Expert-Led Sessions on
Traumatic Brain Injury Support
The Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) brings together leading experts in brain injury education, speech-language pathology, and assistive technology. Our team combines decades of clinical experience with cutting-edge research to provide school-based professionals with practical, evidence-based strategies for supporting students recovering from traumatic brain injury.
"Supporting students with traumatic brain injury requires a collaborative, informed approach that bridges medical and educational expertise. Our goal is to equip school professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to help these students thrive."
Dr. Melissa McCart, Director, Center on Brain Injury Research and Training
Dr. Melissa McCart, Ed.D.
Director, CBIRT
Melissa McCart, Ed.D, is a national and international speaker and author on the topic of brain injury and return to school following injury. She earned her doctorate in Educational Methodology, Policy and Leadership, her M.S. in behavioral disorders and applied behavior analysis, and her administrator’s licenses from the University of Oregon.
She has worked extensively with at-risk children and families as a behavior specialist, behavior consultant and special education teacher. She is currently the Director of the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) at the University of Oregon.
Her research focuses on evidence-based educator training, advancing best-practices for return to school following brain injury, and aligning educational policy with the evidence base.
Prior to joining the CBIRT team, Melissa spent 7 years as a school administrator, 2 years as a behavioral consultant, and 8 years as a special education teacher to students with emotional/behavioral disorders. Melissa currently is a member of the National Collaborative on Childhood Brain Injury and serves on the Return to Learn, Policy, Common Data Elements and Community of Practice Committees.
She has worked extensively with at-risk children and families as a behavior specialist, behavior consultant and special education teacher. She is currently the Director of the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) at the University of Oregon.
Her research focuses on evidence-based educator training, advancing best-practices for return to school following brain injury, and aligning educational policy with the evidence base.
Prior to joining the CBIRT team, Melissa spent 7 years as a school administrator, 2 years as a behavioral consultant, and 8 years as a special education teacher to students with emotional/behavioral disorders. Melissa currently is a member of the National Collaborative on Childhood Brain Injury and serves on the Return to Learn, Policy, Common Data Elements and Community of Practice Committees.
Melaney Grenz, M.S., CCC-SLP
Project Manager, CBIRT
Melaney Grenz, B.A., B.S., M.S., CCC-SLP, is the Project Manager at the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) at the University of Oregon. She also coordinates all Oregon Traumatic Brain Injury Teams across nine Oregon geographical regions, guiding school districts through the complexities of supporting students recovering from brain injuries.
Melaney is also the Texas School Liaison.
Melaney is also the Texas School Liaison.
With a background as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Oregon Public Schools, Melaney brings both hands-on clinical experience and strategic leadership to her work. At CBIRT, she leads educational initiatives—delivering engaging webinars, podcasts, and live presentations—while also providing vital support to school personnel facing challenges with students’ Returning to Learn and Returning to Play after a brain injury.
Melaney helps school teams think innovatively and collaboratively. She encourages the use of a multi-disciplinary approach to address the diverse needs of students, empowering educators and families to find creative, individualized solutions for students on their journey to recovery. Melaney is dedicated to improving outcomes for students affected by brain injury, ensuring they have the tools and support they need to thrive academically, socially, and physically.
Brandi Lancaster, M.S., CCC-SLP
AAC & TBI Specialist
Brandi Lancaster is an Oregon state licensed, ASHA certified speech-language pathologist with over twenty-five years of experience in elementary education settings. She specializes in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) and traumatic brain injury support, grounded in principles of universally designed instruction.
Her work ensures access, equity, and meaningful participation for individuals across all abilities and environments. Brandi's extensive training in interdisciplinary collaboration enables her to design personalized assistive technology supports that empower learners, school staff, and families. She bridges clinical knowledge with innovative technology to support functional communication and academic access across educational, home, medical, and community settings.
Featured Presentations
TBI 101 with Communication Resources
Presenter: Dr. Melissa McCart
There continues to be limited knowledge on how to best support students with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as they return to school and return to play. TBI can profoundly impact a child’s educational journey, often requiring specialized academic, social, and emotional support. This seminar is designed to equip school staff with a comprehensive understanding of TBI and its implications. Participants will explore legal frameworks and effective collaborative strategies to better support students with TBI in educational settings.
