BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS Brain Injuries Brought To Attention Of Legislators
Reported by: Bethany Simmons
Web Producer: Bethany Simmons
Also Contributing: Kristin Keeling
Reported: Mar. 8, 2013 1:10 PM EST
Updated: Mar. 8, 2013 1:34 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
Several people met with legislators Friday at the state Capitol to discuss the severity of brain injuries.
People from the Center for Excellence in Disabilities said brain injuries are considered a silent epidemic. They said West Virginia is behind compared to other states when it comes to meeting the needs of brain injury survivors.
They talked to legislators about their push for rehabilitation services for those survivors. Even though awareness is increasing, officials said there is still a long way to go.
"That's the only reason I can stand here and coherently talk because I was blessed enough to have good insurance, and for people who don't have that opportunity, brain injury . . . there's almost no coming back if you don't have the opportunity for residential brain injury rehabilitation," said Brad Anderson, a brain injury survivor.
Nearly two million people sustain a brain injury every year in the United States.
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Bethany Simmons
