CATBI.org

Archive of Statewide Webinar Series on TBI : Veteran Culture & VA Service Coordination

2011-04-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who participated in our Statewide Webinar Series on TBI : Veteran Culture & VA Service Coordination Webinar. The purpose of the webinar was to Fostering collaboration and cross referral between VA and community organizations to better serve the unique needs of veterans, veterans with TBI and multiple disabilities. On the three webinars, we had various individuals representing the Department of Rehabilitation throughout the state, Independent Living Centers, TBI Service Sites, Community Colleges, Veteran Service Organizations and countless others joining in.

Currently, California has over 2 million veterans living in the state, with another 30,000 returning being discharged every year. Many are coming back with TBI, PTSD, and poly-trauma. The State wide webinar touched on several different points to better serve our veterans on a statewide level.

Brock McNabb and Jeremiah Ridgeway, Readjustment Counseling Specialist with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs touched on Veteran Culture. Both made the point to say, that in order to serve veterans, one must understand the culture, values, language and mentality that they lived by as well as the life experiences they have witnessed that separate them from the Civilian Sector. Once that understanding is made, then the process or assisting in reintegration becomes possible.

Dr. Cynthia Boyd, a Neuropsychologist and Co-Senior Scientific Director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center at Naval Medical Center San Diego presented on What is Unique about Veterans w/ TBI. Dr. Boyd elaborated on the difference between severe, moderate and mild TBI. She also touched on the distinguishing characteristic of TBI, PTSD, chronic pain, medication and substance abuse as many of these can have overlapping characteristics.

Laura Gomez and Alfonzo Molina, from the Department of Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Care System under OEF/OIF/OND Programs. Both spoke on Service Coordination: VA Services and System, what the process is for most vets, what resources are in the community already and how service organizations could fit in.

Finally, Chris Lopez, Former Readjustment Counseling Specialist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and presented on Veteran Outreach and collaboration . Chris presented a veteran perspective of TBI. He severed in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and was medically retired after he was wounded with a TBI and back injury in Iraq in a fire fight.

The webinars have been archived on our website at http://catbi.org/media.html#archives. If you have any follow up questions regarding the webinars, please contact Crystal Loutzenhiser at cloutzenhiser@cccil.org.

Statewide Webinar Series on TBI : Veteran Culture & VA Service Coordination

2011-03-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

Central Coast Center for Independent Living is hosting the second in a series of webinars. This webinar will facilitate collaboration between Independent Living Centers, Traumatic Brain Injury sites and community partners including veteran service providers and community colleges. This is made possible through an ARRA-funded grant (economic stimulus) administered by the Department of Rehabilitation.

Webinars will be regional for Southern, Central and Northern California. The second set of webinars - Veteran Culture & VA Service Coordination will be held in April 2011. Webinars will be regional to facilitate collaboration with regional ILCs, TBI Sites, DoR staff and community partners. You are strongly encouraged to attend the webinar in your region.

Webinar speakers and topics:

Veteran Culture – Brock McNabb

What is Unique about Veterans w/ TBI - Dr. Cynthia Boyd

Service Coordination: VA Services and System - Laura Gomez

Veteran Outreach – Chris Lopez

Moderator – Doug Chandler

Veteran Culture & VA Service Coordination

The webinar schedule is as follows:

Monday, April 18^th 9:00 – 10:30 A.M Southern California

Friday, April 22^st 9:00 – 10:30 A.M Central CA & Bay Area

Monday, April 25^th 9:00 – 10:30 A.M Northern California

Registration and Accommodations:

Please register to participate in this webinar.
Click http://tinyurl.com/TBIStatewideWebinar to register. You will receive a confirmation and log in information.

We recommend early registration to this free webinar as space is limited. If you have trouble registering or to request for accommodation or should be sent seven days prior, please contact Crystal Loutzenhiser at
cloutzenhiser@cccil.org

831-757-2968 (Voice)

831-757-3949 (TTY/TDD)

March: Brain Injury Awareness Month

2011-02-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

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.

Into the Fire : Had To Be Productions

2011-02-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

This was an impactful, fast pace look at what veterans face when they are trying to reintegrate into civilian life and the community. The begining of the play starts in tribute to the title, Into the Fire.

Monterey Peninsula College, the college hosted Had To Be Productions: Into the Fire as part of their in service training for their faculty and staff, in order to address the more than 600 veterans attending the local community college.

The documentary theater featured actors Carrie Gibson and Anthony Curry, reenacting the interviews and stories of eleven veterans with disabilities and their families.

Carrie Gibson and Anthony Curry performing Into the Fire. Click on picture to link to their website and to watch a sample of the production.

