About Us
It all began with the idea to increase the return to gainful employment or productive community volunteering in survivors and improve the quality of life for those affected by acquired brain injury.
BIND empowers members and caregivers to maximize their strengths while developing strategies to meet personal goals for community reintegration and provides a necessary link in the rehabilitative process that assists one in transitioning from therapy to the community upon discharge. This bridge helps the member maintain and improve abilities obtained through the difficult rehabilitative process.
The Brain Injury Network of Dallas was established in September of 2011 by Executive Director Valerie Gotcher, MS, CCC-SLP. Mrs. Gotcher and founding board members Kelley Beck, Ph.D., CBIS, and Kevan Beijan, MEd, LPC-S, CBIS, completed four days of training, conference, and Clubhouse immersion in September 2011. BIND began to grow from those roots, and soon after, it received its 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
Today the Brain Injury Network has two clubhouses, BIND and BINDFW, in Plano and Ft. Worth, respectively, and continues to provide clubhouse program services 5 days/week for over 60 active Members. The organization has become a recognized source of community resources for brain injury survivors, a trusted caregiver support provider, and a dependable partner for neighboring not-for-profit and corporate businesses.
The Brain Injury Network also serves as the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s only brain injury clubhouse provider. Launched in 2012, our clubhouses provide to brain injury survivors and caregivers community, hope and purpose.
“The amazing part for me is friendship with people who have the same issues. It means a lot for us. You lose friends sometimes because they are afraid.”
The Brain Injury Network currently hosts an annual fundraising events, In the spring Synapse Laps is a .5K walk to raise awareness of brain injury in the community. Along with events, other development activities include board member fundraising, individual support, Clubhouse Partners, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and participation in North Texas Giving Day. BIND raised $100,000 before opening the first Texas-based brain injury clubhouse in February 2015. On the anniversary of its opening, the BIND program expanded its 1 day/week program to 3 days/week in early 2016. Rapid growth continued through 2017, and the program expanded to triple the amount of space. A capacity-building grant awarded by The Moody Foundation allowed for significant program expansion – ending its third year of operation with 3 full-time staff, a framework for the Work Readiness program, and services available 5 days/week for Members.
BIND currently employs 6 individuals across two locations, provides skilled student internship experiences for several universities, and receives more than 3,000 hours of service annually from its volunteers and Board of Director members.
BIND is an active and current member of the International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance and the Clubhouse Texas Coalition for clubhouse programs across the state of Texas.
