A brain injury can happen anytime, anywhere to anyone. Brain injuries do not discriminate. 1.7 million people each year sustain a brain injury. Nationally, there is an increased need for brain injury care for active duty military and veterans.  An injury that happens in an instant can bring a lifetime of physical, cognitive, and behavior challenges. Early, equal, and adequate access to care will greatly increase overall quality of life.

“Since anyone can sustain a brain injury at any time, it is important for everyone to have access to comprehensive rehabilitation and ongoing disease management. Doing so eases medical complications, permanent disability, family dysfunction, job loss, homelessness, impoverishment, medical indigence, suicide, and involvement with the criminal or juvenile justice system. Access to early, comprehensive treatment for brain injury also alleviates the burden of long term care that is transferred to tax payers at the federal, state and local levels.” 

~ Dr. Brent Masel, national medical director for the Brain Injury Association of America

For more information, please visit the websites for the Brain Injury Association of America at www.biausa.org or Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Strategic Partnership Advisory Council at www.tbiwashington.org.

This proclamation is one of the annual proclamations approved by the City Council previously.