Date:         Wed, 2 Jul 2003 00:32:56 -0400
Reply-To:     John Pistorius <johntheone@NETZERO.COM> (changed to jp@pabia.org )
From:         John Pistorius <johntheone@NETZERO.COM>
Subject:      July 1,
              2003 PABIA Meeting praise and comments and upcoming meeting info
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Hello Folks: Kudos to Malin Lowenadler-Shadel and Ed Crinnion on the success of tonight's meeting! Congratulations Malin! You deserve a great big thank you from everyone. Malin untiringly dedicated her time to getting Al Condeluci, Ph.D. to outline for us the goals, mission and purpose of the TBI Advisory board to the PA Dept. of Health. Al did one better though, he gave us some intricate details of the inner workings of the board. The audeience was great. We had many people who shared their personal insights and livened up the meeting with powerful questions. Al helped us gain a deeper understanding of how we can learn more about this board and its meetings by getting the minutes of the meetings that have already taken place. Al told us that anyone who is interested in getting additional information, including minutes of the meetings, can contact Carolyn Cass at the following link: mailto:ccass@state.pa.us . We now know that the Dept. of Health is looking to restructure this board to include more true advocates for the people who are recovering from TBI and who are experiencing TBI in the state. (More information will follow in an update specific to the TBI Advisory Board) Thanks Dr. Condeluci! Ed Crinnion outdid himself again tonight. Just when anyone might have thought it was not possible, Ed showed us the extent of his devotion. He arrived to help set the meeting up on time. And he provided a generous supply of snacks and drinks out of his own pocket. This guy deserves a heartfelt thank you! Please . . . everyone that was present tonight, drop him a note of thanks at evc@pabia.org He continues to unselfishly go beyond the call of duty! I have it on good authority from Andrea (Bogdan) Williams, that the next meeting of the PABIA support group will truly be an action-packed presentation full of motivating, knock your socks off, advocacy information. Andrea has promised she will deliver material of significance to every citizen of this great country! The title of her presentation is, 'Our Rights, No More Rhetoric!' This presentation will begin at 7 PM, August 5, 2003. I'll send out a remider notice in a couple of weeks. Ms. Williams is known nationally for her disability civil rights advocacy work. She is the founding chairperson and national organizer of the Primary Consumer Movement in Brain Injury. In 1989, she was the primary author, primary grant writer and project manager of Operation: Empowerment. This was the first consumer driven conference on disability in the US. Andrea represented the BIA on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) task force until the bill came into law. She is also one of the founders of the International Brain Injury Association and served on its founding board of governors. Does that give you what you ask for and more from a local "Peer Support" group? You better believe it! The PABIA delivers! Remember to mark the date of our next meeting on your calendar right now. Don't let it slip your mind! You do not want to miss this one! I promise that you will attend an event that could change your life and the lives of people you know forever. This presentation is vitally important to the people who are recovering from Brain Injury and their families! If you have any questions, please contact me at jp@pabia.org, and I will be pleased to respond as quickly as possible. I must warn you, this upcoming meeting is one that you do not want to miss! SO BE THERE! Yours in service, John Pistorius ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Subscribe or Unsubscribe From The Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Alliance Electronic News List ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ * TO JOIN THE LIST * ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Send a blank email to: PABIA-NEWS-SUBSCRIBE-REQUEST@LISTSERV.TBINET.ORG (your Subject: line may say JOIN) ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ * TO BE REMOVED * ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Please remember you may remove yourself from this list (unsubscribe) at any time by sending a blank email to PABIA-NEWS-SIGNOFF-REQUEST@LISTSERV.TBINET.ORG (your Subject: line may say REMOVE) If you know of anyone who would enjoy receiving this publication, please forward this message to them. *********************************************** The PABIA-NEWS mailing list is sponsored by L-Soft international, Inc and powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Date:         Thu, 10 Jul 2003 11:06:11 -0400
Reply-To:     John Pistorius <johntheone@NETZERO.COM>
From:         John Pistorius <johntheone@NETZERO.COM>
Subject:      PA Dept. of Health TBI Advisory Board  July 23,
              2003 Meeting Agenda and May Minutes
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Hello everyone, The next meeting of the PA Dept. of Health TBI Grant Advisory Board will be held July 23, 2003. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting agenda and Minutes of the previous meeting held May 21, 2003 were sent to me and I have included them here for your perusal. All persons are encouraged and welcome to attend and participate in the upcoming meeting. Contact Ed Crinnion for more information or to express your interest in receiving or providing transportation to and from this meeting. John Pistorius PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Grant Advisory Board Meeting AGENDA July 23, 2003 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Conference Room 812, Department of Health Commonwealth Avenue and Forster Streets Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 10:30 a.m. Call to Order, Introductions Al Condeluci, Ph.D., Chairperson 10:35 a.m. Review of May 21, 2003 Minutes Chairperson 10:45 a.m. TBI Advisory Board Appointments Carolyn S. Cass, Director Division of Child and Adult Health Services Review of Tasks for TBI Advisory Ms. Cass Board and Timelines State Action Plan and Ms. Cass Implementation Grant Update 11:45 a.m. Agency Resource Survey Sub- Elaine M. Terrell Committee Report Program Administrator . Head Injury Program 