About acquired brain injury

Acquired Brain Injury is often called the hidden disability because its long term problems are usually in the areas of thinking and behaviour, and are not as easy to see and recognise as many other physical disabilities.

As a consequence, the difficulties people with brain injuries face are easily ignored or misunderstood. Even family members and friends may regard a person with Acquired Brain Injury who exhibits Cognitive problems or changed behaviour, as lazy or hard to get along with.

The term Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is used to describe all types of brain injury that occur after birth. There is very little understanding or knowledge in the community about brain injury and the impact it has on individuals and families.

Acquired Brain Injury is not to be confused with intellectual disability. People with an Acquired Brain Injury do not necessarily experience a decline in their overall level of general intellectual functioning. Rather, they are more likely to experience specific cognitive changes that lead to difficulty in areas such as memory, concentration and communication.

Acquired brain injury is also not a mental illness. Mental illness is an observable abnormality in the functioning of the brain. Brain injury, although it does alter the functioning of the brain, is an observable abnormality in the structure of the brain – a physical condition that causes a change in function. Mental illness does not, by definition, arise from a physical condition.

*Definition courtesy of Brain Injury Association of Queensland

About BIA

BIA is the national peak acquired brain injury organisation representing, through its State member organisations, the interests and needs of people with acquired brain injury, their families and carers.

BIA (formerly known as Head Injury Council of Australia) was formed at the first national community based conference on acquired brain injury in 1986. (The Federal Government began funding BIA in 1991). BIA represents all people with acquired brain injury whatever the cause.

Literature suggests that most people who experience an acquired brain injury are likely to be within the lower income brackets. Although not always so, societal power structures can mean that their voices are also less likely to be heard. BIA is committed to ensuring that they will be.

Click here to access our various submission papers.

 

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FAHCSIA

The Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has a regular sector update to keep you informed about FaHCSIA disability issues. It replaces the Reform Agenda and the Quality Assurance newsletters and can be forwarded to any other interested readers.

To view disability e-news please go to the link:

E-news Issue 132

In this edition:

News

• Saving changes to Case and Client records
• Returning a Case from Suspension or Exit on FOFMS