Working Nationally To Standardize Treatment of Pediatric Acquired Brain Injuries

My Name is Craig Sears, I am a survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury this event changed each and every single aspect of my life, forever, For years, I felt as though no one else knew what I was going through, but believe me Traumatic Brain Injury survivors almost ALWAYS experience the same things. Going through the aftermath of my Traumatic Brain Injury, I teamed up with The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation to help promote the need for a National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury plan, a proposed system of care that would be universally accessible for all children, and their families, regardless of where they live in the nation.

I’m writing to give you an update on HR 2600, the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act (PABI Plan Act).

Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI) is the number one leading cause of death and disability in the United States, with more than 765,000 American youth entering a hospital every year with a new injury, resulting in over 80,000 hospitalizations and 11,000 deaths annually – and reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that these numbers may even be underreported. HR 2600 – also known as the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan) Act – aims to streamline the system of care nationwide for the hundreds of thousands of American families faced with this issue every year, and the millions already living with its realities. Pediatric acquired brain injury includes not only traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, assaults, child abuse and falls, but also non-traumatic events such as strokes, brain tumors, pediatric AIDS, meningitis, infection and substance abuse. In addition, since pediatric acquired brain injury covers from birth to age 25, a number of our soldiers returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are returning home with a life-altering traumatic brain injury. Surely we owe it to these brave young veterans to give them access to the best care possible after risking their lives to defend our country.

The National PABI Plan Act is currently supported by more than 110 Members of Congress, including Representatives James Himes and John Larson of Connecticut, and we hope to bring even greater attention to this issue not only locally, but also nationally by providing $2.9 billion in funding over the next seven years to help address PABI along the whole continuum of care, without adding a single cent to the national deficit, as all funds will be coming from the Department of Health and Human Services’ discretionary budget. These funds will finance improvements in prevention efforts, provide more accurate recognition of these injuries, help to standardize treatment in acute medical facilities nationwide, provide smooth reintegration back into the school system, assist with successful transition to adult life, as well as improve treatment in rural and exurban areas of the country with lesser access to emergency health care by establishing telehealth systems and a virtual center where families can correspond with medical professionals in order to receive the best medical care when visiting an emergency room simply isn’t an option.

Additionally, the National PABI Plan Act would establish “PABI centers of excellence” in each state (as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico) to facilitate this care from the moment of injury. Yale School of Medicine has already been selected as the State Lead Center for Connecticut, and it will have a regional leadership responsibility in the Adult Transition Category of Care, helping brain injury survivors transition into their adult lives. Upon passage, HR 2600 would provide the necessary funding to establish and build upon case management systems in every state and begin collecting the data across the continuum of care to create an evidence-based system of care.

This past March was National Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation celebrated the launch with a March 1st press conference in Washington, DC where Congressman Leonard Lance, HR 2600′s primary co-sponsor, joined co-sponsors Reps. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Mike McIntyre (D-NC) and Patrick Meehan (R-PA) in providing remarks on the bill. Several supporting organizations (including the American College of Sports Medicine, Pop Warner Little Scholars, National Association of Athletic Trainers and WebMD, among others) also participated in the event. This was followed by a separate press conference on March 14th at the Rhode Island state house where Governor Lincoln Chaffee joined co-sponsors David Ciccilline and James Langevin from Rhode Island, as well as Patrick Donohue and his six-year-old daughter Sarah Jane the namesake of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, myself and Dr. Victor Pedro in announcing their support of HR 2600. Finally, on March 19th, the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled “A Review of Efforts to Prevent and Treat Traumatic Brain Injury” to which we took Sarah Jane.

PABI is a public health crisis in this country, and it is time for our legislators to take action and pass the National PABI Plan Act during the first half of 2012. We hope that you will support and follow along with our efforts by visiting www.TheBrainProject.org as well as by writing letters to Congressmen James Himes and John Larson to thank them for their support of this very important piece of legislation.

Patrick Donohue is the Founder of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, which works to improve the system of care for those living with pediatric acquired brain injuries.

You can learn more about their efforts, as well as the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act (HR 2600), by visiting www.TheBrainProject.org

It’s been an honor and privilege to be a part of their historic and groundbreaking work.

 

H.R. 2600: National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan

March 25, 2012

To Whom It May Concern.                                                                        

My name is Craig Sears, and I am a Survivor of a Traumatic Brain Injury.

I am writing on behalf of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, and I am adding my support as a Traumatic Brain Injury advocate to their goal of creating a national model care system for children suffering from all Pediatric Acquired Brain Injuries (PABI). This program is sorely needed, and it will help thousands of children and their families overcome the difficulties following a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It will also help raise awareness of TBI and help the thousands of other American adults who yearly suffer a TBI as result of accidents, falls, strokes, or by other means. And it will help protect the children of tomorrow from ever having to experience the horror and heartache of TBI. This coupled with the growing awareness that thousands of our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan too are suffering from TBI. This injury is being called the signature wound of these conflicts. This is my Story:

My advocacy started as means to overcome my own difficulties. It’s become my mission to make sure that no one else has to go through what I have.

It was July 9th, 1987, and it was a beautiful Connecticut summer afternoon. I was out driving my motorcycle. I had just turned 20 years old and I had a lot going for me. I was making a very good life for myself. I had a great family. I had a good job in construction and also as a part time mechanic. I was making good money for a kid my age. I had a great social life, lots of friends, and I was very popular. I had a great girlfriend. I had 2 cars, a motorcycle, and lived in a nice condo right on the water. I was living the American Dream. Life was great.

And in a heartbeat, it was all gone. Suddenly, I came up over a hill, and there was a car going the wrong way. It was too late. I couldn’t stop and we collided. I was thrown nearly 40 feet over on-coming traffic. I landed head first into a curb.

I have no memory of the next 6 months. That period of time is a Black Hole in my life. I was in and out of a coma, undergoing multiple surgeries. The doctors operated on my head, and did what they could to patch up my body. This was the beginning of my physical recovery.

Though my body was healing, a bigger problem went untreated. And no one realized it.  Insult was added to injury. This is where I fell through the cracks. Despite having my head in a cast, no one identified the true nature of my injury me as being a Traumatic Brain injury (TBI). That oversight would cost me dearly in the years to come. I had no idea of the hell I was in for. Had I known what lay ahead, I would never have fought so damn hard to make it. I would have given up, lay down and died.

My struggles were constant. I had to relearn everything, How to walk, how to talk, how to eat, how to use the bathroom. How to care for myself, and then there was the incessant pain, the physical pain of my body overcoming weakness and injury. Worse yet there was the anguish of not knowing who I was.

Things went from bad to worse. Soon, the treatment center I was in transferred me to a mental health ward. I spent the next 9-months locked in against my will, slowly regaining my memory, and a growing sense that this type of life wasn’t for me.

I was angry. I wanted out. I began calling out to anyone who would listen to me Town officials, State Government, anyone who could get me out. While I knew I didn’t need to be there, I did know that I needed help in other areas. But the help I needed wasn’t available. This was not a mental health issue.

Eventually, a sympathetic ear at the Connecticut Governor’s office helped arrange a meeting between my family, my doctors, and a state representative. I told them all, I wanted out, I needed out.

And it was clear to them that I was right. But where was I to go?

I had only one real option, and that was my family. Yet I didn’t want to be a burden to my parents. I applied for Section 8 disability housing, and was put on a waiting list. I was turned down repeatedly.

So in the meantime, my family helped me get into my own one room efficiency apartment. While a big step up from the psychiatric ward, this too, was far from ideal. I now found myself living alone, except for the roaches and rats, and vulnerable, in an area known for drug dealers and prostitutes.

I wandered those mean streets, trying to regain some kind of memory. I would watch other people to see what they were doing, how they were acting in order to regain anything that I knew how to do before the accident. All I could figure out at this time was that this was not who I was.

With time and my families help, things began to improve for me. My mother got me a weight set, my father bought me a bicycle and I started volunteering at a local hospital. That gave me access to their physical therapy rooms. I’d learn what they were doing for rehabilitation and go back home at night to do the exercises on my own in order to regain my strength and abilities. But without any medical oversight, I’d over do it. I hurt myself repeatedly. Many times, my mother took me to the hospital because I hurt so bad that I couldn’t walk or move.

Socially, things were awkward. One day after volunteering, I was leaving the hospital. I saw a woman fall to the floor. My instincts were to grab a wheelchair, put her in it and run her into the emergency room. I thought I was doing the right thing. But in reality, my actions upset the emergency room staff, and the next day, the hospital asked me not to return. I was crushed.

One of the lasting consequences of my TBI was that I would slur my words when I spoke. And my balance would be off when I walked. Instead of realizing that this is how I am, people just assumed that I was drinking or using drugs. No one would take me seriously.

It became harder and harder to find where I fit in. With the help of my family, I moved into and out of different apartments. But the pieces of mind and my life didn’t fit quite right. I was restless, and depressed. I struggled to cope. I turned to what I had seen so many others do on the streets: alcohol and drugs. I had learned the wrong way to deal with my problems. I thought it would help me forget all that I had gone through.

