ADVOCACY
ADVOCACY INFORMED BY LIVED EXPERIENCE
Evan Folan advocates for better support after a brain injury, from recovery tools and community connection to school support, policy conversations, and public awareness.
His work is shaped by a severe traumatic brain injury in 2019, years of rehabilitation, and the belief that support for people living with a brain injury should not disappear once rehabilitation ends.
2019 INJURY | 19 REHAB CENTERS | 1,000+ TREATMENTS | SURVIVOR-LED PERSPECTIVE
WHY EVAN ADVOCATES FOR BRAIN INJURIES
A semi-truck wheel came through Evan's windshield and changed the course of his life. After weeks in hospital and inpatient rehab, he spent years moving through rehabilitation programs, only to keep running into the same gap: support often ends long before the need does.
That experience shaped the advocacy behind Toro & Tides, to help make invisible injuries more understood, create practical support, and bring survivor voices into the rooms where decisions are made.
WHAT EVAN ADVOCATES FOR
SURVIVOR VOICE IN DECISION MAKING
Making sure people with lived experience are included in policy, products and services conversations
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BETTER SUPPORT
AFTER REHAB
More continuity, community, and practical help once formal treatment ends.
RETURN-TO-SCHOOL SUPPORT
Helping students with brain injuries or concussions return to learning with the right support across the full school day
AWARENESS THAT
GOES DEEPER
Moving past the visible injury and helping people understand the invisible, long-term realities of a brain injury
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Capitol Hill advocacy day
After being personally invited by the Brain Injury Association of America to attend advocacy day, Evan participated in meetings on Capitol Hill, including with Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner's office, to support conversations around TBI Act reauthorization and the National Brain Injury Action Plan.
Puerto Rico policy conversations
Evan developed and presented a return-to-school proposal in Puerto Rico, focused on helping students receive more appropriate support after a brain injury or concussion so short-term recovery does not create long-term consequences.
Community-based recovery support
Evan serves on the board for the Brain Injury Clubhouse in Florida, a community-based approach built around belonging, purpose, and long-term support after rehab. He is also spearheading the development of new clubhouse in Austin, TX.
Education and public awareness
Through speaking, media, storytelling, and survivor education, Evan works to make brain injuries more visible, more understood, and less isolating
HOW ORGANIZATIONS CAN WORK WITH EVAN
Panels & Public Conversations
A survivor perspective for conferences, community events, and awareness programs that want more honest, human conversations about brain injury and recovery.
Nonprofit & advocacy collaboration
Support for campaigns, initiatives, and community-driven work connected to brain injuries, with lived experience helping shape outreach, messaging, and impact
Education & awareness
Contributions to classrooms, workshops, and public facing conversations that need a more human understanding of recovery
Survivor-informed input
Feedback shaped by lived experience for programs, tools, or conversations intended to support people with brain injuries
ADVOCACY INQUIRIES
INTERESTED IN WORKING TOGETHER?
Toro & Tides is open to conversations around panels, partnerships, nonprofit collaboration, awareness work, and survivor-informed advocacy projects.