A new clubhouse in Coquitlam is breaking ground in its efforts to help adults with brain injuries learn new skills — or adjust their old ones — and get back to work.

It’s a key component of living a meaningful life, said Renee Marlatt, program manager of the Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society. Until now, however, there hasn’t been a place where adults with acquired brain injuries — whether they were injured by accident, illness, addiction or other means — can learn how to reconnect with their jobs and relationships.

There are two components of the program, which opened its doors about two weeks ago. One is a day program, funded by Fraser Health, to offer recreation and leisure activities at specific times while the clubhouse is loosely structured around four work departments designed to teach life and work skills.

The main difference is that the clubhouse is largely run by the members. “They choose which programs will be offered, the times and days they’ll be offered, and they have work departments to make that happen,” said Marlatt.

Those departments cover the organization’s newsletter; through the creative writing club, members issue a monthly newsletter to fellow members and sponsors while staff offer assistance only in navigating the computer. Members are also building the program’s website.

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