In 1994, a new group home was opened in Charlotte, NC for six adults who had each survived a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as the result of an accident or other catastrophic injury The home itself was built in 1954, and was far from ideal for people with physical and emotional challenges. Bathrooms, laundry, and kitchen facilities were not handicap accessible, and four of the residents had to share bedrooms.

In 2005, ASMC purchased the group home, and made what improvement were possible. It took until 2009 to find construction funding to build a beautiful new, fully accessible replacement home. The new home was named in honor of Gail B. Hanks, a Speech/Language Pathologist and certified Brain Injury Specialist, who has served ASMC residents for the past 35 years.

Unfortunately, the six residents' need for supervision and physical assistance, as well as special therapies and adaptive equipment have grown tremendously over the past four years. In similar group homes for people with other Intellectual and developmental Disabilities (IDDs), we have 3 staff during waking hours and two at night. Most of the residents in this home require one to one staffing except at night. Two residents use wheelchairs and most of the others have walkers. In order for them to go shopping, to church, their day program, or social events, ASMC has had to purchase a second van because of all the adaptive equipment.

Our staff do a great job of keeping costs down, but we have not been able to increase staff pay in years and turnover is high. Individuals who have survived a Traumatic Brain Injury should have the choice of "aging in place". They form close bonds with their housemates and with staff. If we had to discharge them to skilled nursing facilities, it would break their hearts and ours.

We need your help so these adults can remain in their home as long as they choose to do so.