The Central Rivers AEA Brain Injury Support Team (BIST) consists of special education support staff, such as school psychologists, school social workers, occupational/physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists. In addition to their regular assignments, team members serve as contacts and resources for helping districts serve students who have suffered brain injuries. The BIST is part of a state network that includes the Department of Education, University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development, and the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa. Referrals for BIST services come from medical sources, AEA support staff, school districts, and families. The BIST team facilitates communication and provides educational consultation for these students. Services may include: attending transition meetings at hospitals and rehab facilities; providing professional development and training for schools and families on issues related to brain injury; providing resources such as books, pamphlets, DVDs, and links to websites with brain injury resources; helping schools determine accommodations; providing support to building IEP teams for both short and long-term services. BIST services are available to all districts in Central Rivers AEA.
Make a referral
Complete the Request for Resource Team Consultation Referral Form
About us
The Central Rivers AEA Brain Injury Support Team (BIST) is a multi-disciplinary team of Central Rivers AEA special education support staff with expertise in assessment and intervention for students with brain injury. We consist of special education support, such as: school psychologists, school social workers, special education consultants, and speech-language pathologists. In addition to our regular assignments, team members serve as contacts and resources for helping districts serve students who have suffered brain injuries. The BIST is part of a state network that includes the Department of Education, University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development, and the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa.
We offer consultation on strategies to address issues relating to assessment, cognitive/academics, self-regulation, behavioral, social/emotional, and physical/medical.
We provide presentations on brain injury and on specific issues related to individual students who have been referred to BIST.
Referrals for BIST services come from medical sources, AEA support staff, school districts, and families. The BIST team facilitates communication and provides educational consultation for these students. Services may include: attending transition meetings at hospitals and rehab facilities; providing professional development and training for schools and families on issues related to brain injury; providing a resource library with books, pamphlets, DVDs, and links to additional websites with brain injury resources; helping schools determine accommodations; providing support to building IEP teams for both short and long-term services. BIST services are available to all districts in Central Rivers AEA.
Contact us
Cedar Falls
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Buseman | Occupational Therapist | Jennifer Buseman |
| Alison Moses | Physical Therapist | Alison Moses |
Clear Lake
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Thoms-Starr | Special Education Consultant | Amy Thoms-Starr |
| Crystal Klahsen | Speech Language Pathologist | Crystal Klahsen |
Marshalltown
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Melissa Ford | School Social Worker | Melissa Ford |
| Dee Crum | School Social Worker | Dee Crum |
Resources
- Brainline – Includes specific classroom interventions (academic and behavior), re-entry, concussion
- Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa – Group focused on brain injury prevention, advocacy, education, research, and support.
- Brain Injury Association of America – Brain Injury information
- Brain Injury Brochure 2017
- BrainSTEPS – Return to learn after concussion program in Pennsylvania. How to set up a program with specific instructions. Brenda Eagan Brown is coordinator and on the HRSA national Webinar
- Minds Matter – Return to learn after concussion from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Lots of info for students, parents, teachers
- LEARNet – Return to learn after mild and severe TBI from Brain Injury Assoc of New York State. One of my favorite websites with info for teachers and parents.
- Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury Online Training – 4 modules: 1. Overview; 2. Cognitive and academic consequences and needs; 3. Psychological consequences and needs (general behavior characteristics but no interventions); and 4. Family and social consequences and needs.
- Minnesota Low Incidence Projects – They have statewide specialist for TBI and 11 regions with low incidence facilitators.
- National Association of School Psychologists – Research-Based Practice on Return to Learn after a concussion with Karen McAvoy’s REAP program from Colorado and manual from TBI Networking Team Resource Network.
- Nebraska DE TBI brochures and bridging the GAP from Concussion to the Classroom with references to Oregon, McAvoy, ImPACT, and REAP and sample learning accommodation plan.
- Oregon Concussion and Management program (OCAMP) – Everything needed for return to learn for coaches, school, parents, and teen athletes including videos, handouts, and slide shows, very interactive
- REAP Concussion Management Program from Colorado by Karen McAvoy: Remove/Reduce…Educate..Adjust / Accommodate..Pace – Everything needed for return to learn for coaches, school, parents, and teen athletes in downloadable brochure.
- TBI and Challenging Behavior Webcast Series – From the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction contains 4 webcasts on behavior which are detailed and includes need for functional behavioral analysis.