Attendees will gain an understanding of the definition, causes, and prevalence of TBI in pre-school and school-aged children, as well as examine the wide-ranging cognitive, academic, social, and emotional effects of TBI. Additionally, the Oregon Return to Play laws (Max’s Law and Jenna’s Law) and the new HB 3007 legislation will be presented. Participants will also learn how to write and implement an Immediate Temporary Accommodations Plan to meet the requirements of HB 3007.
Attendees will gain an understanding of the definition, causes, and prevalence of TBI in pre-school and school-aged children, as well as examine the wide-ranging cognitive, academic, social, and emotional effects of TBI. Additionally, the Oregon Return to Play laws (Max’s Law and Jenna’s Law) and the new HB 3007 legislation will be presented. Participants will also learn how to write and implement an Immediate Temporary Accommodations Plan to meet the requirements of HB 3007.
Objectives:
- Define TBI and identify common challenges
- Understand the differences between Return to Play, Return to School, Immediate Temporary Accommodations Plan, Section 504 Plan, and Individualized Education Plans, and Individual Family Service Plans
- Describe access to resources to support students who have sustained a brain injury. Gain comprehensive understanding of traumatic brain injury and its profound impact on students' educational journeys. Explore legal frameworks including Oregon's Return to Play laws (Max's Law and Jenna's Law) and the groundbreaking HB 3007 legislation.
Transition Toolkit Supporting Students with TBI across Educational Settings
Presenter: Melaney Grenz
Navigate the critical transition periods for students with brain injury using evidence-based tools and frameworks. This collaborative session provides practical resources for supporting students as they move between educational levels, return from medical leave, or transition to new learning environments.
- Essential transition planning components
- Family and team communication strategies
- Documentation and progress monitoring tools
- Real-world implementation examples
Traumatic Brain Injury and Academic Impact
Presenter: Brandi Lancaster
This session will provide an overview of brain injury types, some national statistics, the importance of injury location, and impacts of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on communication and executive function (EF). It will also provide learners with resources (low and high tech) for accommodating communication and EF deficits.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand what a TBI is and national statistics for TBI
- Understand why the injury location matters
- Understand communication and executive function impact from TBI
- Assistive Tech (low and high tech) to accommodate differences and/or deficits
Traumatic Brain Injury and the School Based SLP
This session will help speech language pathologists better understand what their role is for students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from mild to severe, and from temporary accommodations to IEPs. It will provide Oregon statistics, TBI descriptions, define cognitive communication disorders, delve into assessments, and work through how and who should be part of the multidisciplinary team for evaluating students with TBI for special education. This session will also provide some ideas for compensatory strategies, engaging activities, therapy ideas, and assistive technology (AT) that can be utilized.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain a better understanding of TBI definitions, Oregon Statistics, and level of supports an SLP might provide for a student with a TBI
- Gain a better understanding of what Cognitive Communication Disorder is and the SLP roles and responsibilities per ASHA
- Expand knowledge of what the SLP role in assessment might look like as part of the multidisciplinary team
- Learn how the SLP provides support for students with TBIs in therapy, through compensatory strategies, and via accommodations
- Learn what role the SLP plays in the multidisciplinary team
Critical Knowledge Gap
Despite the prevalence of traumatic brain injury in school-aged children, there remains limited knowledge among educators about best practices for supporting these students. TBI can profoundly impact every aspect of a child's educational journey, requiring specialized academic, social, and emotional support that goes beyond traditional special education services.
Evidence-Based Strategies
All presentations are grounded in current research and proven practices from CBIRT's extensive work across Oregon and nationally. You'll learn legal frameworks, collaborative strategies, and implementation techniques that have been tested and refined in real school settings.
Walk away with concrete resources, documentation templates, and action plans you can implement immediately in your district or building.
Visit the CBIRT Resource Table
Stop by our table during the conference! The Center on Brain Injury Research and Training will have a dedicated resource table throughout the AT-TIES Conference. Connect with our presenters, explore educational materials, and discover comprehensive resources to support students with TBI in your schools. We'll have handouts, toolkits, and information about ongoing support services available to Oregon schools and beyond.
Who Should Attend
Educators & Administrators
Teachers, principals, and district administrators seeking to build capacity for supporting students with brain injury and implementing required accommodation plans.
Speech-Language Pathologists
SLPs looking to expand their TBI expertise, learn collaboration strategies, and discover assistive technology solutions for communication challenges.
Rehabilitation Specialists
Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other rehabilitation professionals working with school-aged children in educational settings.
School Psychologists & Counselors
Mental health professionals supporting the social-emotional and behavioral needs of students recovering from traumatic brain injury.