What are you doing to raise awareness of Brain Injury in your community?

Here in Pennsylvania we have people in key positions of leadership within the disability community under attack by others who judge the disability status of an individual with physical criteria. These people with physical disabilities decry persons with cognitive disabilities and to a lesser degree, those with sensory disabilities as not being disabled! They denounce people with cognitive disabilities because the scars of disability are hidden.

Is this type of condemnation Ok with the people with cognitive or sensory disabilities? Do you not consider yourself disabled if your body parts function? Do you not mind being belittled because your disability is hidden from others? Is it alright with you if your voice is stifled by someone who uses a wheelchair because they believe you are not disabled by their definition? Or are you sure that cognitive impairment equals disability? Speak up. I can't hear you.

I want to know!

We've already been ostracized from mainstream society by prejudicial attitudes and civil rights violations. Are we supposed to pretend that we do not belong to the disability community because of the harmful viewpoints that we are subjected to? Should we relinquish the ground that we have fought long and hard for? Should the efforts of disability civil rights pioneers like Andrea Williams and many others be ignored and forgotten? Or should we stand firm, speak up to be counted?

I believe it is time to raise our collective voice. I believe we have the power. Do you? I need to hear from you. This is a serious issue folks. If you refuse to stand for something-you will fall for anything. And that could cost you more than you can realize right now.

We fight on many fronts my friends. We need to stop this type of abusive ignorance among people with disabilities. Together we can make change happen. At odds, we collapse.

Regardless of where you live, STOP what you are doing right now and write to me at jp@pabia.org or 1913 Arlington Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15210. Tell me what you think.

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Voting Information

• Allegheny County Board of Elections, 412-350-4500, www.county.allegheny.pa.us/elect

• For other County Board of Elections information within Pennsylvania, please contact the BIAPA at 866-635-7097.

• For County Board of Elections information outside of Pennsylvania, please contact the BIAUSA at 1-800-444-6443.

• The Web site of the American Association of People with Disabilities, www.aapd-dc.org, includes presidential candidates' positions on disability issues.

• U.S. Department of Justice's ADA Checklist for Polling Places is at www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/votingchecklist.htm

• Let Our Voices Be Heard Coalition, 412-391-3820, ext. 16, can help people and organizations with voting barriers.

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Registering To Vote in the Nov. 2 Election

You must postmark or get your registration form to the Bureau of Elections for your county before Oct. 4, 2004. In Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, the address is 609 County Office Building, 542 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. It must be dropped off by 5 p.m. Oct. 4, or if mailed, be postmarked by that date. You can pick up registration forms at your local post office, libraries and other public places or download at www.dos.state.pa.us/voting.

Non-Allegheny County Residents-To learn the address for your Pennsylvania County Board of Elections, please contact the Brain Injury Ass. of PA:

Need Help in the Voting Booth?

If you cannot read, are visually impaired or blind, you have the right have assistance in the booth. You may choose anyone other than your employer, an agent of your employer, the judge of elections, or an officer or agent of your union. Your assistant can read the ballot to you and physically help you make your selections.

If you have physical trouble getting to the voting device or using it, you have the right to ask a poll worker for help.

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ABSENTEE BALLOTS

 

You are eligible for an absentee ballot if you are assigned to an accessible polling place, but are unable to go there or are unable to operate a polling machine. you must submit your absentee ballot application to the county Board of Elections at least one week before the election. You must submit your absentee ballot vote by 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election except for president and vice president. Those received by the close of polls on election day will be counted.

For more information, contact your County Board of Elections.

 

In Allegheny County Pennsylvania call 412-350-4500.

Other PA counties call Brain Injury Resource Line 866-635-7097.

Other American Residents contact the BIA-USA at 1-800-444-6443.

 

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You Are Invited

Ed Crinnion's "Extended Family" Picnic

Mark Your Calender Saturday, October 9, 2004

Each year, Ed Crinnion tries to bring his "extended family' together for an event that unites and enlightens all who attend. This year, Ed is extending an invitation to all people recovering from brain injury and their families to visit him at his home for food, fun and camaraderie. "I consider all the people who come to our meetings as my extended family." said Crinnion. "Everyone is welcome to share in the fun at this picnic."

