Ontario Brain Injury Associationobia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/OBIAReview16-1-2009.pdf · The official publication of the Ontario Brain Injury Association email [email protected]

r . e . v . i . e . w

The official publication of the Ontario Brain Injury Association

[email protected]

call1-800-263-5404

visitwww.obia.on.ca

MARCH 2 0 0 9 . VOLUME 16 . I S S U E 1

Publi cations Mail Agreement # 40005485

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ONTARIO BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION r . e . v . i . e . w MARCH 2009

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Board of DirectorsAlice Bellavance Board PresidentSue Loyst Vice PresidentAlison Mullett TreasurerNancy Baron-Blake Corporate SecretaryDr. Sheila Bennett DirectorBrian Bird DirectorTom Dow DirectorMaria Hundeck DirectorDr. Charles LeClerc DirectorMarg Malloy DirectorPaul McCormack DirectorLoreigh Mitges DirectorNancy Nicholson DirectorLauren Noble DirectorNorm Sinclair DirectorLucie Sirois DirectorDenis St. Pierre Director

OBIA StaffGail Coupland Financial ControllerDiane Dakiv Administrative AssistantKevin Humphreys Information Services Coord.John Kumpf Executive DirectorMichele Meehan Comm. Assoc. LiaisonDianne Radunsky Support ServicesDebbie Spaulding Information ServicesCarla Thoms Support ServicesRuth Wilcock Assistant Executive DirectorTerry Wilcox Member & Client Services

MARCH 2009 . Volume 16 . Issue 1

r . e . v . i . e . w

Copyright 2009PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO.

40005845RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN

ADDRESSES TO:Ontario Brain Injury Association

PO Box 2338 St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R9Ph: 905-641-8877 Fax: 905-641-0323

Email: [email protected]

Inside this issue:

Survivor Stories:No one walks alone ................................................. page 9

From John’s Desk:Consistency and Change .......................................... page 5

Feature Article:Dead athletes’ brains show damage from concussions .. page 23

Readers Forum:Call me Pollyanna ................................................... page11A brief escape from the isolation of brain injury......... page 15Walk in the other guy’s shoes .................................. page 17Random monkey mode ............................................ page 20The burden of an ABI survivor ................................. page 27Letters to OBIA ..................................................... page 29

Resources:Training .............................................................. page 31In Memory ............................................................ page 35Donors ................................................................. page 35Conference Calendar .............................................. page 37Community Associations ......................................... page 39Provincial Associations ........................................... page 41

Registered as a Canadian Charitable Organization Reg. #10779 7904RR0001

OBIA ReviewJennifer Norquay Editor

CISL Support Services:✆ Dianne Radunsky................ 229✉ [email protected]✆ Carla Thoms....................... 227✉ [email protected] Services:✆ Kevin Humphreys ............... 240✉ [email protected]✆ Debbie Spaulding ............... 224✉ [email protected] Director:✆ John Kumpf ...................... 222✉ [email protected] Executive Director:✆ Ruth Wilcock ..................... 238✉ [email protected]

Accounting✆ Gail Coupland .................... 230✉ [email protected]

Member & Client Services:✆ Terry Wilcox ...................... 234✉ [email protected]

Administrative Assistant✆ Diane Dakiv ....................... 231✉ [email protected]

Community Association Liaison:✆ Michele Meehan ................. 232✉ [email protected]

OBIA Review Newsletter✆ Jennifer Norquay.....................✉ [email protected]

Calling OBIA?Below is the OBIA staff listing. These extension numbers are accessible

through either our main phone #:

Ph: 905-641-8877 or toll-free Ph: 1-800-263-5404.

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by Jen Norquay, Editor, OBIA Review

Consistency and change

continued ...

J.o.h.n.’s.D.e.s.k

I have had thegood fortuneto be involvedwith theOntario BrainI n j u r yAssociationsince 1986.

Over the many years I have witnessedthe growth of the organization but alsomarvelled at the consistency of thecaring staff that work tirelessly ensuringthat services and information isavailable to those in need throughoutthe province. Although I no longer workfull time for the organization, I havebeen witness to the passion andcompassion that is demonstrated on adaily basis by those working at OBIA.Never was this more apparent than thispast October when my friends at OBIAhelped me through a very difficult timein my life when my husband suddenlypassed away, all the while maintainingtheir level of service and support to themembers of OBIA. For this I will beforever grateful.

As editor of the OBIA Review, I havepreferred to keep in the background andlet John Kumpf and the staff at OBIApromote the good work that is beingdone for persons living with the effectsof acquired brain injury. This time,however, John has taken a much neededvacation and left me to fill this columnin the newsletter.

This issue is primarily being devoted topublishing stories, poems and lettersfrom our members. Our members are thebackbone of the organization and sosharing their successes with those whoare new to the life of acquired braininjury is an honour and privilege.Hopefully you can find information in

this newsletter to assist with your dailychallenges or perhaps just demonstratethat other people are going throughsimilar situations and you are not alone.Members of OBIA and the localassociations are encouraged to submittheir stories for publication in upcomingissues of the OBIA Review; please sendthem in by e-mail to:[email protected]. Deadlinesfor articles are always published at theback of each issue.

As we look to the upcoming year,conferences throughout the provinceare again being held in a variety oflocations. Some are long standing

conferences that have been consistentlyoffered for a great number of years.These include such conferences asHamilton Health Sciences’ 16th AnnualConference on NeurobehaviouralRehabilitation being held in May andthe ever-popular Provincial AcquiredBrain Injury Conference, this year beinghosted by OBIA in collaboration withthe Community Support Network (CSN)and with host association the BrainInjury Association of Niagara (BIAN)and held in Niagara Falls, Ontario inOctober. There are many other excellent

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conferences being offered this year andwe encourage you to take in as manyeducational opportunities that you canand see what’s new in the world of ABI.

In addition to the educational andnetworking opportunities thatconferences can offer, OBIA is holdinga number of Training Programsthroughout the year. These intensiveprograms are consistently well-attendedand as staff change in organizationsthroughout the province and trainingis required, these courses become anexcellent source of information toservice providers helping both familiesand survivors.

The feature article in this issue dealswith the topic of concussion in sports,a topic that has been discussed before

but keeps resurfacing as the long termimpact of concussion becomes moreapparent. Professional and amateurathletes are constantly at risk for thistype of injury but hopefully change canbe brought about to decrease theincidence rates and ensure the safetyof the players, no matter what type ofsports they are participating in.

Whether you are new to the world ofABI, or a seasoned veteran, please knowthat OBIA is consistently there for you.More information on OBIA’s otherprograms and services such as the PeerSupport Mentoring program, online ABIDirectory of Services and ResourceLibrary can be found on the website:www.obia.on.ca. Please take time to seehow OBIA can help you. ❖

OBIA’s Mission:Enhancing the lives ofOntarians living with

the effects of acquiredbrain injury (ABI)through education,

awareness andsupport.

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SurvivorS.t.o.r.i.e.s

continued ...

No one walks alone

continued ...

By Atul Dhir, Financial Consultant, Investors Group

I heard it was a great Halloween party.Everyone was in costume, including me.There was a guy at the party with adark mask that if you went closeenough, he would press a button andfake blood would pour from his eyeballs.I remember this.

Yet I don’t remember how I got homefrom the party, when I got home and two-three weeks after. What I do rememberwas that I opened my eyes one day andrealized I was in a Hospital room.

My story begins in the wee hours ofSaturday morning on October 29th,2000 on the drive home from the partywith my high school sweetheart (whowould in the years to come join me onthe journey of life as a wife). We werea mere kilometre or two from home and

I was a passenger in the car. I woke upthree days later, not knowing who I wasor where I was.

