The purpose of this page is to provide some resources that may be useful for people living with the effects of an acquired brain injury, their family members, friends, caregivers and the general public.

Community Brain Injury Associations
Inpatient Resources
Community Resources
Health Resources
Advocacy

Community Brain Injury Associations

Brain Injury Association of Canada
The mandate of the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) is to improve the quality of life for all Canadians affected by Acquired brain injury and promote its prevention. As well, BIAC is dedicated to facilitate post-trauma research, education and advocacy in partnership with national, provincial/territorial and regional associations and other stakeholders.
Brain Injury Association of Canada

Brain Injury Society of Toronto
The Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) supports ABI survivors and their family members. BIST members are children, parents, teens, spouses, and grandparents, professionals and service providers. Membership is open to anyone in the community with an interest in the challenges that come with living with the effects of brain injury.
Brain Injury Society of Toronto

Brain Injury Association of Durham Region
The Brain Injury Association of Durham Region is a charitable, non-profit organization whose members include people of Durham Region who have experienced brain injuries, their families and others who share our vision. Services include: Support Groups for people who have experienced brain injuries and for families, friends, and caregivers; Community support coordination/outreach; Social/Recreational Activities and Events; a resource library of books, articles, videotapes and audio tapes; Injury Prevention Programs; Advocacy; Day Service/Drop In.
Brain Injury Association of Durham Region

Ontario Brain Injury Association
The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) seeks to develop, provide and disseminate information and educational tools that define, discuss and describe all aspects of acquired brain injury; to bring to the public's attention the definition and effects of acquired brain injury and its incidence and prevalence; to develop and support a province-wide network of community associations and groups whose primary mandate is the support and assistance of persons living with the effects of acquired brain injury.
Ontario Brain Injury Association

For a more complete list of brain injury associations, see here.


Inpatient Resources

ABI Programs At-a-Glance
This handout was developed to help families understand what to expect from inpatient ABI rehabilitation (regular and slow-to-recover programs). A comparison chart is provided of the three adult ABI inpatient programs in Toronto.
English version | English/Chinese version

Community Resources

Community Head Injury Resource Services
Community Head Injury Resource Services (CHIRS) is a multi-service agency that provides a broad range of supports to a clientele with diverse and complex needs. CHIRS' services are designed to form the basis of a comprehensive model of service delivery. Services include residential programs, supported independent living, adult day programs and community programs. CHIRS is able to provide productive and meaningful activities for all participants.
Community Head Injury Resource Services

COTA Health
COTA Health is an accredited provider of mental health and community support services. COTA Health provides support to adults living with serious mental illness, geriatric mental health conditions, acquired brain injury, developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis. Services include case management, supportive housing, short-term residential beds, a day program, court and justice related services and hostel outreach for individuals who are homeless or living in shelters.
COTA Health

Holland Bloorview Online Family Resource Centre
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (formerly Bloorview Kids Rehab) is Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital. Their vision is to create a world of possibility for kids with disability. Holland Bloorview's Family Resource Centre provides information and support to parents of children with disabilities. The Online Family Resource Centre brings together parent and professional advise, community resources, Holland Bloorview programs and family stories -- all organized by topic. Parents can visit the Online Family Resource Centre and click on these topics with more information about Parenting; Fun; Growing up; Respite; School; In Hospital; Money; and more.
Holland Bloorview Online Family Resource Centre

March of Dimes
March of Dimes Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that has been in the forefront of the disability movement since 1951. The Independent Living Program provides Rehabilitation, Attendant Care, Peer Support Groups and Supportive Housing Programs to adults and children living with the effects of a brain injury. Services are offered across the province through both fee-based and funded programs and may be provided in the home, community, school, hospital and/or workplace.
March of Dimes Canada

Peel Halton Dufferin Acquired Brain Injury Services
Peel Halton Dufferin Acquired Brain Injury Services is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to provide community based rehabilitation and re-integration services to people living with the effects of acquired brain injury.
Peel Halton Dufferin Acquired Brain Injury Services

West Park Healthcare Centre Adult Day Program
West Park Healthcare Centre offers an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Adult Day Program, funded by the Toronto Central LHIN. The ABI Adult Day Program operates from 10:00am – 2:30pm 5 days per week; each client attends 1-2 days per week for about 6 months. Clients with challenging behaviours make up a portion of the program's participants. Caregiver support includes education on managing ongoing behaviours, and a respite bed is available for overnight client stays. COTA Health, a key program partner, provides program development and case management services. Referrals come through the Toronto ABI Network. For additional information, please contact tania.thomas@westpark.org or call 416-243-3600, ext. 2614.

Support Groups and Workshops Listing
This handout was developed to summarize various support groups and workshops offered to adults and children with brain injury, in the public and private sectors across the GTA.
View Groups Listing


Health Resources

211 Toronto
211Toronto provides a useful resource for finding ABI services in the Toronto region. An online listing of services and programs can be found at www.211Toronto.ca or you can dial 211 within the 416 area code to speak with an information and referral specialist. See also how to improve search results when using the 211Toronto website.

