[Notes: This began as a comment to BooMan’s answer to my question re: Brain Injury as an action item. (I am including my own views that are shared by other brain injury survivors with brief explanantions.) Also, I’m attempting to go straight to the point instead of throwing around the feel-good human service buzzwords that used, but never applied. However, I may use unfamiliar terms (out of habit as I briefly worked in the social service system.) Feel free to ask for any clarification.]
I am not the only traumatic brain injury (tbi) survivor with the following opinion: this “priortizing” the diagnosis and treatment of veterans w/tbi over civilians w/tbi has GOT to stop. Plain and simple, tbi’s do NOT differentiate between veterans and civilians w/respect to rehabilitation. The effects and the necessary treatments are the same. That is why the “Wait till 2008.” mantra is bullshit.
First and most importantly, more funding for research is NOT what is needed, as the research has already been done and is gathering dust.
facts and experiences listed below
FACT ONE: In 1994, I believe it was, I assisted in the writing/development of a case management practice that is just beginning to be used. (Only took a few months to write.) If anyone can explain the logic of a 11-12 year delay, go for it.
FACT TWO: There are a lot supposed “professionals” who don’t know a damn thing about tbi and pass around incorrect info as the gospel truth. I (and other tbi survivors) have run into a few.
FACT THREE: A diary in orange listed some of the mental health symptoms that returning vets are having, and there are many similar symptoms between a mild/moderate tbi and a mental health diagnosis, but the treatment is different. That tells me that it is probable that there is a serious possibility of undiagnosed tbi’s in returning vets. (From what I have heard from other tbi survivors, if a tbi survivor sees a LLP, a misdiagnosis is almost a certainty.)
FACT FOUR: TBI survivors (and others with disabilities) are treated as if they are stupid, and are told what they need, rarely, if ever asked. Example: an employment situation when the subject of reasonable accomodations is discussed (which has happenned to me). It has almost been like I have been set up to fail. Why not ask and take the opinion of a tbi survivor seriously, as opposed to a token gesture?
WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED BUT HAS NO CHANCE IN HELL OF HAPPENNING? An increase in funding for the training of professionals who are knowledgeable about both medical and vocational rehabilitation for tbi survivors. Specifically, more md’s, neuropsychs, occupational, physical therapits, speech and lanugage pathologists, csw’s, lpc’s, etc. that specialize in traumatic brain injury and keep up to date on the newest treatments, and most importantly, diagnosis. But, the time element and funding required for that to actually become a reality are impractical for a tbi survivor, w/o extending the “Wait until 2008.” mantra by a few more years.
WHAT IS NEEDED THAT HAS A SLIM CHANCE OF HAPPENNING? People who know how to do case management, as that is the most overlooked, yet most important part of any social service system, public or private. A semi-competent case manager can understand medical records, the regulations for the agency that he/she works for, and has an idea of the regs for other agencies. A GOOD case manager knows that and about assitive technology, reasonable accomodations, the ADA, IDEA, the Rehab Act, TBI Act, subsequent amendments to all, any state legislation that may apply, tries to be on top of all fed, state, or state fed regs and changes to them. In addition to the above, a VERY GOOD case manager is familiar with funders, pending changes, knows the ways to work around them, and finds out the answer to a question that he/she is asked and doesn’t know. Speaking bureaucratese helps big-time.
Unfortunately, most good (or better) caseworkers/case managers left the agency they were with due to political bullshit, or budget cuts. The majority of those who remain contantly complain about how their caseload is too big, and have absolutely no idea of what their job really is. Is it really necessary to call the Governor’s Office on Constituent Affairs so a worker will actually return a phone call or fill out a form that should have been completed weeks ago?
What’s worse is that the majority of the clients know more about the way things are supposed to be done than the workers. From my experiences (and that of others), most workers are just hanging on long enough to pick up a pension or for the UAW BC/BS that they have. (Your tax dollars at work.)
WHAT WOULD BE A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION? Get rid of all of those just hanging on and hire the clients to take their place. (I am also not the only one who feels that way.) Assuming there are any good ones left, they know who is screwing off and who knows their stuff.
My “mild” tbi happenned in 1991 in a work related accident. (I HATE that word!) I was originally denied treatment/tbi rehabilitation (which I have since found out is the norm). I currently have yet another battle going on with a public vocational rehabilitation agency. I am presently appealing incorrect, bullshit decisions. (This nonsense started in April of last year!) I am not the only tbi survivor who has had battles with agencies. Most give up.
After a year of appeals in this specific instance (there were more in other situations) and having repeatedly heard “I don’t know.”, “That’s not my job.”, or “Call this number/go online.”, I can understand why.
