Executive Director

Audrey Nelson, MS

Audrey has been involved in the field of brain injury for over 40 years.  Beginning in 1981 when she personally experienced a severe brain injury and multiple other injuries at the age of 18, when she was involved in a car accident near her hometown of Cornell, Wisconsin. She was just six weeks into her Freshman year of College.  

Although she was told that it was very unlikely she would be able to return to college, Audrey enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire the following year.  It was a struggle, but 5 years later, graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work with a minor in Business in Administration. 

While at UW-Eau Claire, she was a founding member and facilitator of a local Brain Injury Support Group (1983), which met for over 30 years. She also became a board member, for the first time (1985), of the Wisconsin Brain Trauma Association, which is now the Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin.  

Following graduation, she worked for a few years at the Research & Training Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stout as a research assistant doing research on brain injury and employment. During this time, she also began doing local and statewide presentations on brain injury and various issues.    In 1994, she graduated from UW-Stout with a graduate degree in Vocational Rehabilitation.    

In 1995, she began Reality Unlimited, LLC, which provided residential care for individuals with brain injury in various community settings.  In May of 2022, after 27 years, Audrey sold this company following the passing of her husband and partner.  

Audrey Nelson is now an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in the field of brain injury research, advocacy, and support. Currently serving as the Executive Director at the Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin, she has been instrumental in creating programs and initiatives that aim to improve the lives of individuals affected by brain injury.

Currently, Audrey is part of several virtual support groups, including one on poetry & brain injury.  This group has presented poetry & poetry workshops in various local and international venues.  In 2022, they published a book of poems, “I Don’t Think I Did This Right.” They are in the process of publishing their second book of poetry, “I Still Don’t Think I Did This Right.”  In 2023 Audrey will be presenting in Dublin, Ireland on Poetry & Brain Injury at the International Congress on Brain injury.

 As a dedicated and compassionate professional, Audrey is committed to making a positive impact in her community. She resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and remains actively involved in various community initiatives and organizations. Her leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment to helping others have made her a respected figure in the field of brain injury advocacy and support.