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Inside This Issue:

• Editor's Note -

• GAMBLING AND PROPERTY TAX: A CLOSER LOOK

• Attitudinal Obstacles

• Email Support Group

• IDEA UPDATE

• PA Dept. of Transportation Offers Services Online

• The Mask -Frank T. Box

• Condolences
  To the family, friends and colleagues of David Strauss, PhD

• Cognitive Dissonance XII by John Pistorius

• Free Support Group Development Tools

• Upcoming Meeting and Social Event Notices

• Thank You!

• PABIA-NEWS Subscriber Policy

• Subscribe/Unsubscribe Instructions

• ETC.

Editor's Note

Hi Folks,

The celebration of Independence Day here in the United States of America has always been important in my life. Each of us can follow the example of this Nation's founders by declaring our independence from the over-taxation of our resources. I'm not talking about money folks. I mean our life energy, our thought energy and the way we spend our time.

Instead of giving our most precious asset (our time) to the things that tax us excessively, we can move away and fight for our freedom. Until we accept our responsibility and decide to remove ourselves from the oppression, we will be subject to it. And that can be the cause of endless suffering. We have the power. We only need to accept the fact of the matter and act responsibly to make positive, lasting change happen in our lives. And then we can all live in pursuit of happiness.

I believe support groups are a stepping stone in the quest for freedom for our people. Those who have learned how to make their way through the battlefield of life after Brain Injury can help liberate others. This one simple fact motivates me to remain involved. I've traveled the road and off-road stages in this battle. I've met the leaders and countless troops. Each has taught me a thing or two. I'm able to bring what I've learned to the strategy table to benefit others. Still, I'm limited.

The greatest Shepherd once said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." To win the battle of independence, we need workers who will help lead others to freedom. To continue to expand the support group network, we will need to develop effective group leaders and regional leadership. That might take some time. However, as we move forward, I view each group start-up as practice. And practice makes perfect. In time we will have a well-defined system of leadership development that encourages shepherding.

Going forward to anything automatically includes moving away from something else. Once we realize the cause of the oppression, we need to strategize. Instead of always looking at what we want to be free from, we must learn to look where we are going or want to be. Instead of allowing distractions to overtake our attention, we must keep our eyes on the goal. That is how we will get where we want to go.

John

P.S. Focus on independence.

GAMBLING AND PROPERTY TAX: A CLOSER LOOK
IssuesPA takes a look at the gambling and property tax legislation just approved in the state legislature.
 

Governor and Legislature Approve Slots

More than just property tax relief, will expanded gambling mean a better future for Pennsylvania?

(July 2004) After over a year of mainly behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, Governor Ed Rendell and the state legislature have finalized and signed into law two of Rendell's campaign promises - school property tax relief and a plan to expand gambling.

In two-plus years, the once-modest plan has grown. It started as a proposal for up to 24,000 machines at slot machine venues at the state's four existing horseracing tracks and possibly four new tracks. Now, the final plan calls for up to 61,000 machines at up to 14 locations: 7-8 tracks venues, 4-5 non-track venues, and 2 small resort venues.

Read more here

Attitudinal Obstacles

 

"Persons with disabilities face many obstacles, not the least of which is attitudinal. This largest of minority groups is often viewed as inferior, lacking in intelligence, bereft of humanity, and shunned, ridiculed and pitied... Certain references to those with disabilities reinforce the negative views held by many in our society, including professionals who should know better. Contemporary and enlightened attitudes toward those with disabilities embrace the notion of what people can do, rather than focusing on dysfunction and limitations. Language is a part of this effort. The language some prefer tends to highlight and reinforce untoward attitudes and imply dysfunction rather than ability. Some of these terms include the following: defective, afflicted, deformed and retarded. Having a disability does not mean that one is without worth, lacking the potential to be productive or should be subject to pity, scorn and low expectation."

-Milton Seligman, Professor, Dept. of Psychology in Education,

University of Pittsburgh School of Education

(Excerpted from a letter to the Editor of the Pitt News)

Email Support Group

"Brainstormers"

Denise Patterson, one of the founders of the Brainstormers email support group is offering to write to anyone interested in establishing a pen-pal type relationship.

"Hi folks, I’m Denise Patterson. If any of you are bored and would like to talk, chat, or just shoot the breeze, I’m available. My email is ...deenomad@aol.com"

Drop Denise a line and join the Brainstormers!

