HOT NEWS!!!

WE HAVE MOVED!!!!

AFTER A GREAT RESPONSE WE HAVE MOVED TO:

http://braininjury4u.com

See you there!

Welcome--The Brain Injury Assoc. (BIA) was founded in 1980 with the mission of improving the quality of life for those with brain injuries. Today it is a national network of 40+ chartered state affiliates across the USA. #########################

Things to Help You Remember From http://www.alz.org/

1.) Keep Lists. 2.) Follow a Routine. 3.) Make Associations (to help you connect things in your mind), like landmarks to help find places. 4.) Keep a calendar---as detailed as you need it to be to keep you on time, organized, & help you recall tasks, ideas, or events that you have done on previous days. 5.) Put important items, such as keys, wallet, purse, medications & water, in the same place every time. 6.) Repeat names when you meet new people. 7.) Write down names of people to help you remember them. 8.) Do things that keep your mind & body busy. 9.) Run through the ABC’s in your head to help you think of words you’re having trouble remembering. Hearing the first letter of a word may help jog your memory. #

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What Doctors Do With Signs of Memory Problems Submitted by Barbara P. Homeier, MD

Head Injuries can range from a minor bump on the head to a devastating brain injury. Learning to recognize a serious head injury & implementing medical care can make a difference in saving someone’s life & making quality of life the best it can be.

Common causes of head injury include: = accidents from traffic violations,

= falls, = physical assault, = accidents at home, work or workplace, and =while playing sports.

A person may or may not be able to notice signs of his/her own memory problems. If a person has suffered brain injury, the doctor, nurses & family will be on the alert for signs of trouble.

Anytime a person has been hit in the head, it’s important to see a doctor who will test the person’s ability to recall events, names, or places by asking lots of questions. In the case of a brain injury, a doctor will also want to take a picture of the patient’s brain & skull using something called a CT scan.

If someone has a memory problem, he/she will be unable to remember important things for varying lengths of time. The more severe the injury, the longer the memory loss is likely to last. Some people forget just the moments right before & after the injury, which is not unusual with brain injury. Sometimes, these memories come back. More significant problems with memory may make it hard to remember what happened a week or days ago, & it can be difficult to learn or remember new things.

If the person has memory loss from a head injury, the doctor will design a treatment plan to help the brain heal or if necessary, to help the person re-learn things that have been forgotten. If the memory loss is from using drugs or alcohol, the person needs to stop abusing before the memory can improve.

With strokes, memory can return but it depends on severity or location of the stroke in the brain. With Alzheimer’s, memory lost cannot be restored, but scientists are working on medicines the hope will someday prevent this kind of memory loss.

Memory problems can affect people whether 8 or 88. Memory can be strengthened by brain exercises, by reading challenging material, doing puzzles, or brain challenging exercises from books or approved video games. #

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Your Brain… Acts as command central, controlling everything that happens in the body. It's packed with tiny, fragile cells that are easily damaged--by free radicals, too much alcohol, raging blood sugar, Brain Injury, or bad cholesterol. Sadly, your brain doesn't recover from slight or serious injuries, abuse, neglect, or Brain Injury as rapidly as other body parts such as your heart. Many believe that "Once a nerve cell is dead, it's dead," says nutrition scientist J. Miller, PhD, assistant professor of medical pathology at the University of California-the Davis, Medical Ctr. "Nothing can bring it back from the dead.” You can either coddle or curdle your brain by what you do to & what you feed it. "More than any other organ in your body, your brain is dependent on its minute-to-minute nutritional supply," says Dr. Miller. New science of how food affects your brain is starting to reveal the best food that will help you hold onto your thinking cap. # ----------------------------------------------

“Continue your new year right with fresh inspiration” www.Family Life.com

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Small Beginnings A Column for Kids By a kid---Kate O.

Why is our Memory so important?

When we meet someone, learn something new, or an event occurs the brain will judge its importance then save it for later use. When working correctly the brain will store the information to be kept for future reference. There are different parts of the brain that store old or new information.

Memory is wonderful if working properly. It is normal to forget information or names of people, but for many people memory problems are constantly a problem. Severe problems with memory…chances are they have an illness or condition that is causing the problem. Brain injury is just one of many memory illnesses. Brain injury can occur at anytime to anyone of any age. Some people with a minor form of brain injury can recover from memory loss, but in many other cases, memory loss lasts forever.

Memory loss can be devastating to the person, friends, family, or co-workers.

Our lives depend on our memory to get us to a certain place, remember certain tasks, & even how to use tools, appliances, like a stove or stereo. That is why it is important to wear a seatbelt when in the car or protective helmet/head gear when involved in certain activities or sports.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a blow to the head or a blunt object penetrating the head.

TBI can happen a lot of ways causing a person to be stunned for a few minutes or when someone is unconscious (called a coma). Abusing alcohol or abusing drugs can cause chemicals to be released to the brain causing memory problems.

A person may not realize he/she has a brain injury.

Friends & family are often the first to notice a memory problem. It is their care & concern that leads them to contact a doctor to diagnose & treat the brain injury. Brain injury effects not just memory, there are always more medical issues & illnesses, caused by a blow or penetrating object to the brain. The injury effects the brain, throwing off the brain from its normal minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, and year by year routine.

A person that has brain injury can also have one or more of the following: ---Memory problems, or ---Changes in speech, or language, or motor skills, or ---Seizures, vertigo, or photo sensitivity, or ---Migraines, or arthritis, or stroke, or paralysis or ---Changes in personality, or emotions or mental abilities.

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Job Verses the Brain… People with brain injury often exhibit Alzheimer type behaviors. This last year medical science has tested people with Brain Injury & Alzheimer’s to assess the effects of these illnesses on job performance. The outcome: mentally demanding careers were found to keep your mind sharp which prolongs some symptoms from getting worse.

People in mentally demanding jobs through-out their careers are less likely to develop Alzheimer's type behavior compared to jobs less mentally demanding, stated Neurology magazine. Researchers conducted a study comparing the work histories of 122 people with Brain Injury & Alzheimer type illnesses & 235 people without.

All had jobs with similar mental or physical demands when they were in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, & 50s.The study showed the need for continued investigation into challenges of the workforce. ==Did the early influence of Brain Injury & Alzheimer type behaviors make holding a mentally demanding job difficult or ==Did the demands of a mentally challenging job have a direct effect on the disease.

The conclusion: keep the brain challenged to keep it strong & keep physically strong to live a long happy life for you & those around you.

