Denver Options
05-30-2007, 06:03 PM
May 30, 2007, Denver Colorado - Brain Injury in the United States continues as a national concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control 1.5 million Americans survive a traumatic brain injury each year. That means every 21 seconds a person in the US sustains a brain injury.
These statistics do not take into account the brain injuries being caused by the war in Iraq which is raising these numbers at an alarming rate. Recent data from Ft. Carson, CO suggests17.8% of active duty soldiers returning from Iraq were found to have suffered at least a mild traumatic brain injury (BI).
These large groups of people who have experienced a brain injury face a complicated array of symptoms. These symptoms can include difficulty with memory, pain, problems with communication, fatigue and adapting to a new way of life. One of the most difficult barriers in returning to daily life for the brain injury survivor is finding new types of compatible employment. Combat veterans, accident victims, or people who are recovering from a stroke or heart attack may have to relearn skills and adapt to lasting changes to become successfully employed.
A national conference was organized in response to the growing number of people with brain injury who request employment services and the increasing number of brain injury survivors on professional case loads. Both groups need timely information to create good transitions back to work.
Building Bridges, a Brain Injury Employment Conference takes place June 21, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. It brings together experts who understand the employment strategies that spell success for people with brain injuries. “We have two different tracks in the conference” said Nancy Freemen, conference organizer. “Professionals are attending in order to learn effective ways to work with government entities like the Department of Defense as well as to learn how to use evaluations and assessments that help people with brain injury focus on employment strengths. BI survivors, their families and caregivers, will learn the navigation tools they need for post-injury employment opportunities.”
This exciting first national conference is sponsored by Creative Training ~ Accelerating Talent (CTAT), a division of Denver Options, a non-profit organization. CTAT is a national leader in employment and non-profit organizational training. For the past 16 years CTAT has helped people with brain injuries and other disabilities overcome employment barriers through training and advocacy.
Fees for the one day conference are reasonable: $35.00 for brain injury survivors and their family members, and $85.00 for professionals. For more information about this innovative employment conference or to register, please call 303.636.5727 or go on line at www.ctat-training.com.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in the United States. Also, it has become a common injury among soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans sustain a TBI.
Denver Options is working with the Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund Program to provide care coordination to children and adults with traumatic brain injury throughout Colorado. The Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund provides funding for services; assistive technologies and community resources for one year to help survivors achieve a high quality of life. Every brain injury is unique and survivors need customized resources and services to meet their needs.
Denver Options helps survivors locate hard-to-find resources and services. They are also creating a TBI resources guide. “People who experience a TBI through an accident often have many physical challenges,” said Denver Options’ Christen Mason, TBI services manager. “Once people leave the hospital, new issues emerge and we are there to help people focus on long term recovery choices.”
Denver Options’ training division, CTAT, has created several learning opportunities including a popular TBI Survivor Series that offers monthly interactive sessions on topics like employment, organizational skills and energy and nutrition. They also provide tools and resources to professionals who address the challenging needs of people recovering from brain injury.
Survivors often need very practical solutions to memory and mobility needs. Computers, PDAs, orthotics and wheelchairs can make a positive difference in someone’s life. When helping children with brain injury, the impact on the entire family is considered. Every family needs something different, so Denver Options provides funding for respite care, camps and family therapies that best help families deal with the change and stress related to their child’s brain injury. The ultimate goal of care coordination is to help survivors of all ages build long-term resource networks.
Families and friends of TBI survivors understand the importance of remaining positive and supportive through every phase of recovery. They are often thrown into unknown territory after a brain injury occurs and they are on a steep learning curve to find help as quickly as possible. Denver Options understands that and they stay up-to-date on the services and resources so families don’t have to spend hours on the phone trying to locate assistance for loved ones. For more information about traumatic brain injury contact the Brain Injury Association of Colorado at www.biacolorado.org (http://www.biacolorado.org) or www.denveroptions.org (http://www.denveroptions.org), or contact Denver Options at 1- 866-245-6600 for statewide calls or 303-636-5600 the Denver metro area.
