Life with Brain Injury: Highlights, Hope, and Ways to Help

 

Thank You for an Incredible Conference! Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2026 Life with Brain Injury Annual Conference such a success! Nearly 250 participants came together for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration. Among our registered attendees were 63 survivors, 78 professionals, 48 caregivers, 29 exhibitors and sponsors, and 4 students, reflecting the broad community committed to improving life after brain injury. We are grateful to everyone who shared their expertise, experiences, and support, and we look forward to continuing this important work together throughout the year. Conference Photos Contact Your Legislators Today! The SC General Assembly will vote on the FY27 state budget on August 11, and your voice can make a difference. Please take a moment to contact your state senator and representative and ask them to support the FY27 budget, including the supplemental funding request for the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina. This funding would help BIASC continue providing education, advocacy, support, and resources to people in all 46 counties. Find your legislators. Thank you for standing with BIASC and the thousands of South Carolinians we serve. Release Stigma, Spread Hope Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council will be hosting a memorial and butterfly release for National Overdose Awareness Day to honor loved ones lost to overdoses. Share a memorial. August 20 4 – 6 p.m. SC Statehouse September 1 10 a.m. Online Talk Saves Lives Join the Thrive Together Online Community for a special guest presentation featuring Talk Saves Lives™, an evidence-informed program from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This informative session will explore the warning signs of suicide, common risk and protective factors, and practical ways to start a caring conversation with someone who may be struggling.  Register now! Supporting Students with Concussion As students head back to school this fall, educators play an important role in supporting recovery after a concussion. The Teacher Acute Concussion Tool (TACT) is a free resource that helps teachers recognize common concussion symptoms, understand how they may affect learning, and implement practical classroom strategies to support a successful Return-to-Learn process. Learn more about TACT and Return-to-Learn resources.

Save the date for the 11th annual Hire Me Employer Summit.  October 7 • Dominion Energy • Learn More BIASC Quick Links BI Survivor Resources Support Groups – Virtual and In-Person SC State Museum Accessibility Mornings 2026 Online BI Survivor Series Keep up with all the happenings on our calendar of events.

Community Sponsors enable BIASC to provide vital services and programs to individuals navigating life after brain injury. Find out how your organization can get involved. Heart of the Carolinas  •  Rosen Hagood Attorneys Larry Lucas State Farm Agency  •  Coastal Carolina National Bank   National Safety Council Southeastern Chapter Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital Columbia

August 2026- Monthly meeting and Additional Information

 

Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group August Meeting Sunday, August 16, 3:00 pm-5:00 pm Lexington Medical Center Medical Park 1 Auditorium (Ground Floor) 2728 Sunset Blvd. West Columbia, SC

Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting Sunday, August 16, 2026 Topic: Updates in Movement Disorders/Parkinson’s Disease Research at MUSC Our main speaker will be Dr. Christine Cooper Dr. Christine Cooper is a board-certified neurologist with a specialty in Movement Disorders. Dr. Cooper received her medical degree from the University of Florida with honors in clinical research. She went on to complete her neurology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard University, followed by a fellowship in movement disorders at Pennsylvania Hospital/University of Pennsylvania. Clinically, Dr. Cooper sees patients with all Movement Disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal Syndrome, tremor, dystonia, dyskinesia, ataxia, tics, and chorea. As part of the treatments offered, Dr. Cooper performs botulinum toxin injections for Movement Disorders patients, as well as pre- and post- care for surgical therapies such as Deep Brain Stimulation and Focused Ultrasound.  Dr. Cooper is director of the MUSC Neurology Clinical Trials Unit, which provides opportunities for South Carolina patients to participate in the latest industry and foundation-sponsored research to evaluate the latest diagnostic tests, medications, and therapies. In addition, Dr. Cooper’s own research lab is focused on evaluating diagnostic biomarkers, neuroimaging markers, and novel noninvasive neuromodulation techniques to improve the understanding of Movement Disorders.  We will discuss ongoing and upcoming research for Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders at MUSC and nationally. Research participation can vary from observational studies, to new medications and therapies. We will discuss current research opportunities and how to get in touch with our research team.

Second brief presentation: Rock Steady Boxing Rock Steady Boxing is a non-contact boxing program designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. It aims to improve quality of life through exercises that enhance balance, strength, agility, and overall fitness. Rock Steady Boxing is not just boxing, it is specifically designed to address Parkinson’s symptoms such as slow or small movements, imbalance, stiffness, flexed posture, and respiratory weakness. Our scientifically based curriculum can be adapted to any level of Parkinson’s. Presenters: Rock Steady Boxing Irmo 3541 Dreher Shoals Road Irmo, SC 29063 Tel. # (803) 575-0549 Please also note: at our August 16th meeting, we will have a PGY-3 Neurology Resident doctor at USC Columbia, Jaydeep (“Jay”) Sambangi, MD, visiting with us. He is very interested in better understanding Parkinson’s Disease, and the people it affects, from the patients’ perspective. If any of our support group members who are PD patients would feel comfortable talking one-on-one with Dr. Sambangi during the time following the formal presentation section of the meeting, he would greatly appreciate it. This is a great opportunity to help a doctor enhance his formal training by talking with him about your lived experience, so we hope several of you will be willing to sit and talk with him.

