The group is organized and lead by psychologist, Doris DeJonge. We meet the second Wednesday of each month. We often have guest speakers, such as an RN that returned to work after a brain injury, and we learned of her challenges and successes. We also had a Vision Therapy Association attend. 

There are months that we entertain ourselves by telling of each of our own accomplishments for the month, such as driving or returning to work, thus inspiring those of our friends attending. We also speak of our hardships, and our caregivers also speak. 

Recent Events

Annual Holiday Party

Aim High held their annual Hioliday party at our December meeting;each of us brought a gift that cost a maximum of $1.00. Doris told a story, and each time she said left or right, we passed the gift that way. Whatever gift you had when her story was finished was yours to keep. We also sang Christmas Carols accompanied by an organist who had accompanied one of our members to the party that evening. Each of us also brought a covered dish. Here are some pictures from the party:

Representative Gillespie Talks with Our Group

The members of the Aim HIgh Brain Injury Support Group in York have contacted our Pa state legislators int the past months to request their attention to the need for a Brain Injury Caucus in the Pa. legislature. In response, one of our representatives, Keith Gillespie, who represent the 47th District requested to meet with some of his constituents in his district who are living with brain injury.

On Nov 11th Rep. Gillespie graciously agreed to attend our November support group meeting. We found the forum of meeting with our group helpful in providing Rep Gillespie an opportunity to meet with thirty seven members at the same time. A healthy exchange of information resulted. Brain injury survivors and their family members were afforded the opportunity to share some of the common problems and issues they live with every day.

Rep. Gillespie arrived after a long day in Harrisburg but still found time to listen attentively to our concerns and also was able to give us some"food for thought". Repeatedly, Rep. Gillespie challenged us with the following questions: "What can the Pa legislators do to help you with these problems?" and "What do you suggest that would be most helpful?" These questions reminded us that we can and must be a part of the solution to our ongoing problems. Rep. Gillespie encouraged our members to contact his office with requests for information or intervention in the future. He proposed these contacts as a continued resource for his future work in the Pa legislature. Rep. Gillespie also briefly discussed his political position on the Federal Health Care Reform Bill and how he felt this bill may impact the future health care of brain injury survivors.

Our suggestions to Rep Gillespie included the following topics: 1. That Rep Gillespie remember the people he met at our meeting and the challenges they have shared with him about living everyday with a brain injury when he is involved with making future financial decision for health care in the Pa legislature. 2. That he consider the proposed bureau of state funded case managers to assist with information and referral and assistance in completing applications for appropriate brain injury resources in Pa. 3. That funding be considered to provide more TBI residences for supported independent living for brain injury survivors. 4. That more funding is needed for day care and respite services for those caregivers who need to work. 5. The need of more availability of transportation services to increase accessibilty to services and programs for brain injury survivors.

In closing Rep. Gillespie questioned if there were other states who have formed a Brain Injury caucus. If so which states have done so and what issues have they supported for brain injury survivors. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has this information to assist Rep. Gillespie to, as he put it "not reinvent the wheel" and to be most helpful to us.

Our group wants to thank Mike Miller and Monica Vaccaro for their assistance in preparing for this meeting with Rep. Gillespie and we certainly encourage other support groups to consider a similar meeting with their Pa State legislators to support the need for a Pa State Brain Injury Caucus in our state government.

Speaker :  "Living Life Fully with Disabilities"

During our July meeting, we had speaker who shared his experiences in successfully returning to a college curriculum, which included: accepting and utilizing the university's student help center, using a cane to stabilize ambulation, staying in shape in the university's gym, and receiving a lot of support from his family and friends. The topic of his speech was "Living Life Fully with Disabilities".

 The Aim HIgh support  group at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital had an accredited T'ai Chi Chih Instructor named Hope Spangler attend our 11/12/08 meeting. One of our members, Seth Ambrose,  has been taking her classes and asked her to attend  & demonstrate for us.  Eventually the group joined them.

Benefits of T'ai Chi Chih
  - Circulates and balances the intrinsic energy (chi) within us
  - Deeply relaxes and increases energy
  - Relieves daily tension and stress
  -  Promotes emotional well being
  - Enhances mental clarity
  - Stimulates creativity
  - Improves balance and flexibility
  - Has a positive effect on blood pressure and weight control

Here are some pictures from the event: