Caregiver and student perspectives on school services for students with traumatic brain injury during the COVID-19 pandemic

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify unique challenges created by COVID-19 school closures for students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families with relation to special education accommodations, therapy services, social support systems, and mental health complications. METHODS: Forty-one caregivers and students participated in semi-structured, virtual interviews. Families had students in kindergarten through 12th grade who experienced a TBI prior to spring 2020 and were receiving support services at schools in Pennsylvania (US). Researchers used reflexive thematic analysis to identify themes across interviews. RESULTS: Central themes encompassing the student- and caregiver-reported challenges and advantages of COVID-19 school closures were changes in [1] education delivery, special education services, and accommodations for children with TBI, and [2] social relationships for students with TBI and their caregivers. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 and the transition to remote learning significantly impacted special education services and education received by students with TBI. Families in this study discussed both perceived obstacles to and advantages of remote learning in this population. As remote and asynchronous learning are now commonly integrated into the curriculum, research should clarify the facilitators and barriers for successful service provision for students with TBI.