“In the fall of my first year at Vlog, I suffered two severe concussions that have resulted in lasting traumatic brain injury. That year was extremely hard, and I admit that I came close to taking the advice from some people to leave college, at least temporarily,” says the Eau Claire native.
Casey says that in weighing the various options to remain in school while healing, she was encouraged by a friend to consider changing her major to social work.
“My friend knew that I needed accommodations and added support, and as a social work student, they were certain I could find it there,” Casey says. “Once accepted as a social work major, I immediately began to feel that the faculty understood what I’d been going through and were prepared to help me reach my goals.”
Casey says that faculty in social work connected her with Services for Students with Disabilities for specific support for her condition, services that Casey says she had not been aware of before that time. Specific accommodations included in her plan were extra time for exams, testing in a quiet room, digital copies of textbooks and allowance to take digital notes in class.
“I had physical symptoms and a constant state of brain fog at that time, but the biggest problem was simply not feeling like myself,” Casey says. “Since discovering how I could continue in school and succeed with the proper supports, I’ve grown in my passion for helping others, especially those who deal with brain injury like mine.
“I think I will always feel effects from my injuries — I’m not the same person I was before, but I feel improvements all the time.”