The picnic will be held Saturday, October 9, 2004 from 1 p.m. -9 p.m..  Ed's home is situated on five beautiful acres at 630 Bascom Avenue at the intersection of Brighton Road near Jacks Run Road. The picnic site has historical significance as it was originally built as the Judge Taptitch estate. With plenty of level lawn area, it is sure to provide ample space for food, games and fun for all who attend.

Attendees are encouraged, (but not required) to bring some of their favorite foods to share with others.

Ed will supply exact directions and a map to anyone interested in attending. Just drop him a line at evc@pabia.org or call (412) 761-9870.

What: Ed's extended family picnic

When: Saturday, October 9, 2004

Where: 630 Bascom Ave., Pittsburgh, PA

Contact: Ed Crinnion (412) 761-9870 or email evc@pabia.org

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The Hidden Scars From a T B I ( Traumatic BRAIN Injury )
Physical, Mental and Social, and the NEW Challenges of Life Ever After

Presentation by Ed Crinnion

Ed Crinnion survived several traumatic brain injuries throughout his lifetime, the most severe causing a ten day coma September 19,1989. He has served as the Pittsburgh Area Support Group Coordinator since 1995 and as a Brain Injury Ass. of PA Board of Director 2000 - 2005.

Ed shares his infectious humor and insights into brain injury. This is one you will not want to miss if you haven't already caught it before.

When: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 / 2004
Time: 1PM 4PM and 7PM
Where: Auditorium 5 SCAIFE HALL, University of Pittsburgh OAKLAND Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Coordinated by: Armando Rotondi, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Critical Care and Tom Hahner, Research Specialist, U P M C Presbyterian, Dept. of Psychiatry, Traumatic Brain Injury Program

Ed can be reached at (412) 761-9870 or email him at evc@pabia.org.

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Cognitive Dissonance XIV

More Basic Training-Boot Camp

by John Pistorius

 

Each of us experiences life individually. Even if we have hundreds or thousands of others in our lives, we are alone. We have subjective reactions to everything we participate in or partake of. External conditions do not define cognitive dissonance. Therefore, our biased experience of life gives us personal power in overcoming it. We can choose to control our reaction to inconsistencies that might cause dissonance in our mind.

We can exercise our authority over the trouble that occurs within our mind when our current belief or outlook on anything is challenged. This statement might cause a confrontation in your mind if you believe something else. Nevertheless, it is true. This is because we have the right and power to command ourselves. We can decide to alter our reaction. We rule ourselves. Either by deliberate choice or by default, we rule. Each individual is empowered to control themselves. Too often, the power to control is abandoned or surrendered. Many people have relinquished their power and resigned themselves to preprogrammed responses to situations and circumstances. In so doing, they’ve handed over the power to others or given it to the dissonance that they experience in response to inconsistencies. But giving it away does not remove responsibility from the individual.

Learning that we have an effective means of influencing our experiences might be difficult at first. Like those who enlist in the military, we need basic training to learn strategies and techniques that help us combat the enemy. In the case of cognitive dissonance, the enemy is often overlooked or hidden. Yet, I must express again, we have the power to win. We only need to recognize it and use our influence to overpower our resistance to accepting our responsibility in the matter.

We can overcome our current negative reactions to new information if we accept the possibility of something different from our current belief. As previously stated, our mental acceptance of the truth or actuality of something gives it a form of ‘absoluteness’ to us. To overcome that unconditional acceptance or belief can be a challenge. Are you up to it?

Living in the Flat World
By planting new thoughts, ideas and statements, we can form new opinions. The world was once flat, according to those who were considered to be the premiere thinkers of that time. They were absolutely certain in the trustworthiness of that idea, thought or concept. It was the opinion and belief of others that spun their world view out of control and turned everything previously believed around. But how could that be? These fine scholars were flat out committed to their beliefs. They substantiated their opinions with known facts and figures. Yet in the end their beliefs were erroneous. The world was not flat. We laugh at the thought now. Scores of well-educated people had to decide between the old (flat-world) belief and the new (round-world) belief. The new (round-world) belief became an accepted opinion and now is our view on that particular idea, thought or subject. But it took time.

