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The
Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week is an annual event
spearheaded by the United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.
(UBPN). The Awareness Committee welcomes and
encourages your involvement in bringing awareness to
your state, community, family and friends. We have prepared the following
guidelines for your information, and ask, if you have
any questions at all about this effort, that you please
contact UBPN, Inc. at info@ubpn.org.
The goals of Awareness Week are:
- To increase awareness of
brachial plexus injuries among the public at large.
- To increase the
participation and involvement of the medical
community in awareness.
- To increase the
participation and involvement of the brachial plexus
communities throughout the nation so that more state
proclamations are requested and processed.
- To make a sincere and
conscious effort to reach new families, individuals
affected by
brachial plexus injuries and families with newborns,
so that they may become aware of our support and
informational network.
- To enhance our community
involvement and sense of belonging.
The
following schedule is meant as a
suggestion only; feel free to participate in any way
that you can on any day that you can.
Sunday
"Uniting in the World in Awareness" is
a day for marking the first day of Awareness Week with
gatherings of friends, family and local support groups.
Unite to celebrate our Annual Awareness Week and
kick off the week with an "Awareness Party" at
a local restaurant or park. Be sure to display big signs
stating something like: "Brachial Plexus Injury
Awareness Week Gathering" and have information on
hand to pass out to anyone interested in learning more.
Consider inviting the local media to attend and cover
your event, and be sure to wear your Jewelry Ribbon Pin
or your Hand-Sewn Ribbon!
Monday
Traditional Ceremonies: This is a day for ceremonial beginnings, contacting
politicians and official proclamation presentations.
Arrange ahead of time to have "Brachial Plexus
Injury Awareness Week" officially proclaimed by
your Governor or Municipal leader. Invite the media and
everyone you know to the official presentation, ring a
bell to "Ring In Awareness" and light a candle
at the ceremony to "Bring Brachial Plexus Injuries To Light".
These traditional awareness ceremonies join us all in
spirit. Be sure to wear and hand out ribbons.
Tuesday
"Get the Word Out: Talking Up Awareness"
is a day for contacting local and national media. Set
aside time on this day to sit down and phone, write
letters and send emails and faxes to as many media
sources as possible regarding brachial plexus injury
awareness. We will provide you with some guidelines to get you started,
but be sure to use your imagination and determination!
Try to set up interviews for this day with local media
such as radio, television and newspapers to talk about
Awareness Week and your personal experiences.
Wednesday
" Outreach to the Medical
Community" is a
day for reaching out to the medical community to
increase awareness of brachial plexus injuries. Contact
local hospitals, pediatricians, family physicians, and
specialized caregivers to share information about
brachial plexus injury awareness. Is there a brachial
plexus clinic in your area? Work together with them to
do something special for Awareness Week on this day.
Thursday
"Sharing and Educating: Handing Out Awareness"
is a day for reaching out to the community to educate
others about brachial plexus injuries. This would be a
great day for visiting your child's school to talk about
brachial plexus injuries, or to hand out information at
work or at the mall (be sure to get permission
first)...the opportunities for sharing information are
limited only to your imagination. We will provide lots
of ideas to get you started, the rest is up to you!
Friday
"Stretching the Limits: A Day of Therapy
Awareness" is a day dedicated to sharing
awareness with physical and occupational therapists, and
a day for engaging in fun therapeutic activities.
Schedule a family
swim night, plan a playdate at a kiddie gym or
McDonald's Playland, go for a professional massage. Take
information about brachial plexus injury awareness to
your therapist, along with a small token of
appreciation. Hand out brochures or information at other
therapy offices.
Saturday
"Wrapping Up Awareness" is the final day
of Awareness Week and a day set aside for personal
reflection, bell ceremonies to close out the week, and
preparation of materials detailing your activities and
thoughts during Awareness Week (photographs, writings,
press clippings, etc.). These materials will be
submitted to the Awareness Committee. All the materials
received will be compiled into an "Awareness Week" scrapbook.
We hope you
enjoy joining our worldwide community
in celebrating and acknowledging
the Annual Brachial Plexus Injury
Awareness Week!
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