Author: Robert Wein

When you look at me, the fact that I’m disabled is immediately seen. I use a walker, I go for coffee using a mobility scooter, and using those associate with being “disabled.” And yes, that part of my injury is real. It’s part of who I am now. But, the physical aspect of my injury isn’t the most significant element of what happened to me, nor why I was declared “catastrophic” and medically retired from my awesome job. What I’m sharing about today is...

I’ve been using the phrase better than awesome a lot lately — and for good reason. The Trivia Night held on January 30 wasn’t just awesome. It was better than awesome in ways that matter deeply to me. This team is awesome, because of who’s on it – however the awesomeness didn’t translate to trivia-awesomeness! First, it was sold out. Let that sink in for a moment. Every seat filled. Every table buzzing. Every question answered with laughter, friendly...

A new year always brings that spark of possibility — the feeling that maybe this is the year something meaningful shifts. Some people focus on changing habits or chasing goals. For me, what I’m going to establish as my goal for this year is about changing perspectives — especially around something as simple, and as powerful, as what we put on our heads before getting on a bike. Before you think I’m going to talk about posting safety reminders, it’s more than...

The holidays are here — a time to celebrate, reflect, and look forward with hope. For me, and for everyone involved with BrainSTRONG, it’s about more than decorations, gifts, and festive cheer. It’s about celebrating strength, resilience, and determination — even when it’s invisible. Most people living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) face challenges that aren’t obvious. Their victories and perseverance often go unseen. That’s why BrainSTRONG exists: to shine a light on the...

Every holiday season, we look for that one gift—something meaningful, something memorable, something that shows we truly care. Some people wrap up gadgets, others go the sentimental route, and some simply hand out gift cards and hope for the best. But this year, the most impactful gift might be something surprisingly simple: A bike helmet. Not exactly the “big reveal” under the tree, right? But stay with me—because this gift isn’t just an item. It’s the spark that kicks off a...

There’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey, it’s that people don’t like being told what to do (in this case wear a helmet). For some reason, the very idea sparks resistance. Kids roll their eyes, adults shrug it off, and too often the response is: “I’ll be fine.” I honestly don’t know why, I really don’t, because if I wasn’t wearing mine, I’d have died – absolutely no doubt. Think about it. If you’re driving a car, you buckle up without question. If you’re...

The other day I was chatting with a neighbour about kids and biking, and what she told me blew my mind. She said that they aren’t allowed to ride without a helmet on, but why her kids won’t wear a bike helmet has nothing to do with anything logical—it’s simply peer pressure. They tell her that if they show up with a helmet strapped on, there’s a real risk they’ll be teased. They might get called a wimp, a baby, or something worse. And that means, for too many kids, the...