Make Your New Year’s Resolution to Learn More About TBI!

It’s Easy as 1-2-3:

1. Register for the February 9-10th First Annual Conference, Moving the TBI Agenda: Change, Challenges & Collaboration, sponsored by the California Department of Mental Health and the Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board by going to www.regonline.com/TBIConference. Registration deadline is January 30. Special rates for individuals with TBI, caregivers and students; special rates for one day only; and limited financial assistance are available.

2. Make your hotel reservations with the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, Sacramento. Request TBI Conference to get the Conference rate. Phone: 1-800-HOLIDAY. The cut off date for the block of rooms is January 17, 2009.

3. Attend the conference and learn from the experts:

Tamara Bushnik, Ph.D., Project Director for the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Jeffrey S.G. Englander, M.D., Clinical Director for the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Geoffrey T. Manley, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor in Residence at the Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital

Ted Puntillo, Deputy Secretary, Department of Veteran Affairs

Debra Rose, Ph.D., Professor and Co-Director for the Center for Successful Aging and Fall Prevention Center of Excellence at California State University

Ronald M. Ruff, Ph.D., Clinical Neuropsychologist & Rehabilitation Psychologist, San Francisco Clinical Neurosciences and University of California San Francisco

And many more ….

For further information see the attached brochure or get a copy of the brochure at the California Department of Mental Health website at:

http://www.dmh.ca.gov/Services_and_Programs/Adults/docs/TBI_docs/ConfBrochure_09Jan8.pdf

or contact Yvonne Shifflette at (916) 654-2147 or e-mail Yvonne at yvonne.shifflette@dmh.ca.gov.

Kelly Buckland Appointed as NCIL’s New Executive Director

This New Year is a time of transition for our Nation and a time of transition for NCIL. In December, as President-Elect Barack Obama contemplated key appointments to the new Administration, the NCIL Governing Board completed an exhaustive search and selection process in appointing Kelly Buckland to replace John Lancaster, who is retiring to his home in upstate New York.

Kelly will bring to NCIL a career of experience in the Independent Living Movement and disability rights. He has matured in his career from his days as a social worker in Boise and an employee for Idaho’s Protection and Advocacy system. He served for years as the Executive Director of the Boise CIL, Living Independence Network Corp. He currently heads the Idaho State Independent Living Council. He has served on the Idaho Developmental Disabilities Council, the State Employment and Training Council, and the State Help America Vote Act Steering Committee.

In 1978, Kelly graduated from Boise State University with a B.A. in Social Work and in 1988 Summa Cum Laude from Drake University with a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. In recent years, Kelly has been honored with numerous state and national awards, including the University of Idaho President’s Medallion, the United Vision for Idaho Lifetime Achievement Award, the Hewlett-Packard Distinguished Achievement in Human Rights Award, and induction into the National Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame.

Additionally, Kelly is no stranger to NCIL. He has served on numerous NCIL Legislative and Advocacy Subcommittees and other standing NCIL committees, the NCIL Governing Board since 1998, as NCIL Vice-President from 2001-2005, and as NCIL President from 2005 to the present. Kelly will officially take over as NCIL’s Executive Director from John on May 15, 2009 and will continue to serve as NCIL President until his term expires at NCIL’s 2009 Annual Meeting of the Members in early June. John and Kelly will be working closely together in the first 4 ½ months of 2009 to insure a smooth and effective transition of Executive Directors.

Kelly, his wife Merle and their son Rodney will relocate to the Washington Metropolitan Area following the conclusion of Rodney’s school year. Kelly’s family have always been active supporters and contributors to Kelly’s many professional accomplishments.

The NCIL staff feels privileged to have Kelly as their new leader. His experience, insight, vision and proven leadership is what NCIL needs to direct our operations in this challenging time of National financial, political and cultural change. Please join us in welcoming NCIL’s new Executive Director, Kelly J. Buckland!

ThisAbled Press Release

“The Change We Need” Campaign Petition Drive

January 5, 2009

Join www.thisabled.com as we drive to change employment outcomes for people disabilities. The petition is entitled Five Percent By 2013-No Excuses! It is specifically addressed to President Barrack Obama and asks for a specific target number of Five percent Federal employees with disabilities by 2013.

The Federal government has called on many States and businesses to hire people with disabilities. It is time people with disabilities called on the Federal government to do the same. Currently, less than 1 percent (0.97) are people with disabilities while there are 54 million disabled in the United States. We ask that mandates of equality begin at home for the Federal government. Change your workforce to reflect the American citizens you serve.

People with disabilities are not seeking hand-outs or pity-we seek jobs! Economic empowerment through employment is far better than continued subjugation of a people through meager government benefits. We seek a top down approach to employment of people with disabilities. Lead by example so that others may follow and shatter the dismal number of less than 1 percent Federal employees with disabilities.

For more information contact:

Javier Robles, J.D.

ThisAbled@gmail.com

Petition Info Below

The Second part of 2009 efforts on behalf of people with disabilities has begun. Here is the www.thisabled.com petition to President Obama to increase the number of Federal employees with disabilities by five percent. We ask that you sign it and forward to others as well as share.

Thank you.

Sign it at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/Thisable/petition.html

Living Well With Parkinson's

Spring Conference

Saturday, April 4, 2009

9:30 AM to 3:30 PM

The Imperia, Somerset , New Jersey

For People with Parkinson's and their families.

732-745-7520-To register

Fee-$25.00

Elizabeth Schaaf, MBA, CHES

Coordinator, Community Education Department

Coordinator, NJ American Parkinson Disease Association Information and Referral Center

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Community Education Department

120 Albany Street, Suite 360

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

(732) 418-8110-Community Education Department

(732) 745-7520-NJ APDA Parkinson's I and R Center

(732) 745-3114-Fax

www.rwjuh.edu (click on Community Education events for calendar of events)

Elizabeth.schaaf@rwjuh.edu

1:45 PM to 2:05 PM Parkinson’s and the Environment

Mona Thiruchelvam, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor,

UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine