Internship with BIAMI

Kinship

My work with the Brain Injury Association of Michigan began in the early portion of October, and mainly focused on an aspect of what I thought a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor might want to share or read, being that I have been a survivor for twenty-one years. Once I had brought that to the organization’s attention, they asked me to create an article for the November edition of their survivor newsletter, Peace of Mind. I started the article with a phrase of uncertainty, as a way of letting the reader know where I was at in life at the time of the accident. From there I discussed the day that it happened, wherein I briefly described the events leading up to the incident as well as the various hospitals that I went to. I then went on to discuss the various impairments that came with the injury and how I then overcame them. I concluded the article with a nod to my support group, my friends, and family. After creating the article I was asked to come up with some questions for survivors to answer, in regard to the yearlong fortieth anniversary, with a focus on the month of February, in 2021. The focus of that month then was to have survivors talk about their injuries in a video-like format that was similar to their “Unmasking” video series, a few years back. I was then the list of questions that they used for those segments and was asked to revise and add questions to the list that I felt, as a survivor, should be addressed in the medium. The questions that I came up with mainly focused on the achievements of the individual, as well as what they did to get to that point.

The Support Group

At the start of November, my focus for developing material went towards the Washtenaw county support group. This process began with a voice conference wherein which we discussed ways to increase the attendance of the support group. After attending this meeting I was tasked with coming up with ways to increase virtual attendance. I then spent time researching various activities that could be done via webcam or over the phone. It was through that research that I came up with a variety of activities that included a virtual art session, a discussion on the progress that survivors had made, and a session on learning various coping strategies to deal with stress or other outside influences. After I corresponded with the organization, I was asked to find ways where the organization could reach a broader group of people in the Washtenaw county area with the ages between 25-40. This spectrum then posed a strategy, where I came up with locations that would reach a young and older audience. I was then able to accomplish this by going through various city parks and recreation pages, that in turn included some of their more heavily trafficked locations. I also spent time looking into various social media platforms that had been successful in boosting a group’s presence, in the community that they were serving. I also used my knowledge of the EMU campus and the areas that I knew were heavily trafficked, as a way of reaching out to other survivors looking for help. Here is a list that I was able to compile in heavily trafficked digital medium as well as physical;

Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center
County Farm Park
Milan public library
Wilson Park in Milan
Dexter District Library
Promotion at trade shows
Ann Arbor observer
Ann Arbor News (online)
Instagram TV

Once the locations had been scouted, I was tasked with creating a flyer, and an information sheet on coping with stress for the Washtenaw county support group. I started with the flyer and began with the overall color it and settled on a cool blue and purple. I chose the color blue for the sole reason that it is most commonly referenced as the color of TBI survivors. The purple then added a nice counterbalance that was both calming and inviting. I then spent some time on the phrasing of what was going to be on the flyer. This phrasing was a key element to the structure of the ad being that I did not want to make it come off as condescending. I spent some time looking at various chat boards to see how survivors were discussing their feelings, along with the ways in which they were speaking with their friends and family, in the sense of miscommunication. After creating the wording for the flyer I found images that conveyed a sense of community and a willingness to listen. Below are some of the other phrases that I was able to come up with;

We are here to help you toward the light at the end of the tunnel.
Many survivors suffer in silence so come and let your voice be heard.
Every injury is different but that does not mean you are alone.
There is no other injury like yours, so please come and share your story of persistence and perseverance!
The journey on the road to recovery is one that is long and winding, so come join us to help make that ride a bit smoother.
The experiences that a survivor must go through are things that many have a hard time understanding, but we are here to listen.
Everyone needs an advocate in their corner when the world seems to become more adversative as time moves on.
The mental impact of a TBI on top of college is something that no human should face alone; let us help ease the transition.

Next came the stress management information that resulted in two sections; one based on researched strategies, and the other based on personal experience. I started with the researched strategies wherein which I took to various health websites such as Brain Line and Headway. I then divided the material into three separate categories; Health, boundaries, and counseling. From there I moved to the other side of the material wherein which I came up with a list of personal strategies that I use or had used in the past. This list was one that had a strong focus on a hobby, rather than health-based strategies, due to the fact that it was a perspective that I had not come across on other health-based websites. Below are some of the strategies that I was able to compile in regards to research and my personal experience;

Researched strategies:

Health
- Get enough sleep
- Have a steady diet that includes; protein, fruit, vegetables, and grains.
Boundary’s
- When experiencing a mood swing one can move to a quiet and dimly lit area
- Use the tools at your disposal
  - Post it notes
  - Electronic calendar
Counseling
- Talk with a behavioral psychologist

Personal strategies:

Participate in stuff that I regularly enjoy
- Playing bass guitar
- Writing short stories as well as in a diary
- Playing video games with friends over the internet
Allot time to rest
- This would include times where I would take long walks or sit in solitude away from noise.
  - Walks around various landmarks, hiking trails, and small neighborhoods.

Published “Peace of Mind

Revamped Marketing

Created social media posts for BIAMI Bingo Night
Revamped questions for 2021 BIAMI 40th anniversary

For the BIAMI Bingo posts, I focused on phrases that were witty, and a bit corny as a way of eliciting a sense of fun. Most of my questions were ones that had an emphasis on recovery, and the various accomplishments the survivor may have made whether that be social or medical.

BIAMI Bingo Night: Come and take your “free space” this Friday at 3 P.M, on Zoom, as we kick off the holiday weekend with a day of bingo.
Music Trivia Night: How well do you know music? Don’t miss your chance to test your knowledge Friday November 20^th on Zoom at 3 P.M.
Holiday Movie Trivia Night: Tis the season for coming together, and celebrating some classic holiday films, so join us for a few rounds of trivia on Zoom Friday December 18^th at 3 P.M.

40^th Anniversary Questions

What is the biggest step forward that you have made since sustaining your injury?
What are some of the activities that you engage in or what hobbies have you taken up as a way of coping with the injury?
What has BIAMI provided to you, in the contexts of mental & physical help?
Was there ever a single person that has acted as your number one supporter, in that they would never leave your side if you needed help?
What was a complication you had early on that you overcame, to which you, or others, originally deemed impossible?

Promotional Material

The phrasing and color of the ads are meant to promote a sense of calm and understanding. This is then accomplished through the use of light purple, and a slightly dark shade of blue. I modeled the wording after what I saw posted on various message boards, in relation to the support group flyer. The wording for the stress ad then was something where I deviated from what I had seen in countless others, which prompted the “survivor’s perspective” portion of the article.