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Justin Campbell
Meet Justin Campbell
The Kids on the Block welcomes an addition to our family. Justin Campbell, the newest Kid on the Block, is the featured character in our recently released program, Brain Injury. Fourteen year old Justin, who acquired a brain injury in an automobile crash a few months ago, appears in four scripts which address a variety of brain injury issues. The first script, "A Book to Remember," demonstrates some cognitive changes which may result from a brain injury and introduces some common compensatory strategies. "Exhibiting Friendship" examines emotional changes and their impact on relationships with peers and models a positive, supportive interaction between friends. The script "Enjoy Today, Plan Tomorrow" explores the importance of embracing the present while considering goals for the future. These scripts are most appropriate for children in grades three through six. "A Happy Brain" is designed to educate children in kindergarten through sixth grade about basic brain injury prevention techniques and to promote overall brain health. Some of the cognitive changes Justin has experienced are short-term memory loss, difficulty learning new information, impaired executive functioning (the ability to organize, plan, initiate and terminate activities) and decreased attention abilities. Emotional changes include lack of insight, inappropriate laughter, lack of emotional control and difficulty tolerating chaotic situations. Justin is a talented artist. He has been painting as a hobby and taking extra-curricular art lessons since he was eight years old. Since his brain injury, his art has become even more important to him. Justin is glad to have an expressive outlet to deal with the feelings of loss, frustration and anger he has about his brain injury. His art instructors say that recently, his work has grown to a new level and is really pushing creative limits. Justin is even expanding his use of media by dabbling in sculpture. Before the injury, Justin had given some thought to what he wanted to do when he is older, but not a lot. Now, he's fairly certain that his future career will be related to his art. Whatever his long-term goals, Justin knows that right now it is important for him to focus on some short-term goals, like mastering his compensatory strategies, learning what situations cause him problems and developing stamina to extend his school day. Justin debuted at the Brain Injury Association of America's (BIAA) Annual Public Policy Conference in March 2002. Justin and his friends Shaun and Melody James (with the help of The Kids on the Block international performing troupe) performed for an audience of people with brain injuries, their families and brain injury advocates. The BIAA's Director of Government Relations Anne Rohall offered this praise for the program, "You captured the 'silent epidemic' of brain injury perfectly and accurately–with grace and dignity." Justin may be the new "Kid on the Block," but he'll fit right in! |
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