The Monarch - Brain Injury Association of London and Region

Transcription

The Monarch
March 2011
See our Special Section on
The Military and
Acquired Brain Injury
In this issue:
starting on Page 20
ABI Across the
Province
Page 3
2011 ABI Survivor
and Family
Education Series
Page 9
14th Annual Brain
Injury Conference
Centre Insert
A Message to
Family Members
and Friends
Page 30
In every issue:
Executive Director’s
Report
Page 2
Peer Support
Mentoring Program
Page 6
Ask A Lawyer
Page 12
Monthly Support
Groups
Page 19
The Brain Injury Association of London and Region acknowledges the generosity of
Legate & Associates as sponsors of this publication.
PROTECT
With a longstanding record of successes combined
with a genuinely caring attitude, the personal injury
team at Thomson, Rogers will always make sure
that things are well taken care of.
At Thomson, Rogers we’ve been protecting the rights of people who
have suffered serious injuries, for more than 75 years.
That’s a lot of people and a lot of protection.
To find out more about how we can protect you or someone you love,
visit: www.thomsonrogers.com/personal-injury-litigation.
Or call us today for a free consultation and a copy of our
Personal Injury Information Kit.
THOMSON ROGERS | Toll Free: 1-888-223-0448 | T: 416-868-3100 | thomsonrogers.com
Brain Injury Association of London and Region
Serving London, Middlesex, Huron, Perth, Oxford and Elgin
560 Wellington Street, Lower Level, London, ON N6A 3R4
Phone: 519 642-4539 Fax: 519 642-4124 Toll Free: 1-888-642-4539
Email: [email protected] Website: www.braininjurylondon.on.ca
Registered Charitable: 139093736RR0001
r:
de
min
Re
Membership Renewals
are now due!
Dual Memberships now available
with Ontario Brain Injury Association
and the Brain Injury Association
of London and Region.
See OBIA.BIALR Dual Membership
Application Inside
The Monarch is published by the Brain Injury Association
of London and Region. Opinions expressed are those of
the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of
the Board of Directors. Submissions to the Monarch are
welcome at any time, but should consist of no more than
325 words. When you send in an article from a
paper/magazine, please include the date and name of
publication. Please include a cover letter with your name
and telephone number. Published letters can be anonymous, but the editors must verify the information and
obtain permission to reprint the letters, as well as have a
contact for questions and responses. Advertising rates are
available on request. The publication of an advertisement does not imply support of the advertiser by
the Association. All submissions must be received by
the first Wednesday of the month prior to publication, at
the office located at: 560 Wellington Street, Lower Level,
London, ON, N6A 3R4
Phone: (519) 642-4539
Fax: (519) 642-4124
E-Mail:[email protected]
Editors: Editorial Committee
Layout & Design: Cindy Evans, Advance Imaging
Copyright 2011 All rights Reserved
The Monarch
Board of Directors
& Staff
President:
Mary Carter
Vice President:
Doug Bryce
Treasurer:
Gary Phelps
Secretary:
Larry Norton
Directors:
Angie Blazkowski
Talaal Bond
Jamie Fairles
Lorrinda Mabee
Nancy McAuley
Joanne Ruediger
Mary Hansen
Executive Director:
Donna Thomson
Program Assistant:
Becky LeCouteur
Canada Post Publications Mail
Agreement N umber 40790545
Return undeliverable
Canadian addresses to :
560 Wellington Street,
Lower Level
London, ON N6A 3R4
Page 1
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
This edition of the
Monarch is dedicated
to the courageous
people who dedicate
their lives to service in
the military, many who
lose their lives, or sustain traumatic injuries
that affect the rest of
their lives.
At the writing of
this report, we are
scrambling to get the
last minute details
completed for our
11th Annual Dinner
Dance
&
Silent
Auction, ‘Mac to the
Future’. It is shaping up to be another fun filled
evening!
We are seeking sponsors and exhibitors for our
th
14 Annual Conference, Tech Talk … Technological
Supports for Brain Injury Challenges. You will find
the registration form in the middle insert of this
issue. This year we continue to partner with sponsors Legate & Associates, Lerners and Siskinds the
Law Firm to host ½ day workshops. On February 4,
2011 we had a very successful workshop on
Growing Your Business with Randy Timmins as our
guest
presenter.
Plans
are
well
underway for the
next ½ day workshop scheduled on
April 29, 2011 on
chronic pain & brain
injury, with experts
Gloria Gilbert & Dr.
Sarah Vernon Scott.
The Community
A w a r e n e s s
Committee is gearing up to gather pertinent information for
the 5th edition of our
popular Brain Injury
Services Directory.
This year, we are
offering two addi-
Page 2
tional options to go along with the free listing.
Information will be distributed in the near future via
email & on our website at www.braininjurylondon.on.ca.
We are hoping to have the Directory ready to distribute at our June conference.
The Helmets on Kids partnership is approaching
its 10th Anniversary this year of providing helmets to
needy children. This partnership has given out over
14,000 helmets and the program is now used as a
model for other communities throughout the
province. We are currently partnering with students
from UWO to develop an updated version of the
Helmets on Kids video.
On a very sad note, the brain injury community
has suffered a tremendous loss in the passing of Dr.
Jane Gillett. We have lost a good friend and a
woman who has influenced so many of our lives and
those of others. She created and developed the
Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Community Outreach
Program (PABICOP) at the Children’s Hospital of
Western Ontario and was the medical director for
four years. She was the medical director of the
Acquired Brain Injury Program at Hamilton Health
Sciences and was an associate professor at
McMaster University. She will be greatly missed by
her parents, friends, and her many colleagues in the
pediatric TBI community.
Donna Thomson
The Monarch
“Across the Province”
An OBIA Advisory Council (OAC) Update
February 1, 2011
Tammy Dumas, Community Association Liaison, OBIA
The OAC met on January 22, 2011 in Toronto at
the Miles Nadel Jewish Community Centre.
Ruth Wilcock provided an OBIA Executive
Director’s report. Her report was distributed to each
association with the OAC meeting minutes. Tammy
Dumas also provided an update on the Peer Support
Mentoring Program and her ongoing work with local
community associations. A written report was also
attached to the minutes.
Following the OBIA updates, Jeff Chartier from
the Head Injury Association of Durham presented on
the Transitional Coordinator Support Initiative. This
initiative is a collaborative effort among service
providers aimed at assisting individuals with completing applications for ODSP or CPP Disability. The
primary target groups for the initiative are those that
are disconnected from any type of support. HIA
Durham is the lead agency on this project, with Jeff
in the role of Transitional Support Coordinator. Stats
for the program indicate that there is a significant
need for this type of service. This is a three year
program funded by Trillium. For more information
on the program, you can contact Jeff at HIA Durham
at 905.723.2732.
