From My Desk

Greetings,

The theme for this issue of THE Challenge!, The Power of Community, is intended to shine a light on all of the ways that members of the brain injury community find connection, support, and camaraderie. By coming together in community, survivors and caregivers alike can find compassion and care, empathy and understanding, and in some cases, practical solutions to help with symptoms or struggles.

This theme feels especially timely in light of the agreement between the Brain Injury Association of America and United States Brain Injury Alliance to become a single, unified organization under the Brain Injury Association of America. This reunion will help us better serve the brain injury community – survivors and their loved ones; professionals and support staff who treat, care for, and support them; researchers who study treatments and cures for brain injury; advocates who lobby for greater recognition and access to care; and everyone else who makes up this unique, diverse group.

This effort, the culmination of two years’ worth of collaboration and conversation, is a major milestone, one that perfectly illustrates the impact and importance of building a community. The Brain Injury Association of America is the nation’s largest network of direct support and advocacy for people with brain injury across the United States, as we foster stronger connections and communication, align around a shared vision, and speak with one voice to change public perceptions of brain injury and advance policy that would benefit the quality of life of people living with brain injury.

As of this writing, we’re about to host our first Affiliate Leadership Conference since reuniting with USBIA, and I am looking forward to meeting and spending time with the people who are leading the state affiliates that are joining our network, providing valuable and needed care in their local communities.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the passing of Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., who was a fierce advocate in Congress for the brain injury community. He was the founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, serving as a co-chair since its inception, and frequently championed funding for programs at the Department of Defense that support traumatic brain injury research and treatment. We are grateful for the tireless support he showed us over the years, and his loss is felt deeply within our community.

As we look forward to 2025, I invite anyone reading this to join us for our next Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, which will be held March 3-5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. On March 3, we will be hosting pre-conference activities and March 4-5 will be focused on awareness and advocacy. More details will be shared in the coming months.

To be sure, this community is growing. Evolving. Expanding. All of us at BIAA invite you to be a part of it.