Everything I had long fought for, I now started to lose. It was all slipping away. I found myself alone and getting into trouble more often, ending up in shelters, local lockups, and numerous mental health facilities all over the state. I continued to spiral down, and soon I wound up homeless, and not long after that, in prison.

I had several brushes with the law. While I struggled daily to live with my brain injury, I ended up with several minor arrests for public urination and things of that sort. The state of Connecticut did find a way to use my injury against me. It was a probation violation, for which I would ultimately receive a five-year prison term. I spent five years locked up in a level-four high-security prison where I received absolutely no help for my disabilities. I was locked in an 8′x 10′ cell twenty-four hours a day surrounded by gang members, rapists, killers, and child molesters. All for peeing in a garage, does that sound like justice to you?

The police, the court, the judge and the law, didn’t know, care, or consider my TBI. And once behind bars, neither did the warden. I served five-years for what other people would sleep off overnight in the local lock-up, and then clear up with a brief court appearance. Again, there were no programs, no early release, or time off for good behavior. TBI or not, I served every measure of that sentence to the fullest. Common courtesy prevents me from sharing here. It was hell.

Somehow, I survived to be released in 2003. Life though continues to be a struggle. I have no friends. I have no money. I have few options, and fewer choices. I am very uncertain of my future. I still want the American Dream, but it feels further away than ever. I want to be hopeful, but I know all too well how quickly good can go bad in life. But I try my best to help those with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) get the help we need, and to avoid the mistakes, and missteps I made.  

In the 1990′s I became a member of Connecticut’s class action lawsuit working along with the Connecticut Brain Injury Association advocating for Connecticut’s Acquired Brain Injury/Traumatic Brain Injury (ABI/TBI) Medicaid Waiver, implemented in 1999. This waiver allows the state to permit organizations to provide non-medical services to people with TBI enabling them to live in the community outside of nursing homes and institutions.

While in prison, I learned that I was part of a class action lawsuit that resulted in the implementation of Connecticut’s ABI/TBI Medicaid Waiver Program.  I immediately requested that I be provided a program upon my release from prison! Thank God My mother was able to get me into a program after 16 years of being thrown into this deplorable life of hell!

During and after the program, I needed to find a place to call home, after 18 years of waiting and being turned down; I turned to a local Congressman’s office for help, Former Congressman Christopher Shays. Within 2 months, they cut through the red tape, and I finally received recognition of my TBI. And I was accepted into a HUD subsidized housing unit.

(Fact) – The US says we have rights; but the State’s trample all over them as if they are immune to our constitutional rights.

Again my personal experience with the constitution state

Due to my injury I have memory problems, speech problems, balance issues and many other things.  I am disabled because of this and receive services from the state, which enable me to remain in the community instead of in a nursing home, in prison or on the streets. However, the State of Connecticut wrongly took away those services, for no reason and without notice.

I have been an active and effective advocate for the brain injury survivor community and a participant in the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver Program for several years. Prior to obtaining waiver services, and as a result of a lack of community-based supports, I was imprisoned and institutionalized. It is my goal to continue to strive for independence with appropriate supports, and to continue my advocacy efforts for other survivors. With these goals in mind my ABI Waiver Service plan was developed in a truly person-centered cooperative team approach. My specific needs and goals were addressed through the design of a unique employment support program, and structured services that address my needs.

(I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t.) – From my Fair Hearing Statement

After an annual review, of my current ABI Waiver service plan was approved, dated to commence May of 2009, and was signed by two Department of Social Services (herein referred to as the Department) social workers, Carolyn Wright, myself’ former social worker, and Victor Estay, my current social worker, and social work supervisor, Gary Vertula. I had recently issued to the Department a complaint about an approved ABI Waiver provider that was not meeting my needs. The provider and I agreed to part ways, leaving me without services. This service lapse should have been temporary; however, through time delays and a refusal to authorize both service provision and payment to an approved provider selected by me, the Department has essentially suspended all of my ABI Waiver services without a formal notice, and without cause. Despite having a current service plan that was approved by the Department, I have been without any services since August 29, 2009.

Sec. 17b-260a-1I, Individuals who are eligible for ABI services shall be given free choice of all qualified providers of each service included in his or her plan of care. When I exercised this right to choice, DSS refused to authorize service provision and payment to an alternate DSS/ Allied approved provider of my choice, resulting in a complete absence of services. Sec. 17b-260a-1J7 states that it is the responsibility of the Department to pay for approved ABI waiver services delivered by qualified providers through its fiduciary agent on behalf of the individual.

While the Department may argue that a review of my service plan is necessary, additional evaluations are requested, etc., it cannot hold my services in suspense while these decisions are made by my team. I had a current Department approved ABI Waiver service plan. The Department has a responsibility and an obligation to provide me with these services until such time as any changes are made to my plan. Sec. 17b-260a-1J2c Responsibilities of the Department, The Department shall assign social work staff to execute the following ABI responsibilities: implement the approved service plan and coordinate services provided to the individual under the waiver. Furthermore, the Department has overstepped its authority; it is the interdisciplinary team that makes determinations about the service plan. This was done without an ABI Waiver team meeting.  In addition, I was not present, nor was my advocate and neuropsychologist. Sec. 17b-260a-1G4 the service plan shall be developed by an interdisciplinary team that includes the individual, his or her conservator, if any, the Department social worker assigned to coordinate the individual’s service plan, a neurophysiologist who is familiar with the individual, other clinical staff as needed, and any other person(s) of the individual’s choice.

I request the immediate re-instatement of my ABI Waiver plan, as written. By withholding both the authorization to provide services and payment, to an authorized provider, the Department has placed me at risk of re-institutionalization, has halted my means of financial self-support, has left me without the ability to meet my own basic needs, and has neglected to support me in the least restrictive environment.

Fortunately I am a strong advocate for myself and after many phone calls, including to my local Congressman’s office, James Himes [D-CT4] I was able to have them reinstate my services – but not without cost to me as I went for so long without getting the services I needed.

It also brought to my attention the sad state of the system as it currently exists – it is designed to take advantage of people with disabilities. Another person with a Traumatic Brain Injury in my shoes would likely not have had the ability to advocate for him or herself as I did, and without services they would not have anybody else willing to do it on their behalf.  This is a very disturbing situation and it shows how easy it is for states to discriminate against and take advantage of someone like me – it’s like taking candy from a baby!

There is a national organization called the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation whose Advisory Board wrote a national plan (the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan) which would help in situations such as mine. The plan calls for the development of 52 State Lead Centers of Excellence, which would, among other things, have case managers specially trained to assist children and young adults with brain injuries.  

If the National PABI Plan was in place, that case manager would have stepped in during my crisis and been my advocate.  These people would be trained to help those who cannot help themselves.  Imagine what would have happened to someone else in my same shoes that did not know to contact the people that I contacted to get my services back!  They would have not gotten them reinstated and would have ended up on the streets, in prison or dead.

Going through the aftermath of my TBI, I teamed up with The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation to help promote the need for a National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury PABI plan, a proposed system of care that would be universally accessible for all children, and their families, regardless of where they live in the nation.

I would like to say I consider myself to be a very fortunate brain injury survivor, and to be a “voice” for these forgotten children and families.

In the words of Congressman Leonard Lance, the initial sponsor of HR 2600, “When a child suffers a brain injury, every American family is confronted with difficult decisions in terms of care, research and support. Systems of care are different from state to state, random from school district to school district and vary from one doctor’s office to another. What is needed is a national clearing house of information and resources for children impacted by brain injuries and their families.”

Specifically, Congressman Lance’s legislation would create a national network of 52 State Lead Centers of Excellence, one for every state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with the responsibility of implementing the PABI Plan based on their own state’s unique demographics, geography, laws, infrastructure, financing and causes of brain injuries without duplicating current practices. The legislation will cover the entire continuum of care from prevention, treatment in acute medical facilities, reintegration back into the schools, communities and homes and then transitioning into an adult system of greater independent living.  

The legislation will also focus on individuals with a Mild Traumatic brain injury, which accounts for more than 80 percent of brain injuries each year, commonly referred to as concussions, as well as rural communities, which account for 25 percent of the population and have higher incidence rates of brain injuries. For example, the 52 State Lead Centers would help children suffering from sports related injuries by providing additional information, resources and care.  

Today more awareness has occurred, but there is still much to learn, much like no two brain injuries are alike. The learning impact between different students will also not be alike.

Some states place services for individuals with TBI under Developmental Disabilities or under Mental Health Services. TBI is separate and distinct from developmental and mental health diagnoses. Individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental health issues may suffer a TBI. However, not all individuals with TBI have developmental or mental health issues.  Finally, challenges and interventions implemented with survivors of TBI may be very different from those implemented with individuals with developmental disabilities, mental-health diagnoses and a dual-diagnosis of TBI and developmental disabilities and/or mental health issues. TBI is an injury “Injuries require care, care that we all need, care that this plan can provide!