Following lunch, there was a roundtable discussion regarding having an Annual Provincial ABI
Event. The purpose of the discussion was to determine the level of support amongst the group for holding an event across the province on the same day in
each community to collectively raise awareness of
ABI. Ideas included: golf tournament; triathlon in
each region with finalists competing in one final race;
relay; transit advertising campaign; candle vigils/virtual candles on website. A survey link will
be sent to all local associations for their input
regarding an annual provincial event.
There was also some discussion about OBIA’s
current re-branding exercise, which includes the
development of one unified database at OBIA and
a new logo, tagline and website for OBIA.
One idea that was put forward, as suggested
by the marketing firm that OBIA is currently working with, is developing a new ‘symbol’ to represent
the Community Support Network. OBIA may or
The Monarch
may not incorporate this new symbol as their logo
but local associations could keep their own logo and
brand identity. Another idea that generated support
was the option for local associations to ‘grandfather’
in the new symbol /logo and over time all associations could assume one consistent logo across the
province. OBIA will be sending out a survey link for
stakeholder feedback about OBIA’s current brand.
The Brain Injury Association of Waterloo
Wellington and Four Counties Brain Injury
Association received their OBIA affiliation certificates.
During Show and Tell we learned that Four
Counties BIA has the LHIN’s new ABI Navigator
working out of their office. This close working relationship has provided opportunities for FCBIA to
educate the LHIN about ABI and the services the
association provides. Cheryl also reported that
FCBIA has been able to significantly increase the
number of employment positions at the agency
through job sharing. Additionally, the Brain Injury
Society of Toronto is now running a family support
group; the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo
Wellington will be hosting a fundraiser “Brilliance in
Music”, they now have an eight month Caregiver
Support Group, they received a Trillium Grant for
$120,000 over two years to hire a fundraiser and
their glass program has raised over $ 15,000!
The next OAC meeting has been scheduled for
March 26, 2011. Location TBD.
Page 3
Page 4
The Monarch
The Monarch
Page 5
Peer Support Mentoring Program
for People Living with ABI
By Jamie Fairles
Peer Support Coordinator
This month’s theme is brain injury in the military.
When I first sustained my own brain injury over a
decade ago I remember my mother commenting,
“Well if the world ever goes to war and there is a
draft, one good thing about you losing half your
vision from the brain surgery, is that you won’t be
called upon!”
As true as this may be, it’s also sadly ironic that
so many soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
are returning home with their own brain injuries
from road side blasts and other war-related incidents. Just as there is certain camaraderie in the
military, there is a common bond shared by anyone
who has experienced living with a brain injury –
either personally, or secondarily.
The Peer Support Mentoring Program recognizes
and capitalizes on this special bond and that’s what
makes the program so very helpful and unique. If
you feel your experience living with a brain injury
can be useful to somebody else, or if you’re in need
of support from somebody who has faced similar
challenges, please call the office to inquire about
the program!
Phone: 519 642-4539 Toll Free: 1-888-642-4539
Page 6
The Monarch
Thank you to sponsors, silent auction donors,
attendees & volunteers who made
Mac to the Future a tremendously successful evening!
DIAMOND SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
Siskinds the law firm
Lerners
Astral Media Media Sponsorship
M&T Printing Group
(Diamond in-Kind sponsorship)
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Davis Martindale
The Robert Nash Wealth
Management Group
Matson Driscoll & Damico Ltd
Continuum a division of
Community Rehab
King-Reed & Associates
Rehab First Inc.
Intact Insurance
Legate Personal Injury Lawyers
Hoare-Dalton
BridgePoint Financial Services
WINE SPONSORS
DMA Wine Sponsor
Rein Lomax
MEDIA SPONSOR
Astral Media
TRANSPORTATION SPONSOR
Keyz Thankz
Reath's Tilt & Load Towing
(min $5000)
3M
Active Wellness Massage Therapy
Astral Media
Bartimaeus
Bayshore Home Health
Black Dog Village Pub & Bistro
Blackfly Beverages
Blackfriars Salon & Spa
Boston Pizza
Braywick Bistro
Campbell Complete Chiropractic
Channers Mens Wear
Chris Country Meats
Christie & Scott MacGregor
Cinnabon
Crabby Joe- Wellington Location
Dan Carr Shell
D'Arcy Lane Institute
David McCagherty & Susan Skelton
Davis Martindale
Deacon Flooring
Delta London Armouries
East Park Golf
Edmond & Amanda LeCouteur
Ermo Hair Studio
Evolve Assessments
The Monarch
(min $2500)
SILENT AUCTION DONORS
Fanshawe Pioneer Village
Featherfields the Bird & Garden Store
Flamenco Dance London
Foster Townsend Graham & Associates
Gift of Art
Incare Inclusive Health Management
Island Style
Joanne Ruediger
Keyz Thankz
Kingsmill's Dept. Store
Llyndinshire Golf & Country Club
London Crochet Club
London Knights
London Orchestra
London Regional Childrens Museum
Lorianne's Dance Studio
Lorrinda Mabee
Maia Bent, Lerners
Marble Slab Creamery
McLarens Canada
MDM Reporting
Milestones Restaurant
Moksha Yoga
Moving Towards Wellness
NeuroTrauma Rehab at Parkwood
Hospital
(min $1000)
OIHJE Salon and Spa
Proviva Wellness Strategies
Pursuit Health Management
Quantum
Quantum Education and Cognitive
Services
Reflections
Rheo Thompson Candies
Robert Q Travel
Rundles Restaurant
Shantz Orthotic Solutions
Shauna Powell, Lerners
Southwestern Ontario Home
Inspections
TC Adjusters
Tetherwood Spa
The Athletic Club
The Grand Theatre
The Little Inn in Bayfield
Tina's Jewellery
Tony LeCouteur
Van Horik's Greenhouses
Wabi Sabi Hair Artistry
Westhaven Golf and Country Club
Wortley Roadhouse
Page 7
The Ontario Brain Injury Association
&
Brain Injury Association of London & Region
You Can Now Belong to Both Associations for One Low Fee!!
Program Highlights
Membership in both the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) and the Brain Injury Association of
London and Region (BIALR). Individual members shall be entitled to one vote at both BIALR and
OBIA’s Annual General Meeting. Family members shall be entitled to no more than two at both
BIALR and OBIA’s Annual General Meeting.
Membership in Community Support Network/Reseau De Soutien Communautaire (CSN/RSC) is
available to individuals and families who support the aims and objectives of participating community
associations and OBIA. Corporations, associations, partnerships, or other types of organizations are
welcome to support participating community associations and OBIA by listing or advertising in the
online ABI Directory of Services, but may not hold CSN/RSC membership.
