TeachAids, Brain Injury Association of America and the National Council of Youth Sports Unite with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s National Governing Bodies to Launch the CrashCourse Concussion Story Wall

Fairfax, Virginia (March 1, 2021) – Every March, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in recognizing Brain Injury Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge and support the millions of Americans affected by brain injury. The theme for this year’s awareness campaign is “More Than My Brain Injury”. In recognition of this national campaign, the CrashCourse Concussion Story Wall is proudly presented by TeachAids and BIAA, and the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS), in collaboration with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education and 19 of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s National Governing Bodies (NGB). These NGBs include: USA Archery, USA Artistic Swimming, USA Baseball, USA Bobsled & Skeleton, USA Cycling, USA Diving, USA Fencing, USA Field Hockey, USA Football, USA Gymnastics, USA Hockey, USA Karate, US Lacrosse, US Ski & Snowboard, US Soccer, US Speedskating, USA Taekwondo, USA Triathlon and USA Wrestling.

This groundbreaking product features an interactive database of 700 individual’s stories relating to how an injury occurred, the symptoms experienced, and personal suggestions from those who have been injured by a concussion (also known as a mild traumatic brain injury). It is intended as a comprehensive resource to help develop an understanding of the injury and appreciation for the whole person for the many who are impacted (athletes, parents, coaches, officials, teachers and military veterans).

“The CrashCourse Concussion Story Wall is a culmination of more than two years of research and development and thousands of hours of volunteer support,” says Dr. Piya Sorcar, founder & chief executive officer of TeachAids. “We are excited to launch this in partnership with such renowned and respected organizations as BIAA, NCYS, Palo Alto VA, SPICE and in collaboration with the support of USOPC’s National Governing Bodies.

 

An additional highlight of the Concussion Story Wall is a panel of 14 of the world’s leading medical experts addressing specific aspects of concussions related to symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and beyond. Individuals in need of further information, resources, and support after a brain injury may speak with an expert by contacting BIAA’s National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) 1-800-444-6443.

 

“We are proud to launch the Concussion Story Wall with our valued partner TeachAids – especially in conjunction with Brain Injury Awareness Month,” offered Susan H. Connors, BIAA’s president and chief executive officer. “In addition to supporting those who have been injured and their loved ones, this resource will help raise awareness and be especially valuable for medical professionals in their interactions with their patients.”

 

The National Council of Youth Sports will make the CrashCourse Concussion Story Wall available to its membership which serves 60 million boys and girls across organized youth sports programs.

 

“NCYS is committed to promoting practices that help young people to play so they can thrive physically, socially and emotionally,” says Wayne B. Moss, executive director of NCYS.  “Our vision aligns perfectly with the CrashCourse education products by TeachAids. We are excited to arm our members with these state-of-the-art interactive tools.”

 

The CrashCourse Concussion Story Wall is available at no cost starting today.

TeachAids is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit social venture that creates breakthrough software addressing numerous persistent problems. Their HIV/AIDS health education has been instituted in 82 countries. Also being used worldwide is their CoviDB education initiative, a community-edited platform organizing resources across a comprehensive set of topics relating to COVID-19. In partnership with 19 of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committees’ National Governing Bodies, TeachAids has also launched the CrashCourse multi-sport concussion education product suite. These evidence-based applications are available online and in virtual reality. All TeachAids products are available at no cost. For more information on TeachAids visit TeachAids.org or follow us on Twitter @TeachAids, Facebook @TeachAids, LinkedIn @TeachAids, YouTube at TeachAids, and Instagram at @teachaids.

 

The Brain Injury Association of America is the country’s oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance awareness, research, treatment, and education and to improve the quality of life for all people affected by brain injury. We are dedicated to increasing access to quality health care and raising awareness and understanding of brain injury.  For more information on BIAA, visit https://www.biausa.org/or follow us on Twitter @biaamerica, Facebook Brain Injury Association of America, LinkedIn at Brain Injury Association of America, and Instagram at @bia_usa.

 

The National Council of Youth Sports’ (NCYS) mission is to unite and lead communities to realize the positive power of youth sports.  NCYS is nationally recognized as a leading advocate for the importance of access to quality youth sports programs played in safe and supportive environments. NCYS member organizations serve some 60 million registered participants in organized programs. Members are many of the key decision-makers, influencers and advocates for youth sports. For more information, visit  www.ncys.org. Follow us on Twitter @youthsportsNCYS, Facebook @ncys.org, and LinkedIn at National Council of Youth Sports.

VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) is part of VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21), which serves Veterans in northern and central California, Nevada, Hawaii, the Philippines, and U.S. Territories in the Pacific Basin. VAPAHCS consists of three inpatient facilities located at Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Livermore, in addition to seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in San Jose, Capitola, Monterey, Stockton, Modesto, Sonora, and Fremont; as well as two residential homes for Veterans in the Compensated Work Therapy program. VAPAHCS operates over 800 beds, including three nursing homes and a 100-bed homeless domiciliary - all to serve more than 67,000 enrolled Veterans.

 VAPAHCS operates one of the largest integrated health care systems in VA in terms of specialized programs, research and graduate medical education; primarily affiliated with Stanford University School of Medicine. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary, tertiary and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics and extended care.

 

Since 1976, SPICE has supported efforts to internationalize K–12 and community college curricula. As a program of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) at Stanford University, SPICE draws upon the diverse faculty and programmatic interests of Stanford University broadly—and FSI specifically—to integrate knowledge, inquiry, and practice in its curriculum development, teacher professional development, and distance-learning course offerings. SPICE addresses the Common Core State Standards and other national standards in its work, and recognizes its responsibility to present multiple perspectives and enhance critical thinking and decision-making skills in social science classrooms. SPICE can be followed online and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

The mission of USA Archery is to provide the necessary resources to foster strong athlete participation, competition and training in the sport of archery. Membership in USA Archery is open to everyone involved in all disciplines of archery including target, field and 3-D. USA Archery sanctions more than 200 events annually and conducts indoor, outdoor and collegiate National Championships as well as the United States Archery Team Qualifier Series. USA Archery also provides youth and adult archery programs and clubs throughout the United States, and certifies archery instructors, coaches and judges. For more information on USA Archery, visit usarchery.org or follow us on Twitter @USAArchery, Facebook USA Archery, YouTube at USA Archery, LinkedIn at USA Archery, and Instagram at @usaarchery.

The organization now known as USA Artistic Swimming was formerly named U.S. Synchronized Swimming [USSS], also known as USA Synchro, was established as a nonprofit organization in 1979 and is the United States national governing body for the sport. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee and FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur) — the international governing federation. USAAS organizes, participates in, and promotes a variety of competitive events each year. These events begin at the local level and continue in the following categories: Age Group (12-19), Junior (15-18), Senior and Masters (20+). For more information on USA Artistic Swimming, visit teamusa.org/USA-Artistic-Swimming or follow us on Twitter @ArtisticSwimUSA, Facebook at USA Artistic Swimming, YouTube at USA Artistic Swimming, and Instagram at @usaartisticswimming.

USA Baseball is the national governing body for baseball in the United States and is committed to serving, protecting and supporting the game of baseball and its 15.6 million participants. Founded in 1978, USA Baseball fields six national teams annually and is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). On the diamond, USA Baseball is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the reigning World Baseball Classic champion, and its national teams have won 62 gold medals in international competition. Off the field, the organization is dedicated to the proliferation and health of the sport through the creation and management of numerous development initiatives including Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL and the Prospect Development Pipeline. For more information on the organization, its national teams and development-driven initiatives, visit the official website USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com. Follow us on Twitter @USABaseball, Facebook at USA Baseball, YouTube at USABaseballTV, LinkedIn at USA Baseball, and Instagram at @usabaseball.

 

The mission of USA Bobsled and Skeleton is to enable United States athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic competition, and to promote and grow the sports of bobsled and skeleton. Our vision is to be the premier bobsled and skeleton organization in the world through bold leadership, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. We value teamwork, commitment, and integrity within our USABS community and beyond. For more information on USA Bobsled & Skeleton, visit www.teamusa.org/usa-bobsled-skeleton-federation or follow us on Twitter @USABS, Facebook at USA Bobsled & Skeleton, YouTube at USA Bobsled & Skeleton, LinkedIn at USA Bobsled & Skeleton, and Instagram at @usabs.

USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States and oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, and BMX.  With a mission to develop the sport of cycling in the United States at all levels and to achieve sustained international racing success, USA Cycling supports cyclists from enthusiasts just beginning in the sport to seasoned professionals.  We may be best known for the identification, development, and selection of cyclists to represent the United States in international competition, but equally important is our support of amateur bike racing through grassroots development programs and the provision of critical infrastructure to run organized racing.  Recently, we have broadened our mission to support enthusiasts and the events in which they participate like gran fondos and fun rides. For more information on USA Cycling, visit usacycling.org or follow us on Twitter @usacycling, Facebook at USA Cycling, YouTube at USA Cycling, LinkedIn at USA Cycling, and Instagram at @usacycling.

 

 

USA Diving is a not-for-profit organization that continues to take the sport of diving and its athletes of all ages to new levels. USA Diving is passionate about sharing the excitement of the sport with new fans, and thanks to the support of a dedicated staff and other partner organizations, diving continues to be the United States’ most successful summer Olympic sport. USA Diving selects, conditions, and trains teams to represent the United States in major diving events including the Olympic Games, World Championships, and the FINA Diving World Cup. Other well-known events include the USA Diving National Championships. For more information on USA Diving, visit teamusa.org/usa-diving or follow us on Twitter @USADiving, Facebook at USA Diving, YouTube at USA Diving, LinkedIn at USA Diving, and Instagram at @usa_diving.

 

USA Fencing is the recognized national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States. Its mission statement is to grow and promote the sport of fencing in the United States, honor its rich traditions, and achieve sustained competitive international excellence. USA Fencing was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981. USA Fencing is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913. For more information on USA Fencing, visit usafencing.org or follow us on Twitter @USAFencing, Facebook at USA Fencing, YouTube at USAFencing, LinkedIn at USA Fencing, and Instagram at @usfencing.

 

USA Field Hockey is the national governing body for the sport of field hockey in the United States and is based in Colorado Springs, Colo. USA Field Hockey is committed to providing opportunities for the 30,000 members to participate, develop and excel as players, coaches, umpires and administrators. The U.S. Men's and Women's National Teams strive for competitive excellence in Olympic, Pan American Games, World Cup and other international competitions. USA Field Hockey is a proud member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and International Hockey Federation. For more information on USA Field Hockey, visit usafieldhockey.com or follow us on Twitter @USAFieldHockey, Facebook at USA Field Hockey, YouTube at USA Field Hockey, LinkedIn at USA Field Hockey, and Instagram at @usafieldhockey.

 

USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players. For more information on USA Football, visit usafootball.com or follow us on Twitter @USAFootball, Facebook at USA Football, YouTube at USA Football, LinkedIn at USA Football, and Instagram at @usa_football.

 

USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for the sport in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, the organization is committed to creating a culture that empowers and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics sets the rules and policies that govern the sport of gymnastics, including selecting and training the U.S. Gymnastics Teams for the Olympics and World Championships; promoting and developing gymnastics on the grassroots and national levels, as well as a safe, empowered and positive training environment; and serving as a resource center for members, clubs, fans and gymnasts throughout the United States. USA Gymnastics also provides continuing education resources for new and experienced coaches, instructors and professional members. For more information on USA Gymnastics, visit usagym.org or follow us on Twitter @USAGym, Facebook at USA Gymnastics, YouTube at USA Gymnastics, LinkedIn at USA Gymnastics, and Instagram at @usagym.

 

USA Hockey provides the foundation for the sport of ice hockey in America; helps young people become leaders, even Olympic heroes; and connects the game at every level while promoting a lifelong love of the sport. USA Hockey’s primary emphasis is on the support and development of grassroots hockey programs. Its cutting-edge American Development Model, which was launched in January 2009, provides associations nationwide with a blueprint for age-appropriate athlete development. Always a leader in safety, USA Hockey furthered the enhancement of those efforts by advancing the USA Hockey SafeSport Program in June 2012. For more information on USA Hockey, visit usahockey.com or follow us on Twitter @usahockey, Facebook at USA Hockey, YouTube at USA HOCKEY, LinkedIn at USA Hockey, and Instagram at @usahockey.

