Resources
Facts About Brain Injury
We had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Rolf B. Gainer, Ph.D., the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute at Brookhaven Hospital and the Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute of Ontario (Canada). Dr. Gainer is a psychologist who is involved in the design and operation of community-based rehabilitation programs for people with a brain injury. Dr. Gainer shares his knowledge about severe brain injury in this interview.
Residential Rehab Breakfast Seminars
Through the sharing of knowledge and information, individuals with brain injury will obtain the best possible care and our referral partners will receive the best possible service.
Each spring and fall, we offer a series of Breakfast seminars to anyone involved in the field of Rehabilitation and Acquired Brain Injury.
Where? – Etobicoke Clinic, 59 Beaver Bend Crescent Etobicoke, ON M9B 5R2
416-231-4358 ext. 37122
ABI Day Program
Please join us for a range of events and activities throughout the month
Contact: Kindree Alkins at (416) 231-4358 ext. 37126 or nriogroups@nrio.ca
Senior Day Program
You can also view videos and download articles
Video Presentations
Personal Injury Alliance Supports The Brain Injury Society of Toronto
5K Run, Walk & Roll – September 21, 2013
What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy? — presented by Ann McKee, MD
ACT 2014 — On June 14th, 2014, at Toronto’s St. Michaels Hospital, Daniel Bax launched Awaken Canada Together (ACT). This conference brought traditional and non-traditional treatments for brain injuries into dialogue. Click here for more information on ACT.
Recent Articles
Q & A with Daniel Bax, Inspirational Speaker, Author, Recovery Coach, and ABI Survivor
Daniel Bax is a motivational speaker and recovery coach who was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 2005. Daniel has an amazing story and loves to share his experiences with others. Motivated by his own struggles and successes, Daniel now gives talks to medical professionals, rehabilitation providers, traumatic injury survivors and more.
Special Video Message from Daniel Bax
Unlocking the Myths: Keys to Success – Effective Behavioural Strategies for Children and Youth with Acquired Brain Injury – Presented by: Catherine Dodds and Rebecca Swift-Weir
One of the most distressing consequences of acquired brain injury is personality change and challenging behaviour. Family members of children and youth with ABI often report that they can cope with changes in their child’s physical and cognitive needs, but it is the behavioral issues, which impact on the child’s ability to learn and to complete daily routines, that they find the most difficult to understand.
Behaviours that emerge after a brain injury are unique to each child and are usually linked to cognitive issues. What is often labeled as “acting out” or “inappropriate behaviour” may actually be a result of loss of cognitive skills which have been affected by the injury, such as confusion about what is expected, difficulty understanding abstract language, lack of insight into limitations and memory impairment, to name a few. Children with ABI cannot benefit from consequence-based models of behavioral intervention when the injury impacts their ability to remember rules from day to day, nor when they are unable to anticipate the consequence of their behaviour.
This interactive workshop, designed for parents as well as professionals, will introduce participants to an approach to managing challenging behaviours in children with acquired brain injury that focuses on interventions which anticipate behaviour rather than react to behaviour.
Participants will explore their own ideas of challenging behaviours and will build a strategy keychain to effectively work with children with acquired brain injury who exhibit those behaviours.
Our son, SM was involved in a catastrophic MVA in Alberta in February 2013. He was 24 years old. SM was clinically diagnosed with TBI and associated quadriplegia and remained comatose for an extended period of time. Repatriation to Ontario occurred in May 2013 and SM was admitted to NRIO Mississauga in July 2013 and upon his arrival he was clinically “vegetative.” Today, four years later, due entirely to the dedication, care and compassion of his entire NRIO team, SM has progressed to a “conscious” state and continues to improve at a cognitive level. He remains non-verbal, but he is able to communicate his various moods and feelings through unique vocal sounds and cognitive expressions. Beyond the day to day “institutional” therapies and activities at the residence, NRIO also assists our family with providing staff resources and necessary supplies and assistive devices to accommodate five family cottage visits annually as well as home visits every Sunday. His recognition and trust of stable and familiar faces significantly reduces anxiety and provides him a comfortable and safe environment. SM has a “long road” and we are all well aware that his map has no defined destinations. However, we do know that the team at NRIO are committed to the entire journey and will continue to carry SM along throughout his recovery. Please know, our gratitude, appreciation and admiration for Team NRIO, is beyond words. Hopefully, one day, SM may be able to provide them.
-Mr. and Mrs. M.-
