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Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa August 2016 Issue
BRAINSTORMING News you can use from the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa
Find us online!
Website
The mission of the
Brain Injury Alliance
of Iowa is to create a
better future through
brain injury
prevention, advocacy,
education, research and support
Email: [email protected] | Phone: 855.444.6443
YouTube
ATTENTION: 339 Brain
Injury Waiver Slots are
Being Released!
If you have been on the wait list and received a
letter indicating your slot is now OPEN, you MUST
respond as soon as possible or risk losing the slot
Call our Neuro-Resource Facilitation Program for
assistance at (855) 444-6443. We can assist with
finding out what number you are on the list. You can
also call your local DHS office or email
2 Toll Free (855) 444-6443 | [email protected]
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa August 2016
Christa Stewart recently joined the BIA-IA team located in our new Sioux
City office. She graduated with a degree in Psychology from Briar Cliff
University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Buena Vista
University. Outside of work and school, Christa enjoys being outside,
watching sporting events (in particular, the Iowa State Cyclones), and
spending time with family. She is looking forward to starting a new career
at the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa!
Me
et
Ne
w B
IA-I
A S
taff
!
SAVE THE DATE! October 13 & 14
Starlite Village Inn & Suites
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Registration now open!!
Vanessa has have been with BIA-IA for one month now and is loving
every minute of it! She previously worked at Easter Seals of Iowa
before coming to BIA-IA. Vanessa has experience in many
backgrounds, such as case management, bilingual domestic violence
advocacy, direct care, and job coaching. She keeps very busy in her
free time with three children (ages 14,10 & 5) and a new baby boy on
the way this September!!
Kim is the newly hired Office Manager at the Brain Injury Alliance in Iowa
City. She graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of
Iowa and she most recently comes from a claim management agency
doing medical examination for FMLA claims. She has over a decade in
office management experience and is excited to be apart of the BIA-IA
team. She spends her free time with her husband, kids and grandkids. Kim loves her family, Iowa and, of course, The Hawkeyes.
BIA-IA Upcoming Conference
Concussion, Stroke, and other Brain Injury: What You Need to Know
Click Here
to Register!
3 Toll Free (855) 444-6443 | [email protected]
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa August 2016
Survivor Story Merrliee C.
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On June 2nd 1990, Merrilee was
a typical 11-year-old playing
outside on the first day of summer,
when a car suddenly hit her
without notice. She broke her leg
on impact and flew into the
windshield, where she sustained
her brain injury. She was then
rushed to the hospital where she
sat in a coma. The doctors never
expected for her to wake up again,
and if she did, they believed she
would remain in a complete
vegetative-state. Merrilee happily
proved them wrong when she
woke up eight weeks later!
Merrilee stayed in the (continued)
hospital for a total of four and a
half months, where she went
through extensive rehabilitation
therapy relearning many skills.
Merrilee struggled to learn how
to walk again and still has issues
with her balance and
coordination today, but thanks
God for the apartment she lived
in at the time. The apartment
had railings everywhere that
allowed her to walk laps around
the kitchen, living room and
through the hallways on a daily
4 Toll Free (855) 444-6443 | [email protected]
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa August 2016
Come receive
support from others
with shared
experiences
“Her support
network reminds
Merilee that she is
not a burden, and
that she is, in fact, a
blessing.”
BIA-IA
SUPPORT
GROUPS
Click Here to See
More Masks
Click Here to Find
Local Events
basis. This allowed her to
walk again in less than a
year. Merrilee continues to
prove people wrong,
because she now lives
independently and has
been for about ten years.
She has someone come and
visit her once a week to
help her with cooking, all
thanks to services that she
has been able to acquire
through the Brain Injury
Waiver.
When asked about life
before her injury, Merrilee
remembers that she was
always very talkative. Her
injury did not change that.
In fact, she believes she
might even be a little more
talkative today! Merrilee
says the biggest challenge
she faces right now is the
freedom she misses due to
her inability to drive herself
around, her poor peripheral
vision, and a slow reaction
time. However, Merrilee has
learned how to overcome
these difficult challenges
and frustrations with the
help of God, good friends,
and her cat. Her support
network reminds Merilee
that she is not a burden, and
that she is, in fact, a
blessing. Merrilee
constantly tries to
remember this when she is
having a bad day or when
she has to call someone for
help. She would tell
someone else who is going
through similar things to
remember that you are a
blessing and to rely and
trust God. Merrilee truly
believes that she would not
be where she is today
without Him.
