TBI TARC is supported by contract number 

HHSP233201500119I from the U.S. Administration for 

Community Living, Department of Health and Human 

Services, Washington, D.C. 20201

TBI Tuesdays

Maximizing the Effectiveness of 

Advisory Boards Through Full 

Participation

April 6, 2021
Welcome to Today’s TBI Tuesday Session

Thom Campbell

TBI Team Lead

Thom.Campbell@acl.hhs.gov

2
Webinar Logistics

• Participants will be in listen-only mode during the 

webinar. Please use the chat feature in Zoom to post 

questions and communicate with the hosts. 

• During specific times in the webinar, we will have 

opportunity to respond to questions that have been 

entered into chat.

3
Feedback and Follow-Up

• After the webinar, you can send follow-up questions 

and feedback to tbitarc@hsri.org

(Please note: This email address will not be monitored 

during the webinar.)

• A recording, including a pdf version of the slides, will 

be available on the ACL website (acl.gov)

4
Who’s Here?

“In what role(s) do you self-identify? Select all that apply.”

1. Person with a traumatic brain injury 5. Social worker, counselor, or care 

(TBI) or other disability manager

2. Family member or friend of 6. Researcher / analyst

a person with a TBI or other 7. Service provider organization disability employee

3. Self-advocate / advocate 8. Government employee 

4. Peer-specialist / peer-mentor (federal, state, tribal, or municipal)

5
What we 

will 

cover

Part 1
What we 

will 

cover

Part 2
Meet Our Federal Speaker

Sean Barrett

Team Lead

Office of Independent 

Living Programs, 

Administration for 

Community Living

8
Meet Our ACL State Speakers (slide 1 of 2)

Ashley 

Bridgman

Traumatic Brain Injury 

Program Director

Tennessee 

Department of 

Health

Paula 

Denslow

Brain Links Program 

Director

Tennessee 

Disability Coalition

Amanda 

Acord-Vira

Principal Investigator

WVU Centers for 

Excellence in 

Disabilities TBI 

Service Program

9
Meet Our ACL State Speakers (slide 2 of 2)

Lucy Cordwell

Research Professional

University of Alaska 

Anchorage, Center for 

Human Development

Pam Bryan

Council Member

TN Traumatic Brain 

Injury Advisory 

Council

Rodney Smith

Board Member

WV Traumatic Brain 

Injury Advisory 

Board

10
Meet Our Other Speakers (slide 1 of 2)

Kelly Lang

BI Survivor, Caregiver & 

Former Board Member

TBI Advisory Board 

and Leadership 

Group (TAL-Group)

 

Carole Starr

TBI Survivor, Speaker, 

Author, Advocate

TAL-Group

11
Meet Our Other Speakers (slide 2 of 2)

Teresa Moore

Self-Advocacy Leader

Self Advocates Becoming 

Empowered (SABE) & the 

Self Advocacy Resource 

and Technical Assistance 

Center (SARTAC)

Martin 

Kerrigan

BI Survivor, Teacher, 

Board Member

TAL Group

12
CONSUMER 

ENGAGEMENT 

IN 

INDEPENDENT 

LIVING 

PROGRAMS
Office of Independent Living Programs 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
What Is Independent Living? 

Philosophy

Culture

Federal Programs

15
Independent Living: A Culture 

Shared identity shaped by: 

• A common history of oppression;

• The lived commitment to advancing the human and civil rights 

of people with significant disabilities; 

• The art, music, literature, and other expressions that 

individuals with significant disabilities create based on their 

lives and culture; and 

• The pride, identity and purpose claimed by people with 

disabilities.*

*Adapted from Steve Brown, PhD, What is Disability Culture? 

Institute on Disability Culture, 2001. 

