Serving Individuals with
Most Significant Disabilities
Technical Assistance &
Continuing Education Center

Webinar Series

Helping Your Team Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities–Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – A Four Part Webinar Series

Sponsors: Southeast TACE Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University

Description

The Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities–Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) will provide vocational rehabilitation counselors and area directors with information, tools, and tips to communicate, interact, and support individuals with TBI to reach integrated, competitive employment goals. It will be a forum for collaborative inquiry and learning related to enhancing participant’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of jobseekers with TBI.

Webinars: March 2012 – September 2012

March 21, 2012 – Strategies to Enhance Successful Closure Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities with Traumatic Brain Injuries

May 14, 2012 – Hiring Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

July 30, 2012 – Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Coping with Loss and Grief –VR Implications

September 6, 2012 – VR Implications of Working with the Family of Individuals with TBI

Webinar Specifics

Webinar One: Strategies to Enhance Successful Closure Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities with Traumatic Brain Injuries

Date: Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET
Register for Strategies to Enhance Successful Closure Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities with Traumatic Brain Injuries

**This is the first webinar in the TACE Helping Your Team Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Webinar Series

This webinar will begin by reviewing the medical nature of traumatic brain injury (TBI), reviewing functional limitations while emphasizing the demographic and employment outcome data. It is very important that participants have a chance to make sure their knowledge base is updated and reflects information on the demographics, treatment protocols, and common post-TBI residuals manifested by individuals with TBI.

Specifically, this webinar will:

• Review the definition of TBI and differentiate TBI from other disabilities
• Delve into current  demographic data pertaining to customers with TBI
• Discover current statistics on  closure outcomes for customers with TBI
• Highlight the linkage that substance abuse plays in persons with TBI and employment
• Explore predictors of employment after TBI
• Provide strategies and offer recommendations for vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs)

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome of this webinar is that VR supervisors and VRCs will have concrete strategies they can implement within their units to assist counselors in increasing employment outcomes for individuals with the most significant disabilities.

Webinar Two: Hiring Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Date: Monday, May 14, 2012 
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET
Register for Hiring Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

**This is the second webinar in the TACE Helping Your Team Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Webinar Series

This webinar will begin by defining Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and describing the different types and levels.  It is essential that employers have a general understanding of TBI and its symptoms in order to effectively accommodate the employee with TBI.  Since TBI affects individuals differently, employers should be aware of how these differences will impact the individual while at work.

More Specifically this webinar will:

• Define Traumatic Brain Injury
• Describe Characteristics and Symptoms of TBI
• Describe Associated Disabilities with TBI
• Discuss Common Myths Pertaining to Hiring Individuals with TBI
• Discuss Information and Resources for Employers Pertaining to Hiring Individuals with TBI

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome of this webinar will be that employers will become more knowledgeable about individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury and its signs and symptoms.  This increased knowledge will assist them in more effectively hiring, retaining and accommodating individuals with TBI.

Webinar Three: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Coping with Loss and Grief

Date: Monday, July 30, 2012 
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET
Register for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Coping with Loss and Grief – VR Implications

**This is the third webinar in the TACE Helping Your Team Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Webinar Series

This webinar will begin by reviewing the issues pertinent to veterans returning from deployment who have acquired traumatic brain injuries (TBI).  It is important for participants to understand that individuals who are diagnosed with TBI have issues that are uniquely different from veterans who have more concealable conditions.  Specifically, this webinar with introduce the following:

• Theories of grief and loss;
• Introduction of Ferrans (et al Conceptual Model of Health-related Quality of Life) which may be helpful in understanding transitional needs of veterans with TBI;
• Coping mechanisms relevant to veterans with TBI, as well as, family members and caregivers who provide support;
• Provision of strategies for rehabilitation counselors, educators who work with veterans who have TBI, and their families and caregivers.

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome of this webinar is that rehabilitation practitioners will have specific strategies and resources that will increase their effectiveness when working to facilitate adjustment and transition of veterans with TBI into civilian employment.

Webinar Four: VR Implications of Working with the Family of Individuals with TBI

Date: Thursday, September 6, 2012
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET
Register for VR Implications of Working with the Family of Individuals with TBI

**This is the first webinar in the TACE Helping Your Team Improve Employment Outcomes for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Webinar Series

The webinar will begin by reviewing the stages of the recovery process and the complex interpersonal issues relevant to family members who care for family members with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).  The participants will be exposed to the changes an individual with a TBI experiences and the various roles that family members play in advocating during the recovery process.  Specifically, this webinar will:

• Identify the potential impact of TBI on the family and assist participants in developing an understanding of the recovery process and possible sources of stress;
• Review the family  role in the “treatment team approach” in helping the family cope with the dynamics of TBI;
• Discuss behavioral management strategies that assist the family in working as partners in developing solutions to address behavioral challenges; and,
• Review the process of adjusting, coping, and factors that influence the rehabilitation process.

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome of this webinar is that rehabilitation counselors will have counseling strategies and relevant resources that provide community assistance for family members of individuals with TBI.