Carrie: "The average number of rounds shot in any firefight is 33-hundred."

Anthony: "That's a lot of bullets flying. So you can't expect us not to be reactive. People have been shooting at us and we've been shooting back."

Carrie: "When they shoot at us, we don't duck and cover."

Anthony and Carrie, together:

"We walk, into the fire."

When a soldier is being fired at, moving toward the shooter is actually the safest thing to do. So, instead of walking away, they walk “into the fire.” This training veterans had, that was essential to survival in the military, leads into many of the misunderstood habits caused by the hidden psychological impact that war when they are reintegrating into society as veterans.

At the end of the production, Carrie and Anthony provided a workshop to reflect on the message and emotions brought up in the performance followed by a panel discussion by veteran students attending the college. This was the first time these performers presented at an all faculty event. The faculty seemed receptive to learning more about veteran culture and how to create the space in their classrooms and learn about resources and strategies to veterans "come all the way home."

Salute Trailblazer Roberts on Jan. 23

2011-01-25T15:44:00.000-08:00

One such person from the disability community was Ed Roberts. Roberts contracted polio as a teenager and relied on a respirator to breathe. He is known as the "Father of Independent Living" because he founded the first Independent Living Center in Berkeley in the 1970s. He was the first student with significant disabilities to attend the University of California at Berkeley and later founded the Physically Disabled Students Program on campus.

In 1975, he was named the director of the California Department of Rehabilitation and was instrumental in the implementation of regulations that established civil rights for people with disabilities. Roberts died in 1995. On Jan. 23, we will celebrate our first "Ed Roberts Day" in California. Recently, U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, introduced House Resolution 1759 to declare the support of Congress for a national "Ed Roberts Day." The resolution was co-sponsored by Central Coast Congressman Sam Farr, D-Carmel, who has been a strong supporter of people with disabilities in our community.

Roberts was more than an important figure in disability history. He did not find his way into this column because of his impressive resumé. For me, his legacy will be the way he approached his life and his philosophy toward other people with disabilities. When he was told he could not attend UC Berkeley, he fought until he was allowed to do it anyway. When no one expected him to marry and have a child, he did those things anyway. When very few people with disabilities worked, he found leadership positions and excelled anyway. He taught other people with disabilities that they had a right to make choices for themselves instead of having them made for them. His slogan, "Nothing About Us, Without Us" is a core value of the disability-rights field today. On Jan. 23, take a moment to recognize Robert's legacy. As people with disabilities, we have all been told what we can't do, but perhaps, like Ed, you can just do it anyway.

In many ways, Ed Roberts parallels that of many those who acquire a traumatic brain injury and are left with a drastic change in how they will continue to live and navigate their lives. Ed Roberts life and legacy was essential not only to the disability movement of the past, and as he would put it, we are still "working toward our preferred future."

Denika Boardman is the systems change coordinator for Central Coast Center for Independent Living. She writes a monthly column on "Disability Awareness" that appears in Opinion.

Salute trailblazer Roberts on Jan. 23

By Denika Boardman • Disability Awareness • January 4, 2011

For a person with a disability, it can be difficult to find role models or leaders to look up to. I think that's why having some understanding of disability history is so important. People look up to other people whom they know have had similar experiences — people they can relate to; people who have transcended their situation in life and taught society lessons that it needed to learn.

Life After Brain Injuries - from the Los Angeles Times (January 24, 2011)

2011-01-24T21:23:00.000-08:00

Just posted this article to the CATBI website Newsroom (http://www.catbi.org/media.html#newsroom). Check it out if you get the chance! Neal

Traumatic Brain Injury Online Resources

2010-12-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

The online world are full of potential resources you can use related to Traumatic Brain Injury. There are a few that are worth highlighting.

l Brain Line: Traumatic Brain Injury and Head Injury Resources
l http://www.brainline.org/
l Brain Line provides a wide range of information regarding TBI, from what TBI is, to informative videos and podcast, to headlines in the news, to resources for those with a TBI, caregivers and professionals.

l Traumatic Brain Injury Services of California

l http://www.tbisca.org/

l CCCIL, in addition to being a Independent Living Center, is also one of seven TBI Service Sites in California. The mission of TBISCA is to ensure that adults with a traumatic brain injury have the necessary services to enhance self-sufficiency.
TBI sites core services include, Information and referral, community reintegration, supported living, vocation services.

l Brain Injury Association and Brain Injury Association of California

l http://www.biausa.org/

l http://www.biacal.org/

l Brain Injury Association is a nation wide organization brain injury advocacy group of which the Brain Injury Association of California is a member of. Both provide excellent resources, webinars and advocacy on both state and national level

Media Outreach Handbook

2010-12-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

We have a new update on the CATBI.org website. In a previous post we had updated posting the Expanding TBI Services Manual. The manual covers many aspects of our development of a model for California and strategies to build capacity to serve civilians and veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Another integral part of the manual is our Media Outreach Handbook. What we have just posted to our main page for reference and can be found on the home sidebar. This comprehensive handbook to aide TBI organizations in conducting media outreach was developed in a collaborative effort with the media-consulting firm, Paschal Roth Public Affairs.

