When people think of disability, they might picture a wheelchair user or an individual with a physical disability.  Assumptions and stereotypical representations of disability can erect barriers for those with non-visible disabilities like chronic pain, learning, and brain injury.

Challenging the definition of disability is a core part of the work done by Manitoba Brain Injury Association (MBIA). Offering help and hope to individuals and families living with the effects of brain injury, MBIA offers services, education, and advocacy while promoting independent living and a sense of community.

With a goal to educate all Manitobans towards the prevention of acquired brain injury, it made sense for the organization to join Manitoba Possible’s Self-help Clearinghouse program and establish an office on the second floor of 825 Sherbrook St in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

 Brain Injury Can Happen to Anyone

Gladys Hirabi joined the ranks of MBIA’s volunteer group facilitators over a decade ago and her persistence and dedication to removing barriers for survivors has led her to the head of the organization as Executive Director. She shares that brain injury can happen to anyone anywhere, at any time. Brain injury doesn’t discriminate age, social status, and race.

Manitoba Possible’s vision of an inclusive and accessible society is one that Gladys and MBIA understand, sharing, “Society needs to recognize that not all disabilities are visible. Like any other invisible disability, brain injury survivors fall through the cracks because their disability is not well recognized, which serves as a barrier to accessing care. From a critical disability perspective, Manitoba should challenge the hegemonic discourses on how disability is defined. Despite advances on disability rights, the medical model of disability still informs some of the policies that surround disability services.”

As a self-help organization, prospective service-users come to MBIA through referral from other agencies (such as Riverview Health Centre, Easy Street Misericordia or Selkirk Mental Health Centre- ABI unit and hospitals) but mostly through self-referral. MBIA is a guide in navigating the resources available in the community and connecting them with services the association offers like support groups, case management, wellness checks, and directing survivors to supports offered by other agencies.

Eliminating Financial Barriers

“The financial empowerment program (Manitoba Possible) removes barriers for our membership. It enables them to easier access tax services and also provides help in accessing Registered Disability Savings Plans and Disability Tax Credits,” shared Gladys. 

The pandemic has led to innovation and shifts within MBIA and how it supports those affected by brain injury. Over the summer, MBIA offered telephone townhall services and support groups that clients found more accessible than virtual on-camera supports. One client shared how grateful she was for the opportunity to connect without having to be on camera, a lifesaving support in a time of isolation.

When thinking about how Manitobans can help eliminate barriers for brain injury survivors, Gladys wants people to remember that each brain injury is unique and to understand and educated ourselves on the realities of brain injury is important. Most of all, believing those affected by brain injury can go a long way in connecting with and supporting a friend, a colleague, or a patient.