BIASC Celebrates 25 Years of Providing Resources to the South Carolina Brain Injury Community

Columbia, SC – There are nearly 175,000 South Carolinians living with a disability from a brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of SC (BIASC) has been helping brain injury survivors and their families navigate a complicated health care system and advocate for their disability access and rights since 1998.

“The BIASC was born out of the need for persons with brain injury across South Carolina to have the information and ongoing support to live their lives to their fullest potential,” said Dr. Sheldon Herring, the Clinical Director of the Outpatient TBI Program at Roger C. Peace Rehab Hospital in Greenville. Dr. Herring contributed to the establishment of the BIASC and was a member of the Governor’s Task Force that helped establish the South Carolina Brain Leadership Council (SC BILC). “BIASC became the big tent where advocacy, education, and training could be coordinated around the entire state.”

BIASC has experienced a lot of recent growth as it goes into its 25th-year anniversary according to Joyce Davis, who has held the position of Executive Director of the BIASC since 2006. “In the last two years, we received non-recurring appropriations from the General Assembly that have allowed us to dedicate resources to address some of the intersections of brain injury that we didn't have the capacity to address until now.” Last December, the organization’s small staff doubled when they hired 4 new employees, including an Opioid Outreach Coordinator and a Veterans Coordinator.

Prior to his retirement from the legislature, former Representative Chip Huggins (District 85) worked closely with the BIASC to secure state funding for the organization. “We never know when a loved one, someone we know, or ourselves will be subjected to a brain injury. Thank goodness for the Brain Injury Association of SC for being there,” said Huggins.

The organization is kicking off celebrations of its 25th-year anniversary during the month of March, which is recognized as Brain Injury Awareness Month.

“Governor McMaster has proclaimed March as Brain Injury Awareness Month,” said Representative Nathan Ballentine (District 71). “I'd like to congratulate the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina on its 25th anniversary of serving brain injury survivors, their families, and professionals in our state."

BIASC will be putting a spotlight on the brain injury community through awareness events including a virtual 5K Walk, Run and Roll, as well as the #MoreThanMyBrainInjury campaign.

Davis said, "Brain Injury Awareness Month is our organization’s time of the year to put a special spotlight on brain injury survivors and their accomplishments.”

One of those survivors now serves on the board of the BIASC. In 2012, William “Lucky” Jollye was living in Greenville. While riding his bike downtown, he was hit by a car and sustained and traumatic brain injury (TBI), fractured skull, and broken jaw. Jollye’s father contacted the BIASC while he was in ICU and received information which led to Jollye receiving inpatient brain injury rehabilitation at Roger C. Peace Rehab hospital.

Since his brain injury, Jollye has been focused on giving back to others in the brain injury community. He returned to school and is now a Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant. Last summer, Jollye started a brain injury support group in Myrtle Beach near his home of Nichols, SC.

“If it weren’t for the BIASC providing information to my dad, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Jollye.

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About the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina:
The Brain Injury Association of SC (BIASC) was developed by persons with brain injury, their families and concerned professionals in an effort to provide information and support to those who have experienced a brain injury. We are our state’s affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America. Our mission is to create a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education, and advocacy.

Press Contact:
Nichole Mayberry
803.731.9823 ext. 105
nichole@biaofsc.com