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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Definition:
A child with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a child with an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, which impairment adversely affects the child’s ability to receive reasonable educational benefit from general education. A qualifying Traumatic Brain Injury is an open or closed head injury resulting in impairments in 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 term “traumatic brain injury” under this rule does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.
TBI Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility Criteria (1)
- 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 the child’s educational performance.
- The term applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairment in one or more areas, such as cognition; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory; perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing and speech.
- The term does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma. Sec. 300.8(c)(12) of IDEA
Eligibility Criteria (2)
- To be eligible as a child with a Traumatic Brain Injury, there must be evidence of the following criteria:
- Either medical documentation of a traumatic brain injury,
- OR significant history of one or more traumatic brain injuries reported by a reliable and credible source and/or corroborated by numerous reporters
Important Resources
Building Blocks of Brain Development
Building Blocks of Brain Development is a model of brain development, injury, and support.
BrainSTEPS
BrainSTEPS consulting teams support school teams in the development and implementation of educational plans following acquired brain injury.
Learn more about BrainSTEPS Colorado.
Brain Injury Professional Development
The Brain Injury Professional Development page contains the following learning opportunities:
- Understanding the Brain Series
- Assessment in the School-Age TBI: Focus on Executive Functions for BrainSTEPS
- Videos about building a healthy brain
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Learning Opportunities
- 8 Magic Keys
- University of Washington: A project of the UW Fetal Alcohol Drug Unit
Resources
- Colorado Kids with Brain Injury
- Brain Injury Association of Colorado - Resource Navigation and Services
- Do you know someone with a brain injury who needs support? Refer them to the Brain Injury Alliance of CO for services
- BrainLinks - Bringing together professionals to recognize the far-reaching and unique nature of brain injury and to improve services for survivors.
- Center on the Developing Child – Harvard University - These key scientific concepts are the building blocks of the core story of child development. Each page within this section provides a concise overview of a different key concept and provides a variety of resources created by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the Center.
- CDE Concussion Management Guidelines
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Report to Congress on The Management of TBI in Children
- Overlapping Behavioral Characteristics & Related Mental Health Diagnoses in Children (PDF)
For Kids & Families
- All About Me (PDF) - A packet to help adults understand kids.
- All About My Brain (PDF) - The Building Blocks of Brain Development for Kids
- Colorado Classroom: Read with Me at Home - Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Colorado Education Initiative are partnering with Rocky Mountain Public Media to provide K-3 learners, and their families and caregivers with direct-to-home remote literacy learning though “Colorado Classroom - Read With Me at Home”.
- HCP Program
Screening Tools
Training and Professional Development Opportunities
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day
- Brain Injury Support Network/BrainSTEPS CO New Team Member Training
- Epilepsy, PANS/PANDAS, and TBD additional Training
- Brain Injury Awareness Month Statewide Training
- Other Health Impairment (OHI) Eligibility Office Hours
- Brain Injury Support Office Hours
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day
Consequences Don't Matter? Why Traditional Approaches Often Fail for Students with FASD
September 9, 2026
Brain Injury Support Network/BrainSTEPS CO New Team Member Training
September 24, 2026
Epilepsy, PANS/PANDAS, and TBD additional Training
February 8, 2027
Brain Injury Awareness Month Statewide Training
March 4, 2027
Other Health Impairment (OHI) Eligibility Office Hours
Monthly on Wednesdays from October 2026 to May 2027 on the following dates:
- October 14, 2026
- November 11, 2026
- December 9, 2026
- January 13, 2027
- February 10, 2027
- March 10, 2027
- April 14, 2027
- May 12, 2027
Registration required.
Brain Injury Support Office Hours
Held virtually on Thursdays on the following dates:
- October 22, 2026
- January 28, 2027
- February 25, 2027
- April 22, 2027
- May 27, 2027
Registration required.
Additional Colorado Department of Education Resources
Questions?
For more information about services for students with a traumatic brain injury, please contact:
Jody Dickerson, RN, BSN, MN
Brain Injury Specialist
Phone: (720) 795-2273
Email Jody Dickerson
Lauren Gould
Program Support Assistant
Email Lauren Gould
Join the Brain Injury Listserv
Join the Brain Injury Listserv by completing an interest form or email Jody Dickerson at Dickerson_J@cde.state.co.us for more information.