12:00 p.m. Review of Conference Call on Obtaining Ms. Terrell HIP Providers 12:15 p.m. Public Comment Chairperson 12:30 p.m. Public Meeting Adjourned Chairperson 12:35 p.m. Luncheon Sub-Committee Working Session 12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Discussion of Rehabilitation Services Needed for Coverage by Head Injury Program (end of July 23, 2003 meeting Agenda) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Conference Room 907, Department of Health Commonwealth Avenue and Forster Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania May 21, 2003 Board Members Present: Eugene Bianco, Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Thomas Carroll, TBI Survivor Kim Cogan, Department of Public Welfare Al Condeluci, United Cerebral Palsy Pittsburgh Family of Corporations Michael Miller, TBI Family Member Gerald Miller, Department of Labor and Industry Drew Nagele, Brain Injury Association (BIA) of Pennsylvania Elaine M. Terrell, Department of Health Board Members Not Present: Dorothy Ardell, TBI Family Member William Barbour, Department of Aging Leslie Best, Department of Health Suedell Cirwithen, TBI Survivor Geoffrey Dunaway, Department of Insurance Jack Poplar, Acadia, Inc. Phillip Pressler, Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council John Tommasini, Department of Education Symme Trachtenberg, TBI Family Member Margaret Trimble, Department of Health Representatives Present Who Attend For Board Members: Lynn Dell, Pennsylvania Technical Assistance and Training Network, for John Tommasini, Department of Education DOH Staff: Carolyn Cass, Department of Health Public: Carl Havira, Parent of TBI Survivor Chris Havira, TBI Survivor Kathleen Ludwig, Hospital and Healthsystem Association of PA Sharon Miller, Parent of TBI Survivor, Towanda, PA Chris B. Miller, TBI Survivor, Towanda, PA Beverly Reid, Behavioral Health Services Carla Washinko, ReMed Recovery Care Systems Call to Order and Introductions Al Condeluci, Ph. D., Chairperson of the TBI Advisory Board, called the meeting to order at 10:15 am. Dr. Condeluci asked that all the TBI Advisory Board members and visitors introduce themselves. Minutes from March 7, 2003 The Chairman, Dr. Condeluci, asked if there were any changes to the minutes from the March 7, 2003 meeting. Ms. Terrell apologized to Mr. Mike Miller for listing his remarks under the public comments section. Ms. Terrell also stated that Ms. Robinson reported she attended the March meeting so she will be added to the minutes. Ms. Terrell also noted that there was not a quorum at the March meeting and the prior minutes could not be approved. Dr. Condeluci asked for a motion to approve the March minutes with corrections. The motion was made and passed. Head Injury Program Improvements Carolyn Cass, Director, Division of Child and Adult Health Services addressed the TBI Advisory Board. Ms. Cass reported that Joanne Grossi is the new Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Also, the new Director for the Bureau of Family Health is Sara Baker, M. S. W. Ms. Cass is interested in adding others to the TBI Advisory Board. She has discussed with Ms. Grossi the possibility of adding the following: more TBI survivors and/or family members; a legislator for the Board; a representative from Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy and adding other organizations. Ms. Cass wants to look at the Head Injury Program more comprehensively and wants to enlist the support of the TBI Advisory Board. Ms. Cass said the TBI Advisory Board will have an expanded role and they will not be confined to the Implementation Grant only. Rather, their role will expand to the rest of the Head Injury Program. Dr. Nagele commented that with the broader scope of the TBI Advisory Board we should identify individuals who can work to obtain systems changes in agencies and know how to coordinate state systems. Mr. Bianco stated that for effective coordination we should have groups organized and ready to discuss how to fix the systems. He recommended two steps. The first is to have problem solving groups instead of task groups. The problem solving groups would focus on solutions to programs. The second step is a selection of individuals for the Board. Dr. Condeluci stated that sometimes problems could be solved through tie-ins. It was stated that the Office of Drug and Alcohol uses an Advisory Board for the Department as a whole and it is 50% family and consumers. Dr. Nagele suggested that other organizational units within state agencies should be represented on the TBI Advisory Board. He suggested the OBRA and Independence Waiver, areas other than the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance and Training Network (PATTAN) in the Department of Education; the Bureau of Epidemiology in Health, behavioral health and the criminal justice system. Ms. Cass stressed that she would like to keep the advisory role of the TBI Advisory Board. She stated the systems issues are part of the work of the Implementation Grant, which is to carry out integration and coordination efforts. Ms. Cass provided the TBI Advisory Board with an overview of the comments on the Implementation Grant. The letter from Health Resources and Services Administration specified the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. Strengths of the proposal included: the Lead Agency (DOH) commits well-qualified staff, is centrally positioned to administer the grant, and the strong leadership role of Ms. Cass who is also the Maternal and Child Health Grant coordinator. Other strengths were: the adequacy of the involvement of theTBI Advisory Board, the good representation of TBI individuals and families, and the public involvement in grant activities. The major weakness was the need for cultural diversity and that the agency representatives on the TBI Advisory Board are only mid-level staff and there is a need to effect policy changes. Ms. Cass stated she is increasing her time spent on the grant work. The Division will prepare quarterly reports to track improvement on the weaknesses. Ms. Cass also advised that she has requested additional staff to assist with the grant. Dr. Obiri from the Bureau of Epidemiology will be assisting. Ms. Cass advised the TBI Advisory Board that there is a need for a family member or a person who sustained a TBI to represent Pennsylvania at the TBI Grantee Meeting in Washington, D. C. on July 