Help me meet my fundraising goal for Side by Side

Please Join Me in Supporting Side by Side

 An Atlanta Nonprofit Supporting Brain Injury Support Services Despite the Pandemic

Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse provides opportunities for people with brain injury to come together to build a community, develop new skills and use their strengths in meaningful ways, all of which supports adjustment and life satisfaction after brain injury. As a healthcare provider specialized in the care of people with brain injury, I’ve had a number of patients who have become members of Side by Side over the years. It has been incredible to watch their journeys of recovery after injury and to see the impact being a member has had on each of their lives. They are why I am most proud to serve the Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse as a Board Director. They are why I give to Side by Side and are why I hope you will give too.

Covid-19 forced the closure of our on-site brain injury support services twice since March 13, 2020, for six weeks each time. For our program participants, pivoting to socially distanced or virtual services requires cognitive flexibility that is often crippled by TBI when the frontal area of the brain is damaged. Fortunately, our Brain Injury Specialist staff are fluent in pivoting – in this case, providing cognitive support regardless of the situation  - so we responded quickly to guide our members as they struggled to understand another new reality.

• Reopened the Clubhouse: Currently we are open 5 days/week, serving 3-7 members on-site, rotating members and staff to limit exposure, and following very strict cleaning, hygiene and air flow practices.  Since re-opening in June, 23 members have returned to onsite socially-distanced services.
• Continuing Telehealth: In addition to on-site services, we continue to provide virtual telehealth services through both Zoom Groups (more than 350 to date) and individual support calls (more than 950 to date). Many members live in group care homes or with elderly family members so are not taking the risk to attend in person. Others live alone and were languishing without face-to-face contact, so they attend in person for daily structure and support.
• Delivieries: Door-step visits from a familiar and friendly face provide needed supplies to maintain physical and mental health. From filling individual needs of groceries, masks, and entertainment (especially important for those without internet access) packages to homemade cookies and bouquets of flowers from Side by Side’s accessible gardens; 175 personal visits from staff have been a big hit with our members and families.