Brick & Bond Spotlight: Brain Injury Advocates of Wyoming

Many of Brick & Bond’s tenants provide invaluable services to their communities and beyond. This month, we’re shining a light on Brain Injury Advocates of Wyoming (BIAW) and its new Executive Director, Daniel Cubbedge. 

BIAW: Filling In the Gaps

Brain Injury Advocates of Wyoming (BIAW) was founded in 1990 with the mission of “Meeting Diverse Community Needs,” specifically (but not exclusively) for community members experiencing disability or complications from brain injury. BIAW’s services include, education and prevention, case management, financial management services, durable medical equipment access, and other support services.

Executive Director, Daniel Cubbedge, emphasizes the BIAW’s mission of providing care on a case-by-case basis. “One of the big focuses that we look to is that our organization was founded by someone who saw a hole in the community where people were being underserved. It directly affected her,” he says. “And so, we held to that. Where we see holes — if we have an ability to try to fill them — then we do our best to fill them. We work to develop completely new programs to help support those individuals, if what is available doesn’t necessarily fit their model.” 

BIAW is dedicated to providing services to those who need them most, and who often have a difficult time finding the help they need. “We tend to get people who don’t have support through organizations because their mental health condition is profound, or they have hard-to-manage behavioral responses, and need help with effective communication,” says Daniel.

Durable Medical Equipment Loan Closet

One of the most-used services at BIAW is the durable medical equipment loan closet, which is 100% community funded. This loan closet serves as a resource for people in the community who have limited access to necessary medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, and more. “This program gets used on the daily,” Daniel tells us. “Sometimes we’ll get 30-40 people looking for equipment, so we’re really looking to establish and grow that program by spreading awareness and, eventually, garnering support.”

BIAW is working to enhance this program through a new certification for equipment repair. “In Wyoming, there are only two certified repair shops for this equipment,” Daniel says. “We’re working toward getting certified to do that for people. It reduces waste, and keeps equipment in the community for people who fall through the cracks, don’t have insurance, or are on a long wait list.”

Representative Payee Services

Additionally, BIAW provides representative payee services for community members. This service is designed to help people manage their finances, with the ultimate goal of giving them more financial independence in the long run.  

“Sometimes individuals’ disabilities or cognitive needs prevent them from being able to manage their finances,” says Daniel. “We take on fiduciary responsibility and pay their bills, and give them the remainder. We work on creating a budget and savings goals, tailored to the individuals, to attempt to restore the ability to manage their own finances.”

We’re proud to have BIAW as a Brick & Bond tenant, and grateful for their presence in our community. For more information on Brain Injury Advocates of Wyoming, please visit their website, and if you would like to donate to the Durable Medical Equipment Loan Closet, click here.