March: Brain Injury Awareness Month

With March quickly approaching, so does Brain Injury Awareness Month, sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of America.

A Concussion Is a Brain Injury



As it stands, BI is very misunderstood by society and therefore even though 1.7 million people receive Traumatic Brain Injury each year national, which doesn't account for strokes, tumors and other types of brain injuries. With the diagnoses of TBI alone, TBI is 6 times more prevalent than Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injuries, HIV/AIDS and Breast Cancer combined. However, the awareness and funding of service for brain injury is disproportional to the prevalence of the disability. 

Brain Injury Awareness Month was established to raise awareness of Brain Injury and to advocate for timely trauma care, rehabilitation and lifelong services for those who are living with a Brain Injury, their families and care givers.

This year there are several events being planned to raise awareness. BIAA along with the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force are teaming up to host a Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill  on March 16^th. The focus of this year’s event will be on rehabilitation and re-entry into the community after brain injury.

BIAA is also working on a nationwide public service and advocacy campaign of 'A concussion is a brain injury'. Get the facts' through radio and print ads like the one to the right. The campaign aims to educate the public, educators and law makers about sport related brain injuries, especially among children and student athletes.  

Locally, Brain Injury Association of California will also be hosting 4th Annual Statewide Walk For Thought throughout the month of March.  Walks will be in various locations, including Fresno, Bakersfield, Visalia, Chico, Oxnard, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento and San Francisco. The goal, to raise awareness of BI and the needs for persons who have sustained an injury, provide resources and provide prevention materials.

There are many ways for you to participate and get involved! Even just talking to your friends, neighbors and family about brain injury, helps to raise awareness of this disability, one person at a time. Thank you for being a part of raising awareness for Brain Injury.