Synapse
AT UCI
Our Mission
Our nonprofit supports individuals with brain injuries and raises awareness surrounding this issue. Our core values include building strong social support, knowledge sharing, and collaborative care. We aim to establish a network of passionate student leaders at UCI to achieve our mission.
The Month's Events
Our Programs
1
Peer Support Meetings
In our peer support groups, we aim to provide a safe and comfortable space for TBI individuals to come together. In order to achieve this, we will discuss topics relevant to their lives and recovery processes in our groups. We welcome caregivers to attend and participate in our discussions! Our meetings occur twice a month.
2
Buddy Program
Through our buddy program, we pair undergraduates with TBI individuals for interactions and friendships. Our buddy program helps us give social support to TBI individuals, while also allowing students to have a unique service-learning experience. The goals for the program include suitable pairings and nurtured relationships. The main forms of communication will be through email, phone, the in-person meetings, and group events.
3
Lectures and Panels
In our conferences, lectures, and panels, physicians and researchers will be present to educate the greater community on brain injuries. The physicians and researchers will educate everyone on the latest advances in the brain injury field, which will also help benefit individuals with brain injuries. Through our conferences, lectures, and panels, we hope to raise awareness regarding the impact of traumatic brain injuries.
Synapse
Our synapse chapter seeks to overcome the social disparities the brain injury community faces. It should establish an inclusive, supportive, and communicative Buddy program. A Synapse chapter should provide support and connections to individuals with brain injuries and raise awareness by building toward improving care for brain injury through collaborating with physicians and community partners. Implementing sympathy and empathy in all aspects of Synapse ensures that the support created is through mutual understanding of the situational and emotional circumstances that brain injury individuals face. The integrative science aspect of Synapse advances the informational sector by certifying information and providing expertise and promotes the educational sector by spreading awareness and supplying the network for growth.