the monarch - brain injury association of london & region · report page 3 support &...

In this issue:

London Hosts FirstMentor Training

Page 6

Maybe you werethere? Check outour photo section

Centre Insert

Coping withDepression

Page 26

7th Annual Dinner &Dance The 70’sRock and Roll toDisco

Page 27

In every issue:Executive Director’sReport

Page 3

Support & VolunteerCoordinator Report

Page 5

Ask A LawyerPage 20

The Brain Injury Association of London and Region acknowledges the generosity of Legate & Associates as sponsors of this publication.

The MonarchDecember 2006

‘

Safe Winter Fun!Look for tips on 2

The Monarch

Board ofDirectors & Staff

President:Mary Carter

Vice-President:Diane Schumacher

Treasurer:Gary Phelps

Secretary:Sari Shatil

Directors:Kelly BennLee Van EschConnie SpuriaStephanie SchneiderLisa FraserJim MaysKelly Williston WardellRobin Tugender

ExecutiveDirector: Donna Thomson

Peer SupportCoordinator:Kevin McGregor

Support Services& VolunteerCoordinator:Joe Zablocki

The Monarch is published by the Brain Injury Association of London and Region.Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect theopinion of the Board of Directors. Submissions to the Monarch are welcome atany time, but should consist of not more than 325 words. When you send in anarticle from a paper/magazine, please include the date and name of publication.Please include a cover letter with your name and telephone number. Publishedletters can be anonymous, but the editors must verify the information and obtainpermission to reprint the letters, as well as have a contact for questions andresponses. Advertising rates are available on request. The publication of anadvertisement does not imply support of the advertiser by theAssociation. All submissions must be received by the first Wednesday of themonth prior to publication, at the office located at: 307-111 Waterloo St., London,N6B 2M4 Phone: (519) 642-4539 Fax: (519) 642-4124 E-Mail: [email protected] Editors: Editorial Committee, Layout & Design:Advance Imaging

Brain Injury Association of London and Region Serving London, Middlesex, Huron, Perth, Oxford and Elgin111 Waterloo Street, Suite 307 London, Ontario N6B 2M4

Phone: 519 642-4539 Fax: 519 642-4124 Toll Free: 1-888-642-4539Email: [email protected] Website: www.braininjurylondon.on.ca

Registered Charitable: 139093736RR0001

Membership Application

Memberships are an important source of revenue. A charitablereceipt will be sent to you. Please make cheques payable toThe Brain Injury Association of London and Region. Change ofAddress: Please advise the office if you change your address.This will ensure that you continue to receive The Monarch. Itwill also save us unnecessary postage.

Membership Registration / Change of Address

$20.00/year general, $40.00/year professional

Name

Address

City, Province, Postal Code

Phone Number

Email Address

Please submit applications or address changes to:307- 111 Waterloo St. London, Ontario N6B 2M4

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It is hard to believe that I have been in therole as Executive Director for over a year. TheAssociation has grown in so many ways over thepast few months. Last year, the office wasessentially a one-person operation, compared tonow when there is often not enough space toaccommodate everyone!

With the financial assistance provided by theTrillium Foundation, we welcomed Joe Zablockias our Support & Volunteer Coordinator. Sincethe beginning of September, Joe has been busywith the development of volunteer policies, plan-ning for new support groups and meeting withseveral people in the community.

In addition to Joe, we have several dedicatedvolunteers who provide office support on aweekly basis.

The London community has an abundance oftalented young people enrolled in programs atboth the University of Western Ontario andFanshawe College. We are very pleased tooffer internships for various programs at both ofthese fine institutions. The students are invalu-able in assisting to move the Association for-ward in many areas.

We currently have a Social Service Workerstudent from Fanshawe College who spendsabout 20 hours per week at our office as herpracticum placement. The CommunityAwareness Committee has partnered with threestudents from the Multimedia program to devel-

op a video that will be used for promotional andeducation purposes.

Law students from UWO are currently work-ing on a Pro Bono Project under the supervisionof board member Lisa Fraser. The students willconduct a review of the Association’s currentpolicies and bylaws. They will provide us withdirection for the development of possible stan-dards to be considered.

Five students from the Richard Ivey Schoolof Business have been busy working on a ProBono Community Consulting Project for ourorganization. They were helpful in determiningthe viability of a fundraising opportunity and alsoin developing a plan to increase the success ofour annual fundraising event, the 70’s...Rock &Roll to Disco. The fundraising committee isworking hard to ensure this is the best event yet!

Supporters of the Association will soon beable to conveniently make donations, pay mem-bership fees, registration fees for conferencesand purchase tickets to events through our web-site.

I have been amazed at the recent interestshown in volunteer committee work. I recall atime when it was difficult to get volunteers to siton a committee. We now have several commit-tees that have at least 5-10 members. It is soexciting to be in a meeting and feel the enthusi-asm and energy in the room! Volunteers are sovital to the success of our organization and I amso thankful to all those who give of their time andtalents. Plans are well underway for our 10th

Annual conference “Only Two ProblemsPlease”... Secondary Symptoms of ABI to beheld June 15, 2007. The Editorial Committeehas worked diligently on the redesign of theMonarch and updating our website.

The Development Committee has designed atemplate for each committee to define their

Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number 40790545

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to :

307-111 Waterloo StreetLondon, ON N6B 2M4

Executive Director’s Report

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Continued on page 4

Terms of Reference. This document will beused to evaluate the goals set by each commit-tee as well as a tool to inform potential volun-teers of the expectations of each committee.

We are also thrilled to be planning an addi-tion to the services we offer. Details of the‘Respite Care Program’ will be available on ourwebsite early in the New Year.

Camp Dawn was an enormous success yetagain this year. Although Camp Dawn is now aregistered charity, our Association continues toprovide much support to this worthwhile initia-tive.

