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The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance is reaching out to you every way we can! Join our Facebook page and receive updates on current MNBIA events as well as volunteer opportunities and progress on current projects.

Our Twitter feed offers daily updates about brain injury in the news as well as information on educational opportunities and public policy ventures.
Help us connect with you and build a statewide brain injury community!

Upcoming Workshops:

Brain Injury Basics: Adjustment to Brain Injury
Date: July 26
Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Cost: $25 for Professionals; $5 donation appreciated from Consumers.

Brain Injury Basics: Caregiving
Date: August 30
Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Cost: $25 for Professionals; $5 donation appreciated from Consumers.

Location: All classes are held in the Education Center at the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance

To register for a class, please click here or call 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442.

In this issue:
• Walk for Thought Online Registration Now Available
• Disability Matters: Summer Voices 2012
• Take the Pledge
• Case Management Position Opening
• The ADA at Work with You
• Brain Fitness Kits available at Carver County Libraries
• Classified Ad - University of Iowa TBI Study

Walk for Thought Online Registration Now Available
The 11th Annual Walk for Thought will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at Como Park in St. Paul, Canal Park in Duluth, Silver Lake in Rochester, CentraCare Health Plaza in St. Cloud.

Since 2002, thousands of individuals who have experienced brain injury, their loved ones and the professionals who work with them, have come together for one event to celebrate their strength and success, as well as to remember those who were lost to brain injury. Last year, we celebrated the Walk's Tenth Anniversary. Now, eleven isn't always as exciting as ten so we want you to think of this year as "Ten Plus ONE!" And, in honor of this being a plus one year, we want you to bring your own PlusONE to the Walk. We want to recognize all the PlusONEs in attendance that day.

Click here for more information and to start your team now!
Click here to donate online!

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Disability Matters: Summer Voices 2012
The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance in partnership with the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities is holding a series of events this summer to help advocates ensure that their voices will continue be heard.

Please join us at one of these upcoming events to learn all about the 2012 elections and the important issues facing people with disabilities in Minnesota. We'll help you find out more about the people running for office and make sure you have what you need to vote this November. Enjoy refreshments and actually meet some of the candidates.

Rochester - Thursday, July 26 from 12 to 2 p.m.
Rochester Recreation Center, 21 Elton Hills Drive Northwest, Rochester, MN 55901

North Minneapolis - Thursday, August 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Kingsley Commons, 4550 Humboldt Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55412

Click here for a full list of events.

Let Your Voice Be Heard in 2012!

If you have any questions, please contact Anni Simons at 651-604-8080.

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Take the Pledge
To "Keep My Brain in the Game"
Youth athletes take the pledge to sit out until a medical professional says it is OK to play. See their stories on our YouTube page.

Start the journey at SaveThisBrain.org to take the pledge that "If I am hurt, I will sit it out until a medical professional tells me I am ok."

Pass the pledge on to your kids, your team or your friends. Contact Anna to find out other ways you can participate in Keep My Brain in the Game!

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Case Management Position Opening
Primary Duties:
The Case Manager is responsible for monitoring and implementing comprehensive proactive; consumer directed systems of support and advocacy for individuals, including all ages and cultures, which have survived brain injury and their families through implementation of case management for effective community integration. The Case Manager will be responsible to assist the consumer in planning and accessing housing, financial supports and other community services and supports needed to accomplish this goal. Bi-lingual/bi-cultural is a plus. Click here for a full position description.

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The ADA at Work with You
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is federal legislation that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Despite the passage of this important legislation 22 years ago, some people with disabilities still experience discrimination in the workplace. Attend this free event co-sponsored by the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance to learn more about how the ADA protects you if you are working, looking for a job, or have been terminated from your position.

Cindy Tarshish from ADA Minnesota will discuss:
• Disclosure of disability
• Reasonable Accommodations
• Discrimination
• Your rights
• Resources available to you.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota
553 Fairview Ave N., St. Paul, MN
There is no cost to attend this event

Contact: John, Metropolitan Center for Independent Living
Phone: 651-646-8342
Email: johnw@mcil-mn.org
Please let him know if you need any accommodations.
Your information will not be used for any purpose other than to send future event notices.

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Brain Fitness Kits available at Carver County Libraries
Carver County Library System (www.carverlib.org) supports brain fitness and hopes it can serve the brain injury community in the Twin Cities Southwest Metro with its new Brain Fitness Kits, available for checkout at Carver County Libraries. In addition, the Chaska Branch offers an adult storytime every fourth Monday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (July, however, had its meeting on July 16) as an opportunity to socialize. If you have any questions, please contact Angela Hunt, Librarian at 952-448-3886 or e-mail ahunt@co.carver.mn.us.

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Classified Ad - University of Iowa TBI Study
Spouses or partners of TBI survivors are invited to participate in a research study being conducted by investigators from the University of Iowa. The purpose of the study is to better understand the coping strategies and marital satisfaction of committed couples who have remained married or within a committed relationship for at least ten years since their partner or spouse sustained his or her moderate to severe TBI. Approximately 100 people will take part in this study.

If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete several online questionnaires. It will take approximately 25 to 30 minutes to complete the questionnaires. You may skip any questions that you prefer not to answer. After you complete the questionnaires, there will be no additional contact from any member of the research team. You will not be paid for being in this research study.

If you have any questions about the research study itself, please contact JoAnna Argόello, 361 Lindquist Center, Iowa City, IA at 507-319-3134 or joanna-arguello@uiowa.edu.

To access the study, please follow this link to the study Web site. You will be asked to read additional information about the study before beginning the study questionnaires.

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Classified Ad Opportunities
We are pleased to provide an online opportunity for organizations to broadcast their message about job openings, services and more through affordable, convenient advertising. This bi-weekly electronic publication is sent to more than 5,500 professionals, paraprofessionals and persons with brain injury and their families.

The cost to run a classified ad of up to 250 words is $20 for one edition or $30 for two editions. Ads must be submitted in electronic form to receive this rate. Ads submitted in hard copy will be charged an additional $15 administrative fee. To learn more about this affordable, convenient advertising opportunity, please e-mail Phil at philg@braininjurymn.org or call 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442. Advertising is posted at the end of the publication under the heading "Classified Ads."