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Brain
Injury Basics
Brain Injury Basics has been developed by the Edmonton Brain Injury
Relearning Society who have been providing services since 1993.
The underlying premises of Brain Injury Basics are that to be effective
in community based rehabilitation there must be an understanding of
the following four factors.
- the person*s interests, skills, and abilities both before and after
his/her brain injury.
- the type, severity and effects of the person's brain injury.
- the demands of the activity or task the person chooses to do.
- the characteristics and demands of the environment in which an activity
or task takes place.
Brain Injury Basics stresses the importance of developing individualized
strategies that fit for the person, the environments he/she is involved
in, and the activities the person finds meaningful. In community based
rehabilitation, developing and using strategies is a way of working
towards increased independence for the brain-injured person and compensating
for lost or affected skills. Using a team approach while working in
partnership with the person and treating him/her with dignity and respect
is of the greatest importance when developing and using strategies.
The three sections of the manual provide a basis for addressing the
four factors listed above through community based rehabilitation. The
three sections of the manual are:
Brain
Basics provides information on the brain itself; the types
of damage that may occur to the brain and explains professional terminology
in plain language. A general description of some of the effects of
brain injury most commonly observed in a community based setting follows.
The last part of the Brain Basics section provides a number of general
strategies for assisting an individual who has experienced a brain
injury. In a sense, these strategies also provide information on the
complexity of the effects of brain injury, but do not take individual
characteristics and personality factors into account. General strategies
are presented for the areas of attention; memory; lack of insight
and denial of disability; poor emotional control; sexuality; agitation,
anger and aggression; depression and withdrawal; difficulty carrying
out a plan of action; difficulty understanding what others are saying;
difficulty saying what you want to say; and impulsiveness and difficulty
holding back.
Toolbox
for the Community, provides more specific strategies and
tools for community based rehabilitation. Using these tools is a way
to analyse activities and tasks in relation to the individual's past
and present skills, capacity and interests. The tools are meant to
be used across home and community settings to create a picture of
strengths, challenges and environmental factors that have an impact
on the person's present skills and abilities. The tool are used in
"Real Life" complex community environments as compared to structured
rehabilitation settings. Cognitive Coaching (adapted with permission
from the "Art of Cognitive Coaching) is presented as a way of working
with people that increases critical thinking skills and assists them
in regaining and exerting a sense of personal power and control over
their lives (empowerment) This section of the manual provides specific
teaching strategies, memory and organization strategies, behavior
analysis strategies, and includes sample worksheets, checklists, ideas
and tools, information gathering logs, and an observation form.
Community
Networks, addresses the development of the community as
a partner in the rehabilitation process. The skills discussed in this
part of the manual are helpful in finding supportive, meaningful environments
that provide individuals with a way to contribute to the community
in a fulfilling way. Topics included in this section are preparing
for community entry, locating opportunities in the community, educational
opportunities, confidentiality and the community, and professional
boundaries. Specific ideas and strategies for volunteering are provided
e.g. finding, contacting, the interview, evaluating the "fit" of the
site, enhancing success for both the individual and the site, as well
as bringing closure.
Taken together, the three sections of the manual provide a basis for
addressing the four factors listed above. They also provide an information
base for community based rehabilitation. "Hands-on" training and experience
are important components that are not addressed in this manual. For
the strategies and information to be used effectively, a practicum or
training period is necessary and complementary.
Information presented in easy to read format, lots of suggestions
and ideas for implementing strategies. Will provide insights into
assisting an individual with an brain injury versus an individual
with a developmental disability. Stresses empowerment, personal choice
and the development of critical thinking skills or cognitive coaching.
The Cognitive Thinking concept has been adapted for use with persons
with brain injuries.
| Available from: |
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Edmonton Brain Injury Relearning Society
311 Royal Alex Place
10106 - 111 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta
need postal code
Telephone: (780) 477-7575
Fax: (780) 471-4288
E-mail: info@ebirs.ab.ca
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Description of Resource: Coil bound manual,75 pages
Approximate Cost: $59.99 (Canadian)
Links: The Centre for Cognitive Thinking www.cognitivecoaching.com
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