Transcending Brain Injury - Annual Brain Injury Conference of Southwest Virginia
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About the Conference | Conference Registration Scholarships | The Emily Couric Memorial Award | CEUs

About the Conference
Brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability among young people in our state.  According to the CDC, each year in Virginia, over 28,000 people are seen in emergency departments for traumatic brain injuries, 5,400 are hospitalized because of traumatic brain injury, 1,400 will die this year from brain injury, and 1,900 will acquire lifelong disabilities.  More people sustain a brain injury each year than are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, HIV/AIDS and breast cancer combined.  The average lifetime cost for caring for a person with brain injury now exceeds $4 million.

The goal of this conference is to provide educational and networking opportunities for survivors, caregivers, health care professionals and students who work with persons affected by brain injuries.

Conference Registration Scholarships
The conference advisory committee wants all survivors and care givers to have an opportunity to attend this conference, therefore scholarships will be provided to cover the cost of registration and, in some cases, other related expenses to individuals who require financial assistance.  To receive information on applying for a scholarship, please call 540-342-9531 or e-mail biav@lycos.com .  In your message, be sure to give your name, phone number, when you can be contacted, and a brief explanation of your request.

The Emily Couric Memorial Award
The Emily Couric Memorial Award was established in 2002 by the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV) to honor an individual or group that has demonstrated a commitment to advocacy for survivors of acquired brain injury and their families. This award was initiated in order to honor the memory of Senator Emily Couric, who was instrumental in gaining approval for the Commonwealth Neurotrauma initiative in Virginia. The late Senator Couric was also an ardent supporter of legislation that would place financial resources in a special trust for survivors of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Nominees for this award are to be selected from within Virginia, although particular attention will be given to those candidates from Southwest Virginia who have made unique contributions. Nominees may have contributed in any of several ways:

  • Demonstrated active involvement in community service, with a commitment to advocacy and support of people with brain injuries.
  • Demonstrated use of their unique position as a leader in their chosen field or profession to promote awareness of the needs of ABI survivors and their families, or otherwise improve their quality of life.
  • Demonstrated commitment to education, service and adjustment for brain injury survivors.
  • Demonstrated development or significant contribution to an innovative way of meeting the needs of ABI survivors.
  • Demonstrated significant contribution in their leadership position of an organization involved in advocacy for ABI survivors.
Individuals or groups are nominated and voted upon by a committee composed of five advisory board members from the local BIAV Chapter. The list of nominees will then be reviewed and presented to the full advisory board for a vote on the most appropriate candidate. The recipient of the award will be honored at the annual Southwest Virginia Brain Injury Conference. The award will include an engraved plaque and a gift certificate that will express appreciation for their unique contribution. Their name will also be placed on the Emily Couric Memorial Award plaque maintained by the chapter.

Previous recipients of the Emily Couric Memorial Award are
Barbara Iddings (2002), Fran Rooker (2003), and Sandy Willis (2004)

CEUs
Up to .7 Continuing Education Units (CEU), awarded by Radford University, are available for professionals attending the conference.  

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