Where I happened to be was SunnybrookHospital’s Trauma Centre in the IntensiveCare Unit, fighting for my life. I was in acoma for three solid days. My conditionwas ‘touch and go’ and my parents,friends, family and girlfriend were playingconstant vigil by my side.

I was told after 3 weeks that I had beenin a car accident and had a closed headinjury. I suffered an Acquired BrainInjury (ABI) with a Glasgow Coma Scaleof 3, meaning it was bad, really bad. Ihad broken bones on the right side ofmy face and a long road of recoveryahead of me.

It was towards the tail end of myrecovery in hospital that I met JohnMcLeish LLB, a personal injury lawyer.John, along with his team and manyothers, would be key players inorchestrating my recovery.

After a month and a half stay atSunnybrook, I was sent to Toronto Rehab.This was of course only until my familyand I were armed with all the knowledgeand resources available from the manygreat people at Sunnybrook fromcounsellors, nurses, doctors andtherapists. There was one special malenurse we believe by the name of Michaelthat my mother often reminded me ofwho gave her great support during the

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early stages of my recovery when thingslooked very bleak and the doctors weregiving their textbook answers.

At Toronto Rehab, I would receivefurther intensive therapy as aninpatient, meet further doctors,therapists and nurses, all going aboveand beyond to aid in my recovery. Myspecial thanks to Nora Cullen who alwaysinstilled the faith in me that I was

alright and after my persistent requests,granted me the passage to go home.

I was now to begin my therapy as anoutpatient of NRIO where Colleen Boycewas the director of improving so manylives. Here, I had many peoplecoordinating my care for the next fiveyears. From invaluable time spent withpsychiatrist Dr. Petraskus whointroduced me to meditation and helped

to sort out my feelings, to myOccupational Therapist Rob Pivodor whotaught me how to laugh and integrateback to society.

How about my mother who conducted myattendant care where she was underpaidand overworked. What about my fatherwho united me to the team that wouldprove to be so beneficial to my recovery.My younger brother who took over theimport business I had started before theaccident and would drive me wherever Ineeded to go. What about my girlfriend,my life partner, who stuck with me throughthick and thin and believed in me morethan I did in myself. The statement ‘Noone walks alone’ could not be truer. Itwas because of all this support that I amwhere I am today. See before the accidentI was guilty of a North Americanphenomenon “rugged individualism”.Simply put, it is a theory that I could doeverything on my own.

Learning from my experience, I use thisknowledge that I can’t do everythingon my own and work as a financialplanner with specialists by my side tohelp individuals construct financialplans – to the most simple to the mostcomplex. As a financial planningconsultant, it is my earnest volition toserve therapists, doctors, ABI relatedstaff and people with disabilities to helpthem reach their financial goals withspecialists in fields of investmentplanning, tax planning, cashmanagement, risk manag ement,retirement planning and estateplanning.

At the end of the day, we all need guideposts to help us on the journey of life.

In the words of Helen Keller, “I don’tdo everything I am only one, but still Iam one. I cannot do everything, butstill I can do something; and because Icannot do everything, I will not refuseto do something that I can do.” ❖


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R.e.a.d.e.r.sF.o.r.u.m

Call Me PollyannaBy Taylor Summers-Kenney

According to a study, written by ScottPatten of the University of Calgary andHeather Juby of the RDC Network, 1 in50 Canadians are suffering fromdepression at any given time; for survivorsof a Traumatic Brain Injury the risk ofdepression increases substantially. Boththe College of Medicine in Houston, Texasand the University of Iowa have donestudies outlining the problems associatedwith TBI. They found that depressionaffects more than 4 in 10 survivors. Manystruggle with an even more serious formof depression classified as majordepressive disorder. Survivors of a TBIhave a tremendous range of physical,cognitive, emotional, and social issues todeal with and depressive syndromes oftenresult in poorer outcomes and delayedrecovery. Depression is probably the mostimportant aspect of a TBI as it affectsthe ability to apply other coping strategiesand seriously impedes recovery andacceptance.

My TBI occurred during a motor vehicleaccident on January 22nd, 2006. Likemost survivors, I have had to deal withphysical, intellectual, emotional, socialissues, and of course, my own struggleswith depression. There are three basictreatments for depression: medications(anti-depressants), psychotherapy, andECT (electro-shock therapy). I havebeen through the rollercoaster ride ofmedications (though mostly for painmanagement) and am still seeing apsychologist. I am grateful that I havemanaged to bring my depression undercontrol before resorting to electro-shocktherapy. I figure that my brain is messedup enough without sending electricalcurrents through it. Apparently, ECT itis quite effective and nothing like whatthe movies portray, though the very ideascares the crap out of me.

Anti-depressants can work wonders. Theproblem is having the patience to findthe proper drug or drug combinationto suit your biological and emotionalmakeup. The first time they put me onanti-depressants I sat on my couch fora week and felt nothing. No sadness,no anger, no happiness…nothing. Itwas terrible. It was the wrong drug formy body and left me with a fear ofmedications. Do not get me wrong; anti-depressants can save peoples very lives,but I needed to try other options firstand save medications as a last resort.Psychotherapy, here I come.

My therapist,a f f e c t io n a t e l yreferred to as “theshrink,” wasextremely helpful inmy struggles withPo s t - Tr a u m a t icStress, acceptance,and variousemotional and socialissues with which Iwas struggling andstill do struggle. Ingood conscience, Icannot give my“shrink” the praisefor combating mydepression. Thatacknowledgementmust go to Eleanor Porter and WaltDisney. These two people created a drugfree system of managing my depression,allowing me to find my happiness on adaily basis, and thereby aiding in myrecovery speed and outcome.

Eleanor Porter in 1913 wrote a novelentitled Pollyanna, which in 1960, WaltDisney adapted into an Oscar winningfilm. Eleanor has to get some of the

praise since she wrote the book, but at5 months post-accident, I was incapableof reading any kind of novel and indesperate need of some relief fromdepression. Walt Disney to the rescue!Like I mentioned, at this point I wasnot capable of reading, my speech wasunintelligible, I was confused,frightened, in intense pain, and bedbound. I used to manage a largecompany, take care of the home, myhusband, and my son, and led a veryactive lifestyle. Now, I felt like I wasnothing and my life was over.Depressed? You bet!

I lay in bed andwatched movie aftermovie (often notcomprehending thestory lines norremembering thecharacters or plotafter ten minutes ofthe movies ending).Then one day,someone broughtover the moviePollyanna. I lay inbed and watchedthis little girlexplain herphilosophy of lifeand show how it canbe used in any

situation. It is called “The Glad Game.”The rules of the game are simple. Inany situation, you must find somethingto be glad about. Pollyanna’s gamestarted one Christmas when she receivedcrutches instead of a doll from themissionaries. Her father taught her tobe happy about the crutches because“we don’t need ‘em!”

continued ...

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OBIA’s Mission:Enhancing the lives of Ontarians living with theeffects of acquired brain injury (ABI) through

education, awareness and support.

I must have watched that movie 5 timesthat day and began to play the game. Ithought about the crutches. I neededa cane, crutches, and a chair in mybathtub at this point, but…I still hadmy legs and lovely legs they are. Ahhah! The Glad Game. This fictional littlegirl’s optomisim was contagious. Ibegan to apply her attitude toeverything I did and thought. It wasnot long before I was out of bed andon the road to recovery. I was stillincapable of doing much of anythingproperly but I did not give up. I startedto look at the bright side of everythingwhich meant focusing on what I coulddo, however small.

