editor in chief’s message
Ronald Savage, EdD
4
BRAIN INJURY PROFESSIONAL
Friendships. Relationships. Love. Intimacy. Sex. This list could go on for several pages when we think about the numerous and complex issues facing people with brain injuries, as well as their family and friends, when we discuss sexuality. While professionals need to focus upon important rehabilitation services and long term supports for individuals with brain injuries, the critical issues of “life” are sometimes left out of our treatment services due to funding and/or knowledge base. Dr. Tina Trudel has created another excellent issue of Brain Injury Professional that presents and discusses the critical “life” issue of sexuality after brain injury. As authors Barton and Tepper state in their article, “Sexuality is a biopsychosocial relational and cultural construct. Sexual development includes physiological development, psychological development, social development and development of sexual knowledge.” And we thought brain injury rehabilitation was complex. And, as Dr Sandler notes in her article, “…addressing sexuality during rehabilitation may be difficult for many reasons. First, rehabilitation professionals often have minimal or no knowledge regarding the potential impact of TBI on sexual functioning. In contrast to persons with spinal cord injury, there is no obvious linkage between injury to the brain and sexual behavior.” When we examine treatment methods and myths, authors Mozzoni, Errico and Trudel discuss particular behavioral interventions that have proven successful with sexual disinhibition and social skills and authors Ulrich and Newton take an indepth look at the myths surrounding sexuality and people with disabilities. As we all know, it is a combination of multiple skills sets carefully integrated into
everyday services and supports that will most likely prove to be the most effective interventions. Sexuality is no exception. As multi-faceted a topic as sexuality is, we can address specific needs and desires for individuals with brain injuries. NABIS wants to thank Dr. Tina Trudel for tackling such a complex topic. Dr. Trudel is on the Board of Directors for NABIS and is recognized nationally and internationally for her exemplary work on behalf of individuals with brain injuries and her tireless efforts to advance the field of brain injury rehabilitation. We thank Dr. Trudel for serving as our Guest Editor of BIP and our other authors for providing us with an issue that is both meaningful and thought provoking. Also, don’t forget upcoming NABIS events and activities, including our three 2010 conferences! First, we are delighted to be partnering with the Alaska Brain Injury Network on the first Alaska Brain Injury Conference which will be held July 28-30, at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. Second, NABIS is partnering with the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators on an exciting combined educational program entitled Partnering in the Twin Cities that will take place October 6-8 in Minneapolis, MN. Last but not least, we are working on our “must attend” event for attorneys involved in brain injury: The 23rd Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Brain Injury that will take place October 7-9 in Minneapolis. Of course NABIS members are entitled to a significant discount on all of these meetings (and indeed other conferences including the IBIA World Congress on Brain Injury) making membership in our Society a true bargain. To join NABIS or to learn more, visit www. nabis.org. Ronald Savage, EdD