16
Independent Living: The Programs

• Independent Living Services (ILS)

Funding to States for the purpose of supporting and expanding 

the independent living network in a state (56 awards)

• Centers for Independent Living (CILs)

Funding to community-based organizations for the purpose of 

providing independent living services to individuals with 

significant disabilities (352 awards)

• Training and Technical Assistance Centers

Funding to provide training and technical assistance to CILs, 

State Independent Living Councils (SILCs) and other eligible 

entities (2 awards)

• Section 21

Funding to address traditionally underserved populations

(3 awards)

17
IL Programs and Philosophy

Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act

Purpose:

...To promote a philosophy of independent living, 

including consumer control, peer support, self-help, 

self-determination, equal access, and individual and 

system advocacy, in order to maximize the leadership, 

empowerment, independence, and productivity of 

individuals with disabilities, and the integration and 

full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the 

mainstream of American society

18
Independent Living Programs 

Historical Milestones

• 1972 The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is 

founded in Berkeley, California

• 1973 The Rehabilitation Act passes

• 1978 Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act established 

federal funding for independent living

• 1979 First 10 states receive Title VII funding

• 1992 Rehab Act restructured: Creates CIL 

Program, SILCs established

• 2014 The Workforce Innovation and 

Opportunity Act (WIOA) enacted

19
Independent Living

The philosophy + the culture + the programs = 

INDEPENDENT LIVING

20
Centers for Independent Living (CILs)

Consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, 

nonresidential, private nonprofit agency for individuals with 

significant disabilities (regardless of age or income) 

[45 CFR1329.4]

• Majority of Board must be persons with significant disabilities

• Majority of staff, and people in decision-making positions must be 

individuals with disabilities [Sec. 725]

• People with disabilities are always considered the primary person 

being served, not family members

21
Independent Living Core Services

CILs MUST provide:

“independent living core services” 

(A) information and referral services; 

(B) independent living skills training; 

(C) peer counseling (including cross-disability peer counseling); 

(D) individual and systems advocacy; and 

(E) Services that facilitate the transition from institutions to 

community living, diversion from institutions to community living, 

and transition of youth from secondary education to postsecondary life

(The Rehab Act, as amended, §7(17))

22
The National Picture: 

Serving a Diverse Population

Who received services?

• 55% female 

• 48% identifying as a minority 

• 43% 25–59 years old 

• 39% 60 years old or over 

23
Leadership

Who leads these programs?

• 76% of board members and 64% of staff 

had a significant disability

24
Services and Goals (slide 1 of 2)

CILs work with each consumer to set 

independent living goals. Consumers often 

come to CILs looking for a specific service or 

services. CILs guide the discussion from the 

specific service(s) to what the consumer wants 

to accomplish by having that service. The 

consumer establishes a goal based on the 

discussion and the CIL and consumer 

determine the services that will help the 

consumer reach the goal(s). 

25
Services and Goals (slide 2 of 2)

Services Provided:

• 837,623 Core Services provided

• 379,347 other services 

• 72,708 goals met!

26
Resources

• CIL Annual Report: 

acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2020-

11/PY19CILReport508%20FINAL_0.pdf

• CIL page at ACL.gov:

acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disabilitynetworks/centers-independent-living

27
QUESTIONS: 

CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT IN INDEPENDENT 

LIVING PROGRAMS

“ TBI Act

The TBI Act stipulates that state programs establish 

an advisory board to: 

‘...advise and make recommendations to the State 

on ways to improve services coordination regarding 

TBI. Such advisory boards shall encourage citizen 

participation through the establishment of public 

hearings and other types of community outreach 

programs. In developing recommendations under 

this paragraph, such boards shall consult with 

Federal, State, and local governmental agencies 

and with citizens groups and other private entities.’

30
Sustainable Partnership Workgroup

• Participating States:

• Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, 

Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, 

Minnesota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, 

Virginia, West Virginia

• Purpose: to develop a product that 

would be useful to states developing or 

enhancing their TBI Boards

• Products:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Advisory Board 

Toolkit

• Full Participation Guidelines 

31
Advisory Board & Engaging Persons with 

Brain Injury Work Group: Product Highlights 

32
Toolkit Goals

• Assist states on how to structure an advisory board

• Provide infrastructure for creating systems that benefit 

individuals with brain injury and families

• Best Practices for fully engaging all advisory board members

• Guide activities and oversee grant efforts

• Applicable for legislatively/governor appointed and community 

organized boards

• Applicable for states just starting an advisory board as well as 

resources for states who need assistance with full 

engagement

33
Toolkit Table of Contents

1. Board Member Job Descriptions

2. Creating By-Laws

3. Mission Statement

4. Agenda Templates

5. Language within Government

6. Recruitment Techniques

7. Tips and Tricks

8. Example Board Composition

9. Important Partners

10. Simplified Robert’s Rules of Order

11. Orientation Plan for New Board 

Members

12. Meeting Federal Recommendations 

and Requirements

13. Funding Resources

14. Full Participation Guidelines 

34
Mission Statement

• Defines a mission statement in detail

• Defines the difference between a mission statement 

and vision statement

• Describes the elements of a mission statement

• Provides sample mission statements

• State TBI Advisory Board

• Brain Injury Organization

• Additional Corporate and 

Nonprofit

35
Recruitment Techniques 

• Finding the right people to serve on the Advisory Board

• Requires a process—soliciting nominations

• Identification and recruiting potential members:

• Identifying skills and experience needed to 

accomplish board’s goals

• Develop a vetting mechanism

• Assure diverse cultural representation

• Consider bylaws if applicable

• Develop a nomination form 

and recruit for openings

36
Orientation Plan for New Board 

Members

• Best Promising Practices:

• New member’s learning and 

accommodation needs for inclusion

• Current members introductions

• New member interest and strengths 

discovery

• Informing the new member on 

infrastructure and partnerships

• The state’s brain injury service network

• Operations of the committee/board

• Forming expectations with the new 

member

• Closing with free-flowing conversation

• Follow up with the new member

• Examples: Structure Sample and 

Needs Survey

• Known Gaps

37
Important Partners

• Important to have people with brain injury as board 

members

• Should be engaged in and lead the decision-making 

processes about their services and supports

• Should comprise 50% representation on board

• Identifying partners that represent critical issues for 

your state 

• Serve as a subject matter expert

• Attend meetings

• Participate on speaker’s bureau 

and support or testify on behalf 

of legislative initiatives 

38
Full Participation Guidelines

• Original Full Participation Guide was created in 2008, 

revised 2020

• Intended as a guide for best practices and can be used 

readily and frequently by grantees and partners across 

all states and settings (virtually & in-person activities)

• Federal TBI Program provided full support in staff time 

setting an environment that embraced open discussions 

from stakeholder

39
Building a Solid Foundation for Full and 

Meaningful Participation

• Create an environment and work toward applying practices conducive to achieving the 

goal of full participation

• Individuals with TBI and family members are equal partners in TBI program activities and 

can collaborate, share responsibilities, and guide decisions

• Focus on emphasizing respect, individuality, and equality across all activities

• Recognize the inherent knowledge, experience, and expertise of individuals with TBI and 

family members by promoting their participation in leadership roles 

• Utilize a checklist – great practice for any activities

Full Participation directly supports the development of 

advisory boards, meeting agendas and successful events

Use it everywhere!

40
Self-Advocacy 

• What is self-advocacy

• Goals of self-advocacy

• What do self-advocates do

• Speak up • Ask for support/help • Get involved

• Advocating for your rights • Know what you need and want • Be able to explain the need • Ways to advocate for yourself • Legislation – contact your 

representatives

• Voting • Participation in advisory boards 

41
Lived Experience on an Advisory Board

Rodney Smith

Board Member

WV Traumatic Brain 

Injury Board

Pam Bryan

Board Member

TN TBI Advisory 

Board

42
Evaluation 

• Located at the end of each component of the toolkit

• Allows toolkit users to provide feedback

• Feedback will be used to edit and revise as the toolkit 

may change over time and updates will be needed to 

address those changes

• Survey Link: 

uaa.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0PdnlQFiq8CZ77L

43
Brain Injury Advisory Board Toolkit survey

1) State: _____________ 2) Region: ____________

3) What date was your Brain Injury Advisory Board first created?

4) Who developed your Brain Injury Advisory Board? (e.g., the state lead agency)

5) The Advisory Board is: Voluntary Mandated

6) Which section(s) of the Toolkit have you used and wish to leave feedback on?

7)

8) What was most helpful about the Bylaws section?

