Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and the statistics are staggering, with brain injury being 30 times more common than breast cancer and 400 times more common than HIV/AIDS. In Ontario alone there are more than 500,000 people living with an ABI and 18,000 new cases are recorded every year.

An Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) can be a complex injury that greatly impacts the lives of the individuals and their families with many of them incurring a lifetime of challenges. Often referred to as the “invisible injury”, an ABI is most widely prompted by motor vehicles accidents and sports injuries (concussions), however, it can also be caused by falls, stroke, assaults, bacterial infections, brain tumours, etc. 

An ABI is defined as an impairment of structure or function of the brain which can lead to mild or significant cognitive, communicative, social, educational, vocational and psychological changes. Our brain is “who we are” and a brain injury can pose a unique set of challenges for the ABI survivor who may present a broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities, for example, poor memory, persistent headaches, impulsivity, low motivation, poor decision-making, social anxiety, seizures, vision problems, impaired cognition, speech impairments, depression, chronic pain, impaired organizational skills, etc. These symptoms or signs of an ABI may appear immediately after the injury or traumatic event, however, other victims of an ABI may not exhibit them for days, week or even months post-injury.

Many ABI patients and their families are unaware of the changes that can occur in the brain and how these changes can affect their daily lives, with some ABI victims going undiagnosed due to the fact the symptoms are masked by other medical issues. Often victims of an ABI struggle with translating the sequela to their families, physicians, lawyers, insurance providers, etc. and this inability to articulate their experiences and consequences of their injury can inhibit them from fully understanding and coping with their condition. After an ABI an individual often recalls their capabilities pre-injury and when confronted by new limitations every day, they require a strong support network who can help them navigate and learn to cope with the consequences of their ABI. 

At Discovery Support Services we aim to be that “support network” and by providing a person centered and best practices for rehabilitation approach to all of our support services and treatments, we can strive to ensure our clients and their families receive the optimal care and service required to meet their personal goals and address their specific support needs. We understand that in order for the support network to work, we must address not only the challenges of the ABI survivor, however, also help support their caregivers and family members with their personal challenges as well. Together we can strive to ensure that each member of the support team feels empowered in facing the realities of life after brain injury and can move forward with the hope that everyone will not just cope with these realities, however, actually strive to achieve their own “personal best.”

 

Our care team would be honoured and impassioned to be able to help you and your loved ones navigate your personal journey so that together we truly make a difference and further enhance that journey.  Services offered include:

• Case Management (life skills support, goal setting, community integration, advocacy, social skills, vocational/educational preparation, etc.)
  
  
• Psychosocial & Behaviour Management (anger management, self-esteem workshops, family support counselling, caregiver coping strategies, CBT/Dialectical therapy, etc.)
  
  
• Social Integration & Communication Skills (1:1 support socialization outings, communication problem solving workshops, etc.)
  
  
• Vocational & Educational Preparation (assessment tools, referrals, etc.)
  
  
• Advocacy Support (ODSP application preparation, medical/legal appointment support, etc.)
  
  
• ABI Education (workshops, 1:1 tutorials, etc.)

DSS is also committed to working with other service providers in the ABI community through membership, networking, service referrals, as well as, the exchange of educational resources which will enable us to remain current in treatment methods and access to specialized resources for our clients and their families.

Although we cannot predict exactly what the end of recovery will look like for any given client, we can recognize that in receiving specialized rehabilitation within a supportive and caring environment one can bring about stronger signs of recovery, empower others to face their challenges and give hope to others who are struggling realize they are not alone in their journey and at Discovery Support Services our team is aimed to be there for you every step of the way.