REMEMBER: If you don‘t use it you lose it. #

SPECIAL Notes--from the January 21, 2008 meeting > The Long Anticipated, Can’t Ever Get Enough, Best Cooks in 4 Counties Annual Soup/Chili Pitch-In Dinner To be held February 18 at 6:00PM instead of 7PM. (It is one hour earlier from our regularly scheduled meeting time).If you are unable to bring Chili or Soup, PLEASE bring chips, pretzels, or any type of dessert.

> John & Peggy P. Are Back for the Chili & Soup Cookoff!!! The P.'s were the among the group of people to establish the North Central Indiana BIA Support Group. The dinner will be followed by Information from John & Peggy P.'s trip to Honduras.

> Jan 19th Lawrence & Loretta Lambert celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! Congratulations! Lawrence & Loretta have been members of our group for many, many years. We value their contributions. Loretta volunteered as our secretary last year.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You have 7 X Greater Chance of Receiving Brain Injury Than Getting Breast Cancer!!! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

--- Every year millions of people sustain a head injury. Most of these are minor because the skull provides the brain with protection. ---In a few instances the symptoms of brain injuries will sometimes go away on their own, HOWEVER, ½ million are severe enough to require hospitalization with years or a lifetime of medical treatment of: =Quarterly-yearly Doctor Visits, =Ongoing Physical therapy, Ongoing Hospital Visits, =Ongoing Medical Bills, Ongoing Trips to Eye Doctor =Ongoing Visits to Therapists or Certified Christian Councilors for TBI Person & Family, and or =Ongoing Trips to Pharmacy, Ongoing Medications. Isn‘t it easier to Wear A Seatbelt or A Helmet !!!

------------------------------------------------ WINTER TIP---When trying to lose the famous annual holiday 10-20 pound weight gain: =See A Physician Before Making Any Changes in Your Diet & Exercise Routine. Your Physician can give you a healthy nutrition plan that is proven successful compared to fad diets! Eat Healthy Meals with Portion Control !!! =Be consistent! Walk, Run, or Weight (lift at least 30 minutes) every day or every other day. #

------------------------------------------------ Double Cheese Chili--Keep It Simple from Food & Family by Kraft Food Preparation Time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes.

Ingredients * 1 Pound Ground Chuck Beef or Ground Turkey browned & drained. * 1 Small Onion, chopped. * ½ Cup Green Peppers, chopped. *1 Can (15 ounces) Kidney Beans, drained & rinsed. * 1 Can (14 ½ ounces) Whole Tomatoes, undrained. * 1 Can (8 ounces) Tomato Sauce. * 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder. * 1 ½ Cups Kraft Shredded Cheese. * 1 Large Skillet with lid. *6 Serving Bowls

--Brown meat.

--Next add the meat, chopped onion, & peppers together in large skillet. Cook on medium heat for five minutes or til peppers are tender.

--Add Kidney Beans, Whole Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce & Chili Powder mixing well.

--Reduce Heat to low & cover skillet.

--Cook for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

--Sprinkle ONLY 3 Tablespoons of cheese on the bottom of each serving bowl.

Spoon approximately 1 Cup of cooked chili over the cheese in each serving bowl.

--Top each serving of chili with the rest of the cheese.

Serve with bread or cheese sandwich and fruit. #

------------------------------------------------ How Does Brain Injury and Aging Affect the Brain How does the brain store information? Info is stored in different parts of your memory. Information stored in the short-term memory may include the name of a person you met moments ago. Information stored in the recent memory may include what you ate for breakfast. Information stored in the remote memory includes things that you stored in your memory years ago, such as memories of childhood.

How does aging change the brain? Aging may affect memory by changing the way the brain stores info & by making it harder to recall stored information. Your short-term & remote memories aren’t usually affected by aging. But your recent memory may be affected. For example, forgetting names of people your recently met. These are normal changes.

Memory problems that aren’t part of normal aging! ---Forgetting things much more often than you used to. ---Forgetting how to do thins you’ve done many times before. ---Trouble learning new things. ---Repeating phrases or stories in the same conversation. ---Trouble making choices or handling money. ---Not being able to keep track of what happens every day.

What are some other causes of memory problems? Many thing s other than aging can cause memory problems. These include: depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s, side effects of drugs,strokes, head injury, PSTD, or alcoholism.

How can I tell if my memory problems are serious? A memory problem is serious when it affectrs your daily living. If you sometimes forget names, you probably O.K., but you may have a more serious problem if you have trouble remembering how to do things you’ve done many times before, getting to a place you’ve been to often, or doing things that use steps, like following a recipe. #

------------------------------------------------ Chaplain’s Corner By Rev. Jim, Chaplain of North Central Indiana BIA Support Group What does the Brain Injury Support Group Mean to People With Brain Injury? * We know that each one of us have different kinds of brain injuries, different symptoms, and different lengths of time trying to cope with them.

* We know that when we are together, when we talk with someone else who is brain injured, there is a special understanding that we find nowhere else.

* We know that all we need do is to reach out to one of our many friends. It matters not whether you email, snail mail, phone, or make a personal appearance we know we are there for each other.

* We know that we are never alone on this path none of us has chosen. We know that each of us are courageous with so many different types of brain injury.

* We know that when it gets dark, we can have a hope for the future, for we feel the real strength we feel when we are together. Each person gives his/her strength to another so we can gain strength for another month in & with the “normal“ world. The time together can’t be replaced by movies, TV, magazines or the computer because those things offer visuals but we the brain injured need to have the socialization only we can give to one another.

I know that each one of us have so much to offer, especially when we come together to share, laugh, cry, & maybe even love. See you at the next meeting. #

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January 2008 Events

January 1st-Happy New Year 2008.

Jan. 3rd-Victor Borge’s Birthday.

Jan 7th-Harlem Globetrotters play 1st game at Hinkley, Illinois in 1927.

Jan. 8th-Elvis Presley’s Birthday.

Jan 17th-Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday.

Jan 17th-Persian Gulf War Began officially on this day (1991).

Jan 21st- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

---------------------------------------------------- Jan 21st-7PM Monthly Support Group meeting of the North Central Indiana Chapter of the Brain Injury Assoc. of America at Howard Regional System-West. For Info call: 765-452-6700! Family & Friends are invited. ----------------------------------------------------

Jan 27th-Vietnam Peace Accord (1973).

February 3rd-SuperBowl-Phoenix, Arizona.

------------------------------------------------------ Feb 18th-7PM Monthly Support Group meeting of the North Central Indiana Chapter of the Brain Injury Assoc. For Info : 765-452-6700.

----------------------------------------------------- Did you know … the meaning of "Keep your chin up.“ When someone is sad or depressed, he/she might drop his/her head, bringing the chin down to the chest. A chin held high shows confidence, optimism, & strength. So next time you get bad news keep your chin up. When you look up you won‘t fee so down!

