Our Mission Statement:
The Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization made up of and led by volunteers, is dedicated to providing the hope, peer support, and resources necessary to help brain injury survivors and their families navigate the often-difficult and confusing recovery process associated with brain injuries. ©
Our Slogan:
We offer Hope, Peer Support, Empathy, Education, and Information for hospitalized and rehabilitating brain injury survivors and their families, from someone who has BEEN THERE and DONE THAT. ©
Watch this video explaining how we got started:
The Brain Injury Peer Visitor Program was originally conceptualized by Ann Boriskie in December 2001. Ann started developing the program in January 2002, working with the local American Stroke Association, hospitals, and local organizations. Materials and training were developed over several years.
The Brain Injury Peer Visitor Program actually started in June 2006, began operating on September 30, 2006, and was modeled after the American Stroke Association’s Peer Program for stroke patients and their families. The American Stroke Association, as part of the American Heart Association, gave the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Program written permission to use any and all of their materials, as needed, to develop its program.
This program is operated completely by unpaid volunteers. We have over 100 trained Brain Injury Peer Visitors, including Ann. We conduct Peer Support Visits in 41 Hospitals and Rehabilitation Facilities in the Atlanta metropolitan area and throughout Georgia — as well as in Florida and Wisconsin — and we also conduct Peer Support Visits via telephone and email. Our Peer Visitors conduct visits with brain injury survivors and/or their families and/or their caregivers, and even with their friends.
Through 2023, a total of 113,455 Peer Support Visits have been made in hospitals, facilities, via the phone, and via email. Ann and the team have donated over 56,078 volunteer hours and many thousands of miles on the road.
The need for our help is real. Our Peer Visitors are trained brain injury survivors and/or their loving families and/or caregivers, who are warm, caring, ready, and willing to help.
Read more in the VOLUNTEER NEWS, February 2010 (PDF) — a newsletter for the Shepherd Auxiliary & Volunteers — Former patients and family members comfort and support peers.
Ann and the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association were featured in a wonderful Volunteer Profile in Shepherd Center’s Spring 2010 Spinal Column magazine (PDF).
Our Logo Explained
Our logo is a Registered Trademark of the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association.
The brain:
Is depicted with a bright light and glow, to show hope, peace, and to represent the energy needed to improve and heal.
The color purple:
Is a calming, peaceful color — psychologically, when a person sees purple he/she becomes more at ease or relaxed.
In the Bible, represents royalty, something of great value.
In ancient times was made from the dye of a very rare shellfish.
The aura around the head:
Represents a positive, spiritual light which represents hope and healing.
Is an angelic glow (we each have help with our fight to improve and to get better).
The Celtic braid surrounding the head:
Typically represents unity between two things — a shared experience. (Appropriate to represent Peer Support Visitation — helping rehabilitate through a shared understanding of what the survivor is going through.)