Interested in sharing your
story of survival or caregiving
after a brain injury? Want to
help spread stories of hope
and inspiration?
Contact BIA-IA at
(855) 444-6443 or
[email protected] to find out
more!
Survivors from across
Iowa are completing the
masks from BIA-IA’s
Unmasking Brain Injury
event.
Check out the masks that
have been completed so far!
5 Toll Free (855) 444-6443 | [email protected]
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa August 2016
Upcoming Webinar!
Register Here!
Seizure Recognition & First Aid
Presenter: Roxanne Cogil, Director of Epilepsy Foundation of Iowa
Roxanne’s inspiration and passion for helping others with epilepsy stems from the
journey with her daughter’s intractable epilepsy, which led to a right
hemispherectomy brain surgery in 2009 in order to attain seizure freedom.
Roxanne was presented the Jo Ann Kramer Founders Award in March 2015 at the
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa’s Annual Conference as Advocate of the Year.
Click for More Information
Thriving After Brain Injury Take a Hike!
Nature really does…
-Clear your head
-Make you more creative
-Boost your focus
-Charge your mind’s batteries
-Produce higher self-esteem and positive
feelings about yourself!
Go take care of yourself TODAY!
WATCH
VIDEOS
6 Toll Free (855) 444-6443 | [email protected]
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa August 2016
Iowa Resource Highlight Brain Injury Resource Teams (BIRTs)
What is a BIRT
The Iowa Department of Education has created Brain Injury Resource Teams (BIRTs) at each Area
Education Agency (AEA) to meet the needs of children with brain injuries. While every team assists
the schools they serve in a different manner, the end result is to help families and students. The
transition from the hospital to the school, the strategies for mild to severe brain injuries, and the ability
to provide resources are ways in which the teams can assist. In addition, a Brain Injury Resource Team
from the Center for Disabilities and Development of the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital
provides consultation to the AEA BIRT teams. These teams collaborate to provide consultation for
children who have sustained a recent brain injury or were injured in the past, for their families, and
local school personnel.
How to connect with your local BIRT
The parents or the Center for Disabilities and Development
(CDD) may contact the AEA for support to the local schools.
Other hospitals may also advise the parents or local schools who in turn may contact the AEA.
Technology Corner
Noise Cancellation Headphones
As mentioned in our webinar, Thrive! With the help of Assistive Technology, noise cancellation
headphones may help block out noises that distract and bother you during the day. The
headphones may help block out background noises when trying to concentrate, or could block
out noises when trying to focus on someone who is speaking with you. There are many different
brands and types to choose from.
Click Here
for More
Information
Click Here for More
Information
7 Toll Free (855) 444-6443 | [email protected]
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa August 2016
I
TAKING STEPS TO
REDUCE THE PUBLIC
HEALTH IMPACT OF
FALLS IN IOWA
PART IV: FOCUS ON THE HOME
T he Iowa Falls Prevention C oalition hosts this four-part webinar series to
reduce the impact of falls in Iowa. Parts I- III were held between April 2015
and February 2016; archived recordings are available online at
http://iowapha.org/fallsprevention.
Part IV will provide an overview of the prevalence of falls in the home setting
and highlight opportunities for identifying and mitigating risks in the home.
Motivational interviewing strategies for engaging older adults and caregivers
to implement change to reduce falls in the home will be provided.
SaSa W E
REGISTER
TODAY
WEBINAR
WEDNESDAY
8.17.16
2 – 3 PM
REGISTER ONLINE
AT
WWW.IOWAPHA.ORG/
EVENTS
Click Here to
Register
When Friday, September 16, 2016
Where FFA Enrichment Center (next to the DMACC Campus) 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny
What Please join us September 16 for the 16th Annual On With Life Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fall Conference with keynote speaker Dr. Sheldon Herring, clinical director of Peace Rehabilitation in Greensville, presenting, "Conscious Professionalism and Team Development."
Registration Costs Early Bird: $65 (by August 26). Additional CEU fees may apply.
Register Now
Click Here
for More
Information
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa March 2016
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa
7025 Hickman Rd Suite 7 Urbandale, IA 50322
[Recipient]
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BIA-Iowa Advocates at the
Statehouse
“This transition is just happening
too big, too fast."
BIA-IA’s Project Manager, June Klein-
Bacon, testified recently before the
Iowa Senate Human Resources
Committee on the impact of
Medicaid Managed Care on Iowans
with brain injuries and those with
other disabilities.