Traumatic Brain Injury

By "traumatic brain injury (TBI)," we are generally not referring to a concussion, especially a first-time concussion or one that is anticipated to resolve in a few weeks. A TBI is usually the result of a severe head injury or multiple concussions with longer lasting and/or more complex symptoms.

Please start by reviewing SAS' general documentation guidelines. Students requesting accommodations on the basis of a TBI should generally provide a diagnostic evaluation report no more than one year old (unless symptoms have stabilized) that is prepared by a licensed professional (neurologist or neuropsychologist).

The evaluation report should include:

• A clear diagnostic statement that describes the procedures or tests used to diagnose the condition
• A statement reflecting current impact of the head injury on the student's functioning
• A summary of cognitive, achievement, and neurological tests used and the evaluation results including standardized scores for percentiles used to make the diagnosis
• A summary of present residual symptoms that meet the criteria for diagnosis
• Medical information relating to the student's needs and the impact of any medication(s) on the student's ability to meet the demands of the College environment
• A statement of the anticipated functional, long-term impact or limitations of the disability on learning or other major life activities
• The degree to which the disability impacts the individual in the learning context for which accommodations are being requested

Many of the above documentation elements can be provided via the SAS Verification Form, accompanied by a test score summary of cognitive, achievement, and neurological tests administered.