February 19, 2007

Olympia - Representative Dennis Flannigan (D-Tacoma) has spent the past several years listening to countless stories of people falling through the cracks of the state's health care and social service safety nets. Their problem? Traumatic brain injuries that are medical in nature, but require long-term care usually provided through social services.

Flannigan has introduced House Bill 2055 to begin a conversation about how to define traumatic brain injuries and set the stage for a statewide effort to help brain injury victims. Traumatic brain injury can be caused by a wide range of medical conditions or injuries from car accidents, domestic violence, war combat and sports. Flannigan says because brain injuries aren't always diagnosed, it often goes untreated and the effects can be devastating. Brain injury victims might suffer from behavior changes and wild mood swings, depression, memory loss, seizures and more.

"Traumatic brain injury is a silent reality," says Flannigan. "It affects thousands of people yet we aren't talking about it. We need to start the conversation."

What: A work session and public hearing

Who: Advocates for veterans groups, domestic violence groups, health and social service organizations and more

When: February 20 at 8 a.m.

Where: House Hearing Room D (John L. O'Brien Building)