BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
1441 CLIFTON RD. NE #114-A • AT- August 2011
NEWS YOU CAN
LANTA, GA 30322 •
PHONE: 404-712-5504 •
FAX: 404-712-0463 •
1-800-444-6443
USE!
www.braininjurygeorgia.org
Contact: jane@braininjurygeorgia.org
National Rehabilitation Week of Celebration—September
1990 marked a milestone for the celebration when an official Presidential proclamation was made to
designate the third week in September as National Rehabilitation Week.
Therapist are unsung heroes in helping a patient live up to their fullest potential during recovery!
Everyday therapist all across the state give so much of themselves to their patients. In the course of
a patient’s rehabilitation journey a therapist will be a coach, cheerleader, mentor, confidante.
Rewarding moments are defined by simple wins; a clearly spoken phrase; overcoming wheel
chair difficulties; first steps on parallel bars. Remember to thank your therapist for their passion and
dedication to helping each of you, or your loved one, with their journey!
Join Savannah and Augusta Support Groups in the following events as they provide an educational
symposium and a walk to promote brain injuries.
Brain Power-Walk for Awareness Journey Back to Life
Rehabilitation Conference
Every year over 50,000 Georgian’s
sustain an injury to the brain.
Rehabilitation Institute at Memorial University Walton Rehabilitation and Accord Services Health
Medical Center invite you to attend Brain System invite you to attend Journey Back to
Power- Walk for Awareness. Join Gray Life Rehabilitation Conference featuring topics
Matters and Advance Brain Injury Support Groups on brain injury, patient services and emerging
as we walk around Lake Mayer to promote technologies. Speakers will include Dr. Jeremy
awareness of acquired brain injury helping to Hertza, Psy.D. - “This conference is a great opportunity
celebrate during National Rehabilitation week. for professionals to gain further knowledge on cutting-
Help us to celebrate the accomplishments of edge evidence-based research and practice as it relates
to rehabilitation from TBI, stroke or other neurological
individuals living life effected by brain injury while
conditions” .
raising funds to help the Savannah Support Groups
serve survivors and their families. WHAT: Journey Back to Life Rehabilitation
Conference
WHAT: Brain Injury Awareness Walk
WHEN: September 24, 2011 WHEN: September 23, 2011
WHERE: Lake Mayer Community Park, 1850 E. WHERE: The Kroc Center, 1833 Broad Street,
Montgomery Crossroads, Savannah, GA Augusta, GA 30904
CONTACT: Pat Morris (912) 350-7369 CONTACT: Christie Howard (866) 922-2673,
choward@acordservices.com
morripa3@memorialhealth.com
COST: $25
COST: Free
Page 2 News Y ou Can U se! A ug ust 2011
Board of Directors
Robert Beaham
Chairman of the Board
International Program Mgr
Diane Ohmann
Board Treasurer
PVVP Committee
Owner—SAS Partners We Are Open for Applications!
Kay Jones
Board Secretary
Education Committee
Survivor, Support Group Leader
A new category of as the applicant or
Columbus, GA Alternative Transporta- from the applicant’s
Clint W. Sitton tion is created with a caregivers.
Public Policy & Relations, Legal &
Legislative Advisory Committee grant maximum of Personal Support
Kopelman Sitton Law Group
$5,000 in a twelve- Service grants are
Dr. Jeremy Hertza, Psy.D. month period. limited to $5,000 in a
Board Member
Nominating Committee
Walton Rehab Health System
For the category of twelve-month period.
Randy Babcock
Ayanna Anderson Transportation, the Recreation category
Funding and Marketing Chair alanderson@dhr.sstate.ga.us maximum grant for a grants are limited to
Retired Businessman & Survivor
veh icle, van or $2,500 in a twelve-
Dan Coe
Professional & Survivor m o dif ie d van i s month period.
Savannah, GA
The Brain and Spinal $10,000.