16-18, 2003. Ms. Cass said that current members of the Board would receive a letter of reappointment. Mr. Bianco suggested we have a task list of activities to be accomplished. Mr. Bianco suggested the DOH provide the list of tasks and expectations along with time-lines. It was suggested that the Brain Injury Association's Resource Directory is utilized as a guide and also the PaTTAN Teleconference handout should be a resource. Ms. Cass said that the Department of Health has a State Data Center that will be used to compile the resource directory from the results of the surveys. The Department of Public Welfare Community Resource Centers (CRC) was suggested as a resource for information and referral. Ms. Cogan stated that the CRC's are on hold and that the current contracts would continue until the end of the year. To evaluate the state programs the following is suggested: obtain an analysis of the data from the State Data Center; determine how do providers get in the system; determine what keeps agencies from better collaboration and present alternatives to families. It was suggested that the key state officials get together to review the completed resource surveys and determine whether we asked the right questions and bring back an analysis to the TBI Advisory Board. It was recommended that the Department of Health send a TBI resource survey to the Office of Drug and Alcohol, the Office of Medical Assistance, the Developmental Disabilities Council and the criminal justice system to find out what services they provide, who they serve and where are the gaps in services. There was a discussion on how to more quickly evaluate the results of the State Agency Resource Survey. Dr. Condeluci suggested that the state agency representatives on the TBI Advisory Board meet and review the surveys and give report at the next TBI Advisory Board meeting. Ms. Terrell will schedule the meeting with the state agency representatives. Ms. Cass stated that by the July meeting the Department of Health would provide the TBI Advisory Board with information on the tasks to be completed in the next 6 months. There was a question on the Request for Application (RFA) and Ms. Cass stated that it is in the Department of Health internal review process and the Board will be advised of the time frame. Administrative Issues Hope Miller, Director, Division of Program Support and Coordination reviewed the travel expense voucher with members of the TBI Advisory Board. She explained the line-by- line completion of the form, the items that are reimbursable, and the state rates. Ms. Terrell discussed the role and responsibilities of the TBI Advisory Board. She stated their role is to advise the Department of Health and make recommendations concerning the project activities included in the State Action Plan, review the HIP policies, application forms. More specifically, the Board will: Review the educational curriculum; assist DOH in obtaining educational materials from the Brain Injury Association, TBI Technical Assistance Center and other states; review the DOH draft of the TBI Resource Directory; Assist in creating brain injury awareness in other task forces and committees; and conduct subcommittees and task forces to make recommendation to DOH for systems changes to promote better access to services, service coordination, information and referral, and education. Ms. Terrell asked for comments on the Head Injury Program application. Mr. Mike Miller stated he thinks the application is overwhelming to a person who has sustained a traumatic brain injury. Ms. Cogan stated it is problematic for a person who has sustained a traumatic brain injury to open the mail, complete the form and mail it back. Ms. Cass stated that next fiscal year the Department of Health plans to have contractors for pre-enrollment assistance to assist applicants, to follow-up on the applications and for evaluation. Ms. Cass wants the contractors to have knowledge of TBI and the assessment systems. Public Comment Mr. Carl Havira said there is much to be gained as the TBI Advisory Board moves forward and that he thinks the Board is moving correctly. Mr. Chris Havira said he has hope for the Program. He said people should look at the ability and not the disability. Mrs. Miller said it was a positive meeting. Mr. C. B. Miller appreciates what we are doing. It was stated that Moss would suggest more family members and more individuals who have sustained a TBI from other parts of the state, such as Erie, are added to the TBI Advisory Board. It was also suggested that the Department of Health use teleconferences. Ms. Washinko stated the Head Injury Program should add a representative on behavioral health issues to the TBI Advisory Board. She suggested a professional with experience in behavioral health. Other Comments A preliminary meeting of the six agencies will be held to review the state agency. Ms. Terrell passed out copies of an updated listing of the TBI Advisory Board members. Adjournment The TBI Advisory Board agreed the next meeting would be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2003. Dr. Condeluci, the Co-Chairperson, adjourned the public meeting at 1:30 p.m. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Subscribe or Unsubscribe From The Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Alliance Electronic News List ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ * TO JOIN THE LIST * ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Send a blank email to: PABIA-NEWS-SUBSCRIBE-REQUEST@LISTSERV.TBINET.ORG (your Subject: line may say JOIN) ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ * TO BE REMOVED * ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Please remember you may remove yourself from this list (unsubscribe) at any time by sending a blank email to PABIA-NEWS-SIGNOFF-REQUEST@LISTSERV.TBINET.ORG (your Subject: line may say REMOVE) If you know of anyone who would enjoy receiving this publication, please forward this message to them. *********************************************** The PABIA-NEWS mailing list is sponsored by L-Soft international, Inc and powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Date:         Fri, 25 Jul 2003 23:12:26 -0400
Reply-To:     John Pistorius <johntheone@NETZERO.COM>
From:         John Pistorius <johntheone@NETZERO.COM>
Subject:      PABIA NEWS
Content-Type: multipart/related; type="multipart/alternative";