9) Was anything missing from the Bylaws section that would have been helpful?
QUESTIONS: 

WORKGROUP ACTIVITIES & PRODUCTS
Facilitated Discussion About Product: 

TBI Advisory Board Toolkit

46
QUESTIONS: 

TBI ADVISORY BOARD TOOLKIT
BREAK

Up Next: • Board Readiness for People with Brain 

Injury • Read

y,On Board! (...Or Committee,

Council, orTaskforce)

• Read

y,On Board! Resources for

Continuing Your Leadership Path

• Discussion 

48
BOARD 

READINESS 

FOR PEOPLE 

WITH BRAIN 

INJURY 
READY, ON BOARD!

(...OR COMMITTEE,

COUNCIL, OR

TASKFORCE)
Emotional Prep for Brain 

Injury Survivors

Kelly Lang & Carole Starr

• Believe that we belong in the room: We’re equal, not less than

• Know & acknowledge our injury

• Be prepared if brain injury grief surfaces

• Plan for the introduction—which part of our story is most 

relevant to share?

• Find our niche—know our strengths

• Identify support system—who to talk to if overwhelmed

• Know when, how and who to ask for accommodations when 

symptoms arise

51
Practical Prep for 

Brain Injury Survivors

Kelly Lang & Carole Starr

• Put all meeting dates in calendar

• Copy contact info for board members into phone/computer

• Create a “group” to make it possible to email all board

members with one click

• Blind cc all emails to self

• Create folder on computer/desk for all board-related

materials

• Read agenda/handouts ahead of time

52
READY, ON BOARD! 

RESOURCES FOR 

CONTINUING YOUR 

LEADERSHIP PATH
www.selfadvocacyinfo.org

www.sabeusa.org

54
A tool to help your group be more 

culturally competent

selfadvocacyinfo.org/wpcontent/uploads/2021/03/A-Toolto-Help-Your-Group-Be-MoreCulturally-Competent-final.pdf

Adapted by Green Mountain SelfAdvocates gmsavt.org/

National Center for Cultural 

Competence at Georgetown 

University

55
Listen to leaders of all ages to strengthen 

your work with plain language 

Self-Advocacy and Beyond: 

Interviews with Leaders of the 

Self-Advocacy Movement

selfadvocacyinfo.org/

resources-about/leadership/

Importance of 

Plain Language

selfadvocacyinfo.org/

resource/plain-language/

56
Hints to your success are hidden in general 

information 

selfadvocacyinfo.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/11/Alliance-SelfAdvocacy-Leadership-Manual.pdf

57
TED Talks

How do you define yourself?

ted.com/talks/lizzie_velasquez_how_do

_you_define_yourself

ted.com/talks/jessica_mccabe_this_is_

what_it_s_really_like_to_live_with_adhd

_jan_2017?language=en

Lizzie Velasquez

Jessica McCabe

58
QUESTIONS: BOARD READINESS FOR 

PEOPLE WITH BRAIN INJURY 
Real-Time Evaluation Questions 

• Please take a moment to respond to these seven evaluation 

questions to help us deliver high-quality TBI TARC webinars

• If you have suggestions on how we might improve TBI TARC 

webinars, or if you have ideas or requests for future webinar topics, 

please send us a note at TBITARC@hsri.org

60
The Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance and Resources Center (TBI TARC) is 

an initiative from the Administration for Community Living that helps TBI State 

Partnership Program grantees promote access to integrated, coordinated services 

and supports for people who have sustained a TBI, their families, and their 

caregivers. The Center also provides a variety of resources to non-grantee states, 

people affected by brain injury, policymakers, and providers.

Thank You
MEET THE PRESENTERS
Sean Barrett

Team Lead

Office of Independent Living Programs 

Administration for Community Living 

Sean.Barrett@acl.hhs.gov 

Sean Barrett is the Team Lead for the Office of Independent Living Programs within the 

Administration for Community Living at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

In this position Mr. Barrett coordinates management of 408 federal grants to communitybased organizations and states/territories across the country. Previous to this position he 

was a Fiscal Specialist for the Rehabilitation Services Administration and a Program Officer 

in the Independent Living Unit. Before coming to the federal government in 2006, Mr. Barrett 

worked as a director of a Center for Independent Living in Everett, WA. He earned his MSW 

degree with a concentration in administration from the University of Washington.

