The Power of Membership
At the Clubhouse, survivors of brain injury
are considered members, not clients or
patients and, as such, claim responsibility
for making program decisions
and directing the daily operations
of the Clubhouse.

The Work-Ordered Day
The Clubhouse day is structured around meaningful work
in a work unit. Members choose to complete tasks
that directly support the operations of the Clubhouse-
from hiring staff, to advocating for brain
injury services, to writing a newsletter article
or preparing lunch.

Peer Relationships
Members work side by side with staff at the Clubhouse and interact with staff as peers. Through this relationship, members receive necessary supports while still maintaining ownership over their service planning at the Clubhouse and the course of their rehabilitation.

Lifelong, Voluntary, Membership
Clubhouse membership offers survivors of brain injury consistent, long term support that is available for as long as the member needs or desires.

What's Going On With IBICA?

Our 2026 conference theme has been announced! This year’s annual conference is titled “Members Make Meaningful Work”! Because it’s true, they do!! Without clubhouse members, the work wouldn’t get done, and we wouldn’t have the wonderful vibrant communities we have. Without the work, the clubhouse model wouldn’t be meaningful; it wouldn’t have the gumption to show why it’s a research-practice model that improves outcomes to all who participate in it. 

Did you know that the clubhouse model was founded in 1948? Created after the start of deinstitutionalization, this model originally served those with psychiatric diagnoses.. however disability groups across the board have started to adopt this model! Brain Injury Clubhouses have been around since the late 1980’s, and IBICA was established in 2005. Clubhouses across the nation allow brain injury survivors to feel a sense of purpose and belonging by engaging in the model. Though no 2 clubhouses look the same, they all employ this wonderful, research-based practice that has helped so many.

What else is going on?

BIN Clubhouse in Texas showed us that even with the hard work going on at clubhouse, you can also have a little fun. 
 

Here’s a blurb from a video they made on their Facebook account:

 “While we’ve been enjoying all the soccer matches here at the Clubhouses, it got us thinking: what would life be like if we had a referee watching our daily activities? So, we turned to our resident “violations expert” to make the calls–and let’s just say, there were a few penalties handed out!”

Check it out here! https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JGnYStwF8/




Synapse House produced their very first podcast!! 

Here’s a description they provided for the session’s content: “Today’s topic discussed personality traits & lifestyle changes after Brain Injury.” 

Check it out here! https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1bDamtsv6b/
IBICA Standards

The Challenge

Click to read BIAUSA's "The Challenge" article highlighting IBICA and the BI Clubhouse model.

Our Mission

The mission of IBICA is to support and advance an international collaborative network of standards-based Brain Injury Clubhouses for people impacted by brain injury. The vision of IBICA is that people impacted by brain injury worldwide will have access to life-long support and highest quality of life through Brain Injury Clubhouses.