The conference was held from November 2 to 4, 2011 against the spectacular backdrop of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The Ontario Brain Injury Association hosted the conference at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel in partnership with participating local associations. They included brain injury associations from Fort Erie, the Four Counties, London and Region, Niagara, North Bay, Ottawa Valley, Peel Halton, Quinte District, Sarnia-Lambton, Sudbury and District, Timmins, Toronto, Waterloo-Wellington and Windsor-Essex.
The conference was supported by an array of dedicated sponsors, the premier group of which were the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, Gluckstein & Associates LLP, Thomson Rogers Lawyers, Bogoroch & Associates, Neinstein & Associates, Daniel & Partners LLP, Bayshore Home Health, and Oatley, Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP.
The first keynote speaker, Tina Trudel, Ph.D., spoke about the changes a survivor experiences in sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction after an ABI. Dr. Trudel described how a shift in an individual’s sexual behaviours can harmfully impact rehabilitation, resulting in a decreased quality of life, and she offered advice about overcoming such adversities. Her lecture encouraged continued interest in the impact of ABIs on sexuality.
A vigorous discussion led by Gabor Maté, M.D. explored whether brain injury causes addictive behaviours or, rather, if they reveal pre-existing addictive predispositions. Regardless of which scenario is validated, Maté made it clear that the human brain is capable of alteration. “The facts are that the human brain does not develop according to genetic code,” Maté explained. “We have the capacity to rewire the brain.” Maté’s avant-garde approach to analyzing addictive behaviours captivated the audience.
The next keynote speaker, Robert Fraser, Ph.D., shared his experiences as an active counselling and rehabilitation psychologist. He reviewed the existing research on work access for ABI survivors and suggested effective strategies for survivors to find and keep a job. Fraser provided a fresh perspective by offering his experiences as the Rehabilitation Medicine Director at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Tom Dow, the final keynote speaker, brought the audience to tears with his presentation entitled “Myself Interrupted.” Dow was left with an ABI after his vehicle was hit by a van that had run a red light. Through the use of poetry and artwork, Dow described the phases of his trauma and eventual recovery. Dow moved his audience with his will to recover. Not only has he learned to live with the emotional distress and the inability to focus and digest information, but Dow also teaches high school courses online, retains the position of co-vice president of the board of directors of the Ontario Brain Injury Association, and is building a business to help students with ABIs tackle their educational challenges.
This OBIA conference took a refreshing turn from the regular lecture-listen dynamic. The concurrent sessions held throughout the conference involved the audience and provided fresh approaches to BI rehabilitation.
Music therapy has been an exhilarating approach to rehabilitation for BI survivors. Cheryl Jones, MMT, NMT-F discussed the effectiveness of music therapy interventions in improving cognition, motor skills, speech and psychosocial issues. The musical journey of Adria Graham, a survivor, was presented by Graham and her music teacher, Sharon Johnston. When Johnston began teaching harp, Graham was her first student. Though Graham’s BI proved to be a challenge in the learning process, Graham helped Johnston become a better-rounded, more able teacher. The pair performed a sensational harp duet that dazzled everyone with the notion of an art form acting as a mode of therapy.
With the support of his rehabilitation team, survivor Steve Noyes and Tonka, his service dog, presented a groundbreaking approach to assisting BI survivors to regain independence. The presence of a service dog at the conference was an innovative way to capture the attention of the audience and demonstrate how the bond between a person and a dog can give someone a sense of reassurance when tackling new challenges in his or her life.
The concept of challenging the survivor was brought forth in the concurrent sessions. Joining a book club was presented to the audience as a means of improving reading comprehension and encouraging social interaction. Another session demonstrated the benefits of yoga in reconnecting with the body, mind and spirit by involving the audience. The crowd was led through a visualization exercise and mindfulness practice, demonstrating the power of meditation and yogic practice.
The conference shed light on support systems for survivors from a variety of sources. The Neuropsychiatry Rehabilitation Service presented “The Shared Journey Project,” a recovery model encouraging survivor independence through the incorporation of evidence-based practices. The Transitional Support Coordinator Initiative spoke about their mandate to connect survivors with support services, including those individuals who have slipped through the cracks of the system and have been left with undiagnosed cognitive impairments.
A multicultural twist was offered by Alice Bellavance, RPN, Charles Williams, Cultural Advisor, and Mary Lou Auger, MSW, RSW, who began their session with a soothing smudging ceremony. An Aboriginal perspective on health determinants, wellness, spirituality and colonization was presented, including the idea that reclaiming an individual’s health is the ultimate goal for the future.
The symbol for this year’s Acquired Brain Injury Provincial Conference, a beautiful painting by Maria De Pasquale, a BI survivor, also symbolizes the mandate of OBIA. Though De Pasquale lost the executive skills she valued before her car accident, she gained the ability to create beautiful artwork as a result of the devastating accident. De Pasquale’s story is a powerful reminder that acquiring a brain injury does not have to mean the end of someone’s life but can offer the potential for a new beginning.
For more information please visit www.obia.ca.
