Blogs
CBIRT Virtual Conference – Childhood Brain Injury: Moving Research into Practice
Leading researchers will share strategies for integrating the latest evidence-based practices in everyday settings. For more information, the flyer is attached here.
A Series for Caregivers – Good Grief! . . . it’s the Holidays
Presented by Gina Pollard, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®, Certified Trauma Support Specialist, and Life Transition Coach This year has been EXTRA-ordinary to say the least. While those who identify with being a caregiver are all too familiar with being flexible, this year’s events have pushed many to the limit. We would like to offer our
Uniting the Brain Injury Community Symposium
The BIA of Colorado presents a virtual webinar series beginning October 15th.
Brain Injury Alliance of Utah Family & Professionals Conference on Brain Injury
October 1 & 2, 2020 – Participate in an exciting two-day virtual conference featuring keynote talks from national experts, interactive sessions, networking sessions, and an exhibitor expo!
USBIA Newsletter – Summer 2020 Special Interest Newsletter
USBIA Summer 2020 Special Interest Newsletter 07-15-20 v2.docx
USBIA Spring 2020 Newsletter
Spring 2020
Veterans and COVID-19: Projecting the Economic, Social, and Mental Health Needs of America’s Veterans
Veterans and COVID-19
Concussion Incidence and Trends in 20 High School Sports
To read more on this article, click here.
2019 Annual Review
Making the World Safer for Senior Citizens: An Injury Prevention Guide
As your parents get older, you start worrying more. Maybe your mother fell last week, and your father couldn’t help her up. She seems okay and so does he, but what about the next time she falls? What if you found out these falls don’t have to happen? That might seem impossible, but virtually all
Car Seat LATCH System: Tethers and Anchors
Child Car Safety Month
USBIA Newsletter Summer 2019
Catch up on all the current State Chapter News.
May 2019 Webinar: Best Practices for Support Groups
To view the webinar presented on May 1, 2019 entitled Best Practices for Support Groups that was hosted by Carrie Collins-Fadell, please click here.
Free TBI Webinar: Health Disparities and Traumatic Brain Injury
Learn from experts working in research in communities to address health disparities for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a live webinar on Wednesday, May 15. This webinar will discuss TBI in the larger context of health disparities and how health equity work in other fields could be applied to brain injury. This webinar
USBIA Spring Newsletter 2019
Our latest newsletter is out! Click the link below to read what’s happening: USBIA Newsletter Spring 2019
USBIA January 2019 Webinar – Not Invisible and Love Your Brain
January 2019 kicked off our 2019 webinar season! The first webinar was with Amy Zellmer of #NotInvisible and Kim Baker, Director of Implementation of the Love Your Brain Yoga Program. If you would like to listen in on January’s webinar, please click here.
Emergency Department Visits for Sports- and Recreation-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Children
Emergency Department Visits for Sports- and Recreation-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Children — United States, 2010–2016 Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a common injury among young athletes, can lead to short- or long-term emotional, physiologic, and cognitive sequelae. For more information, click here.
Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents
Abstract Sport-related concussion is an important topic in nearly all sports and at all levels of sport for children and adolescents. For more information, click here.
Concussions Tied to Doubled Risk of Suicide
(Reuters Health) – Survivors of traumatic brain injuries may be more than twice as likely to die by suicide as individuals without a history of injuries like concussions or skull fractures, a research review suggests. For more information, click here.
CDC Pediatric TBI Guidelines
Read more about the updated Pediatric TBI Guidelines here.
For Kids With Concussion, Less Time in a Dark Room
The C.D.C.’s first guidelines to focus on children’s head injuries steer doctors away from CT scans and prolonged isolation. Click here for article.
Have You Ever Been Diagnosed with a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Such as a Concussion?
Participate in an observational study!
Physical Education Teachers’ Awareness and Understanding of Concussions, and Concussion Policies and Protocols
Purpose: Our primary aim was to determine physical educators’ current level of understanding of concussion symptoms and response guidelines. For more information, click here.
Social Security Benefits After a TBI
SS Disability Benefits After TBI
USBIA Newsletter April 2018
USBIA Newsletter April 2018 Take a moment to read the latest from USBIA!
