Supports on Long Island

     After someone suffers from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), they may need services and supports in one, or many areas. On Long Island, a well know agency that provides support and services to brain injury survivors is Long Island Head Injury Association (LIHIA). Their slogan, "A Bridge to Hope and Healing," says a lot about them. Their mission is to provide information and assistance to victims of a TBI as well as their families. The LIHIA offers family & community services, service coordination, residential programs, supported employment and community habilitation. Recovery or adjustment to a brain injury could be extremely difficult for most. This agency assists families by educating them and directing them in the appropriate direction. Their mission is to maximize TBI survivors' potential by providing the necessary residential and support programs to help them achieve four valued outcomes. These outcomes are individualization, independence, integration and productivity.

     The first step to receiving services is to be assigned a Medicaid Service Coordinator (MSC). The MSC will assist individuals and families with applying for services and receiving care. These services include Medicaid, clinical services, rehabilitation, and group home and job placement assistance. The Head Injury Association has multiple housing opportunities across Long Island. These housing options include community residences, supportive apartments and condos. The type of housing offered to a TBI victim is dependent on the severity of their brain damage and their level of independence. Like all residential settings, the goal is to assist and teach the individual to be as independent as possible. 

     A victim of a brain injury may not be able to return to work for months, years or ever. The supported employment services train the individuals to be able to work a job to the best of their abilities. Some skills could be learned again and mastered while some may never come back. At the Head Injury Association, a plan is set up to cover knowledge, skill-sets training, on-the-job accommodations, safety requirements and transportation. If needed, an individual will be provided a one-to-one staff member to give full support.

     

     The Long Island Head Injury Association's goal is the same as most other agencies that work with Developmentally Disabled Adults. The only difference is that the "focus" or disability here is traumatic brain injury. The goal is to teach and promote independence of the individuals involved to the furthest possible extent. Although some people may recover for the most part from a brain injury, there are many who have very serious, permanent disabilities. Places like the LIHIA hope to make the process a little bit easier for the victims of a traumatic brain injury, as well as their family.

    For more information about the Long Island Head Injury Association, please visit their website.

Head Injury Association