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December 2025
Save The Dates
2026 Conference Lancaster Marriott Monday, June 22 & Tuesday, June 23, 2026
ReDiscover U Canvas Painting Classes Dates & Locations to be Announced Soon!
Helmets for the Holidays: It's Not Too Late to Give the Gift of Prevention!
Brain injury prevention is a core focus of BIAPA's mission. A gift to Helmets for the Holidays: Give the Gift of Prevention will support BIAPA’s work to prevent brain injuries and to support individuals and families who have experienced brain injury.This includes:
Brain Safety Fairs with free bicycle helmet fittings
Educational programs about the brain and the impact of brain injury
Brain Injury Resource Line, which offers information about resources that may be of help to people with brain injury or their family.
A Meaningful Holiday Gift If you’d like to make a gift in honor of a friend, family member or colleague, please note that information on our secure donation form, and we'll send our Helmets for the Holidays bicycling snowman card with a message about your gift to the person you've honored.
Business Gift Program If you’re a business and would like to make a gift in honor of clients or colleagues, please email us at admin@biapa.org or call 833-242-7248. We’ll make it easy for you to manage your holiday gift-giving and to support BIAPA.
Send us a list of your honorees, and we’ll send our Helmets for the Holidays bicycling snowman card with a message that you’ve recognized them with a gift to BIAPA.
BIAPA Welcomes Penn Medicine Rehabilitation As a Brain Injury Ambassador Outreach Partner!
BIAPA is pleased to welcomePenn Medicine Rehabilitation in Philadelphia as an Ambassador Outreach partner!
We are so pleased to be able to offer the services of our trained volunteer ambassadors to persons with brain injury and their families in this facility. Our Ambassador volunteers, who all have lived experience with brain injury, offer an important personalized connection for families who have loved ones receiving inpatient brain injury rehabilitation. Ambassadors make this connection through a one-time phone conversation during which they deliver the message of hope and help, and provide an overview of some resources that might be useful in the future. A packet of educational information and resource materials are sent to the families after the call. We are hoping to work with all inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the Commonwealth and welcome inquiries about Brain Injury Ambassador Outreach. For more information, contact BIAPA Programs Coordinator Meghan Walsh-Farrell at walsh-farrell@biapa.org
Ambassador Volunteer Opportunity!
BIAPA is seeking volunteers for our Ambassador Outreach Program. This program supports individuals with brain injury and their families during the acute phase of recovery by offering a one-time phone call while they are in inpatient rehabilitation. This outreach helps families know they are not alone and that hope, resources, and support are available after brain injury.
Ambassadors receive training and a prepared script to guide conversations and help educate families about brain injury services and supports they may need in the future. Most importantly, ambassadors help establish an ongoing connection by sharing information about the BIAPA Newsletter and the Brain Injury Resource Line (BIRL), so families and caregivers know where to turn for help when they need it.
Please reach out to Meghan Walsh-Farrell with questions or to indicate interest. walsh-farrell@biapa.org
2026 Conference Updates
Call for Posters! Call for Posters for the 2026 Annual Conference is now open! We invite you to share your knowledge, experiences, and innovative work at next year’s conference: “Brain Injury Rehabilitation Across the Lifespan: Achieving Outcomes and Strengthening Community"
Poster presentations are an excellent opportunity to showcase research, clinical practices, program innovations, lived experience projects, or collaborative initiatives that contribute to advancing brain injury rehabilitation, support, and community integration.
Corporate Partner, Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities Join us in making a powerful impact! BIAPA’s mission is to prevent brain injuries and to build an inclusive community grounded in education, advocacy, support, and research, improving the lives of individuals with brain injuries and their families.
By becoming a conference or year-round partner, exhibitor, or sponsor, you’ll not only help advance this mission, but also gain meaningful visibility with a dynamic network of professionals, survivors, families, and organizations across Pennsylvania. It’s an exciting opportunity to elevate your brand while supporting a cause that changes lives! Click HERE for more info.
BIAPA is pleased to share that the ReDiscover U Drum Circle classes were a fantastic success! Participants with brain injuries came together in a warm, supportive space to explore rhythm, connect with others, and experience the calming, expressive benefits of drumming. Each of the four classes fostered relaxation, self-expression, and community—beautifully reflecting the purpose of the ReDiscover U series, offered in partnership with the PA Department of Health.
Join us for our next exciting class series. Details are below!
Canvas Painting Class
We’re excited to announce upcoming canvas painting class series—a relaxing, creative opportunity that is FREE and open to all persons with brain injury.
If you’re interested in joining us, please take a moment to complete a brief survey to let us know your preferred date, time, and location: Survey link:https://forms.gle/o49DXmpxwe8KATmv6
We look forward to creating something colorful together!
We’re excited to announce an upcoming guided canvas painting class—a relaxing, creative opportunity that is FREE and open to all persons with brain injury.
If you’re interested in joining us, please take a moment to complete a brief survey to let us know your preferred date, time, and location:
We look forward to creating something colorful together!
ReDiscover U classes are held on Monday nights at 6 PM ET via Zoom. Use this link to join any of the classes at 6 PM on Mondays
December 29, 2025: Celebration of Our Creativity: Come prepared to share your hidden talents, creative artistry, or something special that brings you joy.
January 5, 2026: SHARE Night!
January 12: Discovering and Implementing: Recreation and Leisure Activities
January 19, 2026: Equine Assisted Services @ GAIT with Executive Director Eva Warner
January 26, 2026: Navigating Grief and Loss
For more information about ReDiscover U, including a description of the classes, CLICK HERE.
To sign up for the ReDiscover U email list, click HERE to fill out a brief registration form.
The BIAPA statewide virtual support group will meet Thursday, January 15 at 5 PM. This tight-knit community consists of survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania! Please use thisZoom Link to access the meeting.
BIAPA's next Caregiver Support Group will be held on Wednesday, January 14 at 6 PM. This monthly, virtual meeting is open to all caregivers. The meetings are an excellent opportunity for caregivers to meet one another, share experiences and discuss topics of unique relevance to their roles. No pre-registration is required! To join this monthly meeting, use this Zoom Link.
To sign up for email alerts for one of BIAPA's virtual groups listed above, follow this link to complete a brief registration form.
A full list of all of Pennsylvania's Brain Injury Support Groups, along with contact information for each, is on the BIAPA website's Support Group Listing Page. We are currently updating this information, and while we have done so for most groups, there are still some that we're trying to reach. If you're aware of groups that are meeting either virtually or in-person and they are not on our listing, or if you have any updated details about a group on the list, please contact Melanie Morrison morrison@biapa.org so that we can let others know about them.
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