Press Releases

The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska (BIA-NE) is excited to announce the launch of its Peer Mentorship Program. Modeled and adapted from a successful program by the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado, the program connects people who have experienced a brain injury with others who have gone through similar situations in a one-on-one mentoring relationship.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska is now accepting speaking proposals for the 2024 Nebraska Brain Injury Conference held on March 14 and 15, 2024. In addition to showcasing their research and expertise, speakers will have the opportunity to connect with a broad audience of professionals, organizations, and individuals living with a brain injury that stand to benefit from their expertise. 

The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska is pleased to announce that registration is open for its annual 5K Run, 1 Mile Walk/Roll fundraiser, Blazing Trails for Brain Injury. 

The event will be held on June 3, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and is open to all ages, abilities, and fitness levels to participate and raise money and awareness for brain injury in Nebraska as they walk, run, or roll along the course at the Chalco Hills Recreation Area.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska is excited to host the Nebraska Brain Injury Conference on March 23-24, 2023, at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. This year, exploration is the theme for the 2023 Nebraska Brain Injury Conference as participants examine different ideas, methods, and perspectives for brain injury topics like mental health, goal setting, and rehabilitative therapy options.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska (BIA-NE) is excited to announce its receipt of a $100,000 program sponsorship from Healthy Blue Nebraska to implement brain injury screening, education, and management processes as part of a collaborative project with the Douglas County Youth Center. 

To celebrate the funding of this program, Healthy Blue Nebraska will be holding a check presentation ceremony at Healthy Blue’s Welcome Room at 2910 K St. Ste. E, Omaha on January 11, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. 

Concussions can sideline students from more than just sports and recreational activities. Symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and vision impairment can have a drastic impact on students' performance in the classroom.

According to a recent article in the Journal of School Health, only 22.3 percent of educators feel confident in their ability to recognize a concussion and only 34 percent feel confident enough to help manage symptoms/recovery plans. Therefore, it is important for parents, coaches, and educators to be able to recognize and help manage concussions and concussion symptoms to help their students succeed in and out of the classroom.

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 - December 7 each year and is the only way for Medicare recipients to update their coverage. Unfortunately, this process can often be confusing and filled with pitfalls that can cause penalties or even loss of coverage for the unaware.

Due to the success of the Medicare basics webinar in July, Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska contractor, Sheila Kennedy will be presenting another webinar on September 20, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. covering Medicare Open Enrollment.

Applying for Medicare can be especially challenging to individuals recovering from a brain injury as the complicated nature of the process can tax their limited energy and concentration reserves. 

To help simplify the process, the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska is partnering with Nebraska SHIP to present a webinar on July 12, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

On March 17 and 18, over 100 people gathered virtually to attend the 2022 Nebraska Brain Injury Conference hosted by the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska. The day-and-a-half conference brought together brain injury professionals, caregivers, and individuals with brain injuries to learn about current topics in the field of brain injury and connect with one another.

Learning is difficult when a person’s brain isn’t feeling right, making teaching, an already challenging job for teachers, all the more difficult. Without accommodations, it can be difficult for students affected by COVID-19 or concussion symptoms to return to their normal learning activities. Thankfully, there is a tool available to aid teachers in implementing a plan to help students return to the classroom after COVID-19 or a concussion.