The certification, awarded by the Academy of Certified Brain  Injury Specialists (ACBIS), ensures both Kerr and Cinelli are up-to-date on all the latest brain injury matters and are knowledgeable on how best to care for brain injury survivors as they navigate through the continuum of care in both the healthcare industry and the courts. The certification involves testing, over 500 hours of verifiable brain injury experience and other comprehensive requirements, with no exceptions allowed.

“Our certified brain specialists enhance the firm’s leadership in the brain and spinal cord injury field by collaborating with the medical community to ensure our clients receive the best available healthcare and resources,” said Frank Toral, senior partner at Toral Garcia Battista and founder of the Toral Family Foundation. “We are not aware of any other law firm in the state that has brain injury specialists on board to provide this level of meaningful care to survivors and their families.”

As Director of Care Management, Kerr is responsible for providing high-level ongoing care management for the law firm’s clients by serving as a liaison to various members of the healthcare community, such as physicians, social workers, registered nurses, physician assistants, and trauma case/program managers.  In her capacity as Director of Community Relations, Cinelli is charged with linking survivors of a brain or spinal cord injury and their families with resources as well as managing the firm’s extensive community outreach efforts.

ACBIS certification is a nationally recognized credential that demonstrates specific training in brain injury services in a healthcare field. Those certified must show competency in knowledge of brain anatomy, types of brain injuries, the myriad of agencies that deal with such injuries, effective treatments, specialization of issues for children and adolescents, as well as health and medical management and surrounding legal and ethical issues.

Jeffrey Barth, Ph.D., ABPP-CN (Director, Brain Injury and Sports Concussion Institute University of Virginia School of Medicine) speaks on identifying a concussion and it’s long and short term effects.

To view original video click here

To see Diane’s full bio click here

Rick Hanson, an incredible champion for all those who live with disabilities, just finished polishing off the latest shining star added to his cause: a Global Accessibility Map. This brand new online rating tool is designed for people with disabilities to help and connect with each other through their daily experiences in public venues, allowing them to evaluate and share the accessibility of restaurants, hotels and other sites.  The Global Accessibility Map, released a few weeks ago, is as an easy-to-use source for people with all varieties of disabilities, including mobility, sight and hearing impairments. Visually impaired users can also access the internet-based map using standard software programs that convert text into audible content.

Similar to sites like Yelp or Urbanspoon, users can sort through reviews by geographic location, type of impairment, kind of place, name, rating level, or any combination, and later return to post reviews and comments. This interactive system allows both users and venue owners to better understand the real world accessibility of a place, rather than just by a theoretical rating.   Imagine arriving somewhere that had described itself online as “fully acessible,” only to realize that there are 3 steps between you and the front door. Daryl Rock, the chairman of the Accessibility Map’s steering committee and himself a wheelchair user, notes that all too often “there is a disconnect between the venue owner’s perception and the consumer’s assessment of reality.” Through the Global Accessibility Map, says Rock, “we have the opportunity to take matters into our own hands.”

The Map was introduced this year as part of the 25th anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour, and represents, as its website describes, “a unique call to action designed to focus on improving physical access to the public built environment in communities around the world.” The opportunity to not only search, but to leave reviews and comment on venues, enables all people to make informed decisions on everyday activities.  Rick Hansen, the foundation’s creator, knows how important this is better than anyone.  At the age of 15, he was paralyzed in a car crash, and since then, his enthusiasm and devotion towards disability awareness has been unparalleled.  Most famously, he is known for his Man in Motion World Tour, a 26-month, 34-country trek he took in a wheelchair 25 years ago to raise money and awareness for spinal cord injury research.

For more information, please visit www.rickhansen.com/accessibility/.

The technology is simply based on the Laws of Physics: an increase in atmospheric pressure results in more gas being dissolved in any given liquid. In HBOT, the gas is oxygen and the liquid is blood. So when a person enters a HBOT chamber, more oxygen is dissolved in the blood. Even more importantly, under pressure created in the HBOT chamber, oxygen does not only absorb into red blood cells (the usual way we get oxygen), but it also dissolves into the blood plasma.

This is the most significant aspect of HBOT, because when that plasma circulates near dormant or injured tissues, the oxygen in the plasma will dissolve further into the cells there. In fact, damaged or injured cells can receive much more oxygen from the blood plasma than from red blood cell in the “traditional” delivery system. With the use of HBOT, increased oxygen supply has been proven to enhance the recovery of even severely damaged tissues, such as damaged brain cells (encephalopathy brain), a bruised muscle, a sprained tendon, surgical wound, etc.

With this technology forming the background, the U.S. military plans clinical trials next year to determine whether breathing pure oxygen in HBOT might be key to helping thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.

