A traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body, such as falls, vehicle-related collisions, violence, sports injuries, combat injuries, among others. Living and participating in the community may be beneficial for people with TBI. However, they may face barriers to community living and participation, such as transportation limitations, government policies, other people’s attitudes, their surroundings (lighting, noise, etc.), inaccessible websites, physical barriers, and more. NARIC’s information specialists are often asked for information and resources that may assist people with TBI participate in their communities and that may help their families and service providers to support them. We would like to highlight some of the consumer products by the NIDILRR community for people with TBI, their families and the service providers who support them. These consumer products may include guides, comics, factsheets, courses, and more.

Below, you will find just a few examples of evidence-based consumer products produced by the NIDILRR community:

• The University of Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (UWTBIMS) is dedicated to improving the lives of people with TBI through various research and development activities and by improving consumer awareness and education on TBI-related topics, including partnering with the Brain Injury Alliance and other organizations. As part of their activities to improve consumer awareness and education, the researchers at UWTBIMS have created evidence-based TBI InfoComics in English and Spanish to educate survivors of TBI, their families and caregivers, healthcare providers, and other service providers about the common symptoms of TBI and how to manage them. The InfoComics are written to be accessible to people with TBI who may have memory issues or have trouble reading large blocks of text. UWTBIMS also offers a summary for clinicians on treating depression after TBI and a technical review on the same topic.
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (UAB-TBIMS) provides multi-disciplinary, comprehensive rehabilitation services specifically designed for people with TBI. The goal of this Model System is to improve the lives of people with TBI and their families by identifying trends in recovery and predictors of outcomes while developing interventions to improve outcomes. As part of this work, UAB-TBIMS researchers developed the evidence-based In-Home Cognitive Stimulation Guidebook, which offers activities to stimulate thinking skills of people with TBI and other brain disorders. This Model System has also developed rehabilitation tip sheets for rehabilitation care providers and consumer caregivers that offer step-by-step instructions and photo illustrations on performing common activities. UAB-TBIMS also offers factsheets in Spanish developed through a collaboration with other NIDILRR-funded TBI Model Systems and the NIDILRR-funded Model System Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC), see item below, and resources in Spanish from various government agencies.
• The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) advances knowledge translation among Model System grantees to ensure that TBI research is relevant and accessible to people with TBI and their families; researchers; practitioners and clinicians; and policy makers and advocates.  In collaboration with the TBI Model Systems, the MSKTC develops evidence-based resources for people with TBI and their supporters that are available in a variety of formats, such as printable PDF documents, videos, and slideshows. The Center’s TBI hot topic modules consist of a suite of resources to support people with TBI and discuss a variety of TBI-related topics, such as changes in memory after TBI, depression after TBI, and relationships after TBI. MSKTC’s quick review of research provides summaries of newly released Model System research studies using lay language for easy access for researchers and service providers.

To learn more about these and other products from the NIDILRR community, contact NARIC’s information specialists.