Opening Day : May 15 11 AM to 4 PM
283 Queens Quay West (just West of the Radisson Hotel)
Starting on May 19: We are open Wednesday to Sunday 12 Noon – 6 PM (May and June)
Monday to Sunday 12 Noon – 8 PM ( July and August)
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is getting ready for another season of great sailing and fun in the sun!

Please join us on Saturday, May 15 from 11 – 4 PM for our Opening Day celebrations. (Light Refreshments served)
We are located at 283 Queens Quay West, just West of the Radisson Hotel.
If you require more information, call 416-214-0358

The Queens Quay Disabled Sailing Program

reachAbility, a charitable organization committed to creating an even playing field for persons with all types of disability, asks Canadians with disabilities to share their experiences with employment in “The First Person Project,” a book being published in 2010.

Whether you live with a physical, cognitive, visual, hearing, mental health or invisible disability, no matter where you are in your career, we want your stories of challenges, successes, stigma, accessibility, disclosure and empowerment, in your own voice and in your own way. Please send us your nonfiction contribution of no more than 1500 words; we encourage a variety of formats, from prose and poetry to art, photography, cartoons and more.

Our goal is to break down the real barriers to employment (stigma, fear and misunderstanding), to spread the “Equal (fair and equitable) Not Special” message, and to increase awareness of the advantages and achievability of inclusion, with strategies and solutions for the future. We’re interested in particular incidents and/or your overall experience. Topics you could focus on, but are not limited to, include:

1. How has your disability affected your getting a job? How do you feel about disclosure? If you have disclosed your disability in a job interview, what happened?
2. Have you felt accepted or excluded by management and co-workers?
3. What sort of barriers have you encountered at work? How have you dealt with them?
4. If your disability or issues surrounding it arose while you were employed, did things change at work, and if so, how? Were accommodations made? Did you leave work?
5. Has your disability influenced your job choices? Have you changed careers?

The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2010.*

*Please include your name, age, sex, disability and location. Your piece may appear anonymously at your request. Submission is not a guarantee of publication. Submissions are considered donations and are not compensated. We reserve the right to edit.

For more information or to make a submission, please contact:
Karen Janik, First Person Project Editor
editor@reachability.org
Tel/TTY: (902) 429-5878 | Toll Free/TTY: 1 (866) 429-5878
6389 Coburg Road, Suite 200, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2A5

To all members and Friends of BIAC,
Ron Foreman our webmaster will be running in the Achilles St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Brain Injury Association of Canada but he needs your pledges. You can join Ron on the run or walk the course. You can also pull together your own team. All the information can be found below and here: Achilles St. Patricks Day 5km Walk Run Information and Race Registration Forms

If you are unable to participate and want to support Ron please email Ron to arrange your pledge or just send your cheque payable to Toronto Achilles and the funds will make their way to BIAC.

Race / Walk Information
The annual Achilles St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk is a five kilometre run or walk (your choice!) through the heart of downtown Toronto. Taking place this year on Sunday, March 14th, the run/walk starts and ends at Steam Whistle Brewing, The Roundhouse, just south of the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre on Bremner Boulevard.

In 2009, they celebrated their 10th year anniversary. Become a part of our tradition by enjoying the first spring Sunday morning run followed by a wee bit of Irish merriment, a hot bowl of Irish chili, and an ice-cold Steam Whistle pilsner. Come decked out in your St. Patrick’s Day best or your running gear. Either way, you can’t help but have fun at this unique event.

Register early to avoid disappointment—we’ve sold out the last four years!

Achilles St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk benefits Achilles Canada
The Achilles St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk sponsored by Irish Spring benefits Achilles Canada, a non-profit organization that provides people with various disabilities an opportunity to receive the physical, psychological, and communal benefits of running. The club offers training and support by able-bodied members to its Achilles athletes of all ability levels.

