Brain Injury Association's 23rd Annual Conference

"Self-Knowledge, Self-Determination

and Community Supports"

October 14-15, 2004

Columbus Airport Marriott Hotel

Keynote Presenters:

October 14th:  Kara Swanson, author of  I'll Carry the Fork!

Ms. Swanson's presentation, "I'll Carry The Fork! Coping With and Understanding Life After Brain Injury," will speak, in terms helpful to both audiences, first to the TBI survivor.  She will voice and validate their triumphs and frustrations in facing their injury, their potential for rehabilitation, their medical team, their legal team, their family and friends, and themselves.

She will then speak to the professionals in the audience.  Out of admiration and respect, she will illustrate ideas for better understanding the people in their care.

Ms. Swanson uses a great deal of humor and candor in her presentation and this truly helps the information hit the mark directly.

October 15th:  Derrick Dufresne, President of Community Resource Associates (CRA), will speak on self-determination.  As president and founder of CRA, Mr. Dufresne has provided training and consultation to more than twenty thousand people in forty-eight states since 1982.  He is deeply committed to assisting providers, advocates, state officials and others in the implementation of the principles of full inclusion for all persons with disabilities into the mainstream of community life.

Mr. Dufresne's presentation, "I Am Smart - Understanding Learning Styles To Minimize the Focus on Disability," will highlight the importance of learning styles - not disability.  The current focus on disability limits potential and hinders understanding of how a person best learns.

Mr. Dufresne will focus on various learning styles and how to adapt environments, information and people to assist in maximizing human potential.

Return to the conference information page.