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This webinar will provide an introduction to Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Presented by Louise Wilkinson - Head of Information and Learning for the Child Brain Injury Trust.

This guide aims to introduce childhood acquired brain injury (ABI), consider how it is acquired and why it is often misdiagnosed, and provide some practical support strategies. #miniguides

This session will help to further develop your understanding of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Dr Emily Bennett is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Paediatric Neuropsychologist specialising in paediatric neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. She is the lead psychologist for the Trust’s paediatric neurorehabilitation (BRILL Team) service. Emily’s clinical work involves supporting children, adolescents and young adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) and complex neurological, neuro-oncological and neurosurgical conditions.  

In addition to her clinical role, Emily lectures on local Doctorate, Masters and Undergraduate courses and is actively involved in research. Emily also collaborates with educational colleagues, to support the development of provision for CYP with an ABI in education. Emily is the Chair for the National ABI in Learning and Education Syndicate (N-ABLES) and has been involved in the ‘Time for Change’ work of UKABIF and the All-Party Parliamentary Group hoping to secure better awareness, provision, and support for people with an ABI. 

Joanna Woodhouse is a qualified teacher and SENCO with a Masters Degree in SEND and Inclusion. She has wide ranging experience of working with children and young people with Special Educational Needs. Professionally, Joanna has worked on the successful rehabilitation of children and young people with complex Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) to mainstream secondary educational settings. This has involved working collaboratively with colleagues in the health, care, and social sectors.  

Joanna is a member of the National Acquired Brain Injury in Learning and Education Syndicate (N-ABLES) and co-chairs their Educational Professionals Advisory Group. She regularly delivers training, both locally and nationally, to teachers regarding the return to education and the provision and management of young people with an ABI.

In September 2019 Joanna’s own daughter sustained an ABI following a sudden accident. This traumatic event has given her a unique insight into the impact of an ABI on both young people and their families. Joanna has now left mainstream teaching and is able to dedicate more time to using her personal and professional knowledge and expertise to improve awareness, understanding and outcomes for children and young people with ABI. 

This is the second part of three-part webinar series is designed to support educators in understanding and responding to the needs of pupils with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Dr Gemma Costello is a Specialist Educational Psychologist in Paediatric Neuropsychology. She is currently the Consultant Psychologist and Clinical Lead at the Cambridge Centre for Paediatric Neuropsychological Rehabilitation (CCPNR), working as part of an inter-disciplinary team, supporting children, young people and their families following Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

Gemma is an active member of special interest groups in both paediatric neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation. She is committed to promoting the role of Educational Psychology in paediatric acquired brain injury, working with services across the UK and more recently contributing to Educational Psychology and Paediatric Neuropsychology training. Gemma is a member of the steering group of the National ABI in Learning and Education Syndicate (N-ABLES) which aims to identify ways to support education professionals in developing a minimum level of awareness and understanding about ABI and the educational requirements of this group of children and young people.

The Young Experts by Experience in Acquired Brain Injury (YEBEABI) is a diverse group of young people who have all experienced an acquired brain injury in childhood or adolescence. We support each other, share experiences and raise awareness of ABI within education, by discussing support strategies that we found helpful during our own return to education. We use our knowledge to create useful materials for teaching staff such as our ‘5 top tips’, because it is important to us that everyone has proper education regarding what having an ABI really means. Our mission is to create positive experiences in education for others who have brain injuries and make sure that everyone knows that you can still do amazing things, even if you have an ABI!

This is the first part of three-part webinar series is designed to support educators in understanding and responding to the needs of pupils with acquired brain injury (ABI).