DRC Programs

Protection & Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI)

The Arkansas Traumatic Brain Injury Protection & Advocacy Project is a federally funded project authorized by the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996 and reauthorization as part of the Children's Health Act of 2000. The Act provides grants to protection and advocacy systems to insure that individuals with TBI and their families have access to:

Information, referrals and advice
Individual and family advocacy
Legal Representation; and
Support and assistance with self-advocacy

Anyone who has suffered a crania-cerebral head trauma as an occurrence of injury to the head arising from a blunt or penetrating trauma or from acceleration-deceleration forces that are associated with skull fracture, diagnosed intracranial lesions, decreased level of consciousness, amnesia, or other neurologic or neuropsychologic abnormalities is eligible for PATBI services.

Funding is provided from the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Click here to read an HRSA news brief from 2003 for information about this program.

The members of the TBI Advisory Council are available here.

TBI Literature

	The DRC TBI and Returning Military Personnel flyer is now available to download in PDF format. Military personnel that return from service are more likely now to have a brain injury than ever before, and it's important to recognize the symptoms and not be descriminated against because of it. You can download the flyer here. (pdf)
	Our newest TBI brochure, Important First Steps to Caring for Persons with Brain Injury, discusses what brain injury and concussion are, the characteristics of brain injury and how to recognize it, and offers tips for working with individuals with brain injuries. You can download that flyer here (pdf).
	Traumatic Brain Injury Services Resource Manual, 2nd ed. was written by the Arkansas Department of Health's Center for Health Protection, and provides a comprehensive list of resources and services in Arkansas for persons with TBI and their families, case managers, and hospital discharge planners. It provides general informaiton on brain injury, then details the federal, state, and specialty services providers that meet the licensing and certification standards for the State of Arkansas. You can download the manual here (pdf).
	TBI Tip Sheets give valuable information on the symptoms, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery for traumatic brain injury (TBI), blast injury, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and concussion (mild brain injury). Written for families, survivors, educators, therapists, clinicians and advocates, they are filled with strategies and tips on specific topics. You can order your free copies right here using our convenient order form.

TBI Events

Neuro Restorative Timber Ridge Kaleidoscope Seminar Series

The Neuro Restorative Timber Ridge Kaleidoscope Seminar Series will be held Thursday, August 26, from 8 AM to 12 Noon, at the Hilton Little Rock, 925 S University Ave, Little Rock AR 72204. Fee is $15, payable via cash or check at the door; free for students, family & guardians. For more information visit their website at http://www.NeuroRestorative.com/events, or call them toll-free at 800-353-955, or you can email betty.barnhardt[at]thementornetwork[dot]com

Save the Date - Brain Injury Business Practice College 2011, Feb. 22-24

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) invites you to its 2011 Brain Injury Business Practice College, February 22-24, 2011. Sessions are especially designed for: CEOs, COOs, human services & sales/marketing professionals. The 2011 conference will offer sessions on process improvement, building a fee schedule, work-life balance, business ethics, case studies, and best practices roundtables. Hosting the 2011 College will be The Menger Hotel, in San Antonio, Texas. The group reservation is #601846.

TBI News

TBI Blood Test Featured in WSJ

In a July 20, 2010 article, Wall Street Journal reporter Thomas M. Burton authored "New Test for Brain Injury on Horizon," which features biomarkers as a potential key in pinpointing brain injuries using a simple blood test. To view this article online, in its entirety, please click on the following link http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704720004575377082786936708.html.

Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) applauds both Mr. Burton and the Wall Street Journal for featuring this article and acknowledges contributing to its content through sharing of resources and ongoing dialogue with Mr. Burton.

Acquired Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are a public health crisis and there are more than 3 million new brain injuries every year. Tune in to Disabilities At Work Radio and listen to this expert panel to learn more about traumatic brain injury, how to deal with it, treatments that are available, and advances being made.

Please join host Ray Zardetto as he speaks with Patrick Donohue - Founder and President, The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation; Ann Glang, Ph.D. - Senior Fellow, Research Professor, Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon University and Research Scientist, Oregon Center for Applied Science; Ron Savage Ed.D. - President, North American Brain Injury Society, Founder, The Pediatric Task Force of the Brain Injury Association of America, Senior Consultant at The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health (Voorhees, NJ) and Editor, Brain Injury Professional; and Joe Tepas III M.D. - Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Florida and Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery.

http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=47514

2nd Annual Brain Injury Conference Held in Little Rock

Disability Rights Center (DRC) collaborated with the Arkansas State Department of Health and the Brain Injury Association of Arkansas to present the 2nd Annual Partners in Brain injury Conference, 2009 November 17, 2009 at the Little Rock Metro Hilton on University Ave. The event attracted over 100 participants and was hailed as a great success. Read more about the conference in the press release.

