We are committed to supporting individuals affected by Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), mental health conditions, and housing needs. We offer a full range of services, in (5)

WHAT WE DO

Here at the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society (SOSBIS), we focus on a range of services and initiatives to support individuals affected by Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), as well as their families and caregivers:

Promoting Knowledge and Understanding: Educating the public and communities about the unique needs of individuals with ABI, fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment
Prevention Education: Offering educational programs to individuals, families, caregivers, and the broader community aimed at preventing brain injuries and enhancing awareness of brain health
Support Services for Survivors and Families: Providing access to essential resources, including facilities, programs, and housing support for individuals and families affected by ABI, ensuring they receive the care they need for recovery and stability
Access to Community-Based Supports: Assisting individuals with ABI in connecting with local resources, healthcare services, and community-based programs that support their ongoing recovery and integration
Advocacy: Acting as a voice for individuals impacted by ABI, ensuring their rights and needs are represented in healthcare, legal, and social systems
Homeless Outreach and Mental Health Programs: Addressing homelessness, and mental health by offering specialized outreach services and mental health support to individuals facing these challenges

Through these efforts, the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society (SOSBIS) aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with ABI and promote their successful reintegration into society.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT SERVICES

We provide personalized support for individuals, organize group outings for social engagement, and offer assistance to caregivers to help them manage their responsibilities.

Survivor Stories here
Brainstormer Video
Our Family pictures

Brain Injury Education Programs

At the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society (SOSBIS), we are dedicated to spreading brain injury awareness through a variety of key initiatives, including:

Brain Injury Prevention & Education: The goal is to decrease the occurrence of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) by promoting safe practices, particularly among young people, in everyday activities.

Brain Safe Program: At SOSBIS We offer free helmets to low-income families and individuals who cannot afford a properly fitting helmet.

Helmet Information: If you have questions about buying a helmet for yourself or a child, here at SOSBIS we provide helmet fitting information and guidelines to help ensure a proper fit.

Brain Injury 101 Educational Series: This educational series provides an introduction to brain anatomy and explains the effects of brain injury.

The Stroke Navigator Program: A non-medical, community support service that helps stroke survivors and their caregivers adjust to life after a stroke and to reintegrate back into the community.

Brain injury Stroke Programs

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C.H.'s SURVIVAL STORY

A few years prior to his accident, C.H. was involved in many extracurricular activities at school, such as student council, basketball, and baseball. Growing up, he spent a lot of time with his family in the outdoors and playing baseball. And although he hasn’t played since the accident, the supports he received at the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society (SOSBIS), specifically, the benefit of receiving orthotics to help him stand up straight, has made him hopeful that he can pick up playing sports again.

On October 18, 1996, C.H. was driving home to Hedley from a job in Princeton B.C., when he was involved in a motor vehicle collision that changed his life forever. He was not expected to survive when he was taken to a Vancouver area hospital; yet after 27 days in a coma and a few months of rehabilitation at GF Strong, he began to heal at a rapid pace while learning strategies to cope with his brain injury. Early into his recovery, a staff member from SOSBIS reached out to him. He continues to struggle with memory, organization and feels that he doesn’t always know where he “fits in.” Always an avid outdoorsman, he remains physically healthy and loves to walk. C.H. continues to use strategies such as writing important information and appointments in a notebook to help keep on top of his appointments. A very positive person, C.H. often expresses his gratitude for the support and services he has received, such as connecting to community services, advocacy, and assistance with paperwork. He has also volunteered his time to help at SOSBIS events. “You just have to put a smile on your face when you leave home,” he said. One of his greatest accomplishments is that he attended Kwantlen Polytechnic University post injury, and has had steady employment for 25+ years.

G.W.'s SURVIVAL STORY

G.W. worked in construction and retired at age 55. He was a very active person and physically healthy. He was an avid golfer, who also enjoyed kayaking, biking, sea-dooing and four-wheeling. During the winter months, he spent his time down-hill skiing.

G.W. remembers being home when his stroke happened. His speech was impaired and he remembers that his right side was weak. His wife took him to the hospital, where he fell out of the jeep. He remembers that there was snow on the grass, which luckily cushioned his fall. He was promptly put in a wheelchair. The next memory he has is when he woke in the ICU of a different hospital, 2 days later.

For him, the most difficult challenge is Aphasia. Aphasia is a disorder that affects how you communicate. It can impact your speech, as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and written language. Aphasia usually happens suddenly after a stroke or a brain injury (Staff, 2022). He could not read the alphabet or communicate 3-word sentences.

G.W. is very appreciative of the clinical and support staff at Kelowna General Hospital. Because of those initial supports received, he has made significant improvements. Interior Health Community Physiotherapy in Kelowna referred him to the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society (SOSBIS) in Penticton for ongoing community-based support to continue his recovery journey.

He has attended many brain injury/stroke education sessions at SOSBIS and took part in the Writing out Loud group to practice writing and speaking. G.W. also participates in the Brain Buddy Network, an initiative from SOSBIS’s Brainstormers, a volunteer group of survivors that are ready to give back to the community and make a difference to those more recently affected by stroke or brain injury. A Brain Buddy Network volunteer phones him 2-3 times per month to share a conversation and common experiences when recovering from stroke. The Network also provides a safe space to talk openly about challenges and successes. G.W. expressed that he likes the “stroke buddy who calls him weekly because he gets to practice his vocabulary with them.” These phone calls are integral to the healing process. This is where buddies connect and truly feel heard and understood because of their shared experiences.

When asked if there was anything else he would like to share, he added, “my story is not so much what happened to me, but what I can do now. I can take a shower and get dressed myself. I can make my bed and vacuum to help out around the house.”