dr. mark ashley, president centre for neuro skills. we ask that you summarize your opening statements in five minutes and dr. stickland, you're recognized at this time for five minutes to make your opening statement. >> chairman, members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the department of health and human services traumatic brain injury program. i'm dr. bonnie strickland, director of the division of services for children with special health care needs at the health resources and services administration department of health and human services. our colleagues appreciate your interest in our work and welcomes this opportunity to discuss our tbi program with you and to provide some highlights of other hhs activities. congress is charged us with implementing a grant program to improve access to rehabilitation and other services. the responsibility in the areas of research and the cdc has responsibility for prevention and surveillance. also activities are conducted through authorities provided under the pu

dr. mark ashley. i'm the president and ceo of centre of neuro skills. i serve the brain association of america which represents 5.3 million children and adults in the u.s. with long-term disability as a result of traumatic brain injury. in 972, my brother, steve, sustained a catastrophic brain injury while in the navy. for eight years he laid unable to move, unable to speak, communicate through eye blinks only. in 1980 i co-founded the centre for neuro skills. after 18 months of rehabilitation, he regained speech, movement in all extremities and was able to feed himself. i hope to provide you today with several key points. the first is traumatic brain injury affects people of all ages and is more prevalent than diagnoses of all cancers in the u.s. there are over 4,000 people who will sustain a brain injury every day in the united states. treatment is very complex and highly specialized. treatment particularly rehabilitation in a post-acute setting is clinically effective and costed advantageous. it is necessary health care for patients with traumatic br