To overcome the dissonance caused by the conflicting world view, one had to first accept the possibility that sailing off into the sunset did not doom one to falling off the edge of the world. And so it is with our experiences with conflicting beliefs, opinions and views; We must first accept alternative ideas as conceivable, imaginable, likely, probable, or true. If we accept an idea as possible but not yet in existence in our lives, we allow ourselves to at least look at it. If we refuse to look at an idea, we will never allow it to manifest in our life. However, if we believe that an idea is conceivable, we will permit ourselves to consider evidence that supports the idea or concept. And that makes the difference in learning anything that was previously not known. The world begins to turn in the direction of the new thought, idea or possibility for us.

Cavernous Thought Living
We usually hold onto our convictions easily. Sometimes, however, we find new information emerging that fearlessly confronts our beliefs. This exposition on my experiences with overcoming cognitive dissonance might be presenting new evidence to you that brazenly confronts your beliefs. Are you a progressive thinker or still locked into the flat world belief system? Can you or will you permit yourself to at least consider the possibility of an opposing idea being true? Or are you so deeply entrenched in your cave of accepted thoughts that nothing can reach you? Do you burrow deeper when confronted with dissimilar cognitions?

Let yourself consider the possibility that what I’m writing here could be true. Take the first step to overcoming the dissonance caused by the inconsistency between my writings and your opinions, beliefs and ideas; Believe that what I’m presenting here is in essence an undiscovered or lesser known reality. If you can’t even allow yourself to think that this is possible, stop reading. Why waste your time? You will never step outside of your safe haven beneath the surface if you refuse to believe that it is capable of occurring. Give up now. It will not work for you. Hide yourself underground. Cave safety is your life. Resign yourself to just staying in your thought cave in artificial light and darkness. However, if you can permit even a drop of sun to shine on your nose, you can peek outside by accepting that maybe I’m giving you truth. Even if it is in a raw form like cane sugar before processing, it has a certain appeal that resonates well with your taste buds, if you allow it to pass the opening. Let it in and receive the wonderful benefits that await you.

If the weather person calls for hurricane weather, you prepare for high winds and pouring rain. If you bury yourself deep in a cavern with the fear of being blown away, you will be safe from the storm. If you never step outside, you would not know when the storm has passed. Holding onto your fear, in time you would not ever want to leave the comfort of the cave. You could comfortably hold onto your convictions in cave safety without it ever being challenged. And you would be right; No hurricane forces would ever touch you in the cave. But then sunlight would never shine on you either.

However, if you stepped outside and saw clouds, felt rain and chilled air, you might automatically believe that you were unsafe. But that fear would not necessarily be justified. In fact, in most cases, it would be a mistake to believe that you should retreat to the safety of your haven beneath the surface of reality. Yet you might believe that abandoning your trip to the surface made sense, especially if you were taught to move away from distrusted ideas by knowledgeable people that you had confidence in.

Even though clouds do not always equal hurricane force storms, you could believe that they did.

Unless you were boldly confronted with facts that clash with your belief, you might live out your life in fear of clouds, rain and wind. After allowing yourself to move outside of the confines of the cave, and learning this, do you discard the new evidence or your belief? Rationally, if you give yourself time, you realize that your belief was in error. Even if it rained every day for a week, you would eventually find that the sun does shine and all clouds do not equal impending doom. Yet it might take time to weather the storm and overcome the dissonance.

Unfortunately, many people are unwilling to discard beliefs that they have become comfortable with. They dwell in deep caverns of thought, hiding from any possible storm. The surface of reality that conflicts with their beliefs becomes the enemy. Those who reject dissonant cognitions undermine the (perceived) enemy territory. They refuse to even consider the possibility of venturing outside of the depths of the hole they reside in. They become absolutely certain that they are safer in the confines of the cave than they could be outside of it. They accumulate thoughts that reinforce their world view. They surround themselves with like-minded individuals. They read and study writings that support their cavernous convictions. This practice acts like tunneling to provide additional depth. They live in relative comfort, never seeing the world beyond their hollow chamber beneath the surface. In time, the excavation process can cause the mine created to collapse under the weight of the reality that presses upon it. But then that is another story.