Members will receive a one-year subscription to OBIA Review and The Monarch newsletter.
Members may participate in the Peer Support Mentoring Program for People Living with ABI.
Members will have free access to OBIA’s resource library and be eligible for a $25.00 discount on
most of OBIA’s training programs.
All membership fees are equally divided between OBIA and BIALR
OBIA & BIALR Dual Membership Application Form
Name:
Address 1
Address 2
City:
Postal Code
Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Email:
Yes! I wish to purchase a Dual Membership and I understand that I will hold membership to both Ontario Brain Injury
Association and the Brain Injury Association of London & Region.
Annual Membership Fees:
Individual $30
Family $50
Subsidized $5
Please make cheque payable to Ontario Brain Injury Association or pay using:
Visa
MasterCard
Card Number:
American Express
Expiry
/
Ontario Brain Injury Association
PO Box 2338
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R9
[email protected]
Registered as a Canadian Charitable Organization, Registration #10779
7904RR0001
Page 8
The Monarch
The Monarch
Page 9
Chroni
ic posttrau
m aticpainand th
e sequelae ofa TBI m ay chall
e
lnge our abi
ilt
iy t distin
guish betw een the w
t o .A s a re
sul
lt
appropria
te patie
nttrea
tm ent s ofte
n com prom ised.Ho w do w e bette
r d
eli
n
ne
i ate th
e ph ysicalfrom th
e psychologi
icaleff
f
ects
oftrau
m a?
Thisexcitin
g hal
l day work
kshop will
provide
e att
at
end
e
t ees wit
t
h:
x
x
x
an update on the
h ro
oe of ndi
ividualhealh
t providersinvol
lved w ithmul
lti
t -di
iscipli
inary pain manage
em entprogram s
efe
f cts of on
ich are oft
t
en poorl
l
y understo
od and m anaged
review th
e spectrum of f
c cussion (m TBI and TBI)w hi
the n
nte
i gr
ratio
n of p
hysicalw ithpsychologi
icalgoals of teatment acknow ledgin
ng th
e possible cogni
it
tie as w ell
las
ph ysicalbalance and postur
ralissues affe
cti
n re
i
ng
habi
ili
lt
ta
i tio
n
G loriaGilb
ert, PT
, M.Sc.is h
te owne rofthe i
frstprivately owne d physiotherapy clinic in London,The Downt
town Cl
inic,Physiotherapy
& Healt
th Counselling (1
982).Throughout h
te years,G lori
a
i has developed aspecial niterestin r
teati
nig m
/ anaging h
te pati
eint wit
t
h
persistentpain and other nocicepti
vie sy
ym
m pto
om s. The possible eff
e
fctofm ild tra
um ati
ci brain n
ijuries,oft
e
tn overlooked in h
tese
individuals has been shown toim pacton h
teir ehabilita
t ti
oin.G lori
a
i si a Fellow of both h
te Can adian and Ameri
c
ian Academ ies ofPain
M anagem ent.
Sarah Vernon-S cott
t
,Ph.D.
D ,C.Psych has significantexperience working wi
i
t
th h
tose who are i
lving wi
i
th
t the eff
e
fcts
s ofbrain n
ijuryand
chronic pain.This includes ex
xp
peri
e
ince in h
te area ofchronic pain managem ent Sarah si e
rgistered wi
i
th
t the College ofP sycho logists of
O ntari
o
i and her Pro
fessionalm em berships niclude London Reg ional Psychological Associati
o
in and Ont
t
ari
o
i Psychological Association.
Dat
te
e: ri
iday A pril
i 9,
2 2011
Time:
: :00 am:
: Re
egi
i
s
strat
t
on & Conti
inenta
alBr
rea
e kf
fast 8:30 m ± 12:00pm: W ork
kshop
W ork
kshop f
e
ee:$100
Locati
ion: Four Point
t
s S her
rato
a n Hote
el1150 Weli
ing
l ton Road South, Lo
ndon, ON
S ponsored B y:
To Regis
se
er
rf
or t
hisW orkshop: Use our ocnvenien
e t online reg
istr
a
ati
o
on
i at
w w w .bra
aninju
rylondon.on.ca
Or m ai
il tis com pl
lete
et
e d reg
istr
a
ati
ti
on
o o
orm
f
al
on
o g wi
ith your paym ent to
:
Brain In
jury A ssociatio
n of London & Region
560 Wel
llin
l ton Street, oLw er
r Level London, ON, N6A 3R4
Nam e
A ddre
ess: _
Ci
ity:
P hone:
Prov:
P.C.
__
W ould you i
lke to re
ceive
em ail updates on u
fture
events? Yes
No
mEai
il
For u
urther
rn
nf
form
o ati
ti
on
o contac
a t 19
5 642-4539 orsupport
t@ bra
ani
niin
nj
ju
ur
rylo
ondon.
.on
o .ca
A ll proeeds go di
rec
e tl
y
l t supporttheprogr
a
rms ofh
te B ra
ai
in n
Ijury
u y Associati
o
in ofLondon & Regio
on.
**R
Regi
is
st
stratio
n deadlin
e isA pri
il 5,2011**
Page 10
The Monarch
SAVE THE DATE!
What makes June 17, 2011 so special?
It is the date of The Brain Injury Association of
London and Region's Annual Conference…….
Mark that down on your calendar, enter it in your day timer,
text it to a friend, do whatever it takes to
BE THERE!
WE CAN HELP
If you or a family member are suffering the effects of a brain injury or
other serious injury, contact us for advice.
You or your loved ones may be entitled to benefits and compensation.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Telephone: (519) 679-0400
Fax: (519) 679-6350
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bbo.on.ca
1600-380 Wellington Street
London, ON N6A 5B5
The Monarch
Page 11
Ask a Lawyer
Stephanie Ouelette
Seeking Compensation for Soldiers
A limitation period is a time limit imposed by
statute in which a lawsuit can be brought. In
Ontario there is a general two-year limitation period in which to bring most actions, however there
are several exceptions to this rule. Knowing which
limitation period applies is important because if a
claim is not brought in time, the court may not allow
the claim to be heard.
In the case of actions against the Department
of National Defense for personal injuries, the limitation period is only six months from the date the
incident occurred. This shortened limitation period
is intended to allow the Department of National
Defense to carry on its work without the threat of
impending law suits. However, for the claimant, this
Page 12
limited time frame means that he or she must act
quickly to initiate a suit.
A tort action may only be brought against the
Department of National Defense if the injury sustained is of a kind found within National Defense
Act. This generally includes all military activity at
home and abroad by all branches of the military.
