Brain Injury Association of Arizona

09/02/2026

✨ The witches are back—and we’re going to the movies! ✨

The Brain Injury Association of Arizona invites survivors of brain injury to join us for a special community outing to see Practical Magic 2! Enjoy an afternoon of movie magic, friendship, and fun with others who understand the brain injury journey.

This socialization and recreation opportunity is made possible through funds raised by the 2026 Run, Walk, & Roll. Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, volunteered, and helped create opportunities like this for Arizona’s brain injury community! 💜

🎟️ Advance registration is required.
🪑 Seating is limited.
👥 Each registered survivor may bring one guest, but the guest must also complete a separate registration.

Reserve your seats before they disappear like magic:
https://biaaz.org/event/lets-go-to-the-movies-practical-magic-2/

Join us for Ryan Gosling in HAIL MARY!

09/02/2026

🍂 Hello, September! 🍂

Here in Arizona, “comfortably cool” may still feel a little more like a promise than a forecast. September brings its own sense of possibility: a new page, a changing rhythm, and a reminder to notice the life unfolding around us.

“...some of the rarest days of the year come in September, days when it is comfortably cool but pulsing with life.”
—Hal Borland

Hal Borland was an American nature writer, journalist, and novelist whose work explored the changing seasons, the outdoors, and how human life connects to the natural world. Throughout his long literary career, he wrote books, essays, and decades of nature pieces for The New York Times.

At the Brain Injury Association of Arizona, we welcome September with hope for survivors, caregivers, families, and professionals throughout our community. May this month bring meaningful connections, unexpected moments of joy, and progress at whatever pace is right for you.

Welcome, September. We are glad you are here. 💙

08/29/2026

August is National Wellness Month, and the Brain Injury Association of Arizona is reminding caregivers and family members that your health matters. You help others in your life by remembering appointments, managing medications, solving problems, providing encouragement, working extra hours, and caring for someone you love. Remember to put yourself on the care list, too.

Caregiver wellness rarely looks like a spa day or a perfect self-care routine. Give yourself some credit and build on habits such as:

💧 Drinking some water
🥗 Eating something nourishing
😴 Protecting your sleep when possible
🚶 Taking a short walk or stretch break
😂 Doing something that makes you laugh
📞 Connecting with someone who understands
🩺 Keeping your own medical appointments

At times, caregiving means working with whatever is left in the cup.

BIAAZ offers a monthly VIRTUAL support group exclusively for family members and caregivers, facilitated by Lana Sunderland. Feel free to join us from wherever you are to connect with people who understand the caregiving journey.

Visit BIAAZ.org to learn more.

08/29/2026

A day at an amusement park should not end with a life-changing brain injury.

The X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California has been closed following reports that two riders suffered severe brain hemorrhages within days of one another. According to a recent investigation, both women lost consciousness after riding and required emergency brain surgery—one reportedly remains in a coma.

This troubling story reminds us that a brain injury can happen in seconds and may not always be immediately visible. After any forceful movement or blow to the head, symptoms such as a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, weakness, unusual behavior, slurred speech, seizures, or loss of consciousness require immediate medical attention.

The Brain Injury Association of Arizona sends its deepest concern to the injured riders and their loved ones.

Read the article: https://www.wral.com/news/ap/six-flags-x2-magic-mountain-roller-coaster-linked-brain-injuries-august-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

A CNN investigation finds more than a dozen people who rode the X2 roller coaster at California's Six Flags Magic Mountain suffered serious injuries and hospitalizations over nearly two decades.

08/28/2026

💙 August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day.

Grief after a brain injury can take many forms. Survivors may grieve changes in their abilities, relationships, careers, independence, identities, or future plans. Family members and caregivers may also grieve what has changed while feeling deeply grateful that their loved one survived.

These feelings can exist together.

Grief does not follow a schedule, and it is not a sign that someone has stopped hoping or working toward recovery. It is a natural response to loss and change—even when those losses may not be visible to others.

Today, the Brain Injury Association of Arizona recognizes everyone navigating grief after brain injury. You do not have to explain, minimize, or carry it alone. Connection, understanding, and support can help.

08/27/2026

☀️ Beat the Arizona heat with a movie mystery! 🔍
Arizona brain injury survivors, stay cool, stay hydrated, and enjoy some indoor fun with a free, ad-supported screening of the comedy classic Clue on YouTube.

The film stars the incomparable Tim Curry, who recently passed away at age 80. Following a major stroke in 2012, Curry continued performing, making appearances and connecting with fans. We remember him for his resilience, unmistakable voice, brilliant comedic timing, and the joy he brought to generations of movie lovers.

Grab some water, settle into your coolest room, and enjoy this wonderfully silly mystery in his honor. ❤️

🎬 Watch Clue on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT02T3kXDJY

Streaming availability may vary by account or location.

08/26/2026

📱 Social media can do more than entertain—it can educate, connect, and build community. Our newest BrainWaves blog post highlights social media influencers who use their platforms to make brain health information more accessible, relatable, and even fun. We’re grateful for their creativity and their commitment to raising awareness, sharing helpful information, and bringing a little more joy into our lives.

Thank you to these creators for helping keep brain health in the conversation!

Read the article: https://biaaz.org/brainwaves-blog/

While you are out there clicking and scrolling, you can also revisit one of our most popular blogs on social media influencer Jason Lalli: https://biaaz.org/brain-waves/meet-jason-lalli/

08/25/2026

Dolly gave the world so much more than unforgettable music. She was a generous philanthropist who supported medical research, healthcare innovation, childhood literacy, and people facing difficult times. Through her compassion and generosity, she helped create healthier communities and brighter futures.

The Brain Injury Association of Arizona joins people everywhere in remembering a woman who cared deeply about others' well-being.

In Dolly’s honor, do something kind today. Donate a book, support meaningful research, encourage someone facing a difficult journey, or simply help another person feel seen. A life so generously lived deserves to inspire generosity in all of us.

Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the laughter, the kindness, and the hope. Your legacy will continue to make the world a better place.

08/25/2026

Join our Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders Program for their next Virtual Workshop!

In this free webinar, behavioral and neuropsychiatrist Yonas E. Geda, MD, MSc, will discuss changes in memory and brain function that occur as we age—and how lifestyle habits can support healthy aging and overall brain health.

📆: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026
⏰: 10 to 11:30 a.m. (PDT/ time)
💻: Virtual via Zoom (registration required)

Workshop participants who do not have a pre-existing neurological condition may also schedule a free, confidential 30-minute with a team member. These screenings are intended for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Time slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please register by noon (PDT/Arizona time) on Friday, Aug. 28 by visiting https://bar.rw/brainhealth831.

08/25/2026

💙 REMINDER for our support group this week! 🤝
🖱️ Register online at https://biaaz.org/survivors-and-family/
❓📞 For more information or assistance registering, reach out to [email protected], call our Helpline at 888-500-9165 or text 520-310-3301

☀️ Never been to a group? Beat the summer heat and try something new this week!

Whether you join us in person or from the comfort of home, a brain injury support group is a welcoming place to:

💙 Connect with people who understand
💙 Share your story—or simply listen
💙 Learn from others’ experiences
💙 Remember that you are not alone

No one is expected to speak, and you don't need to know what to expect. Just come as you are and see if a support group feels right for you.

Try an in-person or virtual brain injury support group this week. A supportive community is waiting to welcome you!

🙌🏾 You can help us keep these groups going - consider supporting BIAAZ with a donation so that we can continue to offer vital resources and information like these support groups to the brain injury community. https://biaaz.org/donation/