ABSTRACT
One of the key roles of a self-help group is to co-ordinate dissemination of information from professionals to families, from families to professionals, from the group to health and social services, and broadly to the general public through the media and through events. The masculine pronoun is used in this chapter for ease of expression and because most brain-injured people are male. As recently as 1980 America had hardly any services for brain-injured people. The National Head Injury Foundation (NHIF) started talking to Congress and setting up a network of self-help groups all over America. There are a number of charities for specific disorders associated with brain injury in the UK and these are listed at the end of the chapter. Affiliation to a national charity such as The Amnesia Association (AMNASS) or HEADWAY (The National Head Injuries Association) plugs a local group into back-up advice, literature, newsletters, events and information and can represent local views in national lobbying.