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Brain Power Some people work hard & can live to be 100 yet still look like they are 40. But what happens if your brain goes soft at 40 or 70?

What happens if you get brain injury? What happens if you get an illness that affects your brain? What's the point of any hard work if you don't have the mental power to run your brain?

Research shows the key to keeping the brain as fit no matter what your age or brain ability, is to keep the brain stimulated; use it or lose it applies to the mind as well as the muscles.

There are fun learning tools & interactive games that are scientifically developed to help make the most of your brain.

Libraries, computers with internet access, educational stores, card games or puzzles at your local library, store, or superstore can provide activities & techniques to make your brain sweat.

Play often & check your progress to see if you've improved. If your caregiver, boss, or your kids catch you, tell them it's your required anti-aging brain-training, exercise! #

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Small Voice By Katie O.

“Don’t let fear stop you from being the person you want to be.

“The worth of the gain is greater than the pain of the loss.”

“Don’t look at people in the natural sense, many times you won’t like what you see. But if you strive to look at people the way Jesus did you won’t be offended by anger, meanness, hatred, jealousy, crudeness, laziness, disease or imperfect nature. You will see not imperfections, but pure potential.”

“Do not be disturbed by the world’s vision of success, for your success is marked by each goal you set & strive to achieve in order to better yourself.” #

----------------------------------------------------------- How Brain Injury affects The BRAIN How do you remember the way to the store? Why do your eyes blink without you ever thinking about it? Where do dreams come from? Your brain is in charge of these things & a lot more. The brain looks like a big gray sponge & is in charge of everything in the body. It operates & controls just about everything you do. The brain has many different parts that work together:

1. cerebrum (suh-ree-brum)
2. cerebellum (sair-uh-bell-um)
3. brain stem
4. pituitary gland (puh-too-uh-ter-ee gland)
5. hypothalamus (hi-po-thal-uh-muss)

1. The Cerebrum is the biggest part of the brain & makes up 85% of the brain's weight. The cerebrum is the thinking part of the brain & it controls voluntary muscles, the ones that move when you want them to. So you can't dance, or kick a soccer ball without your cerebrum. When you're thinking hard, you're using your cerebrum. You need it to solve math problems, figure out a video game, & draw a picture. Your memory lives in the cerebrum — both short-term memory (what you ate for dinner last night) & long-term memory (the name of that roller-coaster you rode on as a teenager). The cerebrum also helps you reason, like when you figure out that you'd better do something now instead of later.

2. The Cerebellum is at the back of the brain, below the cerebrum. And is a lot smaller than the cerebrum at only 1/8 of its size, but it's very important. It controls balance, movement, & coordination (how your muscles work together). Because of your cerebellum, you can stand upright, keep your balance, & move around. Think about a surfer riding the waves on his board. What does he need most to stay balanced? The best surfboard? The coolest wetsuit? Nope — he needs his cerebellum!

3. The Brain Stem sits beneath the cerebrum & in front of the cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck & back. The brain stem is in charge of all the functions your body needs to stay alive, like breathing air, digesting food, & circulating blood. Part of the brain stem's job is to control your involuntary muscles--the ones that work automatically, without you even thinking about it.

There are involuntary muscles in the heart & stomach. It's the brain stem that tells your heart to pump more blood when you're biking or your stomach to start digesting your lunch. The brain stem also sorts through the millions of messages that the brain & the rest of the body send back & forth. It's the brain's secretary!

The brain does more than just hold memories or help you do math. When brain injury occurs any part of the brain can be effected & the location of the brain injury can determine the behavior & abilities of a person.

4. The Pituitary Gland is very small, about the size of a pea. It’s job is to produce & release hormones into your body. If your clothes from childhood are now too small, it's because your pituitary gland released special hormones that made you grow. This gland is a big player in puberty too. This is the time when boys' & girls' bodies go through major changes as they slowly become men & women. This little gland also plays a role with other hormones, like ones that control the amount of sugars & water in your body. It also helps keep your metabolism (pronounced ma-ta-ba-liz-um) going. Metabolism is everything that goes on in your body to keep it alive, growing, & supplied with energy for breathing, digesting food, & moving blood.

5. The Hypothalamus controls temperature, it is like your brain's inner thermostat. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (about 98.6° Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius). If your body is too hot, the hypothalamus tells it to sweat. If you're too cold, the hypothalamus gets you shivering. Shivering or sweating are attempts to get your body's temperature back where it needs to be. The Nerves! So the brain is boss, but it needs many nerves, to rely information from one part of the brain to the other or from one part of the body to another.

And it needs the spinal cord, which is a long bundle of nerves inside your spinal column, the vertebrae that protect it. It's the spinal cord & nerves (known as the nervous system) that let messages flow back and forth between the brain and body. If a spiky cactus falls off a shelf towards your best friend, your nerves and brain communicate so that you jump up and yell for your friend to get out of the way. If you're really fast, you're able to catch the plant before it hits your friend!

Nerves can't be seen without a microscope. The nervous system is made up of millions of neurons (nur-on-z), which are microscopic cells. Each neuron has tiny branches coming off it that let it connect to many other neurons. When you were born, your brain came with all the neurons it will ever have, but many of them were not connected to each other.

When you learn things, the messages travel from one neuron to another, over & over. Eventually, the brain starts to create connections (or pathways) between the neurons, so things become easier & you can do them better and better. Think back to the first time you rode a

bike or the first time you drove a car. Your brain had to think about foot movement, staying balanced, steering with the handlebars, watching the road, & when to hit the brakes--all at once. But eventually, as you got more practice, the neurons sent messages back & forth until a pathway was created in your brain so you could ride your bike or drive a car without thinking about it because the neurons have successfully created a "bike" &“car ” pathway. # ------------------------------------------ BRAIN-BOOSTING RECIPES Try A Healthy Recipe Tonight 1.) Rachel's Cream Cheese Fruit Salad When buying cream cheese chose Vitamin D-fortified. Try this is a wonderful salad because it takes advantage of all the fresh fruit at the market, & because it has a glorious dressing made from strawberry flavored cream cheese, brown sugar vanilla & cinnamon. Serves: 8. Ingredients 2 pears 2 apples, cored and chopped 2 ripe bananas, sliced 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced 3 cups seedless grapes 1/2 lemon, juiced 8 ounces fat-free strawberry cream cheese 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 cup fat-free pretzels, broken 1.) Combine the pears, apples, bananas, strawberries & grapes. 2.) Add lemon juice and toss. 3.) Blend together cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla & cinnamon.. 4.) Fold in fruit & pretzels. 5.) Serve quickly with lite whipped topping or put in refrigerator until chilled. --------------------------------------- 2.) Almond Green Beans. Meet your daily Omega-3 intake goal with almonds. Ingredients 1 (15 ounce) can green beans 1 (14 ounce) can canned stewed tomatoes 1/3 cup sliced almonds Italian seasoning to taste 1.) On medium heat, in a pot cook the green beans & tomatoes til heated through. 2.) Season with Italian seasoning. 3.) Stir in the almonds just before serving. # ------------------------------------------ “Freedom is there, on the other side of the fence we build or allow others to build.” Anonymous ----------------------------------------------------------- Small Beginnings A column for kids By Katie O.

