News – Page 4

Posted on January 5, 2022January 5, 2022 by Rachel Charron

Book by Elizabeth (Betty) Penny

Post Concussion Brain Empowerment– The Voyage to Happier Living, by Elizabeth (Betty) Penny

Get Ready to Set Sail and Embark On Voyages to Discover the Keys to a Happier Life – With Brain Injury Struggle Stories Based on Real-Life Experiences!

After suffering from a brain injury, you’ll be faced with many more challenges.

What used to be so simple may now be a hurdle.

Not being able to function properly is a heavy burden that can bring about addictions and plant negative ideas in your mind.

You may also be feeling that after your brain injury, no one understands you.

But you’re not alone.

Read the firsthand experiences written from the perspective of a person that had suffered from a non-traumatic brain injury themselves and truly discover that you’re never alone.

Get onto the road to recovery with the guidance of an Acquired Brain Injury Survivor who wants to set you on the path to living a happier and more satisfying life!

In this book, you’ll discover:

· Set out on a journey: Over the course of three journeys, learn about the different types of brain injuries, how to cope, and finally be on the course of recovery and happiness.

· Techniques to assist with your recovery: Practice these simple and effective techniques that are specially crafted just for you!

· For anyone: This book isn’t just for survivors. It’s also for those that want to understand and help those that need it. Empower yourself and others around you.

· Overcome anything: Be guided through this difficult journey and come out even better than before!

· Be inspired: With stories and words of wisdom from real-life brain injury survivors. Get the perfect mix of realistic stories of victory and hardships.

Lift the anchors and get ready to set sail!

Become the Captain of your mind.

Betty’s Interview on CBC Jan 4, 2022 – https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-106/clip/15886986

Posted on November 20, 2021 by Rachel Charron

Toldo Foundation Donated $45,000 for Brain Injury Services

The Brain Injury Association of Windsor and Essex County received $45,000 from the Toldo Foundation to hire a Client Services Coordinator to support its mission of enhancing the lives of those affected by an acquired brain injury.

The Coordinator will provide technological assistance and training to support clients in connecting to online peer support groups, provide emotional support from peers, receive education about acquired brain injury (ABI) and access apps to assist with activities of daily living.

These support groups fill the gap after rehabilitation and assist in life-long recovery as survivors adjust to their new identity. Learning how to use technology promotes self-reliance, community engagement, ability to attend support groups and to overcome many of the unique challenges faced as a person with an ABI.

The Client Services Coordinator will support clients in maintaining and accessing income, filing taxes, completing applications and communicating with essential agencies and services. Poor mental health, addictions, brain injury, illness and trauma are all significant comorbid conditions faced by clients because of their cognitive impairments. The Coordinator will assist in finding resources and benefits that otherwise are inaccessible to them.

Posted on July 14, 2021April 7, 2022 by Rachel Charron

Butterfly Lane in Walkerville

BUTTERFLY LANE UNVEILED OCTOBER 2, 2021

The Brain Injury Association of Windsor and Essex County (BAIWE) officially opened “Butterfly Lane” in Walkerville on October 2, 2021 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
This project’s main purpose is to create awareness of the prevalence of brain injury in the community as well as educate people to this “invisible” disability. It is part of BIAWE’s mission to enhance the lives of those affect by an acquired brain injury through education, awareness and support.

Garage doors and fences in the alley between the 1100 block of Devonshire and Argyle Roads (bordered by Richmond and Ontario Streets) were painted by sixteen local mural artists. Each mural has butterflies in it. Individual wooden butterflies were painted by survivors of a brain injury as their personal contribution to this project.

Several hundred people attended the ceremony and festivities that followed. BIAWE Board Chair Joanne King and City Councillor Chris Holt shared in the ribbon cutting to officially open the alley as Butterfly Lane. Also in attendance to bring greetings and congratulations were MPP Percy Hatfield and MP Irek Kusmierczyk as well as another City Councillor, Jim Morrison. Artists displayed not only their murals but their other works of art. Each artist received a certificate of appreciation from BIAWE and another from MP Irek Kusmierczyk.

Future plans include clear coating the murals to make them graffiti-proof, planting butterfly attracting plants in the spring and the installation of signs indicating Butterfly Lane.

The life of a butterfly symbolizes the life of an individual with a brain injury. Much like a butterfly that develops from a caterpillar during the chrysalis process, the journey of a person with a brain injury can be transforming. Often, an individual with a brain injury is not the person that they once were. There is nor more striking symbol of a transformation than a butterfly. This transformation symbolically represents hope and new beginnings. This transformation happens with help from the right people from the Brain Injury Association.

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou.