Hamilton Brain Injury Association (HBIA)
Nominated for:
The Hamilton Brain Injury Association (HBIA) is pleased to be a nominee in the Community Brain Injury Association of the Year category.
HBIA is a registered charitable organization and has been supporting survivors of acquired brain injury and their loved ones since 1986. HBIA exists with a mission to ensure the quality of life for survivors and their families through support, education and advocacy.
To fulfill our mission; HBIA runs free support groups and programing for individuals living with the effects of brain injury at our Clubhouse located at 822 Main Street East in Hamilton. The Clubhouse, which opened in 2013 from 100% fundraised dollars, is a safe-space for survivors to obtain support in a relaxed and non-intrusive social environment. Off-site, HBIA runs two monthly support groups for family members who are supporting or caring for an individual with an acquired brain injury and within the last two years, we brought the Provincial Peer Support program to Hamilton in collaboration with OBIA.
The Clubhouse operates from Monday to Thursday and programming focuses on providing new opportunities for learning and obtaining support. We currently offer daily support groups and weekly clubs for survivors such as: Glee Club, Creators Club, Sign Language Club, Walking Club, Inclusive Game Series, and Group Outings. Together, our Executive Director and Program Facilitator advocate for survivors, run our survivor programming and our Annual Survivors & Family Events: Candlelight Vigil, Summer BBQ, Halloween Social and Holiday Celebration.
In addition to our support groups and programming for survivors and families, HBIA runs a free injury prevention program throughout the academic year (September – June). Bikes, Blades and Boards provides students with important injury prevention and helmet safety education. Our dedicated committee members and volunteers provide a one-hour multi-media presentation to over 1,800 students each year across Hamilton, Halidmand-Norfolk and the Niagara Region.
HBIA staff, committees and board of directors collaborate with community partners and work extremely hard to ensure survivors and family members have access to programming and a safe place in the community to obtain support by running three annual fundraising events: 5K By the Bay, Drive for ABI Charity Golf Tournament and Annual Fundraising Dinner.
While I have shared with you some insight into our organization, our survivors are our greatest ambassadors so I will leave you with a few words from some of the survivors we serve:
“I frequent the HBIA Clubhouse…it is a warm and welcoming place with people who understand the challenges of this, most often, invisible and misunderstood condition…The people within…and ABI friends…continue to help me through some very dark times. In an MVA…my life was changed forever. Still often feeling a victim, they help me work through it all and remind me that I am a survivor. Thank you to so many.” – HBIA participant
“The Clubhouse is a place where we all get together. It gives us time to express ourselves. Whereas at home, there is no communication. When you come here, you can expand your mind. Everyone benefits in a different way. It’s a community, and a social setting in society where we can be together.” – HBIA participant
We would greatly appreciate your support in voting for our association. Best of luck to all nominees; we are grateful to be nominated alongside such amazing community associations.
To learn more about HBIA and our events or programming visit www.hbia.ca.
Sincerely,
Rachel Kleiman
Executive Director