I was incapable of reading. Thesentences made no sense to me, but Icould read and understand mostindividual words. I started to readchildrens books. “Dick and Jane. SeeSpot run.” I am coming up on the 3year anniversary of my TBI and can nowread and write at a college level. Ibelieve this is due to applying the“Pollyanna Principle” to all aspects ofmy life in recovery. Not all facets of myrehabilitation have been so dramaticbut everything gets better or can bedealt with easier over time and with apositive attitude.

The repercussions of a TBI are life longin many cases. We, as survivors, needto accept that life will always bedifferent than it was pre-injury. Themovie Pollyanna and the optimisticattitude which is taught throughout,has shown me that life though differentcan still be full, happy, and productive.There is no better way for me to fightdepression than by continuing to playthe “Glad Game.” I admit thatoccasionally the Pollyanna Principlefails me. Sometimes the depression winsand the tears, frustration, and angerwill surface, but those times are fewand far between now. We (survivors)

have been through a lot and strugglewith many of the simple things thatothers take for granted. Every once ina while, we deserve a good cry, butcan not allow depression to rule us orhinder our progress.

Rent the movie Pollyanna or if you arecapable, read the book (and be gladthat you can). Try playing the “GladGame.” Once you get started it is hard

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to stop. Perhaps, like me, you willeventually sicken your friends and familywith your constant cheerful and positiveattitude. Fight depression with purehappiness and gratitude. You are aliveand the roses still smell wonderful. Thebest thing about the Glad Game is thatit works wonderfully in combination withany other medications or therapies youmight be involved with…there will beno adverse side effects. I promise. ❖


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Respect, Learning, Independence

If you are like me one of the mostheartbreaking aspects of brain injury isthe isolation which is often the resultof brain injury. We cannot do the thingswe used to do, we have problems dealingwith those we love and we often find itdifficult to navigate the world at large.

Heightened or rather unfiltered sensescan make crowds, restaurants, trains,buses, stores and malls a nightmare:they sap energy, disorient and in somecases place us in situations in which wecannot control our emotions or tempers.In other situations the sounds sodisorient us that our personal safety isput at risk. Oddly, the only people whoreally understand are those with hearingaids: they turn them off or avoid thesituations where noise is present at all.While we frequently adopt the lattersolution by removing ourselves from thesource of the noise, we are unable toturn off the sound.

We go out at quieter times, or not atall. Some of us have others do ourshopping for us and isolate ourselves inour homes. We try in vain to find asolution to our isolation: Isolation whichimpedes our recovery. I have tried everyimaginable ear plug: they are not themost comfortable and blot out all sound,including the sound you want to hear,or they result in you being aware of theblood pulsing in your ears, and the

pounding of yourfeet as you walk. Igave up. The resultunderstandably wasfurther isolation.Friends stop invitingyou when youobviously do notenjoy the activity,or are exhausted bythe stimulus even abarbecue creates, orwhen theyconstantly have to be aware of whatyou are doing for fear of your safety.

And then a miracle last winter - a fellowsurvivor mentioned musician’s ear plugsand how they allowed her to attend awedding and fly on a plane. Could thisbe true? Could such a miracle exist!

Yes, it could. The marvel known asMusicians Earplugs has changed my life.Since my injury my social life has beenthat of a monk. Within the first monthI was able to attend a dinner party, goto the movies (yes I wear them in themovies), and go out to dinner. My sistersaid that within the first two months Ihad been out more than the entire timesince my injury. This past Christmasseason I accepted every invitation,people found me able to followconversations more, that I lastedlonger, and that I was able to

participate. Onewarning though, itdoes not mean thatyour brain injury goesaway. I was so excitedwith the performanceof the ear plugs thatI accepted all thoseinvitations, forgot topace, didn’t take mynaps, and spent thenext two weekscompletely without

energy, sleeping most of the day andunable to participate in just aboutanything until I recharged my depletedbatteries.

Now what are they and where can youget them. You go to an audiologist whotakes a mould of your ear. You are fittedas if it were a hearing aid. It is not ahearing aid. It has a small filter in itwhich with the fitted plug that filtersout various sounds. My audiologistwould not guarantee anything eventhough she had previously fitted myfriend as she felt it depended on thenature of the sensitivity and the natureof my injury, but since obtaining theear plugs my physiatrist hasrecommended them to patients withsound sensitivities. My plugs cost undera $200.00 and were not taxable, and asthey are a medical device I suspect theyare deductable. You may wish to see ifthey are available through a script oryour insurance plan, they were on mine.

These earplugs will allow you toparticipate in a conversation withsomeone beside you in a restaurant. Ina really loud place you will still hearnoise, but you will be shocked at thenoise level if you take them out. Youare still going to have to use all thestrategies you already use, but yourquality of life will be better, you will beless isolated and able to participatemore in the world. ❖

A brief escape from the isolation of brain injuryBy: Nancy J. Nicholson

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HILL ProgramHome for Independent Living

and Learning

We strive to promote optimal functionalindependence in children and adults

with an acquired brain injury through acontinuum of active

therapeutic intervention, quality serviceand ongoing support.

Our rehabilitative services include:Comprehensive Functional Assessments

Residential, Semi-Independent, andOutreach Services

Occupational TherapySkilled Lifeskills Coaches

Additional Professional Services viacontract.

Please call today for moreinformation:

Anna Green at [email protected]

Sarah Due at [email protected]: 905-521-1484 orFax: 905-522-7466

Website: www.hillprogram.com*Accredited since 2000*

We all know that we should haveempathy for other people. After all,nobody has a perfect life. If they dohave such a thing, they may end upbeing crucified on a cross. The adageof ‘walk a mile in the other guy’s shoes’can’t avoid giving you empathy for anyother person.

When you are being treated rudely orunfairly by another person, walking intheir shoes is always a worthwhile thingto try to do. That will usually result inyou becoming understanding of the stateof their life path. If you attain suchunderstanding, your nose may no longerbe out of joint.

People don’t generally like to seeksympathy and some may put on a braveface. This brave face may be one that isso egocentric that they are incapable ofunderstanding your position.

There is usually a reason why you sufferpain. That reason may be nothing todo with you but may be a result of theother person’s own rocky road. Basically,that means their inconsideration of youand your feelings is not deliberatelymeant to punish you. They may haveno room to think outside their own box.

We all prefer to feel like an ordinaryperson. When someone has been hurtthemselves by life, they can lash out atyou to make their own rocky seem moreordinary. After all, everybody hasproblems, so they can feel that youmight as well have your share too. Thus,you don’t need to take hurt personallywhat is not deliberate.

It’s easy to forget that meetingchallenges makes us strong. Anotherperson’s ability to put a rock in yourpath should be welcomed as you will

learn to get over it if it’s an importantplace the rock is preventing you fromgetting. It will also teach us to havetolerance which is always worth having.We are each in control of ourselvesregardless of others’ opinions or views.

We should always realize that otherpeople, especially those with their ownrocky road, do negative things to get areaction from us. Since they’re not incontrol of their own life, they want tocontrol our reaction. Always avoidreactions as that’s doing what they wantand reactions are generally fruitless.Instead, just accept the rock that’s beenthrown in your path and figure out howyou’ll make your own road smooth again.In making our own road smooth, it isnever appropriate to damage anotherperson. This damage must be avoided

Walk in the other guy’s shoesBy: Marilyn Macmillan

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regardless of any damage they’ve madeyou suffer. After all, an eye for an eyemakes the whole world blind!

When someone hurts your emotions, yourrights, your intelligence or your spirits,they are making you be a strongerperson. You know what’s right and youdon’t need anyone to share that view.

Whatever is thrown in your life path,don’t react but accept it. If you can,get empathy for the other’s rocky path.You will always be a better person bydoing that.

An inept thing to do when anyoneannoys you or interferes with you oryour property is to offer themcondolences. The problem with that isthat it makes you seem superior so ishurtful to them.