Interestingly, the Crown Liability and Proceedings
Act states that no claim can be brought against the
Department of National Defence if the injured person receives a military pension or compensation
has been paid or is payable to the injured person
from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
These provisions essentially preclude tort
claims for personal injuries by those in the armed
The Monarch
forces since they will likely qualify for a disability
pension or receive some compensation from the
Fund. However, if the injured member of the armed
forces applies for a pension and is denied, if the
lawsuit was not initiated within the six month period
he or she will be statute barred from bringing a
claim because the limitation period had expired. It
is therefore important to initiate an action within the
six month period, even if the injured person intends
to seek alternate compensation.
Since 2006, injured soldiers have been compensated through the Canadian Forces Members
and Veterans Reimbursement and Compensation
Act, for injury or disease sustained while in service, or for non-service related injury or disease
that was aggravated by service. This Act replaces
compensation under the Pension Act and provides
services, assistance and compensation to
Canadian forces members and veterans. If the
injured soldier qualifies, there may be money
available to assist with transition to the civilian
labour force, a clothing allowance, rehabilitation
services, vocational assistance and loss income
benefits.
Applications for benefits are made through the
Minister of Veterans Affairs and appeals are heard
by the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.
If you or a loved one has been injured and the
military is potentially involved, you should contact a
lawyer immediately to protect your rights.
Personal Rehabilitation Counselling Services Inc.
E. “Ike” Lindenburger
Helena Wood
M. Div., M.S.W., C.C.R.C., C.Ht.
M.S.W., (R.S.W.)
Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Individual, Couples and Family Therapy
Independent Medical Assessment
Catastrophic Injuries
Stress and Anger Management
Grief and Loss, Bereavement
Cognitive/Behavioural Therapy
Capacity Assessment
Hypnotherapy
Pain Management
Fear of Driving and PTSD
Relationship Management
Appointments at office or in clients’ home
Mailing Address
900 Adelaide St. South P.O. Box 37088
London, ON N6E 3T3
Phone: Ike: 519-645-7393
Fax: 519-645-6195
Email: (Ike) [email protected]
Counselling Office
190 Wortley Road
London, ON (Lower Level)
Helena: 519-280-5196
Email: (Helena)
[email protected]
Supporting people to gain healthy functioning
The Monarch
Page 13
Unique Fundraiser
It all started at the Casino night back in November when
Susan Skelton told Eric Lindros that she would donate
$1,000 to the Association if he would agree to play in a
pickup hockey game with her husband . Eric immediately agreed & joined Dave McCagherty along with his
hockey team on February 20, 2011 at Medway Arena for
an action packed game! Eric was on hand before the
game to meet the team, their spouses, Donna Thomson
and family.
Many of the team members joined Susan in making a
donation to the Association.
We are so happy to have Eric visit London again in support of our organization! Thanks to Susan and Dave over
$1,500 was raised!
Picture above: Donna Thomson, Executive
Director accepting donation from Susan
Skelton.
Picture to immediate left: Susan Skelton &
husband Dave McCagherty all ready for the
big game!
Picture top left: Eric signing a Toronto
Maple Leaf Jersey donated for the gala by
Susan & Dave
Page 14
The Monarch
ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE
The Brain Injury Association of London & Region is holding its Fourteenth Annual Conference on
June 17th, 2011. Tech Talk: Technological Supports for Brain Injury Challenges will provide service
providers, survivors, and family members with information on a variety of innovative
technological supports available to assist those living with a brain injury. As always, this
conference will provide an excellent opportunity to explore informative exhibits and network
with industry professionals.
SCHEDULE
7:30am:
Set up Exhibits, Registration, Continental Breakfast
8:25am:
Welcome & Opening Remarks by Maia Bent, Conference Chair
8:30am:
Leaving the State of Stuck: How Technologies Can Better Serve Individuals with
Brain Injuries – Dr. Marcia Scherer
10:30am:
Break and Visit Exhibits
10:45am:
Technologies in the Home-John Rosenberg
11:30 am:
elearning… Helping people change their lives through distance education!
Trish Trenter & Luc Comeau
12:15pm:
Lunch, Networking and Visit Exhibits
1:15 pm:
Compensatory Strategies of the 21st Century - Deidre Sperry and Nick
Dertinger, Partners in Rehabilitation
2:45 pm:
Break & Visit Exhibits
3:00 pm:
“Necessary for some, good for all”- Translating Augmentative Communication
and Assistive Technology into Universal Design Don Carlson, Margo Clinker,
Mireille Testa and Megan Wass
4:00 pm:
Closing Remarks by Donna Thomson, Executive Director, Brain Injury
Association of London & Region
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Marcia J. Scherer, Ph.D., MPH Dr. Scherer has advocated consumer-focused service delivery for the
length of her career. She developed the consumer-focused model and assessments, Matching Person &
Technology and the most current version focuses on persons with cognitive disabilities. Dr. Scherer is
President of the Institute for Matching Person & Technology. She is also Professor of Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Scherer has also authored several books,
and is a past member of the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research, U.S. National
Institutes of Health.
John Rosenberg, Silvercross®.
John is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario and Queens University, and has been a Silvercross®
franchise holder for 15 years. He resides in Middlesex County with his wife and 5 children, and they raise Beef
Cattle. John has 15 years experience in dealing with home mobility, stair lifts, and elevating and bathing
devices, and he trains and supports new franchise holders as well.
Luc Comeau Executive Director - elearnnetwork.ca
Luc is passionate about e-learning. He is the founding executive director of elearnnetwork.ca, an initiative
aimed at using e-learning to bring quality college and university opportunities to Ontario residents no
matter where they live. Luc is a graduate of Laurentian University; his career has spanned the private,
government and non-profit sectors. His management and partnership work have always contributed to
generating real results for real people.
Trish Trenter, eLearning Coordinator - elearnnetwork.ca Trish is a graduate of the University of Western
Ontario; she has worked in the private and non-profit sector in the areas of marketing and client relations.
She works with a team approach because knowing you have someone in your corner, even from a distance,
can help you get to that goal! We provide many services for people seeking to further their education and
training, including research, student support, registration support, technical support exam invigilation for
distance education. The best part of my job is helping people and presenting options.
Deidre Sperry M.Sc., S-LP(C) is a registered Speech Language Pathologist and has been practicing for nearly
20 years. She has her own community based private practice, and works primarily with people who have
sustained an Acquired Brain Injury. Deidre has participated in various research projects, authored several
innovative community based assessment and treatment programs, and was a member of the Expert Panel
for the development of her college’s Preferred Practice Guidelines for Cognitive Communication Disorders.
