Brain Injury Support Team (BIST)
The Central Rivers AEA Brain Injury Support Team (BIST) is a multidisciplinary group of special education professionals dedicated to supporting students who have experienced a brain injury. In addition to their primary roles, team members serve as specialized contacts to help school districts navigate the unique challenges these students may face.
Central Rivers AEA’s BIST is part of a statewide network in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education, the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development, and the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa.
Our Services
The BIST team provides consultation and facilitates communication between schools, families, and service providers. Support may include:
- Strategy consultation for challenges related to assessment, academics, cognition, self-regulation, behavior, social-emotional development, and physical or medical needs
- Participation in transition meetings at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities
- Professional development and training for educators and families on brain injury-related topics
- Access to brain injury resources (books, pamphlets, websites, etc.)
- Assistance in determining appropriate school-based accommodations
- Ongoing support to IEP teams for both short- and long-term service planning
BIST services are available to all school districts within Central Rivers AEA.
Referral Sources
Referrals to the BIST team may come from medical providers, AEA support staff, school districts or families.
Make a Referral
To refer a student to the Brain Injury Support Team, please contact your Central Rivers AEA team representative or reach out to Jen Buseman directly.
Resources
- ​Brainline: Includes specific classroom interventions (academic and behavior), re-entry, concussion
- Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa: Group focused on  brain injury prevention, advocacy, education, research, and support.
- Brain Injury Association of America: Brain Injury information
- BrainSTEPS: Return to learn after concussion program in Pennsylvania. How to set up a program with specific instructions. Brenda Eagan Brown is coordinator and on the HRSA national Webinar
- Minds Matter: Return to learn after concussion from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).  Lots of info for students, parents, teachers
- LEARNet: Return to learn after mild and severe TBI from Brain Injury Assoc of New York State. One of my favorite websites with info for teachers and parents.
- Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury Online Training: 4 modules: 1. Overview; 2. Cognitive and academic consequences and needs; 3. Psychological consequences and needs (general behavior characteristics but no interventions); and 4. Family and social consequences and needs.
- Minnesota Low Incidence Projects: They have statewide specialist for TBI and 11 regions with low incidence facilitators.
- Nebraska DE TBI brochures and bridging the GAP from Concussion to the Classroom with references to Oregon, McAvoy, ImPACT, and REAP and sample learning accommodation plan.
- REAP Concussion Management Program from Colorado by Karen McAvoy: Remove/Reduce…Educate..Adjust / Accommodate..Pace – Everything needed for return to learn for coaches, school, parents, and teen athletes in downloadable brochure.