Words Do Make A Difference

DRC Protection and Advocacy for TBI Advisory Council member Shaun Best has written and posted a blog entitled "Words Do Make a Difference in How We Treat People" on the Lash & Associates website, a helpful site for survivors of traumatic brain injury and their familes and the professionals who work with them. Please take a look. Congratulations, Shaun.

2008 TBI Conference Called a Success

The one day Little Rock November 7, 2008 TBI Conference was very successful with 196 individuals from all around the state, 14 exhibitors and 32 presenters. The State TBI Implementation Project at the Arkansas State Dept, of Health initiated and funded the TBI public awareness conference. Disability Rights Center and the Brain Injury Association Chapter of Arkansas co-sponsored the conference. The Luncheon Keynote Speaker, State Representative Sandra Prater, gave the TBI Legislative Task Force recommendations that Arkansas begin a TBI registry and infrastructure for TBI services through a Commission.

TBI Act Signed

On Monday, April 28, 2008, the President signed into law: S. 793, the "Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008", which authorizes appropriations and makes changes to the Department of Health and Human Services programs that provide grants for State programs for: tracking and reporting of brain injuries; and brain injury rehabilitation.

Injury Prevention Center Unveiled

On 4/16/2008 Terrie Root, attorney and prior DRC employee, spoke about her daughter in the unveiling of the new Arkansas Childrens Hospital's (ACH) Injury Prevention Center. DRC, Brain Injury Association of Arkansas, the AR Dept. of Health, ACH and many other groups are working together on traumatic brain injury awareness and prevention and praise this new center.

Free Book to Download

The Rand Corporation has published a book titled Invisible Wounds of War which focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury among returning veterans. A free downloadable copy is available.

New FMLA Leave Rules for Soldiers' Relatives: What Employers Need to Know

On January 28, 2008, President Bush signed into law amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act, which grant additional leave under the FMLA to employees who have family members in the military. The legislation creates two new categories of FMLA leave:

Leave During Family Member's Active Duty - Employees who have a spouse, parent, or child who is on or has been called to active duty in the Armed Forces may take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave yearly when they experience a "qualifying exigency."
Injured Servicemember Family Leave - Employees who are the spouse, parent, child, or next of kin of a servicemember who incurred a serious injury or illness on active duty in the Armed Forces may take up to 26 weeks of leave to care for the injured servicemember in one a 12-month period (in combination with regular FMLA leave).

All employers that are subject to the FMLA's requirements (those with at least 50 employees) need to be aware of the new requirements and how to comply.

DRC Priorities for PATBI in Fiscal Year 2010

(Goal) DRC will assist people with disabilities in institutions, community settings and psychiatric programs in advocating receipt of services and supports in a safe environment.

Monitor community settings and public and private facilities and investigate cases of suspicious deaths and claims of abuse, neglect, unlawful commitment, seclusion, physical or chemical restraint, and violations of rights.

(Goal) DRC will assist people with disabilities in advocating access to all financial and other public benefits, to which they are entitled by law in order to live in the community.

Provide technical assistance or representation to people with disabilities to receive services or supports to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

(Goal) DRC will assist people with disabilities to advocate removal of barriers to housing, places of public accommodation, and state and local government in order for them to have equal access under the law.

Represent or provide technical assistance to people with disabilities regarding problems with subsidized housing.

(Goal) Provide disability rights advocacy for people with disabilities who have a right to services under the federal Rehabilitation Act.

DRC will represent Vocational Rehabilitation consumers to ensure that they receive information and advice regarding obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services or other services that a beneficiary with a disability may need to secure, maintain, or regain gainful employment.

(Goal) DRC will assist students with disabilities to advocate access to a continuum of placement options in the least restrictive environment.

Investigate claims of denial of access to a continuum of placement options, including suspension, expulsion and manifestation determination, which result in a change of placement due to disability related behaviors.

(Goal) DRC will inform people with disabilities of their legal rights at trainings conducted by DRC and other organizations.

Conduct outreach and rights training activities at in-patient, residential, and community-based facilities.
Conduct community trainings on the services DRC provides, sensitivity awareness and on specific topics related to DRC priorities as requested by other agencies.
PATBI will Co-sponsor the second TBI Public Awareness Conference November 17, 2009, with the State TBI Implementation Project/Arkansas State Dept of Health and BIA/AR.

