Geoff Sing, President of the BC Brain Injury Society will be discussing some of the common factors in brain injury, its prevalence in society, and especially the homelessness sector. We discuss some common symptoms and how a continuum of care helps support clients in becoming self-autonomous. Geoff is joined by Derrick Forsyth, who is also a survivor of brain injury. As a person with lived experience, and a former Cridge client turned staff, Derrick shares his story with us, and some of his reflections on best practices, and ideal approaches. 

Instructor:
Geoff has been working in the field of brain injury for the past 20 years. Presently, he is the Manager of Brain Injury Services with The Cridge Centre for the Family. This program includes a continuum of residential programs, community support clients and several employment training programs for survivors of a brain injury. He served on the steering committee for the Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference for 15 years. He was the chairperson for Advocacy Plus – a program that trained survivors to advocate for themselves. Geoff has a Master of Administration from the University of Victoria.

As a stereotypical survivor of a brain injury (at 18 years of age he was in a serious car crash that had him in a coma for a number of days; as well he suffered several concussions in athletic pursuits) the field of brain injury is Geoff’s life and passion. As an advocate, supporter or a “whatever it takes” proponent, Geoff’s goal for survivors of a brain injury and their loved ones is your goal – find and develop the best services possible and achieve the best outcomes possible.

 Derrick Forsyth

Derrick is also a survivor of brain injury. The interesting thing about Derrick’s story is that his brain injury (resulting from a car crash) caused a pause in his life. This “pause” lifted him from a world of alcohol and substance abuse, prison and homelessness to where he is today … a man who has completely turned his life around by taking charge of his rehabilitation and recovery because he knew that what was being offered to him for support was the “key” to opening the door to a new life… the life he had always wanted.

Derrick’s story is real. It’s disturbing. It’s heartbreaking. And it’s filled with promise. It’s filled with promise not because Derrick found some “magical fix”, it’s filled with promise because Derrick finally received the support and services he needed which allowed him to emerge into the honest, trustworthy, kind and hardworking man that he is today. Derrick’s story illuminates the cracks in our system and shines a spotlight on the amazing outcomes that happen when communities have the resources to lift a person and walk with them to success.