John Quigley

John Quigley

John QuigleyNorthern Virginia Brain Injury Association

Congratulations to John and Joan Quigley for receiving the 2003 Alan Mayer Award.They have been key members of the brain injury support community for many years.Joan began volunteering with the Association as the information and resources chairman in the early 1990's.In this position she developed specialized packets for mail out, researched articles on brain injury from journals and newsletters, provided informational packets to callers into the helpline, and attended all support groups at Falls Church High School where she provided newcomers information on services available and contact information.Joan was a member of the NVBIA Board for 5 years.

After retiring in 1997 John became more active in the association.He served first on JTI committees and managed the Silent Auctions from 1998 through 2002.In 1998 he became Treasurer of the Association and served in that capacity for four years.Then, in 2002 he agreed to serve as Vice President and, while the President, Amy Fitzgerald, was on maternity leave, he was the defacto President.In 2003 John agreed to serve as the Chairman of JTI.During his years on the NVBIA Board he conceived several ways to raise monies for the association, most recently through doughnut sales at shopping centers.He has also been a strong advocate for survivors, participating in numerous panels and workgroups on transportation, MEDICAID waivers, family education, and Olmstead implementation. (In his spare time John has become the NVBIA office carpenter, building and installing shelves and providing for overall office maintenance.)

In addition to serving on the NVBIA Board for six years John has been an active member of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia's Board as well as the Board of Directors of Brain Injury Services.

Together the Quigleys have worked for the association in numerous ways: advocating for the needs of the brain injured; providing information to survivors and family members, writing articles and providing photo coverage for newsletters, attending support groups, and serving in positions of increased importance for our annual conference, "A Journey Toward Independence".The Quigleys are active members in the Parents Group for Caregivers of Brain injury Survivors.Their son, Brian, is a survivor.

During the past 15 years John and Joan Quigley have strived to increase the level of recognition of the needs and increased support for survivors, have developed many innovative ways of meeting the needs of survivors, and have been key members of NVBIA, BIAV and Brain Injury Services.

The Metro Board risks creating a community of shut-ins with no access to jobs, doctor's appointments or social events, John Quigley told Metro officials Wednesday. The Metro Access program which provides transportation to people with disabilities is a "lifeline," he told Supervisors Katherine Hanley (D- At Large) and Dana Kauffman (D-Lee), the county's representatives to the regional Metro Board."They simply don't have the option of jumping in a car, walking a mile to the nearest Metrorail or Metrobus station or calling a taxi," said Quigley, vice president of the Northern Virginia Brain Injury Association.As part of its belt-tightening measures to balance its budget, Metro has proposed limiting the Metro Access system as well as raising fares."I believe that these proposals ... are a most unconscionable and callous approach to deal with Metro's fiscal crisis," Quigley said.He spoke from experience.His 30 year-old son has been brain-injured for 12 years and relied on the Metro Access system to get to and from his job at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Springfield.

President — John Quigley is the father of a brain injury survivor.He served the past 2 years as Vice President and previously, the Treasurer.Together with wife, Joan, the Quigley's have been active in the association for over ten years and were awarded the Alan Mayer Award in 2003.For the past seven years John has coordinated JTI's Silent Auctions and most recently initiated several fund-raising activities, to include donut sales.John brings to the office of vice president an in-depth understanding of the association and its functions.As President, he presides at monthly board meetings and is the public face of our Association..