On Feb 21, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, published the Report to Congress: The Management of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Children, to review the public health burden and to make recommendations for the future management and treatment of this population. In a
Traumatic Brain Injury News Reports and Participation in High School Tackle Football
Decreasing numbers of adolescent boys participating in high school tackle football, as reported by news outlets, may be because of increasing concerns about football-associated health risks, including progressive chronic traumatic encephalopathy. For more information, click here.
Report to Congress on The Management of TBI in Children
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children is a significant public health problem in the United States. A traumatic brain injury disrupts the normal function of the brain, and can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a related injury. Children have the highest rate of emergency department visits for traumatic
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
The USBIA Communications Committee has put together an exciting new campaign the aim of which is to increase the public’s understanding of brain injury during Brain Injury Awareness Month. It will accomplish this by using social media outlets to share the personal stories of individuals living with the effects of brain injury.
Helmet use in preventing acute concussive symptoms in recreational vehicle related head trauma
Helmets use has proved effective in reducing head trauma (HT) severity in children riding non-motorised recreational vehicles. Scant data are available on their role in reducing concussive symptoms in children with HT while riding non-motorised recreational vehicles such as bicycles, push scooters and skateboards (BSS). We aimed to investigate whether helmet use is associated with
Traumatic brain injury and the risk of dementia diagnosis: A nationwide cohort study
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with dementia. The questions of whether the risk of dementia decreases over time after TBI, whether it is similar for different TBI types, and whether it is influenced by familial aggregation are not well studied. For more information, click here.
Traumatic brain injury linked to increased dementia risk
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, resulting in more than 2.5 million emergency department visits and hospitalizations in 2013 alone. For more information, click here.
USBIA Newsletter January 2018
USBIA Newsletter January 2018 USBIA Newsletter January 2018
Looking for study participants
Based on our previous work in young children and adults, we’ve seen evidence that not only can people with a recent concussion have difficulty finding the right word, but also they can struggle with skills like grammar and auditory processing of language. These difficulties appear to be present even when controlling for general cognitive differences
Too many vets not screened for brain injuries
Across America, our thoughts in November turn to honoring American veterans. Our heroes are honored with parades, free meals and patriotic school assemblies. However, for thousands of American veterans with TBI and PTSD who were dishonorably discharged without a proper diagnosis, there is a dark reality they live with in November and throughout the year.
PROFILE – Robert Karol
Tutoring for Students with Learning Disabilities
All students learn at their own pace and in their own way – this is especially true for students with learning disabilities. Special education services are a regular feature of the public school system, but with classroom sizes growing and resources shrinking, those students don’t always get the individualized attention they need. Tutoring services can
At Mosaic Music Therapy, our Master’s level clinicians utilize their unique areas of expertise to provide services for a variety of ages and populations. https://www.mosaicmusictherapy.com/
Learn More About How Easter Seals Can Help People with Disabilities
For Military and Veteran Programs, click here.
Study Finds Female Youth Soccer Players Five Times More Likely than Boys to Return to Play Same Day Following Concussion
Findings especially concerning since girls also sustain concussions at higher rates, according to abstract of new research to be presented at American Academy of Pediatrics 2017 National Conference & Exhibition. Read more here.
USBIA & NASHIA Board Members Meet at the NASHIA SOS Conference
This picture was taken September 13, 2017 during the Meet & Greet session between USBIA and NASHIA board members during the NASHIA SOS Conference held in Tempe, AZ.
Rutgers University Study Looking for Participants
Participation in Research Study Looking at Concussion Outcomes Dr. Carrie Esopenko from the School of Health Professions at Rutgers University, along with Drs. Ellen Anderson and Jennifer Buckman, are conducting a study to better understand how a history of concussion affects emotional well-being and the strategies used to cope with concussion. Rutgers University Study
TBI Survivor and Speaker James Durham Hosts a Special Free Live Interview
TBI One Love Radio Hosts Special Guests Dr. Bennet Omalu – Founder of CTE/Author and Cyndy Feasel – Author/NFL Wife September 18, 2017 – TBI One Love & Blog Talk Radio
USBIA July 2017 Newsletter
USBIA is pleased to share with you our Summer 2017 newsletter. Read USBIA committee updates, news from the public policy front, as well as activity reports from member states of the Alliance. USBIA Newsletter July 2017
USBIA Webinar: Web Based Resources In Brain Injury
RESOURCE UPDATE “Web Based Resources In Brain Injury” Please click here for details that were refererenced on the webinar! Search the Web for information on brain injury and you’ll likely find yourself overwhelmed. Sifting through the vast amount of information to find relevant and trustworthy resources is daunting. This webinar will highlight web resources that provide
Trends in State Health Policy. To see the full article, click here.
Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury
MSKTC Publishes 2017 Facts and Figures Factsheets. Each data sheet provides a quick reference on demographics and the use of services by people with SCI, TBI, or Burn in the United States. Click here. to see the links for each data sheet.
In the US, People with Disabilities are Three Times as Likely to Be Victims of Serious Violence
People with disabilities who live in the US are two-and-a-half times as likely to be victims of violent crimes than those without disabilities and three times as likely to be targets of rape, robbery, or aggravated assault. To read the full article, click here:
High School Boys Fear Looking Weak If They Report Concussions
(Reuters Health) – Male and female high school athletes have moderate levels of knowledge about concussion symptoms, but the boys are much more likely to not report concussions for fear of seeming weak, a small U.S. study suggests. For more information, continue reading here.
30 Resources to Help Caregivers
National and Statewide Groups Cheer as Rep. Gallego Joins Taskforce
Gallego Press Release June 2017
Effect of Medicaid Expansion on Workforce Participation for People With Disabilities
Objectives. To use data from the Health Reform Monitoring Survey (HRMS) to examine differences in employment among community-living, working-age adults (aged 18–64 years) with disabilities who live in Medicaid expansion states and non-expansion states. To read more, click here.
Study Participation Opportunity
Sarah Shadi, a Ph.D student and fellow brain injury survivor, is conducting a study on feelings of social isolation in people with brain injuries and asked us to share her message. For more information, click Study Participation Opportunity.
Brain Futures 2017 Conference
BrainFutures 2017 is a one-and-a-half-day conference featuring renowned leaders sharing research-to-practice innovation to optimize brain health and transform mental health care. September 6-7 Gaylord National Resort (Washington, D.C.) Continuing education credits are available Click here for more information.
Contact Congress NOW to Stop Medicaid Cuts and Health Care Changes!
The United States Congress is working quickly on healthcare reform. Currently, there is a proposal that could severely compromise the supports and services people with brain injury need. Click here for more information.
USBIA Newsletter April 2017 To read our newsletter, click USBIA Newsletter April 2017.
CDC Issues New Report on TBI – Related Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths
The CDC conducts surveillance of TBI to understand the public health burden, to monitor trends, and to identify groups at greatest risk for TBI. A new report from the CDC focuses on short- and long-term adverse clinical outcomes, including death and disability.
Alina Fong joins USBIA’s Public Policy Committee
USBIA announces the topics for three upcoming webinars. The next webinar will take place on May 25.
21st Century Cures Act Fact Sheet
Check out the newest fact sheet for the 21st Century Cures Act.
REVISITING REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS’ 2011 MEDICAID REFORM PROPOSALS
This week, our In Focus section revisits a 2011 report from the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee Health Care Task Force.
The Children’s Safety Network (CSN) has posted state-by-state injury data fact sheets for 2016 with analyses of childhood injury fatalities and hospitalizations, and each sheet has a rich compilation of timely, pertinent information for injury prevention stakeholders and practitioners.
National Family Caregiver Month
Kessler Foundation is celebrating National Family Caregiver Month. To learn more and find out about our caregiver support programs, please click here.
Bicycle Helmet Use Among Persons 5 Years and Older in the United States, 2012
Among adults, 21% rode bicycles within the past 30 days and 29% of them always wore helmets. Among children, 61% rode bicycles within the past 30 days and 42% of them always wore helmets.
The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) will host several listening sessions across the country to help inform future funding priorities and strategic direction. Public meetings will be held Oct. 14th and 28th, Nov. 1st and 18th, and Dec. 5th.
