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* Inside This Issue:

• Editor's Note -John Pistorius

• Words to Remember -Denis Waitley

• Stakeholder Planning Team -next meeting to be held June 24, 2005

• The Power in Praising People -Chris Widener

• As A Man Thinketh (An excerpt) by James Allen

• MICASSA Action Alert

• New Support Group Started in Erie, PA

• Anatomy of a Miracle -Jeff Keller

• Using Your Head -Motivational Tip For The Day

• IDEA Proposed Regulations

• A little Levity

• Computer Hope - free computer help for everyone

• Civil Rights Forum Information Now Available

• Health Tip of the Week - Dr. Earl Mindell

• Support Group Development Tools -Free help for starting or running peer groups

• Upcoming Support Group Meetings

• Thank You!

• B-NEWS Subscriber Policy

• Subscribe/Unsubscribe Instructions

• ETC.

* Editor's Note

 

Hi Folks,

 

What a wonderful world we live in. Always changing, swirling, moving and growing. Shift happens!

 

Just when I thought that life couldn't possibly be any busier, I find myself looking down a long road of activity. This will affect the frequency of this newsletter. It has also reduced the amount of time that I can devote to the Cognitive Dissonance series of essays.

 

Anyway, I've included some of the important messages that have come across my desk recently. And at your request, I've also included more of the motivational materials that I've included in previous editions. I hope you enjoy this edition of the B-NEWS, Support Lines newsletter.

 

Till next time-
John

 

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* Stakeholder Planning Team (SPT) -next meeting to be held June 24, 2005

Advisory Committee to the PA Department of Welfare

John Pistorius

 

This committee continues to meet once every other month. If you are a Pennsylvania resident and would like to participate, please contact me at jp@pabia.org. The next meeting is scheduled to be held Friday, June 24, 2005.

 

The team is looking to hear from you. The only expense that will not be reimbursed is your time. Other than that, travel, lodging and food are all covered and reimbursed. Consider getting a group to come to these meetings and voice your opinions about healthcare issues related to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Welfare, drop me a line and I'll connect you with Ginny Rogers, Program Specialist.

 

I've included the official purpose statement, goals and guiding principles as adopted for your review. If you are interested in attending and participating, I suggest that you read and study the following material. Learning the purpose, goals and guiding principles will help you to understand what's going on at the meetings and help you to participate within the framework in place. This will help you to participate in a meaningful way.

 

PURPOSE

The Stakeholder Planning Team (SPT) is a committee made up of people with many different disabilities and their advocates created to advise the Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) on program and policy issues in order to identify gaps, barriers and quality issues that exist in DPW’s current home and community based programs and propose alternative structures, services and supports which:
• end the institutional bias;
• assure the provision of needed community supports based on functional need regardless of type of disability or age; and
• promote real integration of persons with disabilities into their communities.
 

GOALS
• The SPT will accept assignments designed to coordinate Department efforts at implementing changes necessary for coordinated, seamless, quality services that meet the needs of all citizens regardless of disability or age.
• The SPT will monitor implementation of previous planning efforts and help the Department coordinate efforts at implementing changes necessary to serve persons with complex, cross system needs, multiple diagnoses or persons without access to services and supports for living in the most integrated setting.
• The SPT will actively work, in conjunction with other internal and external groups, to support the reform activities occurring within the administration, helping to develop a system of quality monitoring and evaluation of home and community based services.
• The SPT will be cross-disability and strive to reflect the diverse nature of the Commonwealth with regards to race and geographic representation.
 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
• The experience and expertise of people with disabilities and their families will be used in the development and ongoing oversight of the system.
• Persons in need of community supports will have maximum control in selecting, managing and terminating relationships with direct service providers.
• Persons in need of community supports will receive home and community services that are of high quality, accessible, timely, affordable, reliable, diverse and culturally competent, and are integrated as defined by the individual and/or their advocate.
• Community supports will be structured to ensure a seamless transition from one service to another, providing continuity throughout each individual’s life span.
 

