Author: Dorey Roland Savio

BIANYS ANNOUNCES LOCAL HONOREES FOR UPCOMING MARCH ON FOR BRAIN INJURY 5K AND FAMILY FUN WALK AT SENECA PARK IN AUGUST

Three individuals connected to the local brain injury community to be named this year’s honorees

ROCHESTER, N.Y.: July 18, 2017 – The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS), a statewide non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with brain injuries and their families, announced today that three local individuals have been named the 2017 Honorees for the March On for Brain Injury Event.  The event is scheduled to return to Seneca Park on Saturday, August 26 in Rochester, N.Y.

Now in its fourth year, March On for Brain Injury will feature an inaugural 5K course aimed to attract more participants to the already popular family-friendly event.

“The Brain Injury Association of New York State is pleased to announce this year’s honorees,” said Eileen Reardon, BIANYS Executive Director “We have three outstanding individuals who are personally connected with or are working in the field of brain injury, we are proud that they will serve as this year’s honorees.  Each individual’s connection with brain injury is unique and through their personal stories and outreach we hope to unite hundreds of individuals in Rochester and surrounding areas who have been impacted by this invisible injury.”

The following individuals have been named this year’s honorees:
-Adult Honoree
Evan Pirrello
The Brain Injury Association of New York State is pleased to honor Evan Pirrello.  Evan is an active 27 year old who suffered a brain injury at a very young age.  With the help of his family and many people along the way, Evan graduated high school and college. Today, Evan works at Wegmans, lives in his own apartment and is able to live a happy and meaningful life.

-Medical Honoree 
Dr. Ryan Uribe
The Brain Injury Association of New York State is pleased to honor Dr. Ryan Uribe as this year’s Medical Honoree.  Dr. Uribe is a Doctor of Chiropractic.  He is nationally board certified and has held state licensure in both Kansas and New York.  He has a special interest in problems related to the upper neck.  Dr. Uribe has been studying the craniocervical junction extensively and how it impacts brain function.  He is passionate about increasing awareness of education about how upper cervical specific chiropractic can help patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

-Youth Honoree
Peter Forte
The Brain Injury Association of New York State is pleased to honor Peter Forte ‘Petie’ as this year’s youth honoree. Petie was 14 years old when he sustained a traumatic brain injury spending nearly three weeks in a coma. He underwent months of rehabilitation in order to recover strength and learn to eat and walk again.  Through his journey, Petie got connected with the Brain Injury Association of New York State and to date is continuing his recovery as an active FACTS participant with the support of his family.

The March On for Brain Injury 5K and Family Fun Walk serves as a statewide celebration in building awareness, visibility and understanding of brain injury across New York State. All proceeds from the event will benefit the organization’s programs and services supporting individuals statewide.

In addition to the 5K course, the event will feature a one-mile family fun walk and activities for the whole family to enjoy.  Attendees will gather at Seneca Park.  Registration will begin at 8 a.m. followed by a 9 a.m. kick-off for the 5K run and a 10 a.m. start time for the walk.

Since its inception, nearly $185,000 has been raised through the March On for Brain Injury events to support programs and services provided by the organization.  As part of their statewide campaign, BIANYS will also be hosting March On for Brain Injury in Hudson Valley with satellite walks in both New York City and on Long Island.

March on for Brain Injury presented by iHeartMedia and Mix 100.5 with additional support from Companion Care of Rochester. Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Erica Rossin by phone at 518-459-7911 or via email at erossin@bianys.org.

For more information or to register, visit https://rochestermarchon.bianys.org/

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ALBANY, N.Y.: July 6, 2017 –  The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS), announced today that Isabella Sementilli of Schenectady County has been named Youth Honoree for their upcoming Hudson Valley March On for Brain Injury.  The popular event is slated to return to the Walkway over the Hudson on August 26.

“The Brain Injury Association of New York State is pleased to announce Isabella as our 2017 Youth Honoree for the Hudson Valley March On for Brain Injury,” said Eileen Reardon, BIANYS Executive Director “Isabella is a leader as a youth advocate, raising awareness of both brain injury and bullying. She truly is an inspiration for so many teens who face similar situations.”

In October of 2013, Sementilli an extremely active fifth grader, suffered a serious concussion, fractured tailbone, back and neck injuries after a classmate yanked out her chair as she went to sit down.  Just a few months later, Sementilli suffered a second concussion leaving her with a lasting debilitating headache disorder. She had to stop reading, watching TV and using electronic devices. Tap and tennis were also put on hold indefinitely and replaced by doctor and physical therapy appointments.

