So far, Paul has achieved quite a lot in 10 years of advocacy. Paul is on a Mission. His goal is to gain awareness for the "leading cause of death and disability in the United States" (NASHIA). Gaining awareness will increase quality of care over time. We are learning that brain Injury is often overlooked in assessment environments.
He tells his story of cobbling his own recovery on his own with the help of a few friends. His Talks have been called Inspiring, Determined and AMAZE-ing. Every Talk has a fellow very quiet traveller wanting to his ear to hear them.
Every year, Paul visits Washington, DC to advocate and learn what the latest and greatest modality is gaining life post brain trauma.
His work with Brain Injury Advisory Council where he joined in 2008 with Advisors from US States as an adjunct to the Brain Injury Association of America is highly valued as it feeds his Mission to help the next fellow traveller along their path.
Paul has shared his story with fine learned folks at:
Brain Injury Services - Springfield, VA
- George Washington University - Speech Graduate Prog (DC) George Mason University - Haptic Lab
- Argosy University (VA),
- Rotary Club (Arlington, VA, Lafayette, LA),
- Kiwanis Club (Lafayette, LA)
- Brain Injury Association of LA Conference - Shreveport, LA
- University of Louisiana - Lafayette - Communication Disorder Department, TBI Course Study Class
- HOSA - Lafayette High - Healthcare Students of America
- Smoky Breaux's BBQ in the Parc (Breaux Bridge, LA)
- Children's Hospital - Health Expo (New Orleans, LA)
- Louisiana State University Speech and Hearing Dept (Baton Rouge, LA) and plenty more, adding countless healthcare professionals eager to gain insights.
Paul volunteers his time with:
- Model Systems Knowledge Transfer Center, TBI Model Systems, Washington, DC (2009)
- Brain Injury Association of America (2008)
- Association for Community Living (ACL), Washington, DC (2015)
- AMAZE Brain Injury Support Group (2011)
- AMAZE Foundation as a Speaker and Brain Injury Group Leader (ongoing)
Links to articles and books Paul's work has been mentioned:
The INDependent by Amanda Bedgood
The Shreveport Times article in process
KLFY News Megan Kelly
The Challenge Magazine - Brain Injury Association of America written by Amy Zellmer (Summer 2017)
PodCast
Amy Zellmer talks about how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy changed the game while my doctors watched