January 06, 2009
Bowling
Green, Ky. - The Preston Family Foundation Acquired Brain Injury Resource Program is helping Western Kentucky University students like Luke Pearson of Bowling Green have success in college.
Pearson suffered a severe head injury in a December 1999 automobile accident and was in a coma for 34 days. As he recovered from his injuries, he entered WKU in the fall of 2000 but “I just decided to give up” in December 2002.
Last year, with encouragement from his wife, Pearson decided to give his education another chance. With a full-time job with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Pearson realized evening and online courses would be his best option.
With the effects of the head injury still affecting his studies, Pearson has turned to the Preston Family Foundation Acquired Brain Injury Resource Program for assistance. Pearson gets one-on-one attention from Kristen Cox, a graduate student from Linton, Ind.
“She’ll plan out my week,” Pearson said. “She gives me an objective for each day. That helps me so much. I just need that structure.”
The success of students like Pearson is one reason the program is now reaching out to assist veterans who have suffered head injuries, according to Dr. Richard Dressler, associate professor of Communication Disorders.
“We found that there was a need for helping soldiers coming back from war,” he said.
Some people recover from head injuries without any noticeable problems, Dr. Dressler said, but even those with mild head injuries can have trouble with their memory, organization skills or problem solving.
In 2008, the Preston Family Foundation Acquired Brain Injury Resource Program received a grant to provide computer equipment, internet access and technical support for soldiers who have suffered head injuries and who are interested in taking online courses from any institution.
“That way they can stay at home and take college classes while recovering from their injuries,” Dr. Dressler said.
The WKU program is partnering with the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky (www.biak.us) on the project.
“We link people with the resources and support available in the area,” said Jamie Miller, the group’s family outreach coordinator for the Bowling Green, Owensboro and Fort Campbell areas.
Fort Campbell and Fort Knox are among the areas targeted by Dr. Dressler and Miller. “Those who can’t go back into the military may be able to take advantage of this program,” Miller said.
“Our interest here at the Preston Family Foundation Acquired Brain Injury Resource Program is to help people with head injuries to be successful in taking college courses,” Dr. Dressler said.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Richard Dressler at (270) 745-6280.
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