Connecticut's partner in brain injury prevention and recovery since 1982. | |
BIAC 2023 Annual Professional Conference | |
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Friday, March 17, 2023
Quinnipiac University, School of Medicine
We are so excited to see you in-person this year! Register by February 17th and save!
Join us for a wonderful lineup of speakers including our Keynote Speaker, Stacia Bissell (speaker, educator and coach). Stacia will be sharing her own unique story of recovery toward finding congruity between her former and new self.
Conference workshops include topics on successful community living, ambiguous loss, cultural humility, behavioral challenges, discussion of recovery verses qualify of life models of support, domestic/interpersonal violence, veteran issues and more! Check out our full workshop offerings and speaker details on our conference webpage.
This is a great opportunity to earn CEUs! You can earn up to 14.5 continuing education hours. Applications are pending for social workers, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, and psychologists. General certificates of attendance will also be available. This is also a great way to earn CEUs for your CBIS credential. All workshops will be recorded and made available only to those who register and attend the live event – more opportunity for learning at your own pace.
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Interested in becoming an Annual Professional Conference Sponsor or Exhibitor? Click here for details and sign up by March 1, 2023!
The BIAC Annual Professional Conference is the only event of its kind in Connecticut. With over 200 industry professionals in attendance, this is an excellent way to promote your organization to a highly qualified and targeted audience. Benefits also include excellent visibility during the event, and publicity before, during, and after the event. Your participation also helps BIAC continue to serve as Connecticut’s partner in brain injury prevention and recovery!
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Annually, BIAC recognizes those individuals and organizations demonstrating an outstanding contribution to our organization or to the field of brain injury. BIAC will be recognizing outstanding individuals during the Annual Conference on March 17, 2023.
Nominations must be submitted to the BIAC Governance Committee c/o Julie Peters no later than Friday, February 17th. Nominations should include your name and phone number, the nominee’s full name, address, phone number and your reason(s) for nomination.
Nominations may be submitted in three ways:
• Online by using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TSRJYJN
• By mail to BIAC, 200 Day Hill Road, Ste. 250, Windsor, CT 06095
• Emailed to Julie Peters at jpeters@biact.org.
For Awards descriptions and a list of Past Recipients, click here.
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BIAC Helpline | 860-219-0291
Karen, a working mother of 4, felt lost when her husband sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in a car crash. A friend reached out to the BIAC Helpline to inquire about potential ways to help. After speaking with a Brain Injury Specialist (BIS), she encouraged Karen to reach out to the helpline directly.
The BIS was able to listen to Karen and provide the following guidance:
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Lean into help- Karen said she didn’t know how to respond every time someone offered to help. The BIS suggested writing down all her worries and concerns on separate post-it notes and to determine which concerns she can share with the most appropriate person.
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Don’t let others tell you how to feel- Karen acknowledged the best-intentioned people can say things that make us feel horrible. The BIS reminded her that no one can tell her how to feel and that any feeling is valid.
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Speak up when you need to- Karen noted that interactions with doctors and professionals can be confusing and often they don’t give enough information. The BIS reminded her that it is ok to slow them down and ask questions. Even better, seek out that one nurse or social worker who knows what you are going through and ask them for help.
At the end of Karen’s call, she thanked the BIS warmly and said, “Thank you, I know I’m going to get through this.”
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New Year, New Opportunities
This past year, BIAC added a Family Caregiver Support Group to our network. We now offer 13 Active Support Groups that conduct monthly meetings via Zoom, or In-Person. For 2023, we offer:
● 2 In-Person Creative Arts Therapy Groups
● 8 Virtual
● 2 Hybrid (in person/virtual)
● 1 Family Caregiver Support Group -1st Wednesday of each month at 7pm (Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting)
Participants of our support groups should ask their group facilitator for a copy of the updated New Member Packet - full of good information that can be helpful to group members!
Check out our full listing of support groups on our website.
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Looking for Family Caregivers Who Are Willing to Share Their Experiences
Barbara Nadeau PhD OTR/L, along with students in the Masters of Occupational Therapy Program at Quinnipiac University, is conducting a study to learn about the experiences of individuals caring for a family member who has a brain injury.
If you are someone who provides oversight or assistance to a family member who has a brain injury and who has been living in the community for more than one year, you may be eligible to participate in this study. You do not need to live with your family member, but you must be physically present with them at least once per week and you must be unpaid for the oversight/assistance you provide to the individual.
Please contact Barbara Nadeau by February 7, 2023 at Barbara.nadeau@qu.edu for more information.
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March is Brain Injury Awareness Month | |
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Brain Injury Awareness Month is right around the corner, and a time to educate our wider community about brain injury and its prevention, as well as all that BIAC offers!
Throughout the month we will be sharing “Brain Injury Awareness A-Z” posts on BIAC’s social media.
We are also excited to be launching a Public Awareness Campaign in March! Tune in to WNPR-FM for the “Brain Injury Survivor Stories” project. Look for BIAC messaging on billboards and bus advertising. You may even see our messages online! YOU can help us promote brain injury awareness, and BIAC programs and services!
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Golf For Thought is now the United Steel Foundation Golf Tournament!
Inaugural United Steel Foundation Golf Tournament
Monday, May 22, 2023
TPC River Highlands
Cromwell, CT
Benefitting the Brain Injury Alliance of CT
BIAC has been designated by United Steel’s new charitable Foundation as the primary beneficiary of funds raised by this highly successful tournament! BIAC will no longer host our own tournament. Sponsorships for the United Steel tournament are available NOW for this critical fundraiser. Most sponsorship levels come with foursomes, and the opportunity to play on Connecticut’s premier private golf course, TPC River Highlands, home of the PGA Tour Travelers Championship. Don’t delay as this tournament sells out!
For more information contact Lori Shield at lshield@biact.org or 860-219-0291 ext 303 with questions or to register!
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Become a BIAC Member Today! | |
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For over 40 years, BIAC has been delivering programs and services to individuals and families impacted by brain injury, as well as education, outreach, and training programs throughout the state of Connecticut.
BIAC needs YOU as an important part of our team so we can collectively speak with a louder voice and raise awareness. Membership benefits include a special discounted rate to our Annual Professional Conference, and a BIAC Membership magnet to proudly display.
The true benefits of membership are the accomplishments we make TOGETHER for the brain injury community. Partner with us! Take a stand with BIAC and all our members, be an advocate for this important cause, watch us grow, and watch us change lives!
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Thank You to our Partners! | |
Premium Providers Council Members | |
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Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut
200 Day Hill Road, Suite 250, Windsor, CT 06095 | 860-219-0291 | www.biact.org
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