Applicants may not
Rick Gipson
Injury Trust Fund No more than fifty (50)
Board Member
Caregiver, Support Group Leader Commission application re-apply for a Trust
“HOPE” Boston, GA
p e r c e n t o f e ac h Fund grant of the
process is open and monthly distribution
Gwen McKee accepting applications. same category of
Support Group Steering budget will be allotted goods or services if
Committee Chair The home modifications
Founder Jolly Foundation
program remains closed for vehicles. the current grant has
Caregiver
until further notice. In The maximum grant not been spent down
Beth Ann Miller
Vice President-Walton Community opening the application for the Computer cate- to a balance of less
Services process, there are gory is $750 for either a than twenty-five (25)
Dr. Stephen Macciocchi, Ph.D. distribution policies desktop and monitor or percent of the total
Fundraising Committee
changes you should be
Medical Professional laptop computer. Other value of the grant at
Shepherd Center aware of listed as
follows: computer hardware or the time of a new
Stephanie Spencer, RN, BSN, CCM
Membership Committee Chair softwar e will b e application.
Case Manager The Commission set considered based on
Peach State Health Plan
a new lifetime cap For more information:
disability and cost.
Carolyn Stepp for grants to any (404) 651-5112
Board Member
Cookbook Committee applicant at $10,000 Applicants in the same (888) 233-5760
Caregiver & Support Group Leader
Blue Ridge, GA
and the new cap is household may not
r e tr o act ive an d combine requests for
includes any http://www.gatrustfund.o
grants.
i n c o m p l e t e rg/
applications that the Applicants may not
Commission is cur- purchase vehicles from
rently processing. family members or
other persons residing
Become a Facebook fan of the Brain in the same household
Injury Association of Georgia!
If you have news to share—an event, happening, article, story about someone in your
group —contact jane@braininjurygeorgia.org
News Y ou Can U se! A ug ust 2011 Page 3
Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse presented a half day conference on:
Customized Employment and the Discovery Process: Expanding Your
Toolkit for Assisting Persons with Brain Injury to Work
Side by Side Clubhouse introduced attendees to a as identify mut ual
conference asked the flexible person-focused benefits to communities
question “Why aren’t strategy that blends and employees through
Vocational Evaluations, services and supports to value added assets and
FCE’s, and Labor Market increase employment services.
Surveys, enough for a outcomes. Attendees left Jane Jackson, BIAG I&R,
person disabled by brain with an understanding of attended the event help-
injury to successfully the unique and complex ing to raise awareness
return to work? Who and workplace needs of about BIAG, who we are Cindi Johnson, Side by Side
what supports are needed people with ABI and how and what we do. Over 75
Executive Director, welcoming the
attendees.
and available and what Customized Employment professionals who partici-
strengths do they bring to can facilitate success. pated visited the BIAG Side by Side for the
fill a specific economic Techniques included how table learning about our invitation and hosting an
and service need in their to develop a whole services and adding educational and
community? person plan using the BIAG as a resource informational conference!
The half day seminar Discovery Process as well connection.
Chris Kirkwood, artist presented paintings to guest speakers Nancy Brooks-
Captive audience listening to guest speakers
Lane, Doug Crandell, Mike McCord and Cindi Johnson.
Jane Jackson, BIAG, I&R, featuring BIAG and
Panel Q&A session with audience Trust Fund services
Guest Speakers: Guest Speaker:
Nancy Brooks-Lane, MS, Mike McCord, MA, CRC,
LPC, LMFT & Doug CCM spoke on Employees With
Crandell, BS spoke on the a Brain Injury-Using Strengths
Customized Employment & to Dance with Challenges
Discovery Process “Who is
THIS Person”
Photography by Waring Jackson ,BIAG Photographer & Volunteer
News Y ou Can U se! A ug ust 2011 Page 4
ART Gallery
This is the work of Gloria Wiggins, a TBI survivor whose
work was exhibited at the Telfair Museum and the DOL art fair
last year. Gloria is currently employed at Goodwill Industries
of the Coastal Empire and continues to paint.
Art work submitted by
Paula Ruehling
Savannah Support Group Advance
Get your Support Group involved and submit a poem, photograph
or art work to be published in the upcoming “News You Can Use”
Newsletter.
