#NOTINVISIBLE Celebrating Brain Injury Awareness Day, Virtually

Save the Date!

#NOTINVISIBLE
Virtual Event

March 16, 2021
10am-4pmCST

celebrating Brain Injury Awareness Day — virtually!

Join us for a fun VIRTUAL awareness event!
We will have a day packed full of speakers who will share their brain injury story with you, read from their book, explain their product, and so much more!

This event is designed for survivors, caregivers, and professionals!

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE: www.facesoftbi.com/event

APPLY TO BE A SPEAKER HERE: CLICK HERE
APPLY TO BE A SPONSOR HERE: CLICK HERE

A New Partnership with Integrated Brain Centers

I am so excited to share with you!!

I would like to introduce to you my new partnership with Integrated Brain Centers out of Denver, CO.

Together we will bringing you a TON of fresh, new content on recovering from concussion/TBI including:

Additionally, Integrated Brain Centers will be the new sponsor of my Faces of TBI podcast series and TBI TV.

Integrated Brain Centers supports patients from all over the country, offering week-long intensives as well as tele-health services. They use cutting-edge Functional Neurology techniques to help relieve symptoms including: dizziness, headaches, vertigo, neuro fatigue, cognitive decline, sleep disturbances, emotional imbalances, and so much more! Additionally, they incorporate Functional Medicine into their practice to help find underlying metabolic conditions that are hindering patient recovery.

www.integratedbraincenters.com   303.781.0126

 

Dr. Steadman (L) and Dr. Maynard (R)

Meet the Doctors:

Dr. Shane Steadman, DC, DACNB, DCBCN, FACFN, FAAIM, CNS, CCCN, DCCN with nearly 20 years of clinical experience, he is an expert in Chiropractic Neurology and Functional Medicine. Dr. Steadman is a leading practitioner in the area of concussions and brain injuries and works with patients in Denver, Colorado and around the United States.

Due to the extensive education, training and success rate Dr. Steadman has achieved, he is one of the most sought after health practitioners for patients dealing with tough conditions, as well as those who have gone from doctor to doctor without answers and solutions.

Dr. Steadman has been a lecturer for Apex Energetics since 2006. He teaches and educates other physicians and practitioners about the testing and clinical applications of Functional Endocrinology, Immunology and Neuro Chemistry. Dr. Steadman also, regularly appears on TV and radio programs, sharing his expertise and advice about concussions, brain injuries and a host of other conditions, such as: nutrition, stress management, vertigo, migraines and other tough cases.

Dr. Perry Maynard, DC, DACNB is a board certified Chiropractic Neurologist that specializes in the  management of complex neurological cases, including post concussive syndrome, vertigo, balance disorders, movement disorders, dysautonomia, and a variety of autoimmune conditions. Dr. Maynard also enjoys taking principles from cutting edge neuroscience and applying it to sports rehabilitation and overall human performance.

Dr. Maynard first became interested in neurological rehabilitation after playing Division 1 college football for Eastern Illinois University, where he experienced multiple concussions and witnessed friends and teammates suffering without answers or options for treatment. Dr. Maynard began chiropractic school with a strong interest in both clinical neuroscience and sports medicine. Throughout his education, he was fortunate to intern with several neurorehabilitation clinics.

Some of you are probably wondering why I have a new partnership … 

As many of you know, I have partnered with Dr. Schmoe and the FNC for the past three years since he treated me at his clinic. Dr. Schmoe is a brilliant doctor and without him I would not be where I am today in my recovery. I am forever grateful that he reached out to me and convinced me to come in for that initial exam.

My mission is to reach as many survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and professionals as I can in an effort to help TBI survivors get the care they need and learn about Functional Neurology and other resources sooner, rather than later, in their journey. I felt it was time to broaden my horizons and move in a different direction. I wish nothing but the very best for Dr. Schmoe and his talented team of doctors!

Amy’s TBI Tribe Virtual Meetup

TBI survivors are already the masters of self-isolation, but in these unprecedented times we could all use a little extra camaraderie …

Due to the overwhelming response to the last meetup, I will be hosting another Virtual Meetup for any and all who would like attend. Survivors, caregivers, loved ones, professionals, providers, etc. all are welcome!

When: Friday, March 27th at 1:00pm CST (2EST/11PST)
Where: Zoom online meeting
Join from your computer, tablet, phone, or other device with the instructions below.