“Despite the pain that Isabella faced after her injury, sitting around wasn’t an option for her,” said Isabella’s mother Pola Sementilli.  “Isabella learned to knit and bake and even tweaked a family cookie recipe now selling at our family restaurant, Scotti’s.  Isabella donates to charities and organizations close to her heart.”

Today, Sementilli is an active member of BIANYS most recently participating as a youth leader at the 2017 Advocacy Day and currently serving as a member of the BIANYS Youth Concussion Council. She also actively supports many local and national anti-bullying charities.

Now in its fourth year, the Hudson Valley March On for Brain Injury will feature an inaugural 5K course, a one-mile family fun walk and activities for the whole family to enjoy.  Attendees will gather on the Poughkeepsie side of the Walkway over the Hudson.  Registration will begin at 8 a.m. followed by a 9 a.m. kick-off for the 5K run a 10 a.m. start time for the walk.

Since its inception, nearly $185,000 has been raised through March On for Brain Injury events to support programs and services provided by the organization. As part of their statewide campaign, BIANYS will be also be hosting March on for Brain Injury in Rochester with satellite locations in New York City and on Long Island.

March on for Brain Injury is presented by iHeartMedia and is made possible with the support of longstanding partners Goldblatt & Associates, P.C., and O’Connell & Aronowitz, P.C.  Additional support for the event is provided by: J & G Associates, St. Charles Hospital and NYIT Center for Sports Medicine. Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Erica Rossin by phone at 518-459-7911 or via email at erossin@bianys.org.

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

ALBANY, NY: June 29, 2017 – Athletic trainer and passionate brain injury advocate Douglas Sawyer announced today that he will bike 3,600 miles to raise awareness and funds to support the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS). Sawyer’s ride will commence in Portland, Ore. on July 9 and will conclude nearly four weeks later in Battery Park in New York, N.Y.

“I’ve been wanting to do something like this for years, but finally got the courage to go through with it,” said Sawyer.  “I have such a strong connection with the cause as I know several people that have suffered a traumatic brain injury and have not fully recovered.  It is hard seeing people go through the experience alone. My hope is that this ride will help raise awareness of brain injury and provide much needed financial support for BIANYS.”

Sawyer has been an athletic trainer for more than 20 years and has worked with countless athletes that have sustained concussions. He also serves as the newsletter chair and editor for the New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association, a partner organization to the Brain Injury Association of New York State.

“We are extremely grateful for Douglas’s commitment and dedication to raise awareness of brain injury,” said BIANYS Executive Director Eileen Reardon. “In addition to his athletic ability and his service to the brain injury community, Douglas’s passion and devotion to ride across the country to raise funds for our organization means so much to us.  We wish Douglas and his cycling partner Douglas Forsyth a successful trip and look forward to celebrating with him when he returns to New York.”

An estimated 5.2 million Americans currently live with disabilities resulting from brain injury. Every year, falls, assaults, strokes and other incidents result in brain injury for tens of thousands of New Yorkers.

For more information or to donate to BIANYS, visit www.bianys.org.  For live updates of Douglas Sawyer’s cross-country ride, like BIANYS on Facebook and follow BIANYS on Twitter and Instagram @BIAofNYS.

The Senate is planning to vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act before leaving for the 4th of July, which gives us just a couple of weeks to stop them. All efforts right now are critical! If a bill passes the Senate, Republicans’ dangerous idea of health care reform and their efforts to decimate Medicaid will become a reality. 

The US Senate needs to hear from the Disability Community about the dangers of cutting $800 billion from Medicaid.

ACTION ALERT
We need YOU to call the Senate HELP Committee and Senate Finance Committee.

Call 202-224-5375 for the HELP
Call 202-224-4515 for the Finance Committee

Message
“My name is (your full name). I am disabled and I rely on Medicaid to live independently in my community. Legislation being considered by the Senate that would potentially cut $800 billion from Medicaid must be fully considered prior to being brought to the Senate floor.  I am calling to urge your committee to hold a hearing on this bill rather than allow it to move to the floor without a full review by the committee.

It is imperative that you call now, and then do it again tomorrow, and every day after that while this legislation is still active! The entire Disability Community is depending on you to make these calls and stop this legislation from moving forward.