Our Peer Support Mentoring Program nowhas two matches of mentors and partners. TheAssociation has been very fortunate to haveKevin MacGregor as Peer Support Coordinator(PSC) over the past year. Kevin’s enthusiasmfor this program is a key component in its suc-cess within our area.

As with any program, change is inevitable.We are very sad that Kevin has decided toleave the role of PSC to pursue other ventures,but wish him the best in his future endeavors.Kevin will continue to be involved with the pro-gram, but in a reduced capacity. He will alsocontinue to be the Associations SurvivorRepresentative on the OBIA Advisory Council.

As I look back over this year, I am pleasedwith the progress the Association has made andlook forward to the New Year with much enthu-siasm!

On behalf of the Association, I would like toextend our warmest wishes for a safe, happyand healthy holiday season. During this busytime, remember to give thanks for the bless-ings in your life, your family and friends, butalso take the time to help those who are lessfortunate.

Donna Thomson

Executive Director’s Report

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Continued from page 3

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An American circus performer, JosephineDemott Robinson (1865-1948) once said,“Never mind if you fall far short of the thing youwant to do, encourage your effort. If no oneelse will say it to you, say it to yourself. ‘Not sobad.’ It will make the next effort easier and bet-ter.” It is true that some of our greatest encour-agement comes from within but there are timeswhen the support and care of others encour-age us to continue, even after failure.

In Aesop’s, The Bundle of Sticks, he tells usthat there is strength in union, and illustratesthat even the weak become strong whenjoined with others. It is our belief that supportgroups are one way to experience this type ofstrength.

Support groups are a medium throughwhich brain injury survivors and their familiescan share with others with similar problems.Groups may invite family members, and pro-fessionals to discuss and exchange feelings,experiences, and strategies for coping with theeffects of acquired brain injury. Group mem-bers also provide support, encouragement andfriendship for one another.

The knowledge that you share a commonexperience with others can provide reassur-ance and comfort. Support groups provide anopportunity to share similar problems, con-cerns, fears and work out effective solutions.

At present we have two support groupsoperating in Oxford and Huron counties and it

is our hope that over time this will grow to twogroups in each of the five counties served byour association. We are actively recruiting bothprofessionals and survivors to co-lead thesegroups and have tentative commitments forleadership for three new groups. We are alsoseeking out individuals to speak at one ormore of these groups. If you are a survivor,family member or professional and would beinterested in assisting in our support groupswe would be interested in hearing from you.

We hope that our support groups will fosteran atmosphere of true friendship and encour-agement like the friendship spoken of byWilliam Arthur Ward, “A true friend knows yourweaknesses but shows you your strengths;feels your fears but fortifies your faith; seesyour anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizesyour disabilities but emphasizes your possibil-ities.”

Information about the existing and upcom-ing groups can be obtained by contacting theBrain Injury Association of London and Region.

Why Support Groups?

ST. MARYS COMMUNITY REHABILITATION

268 Maiden Lane, Suite 209, P.O. Box 219

St. Marys, Ontario N4X 1B1 Tel: (519) 284-0904 • Fax:(519) 284-0870 •[email protected]

Physiotherapy & Kinesiology Services Available

Please Visit Our New Web Site

For More Information About Us and Our Services!

www.stmarysphysio.com

Joe ZablockiSupport and Volunteer Coordinator

The Monarch

The energy in the air waslike a bunch of children com-ing in the door for a birthdayparty. Excitement and won-der that could be seen intheir eyes; their body lan-guage twitched with anticipa-tion. Eleven potential men-tors sat around the boardroom table ready to beginthe mentor training day,ready to begin their newlives as mentors.

The excitement of a newprogram and being a part ofthe first ABI mentor trainingin Ontario was just a smallfactor in the room's energy.The real source of that great

feeling was people comingtogether with a commonvision: to reach out and sup-port others who are livingthrough the same difficultissues as we have livedthrough in the past, theopportunity to use what welearned to help others.

For me the personal chal-lenge had been ongoing forthe four weeks before train-ing, when I stepped into myrole as the Peer SupportCoordinator. This position isthe closest I have had to aregular job since my braininjury in 1997. Since thebeginning of August I have

been interviewing andscreening potential mentors,learning how to organizefiles, understanding the ben-efits of spreadsheets, andhaving the pleasure of talk-ing with people on the phoneabout the program.

My thanks to Donna, ourExecutive Director, for show-ing such confidence in meand teaching me about howto take care of details whilestaying focused on the goal.

Since our highly suc-cessful training day Donnaand I have done six presenta-tions to various groups to pro-mote the mentoring program.

Peer Support CoordinatorKevin MacGregor

We are aiming to make sureeveryone knows that there isa mentoring program for sur-vivors and families of braininjury, that the program ishighly structured, monitored,and valuable to the braininjury community. If you knowof a group that would like apresentation about the men-toring program then call theassociation at 519-642-4539to make a booking.Presentations, mentorscreening, and training aregreat but for me the programreally became beautiful whenI got my first two calls forhelp. I listened to their strug-gles and frustrations. As I lis-tened I heard their livesunravel to me over the phoneI knew that I had good people

to match them with - peoplewho have lived these samestruggles and could reallyunderstand what they were liv-ing through.

Imagine living in a crisisand being able to talk withsomeone who has been livingwith the same issue for sev-enteen years? The compas-sion, understanding and wis-dom that is available, the feel-ing of not being alone? I amvery pleased to announce thatthe peer mentoring programhas made two mentoring part-nerships. I look forward tomaking more in the future.

If you could use a mentor orthink you would make a goodmentor then give us a call at thebrain injury association. It'stime to work together.

