Injury Resources

We know you and your caregivers want (and need) to find out more about your injury. Over the months ahead, you will be searching for useful, reliable resources of information and news.

We've selected some Web sites that we think might be particularly helpful to you. We've included sites for brain injury, spinal cord injury, pediatric disabilities, and burns. We suggest that you also check the "other" category for topics of interest.

Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury is an insult to the brain caused by an external force. An acquired brain injury results from damage to the brain caused by strokes, tumors, hypoxia, toxins, degenerative diseases, near drowning, and/or other conditions not necessarily caused by an external force. Brain injuries may alter or diminish a person's state of consciousness and lead to an impairment of cognitive abilities and physical functioning.

The Head Injury Hotline offers an abundance of information, including a free newsletter, brain injury facts, a glossary, and help on finding a doctor or rehab center.

The Brain Injury Association site offers a frequently updated news section, links to state and national offices, and information on prevention and treatment, as well as a chat room.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord nerve cells resulting from some external physical force. It can result in permanent or temporary disability. If the cells are dead, the injury is referred to as "complete"; if the cells are sick or bruised, the injury is "incomplete." Levels of paralysis caused by spinal cord injury are tetraplegia, in which all four limbs are paralyzed, and paraplegia, in which the lower extremities are paralyzed.

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation offers a semi-monthly e-mail newsletter, statistics, and recent articles. Includes information about Central Nervous System injuries.

National Spinal Cord Injury Association offerings include fact sheets, online magazines for people with disabilities, and a long list of Internet resources.

Pediatric Disabilities

The March of Dimes defines a birth defect as "an abnormality of structure, function, or body metabolism (inborn error of body chemistry) present at birth that results in physical or mental disability, or is fatal." Birth defects are generally grouped into three categories: structural/metabolic, congenital infections, and other. In about 60% of birth defects, the causes are unknown.

The Birth Defect Research for Children site provides a free monthly newsletter, fact sheets for common birth defects, and a parent matching program. Additional resources are provided in a members only area.

The March of Dimes offers extensive information on birth defects, research, public policy and public affairs issues, March of Dimes programs, and related links.

United Cerebral Palsy offers information about research on Cerebral Palsy, but also offers information of general interest to people with disabilities, such as public awareness, public policy, advocacy, and a glossary.

Burns

A burn is damage to the body caused by contact with flames, hot substances, certain chemicals, radiation (including sunlight and x-rays), or electricity. The severity of a burn depends on how deep the tissue destruction reaches and how much of the body surface is affected. Burns are usually categorized as first-degree, in which only the epidermis is affected; second-degree, in which the damage extends through the epidermis into the dermis; and third-degree, in which the entire thickness of the skin is destroyed.

The Phoenix Society for burn survivors offers peer support topics, factual information, and lists of events and burn centers.

Other

Amputee-online offers background information, news, and membership in an amputee support group. Includes newsletter and product sources.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped offers bibliographies about services and assistive devices for people with disabilities.

National Foundation for Depressive Illness provides information on depression and how it can be treated. Includes the NFDI newsletter.