March is TBI awareness month | Check out Orlando Health’s neuro-friendly initiative
MARCH MARKS A MONTH DEDICATED TO TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS, AND ORLANDO HEALTH JUST EXPANDED ITS NEURO FRIENDLY INITIATIVE, CATERING TO THOSE WHO LIVE WITH A BRAIN INJURY. AND ON YOUR EXHALE, JUST GENTLY DROP YOUR CHIN. I TEND TO BE PRETTY STRESSED MOST MOST OF THE TIME, AND TO BE ABLE TO SIT AND BREATHE, FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH. I THINK IT HELPED ME. IN 2021. A MASSIVE, LIFE THREATENING STROKE THREATENED TO CHANGE GEORGE WILCOX’S LIFE FOREVER. ONCE VERY ACTIVE RUNNER, HE WAS USED TO ACTIVITY, WHETHER ON A GOLF COURSE OR ON HIS BOAT. FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HE’S BEEN WORKING WITH THE TEAM TO REGAIN A MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT IS TO TRY THAT CAN TRANSLATE INTO ACTIVITY AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. AND ORLANDO HEALTH’S NEURO FRIENDLY INITIATIVE IS HELPING HIM DO JUST THAT. IT EXPANDED TO THE MAGNOLIA YOGA AND WELLNESS CENTER AND THE GOOD WAY CAFE NEXT DOOR IN LONGWOOD. THOSE LIVING WITH AN ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY CAN FIND WEIGHTED UTENSILS, MENUS WITH VISUALS, BRAIN WELLNESS, MEAL OPTIONS, AND QUIET HOURS. THIS IS ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. WE SEE INDIVIDUALS THAT DON’T GO OUT TO RESTAURANTS BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT SET UP TO WELCOME INDIVIDUALS. IN THAT SENSE. ACCORDING TO THE BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, MORE THAN 2.8 MILLION PEOPLE SUSTAIN A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY EACH YEAR. ABOUT 5.3 MILLION AMERICANS LIVE WITH A LONG TERM DISABILITY AS A RESULT. THIS SPACE HAS BEEN DESIGNED REALLY INTENTIONALLY, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE COLORS ON THE WALK IN THE SPACE, YOU FEEL A SENSE OF SAFETY AND EXHALE ROUNDING. FOR GEORGE AND SO MANY OTHERS, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THEMSELVES ONCE AGAIN. I REALLY AM GRATEFUL THAT THERE’S AN OPENNESS TO EXPANDING RESTAURANT PERSPECTIVES AND OPENING BUSINESSES TO STROKE SURVIVORS. NOW, THEY FIRST STARTED THIS INITIATIVE BACK IN 2024, BUT FOR THE RESTAURANT THAT INITIALLY OPENED WITH THIS INITIATIVE DID SHUT DOWN. THERE ARE A FEW MORE RESTAURANTS NOW THAT YOU CAN FIND. WITH ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES IN PLACE, YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF THAT ON WESH.COM, AND I THINK IT WILL HAVE A HUGE CLIENTELE WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY GO THERE. THESE SERVICES, THIS ABILITY TO BE ABLE T
March is TBI awareness month | Check out Orlando Health’s neuro-friendly initiative
Updated: 5:14 PM EDT Mar 13, 2026