Author: Dorey Roland Savio

Annual event will honor the contributions of Brian D. Greenwald, M.D.

Albany, NY — Supporters from across New York State and the country are participating in March On for Brain Injury on Saturday, September 12, an annual event hosted by the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS). Normally, hundreds of walkers gather in four locations around the state for a day of fun and activity, but this year the event will be completely online so everyone can stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BIANYS is pleased to spotlight Brian D. Greenwald, M.D., as the Statewide Medical Honoree. Dr. Greenwald has made significant contributions through his decades of service and commitment to brain injury survivors in the field of rehabilitation. He is currently the Medical Director at the Center for Brain Injuries and the Associate Medical Director of Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, New Jersey. He is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Core Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University. Learn more about Dr. Greenwald here.

“We are thankful that BIANYS has recognized Dr. Greenwald’s commitment to advancing what’s possible not just for our patients with brain injuries but for patients everywhere,” said Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., Medical Director of JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. “Dr. Greenwald and the Center for Brain Injuries is researching innovative treatments to improve outcomes so people with brain injuries can live their best lives.”

The online program will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 12. Anyone can participate by making a donation at marchon.bianys.org, taking video and/or pictures of their walks and posting them to social media using the #MarchOn2020 and #WhatsYourWalk tags. These posts will be part of the program on September 12 and will be shared by BIANYS.

We’re still here and stronger than ever. So much has changed around New York and continues to change one region at a time. As a statewide organization, we strive to bring brain injury survivors, caregivers and professionals together, to be a touchstone for the community and the voice of brain injury.

This is and always will be the case, it will just look a little different now.

All BIANYS events will be virtual through the end of 2020. This includes the March On for Brain Injury family fun walk, the Journey of Hope Gala, the Annual Conference and Professional Symposium.

All BIANYS-affiliated in person Support Groups and in person Chapter meetings will be virtual, where available through September 7, 2020 (Labor Day). Please check with individual support group leaders or your Chapter Chair for details.

For our in-person, now virtual events, here’s what we know:

• The March On for Brain Injury family fun walk will take place virtually around the state on Saturday, September 12, 2020. Staff are working diligently to organize a fun, inclusive, interactive event that brings the community together. Follow us on social media and go to bianys.org for more information in the coming weeks.
• The Annual Conference, originally scheduled for June 10-11, is postponed to a one-day virtual conference taking place on Friday, October 16, 2020. We are working to determine how best to bring this event to the brain injury community.
• The Journey of Hope Gala will take place virtually on November 5, 2020.
• The Medical Symposium, originally scheduled for June 12, is postponed. BIANYS will be hosting a virtual Medical Symposium on Friday, December 4, 2020. More details will be available in coming months.

At this time, all BIANYS staff continue to work from home and are available to help you with questions about brain injury resources and information. The FACTS Program and its coordinators continue to manage their caseloads and provide consultations and intakes for potential clients.

If you need information or resources about brain injury, or have questions about events, please call us at 518-459-7911 or email info@bianys.org.

We are so proud to be part of such a supportive community. Your support is more important now than it ever was- please consider making a donation or becoming a member today.

The health and well-being of our supporters, staff and families is our number one priority. The decision to switch to virtual events was not an easy one, and we recognize how disappointed some of you are. We will be together again one day.

So here we are- it’s Spring, April is almost over and New Yorkers continue to do the right thing by banding together to stop the spread of COVID-19. If we stick with it, we’ll see the other side of the pandemic soon and be stronger than ever.