(Goal) DRC will raise issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities at meetings attended by policy makers and/or people with disabilities.

Maintain a collaborative working relationship with Arkansas Fair Housing Commission and reinforce that people with disabilities have a right to accessible and affordable housing free from discrimination.
Attend monthly meetings of the Arkansas Homeless Coalition to advocate for homeless people with disabilities.
Attend scheduled public meetings of the Mayor's Commission on Homelessness in Little Rock to better provide information to homeless people with disabilities at the Day Resource Center.
DRC serves on the Arkansas Advisory Council for the Education of Individuals with Disabilities to advise the Council on ways to stop discrimination against children with disabilities in public schools.
DRC will serve on the Division of Youth Services (DYS) Oversight Committee to ensure that DYS is meeting the deadlines of the DYS Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Reform Plan 2009-2014.
DRC will serve on the State TBI Implementation Project Advisory Board, attending quarterly meetings to advise the Board on ways to stop discrimination against people with Traumatic Brain Injury.
Continue operation of the DRC PATBI Advisory Council consisting of over 50% TBI survivors and family members, to advise the PATBI program on TBI advocacy needs and outreach strategies.
DRC will serve on ACED (Arkansas Coalition for the Education of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing) to develop a seamless system of services to stop discrimination against children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
DRC will serve on the UALR Auditory and Speech Pathology Department Development Council to advise the Council on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
DRC will convene meetings of ARPie to share information with parent advocacy groups/Parent Training Information Centers about education advocacy issues.
DRC will network with the PTI and other disability groups to develop mini-conferences in unserved areas of the state.
DRC will research coverage of TBI Survivors by existing Arkansas Medicaid Waivers and identify TBI gaps and service needs through Waiver Services.

(Goal) DRC will inform people with disabilities of their rights through the publication and dissemination of pertinent information.

DRC will publish and distribute DRC newsletters to people on the DRC mail list, the e-mail list, and will publish each on the DRC website in accessible formats to inform the public on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities and the services DRC provides.
DRC will print and distribute "A Parent's Guide, Civil Rights/Education" Bluebooks to inform persons how to stop discrimination against students with disabilities.
DRC will distribute "IDEA, a Parent's Booklet" (companion to the Bluebook) to inform persons how to stop discrimination against students with disabilities.
DRC will write "A Parent's Guide, Civil Rights/Early Intervention" (Yellowbook) to inform persons how to stop discrimination against infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
Provide the DRC display and materials in conferences to inform the public about DRC activities to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
Timely information will be posted on the DRC website on each DRC program, upcoming events, cases, investigations, legislation, etc.

DRC Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) Advisory Council

Mission Statement

To passionately assist the lives of people with disabilities through education, empowerment, and protection of their legal rights.

Vision Statement

A council that provides leadership to DRC, other organizations, agencies and individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury and their families in order to maximize the quality of life for all Arkansans who have sustained a traumatic brain injury.

PATBI Program Staff

Nan Ellen East

DRC Executive Director

Elizabeth R. Eskew, MA²

PATBI Program Coordinator

Jennifer Holloway

PATBI/AC Administrative Support

Advisory Council Members

Mary Lou Lane - Chairperson (Dardanelle, AR): Director of Alternative Learning Environment, Dardanelle School District
Loretta Alexander, MHSA - Vice Chairperson (Little Rock, AR): AR. Department of Health
Trible Moseley - Secretary (Maumelle, AR): Advocate
Shaun Best (Smackover, AR): Survivor/Advocate
Suzanne Bierman (Little Rock, AR): Ar. Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, UAMS College of Public Health
Victoria Burris (Jonesboro, AR): Survivor/Advocate
Sonja Dillard (Dumas, AR): Survivor/Advocate
Yousef Fahoum, MAP, CBIST (Maumelle, AR): UALR-Benton, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences-College of Public Health
Saundra Harris (Little Rock, AR): Survivor/Advocate, Peer Support Coordinator; Mainstream
Aleecia Starkey, CCC-SLP (Sherwood, AR): Consultant-Traumatic Brain Injury; Dawson Education Cooperative Liaison Group

The PATBI/AC meets three to four times a year in Little Rock and is seeking new members from around the state. If you would like to be considered for election to the Advisory Council, please download and complete the application form and mail it to:

Elizabeth R. Eskew, MA²
Traumatic Brain Injury Coordinator/Rep Payee
Disability Rights Center
1100 N. University, Ste. 201
Little Rock, AR 72207