Andrea Buening discusses life after traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation. She shares her own experience of nearly 15 years living with a TBI, including 11.5 months of rehabilitation. She emphasizes the importance of education, advocacy, support groups, and goal setting for both survivors and their families. Finding appropriate services through centers for independent living can help ameliorate struggles by providing resources, therapy, respite care and volunteer activities. While recovery plateaus, continued learning is still possible through various methods tailored to the individual.

1. Andrea Buening
IL Special Projects Coordinator
The Independent Living Center
March 9, 2012
Traumatic Brain Injury
After Rehabilitation
What next?

2.  I am just like every one of your patients
 I continue to experience limitations caused by
my brain injury
 I choose to make something good from
something very bad
 This is who I am

3. Video

4.  Life Experience
 May 16, 1997, began my
journey
 I have nearly 15 years of
life with TBI
 Rehab for 11.5 months
 Successful Outcome
 Advocacy – local and
legislative
Drawing From the Past

5.  Like children
 Impressionable
 Vulnerable
 Impulsive
 Fragile
 Provide Education
 Former teacher
 Current disability advocate
 IL Skills Training
 Support group facilitator
 Been there/done that
 Brain Injury Association of
Missouri Board member, 2nd
term
 Be available for INR
 Missouri Brain Injury
Advisory Council member
 Systems Change

6.  ICANB
 Exposure to many venues
 Abilities
 Availability
 Flexibility with employer
 Graduate Certificate –
George Washington Univ.
 Proving ground
 EXAMPLE TO OTHERS
 Survivors
 Non Survivors
Lead, Follow, or Get
out of the Way!

7.  Financial
 Emotional – Mental Health Issues
 What is primary?
 Brain Injury is
 Lack of support
 Lack of control
 Being a burden
 Spousal exhaustion
“BI isn’t for sissys”

8.  Supporting the survivor
 Financially
 Emotionally
 Dealing with the survivor
 Lack of support for themselves
 Acceptance Counseling for both
 High percentage of relationship failure
 Lack of control over the survivor and situation
 Role change in the family
 Dealing with the burden of caregiving
 Spousal exhaustion
 Focus Change
 Children?
 Friends and family?

9.  Survivors
 Locate a Center for Independent Living
 Four Core Services
 INR – Information and Referral
 IL Skills Training – EDUCATION
 Peer Support – Support Groups/Social Activities, etc.
 Advocacy – Individually, legislatively
 Loss of control
 Find a therapist
 Behavior Modification Specialist
 Goal Setting
 If you/they set expectations high, the achievements will
be higher – within reason
Ameliorating the Struggles

10.  Find respite
 Adult Day Care
 National organizations
 http://www.aoa.gov/
 Find a volunteer position
 Numerous opportunities
 BIAMO
 Locate Support Groups

11.  Survivors:
 How capable are they?
 Driving?
 Vocational Rehabilitation
 Only one Certified Evaluator in the State
 Neuropsychology
 What is their predicted outcome?
 Functional Outcome
 Be sure prediction is not the expectation
 Teacher’s rule
 If you set your expectations low, the
achievement will be low
The Unknown

12.  Continued therapy becomes “education”
 If no long-term cognitive rehabilitation is available
 Family support and training
 Hobbies
 Planners, i.e. Smartphones and pocket PDA’s
 DVBIC.org
 Lash and Associates Publishing
 The internet
 Computer training
 Accommodations through Mo Assistive Technology
 Utilize specific software

13.  Therapy IS education
 IF No long term therapy IS available
 Brain Injuries are NOT progressive
 Survivors CAN learn
 Through various methods identified through
Neuropsychological evaluation
 Find what motivates them

14.  decision-making
 self-reliance
 self-confidence
 Malingering
 Illnesses not taken seriously

15. SOMETHING they can do that is positive

16.  SSDI
 Benefit Specialists assist those who wish to work
 SSI
 Limited income potential
 Available to survivors injured before age 22
 Retirement
 If previously employed long-term?
 MO. HEALTHNET
 PRIVATE INSURANCE
 PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT
 VR
 Testing
 Driving

17.  The Independent Living Center, Joplin
 George Washington University
 Coursework for the Graduate Certificate in
Educational and Transition Services
 Experience
 PROFESSIONALS LIKE YOU