Emotion Location With all the things the brain does, is it any surprise that the brain is in charge of emotions? When an injury occurs to the brain the emotions can be one of the many things affected. Maybe you got a special gift or card you wanted & you were really happy. Perhaps there was a time when a friend was sick & you felt sad. Maybe someone messed up your room or workspace& you were angry! Where do those feelings come from? The brain, of course.

The brain has a little bunch of cells on each side called the amygdala (pronounced ah-mig-duh-luh). The word amygdala is Latin for almond, & that's what this area looks like. Many believe that the amygdala is responsible for emotion. It's normal to feel all different kinds of emotions, good & bad. Sometimes you might feel a little sad, mad, scared, silly, or glad.

What happens when someone you know has brain injury & their emotions seem opposite of what it should be? Maybe the person reacts to something & the emotions are louder or more intense. That could be caused by the brain injury. Please understand that it is ok to be surprised, shocked, or even saddened by the brain injured person’s response or lack of response. The best thing for you to do is tell yourself the brain injured person is having “a brain injured emotional response.”

You need to: First---Be cool. Don’t yell or laugh. Next---Tell your parent, adult friend/family member, or teacher to help you respond or reply in an appropriate way. Third---tell the brain injured person’s doctor so the Dr. can analyze & prescribe treatment. Remember: It is not ok to make fun of any person or yell at a person whether they have brain injury or not. You should be always strive to be understanding & patient. #

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Brain Fitness Tips Keep Your Mind Sharp Excerpted from Get Your Brain in the Fast Lane, published in 2007 by McGraw-Hill. Copyright © 2007 by Scientific Brain Training (SBT).

Mental stimulation, brain games, or learning tools can do wonders for your memory & other cognitive functions. To be able to read & understand an article in a magazine, write a note with a pen, recognize a friend in a crowded shop, remember the first or last name of your family or friend. The list is endless!

All these activities & knowledge require your brain to be in good shape. The basis of a fit brain are mental capacities also known as cognitive functions (the process of knowing, perceiving, having ideas).

The main cognitive functions are:

1. attention,
2. memory,
3. language,
4. logical reasoning, and
5. visual and spatial acuity.

What is good for your body is also good for your brain. For instance, a balanced diet is absolutely necessary for optimal brain functioning, as the brain requires glucose, vitamins, & unsaturated fatty acids. Regular exercise is necessary for blood flow that carries oxygen to the brain, & a good night’s sleep enables you to learn new things & process daily tasks. Tobacco use, excessive alcohol, & too much stress not only prevent our bodies from performing well, they also impair our brain functioning.

When we take care of our bodies by eating well, getting enough sleep & exercise, as well as, avoiding harmful behavior patterns, we also take care of our brains. Brain games or learning tools boost mental stimulation. When it comes to the brain, the one factor we often neglect is mental stimulation. We are all creatures of habit & tend to participate in the same activities & behavior patterns.

Often these routine activities do not stimulate or benefit the brain. In fact, the brain “prefers” novelty & unexpected events. As humans, our cognitive functions thrive & improve when we are faced with new ideas, events, & challenges. When we mentally challenge ourselves on a regular basis, we can maintain good intellectual voltage as well as reduce our risk for age-related memory loss such as dementia.

How To Maintain Your Cognitive Functions As we age, our ability to concentrate decreases, or if we acquire a brain injury, we aren’t able to conduct basic mental operations as quickly as we did. We may also have difficulty remembering recently acquired words. Cognitive aging is usually attributed to the progressive loss of neurons (the cells that conduct nerve impulses), but neuron loss is less important than it was thought to be a few years ago. We’re discovering that more important than the number of neurons is the intensity of their connections-intensity that can be strengthened through mental stimulation. #

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How To Be Good to Your Brain

• Strive to Eat Healthy Foods. They contain potassium, two minerals & calcium that are important for the nervous system.
• Get a lot of brain stimulation--mental & physical, lots of laughter, lots of playtime, & lots of exercise.
• Wear a helmet when you ride a bike or play sports that require any head protection.
• Don't drink alcohol, take drugs, or use tobacco. Use your brain to do challenging & lively activities, such as puzzles, reading, listening or playing music, making art, or anything else that gives your brain a workout! #

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Games--

“If you don’t use it, you lose it!” ---http://www.prevention.com/braingames The computer with internet access is not just an expensive gadget for young people. If used negatively, the internet can be used to gossip or to seek attention in a negative, harmful way. Yet, many who have brain injury or the caregivers of someone with brain injury have found the computer to be part of a life saving tool to journal thoughts, correspond with doctors, communicate with their medical team, or a place to get support from others who deal with or are associated with brain injury.

Questions or research information can be found at website like: http://www.medmd.com/, http://www.wikepedia.com/, or http://www.about.com/. A computer with internet access could have the potential to actually improve health for someone with brain injury. Go to the internet & play the following for fun, interactive games that are actually learning tools from the computer company, Happy Neuron. The sites below are scientifically developed to strengthen your brain & give it a work-out.

1.) Entangled Figures---Catch the falling words & place them into the right file. This fast-paced learning tool will help sharpen your ability to organize, group words or ideas, improve memory, & attention!

2.)The Right Word---Identify the three objects that make up the figure before you. This visual-spatial learning tool can sharpen your concentration!

3.)The Right Word---Match a word to its definition in this increasingly challenging learning tool. This can expand your vocabulary & hone your recall skills!

4.)The Squeaking Mouse---Match the call of the wild to the animal. This learning tool can strengthen long-term visual memory, auditory memory, concentration & deductive reasoning skills!

5.)Split Words---See how many words you can form from the fragments as you race against the clock. This learning tool can work to improve your vocabulary and recall skills! (end)

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Welcome--The Brain Injury Assoc. (BIA) was founded in 1980 with the mission of improving the quality of life of those who have sustained brain injuries. Today it is a national network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates across the country. The association acts as a clearinghouse of community service information & resources, facilitating prevention awareness, hosting educational programs, encouraging research, & participating in legislative advocacy.

BIA locations in Indiana can be found through rehab centers, state offices, doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, or hospitals. People with brain injury, family, friends, guests & professionals are invited to the meetings. Attire is casual. (Check New Beginnings for North Central Indiana meeting updates.)

