THE Challenge! – Awareness and Advocacy

The Spring edition of THE Challenge! focuses on the power of community.

From My Desk

Every year, the Brain Injury Association of America leads the nation in recognizing Brain Injury Awareness Month in March, starting with our annual trip to Capitol Hill. These visits give the brain injury community face time with their Congressional representatives and their staff as they advocate for federal funding and legislation that will improve the quality of life for people with brain injury. This year, we’ve decided to expand the program to include a national conference, featuring breakout sessions focused on how to tell your brain injury story, survivor meet and greets, a keynote address, a panel discussion, and an overview of this year’s rallying point for our Capitol Hill meetings. Read more.

Building a National Action Plan

During the Brain Injury Association of America’s (BIAA’s) annual trip to Washington, D.C. in March, we will be launching a National Plan of Action – a groundbreaking effort to prioritize the voices, experiences, and needs of brain injury survivors. This ambitious plan seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for improving survivor outcomes through enhanced research, care, and community support. Read more.

The Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide to Brain Injury Awareness Day

Brain Injury Awareness Day is an event dedicated to anyone interested in brain injury. We gather on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., during Brain Injury Awareness Month each March to meet and discuss information about brain injury from across the United States. We learn from each other. To help new attendees get the most out of Brain Injury Awareness Day, the Advisory Council has put together some helpful tips based on their collective experience attending this event as brain injury survivors. Read more.

Harris Poll Findings: An Exclusive Preview

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is excited to share our national report on the public perceptions of brain injury ahead of Brain Injury Awareness Month in March. BIAA last conducted a public opinion poll in 2000, commissioning Harris Poll, one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., tracking public opinion, motivations, and social sentiments. This year, we are once again partnering with Harris to utilize original public opinion research to publish a national report on public perceptions around brain injury. Read more.

Concussions Awareness Now News

The Brain Injury Association of America is a co-chair of the Concussion Awareness Now coalition. Concussion Awareness Now includes a braintrust of partners, including organizations that determine guidelines for concussion care, advocate for patients, and work with communities that are vulnerable to concussions. Read more.

Luminary of the Year

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) held our inaugural Luminary of the Year celebration on November 15, 2024, during which 250 members of the brain injury community came together to honor Marilyn Price Spivack, BIAA’s co-founder and first-ever Luminary of the Year honoree. The event, held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., raised more than $460,000 to benefit the Brain Injury Association of America’s programs, research initiatives, and advocacy efforts. It was also an opportunity for the community to celebrate Marilyn, who was described by Dr. Mel B. Glenn of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School as “the most influential person in the history of brain injury rehabilitation. Read more.

State Affiliate News

See what the Brain Injury Association of America’s Affiliates have been up to. Read more.

The Road to Rediscovery: My Journey After a Brain Injury

If I had to summarize my brain injury journey in one word, it would be “Resilience.” Over the past year, I’ve faced profound changes to my physical, cognitive, and professional life, yet I continue to adapt and push forward, learning to navigate a reality I never expected. On February 22, 2023, my life was irrevocably altered by a car accident. Initially, I thought my injuries were minor, but as time passed, the true extent of the damage revealed itself. Now, over a year later, the lingering effects have become part of my daily life. Read more.