Most people would call Fred a jerk.

Fred lives in a homeless shelter I used to run.

Most people would call Fred a jerk.

He yells at people… a lot.

He tells people when they have gained weight.

He interrupts people when they are mid-sentence.

He is moody.

Fred is not a jerk.

Fred suffers from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Traumatic Brain Injury

I don’t mean to be rude, but…

If you work with individuals experiencing homelessness and you don’t understand TBI then you don’t understand homelessness.

53% of chronically homeless individuals suffer from TBI.

TBI is caused by a blow or jolt to the head. 

A concussion is a mild form of TBI.

TBI is difficult for two big reasons:

1. You can’t “see” the disability (because it is inside the person’s skull).
2. The symptoms vary and can look like a lot of other things.

What TBI symptoms can look like

TBI symptoms can look like:

1. Alzheimer’s Disease (memory issues, problems with social interactions)
2. Learning Disability (trouble focusing, difficulty reading and writing)
3. Bipolar Disorder (mood swings, irritability)
4. Depression (sadness, fatigue)
5. Schizophrenia (hallucinations, restlessness)
6. Being a “Jerk” (aggression, disinhibition, non-cooperativeness)

That last one is particularly problematic.

Many people who suffer from TBI are written off as jerks.

What you can do

Working with someone who suffers from TBI can be VERY challenging.

It requires you to:

1. Set your judgement aside and remember it is a disability.
2. Be EXTRA patient.
3. Repeat yourself when they forget.
4. Speak in short, simple sentences.
5. Re-educate the individual on boundaries and rules (especially social rules).

Good luck!

Peace,

Ryan