Where Brain Injury Survivors Find Hope and Support

On November 12, 2005, Leo’s life changed forever. After he lost consciousness behind the wheel, the then 24-year-old college student’s car veered off a 120-foot cliff. The crash shattered his body and left him with a severe brain injury.

As Leo faced the daunting reality of living with a brain injury, he discovered Jodi House, a Santa Barbara nonprofit that helps survivors and their families rebuild.

“Recovering from a traumatic brain injury feels like being completely lost,” Leo recalls. “Jodi House was the guide that helped me find my way.”

Jodi House was founded in 1982 by the parents of Jodi Wustman, a local teenager who suffered a brain injury after being hit by a drunk driver. Today, the organization helps over 150 brain injury survivors each year learn essential skills, access care, and connect with a supportive community to rebuild their lives.

Jodi House offers a range of classes and services for brain injury survivors, including a day program, case management, vocational assistance, and support groups, all on a sliding scale or free of charge for those who cannot afford it – no one is ever turned away from Jodi House because of the inability to pay.

“A brain injury can happen to any of us at any time,” says Lindsey Black, executive director. “Jodi House is here to help survivors and their families navigate the many changes and challenges after their injury.”

Black says that whether from an auto accident, stroke, sports injury, or countless other causes, the chances are high that you or someone you know has been affected by a
brain injury.

Despite the frequency and reverberating impact a brain injury has on the individual, family, and community, Black adds that there are limited long-term social supports and resources available to those experiencing brain injuries. 

“Once medical professionals have finished their lifesaving work, survivors and their families are often left to cope with the emotional, behavioral, and social effects of the injury on their own,” says Black. “Jodi House provides access to ongoing support that is affordable or at no cost.”

Brain injury survivors can attend a day program tailored to their unique needs, join classes that move the body like yoga and dance, or strengthen cognition in memory and communication workshops. Art and music therapy classes provide opportunities for creative expression. Additionally, Jodi House offers virtual programs, allowing survivors to continue their rehabilitation
from anywhere.

Among the many who have benefited from these programs is Leo. At Jodi House, he attended classes on communication skills, memory strategies, music therapy, and a peer support group. Classes that were crucial in helping him adjust to his new life, he says. 

“It’s the perfect practice for returning to the real world,” Leo says.

A key goal for Leo was to return to school, but his brain injury often left him feeling overwhelmed and short-tempered. Leo worked closely with a case manager who guided him through the process, including taking him to the campus and enrolling him in the disabled students program at Santa Barbara City College.

In December 2023, Leo became a certified personal trainer, a milestone he attributes to the work he did at Jodi House and the ongoing support of his case manager. 

“Through it all, Jodi House has always been there for me,” Leo says. “I’m not sure where I’d be today without it, but I’m blessed to be here with my beautiful family.”