Illinois Concussion Bill Signed into Law

With the Chicago Bears playing field in the background, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the Concussion bill into law today at Soldier Field. This law will require that youth athletes be pulled from practice/game situations if they are found to be displaying signs/symptoms of a concussion. The player will not be able to return to play until they have been evaluated by trained medical personnel.

The Brain Injury Association of Illinois has been preparing sports concussion awareness and training material for distribution in preparation of the law being implemented. The materials will be distributed to school districts and park districts. The BIA of Illinois can provide educational/training presentations to school and park districts. The Brain Injury Association is able to provide continuing education for athletic trainers and Illinois educators. Please contact the BIA office if you are interested in receiving additional information on sports concussion and injury prevention, info@biail.org or (800)699-6443.The Concussion legislation [HB 200 - Senate Amendment (SAM) #1], was passed at the end of May by both chambers of the legislature, and was awaiting the Governor's signature.





The law makes it mandatory for school boards in the state to work with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to develop clear guidelines to educate coaches, student athletes and their parents, including:
1. Requiring school boards to adopt a policy regarding student athlete concussions and head injuries, and ensuring that policy be in compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the IHSA;
2. Information on the school board's concussion and head injury policy must be a part of any agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a school district requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardian to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic competition;
3. The IHSA shall make available to all school districts, including elementary school districts, education materials, such as visual presentations and other written materials, that describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.


In concert with HB 200, the IHSA Board of Directors (on April 19, 2011) had approved the new policy regarding return to play guidelines after a student-athlete has been diagnosed with a concussion. The policy now requires that "In cases when an athlete is not cleared to return to play the same day as he/she is removed from a contest following a possible head injury (i.e., concussion), the athlete shall not return to play or practice until the athlete is evaluated by and receives written clearance from a licensed health care provider to return to play."

Park districts are authorized and encouraged to make available to residents and users of their facilities educational materials describing the nature and risks of concussions and head injuries, including the advisability of removal of youth athletes from a practice or game if they exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion. The intent of these materials is to assist in education coaches, youth athletes, parents and others about the nature and risks of head injuries.

 

About the Brain Injury Association of Illinois

The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provides information and resources to individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury, as well as to families, professionals and other members in the community. Services are are available to both the civilian and military populations. The BIA of Illinois provides educational programs, injury prevention programs, public awareness, summer camp program, advocacy and support programs.

For additional information, call (800)699-6443 or e-mail info@biail.org. Visit the website, www.biail.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIAofIL and Twitter, www.twitter.com/BrainInjuryAssn. Our educational films can be viewed at http://www.braininjurytoolbox.com/.
  

Brain Injury and the Celebrity Apprentice

I've always been a fan of Celebrity Apprentice, but have been very disturbed watching it this season. Gary Busey has a brain injury, and I have been disappointed in the manner in which he has been treated by his teammates who clearly have no understanding or awareness of brain injury. Personally, I feel that the episodes could be used as a training tool for "how not to interact" with someone who has had a brain injury. In all fairness, I don't believe Gary Busey's teammates intentionally set out to hurt someone, but as too often the case, they did so because of lack of education and awareness. Had they understood brain injury and its impact on the person it touches, I believe their behavior and actions would have been more effective and positive towards Gary Busey.


The Brain Injury Association works hard day in and day out to raise the level of brain injury awareness and education around the country......and Celebrity Apprentice has confirmed that there continues to be a need for raising the public's awareness and education about brain injuy. This is the mission of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois, the Brain Injury Association of America, and the other BIA affiliates around the country. Brain Injury has not only impacted on Gary Busey's life, but also Representative Gifford, our military service men and women, professional athletes, student athletes, children and adults of all ages......it can happen in an instant and it can change lives forever.


I have posted this note on the BIA of Illinois Facebook page, and welcome your comments. I have also been sending out Twitter messages via www.twitter.com/BrainInjuryAssn.


My brother in law likes to share the quote, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Well today I have decided to reach out and do something....we all work hard every day to raise the level of brain injury awareness and education, and in union our voices must continue to carry the message that brain injury can happen to anyone of us at anytime.


At least today, I hope that I can help someone more clearly understand brain injury, and in turn hope that they may show more understanding to the next person they meet who has sustained a brain injury.


