Global Day of Parents 2024
On the occasion of Global Day of Parents, we applaud the strength of the parents and caregivers whose fortitude and courage enable their children to live happy, healthy and productive lives.
The Concussion Story Wall is a product that gives us immense joy and pride. It was designed to support both those incurring a concussion as well as caregivers who work tirelessly to dedicate their time and effort to support their loved ones.
It is an interactive database featuring personal videos from over 750 individuals, intending to serve as a comprehensive mental health resource for everyone impacted by concussions, including athletes, parents, athletic trainers, coaches, officials, teachers, and military veterans, among others. In these videos, we cover a wide range of topics, from relating to how an injury occurred, the symptoms experienced, and personal insights from those injured by a concussion to stories of family members and caregivers. It also includes a panel of 14 of the world’s leading medical experts who address the various aspects of concussions related to symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Under the ‘Family Member’ section of Story Wall are accounts from loved ones who share everything from helpful tips during recovery to retrospective advice. Personal accounts like these are powerful tools to encourage and inspire families of those who have suffered a concussion. Sharing authentic stories from people with lived experiences can help alleviate feelings of isolation while also providing practical tips for dealing with a similar situation.
For instance, Susan describes what the symptoms of a concussion were using descriptive, visual language: “A fuzzy feeling and pixelation in her vision. If she turned really quickly to the left and right, she would get dizzy, [heavy] bright lighting and stimulation gave her vertigo, and feeling very out-of-body.” Julie discusses her son’s mental health struggles that came with the academic setback and required catch-up: “It was very difficult to see him break down. He withdrew from Public High School to independent, one-on-one learning, where they could tailor his learning till he was able to get to a point where he could read effectively, comprehend the information and give the output to indicate that he successfully passed the course. It was a godsend.” Tracy speaks of the greatest challenge she faced as a parent: “Probably not being able to fix her like I wanted to. One day your child will have a great day and the next, the headaches and erratic behavior will be back. Not being able to help fix her was hard. You feel helpless and that’s the last thing you want to feel as a parent.”
We have intentionally included a range of injuries that are not limited to field sports; we also include accounts of those who have suffered from accidents or injuries due to skiing, water polo, martial arts, cheerleading and more. In 2022, TeachAids was named winner of the Sharecare Awards in the Caregiving category for the development of the Concussion Story Wall. The Sharecare Awards champion products and programs that exemplify a “commitment to education, awareness, and inspired action” in health and well-being. To be recognized for a cause as meaningful as this fills us with a deep sense of gratitude and purpose.