IDEA WEEKLY UPDATE – GO TEAM!!!!!!!!!!
Sandy Strassman Alperstein

With summer moving forward, we’ve found ourselves thinking about next year, since it will so quickly be upon us. We’re reminding ourselves that even if we succeed in defeating the proposed IDEA changes this year, the “gorilla” will still be out there next year. Read “The Gorilla: Waiting For Next Year – Or Not,” posted on our Home page, to see what we’re talking about. Hard as it is to think about, fact is that the forces working against our children were here before this year, and will be here after this year. Then again, so will we!

We’ve decided that one of the keys to our success – as a parent advocacy group and as individual parents of children with disabilities (and IEP team members) – is teamwork! Read “Team – On Being Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts,” posted on our Home page, to be both informed and inspired!

Finally, in a related vein, our Home page this week includes a discussion of “Defining Success.” How do you define “success” for your child in school? How do your school folks define it? Are we all on the same page, playing on the same team, when we formulate these definitions?? Or do we have very different expectations?? Read this piece to see why it’s all in how you define “success”!

On our Breaking News page this week, we have an excerpt from the NACDD Legislative Advocacy Weekly, including some Congressional calendar information and IDEA alerts. We also have a press release (including background information and talking points) from the National Coalition of Parent Centers, a member of the National Committee of Parents and Advocates Organized to Protect IDEA. (Speaking of the Committee, we are still collecting signatures from family-oriented groups and organizations – just go to p078.ezboard.com/fourchildrenleftbehindfrm28.showMessage?topicID=95.topic to read the sign-on letter and to see the most recent list of signatories; then send an email to parentvolunteer@ourchildrenleftbehind.com to have your group or organization added!)

We have added a new item to our Resources folder: a grassroots advocacy page from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (the Quakers’ public interest lobbying group). This item includes advocacy tips for grassroots activists, including how to effectively work with legislators, the press, etc.

We have some new items of interest in our Reference folder. For a “blast from the past,” take a look at public testimony from an Arc official (1999) and a press release from the CCD’s Education Task Force (2003). We also have LDA’s News from Washington (including an IDEA update), a press release from the National Governor’s Association on IDEA, and an explanation of procedure from CRS (Congressional Research Service) with respect to adding amendments to existing bills. (There are persistent rumors that Congress could add an IDEA bill to an end-of-the-year omnibus bill. This information from CRS helps to clarify how this process works.)

Finally, our Message Board was busy again this week. We have information on a petition to urge the presidential candidates to attend an upcoming disability rights convention. We also have a visitor’s sobering reaction to the recently released government-sponsored report on sexual misconduct in our public schools. On a lighter note, one of our frequent visitors has found a new hobby for the summer – playing “Name That Author!” Take a peek for a quick chuckle – we loved this one!!

Hope you’re enjoying the summer!

Sandy Strassman Alperstein, today's parentvolunteer@ourchildrenleftbehind.com
 

** Click here for WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW **

 

For more information, discussion forums, and our archives, please visit http://pub60.ezboard.com/bourchildrenleftbehind

 

©2004 Our Children Left Behind.

Our Children Left Behind [OCLB] was created and is owned/operated by parent volunteers (Shari Krishnan, Tricia & Calvin Luker, Sandy Alperstein, and Debi Lewis). Permission to forward, copy, and/or post this article is granted provided that it is unedited and attributed to the author(s) and www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com. For more about OCLB or to share information, please contact parentvolunteer@ourchildrenleftbehind.com.
 

PA Dept. of Transportation Offers Services Online

John Pistorius

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation (PENNDOT) comes under fire often for the poor condition of our roads, bridges and highways. Also, PENNDOT is criticized for long lines and lengthy waits plaguing motorists who visit Licensing Centers for information, and renewals. No one likes to waste time.

Recently, I received an application to renew my driver license and my vehicle registration. The following statement appeared on the envelope:

TO OUR CUSTOMERS

Our service commitment is to ensure that you receive your renewal within three weeks.

I guess under normal circumstances, the three week wait would be fine. But I forgot about it and my registration was about to expire. Then I read the letter included with the application. And there it was. The line of information that changed the way I renewed my registration and saved me a trip to the local "Online Notary." I also saved the extra fees associated with having them speed the processing of my forgotten application.