Quick Facts about PABI:

1) PABI is the #1 leading cause of death and disability for American youth

2) PABI is caused by
A) Trauma: traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as motor vehicle crashes, abusive head trauma/Shaken Baby Syndrome, sports-related concussions, falls, gunshot wounds, blast injury from war, etc.

B) Non-trauma: strokes, brain tumors, meningitis, seizures, near-drowning, etc.

3) Over 765,000 American youth enter an Emergency Department annually with a new TBI

4) Over 80,000 American youth are hospitalized annually with a new TBI

5) Over 11,000 American youth die annually due to TBI

6) These numbers do not reflect the significantly greater number of TBI cases that are not identified nor the number of non-traumatic acquired brain injuries

7) Upwards of 80% of the youth in juvenile detention centers across America have some form of a brain injury

This Act develops a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care that will benefit many American families whose children have sustained brain injuries.                            

Congressman Lance’s bill would ensure families wouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel when their child is impacted with a brain injury

Being a survivor of a TBI my journey made me all-too familiar with the difficulties of individuals and families working through the arbitrary system of care.

It’s been 24 years since my injury and there is not a day that goes by where I’m not haunted by my past experiences and wake up in a sweat, yelling and screaming. I can’t help but to be concerned about what the state is going to do to me next, all because I have a Traumatic Brain Injury TBI.

As a brain injury survivor, I know firsthand how awful it is to have lost my independence.  I live and work a program 24/7, I have taken the advice to try and better myself and every time I have, the system has found a way to bring me down and leave me with no room to grow. I understand the advice people have given me and I have used it and have worked it all into my life on more than one occasion. Every time I put the tools in my “tool-box” (or should I say brain) in an attempt to better myself, the system has found a way of pulling me back down.

My back is against the wall!

Over time everyone in my family has moved out of Connecticut (CT) and they have asked me to go with them, I looked into it and was told that there is a 5 year waiting list for any ABI Services, and in order to get on the waiting list in that state that I needed to live there for 2 years before I got put on the list, been there done that. Insanity is not doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results; insanity is doing the same thing over and over again knowing full well what the results will be.

It’s bad enough trying to find anyone that knows anything about brain injury, I’ve been a participant in the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver Program for several years in CT and I have YET to find anyone that I don’t need to tell what to do; Or anyone that does not talk down to me like I’m a 2 year old.

I have kept in this “box” where I’m very limited on what I can do.  I believe that my rehabilitation has been curtailed as a result.  I am frequently required to see a doctor or go into a state team meeting and prove that I am disabled.

For years, I felt as though no one else knew what I was going through, but believe me; Traumatic Brain injury survivors almost ALWAYS experience the same things.

“HAVE A HEART – SAVE A BRAIN”

For myself, I wish on that July afternoon that there were a national PAPI plan in place. I wish that the doctors, and nurses, and all the states, cops, judges, and people whoever had the power over me had a clue about TBI. I wish that when I needed it, there were people to turn to, answers to the questions I didn’t even know I had, and the resources in place for me. I wonder how different my life and my family’s lives would be today.

Patrick Donohue’s dedication to his daughter is beyond words, he is a true leader and role model for every single parent in the world.

It’s been an honor and privilege to be a part of their historic and groundbreaking work.

I support H.R.2600: National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act.

Sincerely,

Craig Sears,

A Voice for Traumatic Brain Injury

The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation launches worldwide campaign for Brain Injury Awareness Month

The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation launches worldwide campaign for Brain Injury Awareness Month

We are launching a worldwide campaign, “Have A Heart – Save A Brain” during Brain Injury Awareness month beginning on March 1 in Washington, DC and then we are heading to Iran and all over the world (see details below).
Please encourage you…r friends to replace their Facebook profile picture during March with the attached logo “Have A Heart – Save A Brain” and join our cause.

Our first event will be Thursday, March 1 in DC with a special screening of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s CNN documentary about concussions in high school football (http://tinyurl.com/GuptaScreening) and then we will be traveling to Mashad, Iran to particpate in an International Congress on Road Safety (http://www.razavihospital.com/Default.aspx?tabid=609&language=en-US). Brain injuries can be caused by trauma (motor vehicle crashes, sports concussions, child abuse, blast injury from war) or non-trauma (strokes, tumors, meningitis).

Please let us know if you would like to attend any of these events or would like to know of other events that are happening. Some FACTS ABOUT BRAIN INJURY:
Brain Injury is the #1 leading cause of death and disability for American youth
More than 765,000 American youth enter an Emergency Department each year with a new brain injury (comparing that to 56,000 new cases of HIV and 24,000 new cases of autism annually)
Every 40 seconds another American youth is sustaining a new brain injury
More than 80,000 American youth are hospitalized each year with a brain injury and over 11,000 die annually due to a brain injury
Upwards of 80% of the youth in Juvenile Detention Centers in America suffer from a brain injury yet most of these injuries are not diagnoses nor treated
HR 2600 is the largest national initiative dealing with brain injury in our country’s history ($2.9 Billion over the next seven years) and it has over 100 bi-partisan co-sponsors

All the best, Patrick

Patrick B. Donohue, Esq.
Founder, The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation
1501 Broadway – Suite 12099
New York, NY 10036
(212) 576-1180
www.TheBrainProject.org/lettertosarahjane.php (please read my letter to Sarah Jane when she turned five if you haven’t arleady done so)!

Details of some of the events taking place around the world:
Throughout the month of March, The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation will be traveling around the world, raising awareness about the #1 leading cause of death and disability for youth, brain injury. Below is a list of some of the events we will be participating in (other events will be announced throughout the month):

March 1: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Special screening of CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports’ documentary “Big Hits, Broken Dreams” about youth sports concussions in high school football, followed by a panel of SJBF International Advisory Board Members of former athletes and experts about the latest prevention, identification and treatment of concussions in youth sports.

March 8-9: Razavi Hospital, Mashad, Iran
The 1st International Congress on Road Safety aims to increase and spread scientific knowledge about reducing traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. A team of SJBF International Advisory Board Members will be presenting at this conference.

March 14: Providence, Rhode Island
Press conference with Governor Lincoln Chafee, Congressmen James Langevin and David Cicilline, local officials and SJBF International Advisory Board Members discussing the broad-based bi-partisan support for HR 2600, the federal legislation with 100+ Members of Congress who are co-sponsoring that will fund a $2.9 Billion, seven-year national initiative to implement the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan)

March 21-25: Edinburgh, Scotland
A team of SJBF International Advisory Board Members will attend and participate in The Ninth International Brain Injury Association World Congress

Being taken advantage of by ABI Medicaid waiver program providers

Independent Living Solutions

345 Meriden Road,Waterbury,CT06705-2202

(203) 757-5890 ‎

Not only did they try screwing me over but look how they treat their employees.

Email 1 – My staff to Independent living solutions LLC

I have asked numerous times to have a letter sent to myself regarding me getting paid every 2 weeks (bi-weekly) for my sons daycare. I have asked over 2 weeks now; I spoke with the Director of Operations Mike Moran and he gave me an attitude because he didn’t want to go through Craig Sears. When I was on the phone with Mike Moran he made it known that this had nothing to do with Craig (which I am fully aware of) but me and Craig were discussing the issue and he got a hold of your office for me. Mike Moran told him he wanted to speak with me so I got on the phone and that’s when Mike Moran gave me an attitude which I was not thrilled about. After this we got a hold of the Program Manager Jose Cruz and let him know the situation. And in reply he told me he would also get on it and have it sent out ASAP. And told me I would have it by Monday of LAST week. I still have yet to see anything come thru my email or regular mail.

Due to this delay I have been charged a late fee from my son’s daycare of $25 each week. I was hit with this charge not once but now twice. Which is a total of $50 I feel I should have this money reimbursed due to the fact this is NOT my fault!!!

I have ALSO asked about my ILST allied approval and still have gotten no reply in 2 months. It’s now October 17^th and I took this back in the beginning of August the 3^rd.

Sincerely,

Stephanie

______________________________________________________________________________

Email 2 – My staff to Independent living solutions LLC, after ILS screwing her over

Good afternoon Lisa,                                                                          November 31^st

I’m writing to you separate for the simply fact is that I’m a little more comfortable with speaking with you. I came into the office early Tuesday morning on October 18^th, to pick up a letter for my son’s daycare that I had asked for, for more then 3 weeks. Due to the fact that they are now charging me late fees of $25 each week because they expect to be paid every week. I was uncomfortable with the fact that I was written up by Director Of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz because I wrote and email stating how I felt about my pervious attempts to get the letter just stating I get paid Bi-weekly and was told that if I speak with Craig about anything I would lose my job. When I was hired I was told that I have to speak with Craig to let him know what I’m looking for or need. And that’s what I have been doing. I’m only doing what I was told. I was also told if I send any emails out that I had to CC Craig and his team on them, again just doing what I was told. I’m not looking for any problems I’m just very hurt by the way everything went down.

