Traumatic Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund -Mississippi

09/21/2026

Fall Prevention Week - Do you know your balance score?

Don’t Fall Y’all! uses a quick, 60-second ZIBRIO balance screening to help individuals better understand their fall risk. Participants receive a stability score from 1–10, along with education and recommended next steps. Those receiving a high-risk score are strongly encouraged to seek a physical therapy evaluation.

We’ve already completed 672 screenings across Mississippi—and approximately 51% of those screened were identified as high risk.

Awareness is the first step toward prevention! Contact MDRS about bringing Don’t Fall Y’all! to your organization or community. Learn more at: https://www.mdrs.ms.gov/dontfallyall

09/06/2026

09/01/2026

🌟 Help us support Olivia Fonville! 🌟

At just 25 years old, Olivia is a law student, a recent spinal cord injury survivor, and now a semifinalist in the Next Runway Star competition.

Following her injury, Olivia demonstrated incredible perseverance—continuing her law school coursework from her hospital bed and completing three final exams. She entered this competition because she believes girls and young women who use wheelchairs deserve to see themselves represented in fashion.

If she wins, Olivia plans to purchase a lightweight wheelchair and use the remaining prize money to begin a scholarship for spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury survivors pursuing law school.

Olivia’s story is one of strength, determination, and using her own journey to create opportunities for others. Let’s help her take the next step!

🗳️ Supporters can cast one free vote each day after Facebook verification.

Vote here:
https://nextrunwaystar.com/2026/olivia-fonville

The semifinal round closes Thursday, September 3, at 9:00 p.m. Central Time. Please vote—and share Olivia’s story so others can support her too! 💙

Help Olivia Fonville advance in the Next Runway Star competition.

08/27/2026

Paula and I have enjoyed representing the MDRS Office of Special Disability Programs at The MIND Center’s 26th Annual Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias!

Through our Don’t Fall Y’all initiative, we have been providing balance screenings using the Zibrio Stability Scale and sharing fall-prevention resources with attendees. We have also enjoyed connecting with professionals from across Mississippi and raising awareness of the services available through our Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund and Home and Community-Based waiver programs.

We are grateful for every opportunity to build partnerships, share resources, and help Mississippians live safely and independently in their homes and communities!

07/09/2026

Laura Jones, CTRS|MDRS(TBI\SCI Trust Fund Coordinator) stops by the...

07/08/2026

We’re honored to celebrate 30 years of serving Mississippians affected by traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey! 💙 Please take a moment to read and share MDRS’s announcement below.

Today, Governor Reeves officially recognized July 1, 2026, as Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund 30th Anniversary Day in Mississippi by signing a proclamation honoring three decades of service to Mississippians.

For 30 years, the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services' Office of Special Disability Programs has administered the Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, helping individuals and families rebuild lives after life-changing injuries. From home and vehicle modifications to assistive technology, direct services, prevention initiatives, and community grants, the Trust Fund has created opportunities for greater independence and hope across our state.

As we continue our Power of 30 campaign, this proclamation serves as a reminder that behind every milestone is a story of resilience, recovery, and possibility.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make the past 30 years possible—and to the survivors, families, caregivers, advocates, and partners who inspire this work every day.

06/11/2026

🤠💙 Don’t Fall Y’all! Keeping Mississippians Moving Forward and Falling Less. 💙🤠

The TBI/SCI Trust Fund team recently visited The Charleston Place in Mantachie and The Meadows of Fulton as part of our Don’t Fall Y’all fall prevention initiative.

Using the Zibrio Balance Scale, we screened residents and employees to help them better understand their balance health and personal risk for falls. These screenings create valuable opportunities for one-on-one conversations about fall prevention, safety strategies, and ways to maintain independence and mobility.

We were encouraged by the participation from both residents and staff who took the time to learn more about their balance and how small changes can make a big difference in preventing falls.

Falls can happen to anyone, but education and awareness are key to prevention. Through outreach efforts like these, we’re committed to keeping Mississippians moving forward and falling less.

Thank you to The Charleston Place and The Meadows of Fulton for partnering with us to promote safer, healthier communities!

05/30/2026

⚾🌪️ Come Cheer on the Deep South Hurricanes Tomorrow! 🌪️⚾

The TBI/SCI Trust Fund is proud to support MACE and the Deep South Hurricanes Wheelchair Softball Team!

Join us tomorrow at 10:00 AM at Wolcott Park in Ridgeland for a Charity Double Header benefiting this incredible team. Bring your family and friends and help support adaptive sports and inclusion in Mississippi.

📍 Wolcott Park, Ridgeland, MS
⏰ 10:00 AM

Let’s pack the park and cheer on these amazing athletes! 💙💪

05/29/2026

🩵 Stories like these remind us why prevention matters. 🩵

The Mississippi TBI/SCI Trust Fund is honored to support innovative programs that make a real difference in the lives of Mississippians. Recently, we received several heartfelt thank-you notes from riders and families who received equestrian safety helmets through the To Be Lazy Farm Safety Division, led by Angie Barnard

These notes are more than words on paper—they represent riders who are safer, families who have peace of mind, and a community that is embracing brain injury prevention.

🐴⛑️ Angie’s story makes this program even more meaningful. As a brain injury survivor following a horse-related accident, she understands firsthand the life-changing impact a traumatic brain injury can have. Today, she is turning her experience into action by providing equestrian helmets and promoting riding safety across Mississippi.

Through her dedication and the support of the TBI/SCI Trust Fund, countless riders are receiving the protection they need to enjoy the sport they love more safely.

To Angie, thank you for your passion, advocacy, and commitment to preventing brain injuries. Your work is creating lasting change and helping protect future generations of riders.

And to everyone who took the time to send these beautiful notes and photos—thank you for sharing your stories. They remind us that prevention programs truly save lives.

❤️ Please join us in celebrating Angie Barnard and the incredible impact of the To Be Lazy Farm Safety Division! Help us thank Angie Barnard in the comments below! 👇🐴⛑️