Greater Shenandoah Valley Brain Injury Support Group

According to the CDC, each year more than 2,000 Virginians incur permanent disabilities as a result of 28,000 brain injuries.

Virginia ranks 50th in the nation for fiscal support for community-based services for persons with disabilities, not just brain injury. Yet we rank 12th in per capita income. We must work toward supporting people with disabilities. 

Currently there are three pediatric brain injury case managers for the entire state.  Seven day programs and clubhouses serve 200 Virginians who have survived brain injury in Virginia. There are none in western Virginia.

Less than 1% of Virginians with brain injury needing specialized supportive living services are receiving them.

Due to the lack ofappropriate services, individuals with brain injury often end up in the criminal justice and mental health systems, costing the Commonwealth significantly more money than the cost of services needed to rehabilitate and educate survivors back into the community.

50% of primary caregivers leave their jobs to provide care for an individual with a brain injury. Financial hardships on families result in the breakdown of the unit. Many survivors become homeless and are lost in the system.

Without competent providers, a brain injury waiver would lack sufficient resources. The continuation of these provider organizations is absolutely critical, and is needed before or at the same time as successful passage and implementation of a brain injury waiver.

Consortium of Providers: Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley, Brain Injury Association of Virginia, Brain Injury Services, Inc., Brain Injury Services of Southwest VA, Commonwealth Support Systems, The Mill House and NeuroRestorative are the only providers of community-based services in the state.