Initiatives

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BIRG speaks out to bring public attention to the challenges and works to change education policy confronting New York’s most educationally vulnerable students, so that schools serve ALL children to reach their maximum potential possible. BIRG’s team works with  families to eliminate obstacles they are faced with and advocates to eliminate problems through effective and pragmatic policy change, when we spot trends in the problems facing the families we serve. Some examples of initiatives we feel are important to our families include:

The National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan was created by Patrick Donohue and the National Advisory Board for the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation.  Mr Donohue submitted an open letter to President Barack Obama, in which he  introduced his plan, the National PABI Plan Act. The act would have provided almost $3 billion in federal funding for complete national coverage and the ability to standardize a system of care while still providing the flexibility for each state to have its own pathway to universal accessibility. This act sought to provide healthcare to any child affected by brain injury, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.  All funds would be drawn from the discretionary budget of the Department of Health and Human Services, thereby adding no additional monies to the national debt.  The Bill was introduced to Congress on July 20, 2011  as HR 2600 by Rep. Leonard Lance (R, NJ-7) with 50 original bi-partisan co-sponsors. 

In 2006, Zackery Lystedt a 13 year old star football player was tackled near the end of the first half of a game.  He immediately suffered a brain injury and was rolling on the ground holding his head. The game took an injury timeout and minutes later Zackery returned to the game. After the game, Zackery collapsed and had to be airlifted to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, where he underwent  life saving surgery.  The injury caused such a severe brain bleed that  surgeons were required to remove bone from the left and right side of his skull to reduce the pressure on his brain. He spent 9 months in rehabilitation re-learning how to walk and talk. No one knew Zack had a concussion, but if he was taken out of the game after the initial hit, he may have never suffered from a severe brain injury. 

The Lystedt law requires high school athletes who have sustained a concussion to be removed from practice and play and not to be allowed to return until cleared by a medical professional. The Zackery Lystedt Brain Project was formally announced in 2010 during the 44th Super Bowl, at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The Zachery Lystedt Law achieved a huge milestone of passing  concussion laws  in almost all 50 states. Concussion laws to each state can be found here. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in July 1990, the ADA is the first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. The ADA protects the civil rights of people with disabilities in all aspects of employment, in accessing public services such as transportation, and guaranteeing access to public accommodations such as restaurants, stores, hotels and other types of buildings to which the public has access.

The Client Assistance Program (CAP) is a federally funded program that provides information, assistance and advocacy to people with disabilities who are applying for or receiving services under the Rehabilitation Act. Programs under this Act include: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Independent Living Services (ILS) and Projects with Industry.

The P&A for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Act provides protection and advocacy services to assist individuals of all ages with disabilities in the acquisition, utilization, and/or maintenance of AT services or devices  from federal funding to each state.  AT devices enable  persons with disabilities to more fully participate in daily activities such as vocational rehabilitation, employment and education - early intervention, K-12 and post-secondary. Some examples of assistive technologies are: mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids to help people hear or hear more clearly or cognitive aids like a computer to help people with memory, attention, or other challenges in their thinking skills. 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. The nondiscrimination requirements of the law apply to employers and organizations that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency. These organizations and employers include many hospitals, nursing homes, mental health centers and human service programs. It continues to play an important role in education, especially for students with disabilities who may not qualify for special education services under IDEA. A Section 504 Plan provides accommodations based on the child's disability and resulting weaknesses, but does not require academic improvement. Examples of accommodations in 504 plans include: preferential seating, extended time on tests and assignments, reduced homework or classwork, verbal, visual, or technology aids or modified textbooks or audio-video materials.