For the nearest Brain Injury Association contact:1-866-854-4246 or http://www.biausa.org/.

Meetings include: a chance to gather the latest info on brain injury, the occasion to talk/listen to persons with brain injury & care-givers, along with the opportunity to gain care-giving tips. Many of the BIA locations in varies counties have monthly guest speakers & discussions to provide info of local, state, or national opportunities for brain injured & care-givers. Some chapters of BIA include snacks & drinks. It is a time to establish unique friendships that can last years or even a lifetime. __________________________________________ *The State of Indiana has a Brain Injury Assoc. Office in Indianapolis with Brain Injury books/audio material. For info call: 3 17-356-7722 or call toll free 1-866-854-4246 www.biausa.org/Indiana

------------------------------------------------- What if the BIA had a penny for every time you did a “search” on the Internet? Money from Yahoo advertisers will go to the BIA of IN. without you spending a dime.

1.) You just go to the URL space (or search space) and type in: www.GoodSearch.com

2.) Next go to: the Charity of choice space & type in: Brain Injury Association of America. (Ss you begin to type the letters it may automatically complete the letters).

3.) Do this (steps 1 & 2) every time you want to do a search. Once you have done this a few times (2 or 3) as you begin to type this (www.goodsearch.com) into the url (or search space) the computer will automatically recall the site so you can just click & your at www.Goodsearch.com.

It is as easy as that! You Search--We give! Brain Injury Association of Indiana as your choice of charity! --- _________________________________________

Tips After A Brain Injury 1.) Get lots of rest. Don't rush back to daily activities such as work or school.

2.) Avoid doing anything that could cause another blow or jolt to the head. 3.) Ask your doctor when it's safe to drive a car, ride a bike, or use heavy equipment, because your ability to react may be slower with brain injury. 4.)Take only the drugs your doctor has approved, & don't drink alcohol until your doctor says that it is OK. 5.)Write things down, you will have a hard time remembering. 6.)You may need help to re-learn skills that were lost. Your doctor can help arrange for these services. ----------------------------------------- Go Ahead & Laugh It Up (Which Best Describes You) A.) I smile only when I feel like it. B.) I laugh only when there is a joke. C.) I laugh to myself-never out loud. D.) I laugh as often as possible when it is appropriate. E.) I laugh as much as possible even if a situation is serious., as long as it is appropriate. F.) I plain & simple like to laugh whenever, about whoever, wherever.

Humor about the Body 1.)The sound of laughter is more contagious than a cough or sneeze. 2.)Laughter sends oxygen enriched blood & nutrients throughout the body. 3.)Laughter stimulates both sides of the brain to enhance learning. 4.)Laughter keeps the brain alert & allows a person to retain more information.

5.) Laughter can burn calories--10 minutes of good laughter can burn as many calories as 1 hour of riding on a stationary bike! ##

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What happens when you become a member of BIA of USA!

The Brain Injury Assoc. of Indiana (BIA) is the only statewide organization in Indiana devoted exclusively to serving individuals with brain injuries, their families, & professionals who treat them. Tax Deductable donations range from Twenty Dollars ($20.00) to Five Hundred ($500.00 per year). BIA is a Membership provides benefits such as: 1.) A discount card for Hertz Rental Car Company, 2.) Access to the BIA library nearest you for brain injury books, videos, & information, 3.) Access to our 14 Support Groups throughout Indiana, 4.) Complimentary subscription to our Quarterly Newsletter, 5.) Complimentary subscription to the BIA quarterly magazine “TBI Challenge” with the latest info on brain injury. 6.) A copy of the 2007-2008 Resource Directory. 7.) Opportunity to serve on a BIA of Indiana committee for the state, 8.) Complimentary subscription to our monthly E-Newsletter, and 9.)Your donation will help fund your local BIA Annual Education Program/Conference. In Indiana contact or call: Brain Injury Association of America--Indiana 9531 Valparaiso Court-Suite AIndianapolis, IN 46268 317-356-7722 National Website: info@biai.org Emergancy Brain Injury HELPLINE: 866--854--4246 ------------------------------------------------

Holidays Made Easy Holidays can be festive & fun or stressful & bothersome. If you are in charge of cooking the holiday is stressful. We have found 2 books helpful to caregivers or brain injured 1.)Thanksgiving Made Easy in 2 Hours-a 95 page, book about 8 ¼ x 5 ¼ by Barilla (the pasta company) 2.) Home for the Holidays 8x5 book by the VFW Headquarters-816-756-3390. Almost all the recipes were submitted from vets. (like below) Here’s some quick recipes: Green Bean Casserole 1 Can Green Beans 1 Can Mushroom Soup 1-2 Teaspoons of Pimento ½ Cup fried Onions Mix together first 3 ingredients & top with fried onions. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 Degree oven. ______________________________ Sweet Potato Casserole 3 Cups Canned yams, mashed 1 Cup Sugar 1 Stick Butter, softened 1 Teaspoon Vanilla 2 Eggs Beat the above 5 ingredients for 5 minutes with a mixer then Pour into a greased casserole dish. Topping 1/3 Cup Flour 1/3 Cup Butter, softened 1 Cup Brown Sugar 1 Cup Chopped Pecans Mix all Topping ingredients together tossing with your clean fingers & spread over top of Yam mixture. Bake at 350 Degrees for 1 hour. ## ______________________________ Glazed Cranberry in Chocolate Pools 1½ Cups Mixed Berries-Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, etc. ½ Cup Sliced Almonds 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil 1/8 Teaspoon Cinnamon ½ Cup Ocean Spray Craisins Sweetened Dried Cranberries 2/3 Cup Raspberry-Cran Juice Drink ¼ Cup Brown sugar 1 ½ Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar 1 Cup Quality Dark chocolate Cup 1.) In a small sauté pan, toss almonds with olive oil & cinnamon over a medium heat for about 5 minutes until fragrant. And set aside. 2.) In a medium bowl, mix varies Berries & Craisins. And set aside. 3.) Place Juice, Brown Sugar and Balsamic vinegar into a medium saucepan & boil over medium high heat about 4 minutes or until reduced by half and thickened. 4.) Stir in half of Craisin Sauce (#3) into Berries (#2). 5.) In a microwave (about 15 seconds) or a very low heat on top of the stove, melt chocolate till fully melted. To Assemble: *1.) Place a puddle of chocolate in the center of a plate or shallow bowl. *2.) Top with equal portion of berries. *3.) Drizzle with cranberry syrup & top with almonds. ## ------------------------------------------------

