Are you Prepared for an Emergency?

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FVBIA has created a reader-friendly emergency preparedness package geared towards people with acquired brain injuries, learning challenges and other cognitive challenges. For more detailed information about specific topics, please click on the links below. Emergency Preparedness Checklist How to Prepare for an Emergency What to Include in Your Emergency Kit How to Expand Your Emergency … Read more

Entrepreneurship: Initiating a Venture as a Parent Facing Disabilities

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By Don Lewis abilitylabs.com  Initiating a venture when navigating the responsibilities of parenthood and the nuances of a disability presents an intricate landscape. Yet it’s precisely these intricacies that can help you carve out an entrepreneurial niche characterized by your own resilience, innovation, and uniqueness. This article from Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association offers some time-tested … Read more

Brain Fatigue

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By Dr. Douglas Lee One of the most common effects that occurs for individuals with brain injuries is brain fatigue.  We have all likely had occurrences of this in our lives where we have had to manage too much information within a certain period of time and get to the point that we just can’t … Read more

Autonomic Arousal Problems Following Brain Injury

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By Dr. Douglas Lee Autonomic arousal is typically defined by the following symptoms: (1) Palpitations or pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate. (2) Sweating. (3) Trembling or shaking. (4) Dry mouth (not due to medication or dehydration). This is not a typical outcome of a brain injury but can happen. Such arousal is controlled by … Read more

Insight And Problem Solving Without Self-Awareness

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By Dr. Douglas Lee For individuals with moderate to severe brain injuries it is oftentimes very challenging to be able, particularly in the moment, to see their role within the context of an event. This can be observed as them not anticipating that their actions may lead to a problem and/or not seeing themselves as … Read more

Acquired Brain Injury and Nutrition

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Brain Injury may change the way you relate to food.  For some survivors, memory problems may affect food intake.  Damage to the brain can cause an inability to feel full or hungry, causing you to eat too much or too little without realizing it.  You may have a changed or absent sense of taste or … Read more

Healthcare Providers After a Brain Injury?

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After a brain injury, every person’s need and abilities are different. Many people will have a rehabilitation program programmed specifically for them. Rehabilitation programs often will involve many types of healthcare providers such as: Counsellors: Counsellors help you solve problems and develop problem-solving skills by helping you clarify issues and explore your options. Family Doctors: … Read more

The Silent Suffering of Canadians Living with Traumatic Brain Injury

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National Figures Expose the Nationwide Neglect of Individuals and Their Families August 2023 Today, a significant collaboration between Brain Injury Canada and the Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium (CTRC) called for moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to be officially classified as a chronic condition in Canada.This move would significantly enhance nationwide healthcare … Read more

Brain Injury Disproportionally High Among Indigenous People

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Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association acknowledges that we work and gather on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Stó:Lō and Coast Salish People. Thank you to Jody Jones, First Nations Health Authority for connecting FVBIA with Indigenous Elder Amelia (right with Chilliwack Brain Injury Centre Manager Esther Tremblay). Elder Amelia shared stories, sacred … Read more

Virtual Caregivers Group

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For parents and partners of people with acquired brain injuries The family support group offered by Chuck Jung & Associates has room for new members. Sessions are virtual and will be 1x/month. Registration is limited so please contact Chuck Jung Associates at admin@chuckjung.com or 604-874-6754 for more details.

Concussion Resources

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Fraser Health Concussion Services Fraser Health’s Concussion Services is an early intervention and follow-up service for clients living with the effects of a recent concussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). https://www.fraserhealth.ca/Service-Directory/Services/Clinics/concussion-services#.YG9twmRKhaQ Canadian Concussion Centre The Canadian Concussion Centre has YouTube videos on the UHBToronto Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfa8npYcDj0 https://www.uhn.ca/Krembil/Canadian-Concussion-Centre CATT (Concussion Awareness Training Tool) The Concussion Awareness … Read more

Broken Brain, Broken Families

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By Frances McGuckin Did your brain injury rip your family into shreds? Being post-injury of 17 years, I still reel from the effects of how my car accident and subsequent traumatic brain injury tore our family apart. Today is no better than 17 years ago. I have lost my daughter, my little princess who could … Read more

FVBIA Pub Night Fundraiser

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Thank you to everyone that came out to Jimy Mac’s Pub on Saturday November 25, 2023 to support FVBIA services for people with brain injuries. Thank you to Jimy Mac’s Pub, staff and patrons for making this event so fun! A lot of work goes on behind the scenes which couldn’t get done without the … Read more

Practical Tips for Fighting Burnout as a Caregiver

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Being a caregiver for someone living with a brain injury is no easy task. You have a lot of responsibilities, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But if you don’t practice self-care and keep your dreams in sight, you’ll be doing a disservice to your patients and yourself. The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association has … Read more

Succeeding in the Business World as an Adult with a Disability

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By Don Lewis abilitylabs.com Image through Pexels Success in the business world depends less on an individual’s physical capabilities than their acumen, effort, and experience. If you are trying to find a path in life that you can pursue while living with disabilities, a career in business could be the right choice for you. Just … Read more

Young at Arts Summer Program

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FVBIA holds an annual summer day camp for children with acquired brain injuries, siblings or children who have a parent with an acquired brain injury in August. This is an in-person day camp at the Blue Heron Reserve in Chilliwack, BC. Contact info@fvbia.org or 604-557-1913 for more information. Children that require 1:1 support must be … Read more