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by Chris Widener

One of the keys to success is to have successful relationships. We are not islands and we don't get to the top by ourselves. And one of the key ways to grow successful in our relationships is to be "life-giving" people to others. Every person we meet, we either give life to or take life from. You know what I mean. There are people who encourage you and when you are done being with them you feel built up. Then there are others who you feel torn down by. Successful people are people who have mastered the art of building others up.

One of the ways we build people up is to praise them. There is power in praising people! Something begins to happen in them, in you, and in your relationship when you praise someone. Remember a time when someone told you something about yourself in a praising manner? It was great, wasn't it? You probably liked that person more after they praised you, didn't you?

Now I am not talking about praising people for the sake of praising people. I am talking about honestly looking for and praising positive character traits and action of others around you. Don't lie to people. If they have done something wrong, correct it, but when they do something right, Praise it!

With that said, here are benefits of and ways to start praising people.

Benefits:

Your Relationship Grows.
Life is about relationships. Family relationships, friends, and co-workers. When we begin to praise people for their positive aspects, our relationships grow. It puts them, and us, on the fast track.

Your Leadership and Influence Grows.
Who is going to have greater leadership and influence capacity in the lives of their followers, the one who tears down or the one who builds up?

Stronger Relationships and Loyalty.
When the person is appreciated and praised, they become fiercely loyal, because they know that you care for them, love them and appreciate them. This will take you to success.

Happier, More Fulfilled People.
I truly believe it is our job to build others up and that they need it. It is a good thing, in and of itself to invest in the lives of others by praising and encouraging them. Even if we never get anything in return, it is the right thing to do to build up other people. Someone else will always come along to tear them down; the successful person will instill in them the power of praise!

Some Ways to Praise:

Character Traits
Is there someone you know who is joyful? Hard-working? Honest? Then let them know how much you appreciate that in them. You can do it with a word or a card, or a phone call. Say something like this, "You know Tom, I think it is great that you are such a hard-worker. It seems like you are always the first one here and the last one to leave. You really set a good example and I want you to know how much I appreciate that." Simple!

Action
Same idea as above. "Sue, I don't know if anybody else has told you this, but your work on the Johnson account was excellent. You have a wonderful ability to communicate the vision of the project and that helps all of the rest of us out in our roles and tasks. Thanks for that. It is greatly appreciated."

Other ways you can show praise and appreciation is with a card, a gift, or time off from work.

Make it your goal to praise at least five people a day. If you can, praise ten people a day. Or perhaps you can try to praise everyone you come in contact with. It will take work but it is possible. It just takes discipline and a little work.

Any way you cut it, though, there is power in praising people. First for them, then for you!


-Chris Widener


Chris Widener is an internationally recognized speaker, author and radio host. If you are interested in booking him to speak at your next event, go to http://www.chriswidener.com or send an email to speaker@chriswidener.com or call 877-929-0439 and ask for Hilary.

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* As A Man Thinketh

(An excerpt) by James Allen

 

Chapter I

Thought And Character

 

     The aphorism, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," not only embraces the whole of a man's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.

     As the plant springs from and could not be without, the seed, so every act of man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called "spontaneous" and "unpremeditated" as to those which are deliberately executed.

     Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruit; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.

 

Thought in the mind hath made us.

What we are by thought was wrought and built.

If a man's mind hath evil thought,

pain comes on him as comes the wheel the ox behind.

If one endure it in purity of thought,

Joy follows him as his own shadow - sure.

 

     Man is a growth by law, and not a creation by artifice, and cause and effect are as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with God-like thoughts. An ignoble and bestial character, by the same process, is the result of the continued harboring of groveling thoughts.

     Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the divine perfection. By the abuse and wrong application of thought he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.

     Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this--that man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.

     Man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state. But in his weakness and degradation he is a foolish master who misgoverns his "household." When he begins to reflect upon his condition and search diligently for the law upon which his being is established, he then becomes the wise master, directing his energies and intelligence and fashioning his thoughts to fruitful issues. Such is the conscious master, and man can only thus become by discovering within him the laws of thought. This discovery is totally a matter of application, self-analysis and experience.

     Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being, if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul. That he is the maker of his character, the molder of his life, and the builder of his destiny, he may unerringly prove, if he will watch, control, and alter his thoughts, tracing their effects upon himself, upon others and upon his life and circumstances, linking cause and effect by patient practice and investigation. And utilizing his every experience, even the most trivial, everyday occurrence, as a means of obtaining that knowledge of himself which is understanding, wisdom, power. In this direction, as in no other, is the law absolute that "He that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." For only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the door of the temple of knowledge.

 

(To receive your FREE copy of "As A Man Thinketh, please visit http://www.asamanthinketh.net/ and click the Download eBook link in the left column of the page.)

 

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*New Support Group in Erie, PA

John Pistorius

 

Nicole Jezowicz is a shining example of perseverance, will and determination. She has successfully started a new community-based support group in Erie Pennsylvania. After learning that the facility-based group was no longer meeting, she decided to get a community-based group started that focused on the interests of the participants. I am pleased to have been able to help Nicole by supplying her with information and tools and assist her in this endeavor.

 

Since we started this group, others have revisited the idea of peer support in Erie. It looks like the facility-based group will begin meeting again. Deborah Delgado of the PA Protection and Advocacy (PP&A) organization visited Erie in May, 2005. She met with Nicole and the facility-based group operator.

 

Deborah shared information regarding starting and strengthening peer support groups for individuals who experience brain injuries. The PA Dept. of Health has awarded the PP&A a grant to assist in the development and strengthening of TBI support groups throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Deborah has created the "Seven Steps to Success," a document that outlines information regarding support groups.

 

To receive a copy, Deborah can be reached at:

 

Deborah Delgado
TBI Project Director
Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
1414 N. Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17103
1-800-692-7443 X117
ddelgado@ppainc.org

 

Anyone who is interested in starting a group can also receive the tools and Ten Insider Tips manual from me by asking. These materials are free. Just drop me a note at jp@pabia.org or visit www.bisga.org and click the 'Tools' button in the left margin.

 

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by Jeff Keller

As the final seconds of the game ticked down, millions of people around the world couldn't believe what was about to happen. And as the game ended, we heard Al Michaels' now famous words, "Do you believe in miracles?"

A miracle it was. The greatest upset in sports history. Yes, I'm referring to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team victory over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, New York. The American squad went on to capture the gold medal that year.

Let's remember what the American team was up against - and why this victory against the Soviets was truly a "miracle." Going into the 1980 Olympic games, the powerful, professional Soviet hockey team had won four consecutive gold medals and was undefeated in the Olympics since 1968. In 1979, the Soviets beat the professional National Hockey League All-Stars 6-0.

The U.S. team, on the other hand, was a collection of untested college players. Shortly before the 1980 Olympics, the Soviets played the U.S. Olympic Team in an exhibition and the Soviets embarrassed the U.S. squad by a score of 10-3. Everyone knew there was no way these college players could even compete with the Soviets, let alone beat them.

Everyone that is, except Herb Brooks, who coached the 1980 U.S. team. Brooks thought that he could pull off a miracle. He believed the U.S. could win a gold medal, even if it required beating the "unbeatable" Soviet team.

In 2004, Walt Disney Pictures released a movie about Coach Brooks and the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, aptly titled "Miracle." It's a wonderful, inspiring movie starring Kurt Russell as Coach Brooks. After watching the movie recently, I couldn't help observing that while every miracle is unique, there are some elements that most miracles have in common. For instance:

* A miracle is the result of a BIG dream. It's hard to imagine a dream that was bolder or more audacious than that
of Herb Brooks. How on earth could he even fathom that he could mold a bunch of college hockey players into a team that would defeat the mighty Soviets?

Remember, the Soviet team was thought to be invincible. Yet Brooks allowed himself to dream that he could coach a team that would defeat this powerhouse.

You see, many people dream too small and then they can't get excited about the pursuit of the dream. It's the big dream that gets your blood moving and it's the big dream that gets other people excited about joining you in the quest.

If you're looking for some resources in this area, check out Vic Johnson's audio program, No Dream Too Big (
http://www.asamanthinketh.net/mentor or Joe Tye's book, Your Dreams Are Too Small (available by calling 800-644-3889).

People often wonder, "How do I know if I should pursue my dream, or whether it's simply "unrealistic?" Richard Bach said, "You're never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true." So, if your dream is constantly "speaking" to you and there's tremendous emotion attached to the dream, that's a positive sign.

Then again, if you would like to accomplish something but it doesn't send chills down your spine thinking about it,
there's a good chance that you're really not energized about that goal and you won't be willing to do what it takes to turn the dream into reality.

* A miracle is not achieved by talent alone. There's a great line in the movie where Coach Brooks tells his players, "You don't have enough talent to win on talent." There was no denying that the Soviet team had more talent than the American youngsters. Brooks knew, however, that the team with the greatest talent doesn't always win.

When selecting the team from the hundreds of college hockey players who tried out, Brooks surprised people when he cut many talented players. Instead, he chose players who did not have as much skill but fit within his unique system and had the psychological makeup he desired.

* A miracle requires creative thinking. Other teams in North America had attempted to defeat the Soviets by playing a "North American style" of hockey. What Brooks realized is that this style of play was not working! In other words, the Soviets were able to win against that strategy time after time.

Brooks determined that he would use a different strategy, abandoning the traditional North American style. He was willing to innovate, to develop a new system that stressed superior conditioning, discipline and speed. He knew it would be challenging for his players to learn and execute ... but his willingness to innovate eventually paid off with a gold medal.

* A miracle requires uncommon sacrifice. Nobody said that a miracle comes easily. Herb Brooks warned his players that they would have to be "uncommon" men to defeat the Soviets and win a gold medal. They would have to develop a superior level of conditioning. His practice sessions were excruciating.

The most memorable scene of the movie takes place during one of the exhibition games the team played preparing for the Olympics. The U.S. Team had not given a full effort, and when the game ended, Brooks called his already tired players out on the ice and made them skate "sprints" up and down the ice. He wouldn't stop even when the lights in the rink were shut off! His message: if we want to achieve a miracle, we must give it our all in every second of every game.

* A miracle is generally a team effort. When you set out to achieve a miracle, you're fooling yourself if you think you can do it on your own.

* Using Your Head

Motivational Tip For The Day
by Jan Tincher

Self-limiting beliefs hold people back.

What self-limiting belief is holding YOU back?

A self-limiting belief is like any other belief, and, just like any other belief, it can be changed. Change your self-limiting belief to a strong belief in yourself.

When you really believe in yourself, nothing can hold you back.

-----

Be a success!  Let Jan Tincher, Master Neuro-Linguistic
Programmer, help you!  Great articles, great strategies you can
implement immediately!  Go here now:
http://www.tameyourbrain.com/success/index1.htm

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* A little Levity

Duck Hunters

Five doctors went duck hunting one day. Included in the group were a general practitioner, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a surgeon and a pathologist. After a time, a bird came winging overhead. The first to react was the GP who raised his shotgun, but then hesitated.

"I'm not quite sure it's a duck," he said, "I think that I will have to get a second opinion." And of course by that time, the bird was long gone.

Another bird appeared in the sky thereafter. This time, the pediatrician drew a bead on it. He too, however, was unsure if it was really a duck in his sights and besides, it might have babies. "I'll have to do some more investigations," he muttered, as the creature made good its escape.

Next to spy a bird flying was the sharp-eyed psychiatrist. Shotgun shouldered, he was more certain of his intended prey's identity.

"Now, I know it's a duck, but does it know it's a duck?" The fortunate bird disappeared while the fellow wrestled with this dilemma.

Finally, a fourth fowl sped past and this time the surgeon's weapon pointed skywards. BOOM!! The surgeon lowered his smoking gun and turned nonchalantly to the pathologist beside him.

"Go see if that was a duck, will you?"

*************

Clear Research?

A research team proceeded towards the apex of a natural geologic protuberance, the purpose of their expedition being the procurement of a sample of fluid hydride of oxygen in a large vessel, the exact size of which was unspecified.

One member of the team precipitously descended, sustaining severe damage to the upper cranial portion of his anatomical structure; subsequently the second member of the team performed a self-rotational translation oriented in the same direction taken by the first team member.

TRANSLATION:

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.

**************

Ageless

Last night after dinner, Chris was resting next to me on the couch with her head in my lap. I carefully removed her glasses.