Personal Note from Kevin:

Regrettably, I need toleave my position as the coor-dinator of the peer mentoringprogram. Other commitmentsin my life have forced me tomake this difficult choice. Iwill continue to be involved inthe program but in a smallerrole. I will always be a strongadvocate of the peer mentor-ing program and look forwardto supporting it in a new way.

Thanks so much to Donnaand the board for their sup-port and confidence in me. Ithas helped me grow as a per-son and I give many thanks tothe Brain Injury Association ofLondon and Region.

The Monarch

The Monarch

The 2007Ontario Brain Injury Association

Lottery CalendarFeaturing the Art, Photography and Poetry of people living with ABI$2,500.00 in cash to be won

Weekly draws every FridayPrizes of $25, $50 or $100

Only $25.00 each

Order yours today!!!Makes a great gift for friends, familyMakes a great gift for friends, family, colleagues and clients., colleagues and clients.

Proceeds of the OBIA Lottery Calendar will be used for Province Wide Awareness of ABI

Lottery Licence #M481478______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ontario Brain Injury AssociationLottery Calendar

Order Form

Send me ________ OBIA Lottery Calendars @ $25.00 each. Total $ __________________

Payment Cash Cheque Visa MasterCard American Express

Card Number ___________________________________ Expiry________________

The calendar is for myself.The calendar is a gift (attach a list, if necessary).

Purchaser’s Name: Send Calendar to:Address AddressCity: Postal code: City: Postal code:Phone: Phone:

Mail Your Order to Ontario Brain Injury AssociationBox 2338St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R9

Call and Order Today 1 800 263-5404 or Fax Your Order to 1 905 641-0323

The Brain Injury Association ofLondon and Region receives

$5.00 from every calendar sold.

The Monarch

Donating AppreciatedSecurities

The benefits of making acharitable donation are count-less - from helping those inneed to the personal satisfac-tion we feel when giving some-thing back to a cause we feelpassionate about. With properplanning, you can reduce yourtotal income tax liability andmaximize the value of yourdonation.

In an effort to increasecharitable donations, the feder-al government has eliminatedthe capital gains tax on dona-tions of publicly traded securitiesto public charitable organiza-tions. Qualified securitiesinclude shares, bonds andmutual funds listed on a pre-scribed stock exchange thathave appreciated in value.

Charitable Donation TaxCredit

As with cash donations,the fair market value of prop-erty donated will reduce thedonor’s taxes through a char-itable donation tax credit.The maximum donation youcan claim on your tax returneach year is 75% of your netincome.

Donations that cannot beclaimed in the year can becarried forward for up to fiveyears. For donations in

excess of $200 the tax creditis calculated at the top mar-ginal rate regardless of themarginal rate of the donor.

To encourage donationsby bequest, in the year ofdeath the maximum donationthat can be claimed is 100%of the deceased’s netincome. Any donations thatcannot be claimed in the yearof death can be claimedagainst the previous year’stax return, also up to 100% ofnet income in that year.

Donating SecuritiesIf you are planning to make

a charitable donation thisyear, consider this tax-savingstrategy. If you’ve deter-mined that you will be sellingsome of your current invest-ments, you have an opportu-nity to reduce the tax youwould otherwise have to payon the sale of your invest-ments if you donate theinvestments directly to acharity.

Although a donation ofproperty is considered a dis-

position for tax purposes,under the new tax rules, thetaxable capital gain realizedon the donated security iseliminated. In either case,you will receive a tax receiptfor the full amount of yourdonation regardless of the taxtreatment of the capital gain.

A donation of securitiesmay be preferred over a cashdonation of equal value, par-ticularly if you have alreadydecided to dispose of thesecurities during the year.

This strategy can also beused in the year of death toreduce tax to the estate andcreate a significant donationto a charity at a fraction of thecost.

By donating half of theinvestment, the total tax lia-bility to the estate is reduced.So much so that a $50,000investment provides theestate with after-tax proceedsof $34,200 but also providesfor a $25,000 donation to acharity.

In other words, it costs theestate only $11,200 ($45,400- $34,200) to make a dona-tion of $25,000 to a charity.

If you are interested inbenefiting from this type oftax savings, please considerdonating a portion of yourinvestments to the BrainInjury Association of London& Region.

Are you looking for a tax break on your capital gains and interested in helping out your favourite charity?

The information in this article was provided by BMO Nesbitt Burns

It costs the estateonly $11,200 to

make a donation of$25,000 to a charity.

Personal Rehabilitation Counselling Services Inc.E. “Ike” Lindenburger Carl R. LokkoM. Div., M.S.W., C.C.R.C., C.Ht. B.A. (Hon), M.S.W., R.S.W.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation Cognitive/Behavioural TherapyIndividual, Couples and Family Therapy Capacity AssessmentIndependent Medical Assessment HypnotherapyCatastrophic Injuries Pain ManagementStress and Anger Management Fear of Driving and PTSDGrief and Loss, Bereavement Relationship Management

Appointments at office or in client’s home

Mailing Address Counselling Office769 Southdale Road, Box 37088 190 Wortley RoadLondon, ON N6E 3B0 London, ON (Lower Level)

Phone:Ike: 519-645-7393 Fax: 519-645-6195 Carl: 519-318-6500Email: (Ike) [email protected] Email: (Carl) [email protected]

Supporting people to gain healthy functioning

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For the past decade,Parkwood Hospital (part of St.Joseph’s Health care in London)has been the host of a series ofweekly sessions on topics ofinterest for persons recoveringfrom acquired brain injury.

The purpose of the eight-week series is to provide practi-cal information for individualswith an acquired brain injury, aswell as to their families and theirfriends. Speakers have alwaysincluded survivors and spouses,clinicians and physicians.

In 2006 the series wasbroadcast by videoconferenceto reach an audience in fiveother towns. This allowed peo-

ple to go to their local hospitalsto view the series on a largescreen television and interactwith the speaker, without havingto make the drive to London.Feedback from the sessionswas very positive, and peopledid find the series educationaland interactive.

