WVU Division of OT Faculty and Students Present at TBI Conference

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, there are more than 5.3 million individuals in the United States who are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability. That’s one in every 60 people.

Faculty and students from the WVU Division of Occupational participated in the WV Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) conference on March 29, 2023. The conference was facilitated in collaboration with the WV Traumatic Brain Injury Program and WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Associate Professor Amanda Acord-Vira, EdD, OTR/L, CBIS, FAOTA and Professor Steven Wheeler, PhD, OTR/L, CBIS, FAOTA serve as principal investigators on the grants supporting the conference.

WVU Division of Occupational Therapy Assistant Professor Heather Livengood, PhD, MOT, OTR/L,  pictured above, presented "Vision and the Brain: How We See" to people with TBI, caregivers/family members, as well as professionals to attend sessions on best practices for serving individuals with TBIs. 

Occupational therapy students showcased their work on a number of research projects. Brooke Driscoll & Austin Marcum (pictured above), presented their work on the impact of traumatic brain injury on caregivers. Julee Frazee (analysis of TBI WV Funds for You Program), Sarah McAninch (study of falls following TBI) and Samantha Windisch (implementation of “Return to Learn” education in schools) also presented their work. These projects were conducted to fulfill their graduate-level research requirements.

In addition to presenting, occupational therapy students had the opportunity to learn from recognized experts on topics including concussion, rehabilitation strategies after brain injury, art therapy, and advocacy. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, many brain injury survivors experience difficulties that impact successful and satisfying community participation. Occupational therapy practitioners use person-centered, evidence-informed strategies to support a client’s psychosocial, physical, and cognitive recovery and facilitate optimal functional performance across the lifespan. The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program at the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities is proud to serve as the state's designated lead agency for the coordination of services for West Virginians with TBI. The TBI Program is a collaboration between the state-funded Traumatic Brain Injury Services and the federally-funded Traumatic Brain Injury Implementation Partnership Grant.