A traumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects educational performance. The term applies to mild, moderate, or severe, open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one (1) 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, or speech. The term includes anoxia due to trauma. The term does not include brain injuries that are congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. This definition is found in State Board of Education Rule 6A-6.030153, F.A.C.

Contact
407.320.2013

State Laws and Regulations

The rule referenced below is specific to TBI. Please refer to Volume I-B: Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rules, Excerpts Related to Exceptional Student Education (PDF, 4MB) for a complete listing of laws and regulations applicable to exceptional student education.

• 6A-6.030153, F.A.C.: Exceptional Student Education Eligibility for Students With Traumatic Brain Injury

Florida Resources

Publications

• TBI Pre- and Post-Injury Checklists-School and Parent Forms Memo (PDF,219KB)
• TBI Pre and Post-Injury Checklist-School Form (Word, 182KB)
  • Lesión Traumática del Cerebro ("TBI" en inglés) Lista de Verificación para antes y después de la Lesión- Formulario para los Padres (Word, 191KB)
• Traumatic Brain Injury: A Disability Often in Disguise – Self Study Course for Educators

Projects

• Problem-Solving – Response to Instruction/Intervention Project (PS-RtI)
• Florida Inclusion Network (FIN)
• Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)

Websites

• Brain Injury Association of Florida
• Florida Department of Health: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program

National Resources

• Brain Injury Association of America
• Brainline.org: Preventing, Treating and Living with Traumatic Brain Injury
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Free Materials--Heads Up to Schools: Know your Concussion ABC’s
  • Free Materials—Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports
  • Free Materials—Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports
  • Online Training—Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): Traumatic Brain Injury