Dear Senator Wojcik,

I am the mother of a 32 year old survivor of a brain tumor. My husband and I have cared for him since his diagnosis at seventeen. Our journey, needless to say, has been both a blessing and a hardship. Each year, in excess of 1.5 million individuals suffer a brain injury. The simple ways in which it can occur are, frankly, scary.

We are thankful for the individuals who have dedicated themselves to help such patients and their families, such as Aabcor Inc., a Case Management Agency. who has contributed valuable support to us. Aabcor and the Brain Injury Association need help in order to continue the wonderful work they are doing.

I am so pleased to learn that there are currently dedicated apartment buildings available and in the construction stages which provide proper supervision and supportive living for the physically impaired here in Illinois. It was in the office of the Director of one such new building in Chicago, Supportive Living Apartments (where my brain injured adult son was applying for residency and denied because of his multiple needs) that we were again told that no appropriate residences currently exist for the brain injured.

I am aware of the State’s financial difficulties, I am even more aware of the desperate need for this segnment of the population and their families for safely supervised appropriate group homes.

Please, I pray, bring these issues to the legislative awareness. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have for us to further raise consciousness of this impairment issue.

Respectfully,

Mary, Schaumburg IL.
March, 2006