An estimated 300 service members with brain damage ranging from mild to moderate will participate in the trials of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help determine the extent to which it can help them both heal and ease symptoms like headaches and mood swings.

Some participants will spend as many as 40 hours over 10 weeks breathing pure oxygen in a HBOT chamber.  The experiment will also employ a control group who will breathe regular “room air” in a hyperbaric chamber under conditions that will approximate the pressure the test group will feel.

“There is sufficient evidence to say, ‘You know what, we ought to take a look at it,’” said Col. Richard Ricciardi, research director for the Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, speaking of the decades of data supporting HBOT effectiveness.

Ironically, it because improved combat protection and medical care have allowed  more service members to survive explosions and other traumas that would have been fatal in previous wars, that the military is faced with a rising number of traumatic brain injuries.

The Defense Department said nearly 120,000 service men and women suffered traumatic brain injuries from 2003 through 2009.

The HBOT tests are expected to get under way in January or February 2012 at Fort Carson, Colo., Camp Pendleton, Calif., Brooks City-Base, Texas, and Camp Lejeune, N.C. ( and a fifth site that will be designated later).

Find out more about HBOT here: http://www.natural-cancer-cures.com/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy.html

Toral Garcia Battista, a brain and spinal cord injury law firm in Florida, today announced LeAnne Kerr has joined the firm as the new director of care management. In this role, LeAnne will be responsible for providing high-level ongoing care management for the law firm’s clients. She will also engage with and serve as a liaison to various members of the healthcare community, such as physicians, social workers, registered nurses, physician assistants and trauma case/program managers.

“LeAnne brings tremendous experience to our firm as a seasoned trauma manager and registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing,” said Frank Toral, senior partner at Toral Garcia Battista. “This is a unique opportunity to serve those affected by brain and spinal cord injuries and their families while working with top professionals from both the health care and legal fields.”

Prior to joining the firm, Kerr was the trauma program manager at Miami Children’s Hospital, where she supervised the nursing care of all trauma alert and trauma registry patients from admission to discharge. In addition, she oversaw the trauma registry and all data submitted to the state, monitored trends in performance improvement, and maintained standards and programs aimed at ensuring quality trauma patient care.

She has also served as the trauma clinical coordinator, emergency department clinical coordinator and emergency department staff registered nurse at Miami Children’s Hospital. In addition to her tenure at Miami Children’s Hospital, Kerr also worked as a registered nurse in the emergency department at Memorial Hospital in Miramar, and as a travel RN in the emergency department at Broward General Medical Center. Kerr has also served as a clinical instructor for Keiser University, where she supervised the nursing students through their pediatric clinical rotation at Miami Children’s Hospital.

“I was extremely impressed by the firm’s staff and their commitment to help patients and their families cope with the challenges of a traumatic brain injury,” said LeAnne Kerr. “My passion for helping and advocating for traumatically injured patients epitomizes my nursing career. By applying this passion with my many years of nursing experience, as well as community involvement, I will help patients find the most appropriate traumatic brain injury resources.”

Kerr earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Miami. She currently holds national certifications as a brain injury specialist (CBIS), a pediatric nurse (CPN), pediatric emergency nurse (CPEN) and child passenger safety technician (CPST).  Kerr is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the Society of Trauma Nurses, Emergency Nurses Association, and the American Trauma Society.

This past June, 75 retired National Football League players sued their former employer for concealing the well-documented knowledge of the harmful effects associated with football-related concussions from not only its players, but from coaches and trainers as well.  Shockingly, records show that this evidence of serious brain damage has been known as far back as the 1920’s—over 90 years ago.  The suit also claimed fraud against a paper published in 2004 that showed the results of a 1994 study concluding that there was “no evidence of worsening injury or chronic cumulative effects” from concussions.  This study was instrumental in allowing players who had suffered concussions to return to play on the day that they were injured, if they were without symptom and cleared by a doctor.  It was only recently revealed that this could result in devastating and permanent brain damage, and this sobering revelation was the basis for the suit.  The suit states that “it was not until June 2010 that the NFL acknowledged that concussions can lead to dementia, memory loss, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and related symptoms by publishing [a] warning to every player and team.”

Even the top sports news websites acknowledge that concussions have become a major issue in professional sports over the past several years. It seems that more evidence is constantly surfacing on their potentially harmful long-term effects across the board of professional sports. Most famously, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was forced to end his consecutive games played streak due to a severe concussion that contributed to ending of his career. These former players accused the NFL of engaging in “a scheme of fraud and deceit” by having members of the NFL’s Brain Injury Committee “deny knowledge of a link between concussion and cognitive decline and claim that more time was needed to reach a definitive conclusion on the issue.”

