Procedures

Intake 

The intake appointment is a one-hour meeting with one of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Instructional Specialists: Jill Wilkerson or Christine Tunstall.  Please bring medical records verifying the brain injury or have your physician complete the Medical Verification form, and complete an application for DSPS Services.(forms on the "Admission Requirements" page). 

During the intake appointment, the specialist interviews the candidate (along with involved family and clinicians), gathering pertinent information regarding the injury, medical history, educational and employment history, support systems (within the family and in the community), current strengths and weaknesses, and goals. The specialist may request other relevant medical or educational reports: speech-language assessments, psychology/neuropsychology reports, school educational assessments, and/or discharge reports. The program is explained to the candidate and family, including the process and goals.

During the interview, the specialist will be speaking primarily with the candidate, informally monitoring the candidate's cognitive and communicative skills, his or her participation in the process, and his or her personal interpretation of goals, as well as for indications of the support provided by the family, and any outside support systems that have been utilized.

The specialist then determines the candiate's potential to meet the goals of the Acquired Brain Injury program: to begin transition into academic and/or vocational programs within one complete academic year.  Admission to the program may be recommended; otherwise the candidate may be accepted into the program for a 6-week trial before final determination, referred for a follow-up meeting (usually 6 months later), or referred instead to other resources either on or off campus.

Beginning the Program

If the candidate is admitted to the program, the specialist will review some state-required forms with the student: Educational Limitations, and Student Educational Contract. These forms may be completed at the intake meeting or, if additional information is needed, may require another appointment a few weeks later.  Students are scheduled twice a week for two hours each time. The specialist will work with the student and family to identify the best days and times. The student is then enrolled in Adaptive Academic Preparation, a non-credit, open-entry, open-exit course for the Acquired Brain Injury Program at Mt. San Antonio College, and may be referred to other recommended services.  There is no fee for the course.  If driving, the student may need to purchase a parking pass (currently about $40), unless he or she has a parking placard from the DMV (then parking is free).  Once enrolled, the student needs to bring a photo ID in order to purchase a Student ID card ($10).

 Baselines / Computer-based Cognitive Retraining

Once enrolled, the student completes a set of computer programs designed to screen for attention, working memory, short-term memory, and processing speed. This takes 30 - 60 minutes. Using these baseline results together with other relevant assessments, an individualized cognitive retraining program is planned, in which the student will use a variety of computer software programs to develop skills and/or compensatory techniques.  Students are scheduled to do these for as much as two hours twice weekly. This is not therapy. Specialists and/or their assistant(s) oversee several students simultaneously who are working on their individualized programs.  Progress is monitored, and assistance is provided as needed.

Other Activities

Based upon the relevant assessments and progress in the program, involvement in other activities may be recommended upon admission to the program, integrated after a semester or two, or as a transition near the end of the program. These may include, but aren't limited to: speech-language services, adaptive physical education, supported enrollment in credit classes, enrollment in other non-credit classes (including Basic Skills or English as a Second Language) or fee-based classes, referral to a support group or outside resources, suggested activities for at home, or referral to the State Department of Rehabilitation.

Continuation in the Program

Students should discuss their progress with their Brain Injury Specialist either during class or in an appointment.  The specialist will monitor their progress in their activities, determine their progress towards the program goal, and/or introduce or adjust their other activities.  More frequent meetings may be requested by the specialist or the student. Participation in the program may be interrupted or terminated at any time.  When not in academic credit instruction, the student should remain enrolled in the non-credit Adaptive Academic Preparation course.  If the student has been in the program for one complete academic year and the transition to academics or employment does not seem feasible, the Brain Injury Specialist will meet with the student and family in order to suggest resources and activities other than this program.  If significant progress is being made towards the goal, but not yet completed, the Brain Injury Specialist may recommend an additional semester.

Completion of the Program

Students who have begun active participation in academic credit classes at Mt. San Antonio College may continue receiving services from Disabled Student Programs & Services by meeting services requirements.  These students may continue their contact with their Brain Injury Specialist if desired, but will discontinue enrollment in the non-credit Adaptive Academic Preparation course.  Many of these students begin enrollment in the non-credit Tutorial class for academic support, which meets in the same location. Other students may have begun or resumed employment, full or part-time; they may continue participating in the Acquired Brain Injury Program if their specialist recommends it.

Students who have completed an academic year of participation in the program, are no longer showing progress, or have been determined by the Brain Injury Specialist to no longer meet the requirements or goals of the program will meet with their specialist to discuss other resources.