[multipart/alternative]

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PABIA NEWS  Support Lines final edition

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Inside:

*    Web Server Issues

*    Some photos of the July PABIA meeting

*    Notice of our upcoming meeting August 5, 2003

*    Call to Action-Free Our People March - 144 miles, "From the Liberty Bell to Capitol Hill" 

*    FREE Web-based training seminars

*    Schedule of Area TBI Support Meetings

*    Subscribe/Unsubscribe Instructions



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Web Server Issues (Click here for entire article)


We are currently experiencing technical problems with our server.  Somehow, after a lengthy period of difficulties, our navigational structure has been lost.  This means you cannot access any other page on our site right now.  We are working as quickly as possible to resolve this problem.  Thank you for your patience.  (Click here to skip forward)

I could spend the time to recreate the site, however, I am not willing to do that just yet.   We are exploring the options that other hosting companies offer.  So far, it looks like we can buy a monthly service at a fraction of the cost that Ed is paying right now.  This switch would give us three times the space for files and almost twice the bandwidth.  That extra storage means we would be able to expand this site to include audio and video clips.  And the extra bandwidth would permit more people to visit our site to view and experience the site and additional features. This will supercharge our site.

We have a choice.

Of course in the non-medical world, we can do this as customers, because we can freely choose to terminate the services of the provider and to purchase them from a different provider.  This is a prime example of the way that customer/consumer choice would affect the companies that sell medical and rehabilitation products and services.  And this is why I am explaining it here.

In the 'free market' the customer can choose to stop buying from a company or person for any reason including if they do not give them what they want, or need and pay for.  This is a powerful force in the economy of service delivery.  When people disengage their money from a company, it has a financial reason to adapt to the needs, wants and desires of the people who buy what they sell.  This is a compelling influence that shapes the choices companies make.  Without customers, the business cannot continue to do whatever they do.

For example, if you buy a gallon of Whole Milk at the grocery store, you fully expect to receive Whole Milk in the carton.  If you find Buttermilk in your carton, you would most likely return it to the place of purchase and demand a replacement or refund.

