State Affiliate News

Delaware

During Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Brain Injury Association of Delaware (BIADE) proudly unveiled the Brain Injury Network (BIN), a beacon of hope set to make a profound impact. In January, the BIADE board’s visionary investment paved the way for the creation of BIN, born from careful consideration of other affiliates, an exploration of current BIAA priorities, and a commitment to incorporating national material and training on a local level. As we build out case management disciplines and a more user-friendly resource library, we’re also initiating community training leveraging BIAA’s programs, including Brain Injury Fundamentals and Certified Brain Injury Specialist training for professionals in the field.

At its core, BIN is more than a network; it’s a lifeline, a community-driven initiative designed to provide solace, resources, and navigation support to those affected by brain injury. Whether it’s survivors seeking guidance or caregivers needing assistance, BIN offers a warm embrace, connecting individuals to the tools they need to overcome the challenges they face.

Embedded within BIN’s mission is a powerful Theory of Change: if brain injury survivors and caregivers have timely access to education, resources, and navigation support, they can persevere and achieve the best quality of life possible. This principle guides every aspect of BIN’s approach, ensuring that help is available precisely when it’s needed most.

BIN’s immediate goals include increasing awareness of support resources; facilitating relevant referrals efficiently; reducing the time to access critical services; and cultivating a sustained sense of solidarity and community. Beyond the immediate, BIN aspires to secure increased financial support as needed; empower individuals with a sense of agency and control over their circumstances; and assist in achieving and sustaining a “new normal” post-injury. Ultimately, BIN’s vision extends far into the future: to improve the quality of life for all those impacted by brain injury. Through dedication, collaboration, and unwavering support, BIN seeks to create a world where hope shines brightly for every survivor, caregiver, and provider.

Indiana

The Brain Injury Association of Indiana (BIAI) had a wonderful start to 2024! BIAI was extremely busy during the first months 2024 preparing for Brain Injury Awareness Month in March. We planned out our “My Brain Injury Journey” campaign in Indiana and shared materials and a brain injury awareness toolkit across our state to help us push forward with our awareness messaging. In the actual month of March, BIAI went to Washington, and met with our legislators to advocate for increased brain injury funding. BIAI along with the BIAA and other state affiliates attended a reception with Rep. Bill Pascrell (N.J.) who chairs the Brain Injury Congressional Task Force. Incredible discussion and much fun was had by all while promoting awareness of chronic brain injury!

In April, BIAI put together a short video consisting of pictures of individuals impacted by brain injury in Indiana sharing about their own personal brain injury journey. Visit BIAI’s website to view the video.

BIAI also held our popular and yummy popcorn three-day pop-up sale in March to acknowledge Brain Injury Awareness. BIAI is busy planning for our third annual Wiffleball Tournament, taking place on Oct. 26. Be on the lookout for more details to come, and a happy summer to all!

Louisiana

During Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana (BIALA) presented its 15th annual conference, “Together in Harmony & Hope.” Throughout the two-day event, more than 250 allied health professionals, caregivers, and individuals living with brain and spinal cord injuries gathered and had the opportunity to advance their knowledge and to learn together. A high level of energy and excitement ran through the exhibit hall where 40 sponsors and exhibitors were thrilled to share new information on products, services, and available resources. A survivor and caregiver track was offered with presentations that included neurologic music therapy, cognitive strategies for daily use, and setting up support systems for success. The highlight of the survivor track was the afternoon where everyone was actively engaging in a variety of recreational activities facilitated by three dedicated and passionate recreational therapists.

Louisiana’s Unmasking Brain Injury art exhibit was on display with many new masks to show. Individuals who painted masks were excited to see their creation as part of the display and posed for many pictures. Caregivers connected and left the conference with increased feelings of hope, support, and community. Many are coming together for Caregiver Coffees and support groups that have emerged over the past year as well as a monthly virtual support group.

Maine

During Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Brain Injury Association of Maine (BIAA-ME) held the 2024 BIAA-ME Brain Injury Resource Fair in Augusta on March 21, with nearly 60 exhibitors. The fair is designed for Maine brain injury survivors, family members, caregivers, and professionals to have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of resources, services, and supports.

On Sept. 30, BIAA-ME will hold its 15th annual conference on Defining Moments in Brain Injury at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Portland. Maine brain injury survivor and advocate Carole Starr will deliver the keynote, and the agenda will be packed with 16 breakout sessions.

BIAA-ME continues to work with the State of Maine to complete deliverables under the Administration for Community Living’s Traumatic Brain Injury Partnership Grant and is collaborating with the University of Maine to address pediatric brain injury needs in Maine.

