Books for Survivors of Brain Injury

Brain injury recovery is a long journey for survivors, families and caregivers. Whether you are a civilian or veteran who has survived a brain injury, a family member or caregiver, a clinician, advocate, or direct care staff, you will find this workbook is a valuable resource and tool for living a full life after brain injury. It pulls together…

· Scientific information from evidence based research

· Range of topics from coma to living in the community

· Compelling personal vignettes to illustrate content

· Tools for personal assessment and practical strategies

· CD with worksheets for personal and professional use.

This is the publication that has been missing up to now in the field of acquired brain injury. With chapters by 19 national experts on brain injury, it is informative at a “cutting edge” level but presented in a format and writing style that is empowering and clear for individuals and families. A CD contains 46 worksheets that can be printed and used by survivors, families and clinicians.

Read an interview with author Richard Fraser.

After a brain injury, people often don’t know whether they will be able to work or what else they can do. This practical guide can help people sort through the options of going back to the same job, finding a new job, or not going back to work. The book will help you find and successfully keep a job. The book also provides suggestions for volunteer work designed to help you be productive and, if you like, transition to a job that meshes with your interests and abilities.

This illustrated down-to-earth book contains checklists, worksheets, and many ideas offered by people who have learned to live and work productively after brain injury. Sample “ideas” in this book include:

• How to decide whether to keep your old job.
• Deciding whether you can afford to work.
• If you can't work, figuring out what you can do.
• What kinds of services are out there.
• What you should tell people who ask you about going back to work.

Persons with brain injuries often have difficulty with planning and organization due to cognitive challenges. This new planner and organizer is filled with tools, strategies, checklists, schedules, reminders, logs, and charts. They are designed to help survivors develop compensatory strategies for everything from the tasks of daily living to organizing their household and routine. This new second edition of the popular Survival Kit is more compact, portable and affordable for easy use. The Survival Kit is ideal for use in rehabilitation, out-patient programs, residential settings, at work, at home and in the community.

The CD for the Survival Kit is included with files to print additional forms.

Coping with life after brain injury is not easy. This practical and user friendly workbook and guide for survivors and their families is packed with everyday strategies, tips and accommodations to address the cognitive challenges of daily life.

Based on the author's experience as a survivor and as a facilitator of hundreds of support groups, she presents a philosophy and approach for overcoming challenges, envisioning goals, and continuing their healing process.

It is a collection of “brain injury survivor wisdom” that users will be able to apply each day, no matter where they are in their journey of recovery. The workbook comes with a CD to print all forms and worksheet tools.

This workbook guides survivors of brain injury and blast injury through the powerful healing experience of telling their own stories with simple journaling techniques. By writing short journal entries, survivors explore the challenges, losses, changes, emotions, adjustments, stresses, and milestones as they rebuild their lives. Journaling after brain injury helps written and verbal communication skills and provides cognitive retraining for following instruction. It helps promote self awareness as well as recognition of strengths and difficulties after brain injury. It is a tool for planning for the future and discussions with family members. Journaling can be done individually, in a group or with assistance from caregivers or family.

Read an interview with author Barbara Stahura.

Life after brain injury is, more often than not, a tremendous adjustment. This practical, easy-to-read guide addresses day-to-day issues faced by many people with brain injury.

This down-to-earth, illustrated book is backed by years of clinical experience, research findings and most of all, the personal lessons learned and advice given from many individuals living with traumatic brain injury. It is filled with worksheets, checklists, and many practical ideas offered by and for survivors. Recognizing that emotional and physical recovery are two different things, this guide tackles the difficult question of, “How can I live like this?” Topics are organized by 25 Great Ideas and feature frank discussions of the many ways that brain injury changes one’s life and the personal struggles and challenges that survivors face as they follow their journey of personal growth and recovery.

As a survivor who has lived with a brain injury since 1989, Mike Strand’s short book offers a perspective on the ups and downs - triumphs and challenges - of not just survival but living life fully. Unlike books that chronicle recovery day by day, he uses a format of short essays that provide insight into his personal struggles. They will cause readers to pause and reflect on the meaning for their lives.

A vocational training program for adults with traumatic and other types of acquired brain injuries living in the community includes 20 structured sessions with a workbook and CD with worksheets. Part One of the vocational curriculum helps survivors of brain injuries and blast injuries explore their interests, concerns and readiness for finding a job or returning to work. Part Two covers steps of looking for a job with attention to disclosure of a disability, on the job accommodations, resume preparation and interviewing. Part Three covers strategies for keeping a job and avoiding problems on the job.