MaxLiving “What Is Health?” Free Lunch and Learn – Must Preregister Date: Friday, September 4, 2026 – Registration deadline is August 31, 2026 Time: 11 AM to 1 PM – Lunch is provided Location: Our normal meeting location – Lexington Medical Park I, 2728 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, SC 29169 What Is Health? is an educational wellness talk that explores the true meaning of health beyond simply the absence of disease. Participants will learn about the vital role of the nervous system, what it controls throughout the body, and how neurologically based chiropractic care supports optimal nervous system function. The presentation also discusses the potential impact of chiropractic care for individuals living with Parkinson's disease, supported by current understanding of nervous system health. The session concludes with my personal journey of living with chronic illness and how chiropractic care became an important part of my health and healing, offering both education and hope for those seeking a proactive approach to wellness. Lunch will be provided.  Our speaker is Haley Heskett: Haley is the Operations Manager and Community Outreach Director for MaxLiving Chiropractic in Columbia, South Carolina. Over the past five years, she has served in multiple leadership roles within the organization, beginning at the corporate level where she assisted in training new doctors and supporting the opening of chiropractic offices across the country. For the past two years, Haley has shifted her focus to serving the Columbia community, where she is dedicated to educating individuals, businesses, and organizations on the importance of nervous system health and neurologically based chiropractic care. Through engaging community health talks, Haley empowers audiences to better understand how the nervous system influences every aspect of health and how proactive, neurologically focused care can help individuals live healthier, more vibrant lives. Drawing from both her professional experience and her own journey overcoming chronic illness, she brings a unique blend of clinical education, authenticity, and hope to every presentation. Her passion is helping others understand that true health is about more than treating symptoms—it's about restoring function and unlocking the body's God-given ability to heal.   Registration link on EventBrite:

Message from the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas – Job Opportunity Thank you for all you do to support people with Parkinson's in your community. I wanted to share some exciting news! The Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) is growing so we can better support the Parkinson's community in South Carolina. As you know, PAC serves both Carolinas, but we also recognize that we have had a smaller impact in South Carolina. We are hoping to change that!  We are hiring for a Part Time Program Coordinator (contractor position). This will be a remote role, filled by someone in South Carolina. The job is up to 80 hours a month, supporting PAC programs, including visiting with support groups, health fairs, exercise and movement classes, and community presentations. While the role is remote, they will need to be able to travel throughout the Carolinas, primarily in SC, for programs, meetings, and events. Please share the attached job listing with anyone who you think may be a good fit for the position. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. Kind regards, Gillian Schultz, MPA, MSEd Program Director (980) 245-2786 office (980) 785-4382 cell www.parkinsonassociation.org  East Carolina University Study for Care Partners of Adults with Parkinson’s Disease  “My Care To Take Care” The Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group recently received a request to send out information about care partners joining an impactful study. Please see the flyer below to join the study. This is an email we received from the professor who is leading this study: My name is Bhibha Das and I am a faculty member at East Carolina University.  Our research team received a Community Grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation to improve the well-being of caregivers of adults with Parkinson’s Disease who live in either North Carolina or South Carolina through a program integrating through Music Therapy & Mindful Movement. I was hoping you’d be able to spread the word through your connections and your community about this amazing program (flyer attached). We will start our round on August 4th (7 pm EST) and all activities are done remotely to help account for the unique demands and challenges of caregiving! Care partners who successfully complete the program will receive participant gifts. I’ve also attached some press about our study:  https://news.ecu.edu/2025/04/11/interdisciplinary-caregiver-research/ https://www.reflector.com/news/local/ecu-notes-new-funding-goal-to-empower-parkinson-s-caregivers/article_b7930111-b66d-470b-bcb8-155b48c66918.html https://www.witn.com/2026/02/20/ecu-research-study-helps-caregivers-people-with-parkinsons-disease/ Interested folks can either email me (dasb@ecu.edu) or mycaretotakecare@gmail.com for more information. I am also happy to speak with you or interested individuals in person, via phone (252.328.0009), or email to answer any questions.  I wanted to share with you some participant quotes and reflections about the My Care to Take Care integrated music therapy and gentle movement program.   1) I start my day with music and relaxing. I now look forward to another day, instead of dreading it. 2) Instead of feeling guilty for going for a walk, I transformed my attitude that if I didn't walk, I should feel guilty! 3) As result of discussion during a session I was able to contact one of the other participants and gain valuable information about a procedure that her care recipient went through and that my care recipient is considering. 4) From my Parkinson's Support Group, there is at least one other person who is going to participate in your program. We are always discussing ways to "fill our cups" and tools and techniques for mindful meditation. Ways in which we can help ourselves and become better care partners. Gentle movement and breathing exercises always come up. 5) I felt so peaceful, despite the stress of my own sudden illness. I would not have done that before this program. 6) The entire program is calm and peaceful. Very relaxing, no stress involved. And the leaders were so supportive and understanding, bringing both laughter and concern into the group. When I totally forgot one of the meetings, there was no judgment , just caring and concern and understanding. 7) Being a caregiver is hard—24/7 responsibility and as I am finding out, an enormous physical and emotional stress on my body and mind. Now I have ways to alleviate some of that stress. Thank you so much for your help & support. Sincerely, Bhibha   Bhibha M. Das, PhD, MPH, FACSM Professor, Kinesiology   173 Minges Coliseum Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 328-0009 dasb@ecu.edu Activity Promotion Lab  Articles that you all helped make possible!  I miss this amazing community. I'm happy to share with you all that this week two research articles have been published that are advancing our understanding of Parkinson disease. This is directly related to the study that you all were engaged with. Please feel free to share! Along with the articles I wanted to send along with my heartfelt gratitude for sharing your time and your experiences with me. This is just a small example of the impact you all have made in the world and on me.  All the best, Alicia Flach 618-610-4420

