January 2003

The Brain Injury Association of Arkansas’

In every class there are students who do not achieve up to their potential. Sometimes the reasons are known and recognized. Sometime the reasons are not so obvious. Those of us who have been around those who have suffered a brain injury know all too well how a brain injury can often change an achiever into an underachiever. We recently received a Technical Brief from the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research on this same subject. The paper summarized research conducted by the Research and Training Center on Community Integration of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. The research focused on three components:

• Identification of students who have experienced a brain injury due to trauma,
• Assessment with tools that focus on cognitive deficits and strengths, or a neuropsychological assessment, and
• Classroom accommodations that help students with brain injuries break the cycle of underachievement.

The paper is an excellent source of additional information. The paper briefly reviews the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire. The paper provides web sites for several related areas, such as:

• Brain Injury Screening,
• FAQ about TBI,
• How is TBI different for those injured as children,
• What is mild TBI?
• What should schools know about helping children with TBI?

The paper is available online at:

http://www.ncddr.org/du/products/focus/focus3.

If you don't have access to the Web and would like to get a copy, send us a note and we'll send you a copy.

On January 24, 2003, ResCare Premier will hold a seminar in Little Rock entitled "The ABCs of ABI". While ResCare Premier is dedicated to persons with acquired brain injury, their seminar will probably include much that would apply to survivors of TBI.

Morning sessions are "Piecing it all together" (a primer for understanding brain injury) and "Optimal Environments" (positive rewards result in positive behaviors).

Afternoon sessions are "A Practical Approach to Cognitive Rehabilitation" (compensatory strategies for short term memory deficits and other cognitive impairments) and "Formula for Success" (taking care of the caregiver).

If you are interested in attending this seminar, contact Jeff Pomeroy at (417) 623-1215 or send e-mail to kristi_denkeler@rescarepremier.com. If are a Certified Case Manager or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, you can get 5 CEU hours for attending.

While many caregivers do not realize it at first, caregivers and, to a limited extent, survivors need support from others who have already traveled the TBI road. After a caregiver gets past the first few weeks following the TBI, there are a lot of different questions they want answered. Often, their questions are better answered by someone who has already experienced what they are going through. We would like to identify all brain injury support groups through out the state. On the back page is a list of the contact for the support groups that we know about. If you are aware of any brain injury support group not listed, please let us know the name and phone number of a contact person.

At the December Annual General Membership meeting, several new board members were elected. They include:

Two Board members were reelected for a second term. They are:

Other Board members are:

Our thanks to Timber Ridge Ranch who made a contribution of $390 last month on behalf of a group of individuals and groups. If you are part of that group, please accept our Thank You!

If you are a member of the Brain Injury Association of Arkansas, your address label shows when you last paid membership dues and a message if your "Dues are due." We try to send out a reminder the month before a member's dues expire. Like any organization, we need members. Member's dues help fund the organization by helping pay for newsletters and other efforts. In our organization, members are there to help others and provide points of contact in special situations. If you are not already a member, we hope you will consider becoming a member. We have several levels of membership available. To become a member or renew your membership, send your name, mailing address, phone numbers, e-mail address and payment to our PO Box listed on the back page.

Mary Anne Sullivan – President – SullivanMaryAnne@uams.edu
Rene Boucher – Vice President – rehabrene@hotmail.com
Teresa Belew – Secretary – armadd.tbelew@netzero.net
Gary Low – Treasurer – gary@glowar.com

Support Group Contacts:
Little Rock, 2^nd Tuesday – Diane Gottsponer, 501-202-7047
Fayetteville, 2^nd Tuesday – Sherry Priestaf, 479-442-5600
Russellville/Clarksville – Jim Spragins, 479-890-5751
Conway, 2^nd Monday – Lorri Buddenberg, 501-450-3192
Mountain Home, 1^st Saturday – Vann Smith, PhD, 870-445-4941
Jonesboro – Angie Schmidt, 870-932-0440
Hot Springs – Bill Hartley, 501-525-8463
Bentenville – Rene Boucher - 479-271-7764

Stroke Support Group
Little Rock, 1^st Wednesday – Michael Inman, PhD, 501-202-7617

501-224-5913 (Little Rock)
800-235-2443 In-state only

Brain Injury Association of Arkansas
PO Box 26236
Little Rock AR 72221-6236