In the handbook, the concept of ‘earned media’ or publicity outside the realm of paid advertising. Also included are ways to create a story that will resonate with the press such as Role of the expert by providing a human element and including a human focus and responding to what is going on in the news.

One of the more recent trends in media has been a shift in emphasis positive local, or community oriented stories. The handbook provides samples of a news advisory, press release, sample statement, news article and letter to the editor that have been generated throughout the project for reference.

Hopefully, these will serve as a solid resource as another way to outreach for people with TBI through media.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

2010-12-01T16:12:00.000-08:00

On Friday, December 3rd, will be the 29th annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day was established by the World Program of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982.

This day was established to cultivate an increase level of awareness and understanding of disability issues in our global society with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities. Part of this day is to advocate for the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities. The ultimate goal is to make it possible for those with disabilities to have full and effective participation in society.

Many people who acquired a traumatic brain injury and live with subsequent disabilities were often those who were at the peak of their physical and cognitive abilities. For teenagers or young adult many receive their TBI from bicycle, motorcycle, and sports accidents. Cops, fire fighters and service men and women receive their TBI in the line of duty. Both groups left to face subtle and extreme differences and abilities, some having to learn how to walk and talk again. Many take time to cope with their acquired disabilities and work hard to make the most of their abilities.

This coming year, on January 23^rd, California will be celebrating the life of Ed Roberts who some deem the the “father of the independent living” movement for people with disabilities and special needs. Ed, who was a quadriplegic due to polio as a teenager experienced what many with a TBI find themselves facing. He used the challenges he faced by society to become a fierce advocate for the disability community.

Although there is a ways to go for complete equality, these two days are milestones in the fight for equality for those living with disabilities and have paved the way for the services, awareness and laws we have today.

Expanding TBI Services Manual

2010-11-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

As part of the Honor Independence Imagine Independence project, it is best to document the process as well as the results. The link below directs you to the updated Expanding TBI Service Manual listed on our main website.

Expanding TBI Services Manual

The manual serves as an accounting of the process used to increase capacity for independent living centers (ILC or CIL) to serve people who have had a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This handbook covers best practices and components of providing services and outreach to people with a traumatic brain injury throughout California.

Returning Monterey County veterans learn to live with traumatic brain injuries

2010-11-16T17:00:00.000-08:00

Two of our own, Doug Chandler and Jeanne Obrien we featured on the front page of the Salinas Californian in honor of Veteran's Day on November 11th 2010. Jeanne is a member of our Honor Independence Veterans TBI Advisory Committee and was interviewed about her experience in the military as well as her experience having a TBI or traumatic Brain Injury from her service. This will link you to the article but it has been listed below.

http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20101111/NEWS01/11110308

Returning Monterey County veterans learn to live with traumatic brain injuries

Group hopes to raise awareness of traumatic brain injury

BY SUNITA VIJAYAN • svijayan@thecalifornian.com • November 11, 2010

For two years after her return to Monterey County, retired U.S. Army veteran Jeanne OBrien wondered about her sanity.

Injured while stationed in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, the Marina resident recalled Tuesday that it wasn't until she went to the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System in May 2009 that she learned the reason for her memory loss, problems with thought and speech processes and motor deficiencies that is keeping her in a wheelchair as a precaution.

Traumatic brain injury, OBrien explains, a condition she received in 2007 while guarding ammunition that was awaiting pickup from another company. OBrien, 40, a driver for the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne division, said a gale force wind had knocked over a piece of plywood which then struck the back of her head. She said her head bounced between the plywood and a metal can used to store the ammunition.

"I can laugh about it now, but it really isn't funny," OBrien said. "The army didn't say I had it [at first]. I didn't find out until I was dealing with [the VA in] Palo Alto. That was two years ago ... two years of wondering if I was going crazy."

As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, a nonprofit organization — the Central Coast Center for Independent Living — hopes to raise awareness of traumatic brain injury among returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and the services available for these men and women as well as their families.

In November 2009, CCCIL received a one-time grant from the California Department of Rehabilitation — made possible through President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, according to its website. The grant enables the nonprofit group to better serve veterans and other survivors of traumatic brain injuries. The Salinas-based organization serves residents of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

The core services the organization provides in the program are support groups, information and referrals on housing and legal issues, technological assistance and self advocacy, said Doug Chandler, the traumatic brain injury expansion project manager, on Tuesday.