All BIANYS staff continue to work from home and are available to help you with questions about brain injury resources and information. The FACTS Program and its coordinators continue to teach us the best ways to stay on task at home, manage their clients, and provide consultations and intakes for potential clients. As for BIANYS’ events, here’s what we know:

• All BIANYS-affiliated in-person support groups and in-person Chapter meetings are cancelled through May 31. Some Chapters and support groups are meeting by telephone or video; please check with individual support group leaders or your Chapter Chair for details.
• The Annual Conference, originally scheduled for June 10-11, is postponed. We are working to determine how and if we are able to bring this event to the brain injury community at a later date.
• The Medical Symposium, originally scheduled for June 12, is postponed. BIANYS will be hosting a virtual Medical Symposium on Friday, December 4, 2020. More details will be available in coming months.

Other events such as the March On for Brain Injury (September 12 & 26) and Journey of Hope Gala (November 5) are still on the calendar, but BIANYS staff are also preparing for these events to be virtual if public health and government authorities deem it unsafe to gather for in-person events.

The health and well-being of our supporters, staff and families remains our number one priority in these difficult and uncertain times.

Anyone needing information or resources about brain injury, or with questions about events, please call us at 518-459-7911 or email info@bianys.org.

We are so proud to be part of such a supportive community. Your support is now more important than it ever was- please consider making a gift or becoming a member today.

We will meet again. Until then, stay home and take good care of yourselves.

With the rapid spread of COVID-19, we are reminded of the need to take care of our community, our families, ourselves and the broader public. A few weeks ago, we had to make the difficult but necessary decision to cancel all BIANYS-affiliated support groups and Chapter meetings until April 6. Now, we are announcing that all BIANYS-affiliated support groups, Chapter meetings and events are cancelled through the end of May 2020.

The health and well-being of our supporters, staff and families is our number one priority. At this time, all BIANYS staff are working from home. We anticipate no interruption of regular business – we’re still here to take your calls and answer your questions. Our FACTS Program is still up and running, doing intakes and consultations by phone and video call.

Anyone needing information or resources about brain injury, or with questions about future events, please call us at 518-459-7911 or email info@bianys.org.

You are not alone.

As to the Annual Conference and Medical Symposium currently scheduled for June 10-12 in Saratoga Springs, we can say that we will follow the directives of state, local and federal leaders and will be evaluating the situation as it evolves. Updates will be posted to our website and social media channels.

We are so proud to be part of such a supportive community during times like these. If you would like to support the work of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, you can make a gift on our website.

Stay healthy, stay home and take good care of yourselves.

Download our press release.

The Brain Injury Association of New York State is pleased to present our 2019 Legislative and Administrative Priorities.  New Yorkers with brain injuries face many obstacles on their journey to recovery, often falling through the cracks of the health care system when their injuries are misdiagnosed and misunderstood.  BIANYS advocates for brain injury survivors so that everyone has access to the services they need, and we look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and the Legislature to ensure that the needs of survivors are met.  Our 2019 policy advocacy efforts will focus on:

• Continuum of Care for People with a Traumatic Brain Injury: New Yorkers with brain injuries deserve to get the help they need from the time of their injury to the time they integrate back into their community. BIANYS is proposing legislation that will enhance prevention and outreach, treatment and rehabilitation, and support services.
• Amend the 2011 New York State Concussion Management Awareness Act: BIANYS will work to gain amendments to the CMAA that focus on identifying and implementing paths to achieving a successful Return-to-Life for all New Yorkers that have sustained a concussion. We will also work to achieve amendments that will make the CMAA more inclusive to all New Yorkers with brain injuries.
• Establish a Brain Injury Trust Fund: New Yorkers with brain injuries need specialized services, which come at a hefty cost and are often not covered by insurance. BIANYS will work to establish a Brain Injury Trust Fund as a payor of last resort for brain injury survivors in need.

“BIANYS is committed to improving the lives of New York’s brain injury survivors through improved access to treatment and rehabilitation.  These policy priorities will go a long way to making sure that they are empowered to make their own decisions and have access to the support they need to do so,” said Eileen Reardon, BIANYS Executive Director.

BIANYS is looking forward to working with brain injury survivors, caregivers and family members, along with other advocates and elected officials on these and other issues as the legislative session continues.  Please visit bianys.org for additional information.

