This TBI Awareness Month, Bastion salutes the countless veterans living with traumatic brain injuries, obtained in combat or off-duty, and pledges our commitment to improving the lives of those veterans through innovations like our signature Headway program.
While supportive programming exists around the country for veterans, Headway stands alone in its unique approach to community integration for veterans living with brain injuries.
“Being situated within an intentional neighborhood of supportive residents and veteran families allows for essential novel social interactions and a broad community of support,” Program Manager Allison Tebbe, CRC, CBIS said.
Headway combines home and community-based occupational therapy, individualized high-touch goal planning and attainment support, and robust group programming for veterans to engage with their peers each week. This unique model is how Headway is able to support participants in building skills, community, and independence.
Last week’s TBI Day on Capitol Hill gave Bastion the opportunity to advocate with the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana for the reauthorization of the TBI Act, an essential piece of legislation that supports research and data collection about brain injuries and designates resources for individuals living with TBIs and their families. Hundreds of brain injury survivors, caregivers, professionals, and advocates gathered in conjunction with the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to meet with their senators and representatives in support of the TBI Act’s reauthorization and to call for more resources for both veteran and civilian TBI survivors.
“TBI is the signature wound of the Global War on Terror, and more resources are critically needed to provide our brain injured veterans the care to ensure they can live healthy, thriving lives post-injury. These men and women stepped up when their nation needed them, now they need us to step up for them,” Executive Director Jackson Smith said.
This past fall, Bastion’s Headway program received 3-year CARF accreditation. This accreditation from the premiere international certifying body of rehabilitation facilities demonstrates a program committed to meeting high standards of care and safety, as well as continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served.
Headway serves veterans with traumatic brain injuries and spinal injuries, and is fueled by Wounded Warrior Project. Our staff includes two occupational therapists, one of whom also serves as Clinical Director, plus our Program Manager who is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. Headway also utilizes OT interns from local colleges and universities, and contracts dozens of community-based providers offering music therapy, art therapy, adaptive fitness classes, and more.
Headway participant Ben credits the program with helping him learn how to advocate for himself, manage his finances effectively, and build independence. As a Bastion Ambassador, Ben engages in vocational training with his Headway OTs and gets paid to work in the community.
“Not being able to work was one of my biggest issues with my traumatic brain injuries. So being able to get back into just the routine of working and just having a sense of purpose again, that’s been huge,” Ben said. “Without the Headway team, I don’t know where I would be.”
Click here to learn more about our Headway program or inquire about joining the program.