Brain Injury Fundamentals Course (Free, Day 1 of 2)

Brain Injury Fundamentals is an introductory training program developed for people who support individuals living with brain injuries. The course is designed to provide a practical foundation in brain injury, including how brain injury affects cognition, behavior, communication, medical needs, daily functioning, family systems, and care/support strategies.

Thanks to a generous donor, this typically $165 course will be offered for free!

The course is especially appropriate for non-licensed staff, family members, friends, first responders, community members, caregivers, direct-support professionals, healthcare workers, and others who interact with or support people with brain injury.

Dates, Format, and Registration

The course will be held virtually over two sessions:

Session 1: September 16, 2026
Session 2: September 23, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
Format: Virtual
Recordings: Sessions are recorded for later viewing and/or review
Registration deadline: August 26, 2026, or until the course is filled
Prerequisites: None

Because there are no prerequisites, participants do not need a specific license, degree, or prior brain injury training to attend.

What the Course Covers

The training introduces participants to essential brain injury topics, including:

• Basic brain function
• Neuroplasticity
• Types of brain injury
• How brain injury affects cognition and daily life
• Communication and rapport-building
• Behavioral challenges and de-escalation strategies
• Medical complications related to brain injury
• Principles of safe medication use
• Family and caregiver support
• Culturally responsive approaches to supporting people with brain injury
• Practical strategies for care, communication, and support

The course is intended to help participants better understand the experiences and needs of individuals with brain injury and apply practical support strategies in real-world settings.

What’s Included

The Brain Injury Fundamentals course includes:

• 8 hours of live virtual ACBIS training
• Instruction led by a Brain Injury Fundamentals Instructor
• Recorded sessions for review or non-live attendance
• The Brain Injury Fundamentals Participant Workbook in print
• Live lecture, case studies, discussion, Q&A, and guided review

The speaker listed for this course is Danielle Millanski, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIST, BIFI.

Agenda at a Glance

Session 1 — September 16
Covers Chapters 1–4:

• Brain Injury Overview
• Cognition
• Communication and Rapport
• Behavior

Session 2 — September 23
Covers Chapters 5–7:

• Medical Complications
• Medication Education
• Families and Caregivers
• Final Review and Quiz

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Explain basic brain function, neuroplasticity, and the impact of brain injury on cognition and daily life
• Use effective communication and de-escalation strategies to manage behavioral challenges and crises
• Identify common medical complications of brain injury and principles of safe medication use
• Support individuals with brain injury and their families using culturally responsive approaches

Continuing Education and Completion

Participants must complete all required components of the course in order to receive a certificate.

The course has been pre-approved by the Commission for Case Manager Certification to provide continuing education credit to CCM® board-certified case managers. It is approved for 8 contact hours.

The American Academy of Family Physicians has also reviewed the Brain Injury Fundamentals Course and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. The course is approved for 8 AAFP Elective credits, with physicians instructed to claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.