BACKGROUND

 

Founder Gina Piccolini DeSalvo has expertise in special education and brain injury at the local, state, and national levels. She has a background as a special education teacher, coordinator, administrator, and graduate school professor. 

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She has collaborated with a number of national experts in the field of brain injury across the country. Current and/or past partnerships include: The University of Oregon's Center on Brain Injury Research and Training, The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children's Hospital Brain Recovery Education Initiative, George Mason University's Virginia Concussion Initiative, The Ohio State University, and  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

 

Gina has completed numerous presentations for the Virginia Department of Education and participated in roundtable discussions with national experts such as the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the US Department of Education, and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). 

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Education: 

B.S. (Unified Elementary & Special Education): Juniata College

M.A. Education (Special Education, Acquired Brain Injury): The George Washington University

Post Graduate Certificate (Administration & Supervision): The George Washington University

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*Gina is currently a doctoral candidate (Special Education, Brain Injury) at The George Washington University

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Active Certifications in Virginia: 

Special Education

Elementary Education

Teaching English as a Second Language

Administration & Supervision

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Publications​

DeSalvo, G. (2024). Bridging the gap: Ensuring a smooth transition from hospital to school for students with traumatic brain injury. TBI Systems of Support. https://tbisos.org/blog/bridging-gap-ensuring-smooth-transition-hospital-school-students-traumatic-brain-injuries

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McCart, M., & DeSalvo, G. (2024). Educating the educators: Education for schools and teachers. Brain Injury Professional, 21(1), 20-22. 

 

Blackstone, A., McGill, C., Lincoln, A., Piccolini-DeSalvo, G., Kelshaw, P., & Caswell, S. (2024). 11.5 Barriers to the implementation of public-school concussion policies. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58(Suppl 1), A138–A138. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-concussion.363

 

Blackstone, A., McGill, C., Lincoln, A., Piccolini-DeSalvo, G., Kelshaw, P., & Caswell, S. (2024). 11.6 Public-school concussion policy compliance with state guidelines. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58(Suppl 1), A139–A139. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-concussion.364

 

McGill, C., Madden, M., Lincoln, A., Piccolini-DeSalvo, G., Blackstone, A., Kelshaw, P., & Caswell, S. (2024). 11.27 Level the playing field: exploring barriers to concussion practices for athletes with intellectual disabilities. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58(Suppl 1), A147–A147. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-concussion.385

 

Ransom D, Pratson L, Furda M, Hanley S, Lameira D, Piccolini G, Vaughan C, Gioia G. (2014). Returning to School Following Concussion: Does an Administrative Policy Addressing Academics Improve Perception of Academic Support? Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Volume  20 / Supplement s1: pp i – 294.

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Contact Gina today!