In spring 2007, we will beusing the expanded videocon-ferencing services of theOntario Telemedicine Network(www.otn.ca) to link membersof the audience across com-munities again. Individualswith acquired brain injuries,their families, and their friendsare welcome to join one,

some, or all sessions. The list of presentations in

the spring 2007 series willinclude several return engage-ments “by request”, as well asnew speakers from the ABIrehabilitation community. Theseries will run weekly onTuesday evenings, fromMarch 27 to May 15. For moreinformation, and to reserve aseat, please contact WendyDorau, Program Assistant, at519-685-4064, or call toll-free1-866-484-0445.

http://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/parkwood/programs/rehab/abi.htm

Spring 2007: Acquired Brain Injury Survivor and Family Education Series for residents of South-Western Ontario

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For most adults, driving rep-resents freedom and independ-ence. Driving allows peopleaccess to employment andsocial opportunities that areoften denied to those who areunable to drive. Driving afteran illness or disability can oftenbe challenging. Driving after abrain injury in particular can bea challenge due to changes inthinking skills, physical abili-ties, or visual skills.

Some people with a braininjury are able to drive withhelp from a program atParkwood Hospital. TheDriver Assessment andRehabilitation Program isa fee-for-service programthat can assist peoplewith a brain injury decideif they are safe to contin-ue driving, and teachthem to use strategies tomake driving as safe aspossible.

The assessment andtraining offered by theprogram is done in con-junction with both a spe-

cially trained driving instructortogether with an occupationaltherapist experienced in driverrehabilitation. The programaccommodates various physi-cal and learning disabilities. Inaddition to the usual drivingskills, the program teachesproblem solving for difficultiespeople with a brain injury mayencounter, like getting lost ordealing with fatigue while driv-ing. Regular driving programsdo not have an understandingof medical conditions, how theymay impact driving skills, and

how to compensate for the dis-abilities.

Parkwood also offers anoth-er service that may be of inter-est to someone who has sus-tained a brain injury. The NewDriver Program is geared topeople with disabilities whohave never driven before. TheProgram offers 25 hours ofclassroom education and 12hours of driving training.

The Program also offersservice to those whose drivingability may have becomeimpaired due to injury, illness or

natural aging, as well asthose with physical disabili-ties who require equipmentor modifications.Designated as a drivingassessment centre by theOntario Ministry ofTransportation, the hospitalis also a member of theAssociation of DriverRehabilitation Specialists.

To make a referral or for further information call

(519) 685-4070.

Navigating Roadblocks A Parkwood program helps people with disabilities drive safely.

The Monarch

The heat and sunshine of summer is long goneand even though it is still autumn, the recent snow-falls are reminders that winter is only around thecorner. With winter comes cold temperatures,which subsequently lead to snow and ice. Thuswinter is the season to enjoy many activities thatare not possible any other time during the year.These include, but are not limited to, snowmobil-ing, sledding, skating, skiing, snowboarding, iceskating and hockey. Just as in any other sport,precautions must be taken to ensure the safety ofthose participating. When partaking in any ofthese wintertime activities, keep in mind the fol-lowing safety tips according to ThinkFirst’snewsletter, BrainWaves.

Snowmobiling Inform others where you are going, your

route, and estimated time of arrival Inspect machinery before going anywhere Carry a first Aid kit Dress appropriately (well-insulated, layered

winter clothing, goggles, gloves, boots), andof course always wear a certified helmet!

Reduce speed in unfamiliar territory Stay on right hand side of trails Use caution when crossing roadways and

railroad tracks When riding at night, never go alone, wear

reflective clothing, and make sure the lights

on your machine are working properly Be aware of icy conditions, and when cross

-ing over frozen bodies of water, watch for thin ice, open water, and snow banks

Sledding and Tobogganing Ride snow covered hills that are hazard free

(clear of any rocks, trees, roadways) Ride sleds with hand steering whenever

possible Wear proper clothing. (Layered clothing

under winter jacket, hats, boots, and gloves) Tuck scarves and loose drawstrings into

jacket to avoid strangulation Ride in proper position. Never lie on stomach

or back! Wear a helmet (bicycle, ski, or snowboarding

helmets are recommended Children under 5 should be accompanied by

an adult while sledding Sled down centre of hill; walk up the sides of

the hill away from oncoming traffic

Skiing and Snowboarding Check condition of equipment and make

necessary adjustments before going down Wear a certified helmet! Wear eye protection so flying snow doesn’t

impede vision Only ski/snowboard down slopes of your

expertise level Never ski/snowboard alone Carry identification with you at all times

Ice Skating and Hockey Skates should be checked yearly for

sharpness and that they are in good working order

Skates should fit snugly and give firm ankle support

Important Winter Sport Safety TipsJamie Fairles

The Monarch

Dress appropriately (warm clothing and a certified helmet - facemask, mouth guard and protective padding for hockey)

Know thickness of ice on ponds, lakes, rivers (at least 15cm) Clear ice of any potential hazards such as pebbles, rocks, and branches Skate in the same direction of everyone else Children should always be supervised by an adult

Whereas some of these sports differ in many ways and some are quite similar, there is one commonsafety precaution that appears in all of them and that is the use of a helmet. Snow and ice can bequite slippery and whether it is a frozen ground, an ice rink, or the asphalt, a head doesn’t stand muchof a chance when coming in contact with any of these surfaces when a person is falling, so please besensible this winter and wear a helmet. Better to have worn a helmet and not need one, than need ahelmet and not have worn one.

Enjoy wintertimesports, but pleasewear a helmetand remember...

play it safe!