63
Ashley Bridgman

Program Director

Tennessee Department of Health

Ashley.N.Bridgman@tn.gov

Ashley Bridgman, MS, NPAS, SRAS, is the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program Director at the 

Tennessee Department of Health. Ashley works closely with vendors around the state that provide 

home and community-based services for persons with brain injuries. She oversees all TBI 

program activities including the TBI registry, service coordination, TBI Advisory Council and return 

to learn/return to play activities. In addition, she monitors contracts and provides technical 

assistance to vendors across the state.

Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Western Kentucky University. She 

has also obtained her master’s in kinesiology and health promotion with a specialty in exercise 

physiology at the University of Kentucky. She is currently completing her master’s in public health 

at East Tennessee State University and is a 2020-2021 long-term trainee with the Vanderbilt 

Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Program.

64
Paula Denslow

Program Director

Tennessee Disability Coalition

paula_d@tndisability.org

Paula Denslow is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) and has been with the Tennessee 

Disability Coalition since 2003 as the director of two federal grant-funded programs, one under the 

Health Resources and Services Administration and the current one through ACL’s Traumatic Brain 

Injury State Partnership Program. Paula is a member of the National Collaborative on Children’s 

Brain Injury and the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators and currently serves on 

the Board for the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee.

Paula began her brain injury journey in 1996, when her oldest son sustained a brain injury at the age 

of 14. Six years later, her youngest son’s injury occurred due to a motor vehicle collision. These 

injuries were the beginning of a lifelong family journey. As a parent of three and “Grammy” of four, 

Paula strives to raise awareness of the potential short- and long-term impacts navigated by people 

living with brain injury, their families and those who play a supportive role. She brings both personal 

and professional experiences to her role. 65
Amanda Acord-Vira

Principal Investigator

WVU Centers for Excellence in Disabilities 

TBI Service Program

amanda.acordvira1@hsc.wvu.edu 

Amanda Acord-Vira, OTR/L, EdD, received her MOT degree in occupational therapy and Ed.D. 

in educational psychology from West Virginia University. She also obtained her graduate 

certificate in special education and traumatic brain injury from George Washington University. Her 

experience includes over 15 years working with individuals following acquired and traumatic brain 

injury through clinical practice, research, and education. She is currently an associate professor in 

the Division of Occupational Therapy at West Virginia University. Her research interests include 

return to community participation, work, school, and functional activity following brain injury. She 

has held several leadership positions throughout her career, including being the OT manager at 

an inpatient rehabilitation facility, the quarterly editor for an OT work and industry publication, and 

serving as the chair and vice chair for several committees.

66
Lucy Cordwell

Research Professional

UAA Center for Human Development, Alaska

lucy@alaskachd.org 

Lucy Cordwell, BSc, is a research professional at the UAA Center for Human 

Development. She works on a number of projects including the Brain Injury State 

Partnership program, Disability Abuse Response Teams, the Friendships and Dating 

Program, and ECHO training research. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and 

moved from England to Alaska in 2019. She is passionate about raising awareness of 

brain injury and working with underserved populations.

67
Pam Bryan

Council Member

TN Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council

pj_bryan2003@yahoo.com

Pam Bryan has been the caregiver for her son, John, for 25 years. He was in 

a car crash and sustained a severe brain injury, spinal cord injury and severe 

abdominal injuries. She has served on the Brain Injury Association of TN's 

Board of Directors and became the Executive Director until 2014. She served 

on the committee to plan the Ft. Campbell's Caregiver Awareness month 

activities and has served on many national and state advisory boards. This 

includes currently serving on the TN's TBI Program's Advisory Council.

68
Rodney Smith

Board Member

WV Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board

srodney26164@gmail.com

Rodney Smith is a survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury. He was born in 1956 in 

Charleston, WV. He graduated from Ripley, WV High School in 1975. Rodney is 

married with three children and four grandchildren. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer information 

systems. Rodney retired from the US Army after 25 years.

