Brain Injury Association of America - Maine

The MidCoast Stroke Support Group meets in Brunswick on the first Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, September 4. Details below!

Early bird pricing on registration for the 15th Annual BIAA-ME Conference on Defining Moments in Brain Injury ends tomorrow, 8/31! The conference is happening on Monday, September 30 in Portland. Learn more about the conference and register here today: https://www.biausa.org/find-bia/states/maine/defining-moments-in-brain-injury-conference

Overdose Awareness Day Event - Machias

Healthy Acadia, Downeast Recovery Support Center, and the Washington County Community Action Team will host a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, at the University of Maine (Machias), in the green space across from Merrill Library to honor and remember those lost to overdose.

Keep reading: https://healthyacadia.org/blog/overdose-awareness-day-candlelight-vigil-to-be-held-in-machias?mc_cid=f64ec6ca14&mc_eid=71e5bee35e

Falls prevention is important for preventing brain injury. Check out these classes being offered by Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

Have you signed up for NAMI Maine's and the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services' Supporting Veterans' Resilience Symposium at USM on September 11th?

Meet Keynote Speaker, Iraq War Combat Veteran, and holistic healing advocate, Tom Voss, and receive an educational swag bag, free lunch, and parking.

Summit topics include:

Utilizing veterans’ safety plans and the safe storage of fi****ms and medications.

What happens when you request a law enforcement welfare check.

A panel discussion regarding the reintegration into civilian life with veterans and family members.

How to talk to kids about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Healthcare providers connection to veterans and the Maine Medical Association’s Veteran Su***de Prevention Toolkit.

Veterans, Service Members, and Family Expos. - Peer Support Programs, and Alternative PTSD Therapies.

Go to https://www.maine.gov/veterans/ and click on the Supporting Veterans' Resilience Symposium button. We look forward to seeing you there!

The NAA () and American Stroke Association () have created a new, personalizable aphasia ID card!

Read my latest blog post to learn more: lotusslp.com/blog (link is in my bio and today’s stories).

This new aphasia ID card is available at aphasia.org/aphasia-id-card

The Union Brain Injury Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, September 4. Details below!

NVME is offering free workshops and classes in September that are designed to help you build your career, start your business, and manage your money.

Check out our schedule for this month and beyond and choose a class that's right for you!

bit.ly/NVMEClasses



New Ventures Maine is a statewide program of the University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine System.

DId you know that Maine CITE offers short-term Assistive Technology (AT) device loans? You can trial AT devices before making a decision on a purchase, or you can request a loan for a short-term support. Our AT device lending library empowers you to find the right Assistive Technology to meet your needs. Check out AT4Maine.org today!

Using InTandem to Improve Walking and Ambulation for Chronic Stroke | MedRhythms Looking to learn about new treatments for chronic stroke walking impairment? Sign up to learn about rhythmic auditory stimulation and how InTandem delivers this intervention in a science-backed, use-at-home medical device.

Share your experience as a brain injury survivor, family member/caregiver, friend, or professional in Maine! The Maine Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Council wants your feedback. Please consider sharing your experience through one of the upcoming public forums or in writing. You can mail, email, or fill out this quick online form to submit written comments: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ABIAC2024 In-person forums will be held in Standish, Fairfield, and Presque Isle this year.

The Western Maine Brain Injury Support Group meets in Rumford on the first Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 3. Details below!

Anxiety is common after . Luckily, There are many resources and techniques to help manage this. Learn more with this factsheet. https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/changes-emotion-after-traumatic-brain-injury

Do you need to modify your workspace to overcome a barrier? Did you know AT4Maine.org has a Well Desk Adjustable Standing Desk (Item ID #177275) in our lending library? This is a simple, adjustable, tabletop device to accommodate different work heights for your keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Every Monday at 10 am the Aphasia Center of Maine hosts a virtual gathering of folks impacted by aphasia called Aphasia Connections. Learn more and register here: https://www.aphasiacenterofmaine.org/connections-events

Saving can be challenging, but taking small steps can make a big difference.

Learn more in this free one-hour money management workshop.

✅ Build Your Savings: Wednesday, September 4, online, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. 🌙

FMI: bit.ly/NVMEClasses



New Ventures Maine is a statewide program of the University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine System.

Increased outside activity and warmer temperatures during the summer months mean being even more proactive about concussion prevention—as well as being aware of general concussion symptoms.

Here are our top 5 concussion prevention tips for parents and caregivers:

💧Prioritize hydration & rest: Children should drink their age in 8-ounce glasses of water until the age of 8. Children ages 8 and older should drink 8 8-ounce glasses per day.

🚲Wear helmets & other protective gear: Wearing a helmet doesn’t necessarily prevent children from experiencing a concussion, but it can help to reduce the risk of brain injury or skull fracture.

🛝Supervise play & be aware of surroundings: Make sure playground equipment is age-appropriate, sturdy, and safe—and scope out hiking or biking terrain for family outings, too.

🛥️Be vigilant about water safety: If boating or swimming at a pool is part of your summer plans, check the water depth and clarity for swimming and diving, and take care with setting up at-home activities such as water slides and sprinklers.