The Monarch

In the last few weeks, I've come to the conclu-sion that if you don't have proper footwear cover-ing your tender tootsies, you ain't goin' anywhere!I made the mistake a few months ago of purchas-ing a pair of shoes that literally rubbed me thewrong way. They looked nice enough and theprice was reasonable; but beyond that they'vebeen torture ever since.

When I initially bought them, they felt comfort-able and I did the obligatory two or three steps upand down (road test) in the store to check themout. So far, so good. But within a short time ofgetting them home and walking in them on moreextended forays around town, they began to both-er my feet.

Actually, having problems with footwear hasbeen an off and on problem for most of my life.

My feet usually catch hell in the heel, especiallywith stiff, uncompromising dress shoes. Maybe Ishould start beating them with a hammer to soft-en them up a bit before trying to walk in them orrevert to wearing moccasins in the summer andEskimo Mukluks in the winter.

Bad footwear can also wreak havoc with yoursocial life. I remember this High Schooldance years ago with a girl who I was crazyabout. After I finally got up enough nerve toask her, she said yes and I was in seventhheaven! I plotted and planned this romanticcampaign very carefully before the big event;but then I made the fatal error of rushing outand hastily buying these really good lookingshoes for the occasion and ended up hob-bling around the dance floor like I had frozenkneecaps! She was not impressed with thisperformance and my chances with herdropped lower than zilch. I was crushed forweeks!

To sum up, new shoes have alwaysbeen a traumatic experience in my life.Maybe I should have been born in thedeepest Brazilian rain forest where the sub-ject of shoes never, ever comes up and theonly problems you have are with the oddcrocodile, poisonous spiders and largesnakes!

REHABILITATION THERAPY VOCATIONAL SERVICES SOCIAL WORK PSYCHOLOGY TUTORING

Services available in Southwest and Southcentral Ontario

501 - 111 Waterloo Street London ON N6B 2M4

(519) 657-1180, ext. 101

[email protected]

www.brainworksrehab.com

Rubbed the Wrong Way!By: Norm Shepherd

The Monarch

GOLFER SPONSORS

Personal RehabilitationCounselling Services Inc. - Ike

Lindenberger - foursome

HOLE SPONSORSFinancial HorizonsLegate & AssociatesKellogg=s Canada Inc.Lord InvestigationsFoster, Townsend, Graham &AssociatesPat Saunoris Consulting Adaptable Design GroupBartimeus Inc.The Professional=s ChoiceRehabilitationDr. Carolyn DalgityPursuit Health ManagementLink Advertising Inc.Rehabilitation Management Inc.The Health NetworkNew Horizons RehabilitationMarch of DimesLondon Police AssociationHope Branch ForestersHanford Tire & Service

AUCTION PRIZESCOURTESY OF

Clublink CorporationLondon InteriorscapesChanner’s Men’s & LadiesWearReflections FramingTherapy SuppliesEZaccess Inc..McCormick CanadaDr. Jane GillettCruise Holidays of BrockvilleWindermere ManorMay McConnville InsuranceBrokersGBF AssociatesDavwill Consulting Inc.Forecs Inc.London Chiropractor HealthServicesDr. Rod OvertonLondon Speech & LanguageThrosel Family

Scott Kish - Interactive Channer’s ClothierMoving Toward Wellness Ltd.Cornerstone ClubhousePursuit Health ManagementNeal, Pallett & TownsendContinuum RehabilitationMr. John LessifThe Grand TheatreCustom Cuisine David’s BistroB Home Suzzane’s of ParisThe River LilyRoberts Restaurant, ParisRival Office SolutionsCohen HighleyHonest LawyerPurdom InsuranceKing -Reed & Associates NeuroTrauma Rehabilitation Parkwood Hospital

MAJOR SPONSORS

DMARehabilityLerners LLP

McKellar Structured Settlements Inc.Siskind, Cromarty, Ivey, Dowler LLP

HOLE IN ONE PRIZESCOURTESY OF

Huron Motor Products

SPECIALTY HOLE SPONSORS

Longest Drive - Pilot Insurance - Aviva Canada Inc.Closest to the Pin - Dr. Jane Gillett - Range ofMotion PhysiotherapyPutting Contest - Truppe Health Care Productsand Services Ltd.On the Green Contest - EZaccess Inc..On Site Massage - The Health Network

The 5th Annual London Brain Injury Charity Golf Classic held September 21, 2006 at Greenhills Golf Club

raised approximately $22,000 for H.A.B.I.T & the Brain Injury Association of London & Region!!

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS WHO MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE

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The 5th Annual Golf Classic was a great success.Pictured above are some of our local “pros”showing us their skill on the greens. Top right:Many enjoyed relaxing massages from the HealthNetwork. Bottom Right: The Silent Auction thatfollowed in the evening was a great success, withproceeds going to the Brain Injury Association ofLondon and Region, and H.A.B.I.T. Please seepage 15 for a full list of sponsors who helpedmake this event possible.

5th Annual Golf Classic a Great Success

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The Brain Injury Association of London and Region Hosted the First Mentor Training Session

See page 6 for the full story.

For more on Camp Dawn, see story on Page 19.

With every dawn a new path is found-www.campdawn.ca

Above: Beading activity was a favouriteamong many campers. Below: Camp Dawn Participants enjoyedthe Native Drumming Circle.Bottom Right: Campers preparing for theAdventureworks Ropes Course

Pictured here are the enthusiastic participants of thefirst Peer Mentor Training session. If you think youwould make a good mentor, please call 519-642-4539to make a booking.

The Monarch

Artery Studios Inc. - Stephen Mader Brown Beattie O’DonovanCami Automotive Inc. Chris CollinsDaniel MailerDouglas BryceFrauts Dobbie - Anne Marie FrautsGlobal Resolutions Inc.

