Pediatric TBI: Policy, Advocacy, and Evidence-Based Service Delivery
Presented by Angela Ciccia
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Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains one of the most underrecognized and underfunded childhood conditions despite its lifelong impact on health, learning, and quality of life. This course examines the systemic and policy-level barriers that limit access to care and outlines advocacy strategies that speech-language pathologists and other providers can use to improve service delivery. From navigating IDEA, Section 504, Medicaid, and private insurance to engaging with national and local organizations, learners will gain tools to support more equitable and sustained intervention for youth with TBI. This course is applicable to clinicians working in medical, educational, or community settings who aim to lead or participate in meaningful systems change.
Learning Objectives
- Identify systemic barriers that limit access to service delivery and eligibility for pediatric TBI
- Identify strategies for effective advocacy within school and healthcare systems to support timely identification and intervention for children with TBI
- List current service delivery models and propose improvements that align with best practices and policy mandates to enhance access and outcomes for children with TBI
- Identify community partners who are working on improving access to care, as well as larger brain injury policy, at the local, state, and national levels for pediatric TBI
Meet your instructor
Angela Ciccia
Angela Hein Ciccia is a professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Ciccia’s research focuses on factors that impact children’s ability to recover/develop in the presence of a diagnosis of an acquired (new-onset) and/or developmental neurogenic communication disorder. Dr.…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Introduction
This chapter introduces the foundational principles of treating cognitive-communication challenges in children with TBI. It highlights the importance of early, multidisciplinary, and family- and school-centered intervention, even for mild injuries with lingering symptoms. Clinicians are also introduced to evolving trends in care, including the use of teletherapy and increased guideline-driven treatment options.
2. Advocacy Strategies Across Service Delivery Models
In this chapter, learners review how to advocate for children with TBI across medical and educational settings. Strategies include improving identification and referral pathways, educating colleagues and families, and using interdisciplinary documentation to support service eligibility. Practical tools for navigating IDEA, Section 504, Medicaid, and private insurance are also discussed, with an emphasis on family empowerment and equity.
3. Policy Leadership and Action Planning
This chapter encourages clinicians to take active roles in local, state, and national advocacy efforts. Learners will be introduced to key organizations, such as the Brain Injury Association of America and the Centers for Disease Control, and shown how to engage in structured advocacy, from community collaboration to legislative outreach. A case scenario demonstrates how one clinician’s small steps led to broader systems-level impact.
