2026 BIAK Brain Injury Summit

2026 BIAK BRAIN INJURY SUMMIT

BOUNCING BACK: BUILDING RESILIENCE AND FOSTERING CHANGE

Course Description: The 2026 BIAK Brain Injury Summit will center around themes of resilience, overcoming adversity, and the incorporation of evidence-based practices to promote recovery, health, and wellness for brain injury survivors. Through the exploration of evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing and hearing firsthand inspirational stories from a brain injury survivor, participants will gain practical skills to facilitate engagement and promote change during the rehabilitation process. A focus on the principles of neuroplasticity and the application of relevant treatment activities across therapy domains will emphasize the importance of life-long recovery from a chronic condition. Participants will also gain a greater understanding of the role nutrition therapy has in supporting recovery and the rehabilitation process.

Objectives: By attending this program, participants will be able to:

1. Define what resilience is.
2. List three “Weasilience” lessons that relate to overcoming adversity.
3. List three strategies to increase resilience.
4. Describe the role of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in the recovery of ABI.
5. Identify how nutrition therapy supports recovery and rehabilitation after ABI
6. Demonstrate the skills to critically evaluate and detect nutrition misinformation relevant to ABI recovery.
7. Define neuroplasticity as it relates to ABI.
8. Identify timeline variations in chronic condition recovery.
9. Identify person-centered outcome measures used to assess progress.
10. Identify personally relevant treatment tasks across therapy domains.
11. Identify how specific language and terminology used to discuss progress impacts survivor wellbeing.
12. Describe the psychological and emotional challenges of living with a chronic condition, including changes to self and identity.
13. Identify and describe the core principles and spirit of Motivational Interviewing, including distinctions between Motivational Interviewing and directive or advice-giving communication approaches.
14. Differentiate and accurately identify change talk and sustain talk within client or stakeholder conversations, and select appropriate Motivational Interviewing-consistent responses to each.
15. Demonstrate application of at least two foundational Motivational Interviewing techniques (e.g., open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening) in professional practice to support behavior change.

Biographical Information of Speakers & Disclosures

Please see attached curriculum vitae and resumes.

· Carole Starr Disclosure: Financial: Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky and received an honorarium. Non-Financial: No relevant relationship.

· Deborah Eck Disclosure: Financial: Employed by Association for Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals and receives a salary. No relevant relationship. Non-Financial: No relevant relationship.

· Allison Ferguson Disclosure: Financial: Co-Owner, Blossom Neuro Speech & Wellness. Non-Financial: No relevant relationship.

· Christine Szesny Disclosure: Financial: No relevant relationship. Non-Financial: No relevant relationship.

· Dr. Patti Weiter Disclosure: Financial: Employed by VA Medical Center and receives a salary. Owner of Shine Psychology, LLC. Non-Financial: No relevant relationship.

This course is offered for 0.6 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level, Related Area)

Successful Course Completion

Participants wishing to earn ASHA CEUs must attend the conference in its entirety, submit a course evaluation, and complete the post-course self-assessment/reflection.

Special Needs & Accommodations

Special needs and accommodations can be requested at the time of registration. Participants should contact Natalie Brown at [email protected] to make requests.

Cancellation Policy

Participants who register and are unable to attend the course forfeit all registration fees. Significant extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Participants should contact Bobby Paisley, Executive Director of BIAK, at [email protected] with all inquiries.

If the course requires full cancellation, you will be notified in advance. Attempts to re-schedule may be made and will be planned at the discretion of course instructors and venue availability. If the course cannot be re-scheduled, participants will receive a full refund.

Complaints & Concerns

Course participant who desire to express a concern, may do so within 10 business days from the completion of the course. Concerns may be sent Bobby Paisley, Executive Director of BIAK, via e-mail to the following address: [email protected].

Continuing Education Provider

UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute is the ASHA Approved CE Provider for this course. Any questions regarding the ASHA CE Registry and course reporting should be directed to Misty Agne at [email protected]

Info: The Power of “I Can”: A Survivor and Therapist’s Guide to Neuroplasticity in Chronic ABI Recovery
Allison Ferguson, MS, CCC-SLP and Christine Szesny, PT, DPT

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University of Louisville Event and Conference Center at ShelbyHurst Campus, 450 North Whittington Parkway, Louisville, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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