We are all common people andunderstanding breeds tolerance.

Some people like taking advantage ofother people. No one needs to be takenadvantage of but they should neverretaliate. After all, retaliation brings youdown to their level.

The wondrous thing about taking thatwalk in their shoes is that it eliminateshate from taking root in your soul. Hateis poison to your thoughts, yourtolerance and to the quality of personyou are. Be steadfast in your goals,rights and feelings regardless of therocks thrown in your way. Realize thatproblems are rightfully called challengesand that challenges are there to be met.

Whenever you feel like you’ve got a rockyroad, others probably have their own

different rocky road. Realizing their roadis also rocky will provide you with alantern which will light up your way.Lighting up your way may provide themwith an example which they may followas example is the best teacher. Everyperson should be capable of riding chaos.A rock in your road is honing your abilityto ride chaos well!

Always smile and find the sun behindany cloud! Cultivate looking at your cupas half-full not as half-empty. Successis determined by how one deals withsetbacks.

It can seem unfair if you go to the troubleof standing in another person’s shoes, but

they don’t bother standing in yours.Realize that you’ve reaped the benefitsfor yourself of standing in their shoes. Ifthey’re denying themselves that samebenefit by standing in your shoes, that’sno skin off your nose.

Fostering this stance for yourself will helpyou immeasurably. The fruits of that self-help are contagious over time. In addition,this preferable attitude needs to be spreadto international diplomatic relationshipstoo. If we foster it in our Personalrelationships, we will become naturallytrained to be empathetic beyond theindividual. It will then ensue that thisworld will become a better place. ❖


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To me one of the biggest problems with“Brain Injury” is that it is invisible. Aperson with a brain injury is “braininjured”, they are not “stupid”.

I am told by both my Neuro Psychiatristand Neuro Psychologist that my IQ, orbasic intelligence, has not changed asa result of my head injury. But it is alltoo apparent to me that everything inmy life has changed. I can no longerthink anywhere near as quickly as Icould pre-accident and anythinginvolved with thinking gets meexhausted. Sure I can still think well,but now instead of assessing all of thepossibilities in a few seconds andcoming to the right conclusion, now alltoo often I can come quickly come tothe wrong conclusion as there are toofew operating neuron pathways left inmy brain to take into account all of thepossibilities. And let me get tired ordistracted and the old brain just startsto shut down completely and I freezeup or go into a panic.

Don’t get me wrong. Most of the time Ido just fine. I’ve developed copingstrategies to avoid a lot of badsituations.

Brain Injured people have trouble multi-tasking. Buying an item in a store withreal money, then accepting the wrappedarticle or declining the plastic bag,while accepting change, is to me multi-tasking. I now have trouble handlingsuch a situation and since my accidenthave been known to bolt from the storein panic. It really helps me if I onlyever use plastic. Coffee for a dollar—Iwould prefer to buy it somewhere thattakes a credit card. Using a credit card,for me is a coping strategy. No onewants to be made to look like an idiotor a fool. The credit card system helpsby letting me avoid a situation which Inow have trouble handling.

Enter the Neuropsych test. These tests

Random Monkey ModeBy Barrie Faulkner

have been carefully designed to identifyto the Doctors, Lawyers and InsuranceCompanies the areas and extent of thebrain damage. It consists of a wholebattery of seemingly innocent littletests, each one of which has beencarefully designed to test the functionalability of a specific part of the brain.Each individual test has beenconstructed so that a person with a non-injured brain will have little or noproblem doing the test, whereas aperson with injury to a specific part of

the brain will have extreme difficultyor find the task impossible to completewithin the time limits. The tests aredesigned in such a way that copingstrategies are not allowed.

In my experience, a battery ofNeuropsych testing can take anywherefrom four to sixteen hours.

The problem is that the patient isconscious during the testing. Also, anintelligent person can also often figureout the connection between theinnocent little test and what theimplications of the test are to thepatient in the real world. In myexperience a Neuropsych test is enoughto put me into a month long depressionfollowing the test.

Let me put this in terms that a non-brain injured person can more readilyunderstand. For a Brain Injured personto take a Neuropsych Test is about the

equivalent of a non-brain injured persongoing into an office for a day, knowingfull well that at the end of the day theywill emerge from that office with a fullblown case of the flu from which theywill be violently sick for the next month.Not exactly something you can lookforward to.

I had my first Neuropsych Test aboutsix months after my accident. Thefindings as I did the test came as ashock to me. I felt like an absolute foolas a result of all of the little things thatthe testing pointed out that I could nolonger accomplish. It took me over amonth to come to grips with thefindings and the “coming to grips”included several trips to myPsychologist—the first time in my lifethat I had needed any such help.

A year later it was decided to administeranother group of tests to see if I wasimproving. My Neuro Psychologist knewthat I had had a lot of trouble with thefirst battery of test and so decided tokeep the list of tests as short as possibleand administer only the tests which hadshown areas of concern.

To me it was apparent that I completelyflunked the first test of the day, so wewent into the second test.

For this one the examiner showed me aseries of little marks and I had to decidewhat the pattern was and choose whichof four options would be the next markin the pattern. I had to answer withina specific time frame (remember whatI said above about now thinking slowly— people with University degrees inPhysics are usually good at figuring outpatterns —I have the degrees!) Theexaminer would then tell me whenwhether my answer was “Correct” or“Not Correct” before she flipped thepage to the next pattern.

Given that in each case there were fourchoices, a monkey guessing the answers

It took me over amonth to come to

grips with thefindings and the

“coming to grips”included several

trips to myPsychologist.


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at random should be able to get one infour answers “Correct”.

After being shown a couple of samples,we got into the real test.

I could not figure out the pattern atall. Try as I might, and each time beingtold that my time was up, I ended upgetting the first six answers in a row:“Not Correct.”

This was way worse than results a personwould expect from a monkey acting atrandom. I decided to go into “RandomMonkey Mode.” I would not try to figureout a pattern as that was not working.Instead I would not even bother lookingat the series of little marks. I would justsay one of a), b), c), or d) at random.

The examiner flipped the next page. Ianswered immediately and at random.The reply came back: “Not Correct.”

The next page got flipped. Again Ianswered immediately and at random.This time the reply was: “Correct.”Great, my coping strategy was workingas finally I had got one right.

However, at this point I got a littlecarried away. I gave the answer beforethe examiner even had chance to flipthe page. Turns out that answer too was“Correct”, but that was when the “Pooh”hit the fan, so to speak. I got a lectureabout taking the tests seriously and thatI was not allowed to use copingstrategies.

I was told to go for a walk and cool off.

When I came back I managed to getthrough the rest of the day withoutusing any more strategies.

I was really upset for at least a monthfollowing the Test. The test that really

got to me was one involving fingertapping. While the fact that it proved thatI cannot finger tap consistently for anytoo long is not important to me theimplications of what this means withregards to the possibility of my evergetting my driver’s license back, isimportant. By now I know that althoughthe Neuro-Psych Test can often identifyproblems, to date the medical professioninvolved with Brain Injury have been ableto do little in the derivation of cures forspecific problem.

The system needs to remember thatthere are people on the other end ofthese tests, people who are trying tocope.

Now I must go through more testing tosatisfy the other set of lawyers.

Please have compassion! ❖

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Page 23

FeatureA.r.t.i.c.l.e

Dead athletes’ brains show damage fromconcussionsby Stephanie Smith, CNN Medical Producer(CNN) — For years after his NFL careerended, Ted Johnson could barely musterthe energy to leave his house.

“I’d [leave to] go see my kids for maybe15 minutes,” said Johnson. “Then Iwould go back home and close thecurtains, turn the lights off and I’d stayin bed. That was my routine for twoyears.

“Those were bad days.”

These days, the former linebacker is lesslikely to recount the hundreds oftackles, scores of quarterback sacks orthe three Super Bowl rings he earnedas a linebacker for the New EnglandPatriots. He is more likely to talk aboutsuffering more than 100 concussions.

“I can definitely point to 2002 when Igot back-to-back concussions. That’swhere the problems started,” saidJohnson, who retired after those twoconcussions. “The depression, the sleepdisorders and the mental fatigue.”

Until recently, the best medicaldefinition for concussion was a jarringblow to the head that temporarilystunned the senses, occasionallyleading to unconsciousness. It has beenconsidered an invisible injury,impossible to test — no MRI, no CTscan can detect it.

But today, using tissue from retired NFLathletes culled posthumously, theCenter for the Study of TraumaticEncephalopathy (CSTE), at the BostonUniversity School of Medicine, isshedding light on what concussions looklike in the brain. The findings arestunning. Far from innocuous, invisibleinjuries, concussions confer tremendous

brain damage. That damage has a name:chronic traumatic encephalopathy(CTE).

On Tuesday afternoon, researchers atthe CSTE released a study about thesixth documented case of CTE in formerNFL player Tom McHale, who died in2008 at the age of 45, and the youngestcase to date, an 18-year-old multi-sportathlete who suffered multipleconcussions.

While CTE in an ex-NFL player’s brainmay have been expected, thebeginnings of brain damage in an 18-year-old brain was a “shocking” finding,according to Dr. Ann McKee, aneuropathologist at the VeteransAdministration Hospital in Bedford,Massachusetts, and co-director of theCSTE.

“We think this is how chronic traumaticencephalopathy starts,” said McKee.“This is speculation, but I think we canassume that this would have continuedto expand.”

CTE has thus far been found in thebrains of six out of six former NFLplayers.

“What’s been surprising is that it’s soextensive,” said McKee. “It’s throughoutthe brain, not just on the superficialaspects of the brain, but it’s deepinside.”

CSTE studies reveal brown tanglesflecked throughout the brain tissue offormer NFL players who died young —some as early as their 30s or 40s.

McKee, who also studies Alzheimer’sdisease, says the tangles closelyresemble what might be found in the

brain of an 80-year-old with dementia.

“I knew what traumatic brain diseaselooked like in the very end stages, inthe most severe cases,” said McKee. “Tosee the kind of changes we’re seeing in45-year-olds is basically unheard of.”

The damage affects the parts of thebrain that control emotion, rage,hypersexuality, even breathing, andrecent studies find that CTE is aprogressive disease that eventually killsbrain cells.

Chris Nowinski knows well the impactof concussions. He was a football starat Harvard before wrestlingprofessionally with World WrestlingEntertainment.

continued ...

Ted Johnson, a former New EnglandPatriots football player, gesturesduring a chronic traumaticencephalopathy news conferenceTuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, in Tampa, Fla

Page 24


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Page 25


continued ...

In one moment, his dreams of a longcareer wrestling were dashed by a kickto his chin. That kick, which causedNowinski to black out and effectivelyended his career, capped a careerriddled with concussions.

“My world changed,” said Nowinski. “Ihad depression. I had memory problems.My head hurt for five years.”

Nowinski began searching for studies,and what he found startled him.

“I realized when I was visiting a lot ofdoctors, they weren’t giving me verygood answers about what was wrongwith my head,” said Nowinski. “I read[every study I could find] and I realizedthere was a ton of evidence showingconcussions lead to depression, andmultiple concussion can lead toAlzheimer’s.”

Nowinski decided further study wasneeded, so he founded the SportsLegacy Institute along with Dr. RobertCantu, a neurosurgeon and the co-director of the CSTE. The project solicitsfor study the brains of ex-athletes whosuffered multiple concussions.

Once a family agrees to donate thebrain, it is delivered to scientists at theCSTE to look for signs of damage.

So far, the evidence of CTE iscompelling.

The Center for the Study of TraumaticEncephalopathy, along with otherresearch institutions, has now identifiedtraumatic encephalopathy in the brainsof late NFL football players JohnGrimsley, Mike Webster, Andre Waters,Justin Strzelczyk and Terry Long, inaddition to McHale.

Grimsley died of an accidental gunshotwound to the chest. Webster, Long andStrzelczyk all died after long bouts ofdepression, while Waters committedsuicide in 2006 at age 44. McHale was

found dead last year of an apparent drugoverdose.

“Guys were dying,” said Nowinski. “Thefact of the matter was guys were dyingbecause they played sports 10 or 20years before.”

So far, around 100 athletes haveconsented to have their brains studiedafter they die.

Ted Johnson was one of the first to signup. He said he believes that concussionshe suffered while playing footballexplain the anger, depression andthrobbing headaches that occasionallystill plague him.

Johnson said he played throughconcussions because he, like many otherNFL athletes, did not understand theconsequences. He has publicly criticizedthe NFL for not protecting players like

him.

“They don’t want you to know,” saidJohnson. “It’s not like when you getinto the NFL there’s a handout that says‘These are the effects of multipleconcussions so beware.’ “

In a statement, the NFL indicated thattheir staffs take a cautious, conservativeapproach to managing concussions.

While they support research into theimpact of concussions, they maintainthat, “Hundreds of thousands of peoplehave played football and other sportswithout experiencing any problem ofthis type and there continues to beconsiderable debate within the medicalcommunity on the precise long-termeffects of concussions and how theyrelate to other risk factors.”

Page 26


continued from page 25 ...The NFL is planning its own independentmedical study of retired NFL players onthe long-term effects of concussion.

“Really my main reason even for talkingabout this is to help the guys who arealready retired,” said Johnson. “[They]are getting divorced, going bankrupt,can’t work, are depressed, and don’tknow what’s wrong with them. [It is]to give them a name for it so they cango get help.”

“The idea that you can whack your headhundreds of times in your life and knockyourself out and get up and be fine isgone,” said Nowinski. “We know we can’tdo that anymore. This causes long-termdamage.” ❖


Page 27

1:30 a.m. ABI Survivor Time. I say ABItime because I keep different hourssince my injury. I have been sufferingfrom writers block for a long while. Thenan idea hits me at 1:30 a.m. so I hop

The burden of an ABI survivorBy: Joel Willemse

Access resources of a well-respected rehabilitation, research and teaching centre – Parkwood Hospital.

Our team of rehab specialists helps those injured in car or work-related accidents. Our expertise is inneurological trauma including spinal cord and brain injuries.

Please call us if you, your family member or client needs help:- Returning to work or school- Organizing their day- Finding joy in accomplishments of all kinds- Exploring strengths and learning new strategies

More information about our fee-for-service program offered throughout Southwestern Ontario:

Phone: (519) 685-4061 Fax: (519) 685-4066 Toll Free: 1-866-484-0445

out of bed to jot down my thoughtsbecause I will undoubtedly forget themby morning. I have had this topic onmy mind for a while but have not beenable to figure out how to put it intowords.

What is The Burden you ask? It isunavoidable by any survivor and mustbe dealt with after your injury has takenplace. You have 2 options: a) roll overand die, take the easy way out and notrehabilitate like so many others anddisappoint all your friends and family;or, option b) cope with your loss and

rehabilitate to the best of your abilitywith the heavy weight on your shouldersat all times, risking failure and the riskyou could still disappoint family andfriends.

Either way, there is a burden on yourshoulders, that little nagging feelingthat says what did I do to deserve this.I want my old life back. All the whileyou know in the back of your head itcan never happen and you just have todeal and accept the new person youhave become because it is the only trueway back to happiness. ❖

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L.E.T.T.E.R.S

Hello, my name is Barbara Turner and Iam a survivor of T.B.I. My survivor storywas published a few years ago, butthought I would share my current statusand struggle with Budgeting! I call thisthe Budget Horror Story.

