Advocacy, Empowerment, Community

By Lauren Moore, Marketing and Communications Manager, Brain Injury Association of America, and Wendy Waldman, BSW, CBIST, President, Brain Injury Association of Indiana

The Brain Injury Association of America hosted its first-ever National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day event March 3-5, where nearly 400 survivors, caregivers, advocates, professionals, and friends came together in Washington, D.C. for an event celebrating advocacy, empowerment, and community.

While BIAA has historically celebrated Brain Injury Awareness Day with an annual trip to Capitol Hill, where attendees have an opportunity to meet with their congressional representatives and advocate for policies, legislation, and funding that would improve the quality of life for people living with brain injury, this year’s event was expanded to include a national conference. This year’s events provided an impactful platform for education, advocacy, fellowship, and community engagement, including informational sessions, social and networking opportunities, and an in-depth overview of BIAA’s current legislative priorities.

A keynote address from BIAA Board of Directors members Dr. John D. Corrigan and Dr. Michael Jaffe featured insights on the latest research, treatment advancements, and rehabilitation strategies for brain injury survivors, as well as the need for brain injury to be recognized as a chronic health condition rather than a one-time event. Both speakers addressed the need to manage brain injury over the course of a person’s lifetime.

The conference also featured advocacy training sessions to help attendees who would be meeting with their representatives effectively communicate their experiences and needs.

We hope that the momentum from this year’s National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day will continue throughout the rest of the year. We encourage everyone to stay engaged by:

• Educating themselves and others about brain injury
• Supporting legislative efforts to improve care and access to services
• Participating in awareness events and fundraising activities
• Volunteering or donating to support brain injury programs and research