<NEW>  RENEW ONLINE AT WWW.STATE.PA.US  <NEW>

                KEYWORD: DL RENEWAL

                PIN = = = = = =.(my pin number)

I must say PENNDOT got it right on this one! I found the site to be easy to navigate. The process was simply efficient. I applied for my driver license and my vehicle registration. The process only took a few minutes right in the comfort of my own home. To my surprise, I received my documents in two days. What a bonus.

The home page has four drop down menu boxes and a "What's New" section. The drop down menu boxes are as follows:

• Online Services- contains a general topic list.

• Driver Licensing Services

• Motor Vehicle Services

• Other Services

Each category contains several sub-categories to choose from. This is the premiere way to take care of business with the PA Dept. of Transportation. Give it a try-you'll be glad you did.

The Mask

Frank T. Box

On the last of my radiation treatments, in September of 1999, I waited to see the oncologist for my chemotherapy referral. I held the strange plastic mesh mask in my lap that had held my head motionless as the six million electron volts of x-ray radiation was beamed through my brain for all of the thirty treatments. The mask was made of a white thermal plastic that was heated, molded to my face and then bolted to a table as I lay there for twenty minutes for it to cool. I was glad my nuclear treatments were over, but was not looking forward to the twelve months of Chemo that would be starting soon. The mask was a trophy to hang on the wall as a reminder of just how far I had come.  2 brain surgeries and 30 radiation treatments completed, Only a year of chemotherapy left to go. My Mother and daughter were with me, but I felt very alone. The thoughts of loosing another year to being sick seemed unbearable until I met the man with the blue mask.

A man and woman entered the waiting area and as they passed I noticed he had a mask much like mine. Unlike my mask, his was blue, and had the eyes, nose and mouth cut out. He seemed alone like me, separated from a world that has no clue what it feels like to have brain cancer.  We eyed each other with the interest just as members of any elite group might, a conversation just seemed to start on its own. He seemed to know that I would understand his anxiety from the radiation burns and surgical scars that made my head look like a red swollen soft ball.

Within minutes we were opening up our lives to each other, trading stories, as two long lost friends, or two soldiers in a foxhole with a common enemy that was seeking to remove their life. Two souls met that talked and understood the language of a brain cancer patient. My mask was solid with only the standard holes left by the plastic mesh to see and breath through, his mask had the eyes mouth and nose area cut out a little, so I asked If he were claustrophobic. He confirmed my suspicions and added that the MRIs were hellish and the valium was the only thing that saved him.

Then our conversation drifted toward our individual prognosis, his cancer seemed much worse than mine. As he opened up to me, in desperation to explain it to someone who might understand it became clear he had only a few weeks to live. As he unloaded his fears and frustrations on me, every passion filled word slammed home. His wife, just a little behind him and to the left, was out of his peripheral vision, and I could her face as she hung on every word as he retold a story she knew too well.

“Its in my liver, I do what they say! Its in my Lungs, I do what they say! And now its in my brain, and I am doing what they say again!  But they tell me I only have a few weeks! Maybe six. As he inhaled for next verse of his tirade, I locked eyes with him, and then shifted my gaze to his petrified wife, he turned and saw her pained expression , as if her very core were being sucked out. As he looked back to me I nodded toward the hallway and asked if I could have a word with just him, he followed with his head bowed a little as his wife slumped into a chair sobbing into her hands. We had an unobstructed view of the waiting room through the glass of the personal agony she felt in having her husband torn from her. I was moved to speak some words of comfort, and don’t know where the words came from, but the words flowed with clarity that spoke to his heart as only another cancer patient could.

I said, “She really loves you.” He said, “I know.” I continued, “... and she has been with you through this entire ordeal?” He nodded yes. I said, “your life is from now till its over; How do you want her to remember you? If you only have a few days, make them count! Be strong for her!”

He grabbed me in an appreciative hug, and thanked me. I could see them through the glass as they embraced ready to enjoy their remaining time together in this life.

I have reflected on those few moments of clarity over the last several years as I drift from brain cancer patient to brain cancer survivor status. The words I spoke to him, were ones that I needed to hear. I have been given everything that man thought he wanted, and he had everything I thought I wanted. He had some one to love him his whole life through. I was given the time he wanted, but no partner to share it with.

Thinking of life as a proportion; it is difficult to say who got the better deal. I was chosen to live, and he was chosen to have love every minute of his earthly life. He felt his life being torn from him as I felt my true love slipping away with the part of my brain that was removed. I guess life is about suffering well, falling with grace, and loving as if your life depended on it, in the end it does.  

