Blossoming Into Disability Culture Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Dee Phyllis Genetti, PhD, LMHC, CTS is a psychologist with clinical expertise in trauma recovery. She is a civil rights advocate for equal rights/access and human dignity for persons with disabilities, a motivational speaker, published author, producer and host of Access Abilities with Dr. Dee and Marquis, and a member of the American Psychological Association.

• Introduction Planting the Seed: Where the Rubber Meets the Road 1. Setting the Context Trek One: Budding Through Non-Ideal Conditions: Off-Road: Years 1 and 2 Post-TBI: Changes in Self-Perception: Loss of My Old Self 2. Potholes: Diagnosis and Evolving symptoms 3. Stepping Stones: Speech Language Therapy 4. Lost in the Alleyway: Impact of Awareness 5. The Broken Path: Hallmarks of Communication Trek Two: Rising Through Mud and Adversity: The Rocky Road: Years 3 and 4 Post-TBI: Changes in Interpersonal Relationships: Re-Identification 6. Not a Throughway: Intellect, Emotionality, Control of Behavior 7 Lost Trailways: Relationships and Loss of Identity 8 Finding a Footpath: Rehabilitation and My Life Coach 9 Unearthing Stepping Stones: Learning to Read and Write 10 Road to Recovery: Beginning of Self-Discovery 11. Road to Recovery: Beginning of Re-Identification 12. Taking a Toll Road: Concurrent Mental Health Issues 13. Speed Bumps: Co-Morbidity with TBI and PTSD 14. Ruts in the Road: Reckoning with Anger 15. Breakdown Lane: Impatient Rehabilitation Trek Three: Petals Opening One by One: Changing Lanes: Years 5 and 6 Post-TBI: Changes in Philosophy of Life: Acceptance of My New Life 16. At the Cross Roads: Spiritual Crisis 17. Staying the Course: Transcending My Story 18. In the Right Lane: Moving Forward Trek Four: Ultimately Blossoming in the Sun: Paving a Way: Years 7 and Beyond Post-TBI: Toward New Growth: Hope 19. Opening Passageways: Insight, Value and Growth 20. Trail Blazing onto a Steady Path: Blossoming into Disability Culture

“The most striking aspect of Dee’s recovery has been how far she has come from the days when she struggled to hold a two-minute NPR news clip in her memory to now completing her doctoral degree. Her singular will and determination have driven her recovery and reset our equations for what is possible after traumatic brain injury.”– R. Richard Sanders, M.S.CCC, M.T.S. Senior Speech Language Pathology Clinical Specialist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown MA.