• Our mission is to improve the quality of life for survivors of brain injury and their families, and to support programs that prevent brain injury.

  The Brain Injury Association of Colorado began as the Colorado Head Injury Foundation, Inc. (CHIF) in April 1980. BIAC was formed by a group of family members and professionals in Denver and Colorado Springs who were concerned with the lack of support services for survivors and family members affected by head injury. CHIF initially consisted of two support groups in the two cities; other groups were formed later in communities as diverse as Durango, Brush and Thornton. CHIF was incorporated in 1981 as a Colorado non-profit corporation and became the sixth chartered state affiliate of the National Head Injury Foundation (NHIF). The name was changed in 1995 to the Brain Injury Association.

The Brain Injury Association provides direct services to two thousand survivors, families and professionals annually. Several thousand more are served through community outreach programs. Some services and programs are:

• Support Groups provide education, recreation and support for persons with brain injury and family members throughout Colorado.
  
  
• Community Education and Prevention Programs: raise awareness of brain injury problems and issues via presentations, exhibits and educational publications.
  
  
• Self Advocacy for Independent Life (SAIL): provides materials and programs that help brain injury survivors and their families to develop skills in assertive communication, interpersonal relationships and financial resources.
  
  
• Outdoor Adventure Challenge: a week-long outdoor recreational and social experience for survivors working one-on-one with trained counselors.
  
  
• Conferences: provide educational and networking opportunities for survivors, family members and professionals.
  
  
• Resource Library: reference materials for all those interested in brain injuries.
  
  
• Quarterly Newsletter: sent to over 2,000 survivors, family members, hospitals, support groups and interested parties.
  
  
• Public Policy Development: support state and federal programs that benefit brain injury survivors and advocacy with legislators to increase benefits for persons with a traumatic brain injury.
  
  
• Volunteer Programs: provides opportunities for survivors to participate in the following areas: Office support, telephone response, advocacy, community education, camp counseling, fund raising, transportation and community work.
  
  
• Website: offers current information and resources twenty-four hours a day at www.biacolorado.org. On average, the website is accessed 32,000 times a month.
  
  
• 800# Information Line: provides information, support and resources (800) 955-2443.