About the Brain Injury Association of Illinois

The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provides information and resources to individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury, as well as to families, professionals and other members in the community. The BIA of Illinois also provides educational programs, injury prevention, public awareness, summer camp program, advocacy and support programs. For additional information, call (800)699-6443 or e-mail info@biail.org. Visit the website, www.biail.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIAofIL and Twitter, www.twitter.com/BrainInjuryAssn.

Illinois Legislature Addresses Concussion Education and Prevention

Members and supporters of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois have been very active with legislative advocacy activities during the month of March. This is especially important since March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Members have called and e-mailed their Illinois state legislators to ask them to support current legislation addressing concussion education and prevention. Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) introduced House Bill 200, and Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) introduced Senate Bill 150. Both men are working hard so that the legislation passes both the House and Senate, and then on to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. Thank you to all our members and supporteres who made those important calls and sent messages to their legislators. This has been a bi-partisan effort, and many legislators are in agreement that this is a vital issue that needs to be addressed.


Written testimony was provided on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois during the Senate Committee hearing. Statements were submitted by BIA of Illinois Board members Hunter Hillenmeyer and Mary Kay Reed, Honorary Board member Dr. James Young, BIA Executive Director Philicia Deckard, Dr. Elizabeth Pieroth, and Dr. Patrick Walsh of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.


On March 11th, a press conference was held by Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senator Kwame Raoul at Solder Field, along with Chicago Bears executives and players, NFL executives, and representatives from the Illinois High School Athletic Association, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Brain Injury Association of Illinois. The press release can be read below:


(Chicago - March 11, 2011) - With Soldier Field in Chicago as the backdrop today, Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) team up with 1985 Super Bowl Champs Richard Dent, Otis Wilson and Kurt Becker as well as NFL executives, the Illinois High School Association, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital to push legislation through the Senate that tackles the vital issue of concussion education.

“The sports community has really stepped up to the plate to help us bring awareness to this vitally important issue of concussion education,” said Cross. “With Sen. Raoul’s help and leadership in the Senate we will make concussion education a requirement for our student athletes and their parents.”

“I truly appreciate Leader Cross’s unwavering devotion to raising the profile of concussion education,” said Raoul. “From little league football to the NFL, and all levels and types of sports, we must do what we can in state government to make sure that girls and boys, men and women better protect themselves from potentially life-altering head injuries.

The legislation aims to require all school boards, including the Chicago Board of Education, to adopt a policy regarding student athlete concussions and head injuries including:
- Requires the policy to be in compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the IHSA.
- Requires that information on the school board’s concussion and head injury policy be a part of any agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a school district requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardians to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic competition.
- Requires the IHSA to make available to all school districts, including elementary school districts, education materials, such as visual presentations and other written materials that describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.


After the bill passes the House and the Senate, it will head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.


Many current and former professional athletes, top NFL executives, medical professionals, high school representatives and other interested associations are supporting this effort:

"To help protect all NFL players from the dangers of brain and other injuries, I recently joined the Brain Injury Association of Illinois' Board of Directors to help extend our reach beyond the 1,800 players in NFL locker rooms. The standard set by our league inevitably affects policy at other levels. The advances in diagnosis and treatment of concussions means future generations of athletes will enjoy better long-term health and fewer short-term risks as a result. HB 200 and SB 150 are important legislation that will make the future safer for young athletes all across our state.                            
 - - Hunter Hillenmeyer, an eight year veteran with the Chicago Bears, also served on the NFL Players Association's TBI Committee and Player Safety and Welfare Committee, Brain Injury Association of Illinois Board Member


About the Brain Injury Association of Illinois
The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provides information and resources to individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury, as well as to families, professionals and other members in the community. The BIA of Illinois also provides educational programs, injury prevention, public awareness, summer camp program, advocacy and support programs. For additional information, call (800)699-6443 or e-mail info@biail.org. Visit the website, www.biail.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIAofIL and Twitter, www.twitter.com/BrainInjuryAssn.

Brain Injury Association of America Announces 2011 Executive Committee

The Brain Injury Association of Illinois is proud to recognize Illinois Board Chair Ginny Lazzara as an officer of the BIA of America's Executive Committee. Ginny will serve as Vice Chair for Program Outcomes after serving as Chair of the State Affiliate Assembly from 2008 to 2009 and taking a leadership role in BIAA’s strategic planning. The press release issued by Laurie Kusek of the Brain Injury Association of America is listed below in its entirety.


BRAIN INJURY OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES 2011 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

VIENNA, VA – March 3, 2011 – At its February 25, 2011, meeting, the Brain Injury Association of America’s (BIAA) board approved its slate of officers for 2011.

Chair: Gregory J. O’Shanick, M.D.
Greg O'Shanick will serve as chair after serving as chair-elect from 2008 to 2010 and as BIAA’s National Medical Director for the past 14 years. Over the past 30 years, he has treated more than 11,000 patients with brain injuries while serving on the faculties of three different medical schools and in private practice. Since 1991, Dr. O'Shanick has been the president and medical director of the Center for Neurorehabilitation Services in Richmond, Va. He holds board certification in four medical subspecialties (Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry, Neurorehabilitation, Psychosomatic Medicine and General Psychiatry) and has published three books, 12 academic textbook chapters, and more than 70 peer-reviewed publications. He has presented at national and international medical conferences and has served as an advisor to numerous federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department Defense, National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Chair-elect: James S. Misko, Psy.D.
Jim Misko will serve as chair-elect after serving as chair of the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists since 2009. He is co-owner and president of CORE Health Care and has specialized in neuropsychology for the past 15 years. Dr. Misko received his doctorate from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1988 and is licensed as a clinical psychologist. He has committed his time and energy to helping improve the quality of life for people who have survived traumatic brain injuries and other neurological disorders. Dr. Misko lectures nationally to raise awareness of brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of Texas awarded him the 2003 Professional Contribution of the Year.

Vice Chair for Finances & Records: James F. Humphreys, Esq.
Jim Humphreys will serve as vice chair for Finances and Records, a position that functions as BIAA’s treasurer, a role that he has held since 2008. Mr. Humphreys is a licensed attorney in West Virginia and Washington, D.C. His practice areas include personal injury; litigation and appeals; and Federal Employer’s Liability Act. He earned his JD from George Washington University. He also holds a MPA from Princeton, an MA from The Ohio State University, and a BA from West Virginia University. Mr. Humphreys was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1982 and previously served on the staff of Senators John Glenn and Don Reigle. He is a member of the board of the George Washington University Law School and has served in advisory roles for the BIA of West Virginia.

Vice Chair for Program Outcomes: Virginia (Ginny) Lazzara, RN, BSN, CRRN, CBIST
Ginny Lazzara will serve as vice chair for Program Outcomes after serving as chair of the State Affiliate Assembly from 2008 to 2009 and taking a leadership role in BIAA’s strategic planning. Ms. Lazzara is a graduate of St. Xavier University. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of brain injury rehabilitation. Formerly director of Extended Services and coordinator of the Brain Injury Program at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Ginny currently is a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Nurse Consultant with the Nolan Law Group and continues to facilitate the Brain Injury Support Group at Schwab. She has held numerous volunteer roles for the past 15 years. She currently serves as chairperson of the State Affiliate Assembly, board chairperson for the Brain Injury Association of Illinois and chairperson of the Illinois Governor’s Council on Brain and Spinal Cord Injury.

About Brain Injury Association of America
The Brain Injury Association of America is the voice of brain injury. Through advocacy, education and research, BIAA and its nationwide network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates bring help, hope and healing to the millions of Americans who have a lifelong disability because of brain injury, as well as their families and the professionals who serve them. For more information: BIAA website.

About Brain Injuries
An estimated 1.7 million children and adults in the U.S. sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and another 795,000 individuals sustain an acquired brain injury (ABI) from non-traumatic causes each year. Today, more than 3.1 million children and adults in the U.S. live with a lifelong disability as a result of TBI and 6.4 million have a disability due to stroke. For more information about brain injuries and the Brain Injury Association of America, visit http://www.biausa.org/.


The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provides information and resources to individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury, as well as to families, professionals and other members in the community. The BIA of Illinois also provides educational programs, injury prevention, public awareness, summer camp program, advocacy and support programs. For additional information, call (800)699-6443 or e-mail info@biail.org. Visit the website, www.biail.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIAofIL and Twitter, www.twitter.com/BrainInjuryAssn.

