Bridging the Gap: How Diane Hernandez Helps Brain Injury Survivors Return to Work

In the complex world of brain injury recovery, returning to work presents unique challenges that many people don’t understand. For Diane Hernandez, a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST) and Director of Support for Work at Children & Families of Iowa, helping survivors navigate this journey has become both a professional calling and a deeply personal mission.

Finding her professional path

Though Diane’s career began in the public relations field, her fascination with brain-related topics led her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in her early 40s as part of what she calls “her second act.” While attending Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Diane gained hands-on experience in brain injury rehabilitation, while also pursuing a specialization in vocational rehabilitation.

During her Master’s program, Diane worked for Community NeuroRehab, where she obtained her Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST) certification through the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). That certification and the education and training she has received from BIAA have been beneficial in both her past roles–as a Disability Employment Services Specialist for Iowa Employment Solutions at Des Moines Community College and then as a Brain Injury Case Manager for a local neurorehabilitation network–and in her current role as the Director of the Support for Careers initiative at Children & Families of Iowa.

“It’s critical that I stay informed about best practices and get the opportunity to network with my peers in the field,” she says. “It’s all about ensuring that my work with our clients is of the highest quality—and it’s also a way for me to give back. I received valuable mentorship from CBISTs early on in my career, and I want to continue to support others.”

A personal connection enriches the work

While Diane has worked in brain injury rehabilitation for years, her connection to the field became more personal when her mother developed hydrocephalus and later experienced complications that significantly impacted her health. This experience, along with supporting a close friend who experienced a cavernoma, has deepened her understanding of both the professional and personal sides of brain injury.

She also experienced a concussion after a bicycle accident about a decade ago. “I thought I understood cognitive fatigue because I had studied it for years,” Diane says. “I learned a lot about what the brain can and can’t handle from that experience.”