"[Traumatic brain injury] is deemed the silent epidemic because it often goes undiagnosed," Chandler said.

The condition is often undiagnosed, he said, because of the similarities in symptoms as post-traumatic stress disorder. Chandler said symptoms of the condition include memory loss, impaired thought processes, and vision and hearing problems.

There are nearly a quarter of a million survivors of the condition within the state, he said. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition affects 1.7 million people and kills 52,000 people a year.

Traumatic brain injury is defined as an injury from an external blow to the head — from a bike or car accident to violence or a fall. Effects from the injury include anger issues, depression and memory loss.

Chandler said the group serves nine veterans right now through the program, which is one of seven throughout the state. The organization is trying to expand its services to veterans, he said. As part of its expansion efforts, Chandler said, an advisory committee of eight veterans with TBI was created to raise awareness and further education efforts. He said the program is also working on providing employment services for those with TBI as part of a pilot project.

There is a sense of immediacy, Chandler said, as the VA deals with a large number of returning veterans.

Officials said traumatic brain injury is becoming the signature wound of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Government reports find that 65 percent of these veterans treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington D.C. were diagnosed with the injury.

Because of her injury, OBrien said, she now stutters — more so when she's nervous. Now on medication, she needs alarms to remember to take them. OBrien said she doesn't read as well as she used to and has major difficulties remembering names and directions.

Bound by a wheelchair for fear of falling and injuring her head further, she said she's learning to walk again with the help of a physical therapist.

OBrien said programs like the one CCCIL offers are crucial for veterans or other people with her condition, especially when it concerns raising awareness among their families.

"It's fantastic, but there are a lot of people I've come across who have TBI who don't know where to go," she said, adding that more publicity for these programs is needed.

Retired U.S. Army staff Sgt. Victor Estrada, 25, of Salinas, is also a survivor.

On Sept. 25, 2005, Estrada said, he was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Iraq. The roadside bomb took out half of his skull, he said, leading to a craniotomy. Estrada said the injury put him in a coma for a month, during which he suffered a stroke. When he woke up, he said, he found out he was paralyzed on his left side.

Estrada said he was in the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division — the "Big Red One" — and came out of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Before Iraq, he said, he served a tour in Afghanistan. For his efforts, Estrada said, he was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star Medal of Valor.

For the past two years, he said, he has been going to the VA in Palo Alto regularly for therapy. Estrada said his left leg is about 90 percent healed and he can walk again. As a patient within the program, he said, his daily routine includes going through recreational and physical therapy, and attending support and cognitive training groups.

While it took him a while to seek help, Estrada encourages returning veterans to get assistance as soon as possible whether it is through support groups or therapy.

"They help you not just cope, but they teach you ways to deal with it to carry on with your life," he said.

Veterans Day : Collaborating to Honor Veterans Year Round

2010-11-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

Entering November implies Veterans day is fast approaching and provides a day as a society to honor all of our veterans who have served in U.S. War.

In California there have been major efforts by communities and families to stretch the spot light on veterans to shine throughout the year. One major effort that started in June of 2007 has been the California State Wide Collaborative started a mother of a marine, Mary Ellen Solano. She started the efforts when she witnessed firsthand, how many veterans were falling through the cracks in society.

The mission of the collaborative is to be a strong voice advocating for a wholistic, compassionate continuum of services, treatment and care for our service members, veterans, families, care givers and care providers. The statewide meetings provide a forum to share information and education, raise awareness, focus outreach and promote strategic partnerships that will streamline and improve access to health and human services for veterans. By building fully integrated partnerships of Federal, State, Local and Community, the collaborative hopes to best support our military and families.

The goal set by Mary Ellen is to “have a county collaborative in all 57 counties in California.” With each community bringing unique needs and services for veterans. Currently, there are have been several collaborative that have branched out from the state wide to meet those needs locally including Placer county, Alameda/East Bay, San Joaquin, Monterey and new ones that are forming in Ventura, Santa Rosa and six other northern California counties.

By continuing to tighten our communication and efforts in California, we can better work to assure that individuals and veterans don’t fall through the cracks but rather can connect with the close nit network that has been created.

Central and Southern California Webinars

2010-10-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we wrapped up our third webinar for our Traumatic Brain Injury Statewide Webinar Series “Improving Service Coordination for People with a TBI”. On October 21^stthe first Central California TBI webinar and yesterday, Monday October 25^th we hosted a webinar for Southern California. In both webinars, Lynda Eaton, a physical Therapist at the Mercy General Hospital continued her presentation about Strategies for Working with the TBI Consumer.

