Many people with brain injury
indicate that the physical impact of their injury is not as significant
as its social and emotional impact. Often, brain injury leads to
isolation because of the pervasive lack of understanding about brain injury
in most communities. The Kids on The Block, Inc. designed this program
to help the peers of a child with a brain injury understand and accept
the changes resulting from the injury and to ease the school re-entry process.
Because there is no cure for brain injury, the program also includes a
prevention component.
What Do the Experts
Say about the Kob Brain Injury Program?
According to the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, “of all types of injury, those to the brain are
among the most likely to result in death or permanent disability...
Traumatic brain injuries have this
impact in the United States each year:
-
1 million people are treated and released
from hospital emergency departments
-
230,000 people are hospitalized and
survive
-
More than 80,000 Americans survive
a hospitalization for traumatic brain injury but are discharged with TBI-related
disabilities.
-
5.3 million Americans are living
today with a TBI-related disability.”
[The above estimates are derived from provisional
data that are subject to change, pending receipt of additional data.
Additionally, the above data was not written to support the KOB program;
it was written in regards to the research of traumatic brain injury.]
How Does the KOB
Program Address Brain Injury?
The curriculum is an educational
tool designed to:
-
Demonstrate some cognitive and emotional
changes associated with brain injury
-
Explain some compensatory strategies
which may be used
-
Examine the social and emotional impact
of brain injury, including relationships with friends
-
Explore the importance of embracing
the present while planning for the future
-
Emphasize the sameness of people with
disabilities rather than the differences
-
Educate about basic brain injury prevention
techniques and promote brain health
-
Encourage children to talk about their
feelings and ask questions
-
Encourage children to accept others'
differences
-
Model positive attitudes and behaviors
What Do the Experts
Say about the Kob Brain Injury Program?
“Thank you for the wonderful performance
this evening. The characters really connected with the audience and
'told our story' as one person with a brain injury told me after the performance.
You and your staff have done a great job creating Justin and the scripts.
I am confident that many more people will have a better understanding of
brain injury through your work.”
Alice Marie Stevens, Ph.D.c.
Former Director of Prevention
Programs
Brain Injury Association of
America
“On behalf of the Brain Injury Association,
thank you... You captured the 'silent epidemic' of brain injury perfectly
and accurately -- with grace and dignity. Not only was the content
well done, but also the caliber of the performance was so professional
and moving.”
Anne P. Rohall
Director of Government Relations
Brain Injury Association of
America
“I think you have done a fantastic
job on the development of the program. You were able to incorporate
a lot of important information about brain injury and its effects.
In addition, Justin's experiences and attitude towards his injury are educational
and inspiring.”
Jane Higham
Director of Family Services
Brain Injury Association of
New York State
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Brain Injury Feature