Social Security Disability Benefits Guide
Understand how Social Security disability works and how to calculate your benefits.
Udall Calls for Federal Crackdown on Bogus Concussion Safety Claims for Youth Sports Gear
WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to crack down on deceptive and dangerous claims by manufacturers that their youth sports gear can prevent head injuries.
According to the CDC, an estimated 248,418 children aged 19 or younger were treated in U.S. emergency departments for sports and recreation related injuries that included a diagnosis of concussion or traumatic brain injury.
US May Be Greatly Undercounting Pediatric Concussions
New research from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights a substantial gap in how the United States currently estimates the nation’s burden of pediatric concussions. Among 0- to 17-year-olds who have a CHOP primary care physician and were diagnosed with a concussion within CHOP’s regional
Emergency Physicians’ Knowledge of Sports-Related Concussion, Referral Patterns, and Use of Return to Play Guidelines
Although emergency department physicians care for a large number of patients with sports-related concussion (SRC), little is known about their knowledge of SRC and return to play (RTP) guidelines. The authors conducted a 32-question cross-sectional Internet survey to evaluate knowledge of SRC and practice patterns with RTP strategies used by emergency department physicians in Washington
Football Players’ Perceptions of Future Risk of Concussion and Concussion-Related Health Outcomes
Concussion is increasingly recognized as a risk of participation in contact and collision sports. There have been few examinations of athletes’ perceptions of their susceptibility to concussion or concussion-related health consequences. We examine college football players’ perceptions of their risk of sustaining a concussion and concussion-related health consequences in their future, whether these perceptions change over
The Rise of Concussions in the Adolescent Population
Concussion injuries have been highlighted to the American public through media and research. While recent studies have shown increased traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) diagnosed in emergency departments across the United States, no studies have evaluated trends in concussion diagnoses across the general US population in various age groups. For more information, click here.
USBIA Welcomes Nebraska to the Alliance!
The leadership of USBIA is thrilled to welcome the State of Nebraska as the newest member of the Alliance! The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska (BIA-NE) is devoted to creating a better future for all Nebraskans through brain injury prevention, education, support, and advocacy.
The current issue of the USBIA Newsletter is now available for download!
Research helps people with disabilities live better lives
Kessler Foundation is one of the leading rehabilitation research centers in the world. We want to improve the state of care for traumatic brain injury, and we need your help. We’re seeking volunteer research participants who are interested in new treatments for cognitive and functional problems after TBI.
Managing Behavior Dysfunction Post TBI Part I: Behavior Management Strategies
Dysfunctional behaviors can be the most debilitating consequence of TBI, dramatically impacting family, social, and vocational relationships. Estimates of behavioral challenges among children with TBI range from 35% to 70%. Estimates among adults range from 25% to 61%.
Estimated Lifetime Medical and Work-Loss Costs of Fatal Injuries — United States, 2013
Injury-associated deaths have substantial economic consequences. In 2013, unintentional injury was the fourth leading cause of death, suicide was the tenth, and homicide was the sixteenth; these three causes accounted for approximately 187,000 deaths in the United States (1). To assess the economic impact of fatal injuries, CDC analyzed death data from the National Vital
Traumatic Brain Injury among Children and Adolescents Treated in Emergency Departments, United States 2007-2010
To understand the causes of TBI, the Children’s Safety Network (CSN) explored emergency department (ED) treated TBIs among 0 through 19 year olds in terms of intent, activity, and object involved.
