BIANJ’s Advocacy & Public Affairs department works to ensure that people impacted by brain injury and their families are represented in the policies, programs, and decisions that affect their lives.
What We Do
BIANJ works with elected officials, community partners, and advocates to advance legislation and policies that support the brain injury community. Our advocacy priorities include access to care, increased awareness and education, post-injury care, prevention, transportation safety, and other issues that affect quality of life after brain injury.
For more information about BIANJ’s government relations and public policy efforts, contact tgrady@bianj.org.
Legislative Wins
- Raised awareness at the State House: Hosted Brain Injury Awareness Day in Trenton in March 2026, bringing together 70 attendees, and visits from two Senators. The State House dome was lit purple in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month.
- Secured state funding: Helped secure $280,000 in New Jersey’s FY2027 budget for BIANJ to administer community-based services.
- Advanced key legislation: Supported progress on bills and resolutions related to disability identification on driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs, Medicaid reimbursement for structured day programs, and concussion management teams in schools.
- Introduced new policy priorities: Advanced proposals to expand transportation support through the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund, improve evaluation and treatment for veterans with PTSD and brain injury, establish a brain injury screening and education program through the Department of Children and Families, and encourage New Jersey members of Congress to join the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.
Get Involved: Join VOICES
Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community (VOICES), a committee within BIANJ, is a peer-led, self-empowerment group for individuals impacted by brain injury. VOICES gives people with lived experience opportunities to share their stories, identify community priorities, and build advocacy skills. The group meets virtually each month and in person quarterly. To learn more, email ndarling@bianj.org. To attend a meeting, click HERE.
BIANJ helps advocates amplify their voices by:
- Providing guidance and resources
- Connecting individuals with elected officials
- Monitoring legislation and policy developments
- Representing the interests of people impacted by brain injury
- Sharing updates through legislative alerts and the monthly newsletters
Stay Informed: Join the Legislative & Advocacy Network
To receive BIANJ’s monthly legislative newsletter, email tgrady@bianj.org with “LegNet” in the subject line.
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