Concussion Initiative Committee committed to bringing the best of their knowledge across multiple disciplines to create a model that can be replicated nationwide

ALBANY, NY: June 13, 2017 – The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) announced today a Concussion Initiative comprised of leading medical professionals in the various fields of concussion across New York State.  The announcement comes following the statement release of new guidelines, written by an international panel of concussion experts and recently published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The Concussion Initiative Advisory Committee was developed by the organization with an interdisciplinary approach to achieve the following goals: evaluate existing pertinent legislation, identify gaps, and advocate for stronger regulations to ensure successful outcomes; identify and implement protocols to ensure a successful Return to Life strategy for concussion survivors; and lastly to  implement a statewide educational standard for education and health professionals that can be used to serve all New Yorkers.

The committee, which is led by co-chairs Commissioner of Department of Mental Health for Westchester County Dr. Mark Herceg and Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Andrew Hess consists of 22 members.  The committee is comprised of professionals and specialists in the fields of concussion research, brain injury rehabilitation, community resources, education, athletics as well as state agencies. The committee also includes Dr. John Leddy, a professor of orthopedics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, and co-author of the new consensus document.

“We are excited to announce this initiative,” said Dr. Andrew Hess, BIANYS Board Member and Co-Chair for the Concussion Initiative. “This group of professionals has been working behind the scenes for nearly a year and our announcement of this is timely with the recent statement release following the 5^th International Conference on Concussion in Berlin.  The committee is committed to getting the word out about these guidelines and to put New York State on the forefront of what we hope will become a results-driven model focused on concussion prevention and management across all ages and stages of life.”

The efforts of the Concussion Initiative are supported by the recently released Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport. The Statement provides insight into changes in best practices of concussion management, with highlights of the statement including:

• A focus on the use of symptom-limited activity versus full rest for those who sustain concussion
• Clear guidelines on establishing a return-to-school protocol and ensure that it is completed before return-to-play is considered with a focus on mental exertion as well as physical symptoms of concussion
• Rehabilitation, specifically the need for referrals to specialized programs if there is a slow or complicated recovery
• A strong statement on the importance of helmet use in skiing and snowboarding, as well as other sports

A complete list of committee members and their respective institutions can be found on the here.

For more information on BIANYS, please visit www.bianys.org.

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SARATOGA, N.Y.: May 23, 2017 –  The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) announced today they will be holding their annual meeting at the upcoming “One Voice for Brain Injury” Annual Conference on June 16 at 8 a.m. at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga, N.Y.

The organization will elect its officers and introduce the incoming Board Members for the 2017-18 BIANYS Board of Directors.  Installation will begin promptly at 8 a.m.

2017-2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Barry Dain
President

Cindy Dott **
1^st Vice President

Robert C. Gundersen
Treasurer

Elizabeth Curtiss**
Judy DeIasi
Kenneth Goldblatt, Esq.
Andrew Hess, PhD
Mary Hibbard, PhD
Joyce Norman**
Kelly J. Mikullitz, Esq.
Kaiti Pierce
John Quinan
Laurie Rippon**
Andrew Siegel, Esq.
Mercedes C.D. Tartanian**
Angela Leigh Tucker

**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 organization will also recognize retiring Board Member Dr. Steven Flanagan, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Chair at Rusk Rehabilitation for his years of service on BIANYS Board of Directors.

The meeting is open to the public.  Individuals interested in attending the annual meeting must RSVP by Friday, June 9, 2017 to 518-459-7911.

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The 35^th Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference – June 15-16, 2017
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; spiritual demonstrations and delivery of personal testimonials from brain injury survivors and their family members. The conference will feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Joel Goodman, founder of The Humor Project in Saratoga Springs.

Professional Symposium to feature presentations from leading medical professionals across the state

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 available for interested organizations who are unable to attend the in-person presentations

SARATOGA, N.Y.: May 3, 2017 –  The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) announced today the lineup of their popular Professional Symposium slated to return to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. this June.

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 in the field and gain access to cutting-edge research and information.

“We are thrilled about the schedule for this year’s Professional Symposium,” said Dr. Steven Flanagan, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Chair at Rusk Rehabilitation. “We have leading medical professionals from across the state addressing various topics related to brain injury. Brain Injury is often a hidden injury profoundly affecting individuals’ physical and cognitive abilities.   It is extremely important for professionals working in this field to understand the complexity of the issues.”

This live in-person program will feature the following presentation topics: Brain Injury, Substance Abuse and PTSD; Physiology of Brain Injury; Equine Assisted Therapy and Brain Injury; Headaches after Brain Injury: Treatment Options; Exercise and Brain Injury; Sleep Disorders After TBI; and Physical Therapy Treatment Interventions Using New Technologies.

Conference and Training Details
Registration is now open for the Professional Symposium and the 35^th Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference.  Both events will take place at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. beginning Wednesday, June 14 through Friday, June 16, 2017.

