The Mill House and Support Groups in Richmond, VA

My name is Frank. I am a member of The Mill House of Richmond, VA. The Mill House is a clubhouse for survivors of brain injury. Even though I very much do not like my injury, I really enjoy The Mill House.

Reasons I like The Mill House:

Reason #1: It’s like the job I had most of my life, it fits my style. The Mill House stops me from just sitting around the house with nothing to do day by day. I like to be busy.

Reason #2: I see all people with different backgrounds and personalities which is like the life I was accustomed to before my injury.

Reason #3: The Mill House set me up with support groups. The name of the support group is the Supportive Survivors Support Group. It meets every Tuesday at Regency Square Mall in the food court. A group of us, injury survivors and sometimes families, talk about our experiences during the week and have dinner with each other. I also attend a brain injury support group at the Children’s Hospital in Richmond, VA. It is held by the Brain Injury Association of Virginia every third Monday of the month. I try to attend the group as much as possible. I have been to this support group meeting over years so much that I consider most of who come as family. BIAV (Brain Injury Association of Virginia) will hold an ice cream and game party in August for the support group meeting. I love it.

I feel The Mill House is an outstanding clubhouse. I also think the support groups are great. The Mill House and both support groups are great ideas for survivors of brain injury and their families.

Frank C.
Member, The Mill House

Jermaine's Job

I reacquired my job at Target on S. Labernum. I'm a Cashier again and now have more reaponsibilities this time. This time on the job I now also work in the store with pricing merchandise and restocking. I have the same co-coworkers as I did before so it is a familiar environment. I get along with all my co-workers. We talk joke, laugh, and have fun, and at the same time we still do our job. Recently on the job I've been seeing some old friends from high school. My supervisor told me and my Job Coach that I am improving each time I work.

Fishing

By Claire

On May 25th we went fishing at Deep Run Park. It was very nice. I don't fish but I walked on several of the paths through the woods. Erin & her brother & sister caught fish & several of the Mill House members caught fish too. I took a lot of pictures & a movie. I enjoyed the trip very much.

Partners in Policymaking: Graduation Weekend!

By G. Michael B.
On Friday, May 15, 2009 I began the final weekend of the 8-month, 8-weekend ‘Partners in Policymaking’ advocacy class for people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities which began back in September. On Friday I presented my final project: Traumatic Brain Injuries & on Saturday we were give our certificates of graduation. There were 28 of us in the class, all ` from somewhere in VA. We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel at I-64 & Broad St.

We learned a lot in our class about advocating for ourselves & to stop using negative words like “disabled”, “handicapped”, “special needs”, “suffers from”, “afflicted with” and DON’T APOLOGIZE!

Ukrop's Golden Gift Program

The Mill House partcipates in the Ukrop's Golden Gift program. Customers of Ukrops
should have received a yellow card in the mail with their total points for 2009. To read about the program visit the Ukrop's site:

http://www.ukrops.com/org/login.asp

Please mail your Ukrop's Golden Gift Points to The Mill House by June 10th:
7812 Shrader Road
Richmond, VA 23294

Messages for the Old Building

* It was nice being here. See you!

* Adios!

* Off to bigger and better things!

* I enjoyed the time I was here.

* Nice knowing you.

* Goodbye!

* Sorry for your loss.

* I'll miss all your creaks and cracks.

* Bon Voyage! Thanks for the memories.

* Thanks.

* Bye, peace, good riddance and I'll see you when I see you!

* Ditto.

* Goodbye and thanks for the memories.

The last day at Staples Mill Road...

The final day at 5711 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA has arrived! We have spent the last few days packing and have left out only the stuff (furniture) needed for the program for today.

Funny stuff found while packing:
- Chocolate Donut underneath all the computer programs.
- Microwaveable Egg Cooker that cooks your eggs in the shape of eggs.
- 17 million pots and pan lids... Where are all the pots?
- 1ft by 6in ice block in the drink fridge of the snack bar.
- Hidden trash (plastic bags... nothing perishable) in our dried flower pots.
- Thousands of unidentifiable bits of plastic.
- over 15 unusable computers... YAY for computer recycling.

Our new address will be: 7812 Shrader Road, Richmond, VA 23294.