These statistics do not take into account the brain injuries being caused by the war in Iraq which is raising these numbers at an alarming rate. Recent data from Ft. Carson, CO suggests17.8% of active duty soldiers returning from Iraq were found to have suffered at least a mild traumatic brain injury (BI).
These large groups of people who have experienced a brain injury face a complicated array of symptoms. These symptoms can include difficulty with memory, pain, problems with communication, fatigue and adapting to a new way of life. One of the most difficult barriers in returning to daily life for the brain injury survivor is finding new types of compatible employment. Combat veterans, accident victims, or people who are recovering from a stroke or heart attack may have to relearn skills and adapt to lasting changes to become successfully employed.
A national conference was organized in response to the growing number of people with brain injury who request employment services and the increasing number of brain injury survivors on professional case loads. Both groups need timely information to create good transitions back to work.
Building Bridges, a Brain Injury Employment Conference takes place June 21, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. It brings together experts who understand the employment strategies that spell success for people with brain injuries. “We have two different tracks in the conference” said Nancy Freemen, conference organizer. “Professionals are attending in order to learn effective ways to work with government entities like the Department of Defense as well as to learn how to use evaluations and assessments that help people with brain injury focus on employment strengths. BI survivors, their families and caregivers, will learn the navigation tools they need for post-injury employment opportunities.”
This exciting first national conference is sponsored by Creative Training ~ Accelerating Talent (CTAT), a division of Denver Options, a non-profit organization. CTAT is a national leader in employment and non-profit organizational training. For the past 16 years CTAT has helped people with brain injuries and other disabilities overcome employment barriers through training and advocacy.
Fees for the one day conference are reasonable: $35.00 for brain injury survivors and their family members, and $85.00 for professionals. For more information about this innovative employment conference or to register, please call 303.636.5727 or go on line at www.ctat-training.com.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in the United States. Also, it has become a common injury among soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans sustain a TBI.
Denver Options is working with the Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund Program to provide care coordination to children and adults with traumatic brain injury throughout Colorado. The Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund provides funding for services; assistive technologies and community resources for one year to help survivors achieve a high quality of life. Every brain injury is unique and survivors need customized resources and services to meet their needs.
Denver Options helps survivors locate hard-to-find resources and services. They are also creating a TBI resources guide. “People who experience a TBI through an accident often have many physical challenges,” said Denver Options’ Christen Mason, TBI services manager. “Once people leave the hospital, new issues emerge and we are there to help people focus on long term recovery choices.”
Denver Options’ training division, CTAT, has created several learning opportunities including a popular TBI Survivor Series that offers monthly interactive sessions on topics like employment, organizational skills and energy and nutrition. They also provide tools and resources to professionals who address the challenging needs of people recovering from brain injury.
Survivors often need very practical solutions to memory and mobility needs. Computers, PDAs, orthotics and wheelchairs can make a positive difference in someone’s life. When helping children with brain injury, the impact on the entire family is considered. Every family needs something different, so Denver Options provides funding for respite care, camps and family therapies that best help families deal with the change and stress related to their child’s brain injury. The ultimate goal of care coordination is to help survivors of all ages build long-term resource networks.
Families and friends of TBI survivors understand the importance of remaining positive and supportive through every phase of recovery. They are often thrown into unknown territory after a brain injury occurs and they are on a steep learning curve to find help as quickly as possible. Denver Options understands that and they stay up-to-date on the services and resources so families don’t have to spend hours on the phone trying to locate assistance for loved ones. For more information about traumatic brain injury contact the Brain Injury Association of Colorado at www.biacolorado.org (http://www.biacolorado.org) or www.denveroptions.org (http://www.denveroptions.org), or contact Denver Options at 1- 866-245-6600 for statewide calls or 303-636-5600 the Denver metro area.