Recently she has joined with other colleagues to develop a service designed to provide support over the
internet to people with impaired executive functioning.
Nick is currently a student at Brock University in St. Catharines Ontario. He is in his fourth year of study in
the honours Physical Education program. He plans to finish his degree by the summer of next year. In
2006, Nick was involved in a severe accident and sustained catastrophic injuries including a brain injury.
He had to delay the start of his university program, but he never lost sight of his goals and was able to
start his program in 2007.
Don Carlson, PEng, Rehabilitation Engineer, Parkwood Hospital Don works on practical, client-based Assistive Technology
(AT) implementation in collaboration with Speech Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists . He works with
integrating AT controls onto wheelchairs, computer access (special access software applications, voice recognition,
adapted key boards and mouse controls) as well as home controls for access, security and safety, home automation and
recreational assistive technologies.
Margo Clinker, M.Cl.Sc., MBA, Reg CASLPO, Speech Language Pathologist, NeuroTrauma Rehab, Parkwood Hospital. Margo
has a special interest and actively investigates and implements applications of new technology to assist her clients rebuild
communication skills, facilitate compensatory strategies, return to school and to work.
Mireille Testa, M.Sc.OT, Occupational Therapist, NeuroTrauma Rehab, Parkwood Hospital. Mireille works with the
Rehabilitation Engineer to link both the technical and clinical aspects of assistive technology in order assess client's needs,
create practical solutions and ensure clients are able to use these solutions in their daily lives.
Megan Wass is a Learning Disability Specialist with ATN Access Inc. She received her degree from the University of
Western Ontario in Religious Studies and Psychology, with course work also completed in the Social Work field. I have
been working with ATN Access Inc. to assist individuals with learning and cognitive challenges to achieve their educational
and vocational goals.
Monthly Support Groups
After taking a break over the summer, the Support Groups will resume meeting
in September. The following is a list of the current groups, their time & place of
meetings. Information is also available on our
www.braininjurylondon.on.ca
website at
or by contacting Becky at (519)
either642-4539 or by [email protected]
email
.
London/Middlesex
First Baptist Church
568 Richmond Street
London, ON
Last Thursday of Each Month
April 28, May 26, June 30, 2011
Perth County
Zehrs Markets
nd
2 Floor Community Room
865 Ontario Street
Stratford ON
Oxford County
Last Tuesday of Each Month
Woodstock Public Library
445 Hunter Street
Woodstock. ON
April 26, May 31 June 28, 2011
Third Thursday of Each Month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
April 21, May 19, June 16
Oxford County
Perth Social Leisure Gr
CMHA Oxford Branch
522 Peel Street
Woodstock, ON
Third Tuesday of Each Month
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Central United Church
194 Avondale Ave.
Stratford, Ontario
Every Wednesday
1:0-4:00 pm
Social Group for Age3018Cornerstone Clubhouse
781 Richmond St N
London, Ontario
First Thursday of
each month
April 7, May 5,
June 2, 2011
Elgin & Huron Counties
Dates/times yet to be
determined.
The Monarch
Page 19
Knowledge gained from Treating Canadian Military Personnel
- Implications for a team approach to helping those
with mild traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Charles Nelson
Although mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is not
a new concept, assessment and treatment of persistent symptoms can be challenging and require a
coordinated approach. Clinical evidence suggests
cases may best be handled by a primary care
provider working in collaboration with an array of
health care professionals familiar with the military
and capable of managing all symptoms associated
with the condition. Furthermore, early identification
of traumatic injury may assist in identifying effective
treatment modalities for this clinical population which
is already vulnerable to multiple risk factors that can
impede progress. Regrettably, no single diagnostic
test is able to confirm the presence of mTBI.
Diagnosis relies on several pertinent criteria: characteristic symptoms, neurocognitive findings, a plausible
timeline from the occurrence of the suspected contributory injury, and exclusion of all other alternatives.
Page 20
Recently, a study was conducted to examine how
military personnel with mTBI respond to their recovery. The objective of this study was to compare several physical and mental health outcomes of veterans with possible mTBI with outcomes of those for
whom such an injury was not identified during
screening, and to subsequently develop a practical
framework for coordinating the special assessment
and treatment needs of military personnel with mTBI.
Despite a complicated and often comorbid clinical landscape among operational stress injuries, this
study provides several implications for treatment.
The associations between mTBI, PTSD, and physical health symptoms suggest that individuals with
suspected mTBI would benefit from the use of an
integrated rehabilitation team. The involvement of
physiotherapists and chronic pain specialists is recommended, as they may be able to offer treatment to
The Monarch
help relieve the burden of physical pain and improve
health-related quality of life outcomes negatively
impacted by physical limitations. It is also suggested
that dealing concurrently with physical complaints
may be necessary to facilitate improved mental
health outcomes. It is well-known that somatic complaints contribute to the psychiatric sequelae of
depression and anxiety. Deployment-related stress
and unresolved somatization may interfere with the
individual’s ability to cope with psychological distress and consequently impede the realization of
therapeutic goals.
Social workers and occupational therapists
should also be included in the circle of care, as
many individuals with mTBI indicated experiencing
difficulties with social role functioning. Previous
research on members of the general population who
experience an mTBI have demonstrated that
impaired psychosocial functioning resulting from
mTBI can act as a greater barrier to rehabilitation
than cognitive deficits. Aspects of social functioning
that have been shown to deteriorate as a result of
mTBI in general populations include loss of gainful
employment, interference with interpersonal relationships, limited social support and self-isolation,
reduced emotional perception, and reduced social
competence. While these studies are limited to the
general population, clinical
observation suggests similar problems are faced by
clients of the Parkwood
Hospital OSI Clinic. In fact,
one might expect to see
these psychosocial barriers
to rehabilitation manifest
with greater severity in military personnel who are
struggling to reintegrate into
civilian society after leaving
the Canadian Forces.
Hosted by Donna Thomson
Occupational
therapists
Tune in to AM980 every Sunday at :30 p.m. for a half hour of information about the hidden
and social workers may be
disability that is brain injury. Host, Donna Thomson will be joined by experts to discuss various issues
able to assist military persurrounding brain injury. The show is also available on podcast on the www.am980.ca website under
sonnel with impaired psy‘Hosts and Shows’.
chosocial functioning resulting from mTBI by offering
Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous support of the show over the past year:
supportive therapy, assistBayshore Home Health
ing with vocational skillsBrown Beattie O’Donovan
building and providing
Foster Townsend Graham & Associates
strategies for improving
Legate & Associates
interpersonal relationships
Lerners
London Speech & Language Centre
and building social connecM. D. M Reporting Services
tions.