Good Law OfficeJudith Hull & AssociatesLegate & AssociatesLernersMackenzie & MackenzieMcKellar Structured SettlementsSiskinds the Law Firm Thomson Mahoney Dobson Delorey

2006 Helmets on Kids

The Brain Injury Association of London & Region would like to recognizeand offer a big ‘Thank You’ to the following donors for their generous con-tributions to the 2006 Helmets on Kids campaign. Your support helped to

put helmets on the heads of close to 1000 London area children!

With every dawn a new path is found-www.campdawn.ca

The Monarch

by Natalie Molinaro

Yes, it was time for Camp Dawn again. This yearwas as fun as last year. A lot of volunteers that werethere last year came back this year. A lot of the samecampers came back this year.

They had crafts; you were able to make either abracelet or a necklace out of beads. You could deco-rate your own picture frames or build your own scrap-book page about this year at Camp Dawn. And ifyou’re not a scrap-booker, the page is the size of a

large picture frame.They also had the high ropes course again

this year along with canoeing of which theywere able to get wheelchair campers (like me)into a canoe. You can paddle around a man-made lake (the lake used to be a quarry).

They also had an interesting game of bingowith a table full of donated prizes followed bysome karaoke, which even had a few campersdancing. They also had a new activity this year;they had a dance for everyone which was a bighit mainly because it went on pretty late atnight.

They also had cabin challenges where thewinning cabin got their name on a trophy andmedals around their necks. These cabin chal-lenges were pretty fun and unique.

In this writer’s opinion it was really fun andhopefully see you all next year. And those whodidn’t come this year hopefully you will join us inall the fun next year.

During our snowy winter sea-son, many of us who do not gointo hibernation enjoy outdoorsports including snowmobiling.However, as with any sport,snowmobiling has its inherentdangers, one of them being therisk of injury from a snowmobileaccident. For those unfortunateenough to experience such aninjury, an important questionarises – am I entitled toStatutory Accident Benefits if Iam injured in a snowmobileaccident? The answer isyes…and no.

In order to make a claim forStatutory Accident Benefits, youmust have been injured as aresult of an “accident”. While wemight intuitively assume that an“accident” would include an inci-dent with a snowmobile, we haveto look at the legislation. TheInsurance Act defines “accident”to include incidents in which theuse or operation of an “automo-bile” directly causes an impair-ment (or damage to certain med-ical or dental devices.) The ques-tion, then, is whether a snowmo-bile is an “automobile”.

In Part VI of the Insurance Actdealing with automobile insur-ance, and consequently,Statutory Accident Benefits, an“automobile” is said to include “amotor vehicle required under anyAct to be insured under a motorvehicle liability policy”. Thismeans we have to determine if a

snowmobile is (1) a “motor vehi-cle” and (2) required to be insuredunder a motor vehicle liability pol-icy. If it meets both of theserequirements, then a snowmobilewould be considered an automo-bile, and an accident involving asnowmobile could allow for aclaim for Statutory AccidentBenefits.

The good news is that, underthe Motorized Snow Vehicles Act,a snowmobile is deemed to be amotor vehicle. [This is true foraccidents occurring after May 31,2001. This article does notaddress accidents occurringbefore that time]. We are halfway there.

The second requirement,being that the snowmobile mustbe required to be insured under amotor vehicle liability policy, is notas straight forward. Generally,the Motorized Snow Vehicles Actrequires all snowmobiles to beinsured under a motor vehicle lia-

bility policy. There is one excep-tion. If a person is driving a snow-mobile on land occupied by theowner of the snowmobile, nomotor vehicle liability insurance isrequired.

What this all means is that asnowmobile is considered anautomobile for the purposes ofStatutory Accident Benefitsdepending on where the snow-mobile is being driven. If thesnowmobile is driven on landoccupied by the owner of thesnowmobile, it is not an automo-bile. However, if it is driven onland other than that occupied bythe owner of the snowmobile, it isan automobile. As such, for thepurposes of making a claim forStatutory Accident Benefits, aclaim can be made provided theaccident occurs on land otherthan that occupied by the ownerof the snowmobile.1 As withmany legal questions, the answerto the question depends on thespecific circumstances of thecase, and each situation shouldbe assessed individually.

Joni DobsonLegate & Associates

Professional Corporation

1 It should be noted that the above discus-sion assumes that no other automobileother than snowmobiles is involved in theaccident. When another automobile isinvolved in addition to a snowmobile, thenthe exception for snowmobiles operated onland occupied by the owner may not apply.

Ask a LawyerJoni M. Dobson

Snowmobiles and Statutory Accident Benefits

The Monarch

The Monarch

The Monarch

I once knew an old manwho lived in the woods. Thisman knew all about the forest,the way of the trees, the birdsand the animals. He had apile of awards in his housefrom conservation groups---heeven had a picture of himselfreceiving a medal from the lieu-tenant governor of Ontario. Icould listen to this man talk forhours about his adventureshand crafting bows and huntingfor his family. He even handmade a bow at the Olympicswhen representing us as ourCanadian archery champion.This man was a true elder ofthe woods who held knowl-

edge that would guide peopleto their truth. He had helpedmany people.

For the last two years Iintended to go visit him, paymy respects and learn a littlemore about his ways so Icould live a better life. But thebusy city lifestyle kept gettingin the way and I just could notfind the time to go see him.Yesterday morning I got a realstrong urge to give Bill a call.His daughter picked up thephone. I asked for Bill and sheresponded, "sorry, dad passedaway a few days ago".

We often forget the impor-tance of elders in our commu-

nity. We put so much empha-sis on the letters behind a per-son's name that we forget themost important thing: LifeExperience.

I have found this to be truewhen organizing the MovingAhead Together Conference.People seem to go "ga ga"over a doctor or therapist giv-ing a talk for survivors. Theythink that because a personwent to medical school thatthey know all the answers.Meanwhile someone who haslived with the effects of braininjury for fifteen years is sit-ting in the corner, ignored, justas I ignored the Old Man inthe woods.

