After Abbie sustained a serious traumatic brain injury in a road accident aged only 19, her ambitions to continue with her studies and career aspirations took a severe knock-back – but through effective, collaboration rehabilitation, she was able to fulfil her ambitions and now leads an independent life.
Here, brain injury rehabilitation specialist Reach reveals how its ‘light touch’ and early intervention – and key role in supporting the family within a rehabilitative process and working within a multi-disciplinary approach which included education and statutory services – delivered life-changing results
Through a rehabilitation process being made into a positive experience, with meaningful and achievable goals and the engagement of family and education providers, Abbie has been able to rebuild her life beyond what was initially thought possible.
Having been struck by a car while Abbie was a pedestrian, the 19-year-old was forced to pause her studies in beauty therapy amidst the ongoing consequences of her traumatic brain injury.
She struggled with fatigue, had difficulties with cognitive processing and verbal information, experienced a reduction in concentration and all in addition to hearing problems.
But through the engagement of brain injury rehabilitation specialist Reach, who devised a bespoke home-based programme to support her rehabilitation goals and recovery, Abbie has been able to complete a Foundation Degree and start her own business.
Her talent has even seen her working on the hair and make-up in a video shoot for a well-known singer – a dream come true for Abbie, and something that seemed worlds away following her accident.
But through Reach’s role in providing and teaching rehabilitation strategies to Abbie and her family, liaising with her college and later university, and working with her case manager in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team, the outcome has been hugely positive and beyond expectations.
And through less than four hours of input per month from Reach’s neuro occupational therapists, the nationally-renowned rehabilitation specialist is showing what can be achieved through quality engagement and carefully-planned and managed rehabilitation.
“This was a great programme to be involved in, and we are delighted with the outcome for Abbie,” says Fiona, senior programme manager at Reach, which specialises in teaching and empowering people how to manage their own recovery.
“Understanding the issues, collaborating with the family and client and listening to what they wanted is key. Being flexible and responsive is hugely important.
“We were also able to play an effective role in collaborating with college and University and establishing a real therapeutic bond with the family. The family were fully invested in the rehabilitation and getting the best outcome for their daughter.”
Reach initially met Abbie and her family three months after her injury, when the need for an effective home-based rehabilitation programme was identified by the case manager.
Reach, which has supported brain injury survivors since 1995, identified an array of “significant yet subtle” difficulties, which would impact on her educational, vocational, social and leisure participation.
Through the rehabilitation intervention of a personal programme assistant – who is dedicated to reinforcing the rehabilitation strategies within a programme – alongside the support of senior programme manager, and neuro occupational therapist, Fiona.
Working closely with Abbie and her family, Fiona was able to work with the case manager to ensure the appropriate rehabilitation was provided, while being mindful of the impact on the client, and being sure the pressure of the situation, and the demands of the many medical and therapeutic appointments, did not become too much.
Crucially, Fiona was able to play two critical roles – firstly, in ensuring co-operation and collaboration with the case manager between therapists, overseeing them working to functional goals while balancing the time spent with Abbie to enable her fatigue to be properly managed.
And also, through working with Abbie’s college to ensure her educational and day-to-day needs were met, giving her the freedom to live her life as a student while making appropriate provision for rehabilitative approaches to be there if and when needed.
Abbie went on to complete her Level 2 college course in beauty therapy, going on to complete a University Foundation Degree in hair and make-up design.
She was able to travel to college using public transport and also enjoyed a spell living in University halls of residence, living independently and enjoying her life as a student to the full.
As well as working on a video shoot, Abbie also had a part-time job in a prestigious make-up store for professionals, further demonstrating her talent and commitment in building and pursuing her career.
She now works part-time in her own make-up business and is living the meaningful life Abbie and her family only dreamed may be possible, after the devastation of her injury.
Abbie’s mother is fulsome in her praise for Fiona and Reach in her daughter’s recovery.
“The rehabilitation work Reach provided for my daughter was exemplary,” she said.
“The programme manager knew month to month exactly what my daughter needed and if it wasn’t within her remit she would find someone who could help.
“I honestly believe I would not have got through these last years without her and my daughter would not be where she is today without Reach’s rehabilitation.”
Heather Batey, managing director of Reach who founded the business in 1995, said: “It was such a pleasure and a privilege to work with Abbie on her areas of deficit following her brain injury.
“Building a great therapeutic relationship with both Abbie and her family, as well as educational processes, very early was a key element to the success of Abbie’s reach rehab programme.
“The fact that Abbie then progressed through education and ultimately onto independent living with minimal support is a huge testament to her drive and motivation and also to what reach Rehabilitation stands for and the optimal outcomes which we can achieve.”
