BRAINSTORMERS-ABI
SUPPORT INC.
A non-profit organization that
supports brain injured survivors,
their families and caregivers by providing resources, services,
education and information that
improves their quality of life.
Is Brainstormers for me?
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Our members are young adults through middle aged professionals, who have suffered a brain injury from:
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They represent the following professions:
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An important part of our group is the caregivers and family members. Without them, many of our members would not succeed with their recovery. As well as receiving support from other caregivers, they receive information that will help them through their very stressful days.
The group members that attend our meetings are high functioning. They are medically stable, emotionally stable, and motivated. They have good cognitive skills, communication skills, and social skills that allow them to benefit from participating in the group.
Some talk with difficulty, with stuttering and additional pauses between words. Some walk by shuffling, in order to better keep their balance. Some need to bring their personal caregiver with them. Most are able to drive again, but not all. Some need to take the bus to come to our meetings.
Most have exhausted any formal services their insurance will cover, but they are still struggling with cognitive difficulties.
Most now have an impaired ability to read and write, type, do basic math calculations, handle money, and to remember a list of errands or chores they need to do today. In our computer workshop, held before the support group meetings, we are using educational and rehabilitation computer software to help practice these skills.
Self-Assessment Tool
If you have asked yourself any of the following questions or been in a situation listed below, you will get answers if you attend the brainstormers support group.
Lost most of the friends you had before the brain injury?
Trouble doing household chores:
People around you don’t understand what you are going through?
Your partner is suffering - do they need a caregivers support group?
Can’t go back to the work you were doing before your injury?
Don’t know what you are capable of doing now?
Can’t get registered for college-the system has too much paper work?
Can’t Drive?
Don’t know where to go to relearn driving?
No social life?
Hard time finding support groups for brain injury survivors?
Trouble organizing:
Dressing is difficult:
Personal hygine is difficult:
Lost independence - decisions are being made for you?
Memory problems:
How and when will I walk again?
Will I be able to improve my speech?
What medications do I take and when?
I can’t read and don’t know where to go to relearn?
I can’t make change when purchasing merchandise, it all goes so fast?
When using my credit card I leave it instead of putting it back in my
wallet? (answer: beeping wallet)
When I am in a crowd I get lost? (answer: walkie talkie)
I don’t know the time of day or day of the week? (answer: large watch,
white background, numbers not digital, has day and date)
Hard time using the telephone:
BRAIN INJURY REFERENCE GUIDE | RESOURCES & LINKS | CONTACT BRAINSTORMERS
