BIAC BUZZ

December 2023

Making visible the invisible since 1982

Season's Greetings From BIAC!

Wishing you and your loved ones joy, peace and health this holiday season. Know that you are an important and cherished member of our community.

Happy Holidays!

Managing Stress During the Holidays

Helpful Tips

The holidays can be a trying time for many people, including those managing a brain injury. We are sharing some tips on how to navigate these stressful times:

Get organized in advance- Make a list or use a calendar for your 'to do' list and mark off important dates and appointments.
Say no - Do not overwhelm yourself with tasks or events that you do not want to attend or have time to participate in.
Simplify- This will help decrease the likelihood of becoming stressed or overwhelmed. Find ways to enjoy the holidays that are quiet and don’t overthink things.
Rest- Taking a break or carving out time to relax can help recharge your battery. Get enough sleep.
Ask for help - Identify a few people that you can turn to for assistance with specific tasks or someone that you can talk to if you begin to feel stressed or overwhelmed.

For more information on dealing with feeling overwhelmed and stressed during the holiday season, we would like to suggest these two helpful articles:

Survival Tips for the Holidays with a Brain Injury

Six Tips for Surviving the Holidays with a Brain Injury

Please reach out to the BIAC Helpline at 860-219-0291 or general@biact.org if we can be of help to you or a loved one.

NEW Mission, Vision & Tagline

Exciting News: Our New Mission, Vision & Tagline Unveiled!

We felt strongly that it was time to evolve how we describe BIAC services, to focus on helping individuals live their best lives in their communities and remove language that describes “recovery.” A small leadership team was convened that conducted a collaborative and inclusive process over a 3-month period. The team sourced constituent and community feedback through surveys and a focus group. We are proud to present our new Mission, Vision and Tagline, and are grateful to all who participated!

Mission

Raising voices and visibility of people with brain injury and improving lives through support, education, and advocacy.

Vision

The Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut envisions a world where brain injuries are recognized and understood, and society strives to prevent brain injuries. We imagine a future where barriers are eliminated so all with brain injury are supported, empowered, and valued as individuals.

Tagline

Making visible the invisible since 1982

How We Help

Positive Outcome:

Helpline Support for Joan

Joan, a senior living with a brain injury, reached out to the BIAC Helpline due to challenges in effectively communicating her needs to support staff, which was causing her significant frustration. Initially unsure about the specific help she needed, Joan engaged with a BIAC Brain Injury Specialist (BIS) who listened attentively, asked key questions, and reassured her that her experiences were not uncommon.

Joan expressed her desire for assistance in communicating with her support staff, and the BIS gladly agreed to facilitate a conference call involving Joan, her case manager, and support staff. This proactive approach helped Joan advocate for her needs and improve overall communication.

A few weeks later, Joan followed up with the Helpline, expressing her gratitude: "After months of struggling to communicate with my team, your assistance in educating them about brain injury and helping me convey my needs has been invaluable. I can't thank you enough."

If you or someone you know has experienced a brain injury, call the BIAC Helpline. Call 860-219-0291, send an email to General@biact.org, or find us on our Website.

Support Groups

BIAC has a support group just for YOU!

Virtual Survivor Groups
Hybrid Survivor Groups
In-Person Arts Therapy Groups
Family Caregiver Support Group
Partner/Spouse Support Group

COMING IN JANUARY 2024 - NEW “Social Communication” themed in-person support group at Sacred Heart University.

Please contact Victor Darr, BIAC Senior Brain Injury Specialist, at vdarr@biact.org for more details.

View the BIAC Support Group calendar here!

Matching Gift Announcement!

Generous Board Member Matching ALL Gifts to Our

Year End Fundraising Appeal!

We're thrilled to announce that all donations to our Year-End Fundraising Appeal will be MATCHED by a very generous BIAC Board Member, Greg Bubnash. This represents a tremendous opportunity to raise much-needed funding to help sustain our mission. We hope you will consider supporting BIAC with YOUR gift, knowing it will have DOUBLE the impact in driving positive change and making an even more profound, lasting difference in the lives of brain injury survivors and their loved ones.

GIVE NOW TO DOUBLE YOUR GIFT!

Research Study

A Research Study from Quinnipiac University Needs You!

This study seeks to understand the effects of mild traumatic brain injury/concussion on participation in everyday life activities. To participate you need to have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, did not receive rehabilitation services, and have ongoing physical, cognitive or emotional challenges that impact your life. You will be asked to participate in an interview with the researcher via Zoom and all information will remain confidential.

Please reach out to Robert St. Lawrence at rjstlawrence@qu.edu if you have questions or are interested in participating in this study.

CBIS Training

CBIS 2023 Is a Wrap!

Another year of Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) class training successfully prepared 30 professionals to sit for their certification exam for this one-of-a-kind brain injury national credential. We thank all class participants who joined us in-person and virtually for the 3-day class. This dynamic and diverse group was highly engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and shared unique professional experiences, expertise, and insights.

We are especially grateful to Jordin Soler (left) from Project Genesis for her generosity of time in co-leading this year’s class with Bonnie Meyers (right), BIAC Director of Programs & Services.

We wish everyone all the best on their certification exams!