As a community of peopleliving with the effects of braininjury we hold a great deal ofwisdom and knowledge abouthow to survive. This life expe-rience is usually never passedon to those who are lost andstruggling.

As I write this article I cansee six boys playing behindthe old school across theroad. They are hiding andjumping out at each other andtruly enjoying life. I wonderwhat the odds are that one ofthose happy boys will have abrain injury in his lifetime? Ihope they never do but unfor-tunately it is very possible thatone of them will. What kind ofbrain injury community will bewaiting to help them? Or, will

DR. ALVIN HARVEY SHAPIRO

PSYCHOLOGIST

• Career Planning • Industrial Disability Diagnosis

20 Years Experience in Assessment & Therapy Answers

• Abilities-Skills Job Fit • Depression • Serious Accidents • Industrial Consulting • Worries • Child Learning Problems

519 • 642•1505

370 Oxford Street East, London, Ontario N6A 1V7

May I help you with…

MOVING AHEAD TOGETHER 3 (MAT3):Building the ABI Community for the Future

Kevin MacGregor

The Monarch

they be lost, left to struggle ontheir own like we were?

The answer is up to us. Mygrand vision for the MovingAhead Together Conference isto use it as a building block tobuild the ABI community. TheMAT conference gives us theopportunity to share wisdomexperience and support.Perhaps one day we will evenhave a council of elders of ourown.

As for a conference plan-ning update I am pleased toannounce that we will be havingCFL hall of Famer TerryEvenshen as our keynote speak-er. Also, Rock and Roll Reggie,of Camp Dawn fame, will beleading a workshop on the heal-ing qualities of music; RachealOliver, published cartoon author,will be running a workshop onhumour; and the steering com-mittee has convinced me to run asession on Brain Injury as part ofa Life's Journey.

There are many more ses-sions planned for the confer-ence, including several that arespecifically for families. Thenext issue of the Monarch willcontain copies of our brochurewith the entire schedule, as wellas registration information.

Remember it costs $50 to attendthe conference so get savingyour money. If transportation isa problem then contact yourlocal brain injury association andsee how they can help. I amlooking forward to learningfrom you.

The Monarch

Winter brings beautifulchanges to our Ontario land-scape with an effect like dia-monds on the snow from the

sun shining ona cold crisp

d a y .

We hear the crunch, crunchof our boots on the snow. Webuild snowmen and throw softsnowballs at our friends. Butwith enjoying the pleasures ofthis beautiful time of yearcome unique challenges.Somehow we have to get

around outside safely, whenthe piles of snow buildand when the ice

forms. Here are afew ideas abouthow to take

charge this winterso you can enjoy it

and be safe.

EnvironmentIn the fall, before the snow

comes, check that railings ondecks and steps are solid atyour home. If you have stepswithout a railing, considerhaving one installed. It iswise to hold onto the railwhen going up or down thesteps to prevent a fall shouldthere be any ice on the steps.Any of us can fall easily inthese circumstances, but ifyou have problems with bal-ance your risk of falling isgreater.

The key to managing the

How to Avoid Slipping and Sliding in the Winter MonthsJune Williamson

New Horizons Rehabilitation Services Inc.

The Monarch

snow and ice safely is toensure your steps, deck anddriveways are as clear aspossible. Have snowremoved from these areas.Follow up by salting or sand-ing where ice would usuallyform. Those areas are whereyou walk a lot and the snowbecomes compacted. Youmight consider having a rampinstalled in areas that are notlevel, such as steps, andonto the driveway. If you do,be sure to keep snowremoved and the ramp saltedto prevent the build up of ice.

EquipmentIf you normally use a

cane, be sure to get an icepick for the end. These areavailable at almost any phar-macy, or medical supplycompany. Without the icepick, a cane is very slipperyon snow and ice, and can bemore of a hazard than a ben-efit. With the pick, your canewill help you keep your bal-ance.

If you have some chal-lenges with balance, but infair weather don't use acane, it may be a wise ideato use a cane with an ice pickjust for winter walking. Thissimple device may prevent afall and potential injury.

ClothingMy last tip is around

footwear. The best boots totake charge of the snow andice in are flat, and with goodtread. Boots with worn treadand a higher heel easilyslide.

I hope these tips willenable you to get outdoorsand enjoy our beautifulOntario Winter Wonderland.It is a time of year we cantruly participate in many funactivities, made safer by afew simple preparations.

The Monarch

The many changes andlosses that are associated witha traumatic brain injury oftencontribute to many mood distur-bances. One of the most com-mon is depression. Learning togrieve the losses that may haveoccurred since the occurrenceof the acquired brain injury canbe a difficult task and often aperiod of depression results.

Being unable to work, driveor perform other tasks that onemay have taken for grantedprior to the injury can fosterfeelings of dependence, socialisolation and cause one towithdraw or compensate withother maladaptive copingstrategies such as substanceabuse. Feelings of worthless-ness or hopelessness mayensue, causing one to haveeven more difficulty managingtheir day to day activities.

Even something as simpleas the shorter days that areassociated with the wintermonths may fuel one’s feelingsof depression as travel may belimited and daylight becomes arare and precious commodity.

There are many things thatone may do to combat thesefeelings and sometimes some-thing as simple as changingone’s daily routine may help tocombat these concerns.

Structuring the day toensure that you rise at a con-sistent time and attempt tohave a regular bed time routinemay minimize the urge to sleepeven more and feel increasing-ly hopeless about one’s life.

Walking or other simple

exercises, particularly donewith someone else where pos-sible, may alleviate some ofthe feelings of social isolationand improve one’s energylevel. Being open to helpwhether it is from a friend orfamily member is an importantstep in learning new methodsto cope in a productive man-ner.

