Introduction
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, so I’m sharing my personal story of brain injury, along with some tips for supporting learners and others in your organization who have brain injuries. This week’s post comes in the form of a video, which I shared on my new channel, inclusiveLXD Insights.
According to the International Brain Injury Association, brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.
Brain injuries are classified into two types. Traumatic brain injuries are those caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Acquired brain injuries occur due to other causes, which I discuss in the video below.
View the Video: Brain Injury Awareness for L&D Professionals
If the video embedded below doesn’t play for some reason, use this link to view it on YouTube.
Sorry the lighting is so bad in this video. I’ll do better next time!
More Information
I want to clarify one thing I said in the video and add a little more information.
I mentioned that working in a noisy environment was hard for people with brain injuries “and even us neurodivergent folks.” Brain injuries are a type of neurodivergence, so the phrasing “and other neurodivergent folks” would have been more accurate.
In addition, there are many potential symptoms and effects of brain injury that I didn’t mention. It would be impossible to list them all. Think about it—the brain is like a central computer that controls all our body’s functions. Therefore, anything in the body could be affected when the brain is injured.
One notable effect is the possibility for seizures. Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of seizure disorders worldwide. We need to be careful to avoid potential seizure triggers, such as flashing, flickering, or strobing effects. Be aware that quickly moving GIFs can create these effects! Some color combinations, such as red and blue next to each other, can also create a strobing effect.
(I don’t experience seizures, but these effects trigger migraines, vertigo, and visual disturbances for me, and I know I’m not alone.)
Bright lights are another common trigger seizure. In a brain injury group I’m in on Facebook, someone shared that they experienced a seizure after someone shined a flashlight in their eyes as a joke. I’m sure they didn’t intend to cause harm, but that doesn’t change the effect.
Wrap-Up
As a recap, here are some ways you can be supportive and inclusive of those with brain injuries, not only during Brain Injury Awareness Month, but always:
- Be mindful of the lighting.
- Try to provide a quiet place to work.
- Be careful about onscreen movement.
- Be patient.
- Give frequent breaks.
- Ask what they need to be successful—and follow through.
This advice also applies to many other neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities other than brain injury. By remembering these tips, you can be more inclusive of all learners, coworkers, and employees.
If you found the video helpful, please give it a like, and I hope you will support the channel by subscribing and sharing.
