Students and instructors from Continuing Education’s ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) program raised $15,000 for the Brain Injury Association of California (BIACAL).

Continuing Education’s ABI team set a high goal this year when they pledged to raise $15,000 for the 5th annual “Walk for Thought” sponsored by BIACAL. The goal was a $3,000 increase over last year’s contribution. As a city, San Diego contributed $57,000—a record high that earned San Diego the number two spot (out of ten cities holding walks this year) in terms of contributions. A portion of the money raised provides local financial support to the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation and Freedom House, a project to build a residential facility for survivors. Money also supports brain injury research and education. More than 700 people participated, including many with close ties to the Continuing Education ABI program.

In June, Heike Kessler-Heiberg, ABI instructor, will be part of a panel on community re-entry for BIACAL’s 3rd annual state-wide conference “Resources & Pathways to Brain Injury Recovery.” BIACAL is crucial in promoting BI-related legislation, such as the ABI Flexible Treatment Choice Act. Current rehabilitation provisions are time and cost-limited, and geared solely toward orthopedic injury, not neurological problems. Brain injury is a life-long catastrophic medical condition. The legislation is written to ensure that everyone who suffers a brain injury is afforded the same specialized treatment options by insurance companies, especially for cognitive retraining.