Acquired Brain Injury Disability

Snapshot

SGP KP Publishing Exported on 2026-06-17

Table of Contents

• Peak body consulted … [Page number]
• What is acquired brain injury? … [Page number]
• Misconceptions about acquired brain injury … [Page number]
• How is acquired brain injury diagnosed? … [Page number]
• Language and terminology … [Page number]
• Enabling social and economic participation … [Page number]
• How can I tailor a meeting to suit a participant with an acquired brain injury? … [Page number]
• Helpful links … [Page number]

FOI 25/26-3216

SGP KP Publishing - Acquired Brain Injury Disability Snapshot

General Information About Acquired Brain Injury (Disability Snapshot)

The Disability Snapshot offers basic details regarding acquired brain injuries aimed at aiding communication during meetings where participants are setting personal objectives. The uniqueness lies with each individual having distinct requirements which influence how they approach these discussions.The content herein serves as guidance specifically tailored to NDIA personnel but should not be shared externally.

FOI 25/26-3216

SGP KP Publishing - Acquired brain injury Disability Snapshot

Section: Peak Body Consulted

Subsection:

• In developing this resource we consulted with Brain Injury Australia.

Acquired Brain Injury

Acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to multiple disabilities caused after birth due to damage to the brain. An ABI results from deterioration affecting cognitive abilities such as thinking skills; motor functions like walking smoothly without support; sensory impairments including sight issues, temporary emotional changes, or difficulty performing daily tasks independently. The causes are varied:

• Accidents
• Strokes
• Tumors in your head
• Head injuries resulting directly due to trauma Infections that affect parts within our skull Poisonings involving alcohol or other substances Lack oxygen leading to hypoxia or anoxic conditions Degenerative neurological diseases[1]. Some ABIs lead permanently disabling effects on movement, balance coordination problems, epilepsy, vision loss hearing impairment. cognitive and behavioral impacts include poor short-term memory reduced attention concentration difficulties learning planning solving challenges may irritability social disinhibition verbal sometimes physical aggression.

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY

Some misconceptions about ABI include:

• ABI is an intellectual disability.
• Recovery from an ABI doesn’t continue beyond two years.. While the greatest improvement in function following an ABI occurs in the first two years, recovery can continue for at least five years after the injury.. Everyone recovers from a mild traumatic brain injury… Approximately one out four who have concussion/s or mild TBIs do not make complete recoveries withing expecte timeframe.They can experiencongoing physi symps suchasheadachesanddizzinessimpactson cognitio ndbehaviour and/mentalillness.Forsome people,thepairmentispermanent.

#How(s) \is. acquired.brain.injury.diagnosed?

Participants with serious ABI may undergo multiple assessments.

The participants suffering from significant Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), most often require several Neuropsychological Evaluations, including structured interviews along with standardized testing procedures designed specifically aimed at assessing their cognitive abilities as well as behavioral patterns following trauma or accident leading up until now. These evaluations help identify areas where intervention might be necessary and beneficial towards improving overall functionality.

Language and terminology

“sustained”, has“oris livingwith”abraininjury.“	Many people withan ABIother disabilities would prefernottobe definedordescribedbyleirdisability.
A participant ’has’orislivingwit ha brain injury.	Many peopler with anABI otherdisabilitieswouldprefernotinot bedefined ordescibed b ytheir disability .
Aparticipant uses a wheelchair orisa wheelchairs user	. Use person-first language.
Aparticipant h as challengingbehaviours’.	Usepersonfirstlanguage.

#6 Enabling social and economic participation

The lived experience of a brain injury is usually very different from a lifelong developmental or intellectual disability. People with an ABI will likely remember what they were able to do before their injury. Their engagement with the NDIS may be affected by grief. Some participants may therefore have difficulty setting and achieving goals. They may also experience a breakdown in relationships with family and friends.

The circumstances of the participant’s injury may also be associated with embarrassment or shame, especially when the injury was, or is perceived to be, the participant’s fault. People with an ABI have a very high lifetime risk of mental illness, such as depression.

Help the participant adapt to their disability by reconnecting them to as much of their life before injury as possible. For example, exploring pre-injury employment, pursuits and pastimes.

It may be appropriate to explore ways for participants to go back to their previous career or profession with supports in place. For others, being supported through a vocational ‘discovery’ process to re-explore their strengths and interests in preparation for work could be useful. Volunteering to build confidence and connect with the community is another way to prepare for work.

While employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate needs in the workplace – supports that are above and beyond this could be funded under the NDIS. Participants may require NDIS funding for specialist disability assessment services to access external employment retention and support initiatives, such as the Work Assist program provided by Disability Employment Services.

Peer support from other people with ABIs can also be helpful to improve social and economic participation.

#7 How can I tailor a meeting to suit a participant with an acquired brain injury?

A person with ABI may recover well physically; however, cognitive and/or behavioural disability can be significant. Their disability may not be obvious to someone meeting themforthe first time andthat is whyABIis often referredto as an “invisible disablety” . Participantscanalsolack insight into theirdisablety anda unawareoftheir limitations ormaybe have unrealistic expectations oftreycoveryor set unrealisticy goals.It ist recommendedwithparticipant consent toccheck unmet support needs witssignificant others family members clinicians ora lly health professionals Many peoplewitthABI experience tiredness ad difficulties wattention and/or concentration andreduced information processing speed You ctailer ameetingtosuit th eparticantby asking their preferred meeing length nd discussing any other adjustments that might assist when schedulinga meeing securingameetin location free o competing background noise ordistracti onscheduling short meetings ortaking breaks during longermeetings checking how they are feeling duri ngthemeeting communicating inshort simple sentences using plain Englishchecking for understanding without questioning the particpants intelligence ask did that make sense rather than do you understand what Im saying ?

FOI 25/26-3216

SGP KP Publishing - Acquired brain injury Disability Snapshot

Section heading not provided in source text, but inferred from context as ‘Helpful Links’

• Brain Injury Australia (peak body)
• Stroke Foundation*(national charity)*
• Synapse(service provider)
• **Clinical Practice Guideline for Rehabilitation of Adults With Moderate To Severe TBI:**Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation(Canadian Research And Prevention Organisation)(2014)