T.F.B.

PS. Three years later while sitting church, a nice lady walked in, and we talked a little.. drank some coffee.. talked a little more. And we were married in September of 2003.

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Condolences
To the family, friends and colleagues of David Strauss, PhD

Saturday, July 10, 2004, after a courageous battle with brain cancer, David Strauss, PhD surrounded by many family members and close friends, passed away.

David was a loyal and loving husband and father, and a true friend. David began the concept of community rehabilitation for persons after brain injury and was a co-founder of ReMed, a brain injury rehabilitation provider. David changed the lives of many through his ongoing commitment to people with brain injuries. David was instrumental in the formation of the BIAPA steering committee and was currently serving as first vice president. David has been honored as a BIAPA Brain Injury Pioneer service provider and was recently the honoree at their 3rd Annual Spring Gala.

To send a message to David's family, you may visit www.caringbridge.org/pa/davidstrauss/index.htm.

A memorial service for David will be held within the next few weeks. Please check here for details.
 

Cognitive Dissonance XII

Assembling your Army

John Pistorius

You already have battalions of thought soldiers at your command. Previously, I described the Four Powerful Battalions of Thought Soldiers as being:

1. Our mental approval or acceptance of the truth or actuality of something

2. Opinions/prejudices/biases

3. Our absolute certainty, conviction or surety in anything

4. Doubtfulness, skepticism, distrust

Now it is time to put them to work for you instead of against you. But first you must get past the gatekeeper of your thought garden. It is time to accept the fact that you are in command of your mind. Either by default or deliberately, you are the commander. If you accept that fact, you can unravel your previous bias to the contrary.

Each of us has more power at our command than we might ever imagine. We have been given the authority to access the power. All we need to do is believe it. I don’t mean think it. I mean believe. Once we accept that we are able to do anything, then, and only then, can we access the power to do it. Really folks, it is that simple. The only way to do whatever it is that you need to do is to accept your ability and use it to perform the task you have before you. To quote Richard Bach, author of Illusions; The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, “Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.” Even though we may have sound reasons for believing we are not able to do any particular thing, we can change our experiences by approving of an idea and accepting it. This can only happen by overcoming our preconceived opinions, prejudgments and biases. We must also put doubt, skepticism and distrust aside. Only then can we become ready to learn how to do what we are truly capable of. Once we learn what we can do, we realize the endless possibilities.

Do you really want to move into a place in your life where you make things happen for yourself instead of having them appear to happen out of your control? Yes? Then take hold of yourself. Decide to apply yourself to this process.

You are the Commander

Again I stress that you are in control. Your thoughts are active forms of energy that bring you what you request. If you continuously dwell upon disharmonious ideas, thoughts, statements and opinions, you will always have dissonance in your life. However, by building an army of life affirming thought soldiers, you can defeat the dissonance. When life dumps crap on you, step above it and use it to move forward instead of dwelling on it despairingly.

By aligning yourself with thoughts of harmony, you will begin to experience harmony in your life. What I feel and claim within is expressed without.  There is balance, stability, calmness and self-control in my thoughts, my ideas, my desires and my life. This is because I have planted thoughts that induce these desirable outcomes. I don’t demand. I expand. Each planting of the soldiers that work for me has reaped a harvest of sought-after results. As I uncover additional levels of resistance, I’m able to reinforce my previously developed thought brigades. In some cases, I do this by planting more of the same basic ideas that build up and strengthen those that I’ve already planted. Do you want to win in this battle? Then do it. Choose to win. Decide to overcome the dissonance.

Start Here

Ok, now take out a pencil or pen and paper. Begin by writing a statement that reflects your desire. It can begin with:

• I want, or

• I desire.

For my first sentence I wrote: “I affirm the following: I want to permanently improve my life, my circumstances and my way of thinking. It is so.” I added the “It is so” statement as an affirmation and confirmation of the fact that I wanted to permanently improve those three areas of my life. At first, I didn’t realize that by changing my way of thinking I would change my circumstances and thereby, my life. Now I know.