“The Brainwaves Show”
Siskinds the Law Firm
The Monarch
Page 21
Speech language pathologists, optometrists, and
ophthalmologists may also be useful in the rehabilitation process, given that the neurological consequences that follow a head/brain injury may include
sensory disorders, motor disorders, and speech
motor control disorders, though the latter is more
likely to be restricted to individuals with moderate to
severe TBI.
Previously reported research from
Weichel and colleagues found that 21% of individuals with combat-related TBI also experienced ocular
trauma. The authors of this study also noted that
the impact of sensory dysfunction, such as vision
loss, on the treatment of PTSD and other co-morbid
psychiatric disorders, as well as other TBI-related
outcomes, is unknown. Improving access to
optometrists and ophthalmologists could increase
our understanding of these effects.
Psychologists and psychiatrists should continue to
act as integral members of the collaborative team,
focusing their efforts on improving mental health outcomes and reducing the severity of mental health
complaints. Psychiatrists can assist in the rehabilitation process by making certain that individuals with
mTBI fully understand and comply with their medication regimen, as mTBI has been shown to impair
memory function, and may impact medication adherence. Other studies have shown that psychologists
can contribute to the rehabilitation of individuals with
mTBI by providing psychoeducation about mTBI and
comorbid conditions.
Additionally, therapy focused on building resilience
and positive coping mechanisms in conjunction with
traditional cognitive rehabilitation therapies may
prove beneficial for individuals with cognitive deficits
resulting from mTBI.
It is also imperative to consider all possible
opportunities for rehabilitation such as encouraging
involvement in peer groups (such as the Operational
Stress Injury Social Support Program), providing
referrals to appropriate associations and networks,
and arranging for acute care or post-acute care
when necessary. Clinicians should take military culture into consideration when treating soldiers with
mTBI, as military personnel may respond more positively to therapy when they feel their health concerns are being addressed in the context of their military career and culture.
The wide range of symptoms experienced by military personnel with indicators of mTBI necessitates
an integrated array of specialized health care professionals. Integrated treatment of mTBI, though not
yet widely studied, offers a promising approach to
treating the multifaceted symptoms of mTBI and
accelerating recovery.
ST. MARYS COMMUNITY REHABILITATION
!"" # $ !""% # &'()*+(
Page 22
The Monarch
TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF ACQUIRED TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURY IN SOLDIERS
Dr. Jacques Gouws
Over the past years there have been an increasing number of Canadian Forces (CF) members who
return from the deployment to Afghanistan complaining of symptoms indicative of conditions such
as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Depression and
Anxiety. However, when a soldier is screened for
mental health concerns, it is important to also keep
in mind that the nature of this combat deployment is
such that it is not
uncommon for soldiers
to be at risk of also sustaining a concussion or
more severe closed
head injury. This can
be caused by falls,
blunt trauma to the
head in the heat of battle, training accidents,
and of course vehicle
accidents, which happen quite frequently as
well. That said, in the
present deployment situation CF members are
most likely to sustain a
traumatic brain injury (TBI), from exposure to
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s).
The reader is referred to the following excellent
web resource, hosted by the Defense and Veterans
Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) of the USA Department
of Defense military, on TBI from explosive devices:
http://www.dvbic.org/TBI---The-Military/BlastInjuries.aspx
The following text is quite informative and is
therefore quoted directly from this website:
A TBI is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a
penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of
the brain. Exposure to blast events can affect the
body in a number of ways; in addition, these different injuries mechanisms can interact and result in
more impairments or prolonged periods of recovery.
- Primary blast injury is the result of exposure to
the over pressurization wave or the complex pressure wave that is generated by the blast itself. This
blast over-pressurization wave travels at a high
velocity and is affected by the surrounding environ-
The Monarch
ment; for example, the effects of the blast wave may
be increased in a closed environment such as a
vehicle. Air-filled organs such as the ear, lung, and
gastrointestinal tract and organs surrounded by
fluid-filled cavities such as the brain and spinal cord
are especially susceptible to primary blast injury
(Elsayed, 1997; Mayorga, 1997). The over pressurization wave dissipates quickly, causing the greatest
risk of injury to those closest to the explosion.
- Secondary blast injury
is the result of energized
fragments flying through the
air; these fragments may
cause penetrating brain
injury.
- Tertiary blast injury
may occur when the individual is thrown from the
blast into a solid object
such as a adjacent wall or
even a steering wheel.
These types of injuries
are associated with acceleration/deceleration
forces and blunt force trauma to the brain similar to
that observed following high speed motor vehicle
accidents.
- Finally, quaternary blast injury can occur in the
presence of severe blast related trauma resulting
from significant blood loss associated with traumatic amputations or even from inhalation of toxic
gases resulting from the explosion.
As can be seen from the above information, a
multitude of factors come into play when a soldier
is involved in an IED event. Therefore, it is important to carefully review the history of such an event
and then assess whether there is a likelihood of a
TBI as a consequence of the IED explosion. Also,
this may be complicated by the psychological
sequelae of the event itself, in that there is possibility of psychological trauma that may manifest as,
amongst others, PTSD. Finally, PTSD and TBI
symptoms overlap to a great extent, thus it is quite
easy to diagnose one and miss the other!
Page 23
Brain Injury & and the Military Fact Sheet
•
Traumatic Brain injury is a significant health issue that affects service members and veterans during
times of both peace and war.
•
The leading causes of brain injury in the military are: bullets, shrapnel, blasts, falls, motor vehicle
crashes and assaults.
•
The high rate of traumatic brain injury and blast-related concussion events resulting from current
combat operations directly impacts the health and safety of individual service members and
subsequently the level of unit readiness and troop retention.
•
The impact of traumatic brain injury is felt within each branch of service and throughout both the
Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs health care systems.
•
Active duty and reserve service members are at an increased risk of sustaining a traumatic brain
injury compared to their civilian peers
•
Some of the TBI and concussive injuries associated with a significant blast may not be identified
acutely because they often occur simultaneously with life-threatening injuries which take
precedence to save the wounded soldier’s life and service members may be reluctant to
endorse acute symptoms because they do not want to be evacuated and separated from their unit
•
Because blast exposure is so common in combat zones and almost everyone has had some of the
acute symptoms of concussion, it may not be identified as problematic until the service member
returns home from
deployment
• Brain injury has been called
a signature injury of the
conflicts of the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan due to the
high rate of exposure to
roadside bombs that can jar
the brain and cause longterm health problems
• Traumatic Brain Injuries and
Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder share common
symptoms such as difficulty
concentrating, memory
problems, and irritability.