Presenting for the central California webinars, was Jenny Oshiro from the TBI Site - Janet Pomeroy Center in San Francisco. Jenny provided information on the variety of available resources. She emphasized that they offer direct services for San Francisco County but for the outlying areas they act as a resource to allow others to provide accessible services for people with a TBI.

Also presenting for Central California was Tim McKay, who provided a consumer perspective on living with a TBI. Tim is a consumer of Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL) and is on the Civilian TBI Advisory Committee for this project. Tim and Jenny talked about the services and barriers that are specific to Central California. Tim emphasized the difficulties with insurance coverage and the missed opportunities from delays in treatment authorization. The first year of treatment post injury is when the most recovery takes place.

In our Southern California Webinar, we were honored to have five Traumatic Brain Injury Service For California (TBISCA) Sites on the call. In addition to CCCIL and Lynda from Mercy Hospital, also presenting a brief overview of their Southern California region TBISCA sites were Robert Almaraz from the Betty Clooney Foundation and Christina Hutchison from Options Family of Services.

The fifth site present and the main presenter was Claudia Ellano providing an overview of services available through St. Jude Medical Center. She discussed some of the difficulties more rural areas have with getting services. Presenting a consumer perspective from Southern California, James Marshall talked about the challenges of having changes in service providers within an agency. He emphasized the need for continuity of services because of the energy it takes to get a new case worker up to speed and the complexity of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Overall, we were much honored to have such a great group of presenters leading our first set of state wide trainings as well as the participation of all those who attended. You can access the webinar archive at our main website at catbi.org.

October 19th Northern California Webinar Summary

2010-10-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today, on October 19 we had our Northern California webinars, our first of three, Traumatic Brain Injury Statewide Webinar Series titled “Improving Service Coordination for People with a TBI”.

Lynda Eaton, a physical Therapist at the Mercy General Hospital and Traumatic Brain Injury Site for California presented on Strategies for Working with the TBI Consumer. Lynda began by defining Traumatic Brain Injury as being caused from external forces and the difference between those and other types of brain injuries. She detailed the impacts on memory and the physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional and behavioral changes that TBI has on a person.

Strategies she suggested for working with consumer with TBI. One was to have them or assist them with developing a daily routine in order to expend the least amount of mental energy. She suggested that they use a daily planner that realistically estimates task completion times and to spend 5-10 minutes each morning and night going over tasks they need to do for the day. You can also help your consumer by helping them find methods to say focus, rest, and to find their time most brain-intensive work at their most productive time of day.

Presenting a consumer perspective, Robert Cline provided spoke about life with a TBI discussed his journey to learning how to manage his life. This included assistance that he received through American River College and his struggle to find employment. He now works part time with the help of his parents and stated that finding employment is difficult for people with TBI. Robert and Lynda discussed the services and barriers that are including their some of frustrations with loss of time for early treatment due to government and insurance funding. They also spoke about how crucial it has been to connect to knowledgeable community partners to assist others with TBI in getting the services they need.

We were enthusiastic about this first webinar and the feedback we received. We will be doing our next webinars on focusing on the Central Coast for Thursday October 21st, and our Southern California webinar for Monday October 25^th.

Stay tuned for our upcoming set of webinars. In March we will be hosing the VA Services and Systems for Veterans with TBI. In June we will be hosing the Maximizing Community Resources for People with TBI. We are excited to be bringing these trainings to continue the collaboration, relationship building and know how to be able to provide quality services to not only those with a Traumatic Brain Injury and their families, but also all those with disabilities. I would like to thank our participants from CFILC, Department of Rehabilitation, Centers for Independent Living in the region and the California Health and Human Services for taking part in the webinar.

Register for Statewide Webinar Series on Traumatic Brain Injury: Improving Service Coordination for people with a TBI

2010-10-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

Central Coast Center for Independent Living will be hosting a statewide webinar series on Traumatic Brain Injury. Doug Chandler and Crystal Cardenas Loutzenhiser presented information on these webinars at the recent Statewide CFILC Meeting in Garden Grove.

We strongly encourage key community partners to participate. One of our primary goals is to facilitate partnerships with organizations that work with consumers with a TBI to best serve consumers. The webinars will provide training on TBI, present information about the TBI sites in California and provide a consumer perspective on services for people with a TBI.

Webinar Schedule

The first Statewide Webinar Series on Traumatic Brain Injury will be "Improving Service Coordination for people with a TBI". Below is schedule according to region.