September 23, 2002 I suffered aruptured Brain Aneurysm from a A.V.M.When I was finally able to think aboutBudget and where all our money wasdisappearing to, the money was longgone!

Where to start, what to do to fix themess and was the mess even fixable?The year was 2007. All through 2007, Itried to get bills sorted out and startrecording where the money went outand what our income actually was, aftermany stops and starts, I almost gaveup. But being of the personality I am,that was hardly an option.

What could I do? Where to get help? Itried Government web sites, our ownbank and many other websites that gaveassistance with budgets. We even trieda financial advisor, but he just didn’tseem to get what I was looking for. Theinformation everyone wanted from uswas just a pile of paper on my desk. Indesperation, I emailed Jennifer Norquayof O.B.I.A. with my problem. Jenniferreferred me to Dianne Radunsky forassistance.

Dianne was such a great mentor for me.We had many phone calls over the nextfew months throwing ideas out to oneanother as to how I could accomplishwhat I needed to do. I tried everymethod we came up to no avail. Maybemy brain still was not ready - howfrustrating as my career before T.B.I.was as an office manager/bookkeeperfor a 3 office Insurance Brokerage!

How could I not complete such a simpletask? Finally I gave up again, but wasdetermined come January, 2008, I was

going to get this job figured outsomehow. After much soul searchingand talking to Dianne, I decided toreturn to the bookkeeping I knew. Keepan account Synoptic book. Althoughthis seemed like a lot of work, it wasthe only method I had not tried, fallback on what I used to know....

For me this finally worked. SometimesI had three months to enter andanalyze, but I did it. By January, 2009I had completed a summary for allincome and expenditures for 2008. InFeb. 2009 I was finally able to make upa monthly budget using these previousyear’s figures.

Will we be able to stick to it after allthis work? We will try out best. Overthe past 5 years, we have been overspending about $2,500 a year. Since mydisability income is less than half myprevious earnings, it has been quite aneducation and eye opener for both meand my husband (Constant care giver).

We cannot continue to dip into ourretirement savings to keep afloat eachyear, so will try out best to stick to thebudget.

Without Dianne’s mentoring I wouldnever have gotten this far and I cannotthank her enough for all her time andcaring. Also a big thank you must goout to the O.B.I.A. for making staffavailable to assist the T.B.I. Personwith so many issues we face on a dailybasis.

My deepest gratitude goes out to youall, especially Jennifer and Dianne.

Most sincerely

Barbara Turner

Hi Jennifer,

I received my first copy of the OBIAnewsletter. I was injured in a caraccident while on duty as a policeofficer in January 2008. I noticed theexcellent poems that were in yournewsletter and wanted to submit apoem I wrote after my brain injury foryour consideration of putting it in thenewsletter. Sharing our stories, poems,and thoughts with other injured peopleis so important to the recovery process.

Thank you for being part of such animportant organization and for takingthe time to read my poem.

I am interested in becoming moreinvolved in the OBIA after I recovermore. As a police officer who iscomfortable in speaking to groups ofpeople I feel I could make a differenceand want to do so.

Sincerely,

Hal Hughes

Broken

by Hal HughesAdjective.1. Not functioning; out of order;2. Subdued totally;3. Humbled: a broken spirit Stared at the mirror today, it didn’tlook back at me.It was like someone pretending, likea version could be.Couldn’t see how to fix it, like acrack in a rock.Once the damage is done, you can’tturn back the clock.But it’s up to the one with the crackto decideIf it’s a spot to let light in or onewhere we hide continued ...

Page 30


So when the (car) lights shone brightbehind me as if to see if I wasenough.They showed the world of the illusion,the one I’d believed, that I wastough.She sits beside me now all alone,unsure who I am silently.Wishing who I’d been would comeback home, who I am now would upand leave.Stand beside her screaming inside,but no words are ever spoken.Need to tell her of the pain, need towhisper that,” I’m broken.” When I woke up the next day, Icouldn’t do what I had done.If a man is all his actions, then whowas I now when I had none.Even little voices wondered whythings seemed different in our room.With the hardest words I’d everheard, “I hope daddy comes backsoon.” Couldn’t go back to the man I wasbefore, when who he was, was just alie.Someone else’s dream of what Ishould be, no way to live, or way todie.So to her I told of all the pain inside,all those words I should have spoken.And I told the truth about the manshe loved, as I whispered that, “I’mbroken” So I sit in between. Somewhereneither here nor thereWhere I don’t have to look at theman in the mirror.I can be someone else not thereflection I see.As I let the light from the crack pourout onto me.

The Morning After

by margaret e. green

The morning after the funeralthe house is just as she left it.Pots and pans, silverwareon shelves and in drawerswhere her hands put them away.The dishtowel hangsfolded and stifffrom its rack.The broken vacuum cleanerwaits expectantly in the closet.The same milk, eggs, orangesare in the fridgeready to nourish dad.Half a loaf of home-madebanana breadbeginning to grow stale.

On the checked tableclotha scrap of paper:grocery listin her familiar scrawl bread oatmeal baking soda light bulbs

The hand that steered methrough treacherous days and yearsreaches out across a chasmHow long will I feel its touch?


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T.R.A.I.N.I.N.G

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Page 33

F.O.R.S. For Children,Adolescents and

Adults living withBrain InjuryFamily Oriented Rehab Services

Our services are client centred under the direction of a regulated health care professional tosupport the client, family and other professionals involved in the rehabilitation process.

F.O.R.S. is also now providing Social Work Services. Our Social Workers have extensiveexperience working with clients with a Brain Injury.

We provide:• Consultation• Community Based

Rehabilitation Support Services(RSW) in: Hospital, Home,School and Community

• Post Settlement Support• Social Worker and Counselling• Summer Camp

For further information, please contact:

3416 Dundas St. West, Suite 207, Toronto, ON M6S 2S1Ph: (416) 763-1111 or 1-866-403-FORS (3677)

Fax: (416) [email protected]

www.forstherapy.com

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Page 35

Our thanks go to the following people and businesses that made contributions,either financial or in-kind, to OBIA’s initiatives for the three-month period endingDecember 31, 2008.

Recognizing the Friends of OBIA

D.o.n.o.r.s

REHABILITATION FOR BRAIN INJURYInfants to Adults • Individualized Programs

PHYSIOTHERAPYOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

SPEECH THERAPYTHERAPY SUPPORT SERVICES

Home, Work, School, or ClinicServing an area from Peel-Halton to Durham to York Simcoe

Clinics in Toronto, Mississauga, and Whitby

Inquiries to Head Office:(416) 445-5125 • 1 (800) 216-0488

Established in 1984

* Randy Nicholls,C/o Elaine Nicholls

* Nancy Kumpf* Elizabeth Thorne* John Kumpf* Arden McGregor,

Brainworks* Walmart* Dr. Emilie Newell* David Cohen* Vocational Alternatives Inc

OBIA gratefully acknowledges thefinancial support of the Ontario TrilliumFoundation, an agency of the Ministryof Tourism, Culture and Recreation. TheFoundation receives annually $100million in government funding generatedthrough Ontario’s charity casinoinitiative. It provides grants to eligiblecharitable and not-for-profitorganizations in the arts, culture, sports,recreation, environment and socialservice sectors.

* William & Beverley Mantell* Mark Mantell* Marie Hren,

Neuro Rehab Services* Marjorie Devine* Television Advertising Services

Inc.* Charles Gluckstein,

Gluckstein & Associates LLP* Lindis Collins-Bacchus,

Collins & Jones Physiotherapy

InM.e.m.o.r.y

OBIA received recent donations inmemory of the following people. Ourheartfelt condolences to their familyand friends..