It is true that the products are similar because they both originate from the same place and are both dairy products.  However, they are clearly different.  Whole milk is sweet and Buttermilk is sour.  Your grocer could argue that the similarities make them interchangeable.  The grocer could even argue that Buttermilk is Whole Milk.  You are the final authority because you are able to stop giving the grocer your money if he refused to give you what you wanted and paid for.

Not so in our medical service delivery system!

Our current system of selling medical and rehabilitation products and services is not customer friendly.  It certainly is not cognitively accessible.  If you are given something other than that which you want or need, you are forced to swallow whatever you get.  This is because you do not get to withdraw funding.  This current system of funding puts the money into the hands of the "grocer" and gives the "grocer" the power to sell you whatever the "grocer" wants to sell you.  And that is the biggest . . . (Click here to read the rest of this article.)



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Photos of The July PABIA Meeting
These photos and more can be found on our website at http://www.pabia.org/july_photos.htm

                      
Our Speaker,                                 Our Meeting Attendees
Al Condeluci, Ph.D. 


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PABIA Meeting Notice

MEETING DATE:  Tuesday, August 5, 2003

TIME:  7:00 P.M.

PLACE: 1323 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh Near Mercy Hospital and AJ Palumbo Center

ADMISSION: Free

PARKING: Free Parking Lot adjacent to the building

SPEAKER: Andrea Williams, National Disability Civil Rights Advocate

TOPIC: 'Our Rights, No More Rhetoric!' 


Ms. Williams is known nationally for her many years of disability civil rights advocacy work. She has always stood for the rights of the people who experience Traumatic Brain Injury.  This woman has spent twenty or more years of her life fighting for the civil rights of people with disabilities.  She is the founding chairperson and national organizer of the Primary Consumer Movement in Brain Injury.  In 1989, she was the primary author, grant writer and project manager of Operation: Empowerment.  This was the first consumer driven conference on disability in the US. Andrea represented the BIA on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) task force until the bill came into law.  She is also one of the founders of the International Brain Injury Association and served on its founding board of governors.  Ms. Williams remains active throughout the nation as a consultant and disability civil rights leader serving on several advisory boards to universities and various agencies.


Please plan to attend, as Ms. Williams' presentation is important to each and every person affected by Brain Injury and their family members.  You do not want to miss this one!

 

Free Refreshments.

For More Information, contact Ed Crinnion at 412.761.9870 or John Pistorius jp@pabia.org or telephone 412.481.5482



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Call To Action

Free Our People March - 144 miles, "From the Liberty Bell to Capitol Hill" 120 people with disabilities from across the U.S., many using wheelchairs and other mobility aids, will begin the march in Philadelphia, to be joined by an additional 80 people in Baltimore to cover the last half of the march to Washington, D.C.,  culminating when a planned 20,000 people gather at the Free Our People Rally on Capitol Hill to demand passage of MiCASSA so there will be No More Stolen Lives.

Where: Beginning with a press conference at the Liberty Bell, in Philadelphia, PA, through Delaware and Maryland, and ending with the rally in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill.

When: September 4-17, 2003-day by day

(Click here to read the rest of this article and schedule of events.)





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      FREE Professional Training Seminars  

        
      Develop professional skills with FREE Web-based training seminars in the Pendaflex Learning Center. You'll find something for everyone: office professionals, small/home-based business owners, students, educators, and more!

      New courses launching August 12th:

        a.. Advanced Excel 
        b.. Introduction to PowerPoint 
        c.. Building Your First Web Page 
        d.. Business Etiquette 
      Classes begin on August 12th.so don't wait, click here to register today!
     


(Editor's Note) The Pendaflex Learning Center is an Internet-based learning environment that provides free personal and professional software courses.  They are affiliated with Office Depot.  I have personally visited the Pendaflex Learning Center website.  I found the information to be accurate and was pleased to learn that they really do provide free training sessions.  If they have any type of catch or gimmick, it is in their 'Suggested Course Materials' list where they suggest particular brands of products for use in the free training sessions.  They give links to more information about each of the materials but participants are under no obligation to purchase anything at any time.  This is a great way for anyone to learn or improve computer software skills.  We have included this information here without compensation. -John

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 List of Area TBI Support Groups 
This list is provided for informational purposes only.  If you have information that is different from that which is listed here, please let us know by contacting Ed Crinnion at evc@pabia.org or phone Ed at 412.761.9870.

