Why we exist
Acquired Brain Injury is known as the silent epidemic. It affects thousands
of people in British Columbia and is the fastest growing disabler of
people under the age of 45 in North America.
The Bulkley Valley Brain Injury Association will help people who have
brain injuries and their families, friends and caregivers. The Association
provides information, support and direction to other services.
Support for people who
have had brain injuries
The problems that follow a brain injury may be severe and may change
a person's life. It is important that a person with a brain injury discover
the new person he or she has become.One way to begin doing this is to
share experiences with other people with brain injuries. The BVBIA provides
a safe and supportive place for people with brain injury to meet and
help one another.
Support for families, friends, caregivers
These people are important in the life of a person who has a brain injury.
Families, friends or caregivers may have questions, frustrations, fears
or misinformation about brain injury. It is important that they have
a place to access accurate information and to share problems and successes
with other people who understand. The BVBIA provides opportunities for
families, friends and caregivers to share their concerns and to look
for answers to their questions.
Get to know the facts about brain injury... the silent epidemic:
- Brain injuries can be
acquired through accident or disease.
- More than half of all
brain injuries to adults occur during car crashes. Other causes of
brain injury may include falls, sports accidents, assaults, work place
accidents, drug and alcohol abuse or illnesses affecting the brain
like stroke.
- Any kind of violent jolt
- the shake by an angry parent or a bike crash for example- can cause
the brain to swell inside the skull.
- More than half of the
people who have traumatic brain injuries are under 30 years old.
- A person who has a brain
injury may have very obvious physical and cognitive problems but very
often the changes are subtle. Some of these more subtle changes can
include the following:
- memory (forgets names,
appointments)
- headaches
- depression and mood
swings
- tiredness/sleep disorder
- easily distracted
- difficulty concentrating
(cannot focus)
- language (hard to
find the right word)
- difficulty in conversations
- what was once easy
is now difficult
- planning and organization
are difficult
- personality changes
("my friend is just not the same person")
- social isolation
Services provided
The services at BVBIA include:
- Support groups
- One to one support
- Help to access services
- Advocacy
- Case management
- Community education
- Prevention
- Workshops
- Social & recreational
activities
- Access to services
Support groups for individuals
with brain injury, families, friends and caregivers have regular monthly
meetings in Smithers, Houston, and Hazelton.
For more information about
the BVBIA please call (250)877-7723.
Background
Information
The Bulkley Valley Brain Injury
Association (BVBIA) was formed in December 1993 in response to an identified
need to assist people affected by brain injury. This is the priority service
of the organization and includes providing support to individuals with
brain injuries and their families individually and in groups.
One-to-one support is offered
in Smithers, Hazelton, Houston and Moricetown and BVBIA will also travel
to other communites if there is a need. Support groups are offered in
Smithers, Houston and Hazelton. This is an opportunity for people with
brain injuries, their families and caregivers to share their experiences
and garner support from each other, participate in personal growth activities,
hear from guest speakers and enjoy social and recreational events.
BVBIA provides information
and support to caregivers and professionals and participates on teams
to plan and carry out services. Other activities are community education
and prevention initiatives.
BVBIA has undertaken a number
of projects since 1993. They include:
- Active support and encouragement
of the bicycle helmet legislation and promotion of helmet use.
- Injury prevention projects
designed for people in high risk activities such as skateboarding, skiing,
cycling and snowboarding.
- Participation in local bike
rodeos and safety fairs.
- The organization of prevention
programs aimed at preventing brain injury in the home and community.
This includes the safe use of baby gates, car seats and education about
Shaken Baby Syndrome and drug abuse.
- Educational workshops in
Smithers and Terrace as well as inservice training events for professionals.
- The development and maintenance
of a collection of resource materials (books and videos) on brain injury,
education, rehabilitation and prevention for loan to interested people.
- The production of a quarterly
newsletter and a web page.
The Bulkley Valley Brain Injury
Association is funded by Northern Health, Acquired Brain Injury Program.
The association is able
to carry out the volume and variety of work described largely due to its
active and committed Board of Directors, highly skilled staff, a dedicated
group of volunteers and excellent community support.
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