Help Us Plan Future Meetings:  Your support group, Board of Directors, and volunteers are planning the topics and speakers for next year’s meetings and our annual Educational Symposium. If you have topics you would like to have addressed, please send them in an email to: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org You can also write the topic on a feedback form at each meeting. We read all feedback forms and take your suggestions very seriously. Thank you!

New USC program will expand access to mental healthcare for autistic youth in South Carolina

 

 

Posted on: August 3, 2026; Updated on: August 3, 2026
By Rose Cisneros, cisneror@mailbox.sc.edu

 

A new program at the University of South Carolina will help autistic youth throughout the state receive better mental health support thanks to a grant received from The Duke Endowment. The grant will enable researchers with the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Research Center to train mental health clinicians to better work with autistic children and youth. 

The CAN Research Center conducts research and provides support, education and other resources that help families navigate challenges related to neurodevelopment. Lindsay McCary, CAN clinical director and licensed psychologist, is leading the new project, called Strengthening Mental Health Services for Autistic Children and Youth.  

“Mental illness such as anxiety and depression are elevated in autistic populations, making access to skilled providers a critical public health concern,” McCary has said. She explained that 70-95 percent of autistic children have at least one mental health condition and are at higher risk of suicidal ideation. South Carolina ranks low on access to mental health services across the nation. This is exacerbated for high-risk populations, including those with autism. 

The CAN initiative addresses these challenges by establishing a statewide education program to provide training, consultation and mentorship to mental health providers who serve or wish to serve autistic youth ages 4-18. 

“By investing in provider training and capacity building, we address an urgent and growing need for sustainable, autism-competent mental health services across South Carolina,” McCary said. 

McCary partnered on the project with Sarah Edmunds, an assistant professor in USC’s Department of Psychology and a licensed psychologist with CAN. Edmunds supports the project through her lab’s research, which focuses on making autism-related interventions widely available. Her doctoral and undergraduate trainees have surveyed mental health clinicians to find what works and what needs improving. This work will support the planning and training content of the CAN program.  

Graduate trainees will also train in the project to build a pipeline of professionals with advanced expertise in autism and mental health.  

“I have seen the powerful impact that neurodiversity-affirming mental healthcare can have for members of my family and my past clients, and I want that for all autistic youth. This project is a step in that direction for South Carolinians,” Edmunds said. 

The CAN researchers aim to have a sustainable state-wide training model to support mental health clinicians in working with autistic children and youth supported by community collaborations. McCary and Edmunds will partner with Emily Lowell, a licensed psychologist with the Prisma Health Midlands Developmental Pediatrics clinic, along with Upstate Carolina Autism Associates, the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to engage mental health clinicians working in underserved areas. 

The Duke Endowment grant will provide $630,000 over three years and allow McCary and her team to develop online learning modules, launch in-personconsultations with clinicians and launch the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes project, a virtual learning model designed to expand expertise about autism into communities. 

“More than 70 percent of autistic youth in S.C. have challenges with mental health, yet mental health clinicians often do not know how to support them,” Edmunds said. “We have to change that, to protect and promote the quality of life and overall well-being of autistic youth and their families.”