Recreating Me: Exploring & Healing Through Artistic Expression
Join us for the 2nd Annual Traumatic Brain Injury Artistic Showcase. Kory Christiansen has two poems and a watercolor entered in the 2nd Annual TBI Artistic Showcase. Opening Night is Tuesday July 6th from 5:00 to 8:30 pm and is free of charge. It would be great if the families came out and supported Kory and his family on Opening Night.
Opening Night: Tuesday, July 6th
Showcase Date: July 7th-11th
Time: 5pm - 8:30pm
Location: Burke Museum
Click here for map and directions>>
Life After the Accident
Jasmine Z. Brown Senior Project 2009
When I was born June 30th , 1991. I was a perfectly healthy baby girl. I reached all of my physical and mental milestones like any normal child and surpassed many. You could say I was a normal feisty kind of a girl.
Until I was eleven years old, I use to run track, play tetherball, double-dutch, ribbon dance, roller blade, ice skate and play basketball. I’m not bragging when I say that I was good at each and every one of these sports and hobbies. As a matter of fact, I qualified for track and field nationals with SCAA because I could run so fast. I even have the medals to prove it. Read full Life After the Accident story>>
IslandWood Adventures
On Sunday, August 9, 2009, Headstrong is hosting our 2nd annual day outing at IslandWood Outdoor Learning Center on Bainbridge Island for youth and families recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Youth and young adults and Headstrong mentors will be guided by IslandWood staff for a wonderful day in nature enjoying IslandWood programs at the lake, garden, and art studio. Parents, therapists, and guests from Ft. Lewis’ Warrior Transition Battalion will take a tour of IslandWood with the option of a kayak trip.
Last years trip to IslandWood was inspiring, relaxing, and fun. The staff was outstanding leading us through great activities and pampering us with snacks and a delicious lunch in their beautiful dining hall. We look forward to this years’ trip with plans to have overnight camps by the summer of 2010. Please join us on Sunday, August 9th, 2009! Read more>>
New York Speaks!
On Saturday, March 7, Tim Feeney, Ph.D. looked out over a full auditorium. Dr. Feeney addressed a cross-section of community members dedicated to working towards a brighter future for Traumatic Brain Injury support in Washington, ranging from military and political representatives to schoolteachers, medical support staff and community members who live every day with the realities of TBI. In an event co-sponsored by Headstrong and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Feeney presented a strong vision of community-based support and resources oriented around a model of person-centered, context-based care.
Dr. Feeney is the co-founder and coordinator of the New York Department of Health TBI Medicaid Waiver Neurobehavioral Support Project. New York has led the charge on issues surrounding TBI 
by implementing a statewide support program that successfully integrates school and community supports for persons of all ages, with a never-give-up attitude that means every individual will continue to receive the support they need.
In his presentation, Dr. Feeney led the audience through the concept of a structured system designed to address very unique situations, emphasizing that we can't afford to count on a one-size-fits-all solution for brain injury. With conceptual framework that centered around finding a strong sense of identity and engaging in project-based learning experiences, he regaled the audience with personal stories that ranged from heartbreak to hilarity. The experience left everyone present feeling connected to a community larger than themselves, and optimistic that with hard work, there is much more we can accomplish right here in Washington state.
The Brain Injury Association of New York has put together a fantastic resource called LEARNet, complete with FAQs, tutorials and even concise video skits to help navigate common obstacles.
Washington state currently does not have the TBI waiver funding from the federal government that supports the New York program. If you want to help, we encourage you to contact Senator Murray and Rep. Dave Reichert , both of whom have expressed interest in the issue, and tell them how important this is to their constituents.
E-mail Senator Murray and Rep. Reichert
Donate / have your business become a sponsor.
A Problem of the Brain, Not the Hands: Group Urges Phone Ban for Drivers
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Published: January 12, 2009
New York Times
In half a dozen states and many cities and countries, it is illegal to use a hand-held cellphone while driving - but perfectly all right to talk on a hands-free device.
The theory is that it's distracting to hold a phone and drive with just one hand. But a large body of research now shows that a hands-free phone poses no less danger than a hand-held one - that the problem is not your hands but your brain.
It's not that your hands aren't on the well," said David Strayer, director of the Applied Cognition Laboratory at the University of Utah and a leading researcher on cellphone safety. "It's that your mind is not on the road." Read more>>
After 6 Months, Drivers Ignoring Cellphone Ban
After Washington's ban on drivers' use of handheld cellphones took effect July 1, observers noted an initial drop in the practice. But now, they say, cellphone use on the road is on the rise, and advocates hope the law will be strengthened.
By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter
Cindy Baker-WIlliams held a "Hang Up and Drive" banner over Aurora Avenue North in Fremont when Washington's handheld cellphone ban for drivers began on the first of July.
She and her family hoped the new law would change drivers' behavior.
It did at first. "The initial trend we saw was less people talking," said Baker-Williams.
Then cellphone use started creeping back up, said Sgt. Freddy Williams of the State Patrol, who has carried on his own informal off-duty study of driving-and-talking.