As more and more attention was given to the negligent behavior of the NFL, and increasing numbers of retired players stepped up in support of the suit, it became very clear that the issues could not be ignored.  The lockout that began in March, in response to this overwhelming feeling of betrayal by the players towards their employers lasted 4 1/2 months. The new collective bargaining agreement was signed on August 5, and a settlement followed thereafter.

The fall season is already in full swing, but hopefully this time around with much more awareness and safety.

TORAL GARCIA BATTISTA WELCOMES DAVID J. WHITE

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (September 22, 2011) — Toral Garcia Battista, a brain and spinal cord injury law firm in Florida, today announced the addition of David J. White, P.A. to the firm.

Prior to joining the firm, White was a shareholder for twelve years at the law firm of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. in West Palm Beach, where he successfully litigated numerous catastrophic injury cases against America’s largest corporations.

“With over one hundred circuit civil jury and non-jury trials and many seven and eight figure verdicts to his credit, David is a seasoned trial lawyer that adds an important dynamic to our litigation team” said Frank Toral, senior partner at Toral Garcia Battista and founder of Toral Family Foundation.

“Toral Garcia Battista is a very well-regarded firm, and I am honored to be part of a team who does so much for the communities it serves,” said David White. “My legal background will enrich the positive work of the firm and foundation.”

White began his legal career as a law clerk for Justice Joe L. Martinez of the New Mexico Supreme Court, followed by a clerkship with The Honorable W.O. Mehrtens of the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. He practiced law in Miami with Frates, Floyd, Pearson, Stewart, Proenza & Richman, and also with Beckham, McAliley & Proenza. He was a founding partner in Proenza, White, Huck & Roberts.

White is a member of both the Florida Bar and the New Mexico Bar. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Super Lawyers, and The American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the State of Florida. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame.

About Toral Garcia Battista

Founded in 1995, Toral Garcia Battista is a brain and spinal cord injury law firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with offices in Tallahassee and Tampa. Led by Frank Toral, senior partner, the firm’s fundamental philosophy maintains legal services must be combined with caring and compassion for each of the firm’s clients. As a testament to the firm’s philosophy, Toral founded the Toral Family Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hope and improving the lives of all persons and their families impacted by a brain or spinal cord injury through research, education and access to community resources. For more information on the Toral Family Foundation visit www.toralfamilyfoundation.org. For more information on Toral Garcia Battista visit www.torallaw.com.

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Email: sarah@theodonnellagency.com

Let me introduce you to Micah Matisse.  Named after the prophet, Micah, and the artist, Henri Matisse, this highly trained assistant also has many talents.  Not only is he able to be constantly focused and attentive, he intuitively knows when someone needs help and is always there to be of aid.  He also has a tremendous heart, incredible loyalty and his fur coat is so soft that you could pet him for hours.  Micah is a service dog, trained to faithfully stay by the side of his owner, Claudia Osborn, who suffered from a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a car.

After her tragic accident, Dr. Claudia Osborn—who had been a practicing physician in Detroit—suffered from adynamia, a condition caused by significant brain damage.  Adynamia affects the frontal lobes of the brain, which control functions like decision making, planning, and abstract thinking.  For the rest of her life, Dr. Osborn has to struggle with maintaining her independence and autonomy, despite the fact that she needs constant care and medical treatment.

That’s where Micah comes in. Micah is a trained service animal, so he is especially sensitive to Dr. Osborn’s unique needs.  His companionship allows Dr. Osborn to lead quite an independent life.  Micah is there to help her stay focused, giving her cues, reminding her to take her medication and keeping her from wandering off or getting lost by unfailingly leading her back to her car in a parking lot, her chair in a restaurant, or her friend’s side in a crowded shopping mall.  In part, with the independence that Micah’s assistance allows her, Dr. Osborn has become a global advocate for TBI education and prevention.  Because of Micah, she can travel and speak at conferences all over the world.  Wherever she goes, Micah (who is small enough to fit in a backpack) goes with her.

Almost as importantly, Micah’s participation in Dr. Osborn’s recovery has allowed her to be able to once again engage in one of her favorite sports: roller blading.  After the accident but before she had Micah, Dr. Osborn would be inattentive skating on the bike path, not noticing oncoming people and making collisions more likely.  Now, snuggled into a backpack right behind her, Micah nudges Dr. Osborn every time someone approaches.  Now she can stay alert and mindful while she’s skating and can do it safely.

Many people assume that service or therapy dogs are only for the visually impaired, often referred to as “seeing-eye” dogs.  However, the loyalty and earnestness of dogs is undeniable, and so many of them can make not only wonderfully dear companions, but invaluable assistants to those with life-altering disabilities or circumstances.

For more information about service dogs, how they’re trained and how to apply for a dog, visit the Canine Companions for Independence website at www.cci.org.