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?

Side By Side Clubhouse in Georgia is was busy putting together their impact report in July. They had: 

💙 353 service days
💚 116 hours spent volunteering in the community and rebuilding life skills
💙 18 self-determined goals achieved
💚 204 therapeutic groups attended

 

Check out their impact and survivor stories on their Instagram –> Here

 Members from 3 different alliance partner clubhouses got together to enjoy a luau-dance-mixer! 

 

Check out pics from it on each clubhouses’ respective social media pages!

The Mill House

The Denbigh House

The BridgeLine Place
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.