Trauma brain injury (TBI) are individual and complex conditions that can affect many areas of a person’s life. They can result in disabilities that affect their cognitive, physical and emotional experiences of everyday life. TBI survivors can need a wide range of supports, some are very subtle or minor others may required 24 hour skilled care in order to manage their daily lives. What is key to understand is that every individual experiences their TBI differently, and is expressed differently in their abilities (www.brainline.org).
Here are some helpful suggestions;
- First, if you have suffered a TBI, please contact a provider to connect to services:
- If you are 21 years old or young please contact NYS Office for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ (OPWDD) Regional Front Door to explore eligibility.
- If you are 22 years old or older please contact NYS Department of Health TBI waiver for assistance in accessing services.
- Be assured that it will take a village to navigate the services and your life as your recover from a brain injury so be ready to be your own best advocate. There at are key support groups where there are people ready and able to help.
- There are a number of waiver programs within New York State.
- NYS OPWDD Medicaid waiver (Home and Community Based Services)
- NYS Department of Health
- These waivers can provide varying levels of support, such as skilled nursing care or physical/ occupational therapy services and home based services for individuals that would otherwise need to be in a skilled care facility.
- The waiver also offers other services including Independent Living Skills Services, at home therapies and behavioral counseling.
- Taconic Resources for Independence is an local independence agency that can be helpful in navigating eligibility for services, programs and Social Security Disability system.
- There are other waiver programs you might be qualified for such as housing subsidy. Food Stamps or Heating Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). These can be accessed through Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services.
- Patient rights are critical to navigating these systems. You can find these at the NYS Commission of Human Rights website, (health.ny.gov) and locally by contacting Dutchess County Commission for Human Rights.
- Individuals with TBI can also qualify for assistance through NYS Education Department’s Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) starts with the presumption that all individuals with disabilities can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services and to have opportunities to work in jobs integrated within their communities. ACCES-VR works closely with state, county and municipalities hiring processes as individuals with a TBI may qualify for the 55 waiver.