Saturday, September 26, 2015

Using The Computer For Therapy


[Jennifer Stokley would like to tell you about a certain type of game that has helped her.


Most of these hidden object games are not timed. They can be performed by a person with lower motor skills such as myself.]

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The computer is being used in a few ways.

Therapists are now making therapy videos. This next one is therapy on the affected arm, 


Stroke is just a type of brain injury. A lot of research is here probably due to funding. My brain injury is part stroke and part TBI. Both worlds are in one person. I don't look to one or the other. Stroke Nation has put many physical/occupational therapy videos on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnheKRhA3g-1OvRAYE7cY7g

When I did start talking, I didn't get any speech therapy. I did need some advice on making the 'R' sound.




Put in "speech therapy making the [letter] sound" for your search. There's a lot of speech videos on the internet. (Some are good and some are bad. Look around.)

A popular area is brain games. Due to gaming nature, I recommend purchasing the game or belonging to a service. This little bit spent now  will save you from costly repairs later. (Downloading is the same as buying. Free is just $0.) The games that come installed on your computer are fine. As a matter of fact, some build cognitive skills. A few common ones are Solitaire-sequencing, Mah Jong-matching, Dominoes-matching, and on a new laptop, Candy Crush-recognizing patterns.

AARP offers free, computer safe, brain games on-line, http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/brain_games/. Some places offer free teasers, http://www.brainhq.com/brain-resources/brain-teasers

In the following video, a survivor tells how she is using the computer.



The true reason this Survivor posts videos! I promise!
Posted by Jennifer Stokley on Friday, September 18, 2015


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Why Cry Over Spilled Juice?

Greg Costa Tbi wrote this. This beginning link goes to his Facebook page.
Why Cry Over Spilled Juice?
A Day In a Life of TBI - by Greg Costa ©

Today I headed to Walmart because I found out I could get a prescription there for four dollars which my insurance doesn't cover. On route I stopped at Nature's Food Patch, which is an organic grocery store, to pick up a juice. On my way out someone said something hysterical in the checkout lane. As I continued to walk outside I was still laughing, and then discovered, a few minutes later, that I was walking to the opposite end of the parking lot from where I had parked. Realizing that, I started to feel down, and said to myself, “gosh, it's happening again.” Well I found my car, and then someone said hello to me and asked me a question. With that distraction, I didn’t realize I had left my drink on the top of the car. 

Which meant I watched my eight-dollar meal in a cup crash and splash all over the ground.

I went back inside and up to the manager’s counter. I said, “Hi, my name is Greg Costa, and I’m a traumatic brain injury survivor and sometimes we forget to do things. My mind was in a different place and I got lost in the parking lot and then I forgot to take my juice off the top of the car and it spilled everywhere.” He said, "No problem, I'll take care of it, and please come back and see me.” 

I didn’t notice the scar on his face until later.

I went back to see him and he said, “Don't worry, it's all good. I'm a traumatic brain injury survivor myself.” He turned his head and showed me the entire line from the tip of his forehead to the back of his ear, where his skull had been opened up. 

It's amazing, empowering and healing when we, as survivors, just put it out there and create awareness by accepting our challenges, being honest, completely transparent and Naked, allowing humility and making the best of the situation at hand. 

He went on to say, “You know the manager of this store actually had an aneurysm and also suffered a brain injury.” How cool! I thought. God really knows when you don't have something, or you’re missing something, or you’re in need of something or someone on your journey, or in my case, lacking the support and understanding from my own blood family.

It’s just like God to send me down or up a path, or put people in my life exactly where and when I need them. 

It’s just like God to open a door, welcome me in and remind me that I’m NOT ALONE.

I was so excited after this encounter that I had to tell my dad, and I never made it to Walmart. Oh well, another day, another adventure. Today I was glad to forget and be ok with that, instead of beating myself up for it.   - GregCosta©

Please visit www.GregCosta.Net™ &  LoVeMyTBI.com

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