Professional Symposium to feature presentations from leading medical professionals on childhood brain injury

36^th Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference will feature Keynote Speaker award-winning reporter and anchor for ABC7NY top-rated Eyewitness News Diana Williams

Annual award recipients whom have made a significant impact on the brain injury community to be announced at the Annual Meeting during the conference

SARATOGA, NY: May 29, 2018 – The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS)a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with brain injuries announces the return of their popular Professional Symposium and Brain Injury Conference to the Spa City.  The Professional Symposium and Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference will return to the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs, NY on June 12-14, 2018. Professionals, brain injury service providers and survivors from across the state are invited to get a first look at industry trends and information to better support and serve individuals and their families impacted by brain injury.

Now in its 36^th year, the organization’s one-day symposium and two-day conference will feature nearly two dozen sessions led by top medical professionals and brain injury survivors, interactive panel discussions and the opportunity to network with professionals in the field of brain injury.   The conference will also feature an exciting keynote address by Diana Williams, award-winning reporter and anchor for ABC7NY top-rated Eyewitness News.

Williams’ son, an F-22 fighter pilot, sustained a severe brain injury in an accident that almost took his life. Williams will address the audience with her story “Halfway There” describing her son’s traumatic brain injury and her family’s steep learning curve through the recovery process.

“Our Professional Symposium and Annual Conference are signature events for the organization,” said Eileen Reardon, Executive Director for the Brain Injury Association of New York State. “Annually, this event draws hundreds of survivors, family members and leading medical professionals with different backgrounds.  They come together, engage with one another and walk away with a greater understanding of this diverse population. Diana William’s personal story and her family’s TBI journey to recovery is truly inspirational and will definitely leave a lasting impression with those that join us for the event.”

In conjunction with the Annual Conference, BIANYS will be holding their annual meeting on Thursday, June 14 at 12 p.m.  The organization will elect its officers and vote on terms for the 2018-19 BIANYS Board of Directors.  Installation will begin promptly at 12 p.m.

Following the meeting, the organization will also announce its annual award recipients all whom have made a significant lasting impact on the brain injury community.

Registration Details
Registration is still open for the Professional Symposium and the 36^th Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference, which will take place at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday, June 12 through Thursday, June 14, 2018.

BIANYS Annual Conference and Professional Symposium is made possible with the longstanding support of: Goldblatt & Associates, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and New York State Department of Health. With additional support from: Avanir, Advocate Homecare, Belvedere Health Services, J&G Associates, Mount Sinai Hospital, Northeast Center for Rehabilitation & Brain Injury, Queens Nassau Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Rusk Rehabilitation Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, and Park Terrace Care Center. This project was also supported, in part by grant number 90TBSG0009 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

For more information or to register, visit www.bianys.org.

SARATOGA, N.Y.: May 22, 2018 –  The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS), a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with brain injuries and their families, announced today they will be holding their annual meeting at the upcoming “One Voice for Brain Injury” Annual Conference on June 14 at 12 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga, N.Y.

The organization will elect its officers and introduce the incoming Board Members for the 2018-19 BIANYS Board of Directors.  Installation will begin promptly at 12 p.m.

2018-2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Barry Dain
President

Cindy Dott **
1^st Vice President

Robert C. Gundersen
Treasurer 

Kaiti Pierce
Secretary

Elizabeth Curtiss**
Judy DeIasi
Ira Dunne**
Kenneth Goldblatt, Esq.
Andrew Hess, PhD
Mary Hibbard, PhD
Emerald Lin, MD
Kelly J. Mikullitz, Esq.
Joyce Norman**
John Kirkwood
John Quinan
Andrew Siegel, Esq.

**Indicates District Board Members.  Each of these members is elected by BIANYS members to represent one of the six districts in New York State.

The meeting is open to the public.  Individuals interested in attending the annual meeting must RSVP by Friday, June 8, 2018 to 518-459-7911.