BIANYS Professional Symposium and Annual Conference is made possible with the longstanding support of: Burke Rehabilitation, Goldblatt & Associates, NYSARC Trust Services and O’Connell & Aronowitz.

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

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

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The 35^th Annual “One Voice for Brain Injury” Conference – June 15-16, 2017
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; spiritual demonstrations and delivery of personal testimonials from brain injury survivors and their family members. The conference will feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Joel Goodman, founder of The Humor Project in Saratoga Springs.

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 outcome for children and adults with brain injuries.

WESTERN, N.Y.: May 3, 2016 – The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS), a statewide non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with brain injuries and their families has added Wendy Verrall, to its FACTS Coordinator team.  Verrall will serve the agency’s Western N.Y. territory.

“We are excited to welcome Wendy to our team and are confident that she will excel in her new role,” said Eileen Reardon, Executive Director of BIANYS.  “Her experience and commitment to serving others will further support the quality of services we provide in the Western N.Y. territory.”

Verrall brings a strong background and knowledge in Health and Wellness programming most recently working as a Medicaid Coordinator and Financial advocate for individuals on Medicaid Programs.  Verrall has also worked with various populations including at risk children and youth.

“I’m honored to join the Brain Injury Association of New York State on their mission to support individuals across New York State,” said Wendy Verrall. “This is a great opportunity to improve the quality of life and well-being of important members of our community. I look forward to serving my territory and to help increase Brain Injury awareness across the state.”

Verrall received her Bachelor’s degree Health and Wellness from the State University of New York College at Buffalo in 2015 and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree online in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University. She will be serving the following counties in her position: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming.

For more information about the BIANYS or the FACTS Program, please call (518) 459-7911 or visit www.bianys.org.

A new amendment to the American Health Care Act (AHCA) is winning the support of the House Freedom Caucus making it more likely that a vote by the House of Representatives could happen as early as this weekend. Action is needed immediately to stop the AHCA from being approved by the House of Representatives. This is the bill that proposes to gut the Medicaid program through per capita caps and block grants and repeal many provisions of the Affordable Care Act that are critical to individual with brain injuries.

ACTION ALERT: Make a call today. Republicans need to keep hearing from people now to #RejectRepeal. 

English: 866-426-2631
Spanish: 877-736-7831

Key Messages:

• Do NOT support the American Health Care Act.
• Do NOT allow Medicaid to be gutted. Caps and block grants would decimate the program on which people with disabilities and seniors rely for critical health care and community services.
• Do NOT allow states to opt out of requiring health plans to cover basic health care and keep it affordable for people with pre-existing conditions, including individuals with brain injury and all people with disabilities.

Annual art show features the artistic talents of individuals with brain injury from Monday, April 24 through Friday, April 28, in the South  Concourse of the Empire State Plaza.

The show features large-scale Unmasking Brain Injury Display

 ALBANY, NY: April 24, 2017 – The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) announced today the return of their annual art show in Albany. For the 24th consecutive year, BIANYS will showcase the artistic talents of nearly 50 individuals with brain injury from Monday, April 24 through Friday, April 28, in the South Concourse of the Empire State Plaza.

An estimated 2.8 million Americans currently live with disabilities resulting from brain injury.  Brain injury profoundly effects individuals’ physical and cognitive abilities and makes it extremely difficult or impossible for individuals to live full productive lives. For many, artistic expression is a way back; a way to reclaim their lives and sense of self-worth following their injury.

“The Brain Injury Association of New York State is honored to once again provide a creative outlet where dozens of individuals have the opportunity to showcase their work,” said Eileen Reardon, Executive Director for BIANYS. “Annually, the art show illustrates the strength, perseverance and talent of individuals impacted by brain injury and their individual journey of recovery. The art show provides a glimpse of these personal stories and is an inspiration for everyone who experiences it.”

The exhibit encompasses a wide variety of art displays and features a large-scale Unmasking Brain Injury display.  Unmasking Brain Injury art is uniquely designed by individuals with brain injuries and promotes awareness of the prevalence of brain injury and gives survivors a voice and the means to educate others of what it’s like to live with a brain injury.

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About Unmasking Brain Injury
The mission of Unmasking Brain Injury is to promote awareness of the prevalence of brain injury; to give survivors a voice and the means to educate others of what it’s like to live with a brain injury; to show others that persons living with a disability due to their brain injury are like anyone else, deserving of dignity, respect, compassion and the opportunity to prove their value as citizens in their respective communities.