Introduction

Abstract

This book is a culmination of 30 years of developing metacognitive strategies for a range of clients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in schools, tertiary institutions and workplaces. The particular strategies I developed were a product of my special education, school counsellor and neuropsychological background and experience, which I believe gave me a unique perspective in addressing the deficits which these clients experienced in the real world.

My interest in working with young people with TBI which eventually led to my PhD in neuropsychology was the result of coordinating special education and integration programs for students who returned to school following motor vehicle accidents. I worked with the Paediatric Brain Injury Units when they were first established in 1989 and then continued to provide cognitive rehabilitation when I established my own private practice in 1994.

The notion of the Hairy Bikie metacognitive strategy first originated in 1991 and was presented to an International Conference of Neuropsychologists in July 1995 in Cairns, Australia.

This book is divided into two parts: Part I deals with the introduction and theoretical component of executive functions and metacognition, and Part II addresses the metacognitive strategies, case studies and assessment.