        *     Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Alliance- Contact: Ed Crinnion at evc@pabia.org or call 412.761.9870. The Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Support Group meeting is held the first Tuesday of every month at Life's Work (formally VRC) 1323 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA. 15219. 
       
        * PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in developing additional support or focus groups in the Western Pennsylvania area, give us a call. Anyone interested in helping with this endeavor or with information about a suitable, accessible meeting place can click here to contact us.

        PABIA Considering a second monthly Brain Injury Support meeting in Pittsburgh. Arrangements are not final yet.  However, we have members who have asked us to consider meeting twice every month instead of once each month.


       
        * U. P. M. C.  Rehabilitation Hospital T. B. I. Support Group~ Contact: LYNNE MARSHAL at  412.420.2260 or 412.420.2467. Usually held 6-7:30 pm on the second Monday of each month, please call to confirm. Offering speech & language support for people who survive TBI family. This meeting is held by the
       
        * The Children's Institute Support Group~ Contact:Denise DeFelice at 412.420.2400.. Support for children and young adults up to age 21. Please call for availability or for scheduled times.
       
        * HealthSouth of Sewickley Brain Injury / Stroke Support Group- Contact: Ann Logoyda at 412.749.2387 or 412.741.9500  This meeting is held quarterly on the third Wednesday of the month, 7-8:30 pm in the Recreation_Therapy room at HealthSouth (formerly D. T. Watson Rehabilitation Hospital) 301 Camp Meeting Road, Sewickley, Pa. 15143
       
        * HealthSouth CONNELLSVILLE Head Injury Support Group~ Contact: Cheryl Crise at 724.626.5000 or Tom and May Lou Hoak at 724.628.0419. This meeting is usually held on the third Tuesday of each month 5-7 pm in the lobby area of HealthSouth Rehabilitation Outpatient Center, Route 119, Laurel Mall, Connellsville, Pennsylvania 15425.
       
        * WESTMORELAND County Brain Injury Support Group~ Contact: Paul or Denise at 412.372.2888 or Karin or Judy at 724.887.0646. This meeting is held on the last Wednesday of each month 7 - 9 pm at the Trinity United Church of Christ, 139 North Main St., Greensburg, Pa. 15601
       
        * ALTOONA Brain Injury Support Group Meeting~ This meeting has been temporarily suspended. Click here if you are interested in forming a support group in this area. The people of Altoona need you.  We will provide FREE assistance and tools to interested persons.
       
        * JOHNSTOWN Brain Injury Support Group Meeting~ Contact: Teresa Hoffman or DR. Larry Rutledge at 814.255.8137 or toll free at 888.488.9988. This meeting is held on the second Tuesday of each month 5:00 pm at the Creighton Center for Advanced Rehabilitation, 109 Sunray Drive, Johnstown, PA 15905.
       
       Indiana County Brain Injury Support Group Contact: Bill Compton at 724.639.9416 or Becky Myers at 724.349.5934. This meeting to be held on the third Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 pm at the Indian Haven Community Home located at 1675 Saltsburg Avenue, Indiana, PA 15701. 
       

Other Support Groups
The following groups primarily focus on brain issues other than traumatic brain injury. We have included them here as a service to the community. (A recent study has shown a correlation between Traumatic Brain Injury and depression.)

        * Acoustic Neuroma Association- Contact: Joan Clement, 724.941.7122. This group holds periodic meetings and events in Pennsylvania and Ohio about 3 to 4 times a year.
       
        * Aphasia Support Group of Western PA- Please contact Contact: Bill Connor, 412.367.5200 for dates and times.
       
        * Burger King Cancer Caring Center Brain Tumor Support Group- 1st & 3rd Wednesday. 7pm 412.622.1212 @ Bloomfield Center 4117 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224                          
       
        * Depression Support Group- meets first and third Thursday at 7:30 PM. Contact Jennifer Hebbert, 412.344.6600 ext. 2230 or Kathy Hoffman, 412.344.6600 ext.2330. This meeting is held at the Christ United Methodist Church, Room F 101, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102.
       
        * Epilepsy Foundation of Western PA Please call Francine Eden, 412.261.5880, for meeting times and dates. 
       
        * Three Rivers Adaptive Sports of Disabled Sports USA Provides adaptive sports for people who are physically challenged and family members. Contact: Mark Kulzer, 412. 808.3339. Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of every other even numbered month.
       


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Until next time-Be safe and remember to breathe deep!



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