Employment Conference Helps People with Brain Injury Find Jobs

The third National Brain Injury Employment Conference, Building Bridges to Supports & Opportunities, will be held in Denver on June 17th and 18th. The conference focuses on progressive information, effective employment strategies and networking to help brain injury survivors, including returning military with traumatic brain injury (TBI), find career opportunities and increase their quality of life. Ron Drach is a featured speaker at the conference. Drach works at the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) as the Director of Government and Legislative Affairs, where he focuses on legislative employment issues that affect the Departments of Labor, Veterans Affairs and Defense.

Drach also supports the America’s Heroes at Work project, a DOL initiative that addresses the employment needs of veterans with TBI. Previously Drach served as the National Employment Director for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). There, he led successful initiatives to address obstacles to employment, disability issues, homelessness and other issues facing veterans with disabilities. Other nationally known speakers include David Seaton, Founder and CEO of Live Oak Living Community; Diane Van Deren, a North Face athlete, a world class endurance competitor and a brain injury survivor; and Stanley Williams, Coordinator of the Illinois Brain Injury Program. The conference provides information for TBI survivors, family members, professionals and returning military with TBI. 

The conference provides three different specialized tracks, one for survivors and family members, another for returning military and veterans and one for professionals in the brain injury field.  Conference highlights include: Progressive information on brain injury and employment A “Resources Zone” with national TBI-related information Successful employment strategies Traumatic brain injury and cultural competency Exhibit booths, entertainment and much more

“This conference is helping people with brain injury learn how to advocate for themselves and navigate systems they need to use,” the Regional Education Coordinator for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Robin Wininger, stated. “I had a 25-year-old man in my office the other day, and he said he felt like his grandfather because he had such a hard time remembering things.I want people to know they can use their cell phone to take a picture of a parking marker or a PDA to help them remember an appointment. There are so many helpful tools available.” The conference will be held June 17th and 18th at The Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast.

To learn more or to register for the conference, visit www.ctat-training.com or call 1-800-682-1240.