International Brain Injury Association (IBIA)
The International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) is dedicated to the development and support of multidisciplinary medical and clinical professionals, advocates, policy makers, consumers and others who work to improve outcomes and opportunities for persons with brain injury.
Founded in 1993, the IBIA was created in response to the growing demand from professionals and advocates throughout the world for collaboration and more brain injury resources on all aspects from prevention to long-term care issues.
In 1998, the International Association for the Study of Brain Injury, a professional association, merged with the IBIA.
The IBIA works to develop positive relations and interactions between individuals, families, groups, organizations, institutions, diverse cultures and nations. The IBIA strives to provide international leadership for creative solutions to the issues associated with brain injury.
The IBIA is dedicated and resolved to meeting the following objectives:
- Conduct and coordinate educational programs and training activities that disseminate contemporary information about brain injury, its consequences and possible prevention.
- Support research and other scholarly activities so as to increase knowledge and understanding about causes and consequences of brain injury, and effective treatment interventions.
- Build alliances between regional, national and international organizations that promote programs, activities and services to benefit persons with brain injuries and their families.
- Support and encourage rehabilitation programs and other measure that are critically necessary to restoring persons with brain injury to optimal levels of functioning.
- Promote the removal of attitudinal, education and employment barriers that prevent persons with brain injury from exercising their rights to full and active participation in their communities.
North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS)
The North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS) is comprised of professional members involved in the care of people with or issues surrounding brain injury. The principal mission of the organization is moving brain injury science into practice. Whether it is in the area of clinical care, research, policy, or litigation, the organization stands behind the premise that advances in science and practices based on application of the scientific evidence will ultimately provide the best outcomes for those with brain injuries and the community as a whole. NABIS was created specifically to address the needs of multidisciplinary professionals dedicated to brain injury – providing education programs, scientific updates and a platform for communication and professional exchange. NABIS welcomes the opportunity to work with other brain injury groups to address the key issues for professionals in North America.
Background on NABIS
In May 2003, at the International Brain Injury Association’s (IBIA) World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, many attendees commented on the lack of a North American organization specifically dedicated to professionals working in the field of brain injury. After returning from Sweden, and with the expressed comments and wishes in mind, the North American Brain Injury Society was established the North American Brain Injury Society in affiliation with IBIA.
In May 2004, NABIS held a strategic planning meeting in Washington, with Congressman Jim Pascrel of New Jersey addressed our initial strategic planning meeting in May, 2004, in Washington, DC. At that meeting, it was decided that NABIS should serve as a platform for professional exchange and communication. To that end, several months later we launched our official publication, Brain Injury Professional, which today enjoys the largest circulation of any publication on the subject of brain injury, with special issues covering topics such as Neuro-Optometry, Controversies in Neuropsychology, Biomechanics and Long-Term Care.
After its inception, NABIS sponsored two conferences in conjunction with IBIA and BIAA. The first conference took place in Amelia Island, Florida, in September 2003. The following conference was held in Beaver Creek, Colorado in the fall of 2004. In October 2004, NABIS sponsored the 6th Annual Medical/Legal Conference in Napa, California. In September of 2005, again in Amelia Island, NABIS organized and sponsored the conference entitled Brain Injury: New Science, Best Practices and Future Innovations.
This conference brought together some of the most established names in brain injury and the response from the professional community was overwhelmingly positive. Plans are currently underway for our 2006 Brain Injury Conference of the Americas which will be held in September in Miami. Additional details on this event can be found on our website, www.nabis.org.
In 2005, NABIS also welcomed its first two state chapters, the Texas Brain Injury Society and the North Dakota Brain Injury Society. In the areas of awareness and prevention of brain injury, NABIS reached out to form partnerships with other organizations like We Move.org, Lids On Kids, and recently contributed to Center for Disease Control’s new manual on sports injuries entitled Heads Up. In addition, the Center for Disease Control sought input from NABIS to modify the definition of brain injury to include soldiers who have experienced shock blast brain injuries.