Part 1 introduces Mary Margaret Scharf, a retired attorney, a mother of 2 beautiful girls and a survivor of the most brutal type of brain injury… delivered by the hands of her then husband. This merciless attack reveals the intersection of domestic violence and traumatic brain injury. In Part 2 of my interview with Mary Margaret we talk about her recovery; physcially, cognitively and emotionally.  This amazing woman is brave, self confident, intelligent and positive beyond measure.  Mary Margaret's two daughters stand proud next to her creating a strong family bond ..read more

Meet Maureen O'Neil Brown, Cognitive Consultant!  Maureen is a registered, licensed Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with individuals and their families to return to meaningful activity following cognitive injury or illness.  Maureen works collaboratively with clients and their team to problem solve, educate, and create individualized plans based upon the specific goals of individuals and their families. I asked Maureen what the role of a Cognitive Consultant is and the difference between the responsibilies of a Consultant and that of a Social Worker ..read more

Davison was born with a heart defect, then his Dad had leukemia and heart failure and survivred both, then Davison and his Mom were hit by a truck 3 years ago that resulted in Davison's TBI.  This is a lot to handle for a young life.  But survive he did, and is a fantastic young man with many dreams to fulfill. It was an absolute pleaure to talk with Davison and his Mom, Blake.  Davison had his Mom fill in the blanks when I asked him about the horrific accident that was caused by a truck, full force, in a school crosswalk. They talk about Davison's occupational, physical, cognat ..read more

This is a must listen to podcast for brain injury survivors that struggles with getting benefits from the Social Security Administration! Spencer Bishins has a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and a law degree from Florida State University. After law school, he worked in the private sector for two years prior to joining the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2010. He worked at the Appeals Council for almost four years, reviewing thousands of disability decisions for compliance with SSA’s complex rules and procedures. He then worked at the hearing level for seven years ..read more

Candace joined the amazing Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania  (BIAPA) conference on June 28th and interviewed 4 participants: a survivor, a caregiver, a presenter and exhibitor.  Each were asked "Why should survivors and their families go to a brain injury conference".  Everyone agreed...  you will find a loving community, learn about services and hear powerful speakers that will help in your journey to recovery.  Look for a Brain Injury Association or Mind Your Brain conference in your area and know you are not alone! https://biapa.org https://www.mindyourbrain ..read more

Listen to Maureen Miller talk about Craniosacral therapy (CST) and it's application for relieveing chronic pain.  CST is a gentle hands-on technique that uses a light touch to examine membranes and movement of the fluids in and around the central nervous system. Relieving tension in the central nervous system promotes a feeling of well-being by eliminating pain and boosting health and immunity. Learn what studies show about the central nervious system and recovery. moannmiller@gmail.com https://thervo.com/pa/chester/massage/maureen-miller-lmt ..read more

What is the difference between a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and a Speech Therapist?  You should know when selecting a rehabilitation specialist. Katya Bowen, M.S., CCC-SLP, CBIS is a speech language pathologist and certified brain injury specialist in Western Massachusetts. She has worked in the clinical setting for 20 years, treating patients with acquired and traumatic brain injury. Katya has worked in both the outpatient and acute care settings and tell us today what role a Pathologist and Therapist play in your recovery journey.  I asked the same questions you do... "Isnt ..read more

Listen to Dr. Keith Robinson talk about the flawed outcome predictability scales when working with brain injury survivors.  He goes on to share information about behavior activation, as it relates to depression, PTSD and and everyday life functioning. Dr. Robinson a specialist in neurological rehabilitation.  He is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the Chief of Rehabilitation at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia. https ..read more

Stacia has a Masters in Education and is a brain injury coach, educator, public speaker and survivor.  She specializes in helping others find personal and professional growth relating to brain injury. Passionate about education, Stacia spent much of her career as a secondary math teacher until taking on roles in administration and academic coaching.  In 2011, she became a licensed middle and high school principal with aspirations of running her own school, however, a bicycle accident that same year left her with a traumatic brain injury and her career as a public school educator came ..read more

Dr Claire McGrath spells out the roles of a Neurophychologist, who performs testing and development of a recovery Road Map, and a Rehabilitation Phychologist who focuses on helping the brain injury survivor cope with the emotional, social and physical changes after a brain injury.  I loved the idea that the Neurophychologist's evaluation gives survivors a benchmark so they can qualitatively see their improvement over time.  The evaluation also gives their care team a comprehensive look at the areas that need attention creating focused rehabilitation plans. The greatest message here i ..read more