Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

It started out as a challenge by CALBIA Board Chairman, Dr. Mark Ashley, but turned into reality on Saturday, March 29, 2008. The California Brain Injury Association (CALBIA) hosted the 1st Annual Statewide Walk For Thought in Bakersfield, Sacramento, and San Diego, while the Brainstorming 4 Us Support Group in Victorville hosted a walk of their own. With only 3 ½ months to plan the event, site coordinators and volunteers worked diligently to achieve the goal of CALBIA – to raise awareness statewide about brain injury. Continue Reading »

For the third consecutive year, the Bakersfield Condors Hockey Team provided a venue for the California Brain Injury Association to raise awareness of Brain Injury, and provide valuable information to the public. With over 6,000 people in attendance at the March 14th game, CALBIA was able to reach out to a number of people, many of which were children and seniors. Continue Reading »

In late breaking news from the United States Capitol, Congress has just approved a $700 billion financial bailout package, which also includes landmark mental health parity legislation (H.R. 1424/S. 558) and dozens of expiring tax breaks for businesses and individuals. Continue Reading »

On Tuesday, September 16, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force held a well-attended briefing featuring a presentation by BIA of Oklahoma Vice President Michael Paul Mason, a brain injury case manager and author of Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath. Continue Reading »

Also on Wednesday, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs approved H.R. 2818, legislation endorsed by BIAA which would establish Epilepsy Centers of Excellence within the VA. Last week, the Senate passed its version of the legislation as part of a package of veterans’ mental health bills. Continue Reading »

Late this week, Fiscal 2009 302(b) Appropriations Subcommittee Allocations were announced, including an allocation of $153.1 billion for the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds multiple TBI-related programs, including programs authorized through the TBI Act. Continue Reading »

BIAA Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

Also this week, BIAA submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of funding TBI programs within the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. BIAA’s testimony urges an increase in funding in Fiscal Year 2009 for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as TBI research programs conducted within the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

Within the testimony, BIAA requests $30 million in funding for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as sufficient funding to sustain and increase medical rehabilitation research within NIDRR. The testimony also urges an allocation of at least $8.3 million to allow NIDRR to continue to fund 16 TBI Model Systems research centers.

In addition, BIAA played a leading role, along with other national organizations, in recent weeks in drafting and circulating an organizational sign-on letter in support of FY09 TBI appropriations. The letter, which was signed by over 25 organizations - including several veterans organizations - was recently delivered to both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Copies of both BIAA’s written testimony and the Organizational Sign-On Letter in support of appropriations for TBI programs can be obtained by visiting BIAA’s website at the following address: http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.

Traumatic brain injury, often described as the “silent epidemic” of the Iraq war, may be less to blame for soldiers’ symptoms than doctors once thought, contends a provocative military study that suggests post-traumatic stress and depression often play a role.

Read More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22904216/

On Wednesday, December 19, the House cleared an omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2764), sending it on to the President, who is expected to sign it as soon as today.

This omnibus spending bill includes funding for the 11 remaining FY2008 appropriations bills not yet enacted into law this year, and matches President Bush’s proposed spending limit of $933 billion for all FY2008 discretionary appropriations. Continue Reading »

By Jeff Shaffer, Staff writer

WATSONTOWN — Bicycling is a recreational sport enjoyed by many children and adults. However, many riders don’t exercise precaution while enjoying the pastime. The consequences can be disastrous. That is why local officials decided to raise awareness and hold a bike rodeo Saturday at the Watsontown Elementary School.

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