I do not have a specific agenda for the event, however, it will start and end with some meditation … and I will do a reading from my book Life With a Traumatic Brain Injury: Finding the Road Back to Normal. There will be time for everyone to just hangout and interact with one-another as well!

Join Zoom Meeting
Click this link to join: https://zoom.us/j/187097436
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,325515606# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,325515606# US (New York)

If you have never used zoom before, you will need to download the app first … so allow yourself a little extra time beforehand to prepare.

Brain Injury Awareness Day | Washington DC | March 4, 2020

In DC with Carrie, Executive Director of the Arizona Brain Injury Alliance

The Brain Injury Association of America has announced Brain Injury Awareness Day as Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at our Nation’s Capitol in Washington DC.

This event is hosted by: Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D NJ) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-Neb.), co-chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.

It is FREE to attend, everyone is welcome, and no registration is required.

Although BIAA and brain injury advocates work with Congress thoughout the year, Brain Injury Awareness Day is important because it is the one day dedicated to educating your elected officials about brain injury and how vital federal funding is to continue the Federal TBI State Grant Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TBI Programs, and brain injury research conducted by the TBI Model Systems.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will be hosting a TBI stakeholder meeting on Monday, March 3rd. Please note you do have to RSVP for this meeting. ACL will also be hosting a brown bag lunch meeting on Wednesday, March 4th on Capitol Hill.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
10am-2pm Brain Injury Awareness Fair
Rayburn Foyer, First floor, Rayburn House Office building.
2:30-4:00pm
Brain Injury Briefing
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room)
5:00-7:00pm
Reception celebrating Brain Injury Awareness Month
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room)

The very first Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill was held in 2002, and is is hosted by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force co-chaired by Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Thomas J. Rooney (R-Fla.). It is put on in partnership with the Brain Injury Association of America. I will be meeting with my Senators while I am in DC and asking them to join the Task Force!

How YOU can help — even if you’re not able to attend in-person in Washington DC:

1. Find your local Senator and Representatives:
– To find your Senator you can visit www.senate.gov and click on your state
– 
To find your Representative you visit www.house.gov and enter your zip code in the upper right hand corner
2. Send them a letter requesting they join the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. Use this letter as a template (change out the RED highlighted areas). CLICK HERE FOR PDF
3. Include this form for them to join the Task Force. CLICK HERE FOR PDF.
4. Schedule a meeting with them while you’re in DC (if you’re attending).

Please contact Amy Colberg, Director of Government Affairs, at acolberg@biausa.org if you would like assistance with scheduling meetings with your elected officials during Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill.

additional resources for BIA Day can be found here:
https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness

This year will be my sixth time attending BIA Day, and I wanted to offer my fellow survivors who are planning to attend some tips on planning out your day!

Map Your Route
Whether you’re arriving by Metro, Taxi, or car, it is important to do your research and know where you’re going. Make note of which building you need to be at, and program the addresses into your GPS using the “walk” option, or print out maps and highlight your path. NOTE: You will need to go through security screening to enter any of the buildings at the Capitol. You can not bring in food or beverages, and your bags will be scanned and/or checked by hand. Please be prepared, and feel free to tell security you have a brain injury and may need some assistance from them.

Plan Your Schedule In Advance
Understand how much energy you’re willing to exert and plan accordingly. If you can only give yourself and hour or so, I highly suggest you put your energy towards the Awareness Fair. You will be able to meet with vendors who support brain injury awareness, you’ll meet fellow survivors, interact with the Brain Injury Association of America, and pick up some free swag to take home with you! The Congressional Briefing can get a bit long, and can be over stimulating to listen to, however, you will learn a lot and get updates on what is happening across the country with brain injury awareness, detection, and prevention. The Reception is a fun time to hang out with the new people you have just met, as well as eat some tasty treats.

Wear Comfortable Shoes
It’s important to understand that there is a lot of walking involved when you’re at the Capitol. You will walk from your car, Taxi, or Metro stop to the building, and also between the buildings. Distance is deceiving when you look at a map, so it’s good to be prepared for a lot of walking!

Stay Hydrated & Eat A Snack
Eat a healthy breakfast before heading out. Hydration is critical to brain health, so bring a water bottle and fill it up once you’re through security. There is also a cafeteria located inside the building where you can purchase beverages as well as a meal or snacks.