News You Can Use: Effective TBI Caregiving, Writing, Teaching, Or E-mailing By Brain Injury Association of America -Comprehension or retention of info will vary with every brain injury, BUT one thing that is a constant is sense of being overwhelmed. When communicating with someone with brain injury, one must remember in order to get your point across quickly and keep it simple. -Use pictures, graphs, icons & symbols to explain the text as well as to help in remembering the text. -Simplify writing so reading is easy to comprehend/understand & retain. -Use brief text & commonly used words. -Use short simple sentences (20 words per sentence). -Reduce amount of reading--limit text per page. -Use short paragraphs, bullet, or use numbers (outline or a list) rather than continuous text. -Use words to minimize retaining unnecessary words. Example: “We will do it” is more effective than “it will be done by all of us in attendance.” -Designing a Internet Website or Blog…Use easy, consistent navigation & design of each page. -Use headings, titles, & prompts rather than long paragraphs. -When writing on the internet, support screen readers. Use alternate text tags. -Use fonts in minimum Times Roman 12 point or equivalent. Some guidelines even suggest 14-20. -Use uncluttered, simple text layout of on a page. -Use uncluttered, simple screen computer layout. -Maintain white space! Use 1-2 column layout with generous margins on each side. -Make websites or blogs customize-able to provide brain injured readers the choice of font size, contrast, color, print size, or sound option. -Flashing items are a distraction in understanding the actual info being flashed & can cause seizures! -On a web page, home page, or blog…Encourage use of navigational aids on every page to assist the brain injured person. Examples: Exit directly to home, help button, next page, or directly to the top of the page buttons. ## ----------------------------------------------- According to the Mental Health Society of America: “Many factors can cause the ‘Holiday Blues’: stress fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial stress, or the inability to be with family or friends. The demands of shopping , parties to attend or no parties to attend, reunions, house guests, excessive drinking, over-eating, lack of sleep or health problems.” For some with TBI, the holiday is a time to look back & focus on losses or inabilities because of the TBI injury or that one is unable to participate in & enjoy the holidays. Caregivers with little or no relief feel unable to attend functions & often refuse invitations to gatherings. Even if invitations are excepted there can be a fear of the TBI person exhibiting embarrassing social skills, spontaneous behavior (confusion, anxiety, fatigue) or health problems occurring (seizure, memory problem, or migraine). For many, the holiday is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection of past failures, & anxiety about the future. We have given tips over the months for combating depression, but a therapy proven to be successful revolves around laughter. Some therapies can be practiced individually or in a group. New & beneficial therapies by doctors, psychiatrists, & other mental health professionals include humor/laughter to help patients cope/treat a variety of physical, mental, & spiritual issues include: Humor Therapy: Using humorous materials such as books, shows, movies, or stories to encourage spontaneous laughter. Clown Therapy: The clowns perform for others with the use of magic, music, fun, joy, and compassion. Laughter Therapy: A client's laughter triggers are identified such as people in their lives that make them laugh, things from childhood, situations, movies, jokes, comedians, basically anything that makes them laugh. Laughter Meditation: Through a three stage process of stretching, laughing and or crying, and a period of meditative silence. Laughter Yoga & Laughter Clubs: similar to yoga incorporating breathing, yoga, stretching techniques along with laughter. The trained leader & structured format includes laughter exercises for 30 to 45 minutes. There is no known 'laugh center' in the brain, but laughter depends on information from the brain. Lighten up & laugh this holiday. Practice laughing in front of a mirror or in a group for a healthier, happier you. ## ----------------------------------------- -------------------------- “Laughter is the best Medicine”is the old wives tale that has been handed down from one generation to the next. Laughter is nature's stress-buster. It lifts our spirits with a happy high that makes us feel good & improves our behavior towards others. In USA Weekend 2003, Michele Hatty wrote: So no matter how flaky you are, your favorite pie tells people about your personality. That’s according to Gale Gand, executive pastry chef at Chicago’s restaurant called Tru, Food Network show Sweet Dreams, and author of Gale Gand’s Short & Sweet. If your favorite pie is: Apple-you are wholesome & a bit middle of the road. You like to play it safe. Banana Cream-you are an over-achiever who just wants to relax & not be in charge. Blueberry-out-doorsy & determined. Cherry-oversweet, in need of tartness & passion. Chocolate-suave, seductive, strong, & addictive. Coconut Cream-seeking an exotic-lite escape from reality. Lemon-bright, energetic & sharp tongued. Mincemeat-an anglophile who watches Masterpiece Theater, listens to NPR & fantasizes you’re in England, sipping Port. Peach-you are a sun-worshiper who’s found sunshine on a pie plate. Pecan-simple in taste & seeking more sweetness in your life. Pumpkin-attached to your past but comfy in your present. Rhubarb-old-fashioned but a total hipster. Sweet Potato-family-oriented, with a real sense of Southern hospitality. ## -------------------------------------- Who was Mitch Rosenthal? A.) Part of a small group who founded the National Head Injury Foundation, now the Brain Injury Assoc. Of America. B.) Wrote over 80 peer-reviewed articles, books, & book chapters, delivered over 2000 presentations at national & internat’l conferences to further awareness of brain injury. C.) Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehab at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, committed to public awareness & knowledge of TBI. D.) Known for his honesty, kindness, energy, & sense of humor. A man described as having strength, patience & wit. Passed away this year from cancer. E.) All the above. F.) A and E. G.) C and D. (ANSWER: All the above) ------------------------------------------------- Emergency TBI Helpline for caregivers or brain injured: 1-866-854-4246 ------------------------------------------------- What to Expect From A Good Chaplain during the Holidays & Everyday: 1.)Take heart, when you meet with a chaplain, be honest, open & as specific as you can be. 2.)Say what is on your mind & heart. 3.)A chaplain can not cure your illness or repair your injury, but he/she can help you work towards healing the hurt. A Good Chaplain will provide: #Confidentiality and Good Listening Skills, #Regular visits with a Specified Deadline for Counseling, #Support for the TBI Person, Caregivers, or Families, #Link the TBI individuals or families with staff, #Religious Services, Sacraments, & Prayer if requested, #Grief Ministry in Dealing With Loss or Death, #Ministry in Dealing With TBI Loss of Ability (as it applies to the TBI injury), #Information & Guidance regarding medical ethics questions, #Information & Guidance regarding Living Wills, Organ Donation, Life Support Systems, #Information on TBI Support Groups to meet the TBI needs of a person or caregiver. (end) __________________________________ Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays From BIA North Central Indiana A Head injury can be very serious & cause permanent disability or death. Learn to watch for the symptoms of head injury which can cause brain injury! A Penetrating Head Injury (or “open head” injury) is when the mater inside the skull is breached (opened or broken). A penetrating injury can be caused when a low or high-velocity projectiles or objects (such as knives, metal, bullets, or bone) from the skull is driven in the brain. A Perforating Head Injury is when an object passes through the head & leaves an exit wound. A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe,” (a period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury). Don’t Forget To Use Your Seatbelt This Holiday When Traveling in a Car, Truck, Airplane, or Bus. Watch for Memory Matters in the February 2008 Issue!