I have a request. Due to the fact that I have asked more than once in the past 3 weeks about the letter, I finally got on Tuesday October 18^th. This does not change the fact that I was charged twice which was a total of $50 that I was charged from my son’s daycare. This would have been avoided if I had received the letter I asked for weeks ago. I’m requesting a reimbursement of the $50, being this was not my fault they did not have the proper information they needed due to Director of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz. I came into the office with proof of being charged the $50 with all the dates and Mike Moran told me that he did not need to see the proof.

I also felt that they were trying to make me say or get information to see if Craig had done anything inappropriate to me. First of all that has nothing to do with what I went in there for, “that was irrelevant.” I feel it was just a way to hear them talk, because the conversation was uncalled for! I went into get a letter for my son’s daycare and I came out upset and in tears. No one should ever feel that way! I do want you to know that he has NOT been inappropriate to me nor towards me in any way shape or form and I enjoy working with him! Again, I’m not looking for any more problems I just don’t appreciate being told I’m over stepping my boundaries when I was following the directions that were given to me when I started. I did nothing wrong but state the obvious and they couldn’t handle that. 

PS: I am resigning from your company effective immediately as of 6pm the end of my work day on October 31st. I don’t need to work for a company who has 2 men pull a female staff into an office and threaten her with her job every time directions are followed. Nor do I need to deal with anyone trying to state that the person I work with acted inappropriately towards me when again he did NOT!! I don’t appreciate the disrespect from your company not only on my part but his as well!

Sincerely,

Stephanie

______________________________________________________________________________

My Response regarding Stephanie’s resigning from Independent living solutions

Your right Stephanie you did nothing to over step your boundaries you were following the directions that were given to you when you were hired, and I know this because I’m the one that hired you along with Independent living solutions LLC (ILS) staff. And ILS Manager Lisa Martin was the one that stated it to DSS, James Dwyer in a team meeting. “We let him hire his own staff”

I was also there when ILS Manager Lisa Martin and Program Manager Jose Cruz was told to CC me on all emails etc. Including CC my Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Medicaid Waiver doctor in a State DSS team meeting. It all has been documented with Jessica from the State of CT Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities I have talked to her about it. I was also there when ILS Staff told you to CC me and my doctor on all Info, etc.

As for ILS Director of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz trying to make you say something/putting words in your mouth that wasn’t true about me, they’re trying to cover up screwing you over at the same time trying to destroy me and my program! (I told everyone that someday someone is going to try screwing me over because of Employment Options LLC with the inaccurate information they put in my record trying to cover up there own imperfections, and now Independent living solutions LLC is doing the same thing!)

That’s why I, Craig Sears and Jessica from The Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, in three separate State Department of Social Services team meetings asked for all of that inaccurate information that was put in my file by Employment Options, LLC (EO) 91 Willenbrock Road Oxford CT be removed out of my file! The INFO I am talking is: When I complained about the “fact” services were not being provided, EO accused me of being unreasonable, confrontational and defamed my character by stating they had concerns for me working with female staff and implying I had acted inappropriately with female staff, when I did not! No big surprises here the Department of Social Services & my ABI waiver team did not do what they said they were going to do!

You know what the funny part is ILS Manager Lisa Martin & Program Manager Jose Cruz was part of the team; that says a lot about Independent living solutions LLC 345 Meriden Road Waterbury CT, 06705

I informed/ talked with Jessica at the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, my Medicaid Waiver Doctor, who told me he called James Dwyer at DSS about this fact on October 18th etc, and asked to have it documented about what they did to you and tried doing to me.

Stephanie I’m sorry ILS did this to you,  and what you stated in your letter “I don’t need to work for a company who has 2 men pull female staff into an office and threaten her with her job every time directions are followed” You may want to contact your own attorney, or Legal Aid on all of this!

The end of the day on October 31^st at 12am I will no longer need Independent living solutions LLC services, because of ILS Director of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz  arrogant and irresponsible way of handling my case – Staff. On November 1^st   I have a new ABI Medicaid Waiver program provider!

Sincerely, Craig Sears

______________________________________________________________________________

To The State of Connecticut Department of Social Services               November 3rd

25 Sigourney Street

Hartford, Ct 06106 – 5033

I Craig Sears am making a formal complaint against Independent living solutions LLC 345 Meriden Road Waterbury CT, 06705

My name Craig Sears I am a survivor of a traumatic brain injury. I am an active and effective advocate for the brain injury survivor community and I am a participant in the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver Program and have been for several years. Prior to obtaining waiver services, and as a result of a lack of community based supports, I was imprisoned and institutionalized. It is my goal to continue to strive for independence with appropriate supports, staff, and to continue my advocacy efforts for other survivors.

With these goals in mind my ABI Waiver Service plan was developed in a truly person-centered cooperative team approach. My specific needs and goals were addressed through the design of a unique employment support program, and structured services that address my needs.

Let me start by saying my staff is a female and when 2 men pull a female staff into an office that is very inappropriate. Any one who knows the “rules” knows that you do not do this. By law when speaking with female (or male) staffs you are supposed to have one male, one female employer and staff in on the meeting.

When my staff was pulled into the office at Independent living solutions LLC on October 18^th to pick up a letter for her son’s daycare that she had asked for, for more then 3 weeks, due to the fact that they were charging her a late fees of $25 each week because they expected to be paid every week. This would have been avoided if they had received the letter she asked for weeks ago. When my staff was pulled into the office with proof of being charged the late fees ILS Director of Operations Mike Moran told her that he did not need to see the proof. Instead my staff was threatened with her job and was written up by Director of Operations Mike Moran & Program Manager Jose Cruz’s because she wrote an email and CC me on it stating how she felt about her pervious attempts to get the letter just stating she gets paid Bi-weekly and was told that if she speaks with me or anyone on my ABI team about anything she would lose her job!

When my staff was hired she was told that she had to speak with me and my team to let them and I know what she was looking for or needed. I know this because I’m the one that hired her along with Independent living solutions LLC (ILS) staff. And ILS Manager Lisa Martin was the one that stated it to DSS, James Dwyer in a team meeting. “We let him hire his own staff”. That’s what my staff has been doing! She was also told if there was any emails sent out that she had to CC me etc, on them, again just doing what she was told. My staff did nothing wrong but state the obvious and they couldn’t handle it.

On top of that when my staff was pulled into the office at ILS Director of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz were trying to make her say something or put words in her mouth that wasn’t true about me, by trying to get her to say that I had acted inappropriately when I did not.

That’s why I, Craig Sears and Jessica from The Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, in three separate State Department of Social Services team meetings asked for that inaccurate information that was put in my file by Employment Options, LLC (EO) 91 Willenbrock Road Oxford CT be removed out of my file! The INFO I am talking is: When I complained about the “fact” services were not being provided, EO accused me of being unreasonable, confrontational and defamed my character by stating they had concerns for me working with female staff and implying I had acted inappropriately with female staff. No big surprises here. The Department of Social Services & my ABI waiver team did not do what they said they were going to do!

You know what the funny part is ILS Manager Lisa Martin & Program Manager Jose Cruz was part of the team; that says a lot about Independent living solutions LLC 345 Meriden Road Waterbury CT, 06705

In the words of my staff in her letter October 31^st, resigning from Independent living solutions-

“I am resigning from your company effective immediately as of 6pm on October 31^st. I don’t need to work for a company who has 2 men pull female staff into an office and threatens them with their job every time directions are followed. Nor do I need to deal with anyone trying to state that the person I work with acted inappropriately towards me when he did NOT!!! I don’t appreciate the disrespect from your company not only on my part but his as well.”

Sincerely, Craig Sears

______________________________________________________________________________

From – Stephanie

To The State of Connecticut Department of Social Services               November 4^th

25 Sigourney Street

Hartford, Ct 06106 – 5033

I’m writing to you for the simply fact that I’m making a complaint against Independent living solutions LLC 345 Meriden Road Waterbury CT, 06705. I went into their office early Tuesday morning on October 18^th, to pick up a letter for my son’s daycare that I had asked for, for more then 3 weeks. Due to the fact that his daycare charged me late fees of $25 each week because they expected to be paid every week. I had asked ILS numerous times to have a simple letter sent to myself or his daycare regarding me getting paid every 2 weeks (bi-weekly). I spoke with the Director of Operations Mike Moran and he gave me an attitude (which I was not thrilled about) because he didn’t want to go through Craig. When I was on the phone with Mike Moran he made it known that this had nothing to do with Craig (which I am fully aware of) but me and Craig were discussing the issue and he got a hold of their office for me. After all this, we got a hold of the Program Manager Jose Cruz to let him know the situation. And in reply he told me he would also get on it and have it sent out ASAP, and told me I would have it by that following Monday which was suppose to be October 10^th. Another week went by and I still hadn’t gotten the letter. Due to this delay I was charged another late fee of $25. I was hit with this charge not once but twice. This is a total of $50! I still feel I should have this money reimbursed to me due to the fact this was NOT my fault that they did not have the proper information they needed due to Director of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz. I went into the office with proof of being charged the $50 with all the dates and Mike Moran told me that he did not need to see the proof. This would have been avoided if I or the daycare had received the letter I asked for weeks ago.