Tuesday, October 19^th Northern California 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

§ Lynda Eaton - Mercy General Hospital

§ Robert Cline - California TBI Advisory Board

Thursday, October 21^st Central California 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (This includes the San Francisco Bay Area)

§ Janet Pomeroy Center

§ Tim McKay - Central Coast TBI Advisory Committee

Monday, October 25^th Southern California 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

§ Claudia Ellano Ota - St. Jude’s Brain Injury Network

§ James Marshall - California TBI Advisory Board

Who might you invite to participate?

§ Independent Living Centers

§ Department of Rehabilitation

§ Traumatic Brain Injury Service Sites

§ Disabled Student Services at Local Community and Four Year Colleges

§ Speech Pathologists

§ Neurologists and Psychotherapist

§ Occupational Therapist/Physical Therapist

§ Vision and Hearing Resources and Specialists

§ Senior Network

§ Homeless/Housing Services

§ Rape Crisis Centers

§ United Way

§ Veterans Organizations

How to Register?
Please email Crystal Loutzenhiser : Cloutzenhiser@cccil.org or call at 831-757-2968 to RSVP at least one business day prior to the webinar.

Effective Navigation Tips for using the CATBI.org website...

2010-10-04T07:14:00.001-07:00

Effective Navigation Tips

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Here's more useful information to help navigate the CATBI.org website...

2010-10-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

Browser Help: Tune-up your Web Browser

Alternative methods to browse the Web

A browser is the software that enables you to see or hear Web pages. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, Safari and Opera are popular graphical browsers, and Lynx is a well known text browser. Many individuals who are blind or have impaired vision surf the Web by using screen readers such as Jaws, Window-Eyes, IBM Home Page Reader and Hal, to name a few.

Designed with Usability and Accessibility in Mind

This site has been designed with the intention that all users should be able to read or listen to its content regardless of their Web browsing device. Unfortunately, graphical browsers still do not behave identically.

There is no sure-fire browser guaranteed to render pages as designed without crashing. Selecting the right browser depends primarily on your operating system (Microsoft Windows, Macintosh or Linux).

The list of browsers that follows is intended to serve as a starting point and should not be considered comprehensive. Macintosh users, particularly those using OSX and newer, definitely will want to download a browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer, as this is not being supported on these operating systems.

Mac Browsers

Safari
Opera
Camino
Mozilla
Visit Pure-Mac.com for a list of additional Mac-compatible browsers.

Windows Browsers

Linux Browsers

Get More Out of Your Browser

Whatever Web browsing technology you use, it's a good idea to check for updates a couple of times a year. Newer browsers tend to load Web pages more quickly and to provide more features that allow users to customize viewing and printing preferences.

How to Check Your Browser Version

Look at the top of the browser screen. Above the buttons will be a series of menus, and at the far right is one entitled, "Help." Click on that and go to the bottom menu item. Depending on your browser, it will read something like, "About Internet Explorer," "About Communicator," or "About Opera." Click on that item, and the next screen will show you what version you have. Often, if you are using an older version, the screen will include a link to check for updates.

Make Your Browser Work for You

Most all browsers allow you to adjust the settings in your browser to optimize your Web experience. The specifics of each scenario below will vary among browsers, but the principles are common to all.

Text too small and hard to read - or too large and clunky?

Look at the top of the browser screen. The second or third item from the left will be titled View. Click on this and look at the pull-down menu: in Internet Explorer, click on Text Size; in Netscape, click on Text Zoom; in Opera, click on Zoom. Generally, too, the text size you view is also the size that will be printed.

Tired of printing out pages with the right margin chopped off?

Before you print out the page, click on File, then Print Preview. If you can see that you'll lose the right margin, then go back a step and click on File, then Page Layout. Change the page orientation from portrait to landscape, and perhaps even extend the margins a bit. Now print.

Want to save ink and printing time or, conversely, do you want to print out background images and wallpaper?

Then turn on or turn off "Print Background Colors and Images." In Internet Explorer, this is under Tools/Internet Options/Advanced. In Netscape, it's under Print Preview/Page Setup. In Opera, it's under File/Print Options.

Accessibility Help for Navigating the CATBI.org Website

2010-10-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

Accessibility Help

Navigation

These strategies will help you navigate through this website.

Website Structure & Organization

The CATBI.org website is divided into three levels:

Home page
Level-1 pages
Level-2 pages
Level-3 pages

Home Page

The CATBI.org home page contains navigational text links to Level-1 pages in three places:

The top navigation links are horizontally placed at the top of the web page.
The main navigation links are vertically placed on the right side of the web page.
The footer links located at the bottom of the page. All images are accompanied by ALT-attribute descriptions.

