Brain injury is not an event or an outcome. It is the start of a misdiagnosed, misunderstood, under-funded neurological disease. Individuals who sustain brain injuries must have timely access to expert trauma care, specialized rehabilitation, lifelong disease management and individualized services and supports in order to live healthy, independent and satisfying lives.
2012 BIAA Issue Briefs Available
06-Mar-2012BIAA has released its updated Issue Briefs for all advocates to use when meeting with national, state and local government officials. The five Issue Briefs provide important information about critical public policy issues for people with brain injury, including: military, access to care, research, TBI Act appropriations and reauthorization, and membership in the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. Go here to download the 2012 Issue Briefs.
Accidents happen. Brain injury happens.
Unsolicited. Unanticipated. Unwelcome.
In the blink of an eye, everything changes; nothing is as it was before.
How will you identify brain injury if it happens to you or to someone you love? How will you cope with it? What resources will you need? Where will you find them?
Here you will find information for brain injury survivors, family members, caregivers, professionals and others. The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts is here to help.
ABI Waiver: Open Enrollment Period May 1-21, 2012
Medicaid will be accepting applications for residential programs from May 1- 21, 2012. Applications must be postmarked during this period. Medicaid will accept applications for non-residential programs on an ongoing basis beginning May 1, 2012.
Click here to watch testimonials of those who have benefited from theABI Waiver
Watch “Brain Injury and You: The ABI Waiver”
Support BIA-MA through Raffles and Races this Spring
Help support brain injury prevention and awareness through one of BIA-MA’s many fundraisers, including a raffle for a trip to Pinehurst in North Carolina as well as a raffle for kayaking apparel!
Click here to see the ways you can support BIA-MA
Support Brain Injury Services- Call Your Legislator Today!
If you or your loved one is currently receiving brain injury services, or are in need of services that are not available to you due to a shortage of funds, you are urged to contact your State Legislator.
Click here to learn more about what BIA-MA is advocating for.
Types of Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the head caused by an external physical force. Most traumatic brain injuries are caused by accidents or assaults to the skull that are sufficiently hard to cause the brain to move within the skull or to cause the skull to break and directly injure the brain. TBI may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness and an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It may also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. The damage can be focal, confined to one area of the brain, or diffuse, involving more than one area of the brain.
Causes of TBI include:
– Domestic violence and assaults
– Falls
– Motor vehicle crashes
– Shaken baby syndrome
– Sports and recreational accidents
An acquired or non-traumatic brain injury (ABI) refers to any type of brain damage occurring after birth that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or the result of an external impact. Acquired brain injury takes place at the cellular level of the brain and may result in mild, moderate, or severe impairments in one or more areas, including cognition, physical functions, and psycho-social behavior.
Causes of ABI or non-traumatic brain injury include:
– Brain tumors, intracranial tumors, intracranial surgery
– Excessive drug and alcohol abuse
– Lack of oxygen caused by an airway obstruction, such as in near-drowning
– Seizure disorder
– Stroke or aneurysm
Support Groups
Brain injury can have a traumatic effect on both survivors and their families. BIA-MA sponsors support groups across the state that provide survivors and their loved ones a forum for sharing information about brain injury as well as a compassionate and understanding peer group and an opportunity to socialize and make new friends with others through recreational activities and outings.
Below you can find our support group list. This list includes support groups from all over the state and is regularly updated, however, we urge you to call the individual support group before attending a meeting, as location and times sometimes change.