Starting as an all-volunteer organization in the 1980s, BIAIA has worked tirelessly for decades as an advocacy hub for statewide legislative and policy change. As a result of our efforts, the Governor’s Advisory Council on Brain Injuries (ACBI) was established in 1989 as part of the Department of Public Health—and it has been a powerful partner for governmental and systems change in Iowa.

Now staffed by a statewide team of professional staff, BIAIA develops, deploys and evaluates an array of research-based and national best-practice services designed to support Iowans with brain injury in accessing and keeping a range of services and supports to help reduce the level of “disability” resulting from brain injury. BIAIA has also become increasingly active in influencing policy that impacts not only Iowans with brain injury but also other Iowans with disabilities. We also provide education, to help raise awareness about brain injuries and help prevent them. We are here to serve the estimated 95,000 Iowans live with long-term disability from brain injury.