Find Help
Click an item below to select your topic of interest:
- Abuse and Prevention
- Advocacy/Legal Assistance
- Caregiver Support
- Mental Health and Counseling
- Support Groups/Survivor Groups
- Transportation
- Veteran Services
- Vocational Rehabilitation
Need more information? See Resources
Abuse and Prevention
How to report abuse if you suspect a child or vulnerable adult is being harmed, signs to look for, abuse prevention tips, and information for mandatory reporters.
Links:
- Adults (18 and older) http://www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/APS/reportabuse.htm
- Children and youth (infant to 18) http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/abuseWhat.asp?1
Advocacy/Legal Assistance
Persons with traumatic brain injury often need an advocate to help them get the services they need, beginning as soon as they are injured. An advocate can help obtain services and may assist with day to day issues, such as helping to correct a phone bill error. An advocate can be a family member, friend or neighbor. Sometimes an individual or family may need help from an organization or lawyer specializing in advocacy. Your social worker, case manager or religious leader may also be able to help with advocacy needs.
Advocacy organizations can help persons with TBI and their families determine what services they qualify for. Many informal support groups focus on advocating for rights of people with TBI or other disabilities. There are also professional organizations that focus on issues of concern to individuals with disabilities.
Links:
- http://www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/pubinfo/legal/
- http://www.disability.gov/
- http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/
Caregiver Support
Sometimes individuals find themselves thrust into the role of a caregiver due to a traumatic brain injury of a loved one or family member. Caregivers need support and resources to help them continue their important work.
Links:
Mental Health and Counseling
Mood swings, anxiety, depression and disruptive behaviors are some of the emotional results of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that people may experience. Psychological impairments may appear for numerous reasons including: Neurological damage from TBI.
Link: http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/Mentalhealth/
Support Groups/Survivor Groups
Support groups provide first hand information and a level of emotional understanding that can only come from those who have lived through the same life altering experience. They also provide a safe haven in which frustrations and feelings can be expressed and validated, and new coping strategies learned.
Link: http://www.biawa.org/support.htm
Transportation
Transportation provides a vital link to jobs, education, health care services and other essential daily destinations. Accessible transportation removes barriers to access for individuals with special needs. Regular transit service may provide access for many people with special transportation needs. Accessible transit services, sometimes called paratransit, are often available for those who can't access regular transit service. Contact your local transit agency for information about access to both paratransit and regular fixed-route transit services.
Link: http://www.soundtransit.org/
Veteran Services
Veterans who have experienced a traumatic brain injury are entitled to certain services through the Veterans' Administration.
Links:
Vocational Rehabilitation
Individuals may lose certain work skills and abilities after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Learning or relearning skills and abilities is often necessary to resume employment.