HARRISBURG – To respond to the unique needs of brain injury survivors and their families, Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman announced the creation of the Brain Injury Recovery Task Force and charged it with finding ways to better address the barriers and gaps in services.
“Accident survivors who have suffered brain injuries, as well as their caregivers, have brought to my attention their unique needs as the result of their mishaps,” said Richman. “While supportive programs exist, survivors are often faced with a recovery process that can last a lifetime. To help support them, we need to raise awareness about the problems associated with brain injuries and to identify more resources to aid in the care of those who have suffered them.”
Through their combined expertise, task force members will identify solutions and provide recommendations to Richman.
It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans annually sustain a traumatic brain injury. Task force members have spoken passionately about how their lives have been affected by their injury and what they hope can be achieved through their efforts on the task force.
“My brain may be different than it was before my accident but it is still strong, still useful, still me,” said Madelaine Sayko, a brain injury survivor and task force participant. “What I want from the state is to help me become all of me again.”
In the near future, information about the task force will be available at here. To become involved with the task force’s work, contact the Department of Public Welfare at 717-346-4481.