Now write out what it is that you truly desire. Is it to be free from worry or doubt? Do you want to loose weight? What do you want? Write it out. Be specific. If you want to lose weight, write an exact weight reduction goal. How many pounds do you want to shed and by what date do you want to be free from the baggage? Be realistic. You spent time gathering the extra pounds. Take the amount of time needed to become free from the fat. Be prepared to write down all of the objections that rise up to defend your current situation, belief or position. As they arise, write them down, share them with someone and then burn the paper. Put it into the charcoal grill. Burn it in the fireplace. Find a way to eradicate the thoughts by completely destroying them on paper. This symbolizes freeing yourself from those objections.

Now, start a second statement. Begin with the following:

• I’m learning

• I’m beginning

• I’m starting, or

• I’m willing

I like the phrase “I’m willing” as a second one because it plants the idea of willingness to accomplish a specific task or agenda. However, if you are not willing, using this phrase to start your next statement will not be useful because it is not true. You must create or find a sentence that accurately represents your desire in a truthful manner. Otherwise, it could be rejected as a falsehood. These statements that you create become the leaders who pave the way for you to bring in your new troops.  

Plant the power thoughts just before you fall to sleep and again as you first awake. Multiple recitations are an effective way to plant, water and fertilize specific statements in your thought garden. Once planted, these ideas will work from within to affect change and thereby reduce cognitive dissonance. I know this from my own experience. 

When I first realized that this worked, I was truly surprised. I believed that it would, but until it became a reality, I was unsure. I had given my mental approval to the idea that I could plant specific thoughts or ideas. I was of the opinion that it would work. And then when it happened, I became absolutely certain. Now my conviction is that this process can work for anyone who approves of or accepts the possibility of it working. Once you get past the acceptance hurdle in your basic training, then you can climb the opinion obstacle. You may have opinions that have been formed over many years that are in complete contrast to what I am writing here. However, if you are willing to unravel yourself from those opinions and the resulting convictions, you can enjoy freedom and learn to beat the opposition. After all, it is opposition that exists within you. 

If you are really willing, your willingness will empower you to blaze new trails if the road becomes difficult to navigate during your assumption of control. Willingness to accomplish something strengthens desire and the resolve needed to continue. Willingness prepares you to continue on task. Once you are truly willing to do something, you will be driven from within to move in the direction of your goal with strength and tenacity that halt the negative thought soldiers from interfering with your progress. Being willing leads to accepting your ability to learn whatever you need to learn to accomplish your goal. Your willingness to accomplish your goal will propel you past any roadblocks that the negative thought brigades erect. It will give you what you need to conquer the fear that the enemy tricks you into feeling or expressing. 

James Hillman said, “If you are still being hurt by an event that happened to you at twelve, it is the thought that is hurting you now”. I would make one minor adjustment to that statement. It is your thought that is hurting you now, not some nebulous thought that resides out of your control.

We can’t change our past to make it better. We are who we are. Everything that we’ve experienced prior to this moment has brought us to this exact moment in time. Nothing can change that. We can let go of the thoughts that haunt us. We can stop torturing ourselves with the painful thoughts that rob us of our productivity, our energy and our joy. Why continue to torment ourselves? It makes no sense yet that is exactly what we do when we retell and relive those less than savory moments in our lives. We can learn to turn our potential into performance by moving toward freedom from self-limiting thoughts. 

Instead of allowing our negative thought soldiers to keep us bound in anger, self-pity and fear, we can jump into action by installing a new battalion of thought soldiers. This new army will act in the same manner as the old one with one exception; you will have them trained to do your bidding to bring forth pleasant memories, new experiences etc. And this is one way that I’ve learned to overcome cognitive dissonance. You can too. 

Next Time: Bringing in the Troops

Free Support Group Development Tools

Free Help for anyone Starting or Running Peer Groups

Contact John Pistorius at jp@pabia.org or call (412) 481-0443 to receive a free CD with the support group tools created so far. These tools can also be sent via email or postal mail.

Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Alliance

Upcoming Meeting and Social Event Notices

Pittsburgh

Monroeville

Swissvale

Oakland

Indiana Twp.

Indiana County

Bowling Event

Next Pittsburgh Area meeting date: Tuesday, August 3, 2004

TIME: 7:00 P.M.
TOPIC: TO BE ANNOUNCED
PLACE: 1323 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh Near Mercy Hospital and AJ Palumbo Center
ADMISSION: Free
PARKING: Free Parking Lot adjacent to the building.
Contact: Ed Crinnion at 412.761.9870 or John Pistorius at 412.481.5482.
Refreshments provided.

