Brain Injury Association of Missouri

2 Weeks away! - Bowling for Brain Injury St. Louis

Find us at Olivette Lanes
June 13, 2026 from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Enjoy two hours of free bowling with pizza and soda provided. Register today as a Team or an individual Bowler. Event proceeds help raise awareness about brain injury.

A personalized team webpage will be created for you. Others can donate to your fundraising efforts and support the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO). Register today at www.biamo.org.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, this week's reminder is simple: support matters.

For farmers, ranchers, farm workers and their families checking in, reaching out, and building a community can make a difference. A coffee break. A call. A text. These small connections can remind someone they are not alone.

Click here to learn about the important role mental health plays in our overall well-being and find handy resources to support individuals, families, and communities at: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/agrability/show-me-strong-farm-families

Mental health is a personal issue, a family issue, and a work issue. Make mental health part of your 2026 farm safety conversation.

MU Extension is here to listen, to understand, and to connect you with handy resources that support your well-being, your family, and your farm. Strong farms start with strong families, and we are here to help you stay strong.

Support and information are available whenever you are ready. https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/agrability/show-me-strong-farm-families

Show-Me Strong Farm Families

Learn how To Support Someone in Crisis.

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is designed for anyone who wants to be prepared to assist individuals in crisis.

Participants learn how to recognize the su***de warning signs, offer support and connect someone to professional help.

June 3, 2026
Virtual via Zoom
8:30am-10;00am

This evidence-based training will equip you with practical skills to:
◾Question someone about suicidal thoughts in a compassionate way
◾Persuade them to seek support
◾Refer them to professional resources

This session is FREE but registration is required: https://pears.io/events/mu/7019/

Thank you to USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture for sponsoring this event.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month we're highlighting assistive technology (AT) that can support mental health and wellness. Here are some of our favorite mobile apps that can help with emotional regulation, building healthy routines, and making tasks feel more manageable:

Finch: AT Specialist Caitlin Hurban's favorite. This app adds fun and motivation to building healthy habits through a self-care pet game to work toward your personal routines and goals. Learn more here: https://finchcare.com/

Calm: Supports relaxation and mindfulness with guided meditations, sleep stories, and breathing exercises. Note: many features require a paid subscription. Check it out: https://www.calm.com/

PTSD Coach: Recommended by MATP Program Director Aimee Sterk. Developed by the VA, this free app helps people manage stress, track symptoms, and learn coping strategies after experiencing trauma. Learn more: https://mobile.va.gov/app/ptsd-coach

A companion to the PTSD coach is PTSD Family Coach: Living with a family member who has PTSD can be stressful. This free VA app is designed for concerned family members and loved ones. It can help you learn about PTSD, take care of yourself, manage your relationship, and support your loved one in getting the treatment they deserve. See more: https://mobile.va.gov/app/ptsd-family-coach

Goblin Tools: One of AT Specialist Abby Squires's favorites. Goblin Tools is a collection of small, simple, AI-powered tools designed to help people (especially those who are neurodivergent) manage tasks that feel overwhelming or complicated. Tools include Magic ToDo, which breaks complex tasks into smaller steps; Formalizer, which adjusts the tone of your writing; Judge, which identifies the emotional tone of a piece of text; Professor, which explains topics in simple terms; Estimator, which approximates how long a task will take, and more! Learn more: https://goblin.tools/

Have you tried any of these apps? Are there others you'd recommend? Share them in the comments so we can build a list together!

[ID: A flyer for mobile apps for Mental health, has a picture of a phone with the finch app picture of a Birb with text: "Finch- Build healthy habits with a little fun.", the Calm logo with text: "Calm: support relaxation and mindfulness.", PTSD Coach logo with text: "PTSD Coach- Manage stress, track symptoms and learn coping strategies.", and a Goblin Tools logo with text: "Goblin tools- simple, single-task tools to help manage overwhelming tasks." There is a succulent to the left of the phone and both are upright on a desk. A MATP logo is on the bottom left. Text: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Support in Your Pocket. Mobile apps can support emotional regulation, healthy routines, and managing everyday tasks. End text.]

The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) Independence Support Group will not meet on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The next meetings in July and August will be virtual! Join us online on Tuesday, July 7, 2026!

Missouri AgrAbility, accessibility benefits everyone. The best design is often invisible, until the moment we need it.

❇️ We grab onto a hand rail as we use the stairs.
❇️ We use a ramp when pushing a stroller, rolling a suitcase or delivering supplies.
❇️ We appreciate lever handles when our hands are full carrying groceries or an automatic door when it’s your turn to buy coffees.

Accessibility quietly supports everyday life. It is not for “some” it is there for “anyone” who needs to use it.

✅ Grab bars prevent falls, increase confidence and help people remain independent longer.

✅ Ramps and level entrances keep traffic flowing smoothly for carts, wheelchairs, bikes and families.

✅ Controlled lighting reduces glare, supports people with low vision, prevents headaches and creates calmer shared spaces.

✅ Ergonomic seating with arms, without arms and varied heights allows all individuals to rest, recover and stay engaged in meetings, parks and public areas.

✅ Having a space available for someone using a wheelchair or closed captioning says “we thought of you and you are welcomed here.”

✅ Automatic doors speed up entry during busy times. Wide pathways reduce congestion and make navigation easier.

✅ Clear signage helps visitors find their way without frustration.

✅ Quiet zones support focus, sensory regulation and mental wellness for teams and customers alike.

Many people do not notice accessibility when it is present. They only notice when it is missing.

▶️ Accessibility is not an add on. It is smart, future ready design that improves usability, safety, customer experience and long term sustainability. When we build with accessibility in mind from the start, we create spaces that work better for everyone across every stage of life.



Photo description
Text reads the best design is often invisible, until the moment we suddenly realize we needed it all along.
Images of a grab bar, door handles, ramps, controlled lighting, chairs and debit machines. All demonstrating accessibility.

The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) will host Wii Bowling for Brain Injury! Join survivors, family members, and caregivers for a couple hours of fun! Learn more at www.biamo.org/wii-bowling-2026.

Thursday, June 2, 2026
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm!
BIA-MO Office

Please RSVP to [email protected] with your number of Wii Bowling for Brain Injury participants.

Wii Bowling is part of the Wii Sports video game from Nintendo. Players move their Wii remote to simulate throwing the bowling ball and attempt to knock down ten bowling pins on the screen. Volunteers will be there to help navigate the video game as needed!

2 Weeks away! - Bowling for Brain Injury Kansas City

Find us at Ward Parkway Lanes
June 6, 2026 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Enjoy two hours of free bowling with pizza and soda provided. Register today as a Team or an individual Bowler. Event proceeds help raise awareness about brain injury.

A personalized team webpage will be created for you. Others can donate to your fundraising efforts and support the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO). Register today at www.biamo.org.

Missouri is honored that has been named to the 2026 Forbes Accessibility 200 list! https://www.forbes.com/lists/accessibility/

According to Forbes, the list recognizes “the biggest innovators and impact-makers in accessibility” and highlights organizations “that make the world more available to everyone.”

This recognition reflects the work of the entire AgrAbility network—including the National AgrAbility Project, State (Missouri AgrAbility)/Regional AgrAbility Projects, partners, colleagues, staff members, and supporters across the country who help make agriculture more accessible for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities.

Thank you to everyone who supports the AgrAbility mission and helps improve quality of life in agriculture every day.

ISFOP-Innovative Small Farmers Outreach Program Brain Injury Association of Missouri MU Extension MU Extension - Health and Human Sciences University of Missouri Occupational Therapy Mizzou College of Health Sciences