Invitation to Survivors, Family Members, and Caregivers

Exclusive Invitation to Survivors of Brain Injury, Family Members, and Caregivers

In January 2024, we launch the “125 Days to Say Yes!” campaign. This initiative is a transformative drive designed to catalyze support and swift action towards the realization of the National Strategy on Brain Injury Act (Bill C-277) with the government of Canada. The campaign coincides with the 125 days the House of Commons will be sitting from January to December in 2024.

As we prepare for the campaign, we invite survivors of brain injury, family members, and caregivers to be the driving force behind this movement by sharing their journey. The campaign involves sharing photos and short videos of […]

Survive-Strive-Thrive 2023

The Cridge Centre for the Family, BC Brain Injury Association, and Brainstreams are pleased to host the 2023 Survive-Strive-Thrive Conference. This event is for survivors, family members, caregivers, and anyone touched by brain injury.

Voices of Brain Injury (VBI)

Voices of Brain Injury (VBI) was founded during COVID-19 with the aim of bridging the gap between the general public and the brain injury community.

We conduct online interviews with brain injury survivors, healthcare workers, caregivers, and family members; VBI hopes to help raise awareness of the challenges that survivors face, while also giving individuals a platform to share their stories and inspire others.

Our team was grown to 25 volunteers from across the world, contributing by conducting interviews, writing research and informative posts, hosting webinars and various other projects.

To learn more about us, visit our site, Voices of Brain Injury. Follow @voicesofbraininjury on Instagram […]

Call for Stories!

BC Brain Injury Association (BCBIA) is celebrating 40 years of service. Over the years, many stories of survivors overcoming adversity have been shared. These stories are powerful. As part of our celebration, BCBIA is actively seeking inspirational stories from individuals and families living with a brain injury to publish on Brainstreams.

We know that rehabilitation and recovery is a very long process. People need hope, encouragement, and unlimited cheerleaders to rebuild life after brain injury. It is our intention to share stories of triumph and success to inspire and give hope. Join us and share your story today.

Click here to enlarge poster.

Story Submission Guidelines:

We […]

An Evening of Black & White – Because Gray Matters

This charitable event promises an evening of good food and entertainment. All proceeds go towards supporting survivors of brain injury.

Celebrating Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association’s 25th Anniversary

Join Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association in celebrating a milestone anniversary!

FVBIA Employers Guide to ABI 2022

The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association (FVBIA) have recently developed some important resources.

The Employers Guide to ABI 2022 aims to support employers who are not familiar with an acquired brain injury. Returning to meaningful activity, including employment when possible, is a central goal for many individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury. Having purpose, connections, and being able to contribute to one’s community is important for everyone, especially for those folks who are working to redesign their life.

FVBIA’s Employers Guide to ABI provides valuable information on how the brain is impacted and some simple tips on how to assist employees with ABI to be successful in the workplace.

Additional Resources:

The Journey […]

9th Annual Concussion Research Symposium

The Canadian Concussion Centre at Toronto Western Hospital is pleased to announce the 9th Annual Concussion Research Symposium, Update on Research and Care of the Concussion Spectrum of Disorders hosted by the Canadian Concussion Centre at The Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital on April 30, 2022.

Webinar for Brain Injury Survivors: How to Mindfully Manage the Holiday Season

Webinar for Brain Injury Survivors: How to Mindfully Manage the Holiday Season.

What is this video about?

Cultivating Kindness is the story behind Opportunity Landing, a non-profit society dedicated to developing and maintaining a space for inclusive, accessible community gardens in Langley BC.

Juliet Henderson-Rahbar, is a board member of the BC Brain Injury Association, and the Leader for Connect Communities in Langley—a place where people who’ve survived a life-altering brain injury can begin to redesign their lives in the community. Earlier this year, Juliet came across an article on Opportunity landing in the Langley Advance Times https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/news/new-langley-community-garden-gets-test-run-this-spring-at-twu/.

After seeing the design and the nearby location, Juliet knew this inclusive, outdoor space accessible to the people supported at CONNECT would be a tremendous opportunity. Like everyone else, CONNECT had just completed the first year […]

Campbell River Head Injury Support Society

Campbell River Head Injury Support Society The breathtaking community of Campbell River is world-renown for a few things. Located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, it is a short 1.5 hour drive from Nanaimo, and boasts pristine scenery and wildlife, snow-capped mountains, and claims the title of Salmon Capital of Canada. This thriving city is on the Salish Sea and has an abundance of Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye Salmon; residents and visitors can enjoy fishing year-round.

In addition to low crime and low unemployment rates, this city ensures its community members thrive by providing important services. In particular, the Campbell River Head Injury Support Society (CRHISS) serves nearly five hundred survivors of brain […]

father and son walking — ***Small actions, big rewards.***

For those of you who have children, you no doubt wonder, as I did, how they are faring living with a parent with an ABI. Ours is a unique situation as our now teenage son doesn’t know his dad any other way than with the ABI. It’s a mixed blessing, I’m sure. He didn’t know how dad struggled with him as a child, knowing that his child’s brain and body was often quicker than his own would allow. Our son is thoughtful, conscientious, and aware of everything. Always has been. And that’s a tough match for the parent who isn’t so quick and sure […]

Shining a Light on Brain Injury

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 1, 2021

Shining a light on brain injury in Canada

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – June is Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada. 452 Canadians suffer a serious traumatic brain injury every day. This amounts to nearly one person every 3 minutes, equaling almost 165,000 serious brain injuries per year. This does not include concussions, non-traumatic brain injuries, military injuries, or unreported cases.

The results of a recent survey conducted by Canadian brain injury associations revealed that approximately 61% of respondents found general lack of awareness about brain injury a key issue. These results demonstrate that we need to work harder to shine a light on the prevalence and intersectionality of brain injury.

Through multiple digital platforms and events, Canadian brain injury associations are working […]

Brain Food – How to Eat for Optimal Health Webinar

The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) and Brain Changes Initiative (BCI) are hosting a Complimentary Distinguished Speaker's Webinar Series created for front line health care workers and professionals in the field of brain injury.

Research Study: The Experiences of Self-Identity, Self-Awareness, and Occupational Engagement in Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

Dr. Julia Schmidt, PhD, BSC (OT) is the Principal Investigator of a new research study on the experiences of self-identity, self-awareness, and occupational engagement in individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Are you interested in sharing your experiences of life after traumatic brain injury? If so, your involvement includes completing five questionnaires and an intereview. Click here to view a larger image.

The questionnaires will take approximately 45 minutes and will ask you about:

demographic data (example: age)
issues related to your injury
how you perceive yourself
your abilities
your daily activities

The interview will take approximately 40 to 60 minutes and will ask you about:

your injury
how you perceive yourself
your […]

Light Therapy May Improve Sleep, Cognition After Brain Injury

Best known as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder, bright light therapy may improve sleep, cognition, emotion and brain function following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to a new study.

The study found that six weeks of morning bright light therapy resulted in a marked decrease in daytime sleepiness.

This improvement was associated with improvements in the propensity to fall asleep and night-time sleep quality, according to the study.

The bright light therapy also affected depressive symptoms, researchers said.

“Our preliminary data suggests that morning bright light therapy might be helpful to reduce subjective daytime sleepiness and to improve night-time sleep,” said Mareen Weber, Ph.D., an instructor in psychiatry at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

“Importantly, […]

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