* CEO of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Barbara O’Connell, wins Social Entrepreneur Award
PROVIDING an invaluable service to the people of Limerick, the region and indeed on a national level, Barbar O’Connell, CEO of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, has been named the Newstalk Women Mean Business Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2012. The award honours Barbara for her work in founding Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and being a leading advocate for those with a brain injury and their families. While 13,000 people suffer brain injuries each year,the service provided by Barbara and her team in Limerick alone has helped hundreds and their families.
In Limerick ABI Ireland provides residential neuro rehabilitation services as well as home and community neuro rehabilitation services to people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, whether from road traffic accidents, drunken falls/assaults, sports injuries, a stroke, brain haemorrhage or as a result of lack of oxygen to the brain following a drug overdose, attempted suicide or anorexia and viral infections such as meningitis.
ABI Ireland’s valuable work in Limerick has meant many people have been helped to return to independent living in their communities after their brain injury and this in turn has been recognised in the award for Barbara and her team throughout the country.
Barbara co-founded ABI Ireland in 2000 following personal experience of the lack of services for those with an acquired brain injury. Her brother Peter Bradley suffered multiple head injuries and his family could not access appropriate supports and services for him. In direct response to the shortage of services for people with acquired brain injury in Ireland, Barbara and her husband Maurice O’Connell, along with members of Peter’s family, set up ABI Ireland.
Barbara said her mother ignited her passion to make a difference, “Growing up I witnessed first-hand how my mother, a medical doctor, would take the time to get to know and understand her patients and the nature of their problems. She believed in treating the whole person, refused to give up on hopeless cases and she made an incredible difference to their lives. She ignited my passion to make a difference and to be brave and risk it when you really believe in something.”
A brain injury affects every aspect of a person’s life; with the loss of independence, friendships, sexual relationships, ability to work, attend education, socialise, work or play sports. “People with ABI often look normal, but can have hidden problems which mean they cannot resume their previous lives. We tailor our services around the individual and their family to support them through the journey of rebuilding a meaningful life for themselves. Having personal experience of ABI, has influenced greatly the services we offer and the organisation we have become”, says Barbara O’Connell.
“This award is a huge honour not just for me personally but for the entire ABI Ireland. I accepted it humbly as recognition for the inspiring personal achievements of the people who access our services and who each day triumph in the wake of serious difficulties and in recognition of the dedication and commitment of all ABI staff who work unceasingly to advocate on behalf of our service users every day.”
Approximately 13,000 people suffer from a head injury in Ireland each year and face a dramatically altered life thereafter. Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is filling a vital service gap, in collaboration with statutory bodies.
See www.abiireland.ie for more information on the services provided locally and nationally.