Moving Out
One way to improve our chance of getting a glimpse beyond the caverns of thought in which we dwell, is first to give ourselves permission to progress in thought. A simple willingness to consider that life outside of our cave could be safe will provide permission to at least look at and consider the possibility. Language affects our beliefs. Our self-talk instructs us to accept or reject every idea that visits us. If we allow ourselves to incorporate non limiting language into our repertoire, we can find a way out of the depths of our cavernous thought patterns. To change ‘absolute’ thought patterns, we only need to change the way that we think. By refusing to hold on to ‘absolute’ thinking patterns you can raise yourself out of your intellectual limits and self-imposed bondage, and that is truly empowering.

Undoubtedly your first adventure out of your cave will be different from what you are accustomed to. The world might appear to be too bright. After living in the darkness of cave-based thought, opening your mind to the light might even cause pain by virtue of the dissonance. It is your mind. The disharmony can be overcome with thoughts of acceptance. Oh, we’re not there yet, sorry. We are moving one step at a time.

Steps to Independence

• Freeing yourself from fear begins by realizing that you are the commander of your mind. Get a grip! Grab hold of your mind and shake it into submission. You must determine which position or belief is accurate or correct.

• What is the truth of the matter? By asking yourself this question, you will activate your mind to seek the answer.

• When perceivable information sabotages our opinion or belief, we need to resolve the problem. You can overcome any threat to your personal sense of security by overcoming disharmony in your thinking through dealing with the threat.

 

The process of taking control of the disharmony satisfies your need for peace in thought. That is an objective reality. It requires unbiased, neutral thinking outside of the cave in real terms.

Caution: Watch out for the subjective trip wires and land mines.

Next time: Boot Camp Continues

 

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Free Support Group Development Tools

Free Help for anyone Starting or Running Peer Groups

New -PowerPoint Presentation

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.

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Pittsburgh Area Brain Injury Alliance

Upcoming Meeting and Social Event Notices

Pittsburgh

Monroeville

Oakland

Indiana Twp.

Indiana County

Bowling Event

Next Pittsburgh Area meeting date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004

TIME: 7:00 P.M.
TOPIC: Discussion (You decide the topic!)

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.
Light refreshments provided.

Upcoming Pittsburgh Meeting Dates:

• October 5

• November 2

• December 7

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The next Monroeville Area meeting date: Thursday, October 14, 2004

TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, 2310 Haymaker Road, Monroeville, Pa.

TOPIC: Special Needs Trusts

WITH: Maria Smith
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:

• October 14 - ACHIEVA will be speaking on Special Needs Trusts

• November 11 - Tom Byrnes will be speaking on Brain Injury Management

• December 9 - Holiday Party

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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.

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

The next Indiana Twp. meeting date: Tuesday, October 5, 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:

• OCTOBER 5 (Note: First Tuesday of the Month)
  SPEAKER: Joseph L. Romano, Esquire – Legal Issues for the TBI – Funding and Planning for the Future

• October 12- 1 year anniversary celebration!

• NOVEMBER 9
  SPEAKER: Larry Doperak, CCAC, Disabilities Counselor –  Accommodations in Higher Education

• DECEMBER 14 Holiday / Christmas Social

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Indiana Area Brain Injury Support Group

When: Thursday, October 21, 2004
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Topic: Peer Support Discussion
Place: The Indiana Regional Medical Center, Hospital Drive, Indiana, PA.
Admission: Free
Parking: Free Parking Lot adjacent to the building.
Contact: Becky Myers 724.349.5934
 

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Western PA BIM / HS Recreational Bowling League

Where: Fun Fest Entertainment Center, 2525 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
WHEN: Fourth Monday of each month.
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 1 through 6

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:

• SEPT. 27, 2004

• OCT. 25, 2004

• NOV. 22, 2004

• DEC. 27, 2004

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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 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.

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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