With the five-year anniversary of my traumatic brain injury on the horizon, I have gained one thing that I was not capable of having early on—I have gained a perspective that comes with time. For more information, click here.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new research on the cost of injury in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) According to the research, the combined estimated lifetime medical and work loss costs associated with fatal and non-fatal injuries in the United States were $671 billion in 2013. The lifetime medical
Injuries and Violence in the US: Preventing human and economic costs to society CDC Injury Center Cost-Fact-Sheet-2015
Concussions in a Required Class: Boxing at Military Academies
WEST POINT, N.Y. — A bell clanged and two cadets in boxing gloves surged from their corners in a gym at the United States Military Academy last week, throwing jabs and uppercuts while other cadets yelled, “Keep working him!” and, “Use the hook!” For more than a century, boxing for male freshmen here has been
Pascrell Highlights CDC Report on Student Athlete Concussions
Federal report summarizes the current research on concussion knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behaviors Garfield, NJ –As student athletes across the nation return to the playing field, today U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Co-founder and Co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, was joined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials in
The Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF)
The Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF), a federal advisory committee established by the Protect Our Kids Act of 2012 (P. L. 112-275), will hold a series of open meetings by teleconference on the following dates: Friday, October 30, 2015: 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET Thursday, November 12, 2015: 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET Thursday, December 3,
To listen to the webinar, click here.
The long-term effects of brain injury can be catastrophic for students at any level. Early on, students with the most severe injuries are unable to attend school. Some require home schooling until they recover enough to travel and attend classes with other students. This guide can help parents and educators navigate good next steps. Click
This webinar, sponsored by the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA), is a 75 minute presentation designed to introduce individuals and program staff to TBI. The presentation will provide an overview of TBI, incidence, symptoms, treatment and state/federal programs and policies which address the needs. The webinar is free and is available on
Each school year, approximately 1,000 high school athletes in Oregon suffer at least one concussion. In this first TBI Research Brief, we present information about sports concussion and how to recognize and manage its consequences. To read more, click here.
It’s causing to more than 17,000 concussions annually Health researchers and soccer moms have known for years that more concussions occur in high school soccer than in any other sport except for football. Now, a new study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics details exactly how soccer players are getting those head injuries. Player-to-player contact caused
Opportunities to Reshape the Culture Around Concussion in Sports
A strong focus on health and safety in sports can help keep young athletes safe.
The latest edition of USBIA’s newsletter is now available for download! Read about our upcoming webinar on Resource Management and get all the news from the states in the Alliance!
The Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut hosted a meeting of the leadership of the Northeast brain injury organizations on 6/12/15.
Patterns of Recovery Following Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents
Time to symptom resolution, return to school, and return to play after a sport-related concussion in children and adolescents (8-17 years of age) was examined using a retrospective cohort design. A total of 198 patients aged 8 to 17 years were included, with a mean age of 13.5 years (SD = 2.2).
Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in Early Adolescent Rugby Players: Long-Term Neurocognitive and Academic Outcomes
Jun 03, 2015 Information is scant concerning enduring brain injury effects of participation in the contact sport of Rugby Union (hereafter rugby) on early adolescents. The objective was prospectively to investigate differences between young adolescent male rugby players and non-contact sports controls on neurocognitive test performance over three years and academic achievement over six years.
Issue Brief: Sports Related Traumatic Brain Injury and Return-to-Learn Provisions
May 20, 2015 All 50 states and the District of Columbia now have some form of youth sports-related TBI law. All of the state laws contain provisions about returning an athlete to the playing field, but very few state laws address returning to academics after concussion. This issue brief examines the health risks associated with
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn injury. The MSKTC offers free resources to help with rehabilitation, daily living, relationships, and social and emotional issues. Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Academic Effects of Concussion in Children and Adolescents
Actively symptomatic students and their parents reported higher levels of concern for the impact of concussion on school performance (P < .05) and more school-related problems (P < .001) than recovered peers and their parents. High school students who had not yet recovered reported significantly more adverse academic effects than their younger counterparts (P <
CDC News: Special Issue of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation recently released a special issue. It focuses on work from CDC and our key partners – like you – to prevent traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to help people better recognize, respond, and recover if a TBI occurs. This body of research gives a clearer picture of TBI in
Trends in Incidence and Severity of Sports-Related Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the Emergency Department, 2006–2011
May 20, 2015 This study reviewed data on sports-related TBI among individuals under age 65 from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample from 2006–2011. Visits were stratified by age, sex, injury severity, payer status and other criteria. Variations in incidence and severity were examined both between groups and over time. Odds of inpatient admission were calculated
Public Health Approach to Reducing Traumatic Brain Injury
Newswise — May 11, 2015 – Ongoing efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the population impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are documented in the May/June issue of The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, official journal of the Brain Injury Association of America. The journal is published by Wolters
Issue Brief: Sports Related Traumatic Brain Injury and Return-to-Learn Provisions
The Network for Public Health Law – posted on Thu, May 7 2015 4:13 pm by Kerri McGowan Lowrey, Eastern Region Sports-related concussion, a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), has received much attention over the past few years. The potential impact on child and adolescent health is significant and nationwide, because so many young
Cheryl Green, a media artist with TBI, is collaborating with independent filmmaker, Cynthia Lopez on, “Who Am I To Stop It,” a new documentary film about isolation, art, and transformation after brain injury. It features three TBI survivors who are all artists.