Donations were received InMemory of Rick Norquay from

Donna Chartrand

Our condolences to theNorquayFamily

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Page 37

Send your conference listing information to Terry Wilcox at the OBIA office for publication in the OBIA Review and a listing onthe website.

C.a.l.e.n.d.a.r

2009April 23 - 24Relax & Learn 2009 - InteractiveCollaborative Forum for ABIProfessionals

Location: Nottawasaga Inn Resort andConference Centre, Alliston, Ontario

Contact: Community Solutions Ltd.,registration form and details on theirwebsite: www.commsolltd.com

May 7 - 816th Annual Conference onNeurobehavioural Rehabilitation inAcquired Brain Injury - ManagingTransitions in ABI Across the Lifespan

Location: Hamilton Convention Centre,Hamilton, Ontario

Contact: Joyce Lambert, HHSC, Phone:(905) 521-2100 ext. 74213, e-mail:[email protected].

May 7 - 9International Vocational Outcomes inTraumatic Brain Injury Conference2009

Location: The Empire Landmark Hotel& Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC

Web: www.tbicvancouver.com, Call forAbstracts: Submissions accepted untilDecember 1, 2008. Abstract Submissionand Preparation Guidlines are availableonline at www.tbicvancouver.com

June 3 - 5Level 2 Training - Advanced BrainInjury Rehabilitation

Location: Brock University, St.Catharines, Ontario

Contact: Debbie Spaulding or RuthWilcock at OBIA, Phone: (905) 641-

8877 or by e-mail: [email protected]: this course is only open to thosewho have taken the 4-day Level Onecourse.

July 8 - 10SicKids Centre for Brain andBehaviour International Symposium- Brain Injury in Children

Location: Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto,Ontario

Contact: http://www.abinetwork.ca/downloads/flyer-sickkids-july8-10-2009.pdf

October 28 - 30Provincial Acquired Brain InjuryConference - Harnessing the Power ofBrain Injury

Location: Sheraton on the Falls Hotel,Niagara Falls, Ontario

Contact: OBIA, Phone 1-800-263-5404or e-mail: [email protected]

September 24 - 25“Cognitive Rehabilitation and theMulti-context Approach to ExecutiveDysfunction, Awareness and Memory”

Presented by Joan Toglia Ph.D., OTR

Location: Peterborough NavalAssociation, Peterborough, Ontario

Contact: MindWorks, Phone: (705) 741-3412, or via e-mail:[email protected].

Registration forms are available on theirweb site: www.mindworksgroup.ca

October 16 - 17Rehabilitation for Children withAcquired Brain Injury

Location: Quality Hotel - ParkwayConvention Centre, St. Catharines,Ontario

Faculty: Dr. Mark Ylvisaker, AssociateProfessor of Communication Disorders,College of St. Rose, Albany NY.

Contact: Debbie Spaulding or RuthWilcock at OBIA, Phone: (905) 641-8877 or by e-mail: [email protected].

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BellevilleBIA of Quinte District281 Front StreetBelleville, ON K8N 2Z6Phone: 613-967-2756 or toll free:1-866-894-8884Fax: 613-967-1108E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.biaqd.caContact: Pam Ferrill

ChathamBIA of Chatham Kent9 Maple Leaf DriveChatham, ON N7M 6H2Phone: 519-351-0297Fax: 519-351-7600E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.biack.comContact: Michelle Suitor

Durham RegionHIA of Durham Region#24-850 King Street WestOshawa, ON L1J 8N5Phone: 905-723-2732 or toll free:1-866-354-4464Fax: 905-723-4936E-mail: [email protected]: Frank Murphy, Exec. Dir.

Fort ErieHIA of Fort Erie and District649 Niagara BoulevardFort Erie, ON L2A 3H7Phone: 905-871-7789Fax: 905-871-7832E-mail: [email protected]: Donna Summerville

Grey Bruce AreaBIA of Grey BruceP.O. Box 481Owen Sound, ON N4K 5P7Phone: 519-373-8555E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.biagb.comContact: Chris Farrell

Hamilton-WentworthHamilton BIAPO Box 57603 Jackson StationHamilton, ON L8P 4X2Phone: 905-521-2100 Ext. 74632Fax: 905-521-7927Web Site: www.hbia.caContact: Milinda Alexander

KingstonBIA of Southeastern Ontarioc/o Epilepsy Kingston100 Stuart St.Kington, ON K7L 2V6Phone: 613-536-1555Fax: 613-548-4162E-mail: [email protected]

London and RegionBIA of London and Region560 Wellington St., Lower LevelLondon, ON N6A 3R4Phone: 519-642-4539Fax: 519-642-4124E-mail:[email protected] Site:www.braininjurylondon.on.caContact: Donna Thomson

Niagara AreaBIA of Niagara111 Church StreetSt. Catharines, ON L2R 3C9Phone: 905-984-5058Fax: 905-984-5354E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.niagara.com/bianContact: Pat Dracup

North Bay AreaBIA of North Bay and Area280 Oakwood Ave.North Bay, ON P1B 9G2Ph: 705-840-8882E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.bianba.ca

Ottawa AreaBIA of Ottawa Valley211 Bronson Avenue, 3rd FloorOttawa, ON K1R 6H5Phone: 613-233-8303Fax: 613-233-8422E-mail:[email protected] Site: www.biaov.orgContact: Wendy Charbonneau

Peel-HaltonBIA of Peel & Halton2155 Leanne Blvd., Suite 240Mississauga, ON L5K 2K8Phone: 905-823-2221or 1-800-565-8594Fax: 905-823-9960E-mail: [email protected] Site: http://www.biph.comContact: Jorun (Jo) Rucels

Ontario Brain Injury Association(mail) PO Box 2338, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R9

(Courier) 3550 Schmon Parkway, 2nd Floor, Thorold, ON L2V 4Y6Phone: (905) 641-8877 or Toll-free (800) 263-5404, Fax: (905) 641-0323

E-mail: [email protected] and Web Site: www.obia.on.ca

C.o.m.m.u.n.i.t.yAssoc iat ions

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Peterborough AreaFour Counties BIA (new contact)160 Charlotte St., Unit 100Peterborough, ON K9J 2T8Phone: 705-741-1172or 1-800-854-9738Fax: 705-741-5129E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.fcbia.orgContact: Cheryl Ann Hassan

Sarnia-LambtonBIA of Sarnia-Lambton1705 London Line, Unit 1032Sarnia, ON N7W 1B2Phone: 519-337-5657Fax: 519-337-1024E-mail: [email protected]: Susan St. Pierre, Directoror Paul Wooley, President

Sault Ste. MarieBIA of Sault Ste. Marie & District127-31 Old Garden River Rd.Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 5Y7Phone: 705-946-0172Fax: 705-946-0594E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.braininjuryssm.caContact: Frank Halford, Board Chair

Sudbury and DistrictBIA of Sudbury & District Branch576A Haig StreetSudbury, ON P3C 5P8Phone: 705-670-0200Fax: 705-670-1462E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.biasd.comContact: Rebecca Thibodeau

Thunder BayBIA Thunder Bay & Area217 - 1100 Memorial Ave.Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A3Phone: (807) 621-4164

TimminsBrain and Seizure Association60 Wilson AveTimmins, ON P4N 2S7Phone: (705) 264-2933Fax: (705) 264-0350Contact: Rhonda Latendresse

Toronto (GTA)Brain Injury Society of TorontoBox 49999660 Eglinton Ave. EastToronto, ON M4G 4G1Phone: 416-830-1485E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.bist.ca

Waterloo-WellingtonBIA of Waterloo-Wellington607 King St. West, Unit 5AOpportunity CentreKitchener, ON N2G 1C7Phone: 519-579-5300Fax: 519-579-0118E-mail: [email protected]: Patti Lehman, Exec. Dir.

