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Brain Injury Discussed at March Conference

The 6th annual Brain Injury Conference will be held March 29–30 in Kearney. The conference seeks to inspire individuals and families who deal with brain injury everyday and to educate professionals who work with those with brain injuries.

Traumatic brain injury is a growing public health problem, and its impact is significant on individual, family members and society as a whole.

“Every day in Nebraska at least one person dies from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), three people are hospitalized and over 24 people a day visit the emergency department because of TBI,” said Peggy Reisher, Director of Programs and Services with the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska. “More than 300,000 in the state people have experienced a brain injury including a concussion and over 36,000 individuals live with a disability caused by a traumatic brain injury.”

This conference draws around 300 participants and program features local and national speakers who address challenges resulting from brain injury, as well as current trends, research and therapy techniques.

Keynote speakers are: Robert L. Karol, president of Karol Neuropsychological Services and Consulting in Minneapolis, Minn., discussing “How To Conceptualize Disability After Brain Injury” and how to improve self concept; Linda R. Wilkerson, CEO for Minds Matter, LLC in Overland Park, Kan., identifying behaviors that are common following a traumatic brain injury; and Dennis Molfese, director of the Brain Imaging Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory, talking on sports concussions and the conflict of ego and safety in athletes

Other speakers will address brain injury challenges from personal experience. Joan Ryan is an award winning journalist and author of three books. She will discuss her most recent book—an account of her 16-year-old son’s brain injury. Veteran and brain injury survivor, Travis Karr knows first hand about veteran reintegration and issues of transition after deployment. Another individual with a brain injury will discuss alcoholism.

An outstanding group of presenters will provide information about how brain injury survivors can maximize their potential and live life to the fullest. These topics include: “What Do We Do Now?, Journaling Your Experiences, Nebraska Medicaid Updates, Helping Families Cope With Change And Loss After A Brain Injury, Employment Resources, Limitations Of The Criminal Justice System, Overcoming Professional Burnout, What A Headache!, The Process Of Acceptance, The Aging Brain and Navigating Relationships After Brain Injury.”

“Veterans issues are also examined because brain injury is the signature wound for soldiers in the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars,” Reisher said. “We’re only beginning to understand the impact of blast-related TBIs sustained during military service.”

For Individuals with Brain Injury and Families: Specific sessions have been developed for those who live with brain injuries or care for someone with a brain injury. Networking with other families and the professionals who are knowledgeable about brain injury is an important aspect of this conference.

For Professionals: Any professional who works with survivors of brain injury or who are interested in learning more about the effects of brain injury should attend. Sessions will be of interest to multidisciplinary rehabilitation professionals, including: case managers, life care planners, vocational rehabilitation specialists, neuropsychologists, counselors, mental health professionals, physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, cognitive rehabilitation therapists, special education teachers, and others who serve individuals with brain injuries and their families. Current trends, research and therapy techniques will be discussed, including personal stories from survivors, family members, and those working with survivors of brain injury. Vendors representing a wide range of services, equipment and products will be available.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital will issue contact hours to those attending the professional tracks for entire days on Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30.

Organizations, companies, providers and agencies relating to brain injury are welcome to exhibit during the Brain Injury Conference. Conference co-provided by Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Nebraska Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council and the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska, but is made possible through sponsorships.

The conference will take place at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. For more information on the conference or to register, exhibit or sponsor, go to www.biane.org/conference or call 402-890-0606.

For more information, contact:
Peggy Reisher
Brain Injury Association of Nebraska
402-890-0606
peggy@biane.org