Defining community integration of persons with brain injuries as acculturation: A Canadian perspective

In this study, the AIMS, a measure of community integration developed from acculturation theory, was used;to explore the various ways that people with brain injuries, a smaller cultural or minority group, are involved with th e larger cultural group and to evaluate rehabilitation outcome (i.e., reint egration into the community). Specifically, the AIMS assesses whether the n eeds of individuals with brain injuries in a number of areas are identified and supported in a way that supports community participation. In addition, the opinions of persons with a brain injury regarding their level of commu nity integration were compared to the opinions of individuals who knew them well. The results of this study indicate that while a large proportion of the participants with brain injuries were integrated in traditional areas o f service delivery such as medical services, housing and social activity, t heir disability-related needs were not being identified and supported adequ ately in the areas of spirituality and productive activity.