Training Parents to Advocate for Students with TBI

描述（由申请人提供）：每年，大约有30,000名儿童因创伤性脑损伤（TBI）而在社交、行为、身体和认知功能方面发生重大改变。有效的家长倡导服务，以解决创伤性脑损伤的影响，导致成功的学校经验和成果。然而，这些父母往往没有能力为他们的孩子倡导适当的教育服务，导致教育需求得不到满足。该计划将培训家长4项重要的倡导技能：(a)有效沟通；(b)找出/总结问题；(c)设定目标和确定优先次序；(d)评估进展。此外，拟议的方案将提供5个基本信息模块：(a)记录保存；(b) IEP/504计划；(c)高中毕业后的过渡；(d)获得社会支助；(e)获得法律支持。第一阶段的原型成功地为脑损伤学生的家长开发了一个交互式多媒体光盘，重点是有效的沟通技巧，用于倡导对小学学龄脑损伤儿童社会行为的关注。第二阶段的发展将扩大内容，包括(a) 3种额外的宣传技能，(b)更多的关注领域（即身体/医疗问题、学术、组织技能和社会融合），(c)根据学生年龄（如小学或中学）量身定制信息的能力，以及(d)信息模块。此外，一个基于网络的公告板将为家长在自己的学校应用倡导技巧提供社会支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Each year, approximately 30,000 children are left with significant alterations in social, behavioral, physical, and cognitive functioning as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Effective parental advocacy for services to address the effects of TBI leads to successful school experiences and outcomes. However, these parents are often ill equipped to advocate for appropriate educational services for their child, resulting in educational needs being unmet. The proposed program will train parents in 4 critical advocacy skills: (a) effective communication; (b) identifying/summarizing the problem; (c) goal setting and prioritizing; and (d) evaluating progress. In addition, the proposed program will provide access to 5 essential information modules: (a) record keeping; (b) IEP/504 plans; (c) post high school transition; (d) accessing social support; and (e) accessing legal support. The Phase I prototype successfully developed an interactive multimedia CD-ROM for parents of students with TBI, focusing on effective communication skills used to advocate for concerns regarding social behavior in elementary school-aged children with TBI. Phase II development will expand content to include (a) the 3 additional advocacy skills, (b) additional areas of concern (i.e., physical/medical issues, academics, organizational skills, and social integration), (c) the ability to tailor information by student age (e.g., elementary or secondary), and (d) the information modules. In addition, a web-based bulletin board will provide social support to parents applying the advocacy skills in their own schools.