• It is difficult to ascertain
whether a soldier’s
symptoms are from a brain
injury or psychological
issues such as post
traumatic stress disorder
Page 24
The Monarch
More Answers on Head Injury
Diagnostic Imaging at Southlake Regional Health Centre
Dr. Norman Just, Dr. Yin-Hui Siow, Jean-Marie Fiala
“Good diagnosis is essential to good treatment.”
A combination of new technology and incredible
dedication from the staff in the Diagnostic Imaging
department at Southlake Regional Health Centre in
Newmarket provides answers to patients with traumatic brain injury.
Computed tomography (CT) is the standard
imaging modality for patients with an acute head
injury, whether mild, moderate or severe. CT scanning is a fast scan modality that quickly answers critical care issues concerning contusions, hemorrhages and skull fractures.
Patients with a mild to moderate head injury may
have a normal CT scan, but continue to experience
symptoms that include headaches and cognitive
changes. Very small and very deep micro-hemorrhages are not routinely visible on a standard CT
scan, or, for that matter, on routine Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
New developments in MRI are providing increasingly detailed neuropathological information that
helps clinicians understand neurocognitive and neurobehavioural changes in patients following a head
injury.
This detailed knowledge of the injury severity
(type, size and location of lesions) inevitably helps to
better predict patient outcomes.
The Monarch
A recently introduced scanning application for
neurological MRI exploits magnetic susceptibility differences between tissues by amplifying the magnitude of the signal given by injured areas containing
any blood breakdown products (ferritin, deoxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin and hemosiderin).
The new application is called Susceptibility
Weighted Imaging (SWI). It is 3-6 times more sensitive than traditional MRI methods for detecting small
hemorrhages resulting from trauma to the brain, as
in, for example, cases of diffuse axonal injuries
(DAI). DAI is a common pathology found after a traumatic brain injury and is a major cause of prolonged
functional deficits.
DAI lesions reflect an injury to the continuity of
the white matter in the brain. SWI is sensitive to DAI
by detecting micro-hemorrhages that would otherwise go unnoticed. SWI makes it possible for the
radiologist to see the size and number of very small
areas of injury. Additionally the sequence is sensitive for examining small veins and any bleeding
occurring in the white/grey matter boundaries.
Brain microstructure is evaluated using another
technique at Southlake MRI called Diffusion
Weighted Imaging (DWI). This technique provides
information on cell health by sensing disturbances in
the diffusion of water in the extracellular space and
across cell membranes.
The application of this technique focuses on the
assessment of cerebral ischemia (lack of blood flow)
and infarction (tissue death due to the lack of oxygen). Abnormal diffusion appears as a result of a
stroke, tumour, brain abscess or a traumatic event.
DWI can detect cytotoxic edema (a fluid shift first
into the intracellular space and then to the extracellular space of brain tissue) and therefore demonstrates hyperacute/acute (6 to 24 hours post injury)
and acute/subacute (24 hours to 1 week post injury)
cerebral infarctions. Thus DWI can identify
acute infarctions and differentite them from other
chronic diseases including old chronic infarctions.
continued on page 26
Page 25
continued from page 25
The examination also includes a look at the health of
the vessels in the brain.
Called Magnetic
Resonance Angiography (MRA), this sequence produces a three-dimensional image of the vessels,
enabling the radiologist to view the vessels from several different directions and check for aneurysms,
blockages or any other disruptions.
While MRI examines the disruption of normal
anatomy by traumatic brain injury, Single Photon
Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging
examines the disruption of normal brain function.
SPECT is complementary to MRI because each can
expose abnormalities that are not apparent on the
other study. When taken together, they are a powerful tool for assessing traumatic brain injury.
SPECT provides insight into the function of the
brain based on the uptake of an isotope tracer. A
number of studies have been performed on patients
with mild traumatic brain injury using technetium99m labeled hexamethypropyleneamine oxime
(99mTC-HMPAO) for SPECT imaging. Whether the
injury is acute or chronic, SPECT examines patterns
of cerebral blood flow and identifies areas of hypoperfusion. The areas of hypo-perfusion (low blood
flow) are associated with injury. Depending on the
location, the identified hypo-perfused areas can help
explain loss of consciousness, cognitive difficulties
and cerebral atrophy.
From a patient’s perspective, a deficiency in the
amount of blood within the injured area signals a
poorly functioning area and a generally unfavourable
outcome.
Suggested Further Reading:
Bigler, E. Neuroimaging in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Psychological Injury and Law 2010; 3:36-49
Neil, J. Diffusion Imaging Concepts for Clinicians. The Journal
of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 2008; 27(1):1-7
Mittal S., Wu Z., Neelavalli J., Haacke E.M. SusceptibilityWeighted Imaging: Technical Aspects and Clinical
Applications. American Journal of Neuroradiology 2009;
30:232-52
Mosely M. Diffusion and Perfusion Weighted MRI. SMRT
Education Seminars 2007; 10(4);11-22
Prayer, L., Wimbeger, D., Oder W. Kramer, J. et al. Cranial MR
Imaging and cerebral 99mTc HM-PAO-SPECT in Patients
With Subacute or Chronic Severe Closed Head Injury and
Normal CT Examinations. ACTA Radiologica 1993; 34:593-99
Runge, V. Clinical MRI, 2002, W.B. Saunders Company,
Pennsylvania
Schonberger, M., Ponsford, J. Reutens, D., Beare, R., et al.
The Relationship between Age, Injury Severity and MRI
Findings after Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Neurotrauma
2009; 26:2157-2167
Page 26
At Southlake, patients benefit from both an MRI
using the advanced techniques described above and
a SPECT scan. The exams are done on the same
day and interpreted together by one or two radiologists. The synthesis of MR (morphology) and
SPECT (functional) information provides the clinician
with a unique combination of information that has
valuable prognostic implications.
Moving Towards Wellness Ltd.