At the very top of the page are three links:

A link to the main content of the web page that your browser is on.
A link to the Accessibility-Help Page (structural description and access instructions).
A link to the footer. Beneath these links are the logo banner and the main navigation bar.

The top navigation provides links that include access to the Home Page, Services, About Us, Contact Us, and Site Map information. Each link may be clicked to take you to where there is information regarding that item.

The narrative content follows below the top navigation and to the left of the main navigation. Beneath the content is the footer information with links to the copyright, top of the page, privacy policy, accessibility policy, and disclaimer.

Level-1 Pages

Each Level-1 page contains menu-style links along the right of the page, with footer links located at the bottom of the page. All images are accompanied by Alt-attribute descriptions.

At the very top of the page are three links: one to the content of the Level-1 page; one to the Accessibility-Help Page (structural description and access instructions); and one to the footer.

Level-2 Pages

Each Level-2 page includes narrative content and, where possible, a text link back to its primary reference page.

Level-3 Pages

Each Level-3 page provides an external link to content that exists outside of the CATBI.org website. Users should click on the browser's back button to return to the CATBI.org web page. Navigation features within Level-3 web pages may significantly differ from the CATBI.org website.

Navigation

You may navigate throughout this site by mouse or by keystroke. Pressing the "Tab" key will advance you to the next link option, and pressing the "Enter" key will take you to the linked document or site. If you need to go back to the previous link, just press the "Shift" and "Tab" keys.

Need help to tune-up your Web Browser? Visit the Browser-Help page on our website.

Learn effective navigation tips to improve your accessibility.

Register for the October 19, 2010 Statewide Webinar Series on Traumatic Brain Injury Integrating CIL and TBI Sites (See instructions below)

2010-09-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

Statewide Webinar Series on Traumatic Brain Injury

Integrating CIL and TBI Sites

DATE: October 19, 2010

TIME: 10:00 – 11:30 am

Register Today!

You may register for this Webinar up to 24 hours prior to the broadcast.

Registration deadline is: October 18, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Please email your RSVP to Neal Albritton at webmast@catbi.org prior to this deadline.

About the Webinar

Thank you for registering! This session will provide education on TBI and discuss the diverse effects of this disability, as well as strategies for providing accessible services to people with TBI.

Presenter Lynda Eaton will speak about regional service needs, resources available for integrated services, barriers and unmet needs from a service provider perspective.

Robert Cline will provide the perspective of a consumer with a TBI. He will discuss the barriers he faced and ways he found to overcome these barriers.

About the Sponsors

The TBI Service Model presentation is made available through a stimulus package grant (ARRA) provided to Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL) and administered through the California Department of Rehabilitation (DR).

About the Presenter

This session will feature Lynda Eaton, PT, of Mercy’s Home and Community Program. Robert Cline is a member of the California TBI Advisory Board.

Submit a Question

Due to the nature of the webinar technology and the number of individuals that are expected to participate, we are accepting questions in advance. Priority will be given to the questions submitted via this medium. Advance questions will be accepted up until 24 hours before the scheduled start of the session. Questions will be accepted through the webinar system during the live session as well.

If you would like to submit a question in advance, please send it to webmaster@catbi.org.

If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login first.

WEBINAR LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS

Prior to the meeting:

You will need to ensure that you have access to:

1. Computer with a high speed internet connection (Dial-up connection will not be affective)

2. Internet Explorer Version 7 or Higher (Recommended for optimal functioning)

3. Soundcard with speakers and/or headphones

4. Ability to download and install the required plug-in (test your system in advance to determine if you have firewall settings that may prevent you from doing this.) Note: You are encouraged to log into the system in advance to ensure you will not have any problems on the day of the event. If you experience problems please refer to our Help Files regarding Firewalls and Proxy Servers at: http://onlineconferencingsystems.com/user_manual/.

You are strongly encouraged to test your speakers/headphones by clicking on the link labeled “Microphone and Speaker Test” at: https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/meeting.jnlp?sid=345&password=M.AD379BCB0A40D3D8C33C6B16A84C0B&username=Test

Attention MAC and Linux Users: You may experience problems connecting to this system. It is important that you test your systems in advance and review all help files if you are experiencing problems. We apologize for any inconvenience and are working with the System developers to address these issues.

On the day of the event:

Neal Albritton will be available in the Webinar Room 60 minutes prior to the scheduled start of this session. If you are unfamiliar with the system or have never logged into the system before it is highly recommended that you login early to address any problems you may encounter.

If you are already familiar with the system and have logged in successfully in the past it is still recommended that you login approximately 10-15 minutes prior to the meeting to ensure that everything is operating correctly.

IMPORTANT: Close all applications on your desktop except for Internet Explorer and then follow the instructions on the next page.

