Taking Charge: Self-Advocacy and Brain Injury

Whether you are living with a brain injury or care for someone who is, the complexity of access to care – even medications – can be cumbersome. Advocating for yourself or a loved one may feel impossible, but you are not alone. With the right knowledge and support, you can better communicate with providers and payors to ensure you or your loved one is receiving the highest level of care. This session will provide an introduction to a BIAA self-advocacy toolkit, strategies for communicating with providers, and resources for finding support.

Will Dane is an experienced public and government affairs professional dedicated to improving access to healthcare. As the current Director of State Government Affairs for the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, he oversees a multi-state legislative portfolio focused on an integral part of our nation’s healthcare supply chain, offering a first-hand view of pharmacy access and the intricacies of prescription drug benefit design. Will previously served as the Public Affairs Manager for the Brain Injury Association of America for five years, where he supervised the association’s marketing and communications department and came to know (and love) those living with brain injury. His government affairs experience began in college at the University of Oklahoma, where he was appointed a Messenger in the Oklahoma State Senate and later took a role with a contract lobbyist.