"You know, honey," I said sweetly, "Without your glasses you look like the same beautiful young woman I married."

"Honey," she replied with a grin, "Without my glasses, you still look pretty good too!"
 

* Computer Hope - free computer help for everyone

http://www.computerhope.com/sindex.htm

Founded in November 1998, Computer Hope™ re-invented the term " technical support" by offering free technical support to everyone no mater the type of computer, hardware, software, or operating system.

Computer Hope will continue to offer free support to all users through the Internet with the intentions of becoming the largest free support center on-line, something that most companies cannot unfortunately offer to everyone. However, with the power of Computer Hope we plan on enabling other companies and web sites to link into our database and allow their users to get free support without any of the hassle of implementing thousands of pages of information, continuing to update the content of its pages each day, and ensuring that every link works throughout its database.

Why would a company do such a large task? Being in the computer industry we have noticed hundreds if not thousands of individuals with computers being told a certain item was not possible, that they needed a hardware upgrade, hardware needed to be replaced when it really did not, or simply a "I don't know", from technicians throughout the world. While it is not the technicians fault, its the lack of helpful, accessible, and useful information in the computer industry.

"Without the knowledge you must learn and in order to learn you must have the information." - Computer Hope.

We became fed up with companies not supplying us with appropriate information or wanting to charge us and discovered we were not the only ones. Therefore we created what was first our own database to allow us to know the answers to questions others may not. Instead of being conceited like many other companies we decided we would be unique and allow this information to be freely viewed by people throughout the Internet. 

We hope that you will be able to utilize our database and our web page and that you continue to visit our web page in the future as every day it will only improve for the better.

- Computer Hope

COMPUTER HISTORY
History for 1990 - 2000
http://www.computerhope.com/history/19902000.htm

* Civil Rights Forum Information Now Available

by Mark S. Quigley

 

On March 29, 2005, the National Council on Disability (NCD) sponsored a civil rights forum entitled Same Struggle, Different Difference. The forum was held to encourage greater collaboration and communication among disability advocates and the broader civil rights coalition on common policy priorities.

 

The forum was organized by the American Association of People with Disabilities with the support of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, AARP, and NCDs Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee. More than 90 individuals from 47 civil rights and disability rights organizations participated in the forum. A summary of the forum is posted at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/forum_summary.htm

 

In addition, workgroup notes summarized from forum discussions among national and state level civil and disability rights representatives are posted at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/group_notes.htm and a resource directory, drawn from NCDs Cultural Diversity Initiative toolkit, is posted at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/resource_directory.htm

Mark S. Quigley
Director of Communications
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
202-272-2008
202-272-2074 TTY
202-272-2022 fax
mquigley@ncd.gov
www.ncd.gov
 

 

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   by Dr. Earl Mindell

Natural Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's is the most common dementia disease among the elderly. Currently, this disease affects more than 4 million Americans and by the year 2030 that number is expected to rise to over 7 million!

Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of the aging process, but is rapidly becoming an epidemic in America. There are healthy, natural ways to reduce your risk of someday getting Alzheimer's:

Have a nutrition plan that avoids sugars. Eat plenty of omega-3 fish oil and vegetables. Avoid aluminum, including cookware and antiperspirants. Avoid flu vaccinations. Exercise at least 3 to 5 hours a week.
-----
To learn more about how Dr. Mindell can help you get into the best shape of your life, visit:
http://freelife.com/Sites/keith/Redir.cfm?page=/info/nutrition/nutritionhome.cfm
 

* Thank You!

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

B-NEWS Subscribers- Without you, I'd have no reason to publish. Please forward this newsletter to those whom you believe would benefit from reading it.

It recently occurred to me that Love is action that improves another person's life. Not just words, but action. Doing something, anything, that positively impacts other people's lives and leaves them even just a little bit better off physically, emotionally, psychologically or spiritually, that's love. -John Pistorius

Do something to leave someone a little better off today.

The Beauty of Love:

The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a young couple clasping hands
and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"
And the answer is given. "Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path.  Their hands are gnarled, but still clasped; their faces are seamed, but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love." -Unknown Author