Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me A simple solution Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury A simple solution Now if I need it, I have my card Watch the story Dom Hurley had dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete when he came off a moped in Cyprus in 1994. The 21-year-old sustained a brain injury in the crash and was left with slurred speech, walking difficulties and memory problems. Since then he has been arrested three times for being drunk and disorderly, when police mistook the effects of his brain injury for drunken behaviour. He said: "Once I was in a taxi with my cousin when the taxi driver suddenly stopped and told us to get out. When I didn't, I was arrested by the police. "Another time I was knocked down by someone in the pub so I went out for some fresh air. I leant against a lamp post but people thought I was going to the toilet because of the way my right arm is." The third time Dom found himself in a prison cell he was released when officers searched his wallet and found his Brain Injury ID Card, listing the effects of his brain injury. Now Dom hopes Headway's personalised ID cards will help more brain injury survivors when they find themselves misunderstood by others. He said: "I wish it existed when I was young and went out. "I used to wish I could walk around with a badge around my neck to say 'I'm not drunk.'" "But now if I need it, I have my card. "When I got the card it didn't matter how I walked. I didn't have to pretend I wasn't limping to get into the pub. I could be my normal self. Our 'A simple solution' video was put together with kind support from Wahid Khaliq and Royal Cabs, a Nottingham taxi firm and specialist in transportation for wheelchair users. Back to stories index Brain Injury Identity Card Our Brain Injury Identity Card provides survivors with added confidence in social situations, while helping them to get the right support if they come into contact with the criminal justice system. Find out more Effects of brain injury Find out about some of the main difficulties that arise after brain injury, together with some suggestions as to how to deal with them. Find out more In your area Find brain injury support in your area by searching our directory of local Headway groups and branches, specialist solicitors, approved care providers and charity shops. Find out more Friends of Headway Individual membership Join/Renew Contact Us t: 0115 924 0800 e: enquiries@headway.org.uk Help us improve life after brain injury. Donate Improving life after brain injury 0808 800 2244 Call our free helpline 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or email helpline@headway.org.uk Join our online Community 27k Likes 25k Followers 3k Subscribers Privacy policy Cookies Terms & Conditions Accessibility Contact Us Resource centre Find a Headway Approved care providers Charity shops Fundraising comments, feedback and complaints Vacancies Join our mailing list Headway - the brain injury association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity no. 1025852) and the Office of the Scottish Regulator (Charity no. SC 039992). Headway is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 2346893. © Copyright Headway 2021 - Site designed and developed by MEDIAmaker By clicking 'Accept All Cookies’ you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. This will help us to offer the best possible experience and develop more of the information you need. Accept All Cookies Cookies Settings