Mississippi

On April 5, the Brain Injury Association of Mississippi (BIAMS) hosted the 2024 NeuroTrauma Symposium. With a focus on “Empowering Resilience: Innovative Solutions to Neurotrauma Care,” this year’s annual conference drew a record number of attendees. Survivors, caregivers, healthcare workers, researchers, and industry innovators joined together for a day of looking at the brain injury journey holistically. Dr. Mark Shapiro of the University of Texas Medical Center San Antonio shared the exciting advancements his research team is making with medical treatment to reduce the impact of traumatic brain injury. Addie Grace Keyes, Miss Vicksburg’s Teen and survivor of a pediatric traumatic brain injury, participated as part of her passion for brain injury advocacy. Dwight Owens, who survived a car accident that left him paralyzed, ended the day with a powerful message of turning pain into purpose.

BIAMS’s project, “Building a Bridge,” continues to flourish. Adding to the list of in-person support groups will be a monthly meeting on the coast. Beginning July 20, survivors, their families, and their caregivers will be meeting on the third Thursday of each month at the YMCA in Ocean Springs.

Missouri

The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) held our Bowling for Brain Injury events in June 2024. Teams in Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis enjoyed two hours of bowling, friendly competition, and pizza. Spectators joined the fun to cheer on their favorite Bowling for Brain Injury teams. The “Spare the Alley, Join the Rally” Teams participated with fundraising and no bowling.

More than $30,000 has been raised so far. Sponsors, teams, bowlers, and donors joined in this great event to make a difference for a great cause. Event proceeds raise awareness about brain injury and provide services for persons with brain injury and their families.

The BIA-MO Survivor and Family Seminars 2024 were held in Springfield (March) and Kanas City (April). Topics included Fun with Cognitive Tasks, Coping with Changes and Adapting to New Roles, and Managing Anger, Anxiety and Depression. Survivor and family members learned from others during the Pushing Through Recovery and Let’s Talk sessions. The same sessions will be presented in St. Louis on Nov. 9.

The BIA-MO Annual Statewide Professional Development Conference will be held Nov. 7-8 in St. Louis. This is a great opportunity for professionals who provide services on a full-time, part-time, or periodic basis to increase, expand, and maintain their knowledge about serving persons with brain injury.

New York

In partnership with Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health, the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) held the 2024 Brain Injury Symposium on March 9 at NYU Langone.

Sessions for the day focused on current TBI research and practical applications. Professionals and specialists in the fields of brain injury medicine and rehabilitation attended to learn about advancements in treatment, network with other professionals, and gain access to cutting-edge research and information.

A few notable sessions include Return to High- Level Mobility: From Mild to Severe TBI Recovery, Rusk Rehab BI Wellness Program: Engagement, Socialization, Connection, The Burke Rehabilitation Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP), and The Art of Recovery: Nurturing Eye-Hand Coordination after a Stroke, just to name a few.

Accomplished and well-respected professionals presented throughout the day including Christopher Stavisky, PhD, OTR/L, clinical assistant professor at University of Buffalo; Ekaterina Dobryakova, Ph.D., the assistant director at the Neuroscience Research Center for TBI Research, Kessler Foundation; Gwenn Fried, the Program Manager at NYU Langone Medical Center; Susan Wortmann Jutt, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech language pathologist at Burke Rehabilitation; Mahya Beheshti, a physician scientist at NYU Langone; and many more.

BIANYS is thankful to our partner, Rusk Rehabilitation, and all the presenters and attendees that made the Brain Injury Symposium a success.

Ohio

The Spring season has been blooming with successful events for the Brain Injury Association of Ohio (BIAOH)! On March 14, more than 100 brain injury survivors, caregivers, board members, and community advocates gathered at the Ohio Statehouse and met with 40 legislators to share their stories and increase awareness about the need for continued support of brain injury resources. Kevin Miller, Director of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, received the Impact Leadership Award in honor of his dedication to brain injury services. During his acceptance speech, he shared with the guests how one of his family members is a brain injury survivor and that he witnessed firsthand some of the challenges that survivors and caregivers face. It was a heartfelt and inspiring speech that resonated with all of the guests in attendance at the luncheon.

Just a week later on March 22, BIAOH hosted a brand new event, “Resilent Minds: Artistry After Injury,” which highlighted the powerful connection between art and healing and celebrated the talent of local brain injury survivors. One of the lead committee members, Brian Murphy, is a ballet dancer with the Ohio Ballet who experienced a brain injury after a bike accident. He credits ballet and artistry as a key factor in his ability to recover. The full day event featured an art gallery, afternoon workshops (featuring painting, dance and other interactive art activities) followed by an evening with cocktails, appetizers, and amazing performances by survivors. It was an unforgettable event for everyone in attendance.

