The partnership between Methodist Rehabilitation and the Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Association of Mississippi (BIAMS/USAMS) is built around a shared belief that recovery does not end when a patient leaves the hospital. Throughout the year, that commitment takes shape through events, programs, and experiences that bring survivors and families together for community, support, and connection.
Art in Mind
Each month, survivors and family members gather at the Mississippi Museum of Art for Art in Mind, one of the BIAMS/USAMS most unique programs.
The experience begins in the museum galleries, where participants spend time viewing artwork already on display. They discuss what they see, what captures their attention, and how different pieces make them feel. Later, the group moves into a studio space where an art therapist guides participants through creating their own artwork inspired by the themes and pieces they observed throughout the museum.
The session concludes with a group discussion in which participants share their work and reflect on the emotions, memories, and ideas that emerged during the creative process.
For many survivors, Art in Mind provides something that traditional support groups often cannot. Brain and spinal cord injuries can affect communication, confidence, emotional regulation, and self-expression. Art offers another avenue for processing those experiences. The program creates a safe environment where participants can explore feelings, share personal perspectives, and connect with others who understand the challenges of recovery without needing lengthy explanations.
Just as importantly, the program allows survivors and families to engage with one another in a setting that is not centered on medical appointments, diagnoses, or therapy goals. The focus shifts toward creativity, self-expression, and community.
Outdoor Extravaganza at Camp Kamassa
Each spring, families from across Mississippi gather for the Outdoor Extravaganza, a three-day weekend hosted at Camp Kamassa.
Beginning on Friday and continuing through Sunday, the event brings together individuals affected by brain injury and spinal cord injury for a weekend of recreation, fellowship, and shared experiences in a fully accessible environment.
Participants stay together in cabins, share meals throughout the weekend, and take part in a wide variety of activities designed to encourage both fun and connection. Families spend time in the accessible swimming pool, paddle canoes, participate in chapel services, enjoy talent shows, and attend creative workshops, including painting and ceramics sessions.
Volunteers play an important role throughout the weekend, helping participants navigate activities and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fully engage in the experience.
While the activities themselves are memorable, the greatest impact often comes from the relationships formed during the weekend. Parents connect with other parents. Caregivers find opportunities to share experiences with people who understand the realities of life after injury. Survivors build friendships with peers who have faced many of the same obstacles and triumphs along the road to recovery.
For many families, the Outdoor Extravaganza offers something increasingly rare: the opportunity to spend an entire weekend surrounded by people who understand their journey.
NeuroTrauma Symposium
The BIAMS/USAMS annual NeuroTrauma Symposium serves a different but equally important purpose.
Each year, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates, and community partners gather to discuss the latest developments in brain injury and spinal cord injury care. Methodist Rehabilitation proudly participates as a sponsor, exhibitor, and presenter, contributing expertise while supporting ongoing education throughout the rehabilitation community.
The symposium addresses a wide range of topics related to treatment, recovery, advocacy, community resources, and long-term outcomes. Sessions provide healthcare professionals with valuable clinical education while also offering survivors and families practical information they can apply to everyday life.
One of the most powerful aspects of the symposium is the inclusion of survivor voices. Individuals who have experienced life-changing injuries share their personal stories, discussing both the challenges they faced and the lives they have built since their injuries. Their presentations offer encouragement, perspective, and a powerful reminder that recovery continues long after rehabilitation ends.
This year’s keynote speaker, Latavia Sturdivant, Miss Wheelchair America, shared her own journey and inspired attendees through her message of resilience, advocacy, and leadership.
The symposium reflects the BIAMS/USAMS commitment not only to supporting survivors but also to advancing understanding and awareness of neurological injuries throughout Mississippi.
Beyond the Lie Disc Golf Club
Support and connection continue throughout the year through programs like Beyond the Lie, a disc golf support group founded by a survivor and organized through the BIAMS/USAMS.
Participants meet regularly at a local park to play disc golf, learn more about the sport, and spend time together in a relaxed setting. While the game provides the activity, the relationships provide the foundation.
For survivors, opportunities for social connection can become more limited after injury. Beyond the Lie creates a consistent space where participants can build friendships, encourage one another, and engage in healthy recreation alongside people who share similar experiences.
Like many of the BIAMS/USAMS programs, the value extends well beyond the activity itself. It creates belonging, routine, and community.
A Shared Commitment
Although each event serves a different purpose, they are united by a common goal of helping survivors and families remain connected, informed, and supported throughout their recovery journey.
“When everything changes, community matters. Methodist Rehab’s partnership allows us to connect survivors and families across Mississippi, creating opportunities for friendship, encouragement, and belonging as part of lifelong rehabilitation.”
Through its partnership with the Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Association of Mississippi, Methodist Rehabilitation helps extend support beyond the hospital setting and into the communities where survivors live, work, learn, and build their lives.
Together, the two organizations are helping ensure that recovery is not defined solely by what happens during rehabilitation, but also by the opportunities for connection, growth, and community that follow.