THE Challenge! Spring 2011

23
THE Challenge!
State
Affiliate
News
Arizona
The Brain Injury Association of Arizona unveiled a re-developed
online version of its Information and Referral Program. Through
this online version, consumers and professionals can easily
access brain injury providers in Arizona as well as articles about
brain injury and living with brain injury. Go to www.biaaz.org
and click on “Resources” to access the information.
Arkansas
The Brain Injury Association of Arkansas welcomed two new
board members this year. Anita Andrews, MA, LPE, who is
interested in promoting education and prevention within the
state, and Sonja Dillard, an individual with brain injury, who
will focus her energy on making a difference for TBI survivors
through education and awareness. New executive board
members elected for the 2011-2012 term are Dana Austen,
president; Kortney Coats, vice president; Loretta Alexander,
secretary; and Drake Mann, treasurer.
Iowa
The Brain Injury Association of Iowa held its19th Annual State
Conference, “From Concussion and Coma to Community,” at
the Sheraton in West Des Moines, IA. BIA of IA is also hosting
numerous “Lunch and Learn” opportunities throughout the
year and Certified Brain Injury Specialist testing sessions. For
more information on any of these events or to register, visit
biaia.wildapricot.org. BIA of IA announces Kay Graber, vice
president of its board of directors, was recently nominated
and selected to receive a regional “9 Who Care” award for her
commitment to and work with the association statewide and
nationally. Ms. Graber also received a $500 check to go to a
charity of her choice and selected the BIA of IA as the recipient.
She was also nominated for the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Award and will travel to Washington, D.C., this summer for this
national event.
Nebraska
The Brain Injury Association of Nebraska celebrated Brain
Injury Awareness Day at the Nebraska Capitol on March 9,
2011. BIA-NE hosted a legislative briefing in the morning and
a proclamation signing in the afternoon. BIA-NE helped to host
the 5th Annual Brain Injury Conference in Kearney, Neb., May
19-20, 2011. BIA-NE’s first ever "fun-raiser" was held at the
Big Apple bowling lanes in Kearney on May 19.
THE Challenge! | Spring 2011
New Jersey
The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey helped to support
the passage of A-2743, concussion legislation to protect student
athletes across New Jersey’s interscholastic youth sports
programs. Governor Chris Christie signed the measure into law
in December 2010. A copy of the Advance Law can be read at
www.njleg.state.nj:us/2010/Bills/AL10/94_htm. To learn more
about BIANJ’s advocacy efforts visit www.bianj.org.
North Carolina
The Brain Injury Association of North Carolina hosted its annual
Ride for the Rock in March and five walks statewide for its
annual Walk & Roll-athon in March and April, and a 5K run in
Raleigh. For a complete list of upcoming events, call 1-800-377-
1464 or visit www.bianc.net. With the support raised from these
events, BIANC will spread awareness, train professionals and
provide support to families, military and caregivers.
Ohio
“Letting gratitude be our attitude!” has become the Brain Injury
Association of Ohio’s rallying cry. Recently, BIAOH celebrated
the opening of two Community Support Network (regional)
offices in Dayton and Kent, collectively serving 11 Ohio
counties and home to an estimated 17,700 Ohioans living with
brain injury. Thanks to Ohio’s Federal TBI Program Grant,
and the generosity of Goodwill Easter Seals of Miami Valley
and the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County,
which helped in housing and mentoring the association’s
newest CSN Coordinators. BIAOH recognizes its ongoing
partnerships with programs benefiting OEF/OIF service
members and veterans, such as those administered through
the Ohio National Guard, Ohio’s Family and Children First
System and OSU’s TBI Model Systems Program, to combine
forces to better recognize and accommodate the needs of
children and adults with brain injury. BIAOH focused on Brain
Injury Awareness Month activities during March; Legislative
Advocacy Day in the Statehouse Atrium on April 14 (sponsored
by the Developmental Disabilities Council & Nisonger Center
for Excellence), the 5th Annual Walk for Thought in Columbus
on May 28 with planning underway for other locations on
alternate dates. BIAOH will host its 30th Annual Meeting
and Conference October 27-28, 2011, at the DoubleTree in
Columbus. To learn more about these and other upcoming
events visit www.biaoh.org.