What is Brain Injury Awareness Month?
Brain Injury Awareness Month is observed in March each year. It is a time dedicated to raising awareness about brain injuries, their causes, prevention, and treatment. The goal of this awareness month is to educate the public about the impact of brain injuries on individuals, families, and communities, as well as to promote understanding and support for those affected by brain injuries. Various organizations, advocacy groups, and individuals participate in activities such as educational campaigns, fundraising events, support groups, and outreach programs to spread awareness and provide resources for individuals with brain injuries and their caregivers.
My Brain Injury Journey
This year, the Brain Injury Association of America is launching a campaign called my Brain Injury Journey. The goal of this campaign is to encourage brain injury survivors and their loved ones to share their personal experiences, fostering understanding and support while raising awareness about the challenges and triumphs associated with living with a brain injury. By providing tools for storytelling and amplifying diverse perspectives, the campaign aims to inspire resilience and solidarity within the community of those affected by brain injuries.
How to get Involved
There are several different ways to get involved and become an advocate for survivors of brain injury. Advocacy is a crucial part of creating change and it is important to speak up. These are just a few of the ways you can get your voice out there and become involved:
- Find out who represents you: Identify and communicate with your elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. Policymakers have the power to make change in the community so it is important to share your personal experiences with brain injury and its impact. One important issue you can actively get involved in is contacting your representatives about reauthorizing the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act. The Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996, signed by President Bill Clinton, established federal grants to states for TBI prevention, research, and service delivery. It defined TBI, allocated funding for CDC projects to reduce TBI incidence, authorized NIH grants for research, and required states to establish advisory boards and match federal funding for service improvement projects. Use this letter template to write your representatives about reauthorizing the TBI Act https://www.biausa.org/get-involved#letter%20writing.
- Raise awareness: Take part in Brain Injury Awareness Month activities and initiatives throughout the year. Share public service announcements, engage with brain injury groups on social media, and participate in awareness-raising efforts in your community.
- Share your story: Whether you’re a brain injury survivor, caregiver, or advocate, sharing your personal story can make a meaningful impact. This includes participating in the My Brain Injury Journey campaign, and you can find more information here: https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness
- Stay engaged: Advocacy is an ongoing process. Keep informed, stay connected with the community, and work together to bring about positive changes in brain injury coverage and services.
Remember, every voice matters in advocacy, and together, we can make a difference.