nTIDE Jobs Report: Employment Continues to Grow for People with Disabilities
WEST ORANGE, N.J. – May 8, 2015. Positive news continues as Americans with and without disabilities are participating in the labor force and finding jobs, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Social enterprise is one example of a
Concussions Are Most Likely During Practice In High School And College
Parents worry about a child getting a concussion in the heat of competition, but they also need to be thinking about what happens during practices, a study finds.
Ontario adult drivers who say they have experienced at least one traumatic brain injury in their lifetime also report significantly higher incidents of serious road-related driving aggression, said a new study. Serious driver aggression includes: making threats to hurt a fellow driver, passenger or vehicle. These individuals also reported significantly higher odds of being involved
States Could Decrease Teen Fatality Rates by Adopting GDL Components
It’s been nearly two decades since graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs began to take hold in the U.S., and these novice driver laws have proved extremely successful in reducing fatal crashes among teenagers.
States have been raising highway speed limits — but they should be doing the opposite
States have been raising highway speed limits — but they should be doing the opposite Many states have recently been raising their highway speed limits. But research suggests that, if anything, they should actually be doing the opposite and lowering speed limits on both city streets and highways. http://www.vox.com/2015/4/9/8373177/speed-limits
On June 23-34, 2015, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institutes of Medicine are holding a FREE conference, “Concussion: A National Challenge” to share the latest in the detection, prevention and treatment of concussion with the public. Click here for details and the News Release.
CDC’s Report to Congress on Traumatic Brain Injury Epidemiology and Rehabilitation
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can lead to lifelong problems that not only affect the lives of individuals and their families, but also have a significant impact on society and the economy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a Report to Congress, entitled Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Epidemiology and Rehabilitation,
Member states of the Alliance are hard at work providing services to persons with brain injury in their families. Read about their progress!
Recognize. Report. Respond. Rest. Ann Glang, PhD, University of Oregon researcher and USBIA Board Member, wants those “R” words to resonate among young athletes. They are key terms used in an online educational tool designed to teach coaches, educators, teens and parents about concussions called “Brain 101: The Concussion Playbook”.
NMBIA Seeks to Require Insurance Coverage for Brain Injury Services
The New Mexico Brain Injury Alliance is working to introduce legislation create a law to require insurance coverage for services related to brain injury. The proposed legislation seeks to mandate integrated access to brain injury services across the continuum of care.
USBIA to Participate in Federal Working Group
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, in collaboration with VA’s Office of Rehabilitation Research and Development, will sponsor a one-day TBI research workgroup on June 18, 2015 in the Washington, DC area. The topics identified through this meeting will serve as the basis for the 4th Federal Interagency Conference on TBI.
Professionals Conference Flyer A one-day conference for you and your staff April 17, Kalispell • May 8, Miles City • May 22, Great Falls Service providers will increase their understanding of brain injury and related symptoms, learn strategies to enhance their work with survivors and families, and receive resources and information to increase community awareness.
The USBIA Policy Committee is monitoring the following legislation. Any questions or comments to Policy Committee Chair Gavin Attwood Gavin@USBIA.org LEGISLATION: NEWLY INTRODUCED S.516: A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to permit alternate standards and assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Prime sponsor is Christopher Murphy
Responding to King v. Burwell: What Policy Levers can States “Pull” if the Supreme Court Sides with King?
