Spring is a time for renewal, and this issue of Vistas focuses on the Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries’ renewed efforts to reach out to those in need of services.

We begin this issue with some statistics on the incidence of traumatic brain injury in Arizona – statistics that remind us that we need to continue our efforts to reach out to those who may be living with this “invisible injury.”

We also focus on efforts to reach out to people with spinal cord injury through a wide variety of adaptive sports activities, activities that may increase quality of life significantly – and we spotlight the renewed efforts of a group of researchers to reach out to people with SCI to conduct a long-term follow-up study.

Our “Conversations” page introduces you to Christine Vergara, TBI/SCI Family Resource Coordinator, mother of a child with special needs, and Governor’s Council member – a dynamo whose commitment and passion for her work are inspirational to us all.

In addition, we are pleased to present the second installment of our series of articles on disability within the Native American community. This article focuses on efforts to build bridges between the disability service communities of the Hopi Tribe and the State of Arizona. Watch for additional articles in this series in future issues of Vistas.

Finally, we’re excited to tell you about several conferences that will take place this spring. Please see Page 8 to learn more about these events – and mark your calendars now!

The Governor’s Council, itself, is also undergoing some renewal. With this issue we say “goodbye” to Council Member Bill Scott and thank him for his significant efforts on behalf of people with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. We also welcome new Council Members, Sydney Rice, M.D., and Gregory Lewis, M.D.

We also want to introduce you to two members of our staff. In the past year, Denise Marenah has joined our team as Client Services Project Manager and Jeannie Grigg has stepped in as Business Manager.

Whether you are a person living with TBI or SCI, a family member or caregiver, or a service provider, I hope you will join us in renewing your efforts to ensure that people living with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury receive the resources and services they need to achieve active, fulfilling lives. We have made tremendous progress – and we still have further to go.