Why I Had to Say No — And Why It’s Time to Value Survivor-Educators

Why I Had to Say No — And Why It’s Time to Value Survivor-Educators

For nearly two decades, I’ve poured my heart, lived experience, and professional training into creating trauma-informed resources. I have done so to encourage individuals living with the impact of brain injuries to not give up. Give up on hope to create their best lives in mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.

This work — including my keynote Finding Purpose After Brain Injury — is not a hobby. It is a life’s calling.

Recently, I was invited to speak at a hospital-based brain injury support group. I was grateful for the opportunity and prepared to share insight, hope, and encouragement.

But when I asked about an honorarium — a basic form of reciprocity — I was told there that they do not pay for speakers to present to their support group. This wasn’t the first time I’ve heard that.

👉 You can visit my Public Speaking page and scroll down to view over 150+ Zoom presentations I’ve delivered across the U.S.. Of those, I have only been compensated three times.

I’ve received similar responses from major medical institutions — including the Cleveland Clinic, Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital and other well-resourced organizations — that say:

“We just don’t pay for support group speakers.”

I do not know if this policy of non-compensation applies to every support group speaker, but it has been the case for nearly all of the brain injury support groups I’ve spoken to over the past four years.

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Where I’ve Spoken

Among the many places I’ve presented over the years include:

• Cleveland Clinic

• MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital

• Penn Presbyterian Hospital

• Overland Park Rehabilitation Hospital

• Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital

• Inova Loudoun Outpatient Specialty Rehabilitation

• Magee Rehabilitation Hospital

• Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital

• Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital

• Carolinas Rehabilitation

• Colorado Department of Education

• University of North Dakota

• University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

• Harvard University Synapse

• University of California, Berkeley – Synapse

• Columbia University Synapse

• Synapse National Conference

• NeuroRestorative Charlotte

• Brown University Synapse

• Temple University Synapse

• University of Michigan Synapse

• University of California, Irvine – Synapse

• University of Pittsburgh Synapse

• University of California, Davis – Synapse

• Johns Hopkins University Synapse

• Various State Brain Injury Associations

This list reflects not ego, but effort — the effort to support, educate, and encourage countless individuals, families, students, professionals, and care providers.

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Global Reach of Second Chance to Live

Over the past 18 years, Second Chance to Live has impacted lives in the following countries — through articles, presentations, video content, peer advocacy, and trauma-informed recovery support:

• United States

• European Union

• Brazil

• Canada

• United Kingdom

• Spain

• Ireland

• Russia

• China

• Hong Kong

• India

• France

• Finland

• Denmark

• Romania

• Hungary

• Poland

• Czechia

• Croatia

• Indonesia

• Belgium

• Sweden

• Germany

• Greece

• Philippines

• Japan

• Serbia

• Slovenia

• Portugal

• Morocco

• St. Lucia

• Costa Rica

• Egypt

• Singapore

• Saudi Arabia

• Myanmar (Burma)

• Pakistan

• Switzerland

• Thailand

• Israel

• Turkey

• Australia

• New Zealand

• Bosnia-Herzegovina

• Netherlands

• Ghana

• South Africa

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Who Has Trusted and Shared Second Chance to Live

Over the past 18 years, Second Chance to Live has been included, cited, or featured by 168 organizations across healthcare, education, military, nonprofit, and advocacy sectors — both nationally and internationally.

These include:

• Major rehabilitation hospitals and support networks

• Leading U.S. universities and national Synapse chapters

• State and national Brain Injury Associations

• Veterans’ organizations, clubhouse communities, and disability groups

• Publications in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Europe, and beyond

👉 This list includes institutions such as:

• Cleveland Clinic

• Harvard University Synapse

• Johns Hopkins Synapse

• MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital

• Columbia, UC Berkeley, and Brown Synapse

• Brain Injury Association of America and state chapters

• University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

• Craig Hospital

• The European Brain Injury Society

• The CDC’s Heads Up Initiative

• The Warrior Transition Command – U.S. Army

• NeuroRestorative, BIND, and numerous peer-led clubhouses

• And over 150 additional respected organizations

These citations and invitations were not simply about storytelling. They reflect the growing recognition that lived experience is critical to education, recovery, and advocacy — when institutions are willing to truly listen.

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The Real Cost of “We Don’t Pay”

When hospitals and nonprofits say they don’t compensate survivor-educators, the message is loud — even if unintended.

It communicates that our:

• Time

• Hard-won wisdom

• Emotional labor

• Boots-on-the-ground experience

are inspirational, but not professional.
That we are valuable as stories, but not as equal contributors to recovery education.

This kind of response minimizes, marginalizes, and demoralizes.
It says that no matter how far we’ve come or how much we’ve given, our voices remain optional, peripheral, or simply “nice to have.”

That’s a message I can no longer reinforce.

Until hospitals and organizations consistently value survivor-educators, the system will remain out of balance.

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Why It’s Essential to Value Survivor-Educators

To be clear: I hold no ill will toward those who have invited me in good faith.

But I’ve reached a point in my journey where I must align my time and energy with settings that offer both respect and reciprocity.

Going forward, I will be reserving my speaking time for organizations that value lived experience the same way they value academic credentials or clinical expertise.

Because what we bring — those of us who’ve lived through the trenches of brain injury and trauma — is not just a story.
It’s deep, embodied wisdom that deserves to be honored.

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If You’re a Fellow Survivor-Educator

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, under-compensated, or “patted on the head” instead of paid for your insight — you’re not alone. You’re not alone — and it’s time to insist that systems value survivor-educators as vital contributors.

You have every right to ask for mutual respect.
We are not selfish for needing sustainability.
And you are not “less than” for choosing not to speak for free.

We are not “taking our ball home.”
You and I are finally saying: our voice matters enough to be valued.

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🔗 Further Reflection for Survivor-Educators

If you’re a survivor-educator interested in how your lived experience can influence systems beyond healthcare, I encourage you to explore these related articles:

👉 Trauma-Informed AI Collaboration: A Path for Survivor-Educators

👉 The Soul of AI: Trauma-Informed Neuroplasticity Design

These articles highlight how our voice and insight — as survivor-educators — can shape emerging fields like technology, ethics, and innovation when systems are willing to listen.

If you’d like to explore this theme more deeply, I also invite you to read:

👉 Why Are Brain Injury Survivors Told to Sit in the Back of the Bus?

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🔚 Closing Thoughts

This post isn’t meant to shame or scold — it’s meant to elevate the conversation.

It’s an invitation for hospitals, nonprofits, and support organizations to reflect:

If you say you value survivors… are you willing to invest in the voices that carry that experience?

And to every survivor-educator reading this:

You and I are more than a story.
We are teachers.
With our voices, we are trailblazers.
Our voices deserve to be heard — and honored.

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🗣️ A Message for the System

It’s time.

Time for hospitals, rehabilitation centers, providers, professionals, and support groups to truly listen — and apply what they hear.

It’s time survivor-educators are brought to the table —
not just talked about, but actively included in the conversations that shape care and recovery.

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With respect, strength, and ongoing hope,

Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA
Founder, Second Chance to Live
secondchancetolive.org