RESPONDING TO KING V. BURWELL: WHAT POLICY LEVERS CAN STATES “PULL” TO MAINTAIN COVERAGE IF THE SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH KING? This week,our In Focus section reviews approaches states could consider in the event the Supreme Court eliminates federal marketplace subsidies for certain states. It was prepared by Claudine Swartz and Angelique Hrycko of Day
nTIDE Jobs Report: Rising Tide Continues to Raise Workers with Disabilities
Kessler Foundation News WEST ORANGE, N.J. – March 6, 2015. For the fifth consecutive month, employment for workers with disabilities continued to grow, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Corporations and nonprofits are supporting opportunities for
The Ready to be Steady Project is a research study looking at how using a commercially available virtual-reality gaming system, the XBOX Kinect, may improve balance for people with TBI. Study participants will be asked to participate in an in-home balance therapy program and attend 4 assessments over a 6 month period at Craig Hospital
Improving Well-Being After TBI Through Structured Volunteer Activity – Have you had a traumatic brain injury? – Are you currently unemployed and looking for something meaningful to do? – Are you looking for a way to help others? – Are you 18 years or older? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a
Anger and Irritability Research Study for Brain Injury Survivors Participants Needed for a Research Study: Do you get angry with yourself or others since you had your brain injury? Are you more irritable with family, friends or co-workers than before your injury? If so, you might be able to participate in a research study about
Post-Concussion Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Division I Collegiate Athletes
Post-Concussion Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Division I Collegiate Athletes | Developmental Neuropsychology as taken from Children’s Safety Network February 17, 2015 This study examined the effect of baseline psychological symptoms on post-concussion symptoms among 67 concussed collegiate athletes. Depression at baseline was the strongest predictor of post-concussion depression and anxiety. Post-concussion depression and
Vision and Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans and Athletes
Saturday, May 2; 10am – 12noon Colorado Convention Center Denver, Colo. Registration is free The functional relationship between the eye and the brain is established during the early stages of human embryonic development in all vertebrate species. Nowhere is this connectivity more evident than in the biology of human aging and the visual response to
Colorado Springs Workshop: ‘Tools for Navigating Recovery’
Target Audience: Survivors of a brain injury, family and caregivers In partnership with HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. Speakers include: Dr. Michael Nunley, PhD & Terri Cassidy, OT – Ten tips for your injured loved one, and a family beginning the marathon Dr. Kiran Pandit, MD – Behavioral, Emotional, and Mood issues in TBI and Neuroimaging Modalities
Advocate at the State Capitol! Every Tuesday through the end of the 2015 legislative session, the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance Public Policy staff meets with citizen advocates in the Department of Transportation cafeteria at 10 a.m. We provide a policy update, help write personal stories and facilitate meetings with legislators. For more information on Tuesdays
Job Opportunities at the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance is hiring for a Case Manager and Care Coordinator in our Case Management department. A Care Coordinator is responsible for monitoring and implementing comprehensive; proactive; consumer directed systems of support and advocacy for individuals, including all ages and cultures, which have survived
Brain Injury Educational Classes The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance offers a variety of educational classes – including our monthly Brain Injury Basics class – for families, individuals and professionals in the Twin Cities. Our educators can also train your staff on-site at your facility with our Traveling Workshops. Brain Injury Basics Caregiving: February 26, 2015
Minnesota’s 2015 Annual Conference for Professionals in Brain Injury
2015 Annual Conference for Professionals in Brain Injury The 2015 Annual Conference for Professionals in Brain Injury will take place on Thursday and Friday, April 9 and 10, at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and will feature several dynamic speakers who will cover a variety of topics related to community-based, education,
Age of First Exposure to Football and Later-Life Cognitive Impairment in Former NFL Players
Age of First Exposure to Football and Later-Life Cognitive Impairment in Former NFL Players Neurology (as taken from Children’s Safety Network) February 4, 2015 To determine the relationship between exposure to repeated head impacts through tackle football prior to age 12, during a key period of brain development, and later-life executive function, memory, and estimated
The Trajectory of Long-Term Psychosocial Development 16 Years Following Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury
The Trajectory of Long-Term Psychosocial Development 16 Years Following Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury Journal of Neurotrauma (as taken from Children’s Safety Network) Jan 27, 2015 Childhood traumatic brain injury (CTBI) is one of the most common causes of impairment in children and adolescents; with psychosocial difficulties found to be the most persisting. http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/news/trajectory-long-term-psychosocial-development-16-years-following-childhood-traumatic-brain-inju
Sleep Disturbances in Athletic Concussion Informa (as taken from Children’s Safety Network) Jan 27, 2015 Sleep disturbances are a common symptom following concussions to include athletic concussion. This review applies literature on sleep following traumatic brain injury and concussion to sport concussions and places these considerations in the context of sleep and athletic performance. It
School-Based Consultation to Improve Concussion Recognition and Response
School-Based Consultation to Improve Concussion Recognition and Response Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation Jan 27, 2015 (as taken from Children’s Safety Network) Many students who have sustained concussions return to school requiring academic adjustments while their brains heal. However, school personnel often are not trained to accommodate these students. This exploratory project examined the
BIAC’s 2015 Annual Conference will be held on Friday, March 6, 2015. BIAC is pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Cantu, Boston University School of Medicine, will be our plenary speaker, presenting on concussions, and he will offer an additional workshop option on biomarkers. Dr. Cantu is one of the world’s foremost authorities on concussions
Trajectories of Physical Health in the First 5 Years after Traumatic Brain Injury
Journal of Neurology as taken from Children’s Safety Network Dec 16, 2014 The aims of the study were to examine whether self-reported physical health changes over the first 5 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and whether the trajectories of physical health over that time period could be predicted by demographic and injury-related variables. http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/news/trajectories-physical-health-first-5-years-after-traumatic-brain-injury-journal-neurology
Contiuum as taken from Children’s Safety Network Dec 16, 2014 As the issue of brain injury in athletes has emerged and developed, shifting the landscape of public concern, neurologists have become more directly involved in the diagnosis and management of sports concussion. http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/news/sports-concussion-diagnosis-and-management-contiuum
The Epidemiology of Vasospasm in Children with Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Critical Care Medicine as taken from Children’s Safety Network Dec 16, 2014 The purpose of this study was to gain a description of the prevalence and time course of vasospasm in children suffering moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury. http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/news/epidemiology-vasospasm-children-moderate-severe-traumatic-brain-injury-critical-care-medicine
Validation of a Clinical Prediction Rule for Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma
Pediatrics as taken from Children’s Safety Network Dec 09, 2014 To reduce missed cases of pediatric abusive head trauma (AHT), Pediatric Brain Injury Research Network investigators derived a 4-variable AHT clinical prediction rule (CPR) with sensitivity of .96. Our objective was to validate the screening performance of this AHT CPR in a new, equivalent patient
Disability-Adjusted Life-Year Burden of Abusive Head Trauma at Ages 0–4
Pediatrics As taken from Children’s Safety Network Dec 09, 2014 Researchers estimated the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) burden of abusive head trauma (AHT) at ages 0 to 4 years in the United States. http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/news/disability-adjusted-life-year-burden-abusive-head-trauma-ages-0%E2%80%934-pediatrics
Development of a Conservative Protocol to Return Children and Youth to Activity Following Concussive Injury
Clinical Pediatrics Dec 09, 2014 Consensus-based guidelines exist for adult athletes returning to play after concussion, but there are no protocols developed specifically for children. http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/news/development-conservative-protocol-return-children-and-youth-activity-following-concussive-injur
CDC Heads Up. Safe brain. Stronger Future.
Keeping children and teens healthy and safe is always a top priority. Whether you are a parent, youth sports coach, school coach, school professional, or health care provider, this site will help you recognize, respond to, and minimize the risk of concussion or other serious brain injury. To read more about this, click here.
CTE Healthcare Navigation Form
StopCTE.org created this form to provide a useful tool to help people potentially suffering from brain injury/disease and their family, navigate a visit to their healthcare provider. The goal is to provide timely information, and to make that visit as productive and helpful as possible. CTE Healthcare Navigation Form
MN Stroke Association Presents Navigating Stroke: A Virtual Educational Series
For more information, read the following PDF: Navigating Stroke flyer