🧠Know the signs of concussion. Concussion symptoms present differently in everyone—especially children.

Learn more by heading to our latest blog: https://bit.ly/3A6CZWP

The Aroostook Agency on Aging is excited to introduce Access Points! With twenty locations throughout Aroostook County, you can now easily access the Agency's trusted resources, programs, and services closer to home. Visit aroostookaging.org/access-points to learn more and find the Access Point closest to you.

Portland folks!
Are you a person that receives Section 18, 20, 21, or 29 waiver services?

Are you interested in helping people learn how to advocate for themselves in their person-centered-planning meeting?

This training is for you! During it you will:
- learn about Person-Centered Planning
- learn how to teach others to advocate for themselves
- make real system wide change for others

DRM will be offering a training on September 6th in Portland!

$150 Stipends are available. More paid training opportunities are available when the 6 hour training is completed.

Register today: https://tinyurl.com/y8cd69e7

For more information or to get help signing up, contact:
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: 207.626.2774 Ext. 104

Please join us this Thursday, August 29, 6PM for a virtual ONLINE meeting of the Maine Brain Aneurysm Support Group.

We hope you’ll join us as we greet each other, welcome new folks affected by Brain Aneurysms, and continue to share challenges and concerns with others who have been through similar experiences. All are welcome to join us.

For more information about the Support Group- visit our new website at: www.MaineBA.org

PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected] to REGISTER for the meeting and we’ll send you the REQUIRED LINK to join the meeting by internet video connection or by phone.

AND IT’S TIME TO REGISTER for the: KAT-Walk & Karo-5K for Brain Aneurysm Awareness, September 22, 2024 Portland, Maine. We look forward to welcoming you and your family at this year’s event. For more info, to pre-register, or to donate, visit our website at: http://www.MaineBA.org

Families of patients with severe traumatic brain injury are often asked to make decisions about the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment within days of injury. But a recent study in the Journal of Neurotrauma found that both doctors and patients’ families are likely to make better decisions if they wait even a few days longer than they normally would. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/471TLCT

Register for the 15th Annual Conference on Defining Moments in Brain Injury today! The conference will be held on Monday, September 30 in Portland, and early bird pricing is good through 8/31! Learn more about the conference, check out the brochure, and register here: https://www.biausa.org/find-bia/states/maine/defining-moments-in-brain-injury-conference

More than 20 percent of adults in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI) in their lifetime. Among the military population, that percentage more than triples, with approximately 67 percent of veterans having experienced at least one TBI. Learn more about TBI in veterans here: https://bit.ly/3Xc678j

Be There for ME is a judgement-free place for parents and caregivers to get connected to support. Learn more: https://bethereforme.org/

Seeking new career options? Sign up for My Next Career Move.

Our professional staff will help you:
✅ assess your skills, interests, and experiences to figure out what career options might be best for you
✅ explore those possibilities and identify training and certification options
✅ strengthen your resume for a targeted job search
✅ create an action plan to achieve success

This class is self-paced and offered at no cost to participants. Begin anytime after September 1 and work at your own pace.

FMI and to sign up: bit.ly/NVMEClasses

Graduates of My Next Career Move are eligible to apply for the GEN Scholarship to be used at any University of Maine System University, any Maine Community College, or the University of New England.



New Ventures Maine is a statewide program of the University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine System.

The Standish Brain Injury Support Group meets on the last Thursday of each month, and the next meeting is on Thursday, August 29. Details below!

Truth.

Need a copy of the Maine Brain Injury & Stroke Resource Directory? Call 800-444-6443 or click here to download a PDF version:https://www.biausa.org/wp-content/uploads/BIAA-Maine-Resource-Directory-8th-Edition-2024.pdf

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Congressman Bill Pascrell. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, staff, and all who had the privilege of working with him. His departure is a tremendous loss to the brain injury community.

Congressman Pascrell's legacy is deeply intertwined with his unwavering commitment to individuals with brain injuries. As the founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001, he provided a powerful voice to support people with brain injury. Each year under his leadership, the Task Force held Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, which was fueled by his tireless advocacy for this cause. His leadership was essential to the passage of the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act in 2008, 2014, and 2018, the only federal legislation dedicated specifically to address the needs of civilians with brain injury. This law has created and enhanced state systems of support, impacting the lives of countless individuals and families.

This year, Congressman Pascrell led efforts to pass the TBI Program Reauthorization Act through the House Energy and Commerce Committee with strong resolve to include provisions for which the community and people with lived experience advocated. Each year, his dedication to securing funding for TBI Act programs underscored his commitment to improving care and services for those affected by brain injuries.

His advocacy extended to the recent TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act, a crucial piece of legislation that is now enhancing the work of the Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control in addressing brain injury within the criminal justice system. This legislation, which he shepherded with great determination, reflects his deep understanding and respect for the needs of individuals with lived experiences.

Congressman Pascrell's legacy as a true champion for people with brain injuries will be remembered with immense gratitude and respect. NASHIA feels this profound loss deeply and is grateful for the years of partnership that we have had with the Congressman to support our community. We honor his memory by continuing the vital work he championed, inspired by his enduring commitment to those who need it most.