Raise funds for the Brain Injury Association of Canada
While the monies raised through the event fund the activities of Achilles Canada, it also offers other charities across the city the opportunity to raise funds for their programs. If you form a team, your team pays to enter the race, but 100% of the monies raised through pledges goes to your organization. It’s as easy as that! Last year (2009), more than $90,000 was raised by other charities who partnered with the event. Create your team. Please indicate that you want your funds to go to the Brain Injury Association of Canada.

Time: 2:00 pm
Date: Sunday January 17, 2010
Place: Room 1613 – Veterans Memorial Building
Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia
Room 13-009/010
13th Floor, Victoria Building, VG Site, QEII
Phone: (902) 473-7301
Fax: (902) 473-7302
Mail: PO Box 8804, Halifax, NS B3K 5M4
Website: www3.ns.sympatico.ca/bians1

A Helping Hand to a New Beginning

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF CANADA AND BRAIN TRUST OF SASKATCHEWAN HEALTH – Call for Abstracts

• Date: September 30, October 1, 2, 2010
• Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
• Venue: Regina Inn Hotel and Conference Centre, 1975 Broad St. Regina
• Opening Date: November 30, 2009
• Closing Date: January 21, 2010
• Call for Abstracts (pdf-583kb)

National Conference Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities

National Conference/Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association Events Sponsorship Opportunities

Brain Injury Association of Peel Halton (BIAPH) HOLIDAY PARTY INVITATION
Invitation
Registration

As the leaves begin to change colors, it’s time to strike a team for the annual BIANS fall “fun”draiser — Bowling for a New Beginning! BOOK YOUR LANE(S) NOW!!

Saturday, October 24: Woodside Bowlarama
We are pleased to offer our bowling teams a selection of one of 4 two-hour sessions for their bowling convenience:

Ø Session 1: 8:45 to 10:45 am
Ø Session 2: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Ø Session 3: 1:15 to 3:15 pm
Ø Session 4: 3:30 to 5:30 pm

Saturday, October 31: Fairlanes Bowling Centre, New Minas: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm — To register for the VALLEY BOWLATHON, contact Jake MacDonald to reserve your lane(s) and to obtain your team packages — 902-542-4289.

Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia
Room 13-009/010
13th Floor, Victoria Building, VG Site, QEII
Phone: (902) 473-7301
Fax: (902) 473-7302
Mail: PO Box 8804, Halifax, NS B3K 5M4
Website: www3.ns.sympatico.ca/bians1

A Helping Hand to a New Beginning

Le 8e Congrès québécois de réadaptation aura lieu les 29 et 30 octobre 2009 à l’Hôtel des Seigneurs à Saint-Hyacinthe ! En résumé, c’est :
· 5 conférences-plénières
· 75 ateliers-conférences
· 34 présentations par affiches
· Plus de 35 kiosques d’exposants
· Près de 600 participants !
pour prendre connaissance du programme au complet : www.aerdpq.org

ci-dessous :
Voici quelques exemples d’ateliers qui pourraient vous intéresser ou à tout le moins intéresser les intervenants qui travaillent avec des personnes ayant subi un TCC.

LA CULTURE D’ÉQUIPE; UNE ASSURANCE POUR UNE RÉADAPTATION D’EXCELLENTE QUALITÉ À MOINDRE COÛTS
Hélène LECLAIRE, Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal
Émilie LEMAY-BRAULT, Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal

Les auteurs se sont tournés vers les cliniciens pour répertorier les ingrédients qui ont fait une différence dans la réadaptation des personnes avec un TCC. Ces ingrédients regroupés ont permis non seulement de mettre en perspective une culture d’équipe favorable au succès de la réadaptation mais aussi de développer un outil d’évaluation et de gestion du fonctionnement interdisciplinaire à cette fin.

RÉSILIENCE ET RÉADAPTATION : UNE HISTOIRE À SUIVRE…
Bernard MICHALLET, Centre de réadaptation InterVal et CRIR
Anouchka HAMELIN, Centre de réadaptation InterVal

Le concept de résilience est devenu une réalité importante dont on doit tenir compte dans l’intervention en adaptation-réadaptation. Cette présentation vise 3 objectifs : 1) définir ce concept; 2) envisager ses applications possibles en adaptation-réadaptation; 3) présenter les facteurs facilitateurs sur les plans scientifique, clinique et organisationnel pour une utilisation optimale auprès des personnes vivant avec des incapacités physiques.

