Welcome to BIA-MA
Accidents happen. Brain injury happens. We can help!
In the blink of an eye, everything changes; nothing is as it was before. How will you identify brain injury if it happens to you or to someone you love? How will you cope with it? What resources will you need? Where will you find them? The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts is here to help with information for brain injury survivors, family members, caregivers, professionals and others. To meet people whose lives have been impacted, visit "Faces of Brain Injury"
Please Consider Donating to the BIA-MA Annual Appeal
Roberto Cabral suffered many injuries in 2013 when he fell two stories, and though his body healed, his brain injury remains.
“I was suddenly unable to do the things I once enjoyed, struggling to come to terms with my injury, frustrated and angry.”
With the help of BIA-MA support groups and other programs, Bob began to embrace his injury: he added running to the list of things he now enjoys and fundraises for causes important to him, including the 2017 Falmouth Road Race on behalf of BIA-MA; volunteers his time at a vocational rehabilitation program for individuals with cognitive, developmental or intellectual disabilities; spends more time with his family and checking things off his “honey do” list. He has found ways to enjoy most of the things he used to, just a little differently. Bob now believes his adjustment period is over and credits BIA-MA with helping him to get to a happy point in his life.
Each year there are over 67,000 new cases of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Massachusetts. A brain injury doesn’t just affect one person- it happens to their entire community. Family, friends, teammates, co-workers are all affected by a single brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts is committed to helping all those affected by brain injury through Programs for Prevention, Education, Advocacy, and Support.
You can help! Your support is key in delivering these brain injury programs. Would you please consider donating through www.biama.org/donate to help us achieve our mission? Your gift has the power to create a better future for brain injury survivors and their community.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Unmasking Brain Injury Project
BIA-MA is pleased to announce our partnership with the Unmasking Brain Injury Project! Our goal is simple – offer every brain injury survivor the opportunity to create their own mask, tell their own story, and provide opportunities for the masks to be displayed in public places. Collectively this project partners with brain injury agencies across the country – and we are proud to join their ranks to illustrate brain injury and its impact.
Follow along with us via social media and stay tuned for upcoming events where the masks will be on display. Interested in getting involved? Contact Cynthia Cardeli, Dir. Programs & Services, at 508-475-0032 or ccardeli@biama.org
Upcoming Events
| Event | When | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ABI Clinical Series: The Aphasias and other Language and Verbal Output Disorders Associated with Acquired Brain Injury |
Jan 17, 2019 | This training has been developed to provide participants with an understanding of the types of cognitive-comunicative disorders associated with different types of Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI). Learn more and Register |
| Brain Injury Advocacy Day |
Feb 12, 2019 | Join us on On Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at the Massachusetts State House at the Great Hall on the 2nd floor at 11:00 a.m. Learn more. Register Now! |
NESN Celebrity Spotlight with Nicole, Ryan, and Madeline!
If you were watching the Bruins game on November 15th, chances are you saw some familiar faces in the NESN Celebrity Spotlight!
Nicole Godaire, BIA-MA Executive Director and Speakers Bureau members, Ryan and Madeline, were featured in the Celebrity Spotlight Series featuring concussion, in partnership with Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. We are proud of our long standing relationship with Spaulding and all of the work they are doing in the line of brain injury care, rehabilitation, and research. Wonderful job Ryan and Madeline – thank you for lending your stories to highlight this important issue. Watch now
David Dwork President of Board of Directors
The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MIA) recently appointed David Dwork, ESQ., president of the board of directors. For more than 30 years, Dwork has dedicated his career to traumatic brain injury (TBI) litigation and helped guide brain injury survivors through the complicated legal process
of trials and out-of-court settlements.Dwork is a magna cum laude graduate of the Boston University Law School and a former Assistant District Attorney for Middlesex County. He is a lecturer in civil litigation as well as being the author of several scholarly articles.
Dwork is preceded by Teresa Hayes, who served as president of the board for five years, and recently received the BIAA Award of Excellence for Affiliate Association Leadership. Read more.