Bring A Notebook & Pen & Tote Bag
You will likely meet a lot of wonderful new people, and you’ll want to grab their business card and/or make notes. You will be taking in a lot of new information, and I suggest writing things down so you don’t forget, and make notations of things you want to follow up on. A tote bag will come in handy to carry around the free swag that you pick up (pens, etc).

Pace Yourself & Be Prepared For Overstimulation
Get LOTS of rest the night before. This is going to be a busy day with lots of people, walking, and interaction. Bring with you any comfort items you may need such as sunglasses and earplugs. Take breaks and pace yourself, you’re under no obligation to see it all and do everything on the schedule!

HAVE FUN!

Here is a recap of the first BIA Day I attended in March, 2015 on Huffington Post: CLICK HERE








Sponsor Spotlight: Drs. Jackson & Lane | Mid-Atlantic Brain and Neurological Rehabilitation | Silver Springs, MD

Dr. Brice Jackson

Thank you to Drs. Brice Jackson and Daniel Lane, from Mid-Atlantic Brain and Neurological Rehabilitation, for being a local event sponsor for #NOTINVISIBLE at Baltimore, MD and Fairfax, VA.

Located in Silver Springs, MD, Dr. Jackson is a board certified Functional Neurologist, as well as certified in brain injury rehabilitation and vestibular rehabilitation. He has success with post-concussion syndrome, traumatic brain injury, developmental disorders in children, dizziness and vertigo, stroke, and chronic pain.

Dr. Daniel Lane

Their clinic uses a brain-based approach to rehabilitation. They do not focus on compensatory strategies, instead they use an advanced evaluation and examination equipment in an attempt to find the parts of the brain that are dtysfunctioning, and then structure a therapeutic strategy to address those underlying deficits. 

When I asked Dr. Jackson what brought him to working with brain injury patients, he answered, “As a young adult, I was diagnosed with a chronic auto-immune disease. My prognosis included surgeries, a lifetime of medications, and regular cancer screenings. I was fortunate to find other practitioners who focused on recovery as opposed to coping, and that led me to become a Chiropractic Physician … which then led me to Functional Neurology.”

His message to all brain injury survivors is this: “The majesty of the human brain is that it is changeable. It is a process called plasticity. No matter how much time has passed since your brain injury, your brain is still plastic — capable of learning, efficiency, and growth. For a suffering patient, that means you are capable of healing, not just coping.:

For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit: www.MABNR.com

Follow MABNR on Instagram: @midatlanticbrain

and on Facebook @midatlanticbrainandneurologicalrehabilitation

Again, thank you Drs. Jackson and Lane for your support of the #NOTINVISIBLE awareness campaign — this project is not possible without supporters like yourself!

The Brain Health Magazine | Kickstarter | Print Subscriptions

The Brain Health Magazine is officially on Kickstarter!!

Pre-order your print subscription by backing the project at $25 for a one-year or $50 for a two-year subscription (print available in US only for now). We also have a “professional subscription” for provider and professionals who would like 4 copies of the magazine delivered to their clinic/office!

If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it is a crowdfunding platform to bring a project or product to consumers — in this case it’s a magazine! I have successfully published all three of my books through this platform, and appreciate each and every backer who helps support my mission!

The Brain Health Magazine is a resource for living your best life after brain injury. It is for survivors, caregivers, anyone interested in their brain health, as well as professionals and providers. It is a bi-monthly publication that will always be FREE for digital download to readers all over the world!

Thank you for your continued support of my advocacy work, and I hope you enjoy this magazine as much as I have enjoyed creating it!

Pre-order your print subscription on Kickstarter: 
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brainhealthmag/the-brain-health-magazine

Sponsor Spotlight: Dr. Elizabeth McNally | MidCoast Chiropractic Neurology | Brunswick, Maine

Thank you to Dr. Lizzie McNally, owner of MidCoast Chiropractic Neurology, for being a local event sponsor for our #NOTINVISIBLE event at MidCoast, Maine.

Located in Brunswick, ME Dr. McNally specializes in working with patients who have post-TBI/concussion symptoms, vestibular disorders, and childhood developmental disorders.

As a doctoral student at Palmer College, she found Neurology to be of specific interest, so while attending to her education full time, she began additional studies in this specialized area with The Carrick Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation.

She always knew she wanted to be a practitioner, however, there were a few significant personal experiences that guided her to becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic and Functional Neurologist. While growing up she suffered multiple concussions and was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Type 3. These personal experiences provided her with the first-hand understanding from the perspective of a patient. They were significant influencing factors in her desire to further sub-specialize in post-concussion rehabilitation and developmental disorders. 

