Brain Injury Association of America

Page Melton Ivie, former Chair of the Brain Injury Association of America Board of Directors, has been a caregiver for more than 20 years. For National Family Caregivers Month, she reflected on how caregivers can alleviate feelings of loneliness or isolation and find community among other caregivers. Learn more about her experience as a caregiver and the support system she has found among friends, loved ones, and fellow caregivers: https://bit.ly/4opJLeK

When Maxey Scherr first started practicing law many years ago, she knew she wanted to specialize in brain injury cases. Having witnessed the profound effects of brain injury on individuals and their families, she was driven to dedicate her practice to helping those whose lives have been forever changed by it. In establishing her own firm, Scherr Law Firm, which specializes in traumatic brain injuries, Maxey says she got to create the life she wanted – blending her experience and career as a lawyer with her passion for the brain injury community. Now, Maxey is taking that dedication a step further as one of our Luminary of the Year Champion Candidates. “Funding has been drastically cut, and this is such an underserved population already,” Maxey says, calling this year “the most important year I’ve ever seen” to support organizations that provide help, hope, and healing to the brain injury community. As a member of the TBI Litigation Group, Maxey has seen firsthand the impact that BIAA has when it comes to supporting the brain injury community. “BIAA comes and helps to educate us and provides resources for our clients, and I got to see firsthand the incredible work that they do. I’ve even introduced my family to BIAA,” Maxey shares, adding that her niece has joined BIAA on Capitol Hill to advocate for brain injury legislation. If you’d like to contribute to Maxey’s Luminary of the Year campaign, visit her fundraising page: https://bit.ly/4qATyjt

Being a caregiver to someone living with a brain injury can be challenging due to the variety of symptoms that the survivor can experience. Our upcoming webinar, Tips for Caregivers: How to Support Common Post-TBI Symptoms, will discuss common behaviors following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and identify strategies for caregivers to support individuals experiencing common post-TBI symptoms and behaviors. Professionals register here: https://bit.ly/4qBdrXK Survivors/caregivers register here: https://bit.ly/4n4VSwl

BIAA's Director of Outreach Programs, Kelly Sarmiento, was the lead author on "What Can a Patient’s Eyes Tell Us About Concussions?" Published last week in ACEP Now, an official publication from the American College of Emergency Physicians, the article explores visio-vestibular examinations, which researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have fine-tuned as a way to augment acute concussion evaluation. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4qEmrLU

It is common for brain injury survivors to experience changes in behavior after sustaining their injury. These changes can be confusing to navigate, both for the survivor and their loved ones. Learn about some common behavior changes that occur after brain injury and how to deal with them in our article Understanding Behavior Changes After Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: https://bit.ly/3X2rZly

The agenda for the 2026 Neuro Rehab Leadership Summit is now available! This year's conference, taking place February 4-6, 2026, at the Sonesta Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, is packed with sessions on staffing and succession planning, technology and AI, public policy and advocacy, and more. View the agenda and register for the premier national conference for executives and professionals in neurorehabilitation here: https://bit.ly/3Wr9rLI

Brain injuries can lead to a variety of physical difficulties that can significantly affect a person’s quality of life, independence, functional mobility, and ability to complete daily activities. Physical therapy after brain injury can play a pivotal role in optimizing a person’s recovery journey and enhancing their functional independence. Learn more about how physical therapy can help with brain injury recovery: https://bit.ly/4hwYdiw

On October 10, the Brain Injury Association of America - Texas Chapter hosted their inaugural Luminary of the Year event! This event was a resounding success, drawing 200 guests and raising over $150,000 to support BIAA-TX's mission. Thank you to the staff, volunteers, and fundraising Champions who made this all possible. Check out the video below to hear how BIAA-TX's work is impacting the brain injury community in Texas.

In sports, the players on the field are the focus of concussion protocols and head injuries. But why aren’t the athletes cheering them on taken as seriously when an injury hits? In recent years, there has been growing concern about the link between cheerleading and concussions. It is essential to understand the potential dangers these athletes face and the steps to protect them. Learn more about the incidence of concussion among cheerleaders and how cheerleaders can be protected from these injuries here: https://bit.ly/4h4uNGR

Last week, BIAA's ACBIS Board of Governors convened at the Collage Rehabilitation offices to plan for the upcoming year and discuss the future of the program. Thank you to all who attended, and to Collage Rehabilitation Partners for hosting the event!