Community Information Centres in the GTA
Other community information centres provide a similar resource to 211Toronto, but outside the city of Toronto. Some provide search options on their website while others provide only contact information.
... Durham Region: http://durham.cioc.ca (do not include www)
... Halton Region: http://hipinfo.info/hip.htm
... Peel Region: http://www.pinet.on.ca
... York Region: http://www.inforichmondhill.org

CCAC Resources
The community care access centres (CCACs) also have a mandate to provide information about - and referral to - a wide range of community health and support services. You can obtain assistance from a CCAC by contacting them directly:

Toronto Central CCAC:
        Head Office (Toronto): 416-506-9888 / 1-800-855-0511
        Leaside Park Drive site (East York): 416-506-9888

Central CCAC:
        Head Office (Newmarket): 905-895-1240
        Richmond Hill site: 905-763-9928
        Sheppard site (Toronto): 416-222-2241

Central East CCAC:
        Head Office: 905-430-3308 / 1-800-263-3877
        Campbellford branch: 705-653-1005 / 1-800-368-8053
        Haliburton branch: 705-457-1600 / 1-800-368-8027
        Lindsay branch: 705-324-9165 / 1-800-347-0285
        Port Hope branch: 905-885-6600 / 1-800-347-0299
        Peterborough branch: 705-743-2552 / 1-888-235-7222
        Scarborough branch: 416-750-2444 / 1-866-779-1931
        Whitby branch: 905-430-3308 / 1-800-263-3877

Central West CCAC:
        Head Office: 905-796-0040 / 1-888-733-1177

Mississauga Halton CCAC:
        Head Office: 905-855-9090
        Etobicoke and York branch: 905-855-9090
        Halton branch: 905-639-5228 / 1-800-810-0000

Substance Use and Brain Injury
The Substance Use and Brain Injury (SUBI) project was initiated to study the problem of substance use and brain injury. This website is intended to provide information for healthcare providers, persons with an acquired brain injury and the general public.
Substance Use and Brain Injury

Rehab Finder
The GTA Rehab Network's Rehab Finder is a searchable database of rehabilitation programs/clinics/services provided by hospitals and Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) across the Greater Toronto Area.
Rehab Finder

Health Care Connect
Finding a family physician... The Health Care Connect program refers people without a regular family health care provider to physicians and nurse practitioners who are accepting new patients in their community. To register for the Health Care Connect program, call 1-800-445-1822, or for more information, visit the Health Care Connect page on the MOHLTC website. Also, see the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

Health Care Options
This website is designed to allow consumers to explore the different health care choices available in their home communities.
Health Care Options

Canadian Mental Health Association
Brain injury is often a catastrophic, life-changing event for individuals and their families.  Many ABI survivors experience dramatic and permanent changes in work status, role, income, family life, support network, and quality of life. This may predispose them to significant depressive reactions and feelings of social isolation, helplessness and hopelessness.
Canadian Mental Health Association, Family Resources

Advocacy

Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have a brain injury as a result of a car crash, your car insurance policy may cover additional benefits that could help you in your recovery. This could include paying for private medical, rehabilitation and personal care that the public health care system does not provide. The insurance system can be confusing. It is recommended that you hire a lawyer with expertise in the area of personal injury to help you and your family. The Toronto ABI Network has created a document to provide you with some information to help you make an informed decision when choosing a personal injury lawyer. This document includes information on websites that may be of help to you and a list of questions that you can ask law firms before choosing a lawyer to represent your case.
Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

Ombudsman
How to Complain Effectively. Website where you can find information and news about the ombudsman office, make a complaint about Ontario government services - and now, access multimedia, leave comments and share items with others.
Ombudsman

Arch Disability Law Centre
Arch Disability Law Centre is a specialty legal aid clinic serving the province of Ontario and is dedicated to defending and advancing the equality rights of persons with disabilities. ARCH was founded in 1979 under its previous name, Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped (ARCH). ARCH is primarily funded by Legal Aid Ontario.
Arch Disability Law Centre

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (Ministry of Community and Social Services)
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) became law on June 13, 2005. Under this landmark legislation, the government of Ontario will develop mandatory accessibility standards that will identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities in key areas of daily living. The standards will apply to private and public sector organizations across Ontario.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Special Needs Planning Group
The Special Needs Planning Group's sole purpose has been to assist families in establishing plans which will provide their family members with a disability with a decent quality of life for their entire lifetime while at the same time, preserving their entitlement to government support programs.
Special Needs Planning Group

Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) delivers a diverse range of services that safeguard the legal, personal and financial interests of private individuals and estates.
Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee

Consent and Capacity Board
The Consent and Capacity Board is an independent body created by the provincial government of Ontario under the Health Care Consent Act. It conducts hearings under the Mental Health Act, the Health Care Consent Act, the Personal Health Information Protection Act and the Substitute Decisions Act.
Consent and Capacity Board

Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs
This guide covers topics relevant to the emergency preparedness needs of people with visible and/or non-visible disabilities and seniors with special needs.
Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs

Support for Students
Following a brain injury, the academic needs of students often change and schools may need to find different ways of supporting them. The Education Act requires that all school boards provide special education programming for pupils with 'exceptional' status. Each board is required to establish an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) whose role is to decide on whether a student is identified as 'exceptional' or not and if so to decide on appropriate resources for the student. The Ministry of Education hosts a web page providing details on the procedures used in defining a pupil as 'exceptional', how placement decisions are made, how decisions may be appealed when the parent does not agree with the IPRC's decision, and more.
Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC)

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