Supporting Students After Brain Injury: BIAOH Launches the Return to Learn Program
The Brain Injury Association of Ohio (BIAOH) is proud to announce the launch of its new Coordinated Intervention for Recovery, Connection, Learning, and Engagement: CIRCLE Program, a statewide initiative designed to support students recovering from brain injury as they successfully transition back to school.
Each year, thousands of Ohio children experience concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or other acquired brain injuries that can significantly impact learning, behavior, attention, memory, and emotional regulation. While medical care often focuses on physical recovery, many families and schools are left navigating the academic and social challenges of returning to the classroom without clear guidance or coordinated support.
The CIRCLE Program was created to bridge this gap.
Why Return to Learn Matters
Brain injuries do not just affect athletics or physical health — they impact how students think, learn, and interact in the classroom. Without appropriate support, students may struggle with:
Concentration and attention
Memory and processing speed
Sensory sensitivity and fatigue
Emotional regulation
Organization and executive functioning
Research shows that structured, short-term academic accommodations and coordinated communication between families, healthcare providers, and schools can significantly improve outcomes. The Return to Learn Program helps ensure that students receive the right support at the right time.
What the Program Provides
Through the Return to Learn Program, BIAOH offers:
Free service coordination for students recovering from brain injury
Guidance for schools and families on effective classroom accommodations
Support navigating educational systems and communication between stakeholders
Brain injury education and resources tailored to pediatric needs
Practical strategies that promote academic success during recovery
Our goal is to empower students, families, and educators with the tools needed to create a safe, supportive learning environment while recovery continues.
Collaborative Partnerships Across Ohio
The CIRCLE Program reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen brain injury support across Ohio. BIAOH is working alongside leading partners, including:
The Ohio State University (research partner)
Case Western Reserve University
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
University of Dayton
Together, these partners are helping advance best practices, expand awareness, and ensure students across the state have access to coordinated support.
Who Can Refer?
Referrals can be made by:
School personnel
Healthcare providers
Therapists and rehabilitation professionals
Parents and caregivers
Community partners
Once a referral is submitted, a BIAOH staff member will reach out within 48 business hours to begin the intake process.
Building Stronger Systems for Students
The launch of the CIRCLE Program marks an important step forward in supporting Ohio’s students after brain injury. By connecting families, educators, and healthcare professionals through a coordinated approach, BIAOH aims to reduce barriers, improve outcomes, and help students return to learning with confidence.
Brain injury recovery is a journey — and no family or school should have to navigate it alone.
Learn More or Submit a Referral
Or contact the Brain Injury Association of Ohio at 1-833-783-1495.
Emotional Regulation After Brain Injury: Tools, Hope, and Support
Emotions can feel bigger, faster, and harder to control after a brain injury. You might notice irritability that seems to come out of nowhere. Tears that arrive without warning. Frustration that escalates quickly. Or shutdown when things feel overwhelming.
If this sounds familiar, please hear this first:
You are not “too sensitive.” You are not failing.
Emotional regulation challenges are common after brain injury — and they are neurological, not moral.
The good news? There are practical tools that can help. And you don’t have to figure them out alone.
Why Emotional Regulation Changes After Brain Injury
Brain injury can impact areas responsible for:
Impulse control
Emotional filtering
Frustration tolerance
Cognitive flexibility
Stress response
When those systems are disrupted, the “pause button” between feeling and reacting can shrink. The result? Emotions may feel intense and immediate.
Regulation isn’t about suppressing feelings. It’s about learning how to notice, understand, and respond to them in ways that support your goals and relationships.
Let’s walk through strategies that can make a real difference.
Practical Emotional Regulation Tools
1. The Power of the Pause
When emotions spike, your nervous system shifts into survival mode. Before responding:
Take 10–30 seconds.
Inhale slowly through your nose.
Exhale slowly through your mouth.
Repeat 3–5 times.
This simple pause re-engages the thinking part of the brain. Even a brief delay can prevent words or actions you later regret.
If needed, say:
“I need a minute.”
That sentence can protect relationships.
2. Name the Feeling
Research shows that labeling emotions reduces their intensity.
Instead of “I’m losing it,” try:
“I’m frustrated.”
“I feel overwhelmed.”
“I’m embarrassed.”
“I’m exhausted.”
When you name it, you tame it.
Clarity creates control.
3. Change the Environment
Sometimes regulation isn’t about talking — it’s about movement.
Step outside.
Walk to another room.
Splash cold water on your face.
Take a brief walk.
Physical movement resets your nervous system and interrupts escalating cycles.
4. Use a Feelings Scale (1–10)
Ask yourself:
How big is this feeling right now?
1–3: Mild irritation
4–6: Noticeable but manageable
7–8: Strong
9–10: Overwhelming
If you’re at an 8 or above, don’t try to solve the problem yet. Focus on calming first. Problem-solving works best when your brain is regulated.
5. Build Regulation Before You Need It
Emotional regulation is easier when your brain is supported physically.
Ask yourself:
Did I sleep enough?
Have I eaten?
Am I hydrated?
Is my day overly packed?
Sleep, nutrition, hydration, and routine are not luxuries — they are regulation tools.
Mindfulness: Training the Brain to Notice Without Reacting
Mindfulness is the practice of observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
It might look like:
Sitting quietly for 5 minutes and noticing your breath
Paying attention to sounds around you
Noticing tension in your body and relaxing it
Mindfulness strengthens awareness. And awareness creates choice.
You may not control the first emotional surge — but mindfulness helps you choose what comes next.
Breathing: A Built-In Reset Button
Your breath is directly connected to your nervous system.
Try this:
4-6 Breathing
Inhale for 4 seconds
Exhale for 6 seconds
Repeat for 2–3 minutes
Longer exhales signal safety to your brain.
Safety reduces intensity.
Breathing is portable. You can use it in a grocery store, in a meeting, in the car, or during a difficult conversation.
Track Your Moods to Find Patterns
Many people feel frustrated because emotions seem unpredictable.
They often aren’t.
Try tracking:
Time of day
Sleep quality
Hunger
Stress levels
Environment
Social interactions
After a few weeks, patterns may emerge:
Emotional spikes in the late afternoon
Irritability when overstimulated
Increased overwhelm after poor sleep
When you see patterns, you can plan ahead.
Planning builds confidence.
For Caregivers: Respond to Emotion First
If you support someone with a brain injury:
Start with validation.
Instead of:
“Calm down.”
Try:
“I can see this feels really hard right now.”
Validation does not mean agreement. It means acknowledgment. And acknowledgment reduces escalation.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
At the Brain Injury Association of Ohio (BIAOH), we understand how complex emotional regulation can be after brain injury — for both survivors and caregivers.
We offer services designed to support you:
NeuroResource Facilitation
Personalized, one-on-one support to help you:
Identify goals
Access resources
Develop coping strategies
Build systems that reduce overwhelm
Our Certified Brain Injury Specialists walk alongside you as you navigate challenges — including emotional regulation.
Healthy Minds Program
Focused on the connection between brain injury and mental health.
We provide education, strategies, and support to help you understand what’s happening in your brain and how to respond effectively.
AHEAD Group
A supportive educational group where participants explore topics like:
Communication
Emotional regulation
Identity after injury
Relationships
Coping strategies
Learning alongside others who “get it” can be incredibly powerful.
Reach Out Today
If emotional regulation feels overwhelming — or if you simply want support building strategies that work for your life — we’re here. 1-833-783-1495 or help@biaoh.org