P.O. Box 1055 Clinton, ON N0M 1L0
Tel: 519 482-7181 Fax: 519 482-3799
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.movingtowardswellness.ca
Mary Hansen, RRP, CCRC
Director and Senior Consultant
Dorothy Ditner, Office Manager/Intake Coordinator
Services Offered by Moving Towards Wellness Ltd:
Catastrophic Case Management
Disability & Medical Case Management (NonCatastrophic & Personal Injury)
Discharge Planning to Rural & Urban Communities
Life Care Plan (Future Care Cost Analysis)
Social Work (Adjustment Counselling)
In Home Assessments: Activities of Daily Living,
Attendant Care, Housekeeping Home Maintenance
Rehabilitation & Recreation Therapy
Vocational Consulting and Assessments
Return to Work Planning & Facilitation
Ergonomic Assessments and Implementation
Job Site Assessments with Physical Demands Analysis
Functional Capacity Evaluations
Home Exercise, Community Based Programs, Aquatic
Rehabilitation
Servicing the urban and rural areas of
MIDWESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO
The Monarch
Enhancing Community Inclusion and Participation
TheInCareteam’sexperienceandtraining:
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
ǡ
ǡǡ

MAUREENNAGLE,DSW,RRP,B.A.inDisabilityStudies(2011),SeniorCaseManagerǦ
ͳͻ

JOEZABLOCKI,CaseManagementCertificate(2011),CaseManagerǡǦ
ǡǡǤ
LAURIEVANEINDHOVEN,MSW,RSW,SocialWorkerǦǦ
Ǥ
DEBORAHCRUNICAN,B.Sc.OT,OccupationalTherapistǦͳ͸
Ǥ
MELISSAVANSAS,HSF,DSW,B.A.(Psych),B.Ed,RehabilitationTherapistǦ
Ǥ
Ǥ
CAROLINACOHOON,B.A(English),RehabilitationTherapistǦ
Ǥ
Ǥ
KEVINSILVA,RehabilitationTherapistǦ
Ǥ
Ǥ
LISASANS,RehabilitationTherapistȂ
Ǥ
Mission Statement
Focusing on specific and identified individual needs, InCare aims to improve the quality of life of persons with a disability
For further information on our services please visit our website at www.incarehealth.com. or contact us at
InCare PO Box 309 Grand Bend, Ontario N0M 1T0
Phone 519 238-2021 Fax 519 238-2047
Where you there?
Excellent turnout and fablous,
funky music
made for a for great
night at our
11th Annual Dinner and Dance.
We caught some attendees as
they joined “Doc’ in the
countdown before takeoff
back to the future.
To the far right, Mac Graham
and his band The Outfit
entertained with music
from the 70’s and 80’s.
Page 28
The Monarch
Thank you
to sponsors, silent auction donors,
attendees & volunteers who made
Mac to the Future a tremendously
successful evening!
See our full list of sponsors on page 7.
Legal minds. Caring hearts.
If you or someone
you love has suffered
serious injury, our
experienced lawyers
will listen to your
problems and help
you get the best
possible results.
The Monarch
• Car accidents
Free initial consultation.
London
• Motorcycle accidents
Hospital or home visits.
519.672.4510
• ATV and snowmobile accidents
Free second opinions.
Toronto
• Brain injury claims
• Spinal cord injury claims
Free parking.
416.867.3076
Injury Help Line
www.lerners.ca/personalinjurylawyers
1.800.263.5583
• Fatality claims
• Slip and fall claims
• Insurance disputes
• Other injury claims
Page 29
A MESSAGE TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS …
by Janne Brown
*
I am still Janne … but I am different in many ways than before the accident.
*
Please remember that not every disability is the same. Your experience with someone with a
disability may not be the same as mine.
*
Large gatherings are difficult for me. I feel very isolated. When there is a lot of conversation
around me, it is easy for me to get lost in the conversation.. This is because of my brain injury.
*
I enjoy listening to conversations and I also enjoy contributing to conversations. It is helpful
when someone asks me a question directly in these situations as it is often difficult for me to
interject comments appropriately.
*
New information can be difficult for me. I can become confused if I don’t have all the facts of
what is being said. Some people can ‘read between the lines’ during a conversation and just
naturally know what people are talking about. I cannot do that because of the injury to my
brain.
*
I don’t catch on to body language and subtle cues very well. I usually take things very
literally.
*
Using public transportation usually works out well. However, the winter and inclement weather
is often difficult for me. It would be helpful if someone would check on me to see if I need any
thing.
*
My tiredness may be different than yours and this is because my body has to work harder
than others to function as they do. Crowds and situations where there is a lot of physical
and/or mental activity cause fatigue. I need fairly frequent breaks.
*
I have short term memory loss since the accident. I will often not recall conversations from the
day before and may need more frequent reminders.
*
It would mean the world
to me to receive a quick
call or a note from time
to time just to say hello.
I spend a lot of my time
alone and I get lonely
sometimes.
*
If I have hurt anyone or
if you have any
concerns about me,
please speak to me
about it first.
Please know that I really
love my family and friends
and you are what is most
important in my life.
Page 30
The Monarch
Upcoming Conferences and Events
What:
All This and a Brain Injury, Too!
Brain Injury Association of Sarnia
Lambton 7th Annual Conference
Where: Lambton Inn Conference Facility
1485 London Road, Sarnia, Ontario
When: April 7, 2011
Website: [email protected]
What:
“Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Advances
in Research and Practice”
Hamilton Health Sciences 18th Annual
Conference
Where: Hamilton Convention Centre
When: April 28 & 29, 2011
Website: www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca
What:
Chronic Pain & Brain Injury Workshop
Sponsored by Legate & Associates,
Siskinds & Lerners
Where: Four Points Sheraton, London
When: April 29, 2011. 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m.
Website: www.braininjurylondon.on.ca
What:
Where:
When:
Children’s Safety Village Birthday Party
Helmet Exchange
Fanshawe Park London
June 5th, 2011
What:
Helmets on Kids
10th Annual Campaign Kick Off
Where: Lord Elgin School
1100 Victoria Drive, London
When: June 16, 2011
Website: www.braininjurylondon.on.ca.
Bartimaeus
Rehabilitation Services
Because Experience Matters
Bartimaeus provides rehabilitation services
for people with an acquired brain injury and
people who have suffered from serious trauma.
For more information, please call or email
Tish Byrne at 519-575-2002 , [email protected]
or visit our website www.bartimaeus.com
SINCE 1988
Knowledge Ɣ Experience Ɣ Choice
The Monarch
Page 31
Upcoming Conferences and Events
What: Tech Talk…Technological
Support for Brain Injury Challenges
Brain Injury Association of London &
Region 14th Annual Conference
Where: Four Points Sheraton London,
When: June 17th, 2011
What:
Annual General Meeting
Brain Injury Association of London &
Region
Where: Four Points Sheraton London
When: June 17th, 2011 4:30 pm
What: Camp Dawn 2011
Where: Rainbow Lake, Waterford Ontario
When: September 15th – 18th, 2011
Website: www.campdawn.ca
Page 32
Continued
What:
10th Annual London Brain Injury
Golf Classic
Where: Greenhills Golf Club
When: September 22nd, 2011
What:
M.D.M. Reporting Services
4th Annual Charity Casino Night
Where: West Haven Golf Club
When: November 19th, 2011
With every dawn a new path is found.
The Monarch
REHAB FIRST
Building futures.
Brain Injury Association of London & Region
560 Wellington Street, Lower Level
London, ON N6A 3R4