I was extremely uncomfortable with the fact that I was written up by Director of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz because I wrote and email stating how I felt about my pervious attempts to get the letter just stating I got paid Bi-weekly and was told that if I speak with Craig about anything I would lose my job. When I was hired I was told that I have to speak with Craig to let him know what I’m looking for or need. And that’s what I have been doing. I’m only doing what I was told. I was also told if I send any emails out that I had to CC Craig and his team on them, again just doing what I was told.

I also felt that Director of Operations Mike Moran and Program Manager Jose Cruz were trying to make me say or get information to see if Craig had done anything inappropriate to me. First of all let me state, that had nothing to do with what I went in there for, “that was irrelevant.” I feel it was just a way to hear them talk, because the conversation was uncalled for! I went into get a letter for my son’s daycare and I came out upset and in tears. No one should ever feel that way! I do want you and/or anyone else to know that Craig has NOT been inappropriate to me nor towards me in any way shape or form and I enjoy working with him! I don’t appreciate being told I’m over stepping my boundaries when I was following the directions that were given to me when I started. I did nothing wrong but state the obvious and they couldn’t handle that. One, I won’t work for a company who has 2 male employees pull a female employee into an office and threaten her with her job every time directions are followed. Two, I don’t need to deal with anyone trying to state that the person I work with acted inappropriately towards me when again he did NOT, nor did it ever came out of my mouth that he “might have.” I don’t appreciate the disrespect from their company not only on my part but Craig as well!

Sincerely,

Stephanie

______________________________________________________________________________

Update: Email to

November 18^th – To the allied group

As we talked about on the phone I am on the ABI waver, my name is Craig Sears.

On, October 31^st my staff was here but was not paid by Independent living solutions LLC 345 Meriden Road Waterbury CT, 06705 for that day if you get an invoice from Independent living solutions LLC 345 Meriden Road Waterbury CT, 06705 for October 31^st do not pay ILS sent no staff to work with me! 

Thank you for your help, Craig Sears

A single voice is often unheard but a thousand voices can shake the world.

I wanted to provide everyone with a quick update on HR2600, The National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act (PABI Plan Act) that will fund a $2.9 Billion, seven-year federal initiative to implement the PABI Plan.  As of this week we have over 100 bi-partisan co-sponsors

Below is a list of the co-sponsors as of November 18, 2011. If you don’t see your Member of Congress please Email: ted@TheBrainProject.org : the name he will email you the name/phone of the staff person to call & leave a 30-second message encouraging them to be a co-sponsor of the PABI Plan Act

Some of the highlights of the support the PABI Plan Act (HR 2600) has generated include:

• The most conservative Member of the House, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and the most liberal Member of the House, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
• Five Republican Committee Chairs: Reps. Buck McKeon (R-CA, Chair-Armed Services), Peter King (R-NY, Chair-Homeland Security), Spencer Bachus (R-AL, Chair-Financial Services), Ralph Hall (R-TX, Chair-Science) and Jo Bonner (R-AL, Chair-Ethics) as well as six Ranking Democrats: Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA, Ranking-Financial Services), Howard Berman (D-CA, Ranking-Foreign Affairs), Bob Brady (D-PA, Ranking-Administration), Ed Markey (D-MA, Ranking-Natural Resources), Nick Rahall (D-WV, Ranking-Transportation) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX, Ranking-Science)
• The Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and the Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY)
• Broad-based, bi-partisan support in the Energy and Commerce Committee: Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bob Latta (R-OH), Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA), Gregg Harper (R-MS), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), David McKinley (R-WV), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Michael Doyle (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mike Ross (D-AR), John Barrow (D-GA), Ed Markey (D-MA)
• GOP Freshmen Members: Reps. Blake Farenthold (R-TX), Stephen Fincher (R-TN), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tim Griffin (R-AR), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Frank Guinta (R-NH), Nan Hayworth (R-NY), Joe Heck (R-NV), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), David McKinley (R-WV), Patrick Meehan (R-PA), Jon Runyan (R-NJ), Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Allen West (R-FL) 

Co-sponsors of HR2600 as of November 18, 2011: Baca, Joseph N. “Joe” [CA-43], Bachus, Spencer [AL-6], Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2], Barrow, John [GA-12], Berman, Howard [CA-28], Bilbray, Brian [CA-50], Bishop, Sanford [GA-2], Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7], Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3], Bonner, Jo [AL-1], Brady, Robert A. [PA-1], Brown, Corrine [FL-3], Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26], Burton, Dan [IN-5], Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2], Carnahan, Russ [MO-3], Carson, Andre [IN-7], Clarke, Hansen [MI-13], Connolly, Gerald E. “Gerry” [VA-11], Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4], Davis, Danny K. [IL-7], Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-21], Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14], Farenthold, Blake [TX-27], Fincher, Stephen [TN-8], Fitzpatrick, Mike [PA-8], Frank, Barney [MA-4], Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11], Gallegly, Elton [CA-24], Green, Al [TX-9], Griffin, Tim [AR-2], Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7], Grimm, Michael G. [NY-13], Guinta, Frank [NH-1], Hall, Ralph [TX-4], Harper, Gregg [MS-3], Hayworth, Nan A.S. [NY-19], Heck, Joseph J. [NV-3], Heinrich, Martin [NM-1], Himes, James A. [CT-4], Israel, Steve [NY-2], Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18], Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2], Johnson, Bill [OH-6], Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30], Johnson, Hank [GA-4], Jones, Walter [NC-3], Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5], King, Peter T. [NY-3], Kinzinger, Adam [IL-11], Kissell, Larry [NC-8], Langevin, Jim [RI-2], Larson, John B. [CT-1], Latham, Thomas “Tom” [IA-4], Latta, Robert [OH-5], Lewis, John [GA-5], Loebsack, David [IA-2], Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14], Markey, Ed [MA-7], McCotter, Thad [MI-11], McGovern, James P. [MA-3], McIntyre, Mike [NC-7], McKeon, Howard P. “Buck” [CA-25], McKinley, David B. [WV-1], McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5], Meehan, Patrick [PA-7], Michaud, Michael [ME-2], Miller, Brad [NC-13], Moran, James P. [VA-8], Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC], Palazzo, Steven M. [MS-4], Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10], Pence, Mike [IN-6], Rahall, Nick [WV-3], Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15], Reed, Tom [NY-29], Richardson, Laura [CA-37], Rivera, David [FL-25], Ross, Mike [AR-4], Runyan, Jon [NJ-3], Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1], Ryan, Tim [OH-17], Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29], Schmidt, Jean [OH-2], Schock, Aaron [IL-18], Sessions, Pete [TX-32], Sires, Albio [NJ-13], Stivers, Steve [OH-15], Thompson, Glenn [PA-5], Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12], Tierney, John [MA-6], Tonko, Paul [NY-21], Towns, Ed [NY-10], Tsongas, Niki [MA-5], Turner, Robert L. [NY-9], Walz, Timothy [MN-1], West, Allen [FL-22], Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3], Young, Don [AK]; Primary Sponsor: Lance, Leonard [NJ-7]

Craig Sears

The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation

International Advisory Board

339 5th Avenue-Suite405

New York,NY10016

212.576.1180                  

www.TheBrainProject.org

H.R.2600: National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act of 2011

Dear Congressman/woman:                                                         August 2011

My name is Craig Sears, and I am a Survivor of a Traumatic Brain Injury. I am writing on behalf of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation to thank you for co-sponsoring HR 2600, also known as The National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act of 2011. I applaud you for being a co-sponsor of this critically important groundbreaking legislation. I am adding support to the goal of creating a national model care system for children suffering from all Pediatric Acquired Brain Injuries, helping to protect the children of tomorrow from ever having to experience the horror and heartache of traumatic brain injury. This legislation will also help the thousands of troops returning from Iraqand Afghanistanwith the “signature wound” of these conflicts – TBI.

My advocacy started as means to overcome my own difficulties. It’s become my mission to make sure that no one else has to go through what I have. This is my personal experience about what happens when brain injury goes untreated…

It was July 9th, 1987, and it was a beautiful summer afternoon. I was out driving my motorcycle. I had just turned 20 years old and I had a lot going for me. I was making a very good life for myself. I had a great family. I had a good job in construction and also as a part time mechanic. I was making good money for a kid my age. I had a great social life, lots of friends, and I was very popular. I had a great girlfriend. I had 2 cars, a motorcycle, and lived in a nice condo right on the water. I was living the American Dream. Life was great.