Often hearing how some-one else has managed to livewith an acquired brain injurycan be extremely productive.Attending a local supportgroup or talking to another sur-vivor about their coping strate-gies can be invigorating andgive hope to the future.Someone else’s very simplestrategy or methodof coping may beexactly what is help-ful to someone else.

Talking to atrained health careprofessional mayalso be necessary ifthese feelings per-sist. Learning how tosee one’s strengthsrather than weak-nesses can taketime and mayrequire a period offormal counseling tofeel reassured thatthe future is man-ageable.

Developing posi-tive attitudes andways of coping maytake some time andit is important toreview how one has

been coping to date. Oftenthere are many coping strate-gies already in place that onehas overlooked because oftheir frustration and also due tosome of the cognitive limita-tions inherent in an acquiredbrain injury.

By considering one’soptions and investing time andenergy into one’s recovery, theeffects of depression can beminimized and life can feel pro-ductive and manageable onceagain. Never underestimatethe power of praise and sup-port from loved ones and care-givers, as simple words ofencouragement can beextremely helpful.

Coping with Depression and Acquired Brain InjuryBy Diane Schumacher B.S.W. R.S.W

The Monarch

Plan on joining the Brain Injury Association of London & Region

for a fun filled evening at our

7th Annual Dinner & Dance Gala

"The 70's…from Rock & Roll to Disco"Featuring

The Blushing Brides and

Disco Inferno

Saturday, March 3, 2007London Convention Centre

for more information, check out our website at

www.braininjurylondon.on.ca

Tickets now available!

The Monarch

Organizing and planning the holiday seasoncan be extremely overwhelming and stressful.Here are a few tips to help you not only survivethe holidays but enjoy them as well!

Keeping it SimpleChristmas is a time that should be enjoyed,

not stressed over. A key thing to remember is,keep it simple.

Simplify shopping by shopping online or goingto only one or two stores for everyone on your list.Gift cards can be an excellent and easy alterna-tive for family and friends. Be sure to make a listof gifts for everyone before you begin shoppingand stick to the list. Simplify gift-wrapping byusing gift bags instead of wrapping paper.

Simplify holiday meals by making dishesahead of time and freezing them or purchasing

prepared foods. Your family and friends willappreciate a calm host and food ready for servinginstead of a stressed out host overburdened byfood preparation!

Simplify holiday card sending by preparingcards early or by emailing your holiday greetings.Again, be sure to make a checklist of recipients soyou can check off each person’s name as yousend the card. That way no one is forgotten!

Just remember, before you begin any holidayactivities, ask yourself “How can I simplify this?”

Give Yourself a BreakScheduling is an important part of everyday

life for a person with a brain injury. During the hol-iday season, it becomes even more important asthe demands on your time increase with holidaypreparations, shopping, and visiting with family

and friends.It is a good idea to schedule specific holi-

day preparation days in advance and use theother days to maintain your current routine.This helps to keep your life balanced and run-ning smoothly.

Designate one day for gift planning andshopping, one day for meal shopping, oneday for gift-wrapping, and another day for hol-iday card mailing.

Be sure to schedule appropriate restbreaks throughout your days in order to avoidfatigue that may limit your activities later inthe day or even the next day.

Hopefully these tips will help you to enjoythis holiday season. Happy Holidays!

Tips for Surviving the HolidaysKelly Williston-Wardell

Occupational Therapist, Parkwood Hospital

The Brain Injury Associationof London & Region gratefullyacknowledges the followingpeople and businesses thathave made a donation sincethe last publication of theMonarch.

It is this type of generositythat enables the association tomaintain our commitment tomaximizing the quality of life ofindividuals living with theeffects of brain injury.

Special Thanks to the Following:

Rod Dale

The Paloma Foundation

Charles Downey

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Home & Community Based Rehabilitation forPersons with Acquired Brain InjuryLevel 1February 19th – 22nd 2007E-Mail: [email protected]: 905-641-8877

1-800-263-5404

“The 70’s…from Rock & Roll to Disco7th Annual Dinner & Dance hosted by the BrainInjury Association of London & Region March 3, 2007E-Mail: [email protected]: 519-642-4539

“Two Problems Only Please”…SecondarySymptoms of ABIBrain Injury Association of London & Region presents its 10th Annual ConferenceJune 15, 2007E-Mail: [email protected]: 519-642-4539

Coming Together: Quilting the pieces togetherafter brain injury2007 Provincial Acquired Brain Injury AssociationConferenceOctober 24th – 26th 2007E-Mail: [email protected]: 905-641-8877

1-800-263-5404

Upcoming Conferences and Events

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B r a i n I n j u r y A s s o c i a t i o n o f L o n d o n & R e g i o n3 07 - 111 Wa te r loo St ree t , London , ON N6B 2M4

150 Dufferin Ave., Suite 302, London, ON N6A 5N6email: [email protected] · Fax (519) 672-6689 · www.legate.ca

R E S U LT S F O R I N J U R E D C H I L D R E N, A D U LT S & T H E I R FA M I L I E S

BY OTHER LEADING PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERSSERIOUS INJURY · NEUROTRAUMA · DEATH

CAR CRASHES · MEDICAL MALPRACTICE · FALLS

Most frequently recommended lawyer (personal injury) in South Western Ontario*

Listed in the BEST LAWYERS IN CANADA.

Over 26 years experience

BARBARA L. LEGATE, LL.B.

* The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

STEVEN L. KENNEY,

COUNSEL TO THE FIRM:

SEAN R. MACKINTOSH,LL.B.

JONI M. DOBSON, LL.B.KAREN P. HULAN, LL.B.TARA S. POLLITT, LL.B.M.A. LL.B.

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