Our Story – Survivor Turned Caregiver & Expert
End Social Isolation was founded by a father–daughter team whose lives have been permanently shaped by brain injury.
Adel’s story began in young adulthood, when a devastating accident resulted in a leg amputation and a traumatic brain injury. For more than 40 years, he has experienced firsthand the long road of adaptation, identity change, and the critical importance of connection, community, and belonging in rebuilding life after injury.
Sarah’s journey began in adolescence when she suffered a hemorrhagic stroke caused by a congenital condition known as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Her recovery has included multiple brain surgeries, ongoing neurological symptoms, and extended periods of social isolation. These experiences shaped both her personal life and her academic path.
Despite being told she would likely not finish high school, Sarah went on to earn her PhD in clinical psychology under punishing circumstances, driven by a desire to help other survivors. Her thesis and dissertation focused on the emotional consequences of brain injury, particularly feelings of social isolation—an issue she has experienced firsthand and observed consistently in others.
Her research in neurorehabilitation expanded on this work, examining the lived experience of brain injury survivors and the broader challenges of recovery beyond clinical care. With a continued focus on social isolation, she explored how connection, identity, and emotional well-being shape long-term healing and contribute to advancing neurorehabilitation—areas that remain critically important yet often under-addressed.
Across both of their journeys, one truth became clear: recovery is not only medical or cognitive. It is deeply emotional. The research on the emotional consequences of brain injury is limited, particularly in the area of social isolation. Unfortunately, social isolation remains one of the most overlooked and persistent challenges in brain injury recovery.
The movement to end social isolation was created in response to that gap. It is a structured, weekly, activity-based program designed to help people reconnect through group support, adaptive activities, and community engagement. Its purpose is simple: to create consistent opportunities for connection, participation, and belonging.
This program exists to support individuals living with brain injury and related neurocognitive conditions in rebuilding meaningful connection and improving quality of life through consistent, accessible, community-based engagement.
Adel Shadi & Sarah Shadi, PhD
Father & Daughter • Survivors • Caregiver • Expert Team
