Brain Injury Awareness Month in March raises awareness and attention to understanding brain injuries and how to possibly prevent them. Cynthia, is a Developmental Disabilities (DD) Mentor with Easterseals PORT Health (ESPH). She also lives with a host family through ESPH’s Alternative Family Living (AFL) program. Cynthia generously shared her story of having a traumatic brain injury and how Easterseals PORT Health has supported her journey.
Cynthia and Kelly
In February 2020, Cynthia was in a car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). “I was not wearing my seatbelt when I hit another car and was thrown through the windshield. My journey with TBI started off very difficult, but with the right support, I have improved,” she says. “Sometimes you don’t fully recover and go back to being the person you were. Time does not heal all wounds. Instead, you adjust to your new situation.”
Since her accident, Cynthia has attended several conferences to learn as much as possible about brain injuries, advocacy and disability. “I have participated in both in-person and virtual support groups. I’ve also participated in day programs designed for individuals with TBI that have allowed me to socialize, receive education, motivate others, learn life skills through practice and engage with the community. My friend Kelly is a Disability Advocate and founder and CEO of Community Bridges Consulting Group. She was the first person who introduced me to advocacy.”
In her role as a DD Peer Mentor with our Individual and Community Services (ICS) team, Cynthia promotes self-determination, advocacy and resources for support to others with DD. She receives services from ESPH’s Alternative Family Living (AFL) program, which connects people with developmental disabilities with supportive host families. “The families help with daily living skills, encourage independence and create opportunities to successfully engage in community activities,” Cynthia says, “Easterseals PORT Health has given me the chance to live in a wonderful AFL home with Shamara and her partner, Ian. They have supported me from day one! They help me with my hair and we pray, worship, cook and watch movies together!”
Easterseals PORT Health (ESPH) also supports individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) through Specialized Consultative Services (SCS) through the TBI Waiver. Our team of Licensed Behavior Analysts collaborate with individuals and their support network to develop uniquely tailored intervention plans that help people improve their social life and community participation.
Cynthia and our SCS Team will be at this year’s Brain Injury Association of NC Annual Conference in Wrightsville Beach, NC in April. They will present how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can help with brain injury rehabilitation. Find out more about this year’s conference at: bianc.net/2026conferencehome.
Learn more about TBI and SCS at eastersealsPORT.com/specialized-consultative-services.
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Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, mental health and substance use services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,600 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.