Mail to: Jane Jackson, BIAG, 1441 Clifton Road NE Atlanta, GA 30322 Or Email to:
jane@braininjurygeorgia.org
Page 5 News Y ou Can U se! A ug ust 2011
SUPPORT GROUPS
(Listed By County) Ten Amazing Facts
Please visit our website for
details on group meetings ABOUT THE BRAIN
and contact information
Source: The Times UK
BIBB COUNTY
Macon, GA
“Macon Support Group” 10. The brain has a joke center* Sometime, patients with
CATOOSA COUNTY damaged frontal lobes are unable to get jokes.
Ft. Oglethorpe, GA
“Jimmy Simpson
Foundation” 9 You can’t hear phone conversations in noisy rooms*
CHATHAM COUNTY (2) The brain can’t distinguish background noise from the
Savannah, GA
voice on the phone.
Goodwill “Advance
Acquired Brain Injury “
Memorial Rehab Center
8. Yawning actually wakes us up* Yawning gets more air
“Gray Matters” into the lungs, thus increasing oxygen to the brain.
CLARKE COUNTY
Athens, Ga
“Athens Support Group” 7. We’re hardwired to remember annoying songs*
CLAYTON COUNTY
“Sequence recall” to learn daily routines also lets songs
Riverdale, GA
“Miracles Happen”
get stuck in our heads
COBB COUNTY
Marietta, GA 6. The brain uses less power than a refrigerator light*
“Unlimited Possibilities”
The brain uses 12 watts of power-17% of the body’s en-
DEKALB COUNTY
Atlanta, GA
(2)
ergy
“VA TBI Support Group”
For Veterans 5. Frequent jet lag can damage memory* Stress
“Peer Visitor for Veterans
Program” hormones release d during jet lag can damage
VA Medical Center
Decatur, GA
the temporal lobe and memory.
“Emory Support Group”
Emory Rehab Center 4. Altitude makes the brain see strange visions* Oxygen dep-
Atlanta, GA
rivation is likely to interfere with visual and emotional proc-
DOUGHERTY COUNTY
Albany, GA
essing.
“Albany Support Group”
FANNIN COUNTY 3. Shoot-’em-up computer games aid multitasking* Shoot-
Blue Ridge, GA
“Blue Ridge Support Group” ing multiple enemies spreads your attention and means
FLOYD COUNTY
you’re constantly reacting to events.
Rome, GA
“Rome Support Group”
2. It’s impossible to tickle yourself* The brain dulls ex-
pected sensations when we cause them ourselves
1. Bright sunlight makes you sneeze* Crossed wires in the
brainstem send signals from the eye via the nose.
Support Our Cause! Do your shopping now
through GoodSearch.
Designate Brain Injury Association—Georgia
Page 6 News Y ou Can U se! A ug ust 2011
Picture Puzzle: Can you spot the differences?
SUPPORT GROUPS Cont.
(Listed By County)
Please visit our website for details
on group meetings & contact
information
Get together with some friends for a contest to see
who can find the most differences in a certain FULTON COUNTY (4)
amount of time. You can search individually or team “Children & Adolescent
Support Group”
up with a friend!! Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at
Scottish Rite
Atlanta, GA
This picture puzzle has 14 differences. “North Fulton Support Group”
Can you spot them all? Alpharetta/Roswell, GA
770-642-4236 x41
“Minor Brain Injury Support
Group”
Atlanta/Buckhead
“The Seminole Spirit—A
Speech Listening Group”
Roswell, GA
GORDON COUNTY
Calhoun, GA
“Divine Restoration Abounds”
GWINNETT COUNTY
Lawrenceville, GA
“The Gwinnett County Area Support
Group”
MUSCOGEE COUNTY
Columbus, GA
“Columbus Support Group”
NEWTON/ROCKDALE COUNTY
Conyers, GA
“Brain Injury Support Group of
Newton/Rockdale”
RICHMOND COUNTY
Augusta, GA
“Brain Injury Support Group” Walton
West Transitional Living Center
SPALDING/LAMAR/UPSON
COUNTY
Griffin, GA
“Lost and Found ”
THOMAS COUNTY
Boston, GA
“Hope”
WARE COUNTY
Waycross, GA
“Southeast Georgia TBI
Support Group”