Auditorium

There are two options for entering the auditorium. The preferred method is option #1.

Option 1: Plug-In Method (preferred method for all users)

On the morning of the scheduled Webinar, by 8:30 a.m., you will receive an email from webmaster@catbi.org titled “CATBI October 19, 2010 Webinar Login”. Click on the link which will take you directly to the Elluminate Session Login; enter your name; and then click on the “Login” button.

Note: Moderators and Presenters: Please login by 9:15 a.m.

If you are a Windows PC user, please use Internet Explorer to access these instructions and the Webinar room. If you are using a Mac or Linux computer please skip to Option #2

Make sure the speakers on your PC are turned on and the volume is turned up.

Install our plug-in by clicking on the link in the next step. If your firewall is preventing you from downloading and/or installing the Java plug-in, please call the Elluminate support desk at (866) 388-8674 (preferred) or skip to option #2. (You may also contact Neal Albritton at (916) 947-9008 up to 60 minutes before the webinar begins.)

Click here to download and install the Plug-In.

Once the plug-in has been installed, click here to enter the conference room or click on the link provided in the email you receive the morning of the Webinar.

A dialog box will display prompting you to enter a "User Name." Enter your first and last name in the "User Name" field. Names are utilized to verify attendance for continuing education recognition.

Click the “Log On” button.

Option 2: Web Client Method

You will need to have Java installed on your PC in order to use this option. You can download and install Java by clicking on this link.

If you are a screenreader user please read how to use the web client before entering the room.

Click on the following link to enter the conference room (or click on the link provided in the email invitation sent the morning of the Webinar):

https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/launch/meeting.jnlp?sid=voffice&password=M.A0CC9D062B7C7431A2BFA99D6627F1

Enter your first and last name in the User Name field.

Click the Log On button.

Not able to connect to our auditorium due to a proxy server or firewall setting? Please refer to the following instructional links:

· Configuring Proxy Settings

· Local Firewalls

There are two options for entering the auditorium. The preferred method is Option #1. This method is necessary for screen reader users to ensure full accessibility. If you are using a MAC or Linux Operating system you will need to use Option #1. If you experience problems due to firewalls, etc. try using Option #2 which is a web based client. Refer to our help files regarding Firewalls and Proxy Servers on-line at: http://onlineconferencingsystems.com/user_manual/

During the meeting:

· Make sure that all background programs on your computer (e.g., Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) are closed to improve performance and avoid conflicts with the program.

· You may submit questions for the speakers using the Public Chat area.

Real-Time Captioning

The real-time captioning is embedded into the conference system. To access the live captioning during the session please click on the CC icon found in the bottom right-hand corner. A dialogue box will appear. You can resize the box and locate it anywhere on your screen. You will not see any captioning until the session is scheduled to begin.

Materials

A copy of the materials referred to during the webinar will be emailed to you within 24 hours of the conclusion of the session along with a session evaluation. We value your opinion so please take the time to fill it out.

We hope you enjoy the session!

If you have any questions or need assistance with the webinar please contact us at (916) 947-9008 or via email webmaster@catbi.org.

Tuesday's with TBI : TBI is far from a new concept

2010-09-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Why have people been talking about Traumatic Brain Injury so much recently? It seems to be the new buzzword ever since TBI has been pronounced the ‘signature wound’ of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Yet TBI is far from a new concept, and the limelight being cast on this epidemic is long overdue.

Whether you have a TBI, a loved one with TBI or just want to know more about this complex injury, our new website, CATBI.org, will have something for you. This website and blog is aimed at continuing to raise awareness and educate people and organizations about TBI, and to support consumers and veterans with TBI and their families throughout the state of California.

Visit CATBI.org for our weekly blog updates every Tuesday, where we will be discussing more about what TBI is, what issues are affecting veterans with TBI, the role of caregivers, and how to support the families of loved ones with TBI, among many other subjects. Blogs will also include regular updates on state and federal legislation, resources and new advances in TBI treatment.

Google SafeSearch utility up and running...

2010-06-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

Well the website is coming along! The Search Engine is now up and running on each page. If you have any suggestions or difficulty accessing any of the content, please feel free to e-mail me at: webmaster@catbi.org. Enjoy your weekend! Neal

Welcome to the CATBI.org Blog!

2010-06-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to share that the CATBI.org website went live on Wednesday, June 15, 2010. I am very excited about this project and the opportunity to work closely with CCCIL's Executive Director (Elsa Quezada) and CATBI Project Manager (Doug Chandler).

Feel free to check in periodically for updates from the CATBI team regarding the CATBI Expansion Project and issues and services relating to Traumatic Brain Injury.