The internet and online communities

One of the main practice areas that interests me is brain injury, specifically Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  I have to see the irony in this as earlier in the year I suffered a fairly decent concussion that resulted in my missing a number of assessments and eventually my second year placement.  The experience has been enlightening but not one I would like to repeat again anytime in the near future.  In this posting I am going to provide an overview of three online communities I have come across intended for people who have suffered a TBI, or have a family member that has experienced such an injury.  Generally these sites are based around the individual and their family members being able to share their experiences, ask questions, and provide support and a forum for discussion via the internet.  Online communities are one example of an environment which has been adapted to enhance the enrichment of other areas of a person’s life (Townsend & Polatajko, 2007).

Occupational transition is seen as changes in engagement as a result of the changes in daily life (Christiansen & Townsend, 2010).  It also is apparent in the way some individuals who were initially the information gathers about their injury have now become the information providers for some of those seeking information in their community (Christiansen & Townsend, 2010).   This is evident in the way these communities have emerged to fulfil a need to adapt to the transitions individuals need to make in their day to day lives post injury as well as gain information about how others have coped with what changes have occurred.

Occupational identity is an individual’s perception of themselves in relation to their participation in different occupational roles (Christiansen & Townsend, 2010).  All of these communities provide their members with a form of occupational identity by giving them the opportunity to engage with each other, share concerns, information, experiences and attitudes relating to their previous and current occupations.  The sites provide a way for individuals to cope with changes in occupational identity as a result of their TBI, such as inability to work or changes in life roles.

A general limitation of the three sites found is that they are all based in the United States of America; if a person from outside the U.S. went onto one of these communities seeking information it may not suit their context. 

Resources for People with Traumatic Brain Injury: http://www.brainline.org/index.html

The intended purpose of this site is to provide support and information for individuals and families who are experiencing some form of traumatic brain injury.  The site is somewhat interactive with a number of different available to users including features on how to identify concussion, articles written by TBI survivors detailing their experiences, ask experts questions, and an area for blog postings.  The community also has separate areas for different types of visitors (people with TBI, family and friends, and professionals).  People choose to communicate with this community as they are able to stay informed and up to date with the latest research and share and receive support from others who are experiencing similar circumstances to them.

Traumatic Brain Injury Support: http://traumaticbraininjurysupport.org/profiles/blog/list

The intended purpose of this site is to provide a forum for individuals and families who have incurred some form of traumatic brain injury to share their experiences and seek advice from other members.  The site is very interactive, encouraging members to communicate and connect with other community members. The community provides a number of discussion groups, blog pages as well as a live online chat room where members can interact with each other.  In order to contribute you need to become a registered member, so that the site can be monitored.  It also provides members with a private ‘members only’ area, only accessible when you sign up to the site.  Those who aren't members are unable to see what has been posted in some sections, taking into consideration the ethical issues related to contributing to online communities.

Daily strength; brain injury support group: http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Brain-Injury/support-group

The intended purpose of this site is to provide support for individuals and families who are experiencing some form of brain injury, not necessarily traumatic.  Individuals are able to remain anonymous when posting on the page if they choose or create an in depth online member profile and participate in further in the forum.  Community members are also encouraged to start their own groups for others to join, share experiences/struggles and participate in discussion within that community.  Features of the site include common treatment methods and how community members have responded to these, as well as what challenges they have faced during their recovery process.  This site offers the ability to ask professionals questions anything about TBIs from the injury process, to treatment, and anything in between. 

References:

Christiansen, C.H., & Townsend, E.A. (2010). Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Pearson.

Townsend, E.A., & Polatajko, H, J. (2007). Enabling occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, wellbeing and justice through occupation. Ottawa, ON: Canadian             Association of Occupational Therapists.