Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem affecting ~1.7 million Americans each year. Over 75% of TBIs are classified as mild and these rates are most likely underestimated. Despite the low severity rating, 5-15% of individuals go on to develop chronic, persistent TBI-related symptoms causing functional limitations.

Project Career is an interprofessional demonstration providing continued support and services to 2-year and 4-year college students with a history of TBI. This program is designed to improve the employment success through a combination of assistive technology on iPads and individualized career counseling services as undergraduate students transition from university settings to the workplace.

Outcomes to date

Case Study

Background

Participants (n=98)

Follow-Up Assessments Key References

Project CareerKaren Jacobs1, Amanda Nardone1, Phillip Rumrill2, Deborah Mintonr2, Deborah Hendricks3,

Elaine Sampson3, Eileen Elias4, Anne Leopold4, Marcia J. Scherer5, 1Boston University; 2Kent State University; 3West Virginia University; 4JBS International, Inc., 5 Institute for Matching Person & Technology

.

Rachel, a mid-30s year old undergraduate student, acquired a TBI from a motor vehicle accident while in high school. This accident left her with some paralysis.

She enrolled in Project Career after being referred by her vocational rehabilitation counselor. After completing assessments, she was provided with an iPad with Apps, such as 30/30, a time management App which given her greater control over her demanding school, work & social schedule.

Rachel was unsure of what graduate program she wanted to pursue. Working with the Project Career TEC and her e-mentor, she learned about loan options & completed online applications.

Project Career will continue to work with Rachel as she continues her education and will aid her in the transition from school to employment.

Conclusion Based on verbal feedback from enrolled students, Project Career is

having a positive impact on short-term academic and long-term career goals.

Intervention Individualized cognitive support technologies (CST) targeted

towards the individual needs and capabilities of each student Hands-on training in the use of the iPad and CST An Electronic-Mentoring (E-mentoring) program based on a peer

support model Individualized vocational case management services Assistance in securing field-based internships A resource-directed job placement and accommodation planning

seminar focused on technology transfer, self-advocacy, and professional networking

Post-graduation follow-along employment support

Intake assessment: Gathers demographic information Baseline: Employment related attitudinal and behavioral

measures which assess student's employability maturity, career decidedness, career self-efficacy, acceptance of disability, & employment history

Matching Person and Technology: Assess attitudes & feelings toward technology, current supports, & rate of abilities in areas of reading skills, comprehension, schedule & time management, hearing, seeing, etc.

Optional vocational assessments

Hendricks, D.J., Sampson, E., Rumrill, P., Leopold, A., Elias, E., Jacobs, K., Nardone, A., Scherer, M., & Stauffer, C. (2015). Activities and interim outcomes of a multi-site development project to promote cognitive support technology use and employment success among postsecondary students with traumatic brain injuries. Neurorehabilitation, 37, 449-458.

Nardone, A., Sampson, E., Stauffer, C., Leopold, A., Jacobs, K., Hendricks, D., Elias, E., Chun, H., & Rumrill, P. (2015). Project Career: A qualitative examination of five college students with traumatic brain injuries. Neurorehabilitation, 37, 459-469. 

Four Initial Assessments

Gender Male: 59.2% (N=58); Female 40.8% (N=40)

Age Range: 18-52; Mean: 26.3 years

Race/Ethnicity Caucasian or White: 85.7% (N=84)African American or Black: 6.1% (N=6)Hispanic/Latino: 9.2% (N=9)American Indian/Alaska Native: 2% (N=2)Asian: 3.1% (N=3)Other: 2% (N=2)

Cause of TBI Motor Vehicle Accident: 32.7% (N=32)Combat/IED: 18.4% (N=18) Playing Sports: 17.3% (N=17) Fall: 12.2% (N=12) Assault/Gun Shot: 5.1% (N=5)Other: 14.3% (N=14);

Student Status Full-time: 70.4% (N=69)Part-time 27.6% (N=27)

TBI Severity Mild: 24.4% (N=20)Moderate: 23.2% (N=19)Severe: 52.4% (N=43)

6-Months and 12 Months-Follow-Up A follow-up assessment is completed every 6 months:Baseline assessmentsMatching person and technology measures Assistive technology user frequency survey (ATUFS)

Post-Graduation Survey (12 months after graduation)Twelve months after graduation, participants complete a post-graduation survey which assesses income, hours worked, & employment satisfaction.

98 students enrolled* The use of CSTs and Apps such as Notability, Evernote, Voice

Dream Reader iOS Native Calendar, Lumosity and iStudiez aided organization and classroom performance.

e-mentoring provided additional support and expert guidance in career preparation.

App moderately or a lot improves their quality of life = 57.1% App moderately or a lot helps perform academically = 70.6% There is a significant difference in baseline and follow-up scores

which indicates that participants have more positive perspectives on technologies over time.

* As of August 20, 2016