November 2007

“We will often find compensation if we think more of what life has given us & less about what life has taken away.” William Barclay ************************** Questions to Ponder - True of False from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention +Males are about twice as likely as females to sustain a TBI. The 2 groups at highest risk for TBI are 0-4 year olds & 15-19 year olds. +Adults age 75 years or older have the highest of TBI-related hospitalized death. +Certain military duties (e.g., paratrooper) increase the risk of sustaining a TBI. +African Americans have the highest death rate from TBI. +TBI hospitalization rates are highest among African Americans & American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN). # All questions are true! ----------------------------------------------- Making New Memories When Old Ones Are Forgotten by Family Life We all write down on cards 5 things we are thankful for. On our dinner plates are five kernels of corn---a reminder of the Pilgrims' daily ration during one of their first difficult winters. As we eat, we pass a basket around the table, & each person places 1 kernel of corn at a time in the basket & tells one thing he or she is thankful for. Save all place cards as memory reminders. Here are some of the things we wrote a couple of years ago: =I'm thankful for having a BIA Support Group to attend. =I'm thankful _____ got to come home for Thanksgiving. =I'm thankful for having a BIA mentor. =I'm thankful for God in my life. =I'm thankful for the therapists at my rehab center. =I'm thankful for my nurses & all they've taught me about my brain injury. =I'm thankful for a great doctor who is pro active in treating my brain injury. Other traditions #Have kids make hand traced turkeys for every person coming to dinner. Next, write in each traced finger , what you are thankful for. Place it at each person's plate & share during dinner. #Choose a Bible verse or church hymn expressing thankfulness & gratitude. Read the verse out loud. #Invite a brain injured person or their caregiver to your house for dinner. Make them feel apart of the family ## ---------------------------------------------- Small Beginnings A column for kids Part II By Katie O. Thanksgiving & Christmas have always been my favorite holidays! But the excitement surrounding the season bears a deeper meaning then just great food & fun presents. We love these days because they bring us together with those who love us. Having a brain injured parent or sibling might mean certain tradition have to change like: dinners might not be able to be as complex or fancy… trips to the mall to shop for presents might be cut short… or maybe the house won’t be decorated as elaborately as it might have been in the past… Although traditions change, it doesn’t mean your joyful holiday spirit should. This is a great time of year to remember what living is all about! You might miss who your parent or sibling used to be, for example the holidays completely wear my mother out. Everyone now gets gift cards & we might eat salmon & vegetables for a Christmas dinner. Who knows! It’s OK to laugh about it. It’ll make your life much easier! If you have a brain injured relative laughing with you, as apposed to them laying in bed exhausted because you’ve pushed to hard/farwhile you’re eating a holiday dinner alone . This doesn’t mean you should take over so that nothing changes after the TBI. Just chill out & enjoy each other. Help out. When you accept & adjust to your families new traditions, your holidays will be warmer & brighter than ever. --------------------------------------------- TBI Tips ToMake Your Holiday Easier submitted by Rhonda A. =To determine if an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water…if it sinks--it is fresh…if it rises to the surface--throw the egg away. =To prevent egg shells from cracking when preparing soft or hard boiled eggs, add a pinch of salt to the water & slowly add eggs to boiling water. =To get the most juice from fresh lemons/limes, bring it to almost room temperature & roll under your palm against the kitchen counter with some pressure. =To open problem jars: use latex dishwashing gloves…it will provide a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy. =To boil corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corns natural sweetness. =To bake a cake: use a bit of dry cake mix & coat the pan instead of oil…no flour mess on outside of cake. =To have a glossy finish on pies, brush a beaten egg over the top of your pie crusts before baking. =If you over-salt a dish while cooking, drop in a peeled potato for fix-up, it absorbs the excess salt. =Place a slice of fresh bread or slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften the sugar back up. =To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes. =Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting it in the frig…it will keep for weeks. =To remove burnt food from a skillet, add 1-2 drops of dish soap & enough water to cover the bottom of pan & soak pan or bring it to a boil on the stove-top. =Spray Tupperware or other plastic container with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based items or sauces…no more stains. =Run hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies in pan…marshmallow won’t stick to fingers. =Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of an ice cream cone dessert to prevent ice cream drips. =Use spray air-freshener to clean mirrors…it does a good job & leaves a lovely smell to the shine. =For a temporary quick clean…drop 2 Alka-Seltzer tabs or Efferdent tabs into a toilet, come back in 20 min. to quickly brush & flush. =Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half & rub it on the forehead…the throbbing will go away. # -------------------------------------------- Military News “…To care for him who shall have borne the battle & for his widow & his orphan…" President Lincoln stated that it is the duty of our government to care for those who are hurt or died defending our Country. The words by President Lincoln reflect the philosophy & principles that guide the Dept. of Veteran Affairs & the Vocational Rehab & Employment Service to focus on continual service to our Nation's veterans & their families. Veteran Rehabilitation/Employment (VR&E)-primary benefit program is vocational rehabilitation services for veterans who have a service-connected disability. To receive services a veteran must be found both eligible & entitled. The outcome of these services lead to suitable employment consistent with their aptitudes & interests, or achieving independence in daily living skills. Some of the Services Available To You: Compensation and Pension GI Bill Vocational Rehabilitation Home Loans Life Insurance Regional Office Homepages Manuals & Regulations Reports & Surveys Survivors' Benefits If You Owe VA Money VA Rehabilitation Centers reflect VA’s commitment to care for the men and women who have served in uniform. A reality of combat is that some return with loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries, & other severe injuries. ## ------------------------------------------- Military News-That Affects U (Pt II) Submitted by Veterans Service Officer, Bill Steen www.tiptoncounty.in.gov Tipton County V. A., Tipton, IN 46072 “Restore the capability of veterans with disabilities to the greatest extent possible & improve the quality of their lives & that of their families.” Strategic Goal One, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Strategic Plan 2003-2008. Goals to Acheive: =Create comprehensive health recovery plans & develop a corps of highly trained coordinators to help service-members transition back to military duty or civilian life every step of the way. =Simplify the way disabilities are determined & make the compensation system less confusing. =Improve the system for diagnosing & treating post-traumatic stress disorder & Traumatic Brain Injuries, & work to make service-members less vulnerable to these two signature ailments of the war on terror. =Significantly strengthen support for families. =Develop “My eBenefits,” a one-stop Web site & information source for service-members that combines =Defense Department and Veterans Affairs databases. =Keep Walter Reed staffed with first-rate professionals until it closes in 2011. D. Shalala & former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole chair the 9-member commission on care for the America‘s wounded Warriors. Other members include two veterans wounded in Iraq, the wife of an Army staff sergeant wounded in Iraq, the chairman & chief executive officer of a nonprofit group that builds "comfort homes" for families of hospitalized military personnel & veterans, two leaders in the health care industry, & an expert on veterans affairs & military health care. “Put patients & families first.” said D. Shalala. Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) has clinical care & research programs at 3 military sites, 4 VA facilities & 1 civilian partner program. For further Info contact: http://www.dvbic.org # ------------------------------------------- DEPRESSION Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner says depression is a biochemical condition occurring deep within the brain. Nerve cells stop communicating properly with each other. Depression can alter mood, feelings, & thinking. Life becomes a cycle of “off kilter” with depression. If you feel sad & have suffered from at least two of these symptoms for two weeks or more, seek medical attention. Dr. Welner’s signs of depression: *Sleep disturbance *Loss of pleasure *Excessive guilt *Excessive worry *Self-deprecating thoughts *Impaired energy *Weight loss *Agitation *Thoughts of death. Some Changes With Brain Injury --Personality, Reactions, and Emotional difficulties are noticeable changes. --Coping, Judgment, & Perception are noticeable changes. --Emotion is likely to cloud issues. --Problems occur in relationships. --Frustration & confusion develop as family & friends attempt to adjust. Family & friends must attempt to alter their coping techniques to adjust to the brain injured person’s changes because every brain injury varies to some degree. Every brain injury brings with it varies other medical issues (examples: lowed tolerance to health problems-colds, flu, etc., or seizures, headaches/migraines). ## ------------------------------------------- Brain Injury Association is participating in: AWARE for All--Clinical research Education Day. Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Indiana Convention Center. (100 South Capital Avenue, Indianapolis. IN) Features of the Day: * Complementary Breakfast Reception. * What Clinical Research Means for You. * Informational/Educational Sessions with free lunch. * Clinical Research Handbook give to all attendees. * Residents discuss participation in clinical research. * Free Health Screenings. AWARE for All is an education program that is free and open to the public to help people make informed decisions about clinical research participation. _____________________________ WASHINGTON WATCH-from The Arc.org For Sept-Oct-Nov ‘07, you will hear about the following disability issues in the house & congress: *Schip (chip) bill action kicks into high gear. *CMS proposes to eliminate important services for children & adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities in several states. *US Senate passes FY 2008 appropriations bill for the departments of labor, health & human services & education. *Congress ponder no child left behind act (NCLM) reauthorization. *Social security administration announces cost of living changes for 2008. *House of representatives passes the national affordable housing trust fund act. *Direct support professionals go to Washington DC. *Home & community based care: expanding options for long term care. *Ticket to work regulatory changes proposed. *Disability to be added as a protected class in the 2007 hate crimes prevention act. For Further Info contact local ARC chapters: Indpls:317-977-2375 or Noblesville:317-773-8781. ---------------------------------------------- BIA STATE NEWS New & Improved--with change comes the hope of progress! Indeed we have seen changes this year at the Indian state office with the 2007 director, Stacy Payne. The BIA office in Indianapolis, IN has provided an extensive website for those needing info about The Brain Injury Association (BIA) of Indiana, but more important the website simply provides more notes & details for anyone needing about brain injury. The new 2007 website www.biausa.org/Indiana contains: +General Info for Caregivers & people with brain injury, +Info & training available for technicians who work with survivors (brain injured ), +BIA State Convention info for IN. & other states, +Current Government Policies & Laws that directly affect brain injured/caregivers of brain injured, +Research developments in the field of brain injury, +Grant monies allocated for brain injury research, +A BIA Resource Directory (library) available through the BIA office in Indianapolis, +Job opportunities for brain injured, +Stores that donate a portion of sales to BIA, +Public awareness/Advocacy Issues for brain injury, +A Listing of Internet links about brain injury, & +A Calendar for important dates. +A listing of BIA Support Groups in Indiana. +A List of a few local Support Groups with common issues (Alzheimer & Tumor) of brain injured. +Also support for military personnel with brain injury/ head injuries. What happens when U attend a BIA support group meeting? You should receive information about varies types of brain injury, support from brain injury survivors & caregivers, as well as, ideas from those experienced with brain injury. It is not mandatory that a person become a member in order to attend the Support Group meetings. Next Month: What happens when you become a member of the Brain Injury Association ------------------------------------------------- Poetry Corner I‘ve Learned-Part II Submitted by Phil K. I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class, Class is not the same as good manners. I've learned.. that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. I've learned... That the Lord didn't do it in one day. What makes me think I can? __________________________________ A Friend Part II Submitted by Retta K. YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I AM HONORED. Of all the friends I've ever met, You're the one I won't forget. And if I die Before you do I'll go to heaven And wait for you I'll give the angels Back their wings And risk the loss Of everything. I like you because of who you are to me.... A more true friend I‘ll never see. As always, just to prove My friendship is true I’ll tell the world, “I'm thankful to have Family & Friends like you!” __________________________________ Look Around YOU Look beside you, Friendship or Courage is all around you. It could be on AOL, Yahoo, or Google! At the YMCA, school, or church Just look around you! Anywhere, Anytime, or Any Day. So get ready for the Biggest shock of your life Look around you & see who is there. ## ------------------------------------------------- Veterans Day--November 11, 2007---is an American holiday honoring military veterans. Both a federal holiday & a state holiday in all states, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to [United States] national security are appreciated, & to underscore the fact that all those who served, not only those who died, have sacrificed &done their duty. Veteran, from the Latin word, vetus, meaning "old," is a person who is experienced in a particular area & in the USA refers to people with experience in the armed forces or law enforcement. The most common usage is of an armed services personnel. A veteran is one who has served in the armed forces, but usually not to someone who had a dishonorable discharge. It is especially applied to those who served for an entire career, usually of 20 years or more, but may be applied for someone who has only served one tour of duty. Common misconceptions are that a person was in combat and/or has retired from active duty to be called a military veteran. Because of this widely held misconception, women have often been excluded from this equation in past years. AMVETS or American Veterans is a volunteer-led organization formed by World War II veterans which accepts honorably discharged veterans as members. AMVETS is one of the most respected volunteer-led organizations in the country that provides, not only support for veterans & the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, but also community services that enhance the quality of life for this nations citizens. AMVETS is frequently involved with ROTC & JROTC programs. For more info call 1-877-726-8387 or go to: www.amvet.org ## ----------------------------------------------------------------------- =================================================