LA PRISE EN COMPTE DES FACTEURS ENVIRONNEMENTAUX, UNE ÉTAPE ESSENTIELLE LORS DE L’ÉVALUATION DE LA PARTICIPATION SOCIALE
Lucie BOISSIÈRE, Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec

L’utilisation en clinique d’un outil standardisé évaluant la qualité de l’environnement, chez la clientèle enfant / adolescent, permet d’identifier les facteurs environnementaux qui perturbent ou favorisent la réalisation des habitudes de vie. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que le soutien et les attitudes des proches favoriseraient la participation sociale, alors que le temps disponible pour effectuer des tâches y ferait obstacle.

LE RITUEL DE FIN DE RÉADAPTATION : PROLONGER LA QUALITÉ DES SOINS JUSQU’À L’ÉTAPE ULTIME DE LA RÉADAPTATION
Danièle LABRÈCHE, Centre de réadaptation Estrie
Isabelle BOUCHARD, Centre de réadaptation Estrie

Développés pour la clientèle avec un TCC modéré-grave, le rituel de fin de réadaptation, avec son guide personnalisé de ressources, vise à faire de la fin de réadaptation un moment marquant et constructif pour les usagers. Il célèbre les forces de la personne et reconnaît le chemin parcouru. Il dresse un bilan de la réadaptation et clôt harmonieusement la relation thérapeutique.

Pour connaître les détails, rendez-vous sur le site de l’AERDPQ (www.aerdpq.org) Sachez que le coût de l’inscription est moindre avant le 25 septembre.
guy lemieux
Agent de développement
Regroupement des Associations
de personnes traumatisées cranio-cérébrales (RAPTCCQ)
911, rue Jean-Talon Est, bur 106
Montréal, H2R 1V5
info@raptccq.com
www.raptccq.com
tél. 514 274-7447, poste 223
fax. 514 274-1717

Washington, DC, USA
March 10-14, 2010

The preliminary program for the International Brain Injury Association’s Eighth World Congress on Brain Injury is now available for viewing on-line. The Congress will be held in Washington, DC, March 10-14, 2010. We are looking forward to a wonderful scientific program with over 100 world renowned experts in the field of brain injury presenting on a variety of topics across the continuum of care. IBIA has also planned other special features including workshops, panels, scientific poster and paper presentations and candlelight sessions with experts.
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE
View the list of confirmed speakers

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS DEADLINE APPROACHING
The deadline for submitting a paper for the Congress is OCTOBER 12, 2009. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Congress’s International Scientific Committee, which will determine the most appropriate presentation format (oral presentation or poster) for each abstract accepted. There will be a first and second place certificate for the est Poster which also will come with a cash award.
More information on submitting an abstract

CONGRESS OVERVIEW
The IBIA World Congress is the largest gathering of international professionals working in the field of brain injury. Delegates are comprised of physicians, psychologists and neuropsychologists, therapists, social workers, nurses, case managers, legal professionals, advocates and all others working in the field of brain injury. The Congress program will feature internationally recognized invited speakers, platform lectures, workshops, short oral presentations and poster sessions. The aim of the Eighth World Congress is to provide an opportunity for establishing collegial relationships with international professionals focused on the care and/or service of persons with acquired brain injury and/or the science of brain injury research. State of the art research will be presented dealing with information spanning from basic science to clinical (coma to community) aspects of brain injury. International priorities in the field of brain injury research will be discussed. Finally, the Congress seeks to provide didactic opportunities for clinicians interested in advancing their knowledge in brain injury science, medicine and care. The official language of the Congress is English, and sessions are open to all delegates registering to attend the event.

General information on the World Congress

SECRETARIAT
MCC Association Mgt.
5909 Ashby Manor Place
Alexandria, VA 22310
USA
Tel: (+703) 960-6500
Fax: (+703) 960-6603
www.internationalbrain.org
congress@internationalbrain.org