Pennsylvania

The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania (BIAPA) was thrilled to welcome back the Brain Safety Fair this spring! Following the resounding success of our recent fair in Western Pennsylvania in March, we are pleased to resume these events as they contribute to our mission of brain injury prevention. Brain Safety Fairs provide important information and education about the brain and how it works, while offering fun-filled activities for attendees of all ages. Central to our efforts is the custom fitting and distribution of free bicycle helmets, underscoring our commitment to ensuring the safety of individuals within our communities. We look forward to hosting more of these family-friendly events and spreading awareness about the importance of safeguarding our brains! The BIAPA Conference Committee is very busy planning for our annual conference. This two-day event, which took place on June 24- 25 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square in Lancaster, Pa., was a valuable learning and networking experience. This year’s annual conference theme is “Creating Roadmaps for Brain Injury Rehabilitation: The Journey from Initial Treatment to Community Inclusion.” Designed for professionals, survivors, family members, caregivers, and volunteers, some conference highlights include: up to 11 CEU and CE opportunities; exhibits and poster presentations; networking and social opportunities; coffee house and open mic for attendees to share their poetry, music or stories; a caregiver support group; yoga and tai chi sessions; and a sensory room. An exciting addition to this year’s conference are a group sessions designed for pediatric professionals and caregivers, including an opportunity for pediatric caregivers to meet one another and develop a support network. A full listing of conference sessions, plus keynote and plenary speaker information, can be found at biapa.org/2024conference/.

Rhode Island

Following on from our highly successful 40th anniversary golf tournament in 2023, the Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island (BIARI) Classic returns for a second year on June 24 at Alpine Country Club in Cranston. Alpine CC is a private club and is considered one of the state’s premier venues for golfers around the region. A couple of highlights at this year’s tournament include two (2) Hole in One competitions and a Cash Putting Contest. Hole in One # 1 features a $50,000 SUV for the lucky winner should (s)he hole out in one. Hole in One # 2 offers a six-day, five-night stay for two at the Home of Golf – St. Andrew’s Scotland, including roundtrip air from Boston or New York, as well as tee times at St. Andrew’s and Gleneagles, homes to both the British and Scottish Open Championships. And, if that isn’t enough, we’re also hosting a $5,000 cash putting competition for one potential winner. So, as they say, “Beam me up Scottie” and “May the Fores Be with You” (apologies to all you Star Trek and Star Wars fans out there!).

South Carolina

The Brain Injury Association of South Carolina (BIA-SC) and its members participated in multiple awareness events during Brain Injury Awareness Month, including a Community Art Project entitled Metamorphosis: Striving and Thriving After Brain Injury. BIASC collaborated with the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs on the project. Butterfly cutouts were decorated by brain injury survivors and caregivers from brain injury support groups, day programs, schools, rehabilitation hospitals and outpatient centers. The butterfly was also the theme of BIASC’s online art class in February. The decorated cutouts were collected and pasted on a large canvas and displayed at the SCDDSN state office in Columbia. The canvas will also be on display at the upcoming Life with Brain Injury Conference.

Eric Washington, from Kansas City, Missouri, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Life with Brain Injury Conference on Friday, July 26, in Columbia. Eric is a powerful advocate for those living with a traumatic brain injury. He contributes valuable expertise from his own life experiences for The National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS). Last year there were 204 in attendance with 28 exhibitors. We hope this year will be even bigger and better. We are also continuing the butterfly theme into our conference marketing materials!

Virginia

The Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV) collaborated with fellow brain injury providers and community advocates for Brain Injury Awareness Day 2024 in January. This year, BIAV appealed to the Virginia Legislature to invest in the brain injury community, emphasizing the importance of investing in both people and services to expand support to underserved and unserved areas across Virginia. Our efforts resulted in the General Assembly passing two budget amendments totaling $2.5 million. To support additional advocacy efforts, in March, BIAV, alongside BIAA and other advocates, participated in Brain Injury Awareness Day in Washington, DC.

We also successfully organized our annual Making Headway Conference, featuring informative sessions tailored for professionals, individuals with brain injuries, family members, and caregivers. Following the conference, we celebrated our annual Legacy Award event, where we expressed gratitude and admiration for the advocates and pioneers who are making a significant impact. Among our honorees was Christina Baggini, our Resource Manager, who dedicated 24 years of service to BIAV. As she embarks on retirement, she passes on her invaluable role as the liaison between BIAV and those needing our assistance and resources. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to her for her dedication and service.

For further details about our programs and mission work, please visit biav.net.