He can't think of another law that's been flouted quite like this one. "I've seen people walk out of their house and before they put their car in gear, they're talking on the cellphone," he said. Read more>>
July 1st, 2008 WA state Cell Phone Ban takes effect
Just 30 feet over the hum of northbound Aurora Avenue traffic, Cindy Baker-Williams and others held a banner Monday with a clear and concise reminder to drivers: "Hang Up and Drive." The handheld cellphone ban for drivers begins today. Read more>>
Cellphone crackdown: 113 tickets and counting >>
Is it safe to Drive and Talk on your Cell Phone at the same time?
Dr. John Medina, a molecular biologist, has written a book called “BRAIN RULES.” He is currently the head of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research at Seattle Pacific University. There are 12 Brain Rules that he discusses in his new book, specifically one of them is that the human brain is not designed to multi-task. Dr. Medina, states that humans are not capable of driving and talking on the phone at the same time. In fact, this combination is the equivalency of driving under the influence with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .08%(the legal limit) up to a BAC of .125%. Check out the links to the book, Brain Rules, and a link to a You Tube clip of an interview done with Billy Baker-Williams and his family.
Brain Rules the book
John Medina, Billy Baker-Williams and family interview
More Videos on You Tube about Brain Rules
Seattle Times article
Dalai Lama speaks in Seattle about importance of Compassion
You may or may not know that the Dalai Lama was in town April 10th-April 14th. He came to speak on compassion. Below is a link to the organization, Seeds of Compassion, which organized the events that he was present at. Also there is a link to a study that speaks about compassion meditation’s ability to change the brain. It has been stated that compassion heals. Being able to live in a state of inner peace and to have compassion towards yourself and others brings about healing internally and externally.
Seeds of Compassion
Seattle Times article: Compassion — and action?
Seattle Times article: Oh, humble night: Dalai Lama, Dave Matthews, Death Cab for Cutie
Study Shows Compassion Meditation Changes the Brain
Please send prayers for recovery to Danielle Sanderson. Danielle was in a car accident on Ruddle Road in Lacey on 
October 30th, 2007. She was air lifted to Harborview & remained in ICU for almost 3 weeks. Dani sustained a traumatic brain injury. She was in the car with some other teens, including her 2 best friends. She is 15 and goes to Olympia High School, she's a sophomore. She plays softball & basketball for OHS. Dani wasn't expected to make it. But this girl has God on her side & is one tough fighter. She's strong, and she is surrounded by love & support & most important, prayer! Every day is a blessing and she is making improvements as she wakes up from the coma.
Dani has a trust fund set up at Twin Star Credit Union, and donations can be accepted at all shared credit union branches.
Her family has set up a Caringbridge website for Dani and welcome messages of hope and encouragement from us. Click here for more of Dani’s story and to send a message >
This Flippin Life: the following article was published in the Garfield High School paper.
Hi, I'm Irene Chauncey. You may see me (or look away) in the hallways. I'm the one in a wheelchair, with a tracheotomy tube in my neck and a half smile. I led a perfectly normal life until I was 12 years and four months old. Then, on July 14th, 2004, I was relay-racing at the Lakeridge pool with some friends, when I was kicked in the head and immediately a horrible headache consumed me. Read "This Flippin' Life" by Irene Chauncey>
Delivery of Tote Bags
Friday September 7, 2007
Desiree Douglass, Cecelia Roscigno, and Alice Hooper all members of Headstrong delivered 8 out of the 50 Tote Bags to the ICU pediatrics ward at Harborview Medical Center (HMC). Dr. Brian Johnston had been working since April to have the Funding Allocations Committee award a grant to cover the cost of the supplies for the totes and the informational packets that are included in the totes. The totes turned out beautifully, thank you to all that contributed their knowledge, time and dedication to this project. Each individual tote includes a variety of essential snacks, toiletries, and a camera with HIPAA privacy agreement, a journal, a lovely fleece blanket and an extra gift from Four Seasons Oasis. Thank you to Trish Emery, at Four Seasons Oasis, who not only coordinated the contents of the totes and came up with the inspirational gift for parents, but she also aided in the successful presentation to the funding committee at Harborview Medical Center. The totes also have a few resourceful booklets, specifically one written by Cecelia Roscigno that includes testimonials from families and children that have been affected by Traumatic Brain Injury. Cecelia collected information from families who’s children have traumatic brain injuries and consolidated her finding.
These tote bags will be distributed to the parents of children who come into the pediatrics ICU at Harborview Medical Center (HMC) with traumatic brain injuries. This idea that was initiated by Headstrong is an ongoing part of HMC’s program Harborview cares for kids. Each one of the individual totes was put together by mothers who have children with traumatic brain injuries, all of the families that are part of Headstrong have Hope for the future of every family that is affected by a TBI. It is a much unexpected situation that you find yourself in when you enter the hospital and we hope that this small token of our Hope for your child, helps to provide Hope for the families during the time they are in the hospital and also provides individuals with the resources you need once you and your child return home.