BIANYS Annual Conference and Professional Symposium is made possible with the longstanding support of: Goldblatt & Associates, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and New York State Department of Health. With additional support from: Avanir, Advocate Homecare, Belvedere Health Services, J&G Associates, Mount Sinai Hospital, Northeast Center for Rehabilitation & Brain Injury, Queens Nassau Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Rusk Rehabilitation Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, and Park Terrace Care Center. This project was also supported, in part by grant number 90TBSG0009 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

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The 36^th Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference – June 13-14, 2018
This two-day conference, which is open to professionals, brain injury service providers and survivors will contain a variety of workshops including: professional presentations, panel discussions as well as delivery of personal testimonials from brain injury survivors and their family members. This year’s conference will feature Keynote Speaker Diana Williams, award-winning reporter and anchor for ABC7NY top-rated Eyewitness News.

About the Brain Injury Association of New York State
The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) is a statewide non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with brain injuries and their families, and promotes prevention.  Established in 1982, BIANYS provides education, advocacy and community support services that lead to improved outcomes for children and adults with brain injuries.

We are happy to share that the 2018-19 NYS Budget included a delay of the transition of the TBI and NHTD Medicaid Waiver programs into Managed Long Term Care until 2022. This means that individuals with brain injury currently on the Waiver programs will continue to receive services until at least 2022.

Additionally, the Executive’s proposal to increase the qualifying assessment level on the Uniform Assessment System (UAS) was rejected by the Legislature and has not been included as part of the Budget.

These were the main issues that advocates discussed at our recent Brain Injury Advocacy Day on March 20. Thank you to all who participated, contacted their Legislators, shared their personal stories, and made sure that the Budget negotiations addressed these important issues.

We want to thank our supporters in the NYS Senate and Assembly and Governor Cuomo for protecting services for New Yorker residents who are impacted by brain injury. We also thank every person who continues to fight alongside us. Together, we truly showed that brain injury is a significant health and social issue deserving support and recognition.

Annual Symposium to return to Holiday Inn Tuesday, June 12 featuring new format and theme focused on childhood brain injury

Education Units (CEU’s) for Certified Brain Injury Specialists and other professionals as well as Contact Hours for Social Work will be provided to attendees

Live stream options available for those who are unable to attend the in-person presentations

SARATOGA, N.Y.: March 8, 2018 –  The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) announced today the return of the Professional Symposium to Saratoga Springs, New York on June 12. This year, the Professional Symposium will feature a new format and theme focusing on milestones in childhood brain injury.

“We are thrilled about the schedule for this year’s Professional Symposium,” said Eileen Reardon, Executive Director for the Brain Injury Association of New York State. “We have leading medical professionals from across the state addressing milestones in childhood brain injury with a focus on a map to recovery. Brain injury is complex, often impacting physical and cognitive abilities.   It is extremely important for professionals working in this field or with children in any capacity to understand the complexity of the issues.”

Professionals and specialists in the fields of brain injury medicine and rehabilitation will come together to learn about advances in treatment, network with other professionals and gain access to cutting-edge research and information.  The new format will also provide an opportunity for educators, athletic trainers ­­­­­­and other professionals working with youth to gain knowledge about childhood brain injury and how to navigate healthcare systems during different stages in the individual recovery process.

This live program will feature four modules focusing on the following presentation topics: Youth Rehabilitation; Transitioning to School; Success in School and Transitioning to Adult Services and Supports. Live stream options are available for those who are unable to attend the in-person presentations.

Conference and Training Details
Registration is now open for the Professional Symposium and the organization’s 36^th Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference.  Both events will take place at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs, New York beginning Tuesday, June 12 through Thursday, June 14, 2018.

Exhibitor booth and underwriter opportunities are still available by contacting Erica Rossin by phone at 518-459-7911 or via email at erossin@bianys.org.