And in a heartbeat, it was all gone. Suddenly, I came up over a hill, and there was a car going the wrong way. It was too late. I couldn’t stop and we collided. I was thrown nearly 40 feet over on-coming traffic. I landed head first into a curb, just missing a telephone pole.

I have no memory of the next 6 months. That period of time is a Black Hole in my life. I was in and out of a coma, undergoing multiple surgeries. The doctors operated on my head, and did what they could to patch up my body. This was the beginning of my physical recovery.

Though my body was healing, a bigger problem went untreated. And no one realized it. Insult was added to injury. This is where I fell through the cracks. Despite having my head in a cast, no one identified the true nature of my injury as being a Traumatic Brain injury (TBI). That oversight would cost me dearly in the years to come. I had no idea of the hell I was in for. Had I known what lay ahead, I would never have fought so damn hard to make it. I would have given up, lay down and died.

My struggles were constant. I had to relearn everything, How to walk, how to talk, how to eat, how to use the bathroom. How to care for myself, and then there was the incessant pain, the physical pain of my body overcoming weakness and injury. Worse yet there was the anguish of not knowing who I was.

Things went from bad to worse. Soon, the treatment center I was in transferred me to a mental health ward. I spent the next 9 months locked in against my will, slowly regaining my memory, and a growing sense that this type of life wasn’t for me.

I was angry. I wanted out. I began calling out to anyone who would listen to me – Town officials, State Government, anyone who could get me out. While I knew I didn’t need to be there, I did know that I needed help in other areas. But the help I needed wasn’t available. This was not a mental health issue.

Eventually, a sympathetic ear at the Connecticut Governor’s office helped arrange a meeting between my family, my doctors, and a state representative. I told them all, I wanted out, I needed out. And it was clear to them that I was right. But where was I to go?

I had only one real option, and that was my family. Yet I didn’t want to be a burden to my parents. I applied for Section 8 disability housing, and was put on a waiting list. I was turned down repeatedly.

So in the meantime, my family helped me get into my own one room efficiency apartment. While a big step up from the psychiatric ward, this, too, was far from ideal. I now found myself living alone, except for the roaches and rats, and vulnerable, in an area known for drug dealers and prostitutes.

I wandered those mean streets, trying to regain some kind of memory. I would watch other people to see what they were doing, how they were acting in order to regain anything that I knew how to do before the accident. All I could figure out at this time was that this was not who I was.

With time and my family’s help, things began to improve for me. My family got me a weight set, my father bought me a bicycle and I started volunteering at a local hospital. That gave me access to their physical therapy rooms. I’d learn what they were doing for rehabilitation and go back home at night to do the exercises on my own in order to regain my strength and abilities. But without any medical oversight, I’d over do it. I hurt myself repeatedly. Many times, my mother took me to the hospital because I hurt so bad that I couldn’t walk or move.

Socially, things were awkward. One day after volunteering, I was leaving the hospital. I saw a woman fall to the floor. My instincts were to grab a wheelchair, put her in it and run her into the emergency room. I thought I was doing the right thing. But in reality, my actions upset the emergency room staff, and the next day, the hospital asked me not to return. I was crushed.

One of the lasting consequences of my TBI was that I would slur my words when I spoke. And my balance would be off when I walked. Instead of realizing that this is how I am, people just assumed that I was drinking or using drugs. No one would take me seriously.

It became harder and harder to find where I fit in. With the help of my family, I moved into and out of different apartments. But the pieces of mind and my life didn’t fit quite right. I was restless, and depressed. I struggled to cope. I turned to what I had seen so many others do on the streets: alcohol and drugs. I had learned the wrong way to deal with my problems. I thought it would help me forget all that I had gone through.

Everything I had long fought for, I now started to lose. It was all slipping away. I found myself alone and getting into trouble more often, ending up in shelters, local lockups, and numerous mental health facilities all over the state. Why? Because there was no help for TBI survivors, I continued to spiral down, and soon I wound up homeless, and not long after that, in prison.

The police, the court, the judge and the law, didn’t know, care or consider TBI, or the fact that I had one. And once behind bars, neither did the warden. I served 5 years for what other people would sleep off overnight in the local lockup, and then clear up with a brief court appearance. Instead, I ended up inside a level four, high security prison, surrounded by gang members, rapists, killers, and child molesters. I was locked in a 9′x12′ cell twenty-four hours a day with a vicious inmate next to me.

While behind bars, I received absolutely no help for my disabilities. There was no early release, or time off for good behavior from my sentence. TBI or not, I served every measure of that sentence to the fullest. And I suffered regularly the indignities associated with such an environment that common decency prevents me from sharing here. It was hell.

Somehow, I survived to be released in 2003. And again I needed a place to call home. After 20 years of waiting and being turned down, I turned to a local Congressman’s office for help. Within 2 months, they cut through the red tape, and I finally received recognition of my TBI. And I was accepted into a HUD Section 8 housing unit.

Life though continues to be a struggle. I have no friends. I have no money. I have few options, and fewer choices. I am very uncertain of my future. I still want the American Dream, but it feels further away than ever. I want to be hopeful, but I know all too well how quickly good can go bad in life. But I try my best to help those with TBI get the help they need, and to avoid the mistakes, and missteps I made.

Due to my injury I have memory problems, speech problems, balance issues and many other things. I am disabled because of this and receive services from the state which enable me to remain in the community instead of in a nursing home, in prison or on the streets.

However, August 29, 2009, the State of Connecticut wrongly took away those services, without reason or notice. Fortunately I am a strong advocate for myself and after many phone calls, including to my Congressman’s office (Congressman Jim Himes), I was able to have them reinstate my services – but not without cost to me as I went for so long without getting the services I needed. It also brought to my attention the sad state of the system as it currently exists – it is designed to take advantage of people with disabilities. Another person with a TBI in my shoes would likely not have had the ability to advocate for themselves as I did, and without services they would not have anybody else willing to do it on their behalf. This is a very disturbing situation and it shows how easy it is for states to discriminate against and take advantage of someone like me – it’s like taking candy from a baby!

The National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan) develops a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care that is universally accessible for the millions of families who have a child or young adult suffering the leading cause of death and disability for American youth: brain injury.

In the words of Congressman Leonard Lance, the initial sponsor of HR 2600, “When a child suffers a brain injury, every American family is confronted with difficult decisions in terms of care, research and support. Systems of care are different from state to state, random from school district to school district and vary from one doctor’s office to another. What is needed is a national clearing house of information and resources for children impacted by brain injuries and their families.”

Specifically, this legislation would create a national network of 52 State Lead Centers of Excellence, one for every state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with the responsibility of implementing the PABI Plan based on their own state’s unique demographics, geography, laws, infrastructure, financing and causes of brain injuries without duplicating current practices. The legislation will cover the entire continuum of care from prevention, treatment in acute medical facilities, reintegration back into the schools, communities and homes and then transitioning into an adult system of greater independent living.

The plan calls for each of these 52 State Lead Centers of Excellent to have case managers specially trained to assist children and young adults with brain injuries. If the National PABI Plan were in place, that case manager would have stepped in during my crisis and been my advocate. These people would be trained to help those who cannot help themselves. Imagine what would have happened to someone else in my same shoes who did not know to contact the people that I contacted to get my services back! They would have not gotten them reinstated and would have ended up on the streets or in prison or dead, that’s what.

The legislation will also focus on individuals with a Mild Traumatic brain injury (including concussions) which account for more than 80 percent of brain injuries each year, as well as rural communities which account for 25 percent of the population and have higher incidence rates of brain injuries. For example, the 52 State Lead Centers would help children suffering from sports related injuries by providing additional information, resources and care.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 765,000 American youth aged 25 and younger enter an emergency department every year with a new traumatic brain injury. More than 80,000 are hospitalized and over 11,000 die annually. This Act develops a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care that will benefit many American families whose children have sustained brain injuries.

This is why the goal and mission of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation are so very important. For myself, I wish on that July afternoon over 20 years ago, that there was a National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan in place for me. I wish that the State, doctors, and nurses, and all the cops, judges, and people whoever had the power over me had a clue about Traumatic brain injury. I wish that when I needed it, there were people to turn to, answers to the questions I didn’t even know I had, and the resources in place for me. I wonder how different my life would be today.

