News  The Brain Injury Council

The Brain Injury Council was established in August of 2021, consisting of individuals with lived experience of brain injuries, family members, and stakeholders. The development of the council was made possible through the efforts and partnership of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA).  

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) is committed to engaging and elevating the voices and experiences of individuals with disabilities to ensure they are provided with an equal opportunity to access the services and supports they want and need to live the lives they choose. To help achieve that goal, MRC actively partners with people with lived experience of disabilities in various forums to ensure diverse voices guide all decision making across the Agency.  

The purpose of the Brain Injury Council is: 

• To provide ongoing feedback and thought leadership regarding the brain injury strategic plan, which is a blueprint for how services should be prioritized, developed, designed, and implemented for brain injury survivors and families. 
• To ensure survivor and family voice guides the way the state thinks about, develops, and delivers supports and services.
• To provide a space for survivors, family, and community partners to forge relationships and collaboratively guide this work. 
   

The work of the council is guided by the council’s mission and vision.

Brain Injury Council Mission: To provide a voice for survivors of brain injury, family members and community partners to ensure policies and initiatives reflect the needs of the diverse brain injury population in the Commonwealth. The Brain Injury Council aims to review, reflect, and advise on the needs and desires of brain injury survivors and caregivers in MA to develop a statewide Brain Injury Plan throughout the Commonwealth. 

Brain Injury Council Vision: The Brain Injury Council will infuse services and supports across the Commonwealth with the expertise and voices of survivors, caregivers, providers, and advocates to ensure services address the vastly diverse needs of the brain injury community and do so with compassion, clarity, and individual voice at the forefront.