WV TBI Services

08/28/2026

Dr. Amanda Acord-Vira passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Amanda dedicated her career to helping others as a teacher specializing in brain injury rehabilitation and occupational therapy.

Amanda previously served as the Principal Investigator for our TBI Services program at the Center for Excellence in Disabilities at WVU and also served as Chairperson for the state's TBI Advisory Board. Her dedication and motivation in the brain injury field was unmatched, and we are all so honored to continue her mission to make lives better for West Virginians with TBI.

Amanda's kindness, sense of humor, and positive encouragement will always be remembered. We are sending all of our positive thoughts to her family and friends.

View Dr. Amanda Acord-Vira's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/26/2026

Welcome back to school! As we all get ready for a new semester, we wanted to make sure college students and faculty know about our Handbook for Reasonable Accommodations in the College Classroom.

This comprehensive guide outlines the rights and responsibilities of both students and faculty when it comes to requesting and implementing reasonable accommodations. The handbook is for use at all levels of higher education and is not specific to only WVU (although the WVU process is also outlined).
What are reasonable accommodations?

Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the learning environment that enable students with disabilities to have equal access to education. These accommodations are designed to remove barriers that might prevent students from participating fully in academic activities. Examples of reasonable accommodations include extended time on exams, note-taking assistance, accessible classroom locations, and the use of assistive technologies. The goal is to provide students with the necessary support to demonstrate their abilities and achieve their academic potential without altering the fundamental nature of the course or program.

Read the Handbook in a fully-accessible web version or download a PDF copy here:

https://cedwvu.org/media/5369/handbook-for-reasonable-accommodations-in-the-college-classroom-3.pdf

The purpose of having a handbook for faculty and students to discuss and implement reasonable accommodations in the classroom is to provide a clear, structured and accessible resource that facilitates understanding and communication while supporting both faculty and students throughout the process.

08/20/2026

We know that concussions can impact a students ability to learn and focus during their recovery, which can make the transition back into the classroom very difficult and challenging. We are happy to continue our partnership with Get Schooled on Concussions and the Teacher Acute Concussion Tool (TACT), which is a digital tool for Return to Learn post-concussion!

All schools in West Virginia can have free access to the program that will help guide students back to learning by sending academic adjustments directly to the teachers!

For more information, please reach out to Jeremy at (304) 288-7131, or [email protected].


https://www.getschooledonconcussions.com/

West Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association
West Virginia Association of School Nurses

08/17/2026

We're sharing more back-to-school resources today for students and families courtesy of our friends at Think College!

These resources are directed at college students and high school students with intellectual disabilities who are transitioning to college.

Some topics include:
- Preparing for college expectations
- The college application process
- IEP goals
- Understanding the difference between high school and college
- Scholarships

View all of the resources: https://thinkcollege.net/think-college-news/back-to-school-resources-for-students-and-families

Think College

08/12/2026

08/11/2026

The "Communicating about Brain Injury" document is a message from national leaders in the brain injury community that offers guidance on how to be clear when talking about brain injury. Please visit the link to read more!

"It’s important that we communicate clearly and consistently about brain injury. The words we use matter. They can affect whether someone qualifies for services, how professionals plan treatment, and how people understand brain injuries. And, more important, it affects how persons with brain injury experience their injury. The words we choose also shape public attitudes and expectations about life after a brain injury."

NASHIA is proud to have been part of the collaboration that brought about this new, important resource for communicating about brain injury. This joint message from national leaders in the brain injury community offers guidance on how to be clear when talking about brain injury. "It’s import

07/28/2026

Congratulations to our former principal investigator, Dr. Amanda Acord-Vira on the newly earned professor emeritus status! Her friend and colleague, Nichole Trump also announced the establishment of a scholarship fund created in her name to honor Amanda's dedication to students and patients.

The Amanda Acord-Vira Occupational Therapy Scholarship will provide financial support to WVU Occupational Therapy students who demonstrate academic excellence.

Longtime West Virginia University School of Medicine Occupational Therapy faculty member Amanda Acord-Vira, EdD, OTR/L, CBIS, FAOTA, celebrated her newly earned professor emeritus status by announcing the establishment of a scholarship fund created in her name by her friend and colleague, Nichole Trump.

The Amanda Acord-Vira Occupational Therapy Scholarship will provide financial support to WVU Occupational Therapy students who demonstrate academic excellence.

Trump said she established the scholarship to honor Acord-Vira's dedication to students and patients, hoping to inspire and support future occupational therapists.

07/24/2026

07/22/2026

Today is World Brain Day!

World Brain Day 2026 focuses on one of the defining challenges of our time: making brain health accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Click on the link in this post to learn more!

Brain Health: Access For All