BRIDGES FOR BRAIN INJURY INC
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Mission Statement
We Are Passionate About Our Mission; “To guide individuals with a traumatic brain injury, disabilities and their families, by ‘bridging the gap’ between surviving and living lives of independence with dignity and hope”.
About This Cause
Bridges For Brain Injury provides in-home and community based services to adults 18 years and up who have been diagnosed with a brain injury, neurological disorder, physical disability, or other health related disability. Our organization’s mission is to provide the supports necessary for rebuilding skills to maximize their independence and reduce the risk of nursing home placement. We provide our services the Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes and Southern-Tier regions of New York State. Everyone we serve is at or below the poverty threshold, receiving disability benefits and New York State Medicaid. Our organization works to bring awareness of the effects of brain injury and disabilities on individuals and their families, while assisting them in rebuilding their skills to complete everyday tasks they were once able to do independently, before terrible tragedy struck in the form of a car accident, stroke, assault, fall, brain surgery, and many other causes; as well as debilitating diseases. Within our Day Services, the Wildlife Rockstars Program is a wildlife education outreach group run by our staff and day program members. As part of their rehabilitation, members are trained in the handling and care of live native and exotic animals, birds, reptiles and more! They inspire audiences with their knowledge of our animal ambassadors and their personal stories of rebuilding their lives following a tragic accident or injury. The Wildlife Rockstars visit schools, day care centers, youth groups, nursing homes and community events to share interesting information about their animal ambassadors and encourage environmental and wildlife conservation awareness. Members also share their personal injury and rehabilitation stories and discuss the importance of brain/head injury safety and prevention practices. While participating in this program, members work on personal goals such as socialization, organization, communication, memory retention, planning and pre-employment skills. Ideally, wildlife rehabilitators can bring the animals back to full health (including a healthy, natural fear of humans and cars) and release them into the wild. If the animals are non-releasable, that is where Bridges and the Wildlife Rockstars come in. We are the final, safe, caring and enriched home for non-releasable wild animals. Bridges and the Wildlife Rockstars provides a permanent home for over 60 animals. Many of our animals were placed with us through wildlife rehabilitators or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after they were assessed as “non-releasable.” Phyllis Quiller, the native porcupine, for example, was rescued as a baby when her mother was illegally shot from a tree leaving her without the ability to care for herself. The DEC placed her with our program to raise her as an education animal. During their presentations, The Wildlife Rockstars share fascinating facts on animals like the North American Porcupine, Virginia Opossum, Eastern Coyote, the Eagle Owl, Silver Fox and North American Beaver. Other exotic wildlife from around the world that are shared include multiple Macropods or Kangaroo species, a Eurasian Lynx, Ringtail Lemur and the smallest wild cat species in the world, the Geoffrey’s Cat. Reptiles, amphibians and insects are also exhibited. During presentations the Wildlife Rockstars discuss animal defenses and how they preserve and protect themselves in the wild. The Rockstars then connect that to how the audience can protect themselves from injury or harm with safety tips and Brain Injury Awareness information. The Wildlife Rockstars program offers "real-world" experience for brain injury survivors in re-building their skills to enhance their independence. It provides them with training and education within their community and encourages children and the general public to view people with disabilities as role models (and ROCKSTARS!) capable of contributing back to their community! Each year we reach over 60,000 children through our Wildlife Rockstar education Outreach programs. The Medicaid reimbursement we receive for our services does not cover the unique expenses of caring for the animals, providing for their specialized diet and habitat needs, veterinary care, the 24/7 oversight of the animals and the travel expenses that results from traveling throughout New York State. We need funding to help support these expenses in addition to the purchase of a wheelchair accessible bus that will transport up to 12 as well as carry animal crates. Our one and only wheelchair accessible bus is 13 years old with over 166,000 miles and it is in constant repair. We need a reliable handicapped accessible vehicle that can seat our members with varying mobility deficits and carry our animal crates. We are a USDA Licensed and Insured Program and the only one of its kind in the United States!