Project career: A qualitative examination of five college students with traumatic brain injuries

Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal

Accession No.:

J73337

Journal:

NeuroRehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2015 , 37, 3, 459-469

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Article presents a qualitative examination of five participants in Project Career, an interprofessional, five-year demonstration project designed to promote cognitive support technology (CST) use and employment outcomes among undergraduate college students with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The goal of Project Career is to assist young adults who want to pursue a college education to be academically successful, to complete an undergraduate degree program, and then to transition successfully into employment or into an advanced degree program. CST is provided in the form of an iPad and applications that are selected to meet each student’s needs. Five case studies are presented to provide an understanding of student participants’ experiences within the project. The case study information was collected and synthesized by the project’s Technology and Employment Coordinators (TECs) at each of the project’s three university sites. Each case study includes background on the student, engagement with technology, vocational supports, and interactions with his/her respective TEC. A qualitative analysis from the student’s case notes is provided within each case study, along with a discussion of the overall qualitative analysis. Across all five students, the theme Positive Outcomes was mentioned most often in the case notes. Of all the different type of challenges, Cognitive Challenges were most often mentioned during meetings with the TECs, followed by Psychological Challenges, Physical Challenges, Other Challenges, and Academic Challenges, respectively. The data provide insight for what is working well and what challenges may need to be addressed for improving the project and its outcomes.

Author(s):

Nardone, Amanda, Sampson, Elaine, Stauffer, Callista, Leopold, Anne, Jacobs, Karen, Hendricks, Deborah J., Elias, Eileen, Chen, Hui, Rumrill, Phillip