The United States calls July 4th Independence Day. As a Brian injury survivor I know first hand what its like to have lost my independence. The day this is signed into law I call it Independence Day across the Nation for Brian injury survivors and their families. Thank you to everyone that has been involved in this history making moment for brain injury.
Sincerely,

Craig Sears,

A Voice for Traumatic Brain Injury

H.R.2600
Latest Title: National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] (introduced 7/20/2011)      Cosponsors 
Latest Major Action: 7/20/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

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Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] – 7/25/2011
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] – 7/20/2011
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] – 7/20/2011
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] – 7/27/2011
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] – 7/20/2011
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] – 7/20/2011
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] – 7/20/2011
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] – 7/20/2011
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] – 7/20/2011
Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] – 7/20/2011
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 7/20/2011
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] – 7/20/2011
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] – 7/20/2011
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. “Gerry” [VA-11] – 7/20/2011
Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] – 7/25/2011
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] – 7/25/2011
Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-21] – 7/27/2011
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] – 7/20/2011
Rep Fincher, Stephen Lee [TN-8] – 7/27/2011
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] – 7/20/2011
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] – 7/20/2011
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] – 7/20/2011
Rep Griffin, Tim [AR-2] – 7/27/2011
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 7/20/2011
Rep Grimm, Michael G. [NY-13] – 7/20/2011
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] – 7/20/2011
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] – 7/20/2011
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] – 7/25/2011
Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] – 7/20/2011
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] – 7/20/2011
Rep Johnson, Henry C. “Hank,” Jr. [GA-4] – 7/27/2011
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] – 7/20/2011
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] – 7/20/2011
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] – 7/20/2011
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] – 7/25/2011
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] – 7/20/2011
Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] – 7/27/2011
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] – 7/25/2011
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] – 7/20/2011
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] – 7/20/2011
Rep McKeon, Howard P. “Buck” [CA-25] – 7/20/2011
Rep McKinley, David B. [WV-1] – 7/20/2011
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] – 7/20/2011
Rep Meehan, Patrick [PA-7] – 7/20/2011
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] – 7/25/2011
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] – 7/20/2011
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] – 7/20/2011
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] – 7/20/2011
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] – 7/20/2011
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] – 7/20/2011
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] – 7/27/2011
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] – 7/20/2011
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] – 7/20/2011
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] – 7/20/2011
Rep Runyan, Jon [NJ-3] – 7/20/2011
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] – 7/20/2011
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] – 7/20/2011
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] – 7/20/2011
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] – 7/20/2011
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] – 7/20/2011
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] – 7/20/2011
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] – 7/27/2011
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] – 7/20/2011

National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Act was introduced in Congress

As a member of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation National Advisory Board – Family I am pleased to report that Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-6) announced federal legislation to implement the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan) at Overlook Medical Centeron Thursday, June 30, 2011. Joining Congressman Leonard Lance Barbara Geiger-Parker (CEO of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey) Alan Leiber (CEO of Overlook Medical Center) Patrick Donohue and his six-year-old daughter Sarah Jane the namesake of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, along with Brain Injury Survivor Craig Sears and other families’ advocates and professionals

The National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan) develops a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care that is universally accessible for the millions of families who have a child or young adult suffering the leading cause of death and disability for American youth: brain injury.

When a child suffers a brain injury, every American family is confronted with difficult decisions in terms of care, research and support. Systems of care are different from state to state, random from school district to school district and vary from one doctor’s office to another.  What is needed is a national clearing house of information and resources for children impacted by brain injuries and their families, said Congressman Lance.

Specifically, Lance’s legislation would create a national network of 52 State Lead Centers of Excellence, one for every state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with the responsibility of implementing the PABI Plan based on their own state’s unique demographics, geography, laws, infrastructure, financing and causes of brain injuries without duplicating current practices. The legislation will cover the entire continuum of care from prevention, treatment in acute medical facilities, reintegration back into the schools, communities and homes and then transitioning into an adult system of greater independent living.

The legislation will also focus on individuals with a Mild Traumatic brain injury which accounts for more than 80 percent of brain injuries each year, commonly referred to as concussions, as well as rural communities which account for 25 percent of the population and have higher incidence rates of brain injuries. For example, the 52 State Lead Centers would help children suffering from sports related injuries by providing additional information, resources and care.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 765,000 American youth aged 25 and younger enter an emergency department every year with a new traumatic brain injury.  More than 80,000 are hospitalized and over 11,000 die annually.

During a news conference atOverlookMedicalCenter, Barbara Geiger-Parker, president and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, and other community leaders discussed their support for Lance’s legislation.

This Act develops a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care that will benefit many American families whose children have sustained brain injuries. We applaud Congressman Lance for being the lead sponsor of this critically important groundbreaking legislation, said Barbara Geiger-Parker, president and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey.

This is a historic day for the millions of American youth who suffer from the number one leading cause of death and disability, brain injury, as well as their families.  Congressman Lance’s bill would ensure families won’t have to reinvent the wheel when their child is impacted with a brain injury, said Patrick Donohue the founder of The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation.

I can honestly say for myself, I wish on that July afternoon 20 + years ago, that there was a national PABI plan in place. I wish that the States, doctors, and nurses, and all the cops, judges, and people whoever had the power over me had a clue about TBI. I wish that when I needed it, there were people to turn to, answers to the questions I didn’t even know I had, and the resources in place for me. I wonder how different my life would be today.

The day this is signed into law I call it Independence Day across the Nation for Brian injury survivors.

Thank you to everyone that has been involved in this history making moment.

Sincerely,

Craig Sears

Personal Care Aides/Medicaid Waiver Program providers EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS slandered Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor Craig Sears name in every aspect of the definition when he asked for help for his disability!

My name is Craig Sears I am doing two things today: Asking for your help and fighting back. The written word can so easily be misinterpreted but everything in this blog is Fact; I am a survivor of traumatic brain injury TBI due to my injury I have memory problems, speech problems, balance issues and many other things. I am disabled because of this and receive services from the state Acquired Brain Injury ABI Medicaid Waiver. This waiver allows the state to permit organizations to provide non-medical services to people with TBI enabling them to live in the community outside of nursing homes and institutions.

I think of my fellow brain injury survivor friends as part of my extended brain injury survivor family. Whether I have met them or not! I am posting online my experiences as a survivor of a TBI to show how easy it is for program providers in the State of Connecticut to discriminate against, and take advantage of someone with a brain injury the way the State of Connecticut; Dept of Social Services, Employment Options LLC did to me. In hope, that it can help another brain injury survivor from being taken advantage of.

I would like to say that I’m very disappointed in the way Employment Options LLC handled my case. YES, I am irritated! In the 90s I became a spokesman for the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut, advocating forConnecticut’s Acquired Brain Injury Medicaid Waiver implemented in 1999. Employment Options LLC 91 Willenbrock Road, # 3aOxford, CT is what exactly? I know what they say they are but I’m still not entirely sure what it is they actually do for brain injury survivors since I experienced no help what so ever, except for a lot of BS!

Staff supervisors at Employment Options LLC Jamie Arber, Patty Happy and case manager Richard Kiley told me, Craig Sears; that Employment Options LLC had someone to work with me that was ILST approved, turns out they were not! And when that person moved on, EO told me that they had someone else that was ILST approved, turns out they were not! When asked by my doctor about it, again Employment Options LLC stated that they had someone else that was ILST approved turns out they were Not!

On top of that, when Employment Options LLC sent Pre-Vocational Services staff they were instructed by Employment Options LLC management to refrain from providing me any services outlined in my State waiver plan! This made it appear as if they were providing me services when in fact they were not. This is a letter from Staff that was hired to work with me as a Personal Care Aide & how he was instructed by Employment Options LLC management to refrain from providing me any services outlined in my State waiver plan! (Out of respect of staff I will not post his name)

To see the latter click here: http://michelelzurkosmith.blogspot.com/2011/02/employment-options-llc-91-willenbrock.html

I know all too well as a brain injury survivor what life is like with no help. Been there done that! QLMS LLC is another CT program provider that worked along with Dr. Annemarie Murphy Ph.D. of Bridgeport CT and reported a bunch of inaccurate information to DSS and opened the door for Victor Estay and his supervisor Kenneth R. Smith from the state of Connecticut Department of Social Services DSS to wrongly take away my services for no reason and without notice. I am supposed to be protected by the established legislation, which is found within the Medicaid Waiver. Sec. 17b-260a-1I, Individuals who are eligible for ABI services shall be given free choice of all qualified providers of each service included in his or her plan of care. When I exercised this right to choice, DSS refused to authorize service provision and payment to an alternate DSS/ Allied approved provider of my choice, resulting in a complete absence of services for me. Sec. 17b-260a-1J7 states that it is the responsibility of the Department to pay for approved ABI waiver services delivered by qualified providers through its fiduciary agent on behalf of the individual.

I informed my Medicaid Waiver Doctor and the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (P&A) about the fact I was not receiving services outlined in my State waiver plan that Employment Options LLC reported providing me. When the doctor and the office of P&A confronted Employment Options LLC, they then made unreasonable confrontational and defamation of character accusations regarding me working with female staff, and implied I had acted inappropriately. Talk about ignorant and self-absorbed staff superiors at Employment Options LLC. When I found this out at my Dept. of Social Services team meeting, I immediately asked my doctor to look into this. Out of respect of the doctor’s wishes I am only posting his first name. (Quote)
                                                      

Hi Craig

You are correct. Shannon denies every accusation made by EO. Wow!