Windsor-EssexBIA of Windsor and Essex County201 West Grand Blvd., Unit 200Windsor, ON N9E 3W7Phone: 519-733-4900Contact: Nancy Nicholsonor Tammy Filiault

York RegionYork Region Head Injury Support Group11181 Yonge St., 3rd FloorRichmond Hill, ON L4S 1L2Office Voicemail: 905-780-1236Fax: 905-780-1524E-mail: [email protected] Site: www.yorkabi.caContact: Dave Blakemore, President


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British Columbia BrainInjury AssociationPO Box 2324Chilliwack, BC V2R 1A7Ph: 604-855-1783 orToll Free: 877-858-1788 (outsideGreater Vancouver)Fax: 604-858-7221Web Site:www.bcbraininjuryassociation.comE-mail:[email protected]: Patti MacAhonic, Exec.Director

Brain Injury Associationof Alberta4916-50th StRed Deer, AB T4N 1X7Ph: 403-309-0866Toll Free: 888-533-5355 (in AB or NWT)Fax: 403-342-3880Web Site: www.biaa.ab.caE-mail: [email protected]

Saskatchewan BrainInjury Association1702 - 20th Street West, C WingSaskatoon, SK S7M 0Z9Ph: 306-373-1555 orToll Free (in Sask) 866-373-1555Fax: 306-373-5655Web Site: www.sbia.caE-mail: [email protected]

Manitoba Brain InjuryAssociation825 Sherbrook St.Winnipeg, MB R3A 1M5Ph: 204-975-3280Fax: 204-975-3027Web Site: www.mbia.caE-mail: [email protected]

Newfoundland andLabradore Brain InjuryAssociation49-55 Elizabeth Ave.PO Box 14St. Johns, NL A1A 1W9Ph: 709-579-3070Fax: 709-579-3019Web Site: www.nlbia.caE-mail: [email protected]: Keri McGrath, Exec. Director

Acquired Brain InjurySociety of Yukonc/o The Yukon Council on Disability1154A 1st AveWhitehorse, YN Y1A 6K8Ph: 867-668-6703Fax: 867-393-4992WebSite: www.ycod.yk.caE-mail: [email protected]

Ontario Brain InjuryAssociationPO Box 2338St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R9Ph: 905-641-8877 or 800-263-5404Fax: 905-641-0323Web Site: www.obia.on.caE-mail: [email protected]

Regroupement desassociations de personnestraumatisées cranio-cérébrales du Québec911, rue Jean-Talon Estbureau 106Montreal, QC H2R 1V5Ph: 514-274-7447 (poste 224)Fax: 514-274-1717Web Site: www.raptccq.comE-mail: [email protected]

Brain Injury Associationof New Brunswick83 Tamarack TerraceMoncton, NBPhone: 506-855-8539Fax: 506-855-8532Web Site: www.bianb.caE-mail: [email protected]: Heather Drew, President

Brain Injury Associationof Nova ScotiaCivic: 13th Floor, Victoria Bldg.Victoria General Hospital SiteHalifax, NS B3H 2Y9Mailing: PO Box 8804Halifax, NS B3K 5M4Ph: 902-473-7301Fax: 902-473-7302Web Site: www3.ns.sympatico.ca/bians1E-mail: [email protected]

Brain Injury Coalition ofPEI32 Birchwood St.,PEI C1A 5B5Ph: 902-892-0367Web Site: www.bicpei.comE-mail: [email protected]

Brain Injury Associationof Canada/AssociationCanadienne des lésésCérébraux28 Caron StreetGatineau, QC J8Y 1Y7Telephone: 819-777-2492Toll Free Line: 1-866-977-2492Fax: (819) 595-2458Web Site: www.biac-aclc.caE-mail: [email protected]

Provincial Association Contact List:as of March1, 2009


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ABI Community Services ............... 21

AdvanceXpress Canada Ltd. ........... 17

Anagram Premier ......................... 18

Bartimaeus ................................... 7

Bayshore Home Health ................ 14

Bergeron Clifford ......................... 16

Brain Injury Services of Hamilton .. 15

Brainworks ................................. 38

Carranza Barristers & Solicitors ........9

Community Solutions ................... 25

Continuum (Community Rehab) ..... 10

Dale Brain Injury Services ............. 40

Family Oriented Rehab Services ..... 33

Gluckstein & Associates LLP .......... 43

Hatts Off .................................... 16

Henderson Structured Settlements .... 22

Hill Program ............................... 17

Howard Yegendorf & Associates ..... 26

Inter-Action ............................... 35

Kumchy, Dr. Gayle ....................... 13

Lawlor Therapy Support Services.... 12

Legate ....................................... 18

Lerners LLP................................... 8

Lexfund Management Inc. .............. 5

McKellar Structured Settlements ...... 2

McLeish Orlando ............................4

Mindworks.................................. 34

Neuro-Rehab Services Inc. ............ 30

NRIO ......................................... 24

Oatley, Vigmond............... back cover

OMOD - Home/Vehicle Mod. .......... 26

Parkwood Hospital - TEACH ........... 27

Pathways to Independence ........... 14

Pillar Homes ............................... 24

Progressive Case Management ....... 34

Singer, Kwinter ............................. 6

Source Rehab .............................. 33

Steps Rehab ............................... 37

Storrie, Velikonja & Assoc. ............ 13

Thomson Rogers .......................... 38

Tierney, Stauffer LLP .................... 19

We Care Home Health Services....... 12

Call Terry at the OBIA office toplace your company’s ad in the

OBIA Review.

Advertising RatesOBIA Review is sent to over 2,000 readers throughout Ontario, four times peryear. A limited number of advertising spots are available in this newsletter oneither a per issue or yearly basis. Artwork for ads should be in camera-ready,high resolution format (minumum 300 DPI). There is an additional $100charge for typesetting.Ad Size 1 Issue Yearly (4x)1/6 pg (2.5" x 5") black/white ................ $130 ........................................ $4751/6 pg (2.5" x 5") colour ....................... $200 ........................................ $7001/3 pg (5" x 5") black/white .................. $225 ........................................ $8001/3 pg (5" x 5") colour .......................... $330 ....................................... $12001/2 pg (7.5” x 5”) black/white ................ $275 ........................................ $9501/2 pg (7.5” x 5”) colour ....................... $390 ....................................... $1400Full pg , black/white.............................. $440 ....................................... $1600Full pg , colour ..................................... $660 ....................................... $2400Full pg, inside cover(s), colour ................ $880 ....................................... $3200Full pg, back cover, colour ..................... $1100 ....................................... $3900

Rates are also available for brochure inserts. Please call Ms. Terry Wilcox, for details,phone 905-641-8877, ext. 234 or E-mail: [email protected].

Deadline for submissions for thenext issue is May 1, 2009.

Advertiser Index

Disclaimer:

Articles may be reproducedfrom the OBIA Review providedcredit is given to the authorswherever possible. Note: theopinions expressed herein arethose of the respective authorsand advertisers and notnecessarily those of the OntarioBrain Injury Association(OBIA). OBIA will not be liablefor any damages or losseshowsoever sustained, as aresult of the reliance on or useby a reader or any other personof the information, opinion, orproducts expressed, advertisedor otherwise contained herein.Where appropriate, professionaladvice should be sought.


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Documents

Ontario Brain Injury Associationobia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/OBIAReview16-1-2009.pdf · The official publication of the Ontario Brain Injury Association email [email protected]