Chicago City Council passes Concussion Ordinance

The Chicago City Council passed a new city ordinance on January 13, 2011 addressing sports concussions. Athletes showing signs of concussion will be prohibited from returning to play and/or practice until they are cleared by a licensed health care provider. The rule applies to students at the primary, middle and secondary schools, both public and private school settings. Schools that are found to be in violation of this ordinance would lose their water/sewer exemption from the city. Currently, Chicago Public Schools require that athletes be removed from the field if they show signs of headache, dizziness or loss of memory.

Alderman Ed Burke said "The most important part of this, I believe, is public education."  He also went on to say that parents need to know that "putting their kid back in the game as quickly as possible after a head injury is a recipe for disaster." Burke is the Chair of the Finance Committee. Alderman Latasha Thomas said "The City of Chicago needs to take action because coaches and players, due to their competitive spirit, all too often want to play through what appears to be minor injury without it being properly evaluated. Unfortunately such a failure to respond decisively may lead to a serious outcome." Thomas is the Chair of the Education and Child Development Committee.

The Joint Committee on Finance and Committee on Health and Child Development met the day before in a hearing to discuss the matter of sports concussions. The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provided experts during the hearing to share information. The Brain Injury Association was represented by Dr. Elizabeth Pieroth of The Midwest Center for Concussion Care and Chris Nowinski of the Sports Legacy Institute. Additional witnesses included Dr. Hunt J. Batjer of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Dr. Daniel Derman of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey Mjaanes of Rush University Medical Center, and Dr. Cynthia LaBella of Children's Memorial Hospital.

Following yesterday's meeting, Alderman Burke shared his thoughts with BIA of Illinois Executive Director, Philicia Deckard. He discussed the impact of the legislation and how he hoped it would continue with state legislative activity in Springfield. His brother, Representative Daniel Burke, is currently sponsoring a bill addressing concussions in the Illinois state legislature.

The BIA of Illinois will be looking at the language of the new ordinance to see how it might be used in other communities around the state. Work is already underway with proposed legislation in the Illinois legislature. Injury prevention materials are available through the Brain Injury Association and on the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/concussion.

The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provides information and resources to individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury, as well as to families, professionals and other members in the community. The BIA of Illinois also provides educational programs, injury prevention, public awareness, summer camp program, advocacy and support programs. For additional information, call (800)699-6443 or e-mail info@biail.org. Visit the website, www.biail.org. For more information on the ordinance, visit www.facebook.com/BIAofIL.

BIA of America Press Statement - US Representative Gabrielle Giffords

January 10, 2011

Brain Injury Association of America

Press Statement

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) extends its sympathy to family members and friends who lost a loved one in the unspeakable tragedy in Tucson, Ariz., this weekend. Our thoughts are with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others who are hospitalized.

Traumatic brain injury, also known as TBI, is an alteration in brain function or other evidence of brain pathology caused by an external force. About 1.7 million children and adults sustain a TBI in the U.S. each year; 10 percent of those injuries are the result of assaults. Although TBI is the leading cause of death for people ages 1-44, recovery is possible.

A gunshot to the head tends to create focal, rather than diffuse, brain injuries. Depending on the bullet’s penetration point and trajectory, the patient may experience physical, cognitive or behavioral impairments. Injuries to the left side of the brain, as is the case for Congresswoman Giffords, may cause decreased control over right-sided body movements; difficulties in speaking or understanding language, trouble with memory or sequencing or impaired logic; and depression or anxiety. Physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as cognitive rehabilitation and psychological counseling, will help Ms. Giffords restore as much brain function as possible and perhaps return to work and former social roles.  

BIAA offers a nationwide network of chartered state affiliates including the BIA of Arizona, that are readily available to provide support, information and resources regarding brain injury. A toll-free hotline is also available through our National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) to those needing assistance at 1-800-444-6443.

The Brain Injury Association of Illinois is a chartered state affiliate of the BIA of America and member of the NBIIC program. The BIA of Illinois provides information and resources, educational programs, injury prevention programs, summer camp program, advocacy and support services. The toll-free phone number is (800)699-6443 and the website is http://www.biail.org/. The office can be also contacted at info@biail.org.