 

USA Karate is the national governing body for the sport. We are a 501(c)3 corporation based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. USA Karate’s mission is to enable United States athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and to promote and grow the sport of Karate in the United States while maintaining the well-being of our members. USA Karate is concerned about the safety and well- being of our athletes and has had a SafeSport program since 2010. USA Karate is a proud member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Pan-American Karate Federation and the World Karate Federation.  Karate will make its Olympic debut in the Tokyo Olympic Games. For more information on USA Karate, visit https://www.usankf.org/ or follow us on Twitter @usankf, Facebook at USA Karate Team, YouTube at USA Karate, LinkedIn at USA Karate (USA-NKF) and Instagram at @usakarate. For more information on USA Karate, visit teamusa.org/USA-Karate or follow us on Twitter @usankf, Facebook at USA Karate, LinkedIn at USA Karate (USA-NKF), and Instagram at @usakarate.

 

As the sport's national governing body, US Lacrosse provides national leadership, structure and resources to fuel the sport's growth and enrich the experience of participants. With more than 450,000 members nationwide, US Lacrosse, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is committed to providing a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game. Since 1998, we have invested more than $1 million in funding for lacrosse-specific research to make the game safer. US Lacrosse youth rules and the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model are designed to create the best experience for all participants. For more information on US Lacrosse, visit uslacrosse.org or follow us on Twitter @USLacrosse, Facebook at US Lacrosse, YouTube at US Lacrosse, LinkedIn at US Lacrosse, and Instagram at @uslacrosse.

 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2021, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined and ski jumping. In addition to the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.

Founded in 1913, the U.S. Soccer Federation has been the official governing body of the sport in the United States for more than 100 years. During that time, the growth of the sport has grown tremendously at all levels. As U.S. Soccer looks towards the future, its mission is to make soccer the preeminent sport in the United States. With a long-term and strategic approach, U.S. Soccer aims to accomplish its mission by supporting its members to increase participation at the youth and adult levels, develop world class players, coaches and referees to consistently win at the highest levels on the international stage and serve the fans by engaging with them in deeper and more meaningful ways. For more information, visit ussoccer.com. Follow us on Twitter @ussoccer, Facebook at US Soccer, YouTube at U.S. Soccer, LinkedIn at U.S. Soccer Federation, and Instagram at @ussoccer.

 

US Speedskating is responsible for the development of speed skating from grassroots to the highest elite racing programs and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union as the governing body for the sport of speed skating in the United States. The Organization has won 88 Olympic medals, making it one of the most successful sports in U.S. Olympic history. US Speedskating is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information on US Speedskating, visit teamusa.org/us-speedskating or follow us on Twitter @USSpeedskating, Facebook at US Speedskating, YouTube at US Speedskating, LinkedIn at US Speedskating, and Instagram at @usspeedskating.

 

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) recognizes USA Taekwondo (USAT) as the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of Taekwondo in the United States.  A primary function of the NGB is to conduct national and international events in its sport. The object of Taekwondo is to land kicks and punches on your opponent’s scoring zones: one point is awarded for a valid kick or punch to the torso, two points for a valid spinning kick, three points for a valid kick to the head and four points for a turning kick to the head. For more information on USA Taekwondo, visit teamusa.org/usa-taekwondo or follow us on Twitter @USA_Taekwondo, Facebook at USA Taekwondo, YouTube at USA Taekwondo, LinkedIn at USA Taekwondo, and Instagram at @_usatkd_official.

 

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multi sport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events. For more information on USA Triathlon, visit teamusa.org/usa-triathlon or follow us on Twitter @usatriathlon, Facebook at USA Triathlon, YouTube at USA Triathlon, LinkedIn at USA Triathlon, and Instagram at @usatriathlon.

 

USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. USA Wrestling, guided by the Olympic Spirit, provides quality opportunities for its members to achieve their full human and athletic potential. USA Wrestling has more than 226,000 members. These members include athletes of all ages, coaches, officials, parents and fans striving together to strengthen the sport. Each year, USA Wrestling charters over 4,500 wrestling clubs and sanctions over 2,100 local, state, regional and national competitions. For more information on USA Wrestling, visit teamusa.org/usa-wrestling or follow us on Twitter @USAWrestling, Facebook at USA Wrestling, YouTube at USA Wrestling, LinkedIn at USA Wrestling, and Instagram at @usawrestling.