Dr. McNally explains that her clinic is completely patient-centered, “Everything on the clinical side, beginning with the new patient examination, is one-on-one with me. This allows for more dynamic patient care that is constantly evolving as the patient responds to treatment.” She typically sees patients for a high frequency of four days a week, over a two or three week period. However, each patient is unique, and some may require longer or shorter sessions.

Her message to patients everyone is: “I want to make sure all brain injury survivors know that their injuries are NOT invisible to providers that have the proper training and understanding of the complexities of the nervous system and its functions. Your injuries do not define you — with the right support and rehabilitation you CAN regain your health and life!”

Connect with Dr. McNally:
www.midcoastbrain.com
www.facebook.com/midcoastbrain
For more information call: 207.406.4874 or email: info@midcoastbrain.com








Amy’s TBI Book Club

 

I invite YOU to be a part of my Book Club!!!

I have read SO many amazing books in the TBI realm — from fiction to memoirs to practical guides written by clinicians — and I want to share them with you and invite intelligent discussion around each book.

Each month I will announce the book we will be reading — and don’t worry if you have trouble reading — you will still be able to get a lot out of the group discussion!!

We will have a guided weekly discussion in a closed FB group specifically about the book/author and how it relates to your own situation.

At the end of each month, we will have a FB Live interview with the AUTHOR (I am super excited about this!!) where you will have the opportunity to submit questions you would like answered!

Everyone is welcome to join: survivors, caregivers, providers, or anyone interested in learning more about TBI!!

All you have to do is sign up with the form below!!

Happy Reading!!!








Amy Zellmer Receives Silver Medal Award in the Midwest Book Awards | Author | Traumatic Brain Injury |

I am so excited to announce that my book Embracing the Journey: Moving Forward After Brain Injury received a Silver Medal Award in the “Health” category of the Midwest Book Awards last night.

Books from the 12 state region were considered for the awards and it is a humbling experience to be honored amongst some truly fabulous books!!

My book was one of the top three in the entire Health category.

 

Some of the judge’s comments include:

💚“Spunky! It is clear and concise and keeps the readers interest.”

💚“Enjoyable reading flow.”

💚“A well done book that helps people understand other people’s struggles.”

💚“Beautifully done!! Wonderful flow!”

💚“The relationship with concussion is well described and helps others dispel misconceptions about the seriousness of head trauma.

You can find my book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2K0UmtB

 








Sponsor Spotlight: Dr. David Clark | Triangle TBI Concussion Center | Durham, North Carolina

Thank you to Dr. David Clark, owner of Triangle TBI Concussion Center, for being a local event sponsor for #NOTINVISIBLE at Raleigh, NC.

Located in Durham, NC, Dr. Clark is board certified in Brain Injury and Rehabilitation (FABBIR) as well as a board certified Functional Neurologist. He is also an assistant profession of Clinical Neuroscience and Clinical Neurochemistry and Nutrition.

He specializes in treating both the metabolic malfunctions and circuit malfunctions caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). “What makes me different is the attention to BOTH the metabolic factors AND the neurological circuit malfunctions in TBI. When I do brain-based rehab for my TBI patients, I use a neuroplasticity approach — frequent visits over a short period of time (typically 4-5 days) for maximum results,” stated Dr. Clark.

He also added, “You are not alone and you don’t have to ‘live with it’, however, at this point you can’t get better by yourself”

When I asked Dr. Clark what brought him to working with brain injury patients, he answered, “My mother bought a set of World Book Encyclopedias when I was seven. After that, I was hooked on understanding the how’s and why’s of everything. This thread carried all the way through my education degree, my Doctor of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Neurology, and Functional Neurology training. But it wasn’t until Dr. Ted Carrick made me aware that a huge number of people with brain injuries were NOT getting the help that they needed that I grasped how big of a problem brain injuries are. I wanted to help these patients get better.”

For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit: www.TriangleTBIConcussionDoctor.com

Follow Dr. Clark on Instagram and Twitter: @drdavidclark

and on Facebook @triangletbiconcussion

Check out his informative videos on Youtube: www.youtube.com/TriangleTBIConcussionCenter

Again, thank you Dr. Clark for your support of the #NOTINVISIBLE awareness campaign — this project is not possible without supporters like yourself!