NeuroStrategies, Inc.

neurostrategies@earthlink.net

RE:Shannonand Employment Options LLC

Attention: Craig Sears

I am writing to memorialize my conversation with Shannon on today. The purpose of my conversation with Shannon was to ascertain, as you requested, Shannon’s position on her removal from your case by her superiors at Employment Options LLC 91Willenbrock Road Oxford CT 06478

I informed Shannon that both Jamie Arber and Patty Happy had conversations with me regarding her Shannon safety. Jamie Arber and Patty Happy indicated that she Shannon was uncomfortable working with you Craig. Jamie and Patty further related to me that Shannon had requested a change in placement, as she felt uncomfortable working with you. Jamie further stated that he would not place Shannon in a situation where she was uncomfortable and or vulnerable. Finally, he stated that Shannon had been hired for a different position and she was only a temporary solution until permanent staff could be hired.

Shannon vehemently denies that there was ever any behavioral and or sexually inappropriate behavior on your part in any way during her tenure with you. She did not hesitate or waiver when she stated that she never felt at-risk while working with you, she never requested a change in placement, there were no accusations leveled by her against you to her superiors, there were no incidents of inappropriate behavior on your part nor any attempt of an act of inappropriate behavior whether verbal or physical. Shannon stated that she enjoyed working with you and she values what you are attempting to achieve.

It is my hope that this addresses your concerns regarding Shannon’s perspective on this matter. If I can be of further assistance regarding this matter please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Respectfully,

Doctor, Tariq, PhD., M.S., MBA.

Think about what this could do to a man or women with a disability, who has a child. They can be held liable as a result of these false accusations, made by a Personal Care Aides/Medicaid Waiver Program provider if anything occurs. (I am threatened by this)

Traumatic brain injury TBI is a major health problem that disproportionately affects young people. It is the leading cause of death for children. People aren’t aware of brain injuries. TBI is often referred to as the silent epidemic because the complications such as; changes affecting thinking, language or emotions, may not be readily apparent. No one thinks brain injuries will affect them or their children. A lot of brain injured people look perfectly normal. Imagine having a disability that caused you to slur your speech, made it difficult for you to learn new things, and affected your balance. Now imagine that no one knew you had this. That is what it’s like for people living with a disability as the result of a brain injury. This is what I’m faced with everyday. Brain injury is also known to as an invisible disability because there are often no outward physical signs. It’s not like falling and breaking a leg. You see it, and it heals. A brain injury can last a lifetime. There is no cure, only awareness and prevention. After that, there’s only support.

In an effort to advocate for myself and all those individuals who are supposed to be protected by the established legislation? I have made Waiver Provider complaints with the State ofConnecticut; Dept of Social Services, Allied Community Resources, CT Governors office, Congressman Jim Himes D-CT 4th District, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, etc, regarding DSS, Employment Options LLC unethical and illegal treatment of me. And got no help what so ever because they do not live up to their expectations/mission.

Can you believe Employment Options LLC has contracts and/or services Bureau of Rehabilitation services, the acquired brain wavier, DDS, and a variety of school system?

Your voice matters now more than ever, so let your voices be heard loud and clear! Is Employment Options LLC the kind of service provider you want caring for our children/friends/loved ones? Call Social Services tell them about this blog and ask them to investigate Employment Options as an approved allied community resources ABI Medicaid Waiver Program Provider. I can only imagine how they are slandering other brain injury survivors to get out of providing services and getting paid by the state.

If you or someone you know has Employment Options LLC as there Waiver Program Provider give them this INFO and tell them that it is recommend for them to tell EO to kick rocks, and get someone new!

1) Anyone on the ABI waiver can call allied community resources and ask for a Waiver Provider list.

Sec. 17b-260a-1I, Individuals who are eligible for ABI services shall be given free choice of all qualified providers of each service included in his or her plan of care.

2) After they call allied they should go over the list to find a new provider. That is when you call your DSS worker and tell them the new provider’s name.

Sec. 17b-260a-1J7 states that it is the responsibility of the Department to pay for approved ABI waiver services delivered by qualified providers through its fiduciary agent on behalf of the individual. 

Sincerely,

Craig Sears, Member Connecticut Traumatic brain injury advisory board.

EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS, LLC 91 Willenbrock Road Oxford CT 06478 203-267-3811 Michele L. Zurko – Smith

After I informed my Medicaid Waiver Doctor about the fact I was not receiving services outlined in my State waiver plan that Employment Options committed to provide, and reported providing me and after being confronted by my doctor and the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities about this fact. EO then made false unreasonable confrontational and defamation of character accusations regarding me working with female staff and implied I had acted inappropriately. Reporting this as the reason why I was not receiving services; I found this out at my Dept of Social Services team meeting, I immediately asked my doctor to look into this B.S.

(Out of respect of the doctor’s wishes I am only posting his first name.)

(and I quote)

“Hi Craig

You are correct. Shannon denies every accusation made by Employment Options. Wow!

Doctor Tariq, PhD., M.S., MBA”

Below is the actual letter about the  false accusations that were made against me by the staff superiors at Employment Options  LLC;  I can only imagine how EO is slandering other brain injury survivors to get out of providing services and getting paid by the state for NOT providing services!

——————————————————–

NeuroStrategies, Inc.

neurostrategies@earthlink.net

RE: Shannon and Employment Options LLC

Attention: Craig Sears

I am writing to memorialize my conversation with Shannon on today. The purpose of my conversation with Shannon was to ascertain, as you requested, Shannon’s position on her removal from your case by her superiors at Employment Options LLC 91Willenbrock Road Oxford CT 06478

I informed Shannon that both Jamie Arber and Patty Happy had conversations with me regarding her Shannon safety. Jamie Arber and Patty Happy indicated that she Shannon was uncomfortable working with you Craig. Jamie and Patty further related to me that Shannon had requested a change in placement, as she felt uncomfortable working with you. Jamie further stated that he would not place Shannon in a situation where she was uncomfortable and or vulnerable. Finally, he stated that Shannon had been hired for a different position and she was only a temporary solution until permanent staff could be hired.

Shannon vehemently denies that there was ever any behavioral and or sexually inappropriate behavior on your part in any way during her tenure with you. She did not hesitate or waiver when she stated that she never felt at-risk while working with you, she never requested a change in placement, there were no accusations leveled by her against you to her superiors, there were no incidents of inappropriate behavior on your part nor any attempt of an act of inappropriate behavior whether verbal or physical. Shannon stated that she enjoyed working with you and she values what you are attempting to achieve.

It is my hope that this addresses your concerns regarding Shannon’s perspective on this matter. If I can be of further assistance regarding this matter please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Respectfully,

Doctor, Tariq, PhD., M.S., MBA

Sarah Jane’s Dad Addresses HomeAway’s Super Bowl “Test Baby” Ad National Tour To Raise Awareness About Youth Brain Injury

Austin, TX – The founder of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation and the father of its namesake, Patrick Donohue, traveled to the Austin-based headquarters of HomeAway.com this morning to address their Super Bowl Ad depicting a “test baby” being slammed against a glass window at a press conference. The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation has just begun a nationwide tour to raise awareness about youth sports-related concussions and other brain injuries, such as abusive head trauma. The tour began in North Carolina during the NHL All-Star weekend, is traveling throughout Texas during Super Bowl week and then travels to over 40 states over the next six months. HomeAway CEO, Brian Sharples, released a letter prior to the press conference apologizing for their “Test Baby” Super Bowl ad as well as completely altering their media campaign (click here to read the Brian Sharples’ letter: http://www.homeaway.com/info/media-center/press-releases/2011/super-bowl-ad-response?cid=SM_tw_text_t_pr_sf1050011).

Patrick Donohue said, “HomeAway should be commended for its swift and decisive action to remove their ‘Test Baby’ television ad which ran during the Super Bowl. After watching the ad during the Super Bowl, we presented them with the facts that 75% of abusive head trauma is caused by young males as well as brain injury being the leading cause of death and disability. HomeAway agreed to remove all images of the ‘test baby’ being smashed against a glass wall, thrown through the glass window or being dropped.” Donohue is the founder of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation and father of its namesake. “This is a great example of an organization making a ‘Super’ response to a difficult situation and being a good corporate citizen.”

“I was really pleased to see HomeAway be so responsive to genuine concerns about injuries and violence toward children. I know the ad campaign costs them significant amounts of money. They should be congratulated for understanding the real distress that families and parents could have in seeing their campaign and generating a solution that minimizes the adverse effects,” stated Dr. Desmond Runyan, Professor of Social Medicine and Pediatrics at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, a Steering Committee Member of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation International Advisory Board and one of the leading experts on child abuse. “HomeAway stepped up to the plate and did the right thing.”

The press conference was held outside the headquarters of HomeAway.com at 1011 West Fifth Street in Austin, Texas (across the street in the OfficeMax Parking lot in front of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation’s 40-foot traveling RV) on Tuesday morning, February 8, 2011 at 9:15 a.m. (CST).

For more information about The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, please visit their website www.TheBrainProject.org

Craig Sears
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation
339 5th Avenue – Suite 405 New York, NY 10016
Phone# 212.576.1180

craig@thebrainproject.org