Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery

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Connecting with Furry Friends that Help People See the World

photo of participants petting dogSchurig Center’s latest Community Integration group outing happened in May with a visit to Guide Dogs for the Blind, a leading guide dog school serving people who are blind or visually impaired.

The Guide Dogs team warmly welcomed a group of Schurig Center participants, volunteers, and staff for a walking tour of the San Rafael campus to learn all about their guide dog programs, from birth and puppy socialization to training and pairing with prospective clients.

After the tour, the Schurig group wrapped up the day with lunch and an extra special art project to reflect on what they had learned during the visit – each person created and shared an original art piece depicting their very own dream guide dog.

group photo of art project participants

Community Integration… Why It Matters

Community integration outings like this one are important to the recovery process of our participants. Isolation is often one of the greatest challenges facing people living with the effects of a brain injury. These group outings help keep people active and connected by providing an opportunity for participants to:

  • Re-engage with the community
  • Build confidence through personal interactions with new people
  • Practice communication and social skills
  • Support one another through cooperation and peer-to-peer support
  • Increase their sense of independence
  • Participate and not just be an observer
  • Access experiences and activities that may not otherwise be available to them

participant with dogThe outings are also a wonderful way for members of the community-at-large to learn more about brain injury as well as to meet and get to know people living with the effects of a brain injury as unique, valuable individuals, not just as their disability.

Our community is truly stronger when everyone is included!

Thank you!

Big thanks to Keith Rosenthal and the rest of the awesome team at Guide Dogs for their time and enthusiasm to make this memorable “warm and fuzzy” day possible for Schurig’s group.

No one should have to go through brain injury alone.
Your generosity helps ensure no one does.

Schurig Center’s innovative programs are powered by the giving of foundations and individual donors, like you. We hope you’ll join us in making critically-needed services, like the Community Integration Program, possible by donating today. Your gift ensures everyone in our community has the opportunity to live happily, meaningfully, and fully. Thank you!

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Connecting with Our Marine Life Community

Photo of Schurig Center clients at the Marin Mammal Center

Schurig Center’s Therapeutic Program participants recently visited the Marine Mammal Center, a nonprofit veterinary research and educational center located in Sausalito. Since 1975, the Marine Mammal Center has helped promote ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation.

Planned at the suggestion of our Therapeutic Program participants, our outing to the Marine Mammal Center was both educational and FUN! In addition to our special “V.I.P. Behind-The-Scenes” tour where we actually got to meet some of the Center’s current patients, participants had fun socializing over lunch with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean while taking lots of great photos, and practicing their money handling skills at the gift shop. [Read more…]