My Nonprofit Reviews

I thank God each day for Side By Side Brain Injury Clubhouse. Our daughter has gained back much of her self-confidence since becoming a member of the Clubhouse. Her brain injury has left her with some facial disfiguration, short term memory loss, loss of vision in one eye and left side paralysis. The Clubhouse has helped her realize that she is not alone with the struggle to become a useful member of society. She has found a warm, supportive family of employees and other Club members. She has attended camp, an international conference, real world work experience, community volunteer activities and monthly peer group sessions giving her the exposure she could never have gotten anywhere else!!

The Clubhouse has helped me as caregiver through its monthly caregivers' meetings. We have a place we can meet and share common experiences and concerns. I have made new friends and found a great support group. The guest speakers have been knowledgeable in areas that are so relevant to coping with my new normal. For instance, I had never heard of a Special Needs Trust until the attorney talked with us about it. It has given me a new comfort level knowing I will be able to provide for our daughter after our death. The medical specialists have helped me understand many of the behavior and emotional changes seen in our daughter since her brain injury.

The staff is always willing to listen, advise and seek answers to my questions. Their primary concern at all times is the well being and safety of the members. I have never found or heard of a more supportive place for brain injury adults to thrive and become all they can become. This is a very special organization that serves the needs of a growing adult population with special needs. My prayer is that God will continue to open more doors so that Side By Side Brain Injury Clubhouse will be able to grow its program and facility to meet these special needs in our communities.

I was introduced to Side By Side about 8 months ago by my daughter's psychologist who felt it would be ideal therapy for confidence building, providing a social outlet and giving her a sense of purpose and reintroduction to the work force. About two and a half years earlier, she had experienced an acquired brain injury after what was supposed to have been a routine surgery.

Our experience with Side By Side has proven to far exceed all expectations. The staff, volunteers and board members are so perceptive, patient and genuinely care about each member. They constantly pour into the lives of the members, giving them hope for a better tomorrow. Getting up early three days a week to report to work has been an excellent source of motivation because she knows others are expecting and relying on her to complete the tasks assigned. Being with others who are experiencing similar disabilities (mobility, memory, thought processing, etc.) have helped her verbalize and face her limitations without feeling that she is the only person going through a "make over or new normal. " Learning about and meeting others who have been successful in starting a new life after brain injury has given her an "I can attitude."

Side By Side offers monthly caregiver meetings where those of us serving as primary caregivers have an opportunity to share and learn from each other. Frequently guest speakers from various fields of study and experience including finance, social services, psychology, medical professionals in the areas of healing and understanding brain injuries to name a few, are invited to provide guidance, resources and support as we adjust to our new life challenges.

I have the utmost confidence in leaving my daughter in the care of Side By Side. I know she is happy there in a caring, learning environment and is gaining more independence. It has allowed me to start back picking up the pieces of my life that I had to drop when my daughter was injured. A brain injury affects the whole family, not just the injured member.

I do not know of any organization more deserving of support, whether as a volunteer or financial support, than Side By Side. It has made an immense difference in the lives of families throughout the state of Georgia. I would encourage everyone to prayerfully consider how you can best become a supporter of this life changing organization.