Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Samuel Bishop Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Samuel Bishop Having a card has given me a lot more confidence and reassurance. Samuel Bishop, a former plasterer from Plymouth, sustained a brain injury after attempting suicide. The injury left him with a number of problems including difficulties processing information and problems with his short-term memory. He also suffers from slurred speech and is unable to walk properly. These difficulties, which mean Samuel can often get confused and people struggle to understand him, is why he’s supporting a new project being launched by Headway – the brain injury association. The Headway Brain Injury Identity Card is designed to help brain injury survivors explain their condition. It displays the key ways in which the survivor’s brain injury affects them and includes a 24-hour criminal legal assistance number which can be called to request legal advice or representation from solicitors trained in understanding brain injury. The card is part of the wider Justice Project, which aims to raise awareness about brain injury and ensure brain injury survivors are provided with the appropriate support when they come into contact with the criminal justice system – something that sadly isn’t always the case. Samuel said the ID card has helped him in many everyday situations and has boosted his confidence. He said: “Due to my brain injury, I walk a bit different and it can look a bit odd. A lot of people see me and come to a quick conclusion that I’m drunk or on narcotics. I have had a few instances where people treat me differently and I often get funny looks from people. “A recent example of this happened while I was out shopping. The woman in a supermarket behind the till was scrutinising me and looking suspiciously at me. It can be very frustrating. But I just showed her the card and she immediately understood. “Having a card has given me a lot more confidence and reassurance. It has given me proof. I carry it everywhere I go – I’m so happy I have one.” 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 Supporting you From local groups or branches, our Emergency Fund, Brain Injury Identity Card, helpline and much more, find out how Headway can support you after brain injury. 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