagnosis, assessment and intervention. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
• DeBoskey, D. S. (Ed.) (1996). Coming home: A discharge manual for families of persons with a brain injury. Houston, TX: HDI.
• DePompei, R., Blosser, J., Savage, R., & Lash, M. (1998). Special education: IEP checklist for a student with a brain injury. Wolfeboro, NH: L&A Publishing/Training.
• Gerring, J. P., & Carney, J. M. (1992). Head trauma: Strategies for educational reintegration. San Diego, CA: Singular.
• Lash, M. (1998). Resource guide: Children and adolescents with brain injuries. Wolfeboro, NH: L&A Publishing/Training.
• Mira, M. P., Tucker, b. F., & Tyler, J. S. (1992). Traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents: A sourcebook for teachers and other school personnel. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
• Savage, R. C., & Wolcott, G. F. (Eds.) (1994). Educational dimensions of acquired brain injury. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
• Singer, G. H. S., Glang, A., & Williams, J. M. ((Eds.) (1996). Children with acquired brain injury: Educating and supporting families. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
• Winslade, W. J. (1998). Confronting traumatic brain injury: Devastation, hope and healing. Yale University Press.

Journals

• Brain Injury Source (Brain Injury Association)
• Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
• TBI Challenge

Fact Sheets

• National Information Center on Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) Fact Sheet -- http://nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs18txt.htm
• General Information About Traumatic Brain Injury -- http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/brain.html
• Frequently asked questions about head injury -- http://www.texoma.com/business/biotech/thia-faq.htm

Web site Resources

• Brain Injury Association -- http://www.biausa.org
• Brain Injury Society -- http://www.virtualtrials.com/bis/index.cfm
• The Federal Resource Center for Special Education (traumatic brain injury) -- http://www.dssc.org/frc/index.htm
• Head Injury Hotline -- http://www.headinjury.com
• Oregon Brain Injury Resource Network -- http://www.tr.wou.edu/tbi/
• Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide -- http://www.tbiguide.com/

Popular Movies

• James Brady Story (1991). HBO
• Regarding Henry (1991). Paramount

Videos

• Changes (spinal cord injuries) -- http://www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/042_cos.shtml
• Outside (spinal cord injuries) -- http://www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/042_cos.shtml
• Surviving coma: The journey back -- http://www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/178_scoma.shtml

Online Resource Documents

• Brain injury: A guide for families and friends -- http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Neuro/BrainInjury/00TableOfContents.html
• Brain injury: Proving a lifetime disability -- http://consumerlawpage.com/article/trabrain.shtml
• Emotional stages of recovery -- http://www.tbiguide.com/emotionalstages.html
• Returning to school -- http://www.tbiguide.com/returnschool.html
• Traumatic brain injury: Cognitive and communication disorders -- http://www.nih.gov/nidcd/health/pubs_vsl/tbrain.htm
• Traumatic brain injury survival guide -- http://www.tbiguide.com/index.html
• Types of Brain Injuries -- http://www.headinjury.com/tbitypes.htm#tauamati
• What is TBI? -- http://www.eyes.org/information/tbi.html
• Will I get better? -- http://www.tbiguide.com/getbetter.html