Brain Injury Awareness Month

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month!

What are YOU going to do to spread the word?

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, The month-long celebration honors the millions of people with brain injury who are living with the successes and challenges that each day brings. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is excited to unveil a new, multi-year campaign that everyone can embrace:
As THE Challenge! readers know, brain injury does not discriminate. Young or old, black or white, male or female, Muslim or Jewish - we're all susceptible. Anyone who has ever been touched by brain injury can be an advocate.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ADVOCATE?
According to the dictionary, it is a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person or a cause.

We asked our nearly 400 Subject Matter Experts what it means to them to be an advocate and how to spread the word about brain injury and here is what they had to say:

"Talk about it. Do not hide. You'll find that when it's public, people come out of the woodwork and share how brain injury has touched them. Address disability inequality issues. By fighting for disability rights, you raise awareness, which is critical." -Laurie Rippon (NY, NY)
"Simply bring up these three letters: TBI, and ask whomever you are with what it means. Go from there." -Patti Foster (Jacksonville, TX)
"Always be ready with some talking points regarding brain injury and what it means to the public. Folks won't really get how big this issue is until they see how it applies to them. Have an "elevator speech," be ready to tell your story in a brief manner." -Darcy Keith (Fishers, IN)

Above all, speak from your own experience. Share who you are, what your relationship is to brain injury, and what it means to you. Keep coming back to the theme:
BRAIN INJURY CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYONE

NOTE: To access the Center for Disability Resources Library, click on this link.