WASHINGTON PASSES CELL PHONE BILL…AT LAST
Last month, the Washington State House approved a measure by a 59-38 vote that would require drivers to use handsfree devices when talking on their cell phones. In the previous 7 years the bill has been stopped in the House. Now the bill has been approved by both the House and Senate and will be going to Governor Gregoire on May 11th for signature. Several families will be there to witness the signing. Cindy Baker-Williams, who testified before the Senate and House transportation committees and her son Billy Baker-Williams will be there. Witnesses said that the driver who hit Billy four years ago when he was getting on the school bus was talking on a cell phone at the time. This bill, while full of compromises, is a critical first step to safer, smarter driving in Washington.
Cell phone bill is a step in the right direction
Our views
From The Olympian online editorials:
Published April 17, 2007
Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, is nothing if not persistent.
After seven years of trying, Eide has successfully shepherded a hand-held cell phone ban bill through the Legislature on lopsided majority votes. Gov. Chris Gregoire should sign Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5037 into law.
The only thing amazing about this bill is the fact that it took lawmakers so long to pass it. Twenty-eight states have enacted some kind of legislation dealing with distracted drivers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Web site. Another four states — California, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut — along with the District of Columbia have barred hands-on cellular telephone use while driving.
“It’s equivalent to driving drunk,” Eide said of cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle. She cites a study in the New England Journal of Medicine as a source for her comment.
If signed by Gregoire, Washington’s ban on hand-held cell phones will go into effect July 1, 2008.
Compromises
Eide, to her credit, has made compromises to ensure passage. The most notable is the fact that the cell phone ban is a secondary offense. That means that law enforcement officers cannot stop a motorist simply for talking on a hand-held phone. However, if an officer stops a motorist for another offense — speeding, for example — a secondary ticket can be written for cell phone use.
Several exceptions are allowed under SB 5037:
- People using hands-free sets.
- Drivers of emergency vehicles, such as police cars or tow trucks responding to a disabled vehicle.
- People in a moving vehicle reporting illegal activity, summoning emergency or medical aid or preventing injury to a person.
- Use of amateur radio by someone holding a valid license from the Federal Communications Commission.
Those are reasonable exceptions to the ban and part of the reason the measure passed the House 59-38 and the Senate 28-19.
Putting on makeup
Opponents tried their darnedest to torpedo the measure.
And, predictably, there were the questions why cell phones were being singled out when motorists drive while eating, putting on makeup, using music players and talking to others in the vehicle.
The truth is that drivers should not eat or apply makeup or anything else while driving.
Besides, cell phone use is a documented driving distraction.
A recent study found that drivers who try to talk on their cell phones and drive at the same time are four times more likely to have an accident.
That’s a significant statistic. But the sad truth is the study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that hands-free phones are no safer than phones held to the ear.
But in the legislative arena, it’s best to start small and work your way up. This year’s bill bans hand-held phones and makes it a secondary offense. That’s not to say future legislatures should not make it a primary offense to talk on the cell phone at all while driving.
Motorists need to understand that most calls can wait. Drivers in this country went for decades without the convenience — and distraction — of cell phones. Drivers need to either turn off their cell phones or make it a habit of pulling to the shoulder or a parking lot to make or take calls that are essential.
Their safety and the safety of others on the road depend on driver attention while behind the wheel.
Senate Bill 5037 is a good first step and that’s why the governor should sign it into law.
UPDATE: Text Message ban signed into law
Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center presented a Conference on January 16th to Honor the Memory of Tatsuo Nakata:
To: Mayor Greg Nickels and Members of the Seattle City Council
From: Abe Bergman, MD
Re: Summary of recommendations from Pedestrian Safety Conference at Harborview
The conference entitled, “Immediate Steps Needed to Make Seattle Safer for Pedestrians” was held at the Harborview Research and Training Building on January 16th. The conference was dedicated to the memory of Tatsuo Nakata who died at Harborview in November after being struck by a car in West Seattle. Tatsuo’s brother Joshua was in attendance. At the beginning of the session, David Della delivered an eloquent tribute to Tatsuo, and Council President Nick Licata announced that pedestrian safety would be the Council’s top priority for 2007. The focus of the conference was on reviewing the scientific evidence on intervention measures shown to be effective, and not effective, in reducing the risks of pedestrian injuries.
At the conclusion of the conference I posed the following question: “What single step would you recommend to the Mayor and City Council members for immediate action that would appropriately honor the memory of Tatsuo Nakata?”
I took the chairman’s prerogative to state my recommendation first: Install pedestrian refuge islands and/or other engineering improvements at the 29 most dangerous intersections in Seattle during 2007. (Tatsuo was 29 years old when he was killed.) Neighborhood charettes should be held to help plan the characteristics of the refuge islands, and school children should decorate them in memory of Tatsuo.
Other recommendations:
- Ban use of cell phones
- Lower the speed limits on city streets
- Expand the use of cameras to detect intersection violations, and photo radar to detect speeding violations.
- Promote the concept of “Walking School Buses,” which leads to improved fitness, less traffic, and enhanced sense of community.
Many other issues were raised. The proceedings were recorded by the Seattle Television Channel. I am certain that all of the speakers would be available to provide details on their presentations.
Call us at 360-220-1422 or email info@headstrongforlife.org for more information.