His TBI was caused when a pickup truck failed to see him and crossed the road in front of his 

motorcycle. Rodney hit the truck and was thrown from the bike into the windshield headfirst. He then 

somehow flipped over the cab and landed in the bed of the truck. Rodney never hit the ground. 

Following the accident, he was taken by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital where they patched his 

physical wounds and sent him home. After two and a half frustrating months, Rodney was referred to 

Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where his real recovery and rehab started.

Rodney moved back home to West Virginia in 2014 to help his wife take care of her aging parents. He 

got involved with the Brain Injury program there with the hope that he could help people with TBI, and 

their families, have better lives and avoid the frustrations that they went through when trying to find help 

for this misunderstood condition. 69
Kelly Lang

Survivor, Caregiver and Former Board Member

TBI Advisory Board and Leadership Group 

(TAL-Group)

kellylang807@gmail.com 

Kelly Lang is both a brain injury survivor and caregiver to her daughter who sustained a traumatic 

brain injury in 2001 at the age of 3. Kelly’s injury was diagnosed a few months later. Kelly’s 

advocacy career began once her daughter arrived in the acute care setting and has continued for 

the past 19 years. She serves on numerous boards and advisory councils and has spoken to brain 

injury support groups and other professionals regarding her family’s experience with brain injury, 

including the successes and difficulties accessing services. Kelly and her husband, Michael 

maintain a website, themiraclechild.org, which provides information and resources for other 

families. Kelly is a faculty member for the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered 

Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) Brain Injury Learning Collaborative, a member of the NCAPPS 

Person-Centered Advisory and Leadership Group (PAL-Group), and a member of the TBI Advisory 

and Leadership Group (TAL-Group).

70
Carole Starr 

TBI Survivor, Speaker, Author, Advocate

TBI Advisory Board and Leadership Group 

(TAL-Group)

carole@starrspeakerauthor.com 

Carole Starr, MS, has been living with brain injury since 1999, when she was 

broadsided on the driver’s side by a vehicle going 50 mph. The ongoing symptoms left 

Carole unable to return to her life as a teacher and classical musician. One small step 

at a time, she’s reinvented herself. Carole is now a national keynote speaker, the 

author of the award-winning book To Root & To Rise: Accepting Brain Injury, and the 

founder/facilitator of Brain Injury Voices, a survivor volunteer group in Maine. She is a 

faculty member for NCAPPS Brain Injury Learning Collaborative and the TAL-Group. 

Carole is passionate about using her brain injury experience to make a difference for 

others.

71
Teresa Moore 

Self-Advocacy Leader

Self Advocate Becoming Empowered (SABE) and the 

Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center 

(SARTAC)

teresamoore@sabeusa.org 

Teresa Moore has over 25 years of experience working with individuals with 

developmental disabilities. Teresa has a certificate in nonprofit management 

from Arizona State University. She has been self-employed for 20 years with 

Moore Advocacy Consulting on State and Federal Grants. She is the Project 

Director for Self Advocates Becoming Empowered’s Self Advocacy Resource 

and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) and SABE GoVoter Project. 

“I can’t wait to see what self advocates have in store for our future.”

72
Martin Kerrigan 

BI Survivor, Teacher, Board Member

TBI Advisory Board and Leadership Group 

(TAL-Group)

martin.kerrigan@maryland.gov

Martin Kerrigan, M.A. Ed.S. is a special education teacher in the Montgomery County Public School 

system. He is also a consultant to the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration’s Federal Traumatic 

Brain Injury Partner Grant. Martin’s educational background includes both a master’s of arts and an 

educational specialist degree from George Washington University in Transitional Special Education 

with an emphasis in Acquired Brain Injury. He has been advocating for individuals impacted by brain 

injury for over 20 years. Martin has worked with individuals living with brain injuries in different 

capacities including providing individual support services and jobs development/coaching.

Martin serves on the Maryland Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board and he is active in the Brain Injury 

Association of Maryland. He has presented at local, regional, and national conferences and his areas 

of focus and research are working with students with brain injuries as well as substance abuse/misuse 

in individuals with brain injuries. Martin also co-facilitates a weekly support group for individuals with 

brain injury and substance use disorder. 73