T7: State-of-the-Science Conference on Community Integration for Persons with TBI
Roundtable Discussion - April 13, 2007
Topic Area: Social Action Networking
Facilitators: Judy Panko Reis, M.A., M.S. and Susan Magasi, Ph.D.
Recorder: Margaret A. Struchen, Ph.D.
- What research should be addressed in the future to further
the field and address the most relevant gaps in our knowledge? What models/methods
should be utilized?
- What is the source of resistance among TBI professionals to having
involvement with the larger disability community?
- Continued support for greater use of participatory action research
models in research regarding TBI?
- How can the dissemination of information about TBI be enhanced?
- Increasing emphasis on attitudinal barriers that impact outcomes
after TBI.
- What attitudinal barriers exist within the larger disability community
regarding TBI? Are there obstacles to participation in social action
networking due to a “disability hierarchy”?
- What educational efforts or other interventions might be useful
in addressing attitudinal barriers in persons with TBI, in the larger
disability community, and in the community at-large?
- What is the role of the rehabilitation/healthcare professional
in social action networking models?
- How can the comfort level of rehabilitation professionals be enhanced
towards the development of “bottom-up” or grass roots
movements within the disability community and among persons with
TBI in particular?
- How can the use of life history/life stories be used to increase
awareness within the community?
- How does the social action networking model best fit within models
of community change? Is this community development, service delivery,
self-help approach? How is the model best defined?
- What are the outcome goals for social action networking approaches?
For what purposes, what outcomes, is it best suited?
- How can Center for Independent Living be utilized to bring social
action networking to rural communities? Blended models community
development/service delivery may be more suited to rural settings.
- What is the influence of cultural variability in the valuation
of self-determination or the meaning of self-determination?
- How is a comfortable balance struck between self-determination
and safety for those with cognitive impairments? What can we
learn from the experiences of those within the developmental
disability and psychiatric communities regarding this balance?
- How can the social action networking model be utilized to help
identify the research agenda and ensure that resources are committed
to areas of importance for those with TBI? Use of rank order
of areas of concern for those with TBI to ensure that both
basic science and community integration/quality of life issues
are both addressed by funding mechanisms.
- How can we frame topics in terms of our returning veterans
to increase awareness and advocate for allocation of resources?
- What are the social economics of brain injury?
- How can information regarding sports concussion be utilized
to enhance awareness in brain injury?
- What collaborations could be fostered to address this
topic area?
- Developmental Disability/Psychiatric advocacy groups
- Department of Defense/VAMC
- Centers for Independent Living
- Brain Injury Association of America
- Others???