Upcoming Pittsburgh Meeting Dates:

• August 3

• September 7

• October 5

• November 2

• December 7

Back to group list
 

The next Indiana Twp. meeting date: Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Time: 7:00 P.M.
Place: the McLaughlin Education Center of HealthSouth, Harmarville.
Admission: Free
Parking: Free Parking in the HealthSouth Parking Garage
Contact: Tom Byrnes at 412-531-0343
Refreshments provided.

Upcoming Indiana Twp. Meeting Dates:

• AUGUST 10

• SEPTEMBER  14

• OCTOBER 12

• NOVEMBER 9

• DECEMBER 14

Back to group list

Oakland Meeting

Second Monday and Fourth Tuesday of each month.

Meetings are held twice each month from 7-9 PM in room 5047, Forbes Tower, Meyran Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. This meeting is facilitated by a student of the University of Pittsburgh under the direction of Professor Mike Pramuka in conjunction with the TBI Model Systems Project and Professor Mike McCue.

Back to group list

The next Monroeville Area meeting date: Thursday, August 12, 2004

TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, 2310 Haymaker Road, Monroeville, Pa.
ADMISSION: Free
PARKING: Free parking lot adjacent to the building.

Contact: Denise Patterson at deenomad@aol.com or Paul Damon at 412.372.2888
Refreshments provided.

Upcoming Monroeville Meeting Dates:

• August 12

• September 9

• October 14

• November 11

• December 9

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New- Indiana County Brain Injury Support Group

When: Thursday, August 19, 2004
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Topic: Peer Support Discussion with John Pistorius of the Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Alliance.
Place: Indian Haven Community Home, 1675 Saltsburg Ave., Indiana, PA 15701
Admission: Free
Parking: Free Parking Lot adjacent to the building.
Contact: Becky Myers 724.349.5934
 

Back to group list

NEW Swissvale Area Brain Injury Peer Support Group.

Mike and Marilyn Peters have agreed to host a new peer-to-peer support group in Swissvale. The meetings are held on the first Monday of each month in the social hall of the St. John's Lutheran Church, Swissvale, PA. All persons interested in peer support are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Due to summer month scheduling, this meeting may be postponed for a few months. Please call in advance of attending to insure accuracy of date and time.

When: First Monday of the month.
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Topic: Peer Support Discussion
Place: Social hall of the St. John's Lutheran Church, Swissvale, PA.
Admission: Free
Parking: Free Parking on street adjacent to the building.
Contact: Marilyn Peters at (412) 271-1821

Back to group list

Western PA BIM / HS Recreational Bowling League

Where: Fun Fest Entertainment Center, 2525 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
WHEN: Monday July 26, 2004.
COST: $7 per person, for 3 games, shoes, 2 slices of pizza & unlimited fountain drinks.
TIME: 3:30 PM TO 6:30 PM on Lanes #35 to 40

Bowling at Fun Fest is Wheel Chair Accessible and there are Bowling Ramps.
For more information contact Tom Byrnes at tbmsky@verizon.net or call 412-531-0343.

Upcoming Bowling Dates:

• Monday, July 26, 2004

• Monday, August 23, 2004
   

Back to group list

Back to Table of Contents

Thank You!

These are the people that make it possible.

Ed Crinnion (412) 761-9870 for your continuing efforts in keeping the Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Alliance together, funding the organization's website and supplying refreshments for PABIA meetings.

Becky Myers (724) 349-5934 and Bill Compton (724) 639-9416 for your continuing commitment to peer support in Indiana County.

Denise Patterson and Paul Damon (412) 372-2888 for your ongoing coordination of the Monroeville area Peer Support Group.

Ann Ciotoli, MaryAnn Stritmatter 412-828-1300 and Tom Byrnes (412) 531-0343 for your  commitment to peer support in Indiana Twp.

Malin Lowenadler-Shadel and Lisa Taubman, for your help with the group in Oakland.

Mike and Marilyn Peters for your help with the new group starting in Swissvale.

Jim Sproat and Realty Counseling Co. Inc. (412) 381-1166  for your support of the PABIA-NEWS, electronic newsletter and for the use of your digital camera. We greatly appreciate your help. Anyone interested in contacting Jim to thank him personally, can call or visit his website at http://www.realtycounseling.com.

PABIA-NEWS Contributors- your insight, articles, poems and comments are vital to the success of this publication.

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Till next time, Seek to be and remain Barrier-Free. You have the power.

ETC.

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