Brain
injuries may be traumatic (the result of damage to brain tissue
caused by an external force, such as car accidents, acts of violence,
falls, sports and recreational injuries) or acquired (the result
of damage to the brain by strokes, tumors, diseases or other
conditions). For information about brain injuries, see these
sites.
The website
of this national organization offers is packed with information,
resources, and interactive opportunities. Topics range from "The
Road to Rehabilitation" to the costs and causes of brain
injury. You'll also find a kids corner, conference listing, and
chat room. Many of the documents are in pdf format.
Though based
in the San Francisco Bay area, this support organization for
caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic
brain injury, Parkinson's disease, ALS and related brain disorders
offers valuable information and support for caregivers everywhere.
Included are an online support group, caregiver consultation
and question-and-answer service; fact sheets and reading lists;
webcasts; a news bureau for reporters; and more. Also listed
under Caregiving.
Maintained
by the Head Injury Hotline, this site provides information, education
and support to foster self-advocacy and self-care centered in
partnership with families and professionals. Don't be fooled
by the simple layout: this site is crammed with information and
resources. Spend some time surfing. You'll find information about
brain injury; resources on doctors, rehab facilities, and lawyers;
resources to develop your advocacy skills; and much more.
One of the
17 TBI Model Systems, the Missouri Project has developed a useful
website that includes a "TBI" primer, FAQs, resources,
links, personal stories, etc.
This organization
focuses on "positive communication between persons with
brain injury, family members/ caregivers/friends of persons with
brain injury, professionals who treat persons with brain injury
and community members in order to create positive changes and
enhance public awareness and knowledge of acquired/traumatic
brain injury." Its web site includes a message board, frequently
asked questions, articles, reference materials, resource lists,
a survivor art gallery, free e-mail service, and more.
TBI-Net
is the web site of the Research and Training Center (RTC) on
Community Integration of Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury,
whose purpose is to "expand our knowledge of 'what works'
to help people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in living
their lives after injury." The site includes FAQs; a searchable
database of TBI-related articles, advice, poetry, and creative
writing from individuals with TBI; information about the RTC
and its research activities.
The Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) Model Systems of Care are federally funded
programs that focus primarily on developing and demonstrating
a model system of care for persons with TBI, and maintaining
a standardized national database for innovative analyses of TBI
treatment and outcomes. There are 17 centers, each of which provides
a coordinated system of emergency care, acute neurotrauma management,
comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation and long-term interdisciplinary
follow-up services. The web site includes general information
about the systems, facts and figures about TBI, and related links.