December 2017 Edition - Access Press

NAMI AWARDS, Page 7

Volume 28, Number 12

December 10, 2017

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Devastating tax cuts bill nears vote

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TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 4766

by Access Press staff

Banquet Fun

Alone we can do so little; together we could do so much.

Helen Keller

GREG MALLING

Sam Graves enjoyed the recent Access Press banquet. See more pictures on pages 8-9.

Give a newspaper subscription and help our readers in need Looking for a last-minute tax deduction for 2017? Why not consider a donation to Access Press? A $30 gift can provide a one-year subscription to a reader in need.

Access Press provides the in-depth news and information Minnesotans with disabilities and the elderly rely on. We cover happenings at the state capitol, at city halls, and around the state. We provide information on upcoming fun events and on opportunities to help people lead better, and more inclusive lives in their communities.

Our People and Places section cele-

brates accomplishments by community members. Viewpoints are shared on the From Our Community pages. We bring you a regular Radio Talking Book sampling, as well as fun events and information you need on our Opportunities and Enjoy! pages.

We’re also pleased to bring you Minnesota disability history, thanks to our History Note sponsored by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Many of our readers have disabilities

NEWS DIGEST Task force awards given Page 15 Holiday lights can be recycled Page 3 Family appreciates program Page 4 MDI names two to board Page 10 What's on the radio?

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Autism added to medical cannabis program Autism spectrum disorders and sleep apnea have been added to the list of qualifying conditions for Minnesota’s medical cannabis program. Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed Ehlinger announced the decision November 30.

The news was greeted with enthusiasm by some people with family member with autism spectrum disorder as the treatment has proven helpful in some cases. But it has raised concerns for some medical professionals and law enforcement.

“Any policy decisions about cannabis are difficult due to the relative lack of published scientific evidence,” said Ehlinger.

“However, there is increasing evidence for potential benefits of medical cannabis for those with severe autism and obstructive sleep apnea.”

Parents of children on the autism spectrum have sought to have medical cannabis legalized since the Minnesota program began. Concerns about marijuana use have been outweighed by claims that it could help people, especially children and young adults.

The Facebook group Minnesota ASD Parents to Parents Support had many supportive posts after the news was released.

“Wow, great news for the autism community,” one parent posted.

Another parent said, “At least for us parents with autistic children we have another option. Not a lot options for the last 15 years with any new medications in the

STOCK PHOTO

Threats to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are heightened, because of the sweeping Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bills passed by the U.S. House and Senate.

Senate passage of the bill December 2 followed House approval, and starts a process of reconciling the different pieces of legislation. Final floor votes are expected before Christmas.

The bills represent the largest tax overhaul in three decades and the impacts are devastating. Emboldened lawmakers vow that Medicaid and Social Security will be their next targets. Businesses and individuals in the highest tax brackets expressed support as they will benefit most.

But for people with disabilities, low-income people and many senior citizens, the bills are a disaster. Disability and elder groups around the nation weighed in on the very real threats to the supports that keep people healthy, employed and living in their home communities. Many expressed dismay at Congress’s actions, which are paving the way for cutting Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income and other critical programs for people with disabilities in order to pay for the tax cuts later. Another worry is that the bills will significantly increase the deficit, providing tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans.

The Senate bill is seen as a bigger threat because it repeals the individual mandate for people to have health care coverage.

If this happens, nearly 14 million people will lose health coverage. It could also increase premiums for people buying insurance on the health insurance exchange by 10 percent per year. The individual mandate is a key part of the ACA, which greatly benefits people with disabilities by eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions, banning annual and lifetime limits, prohibiting discrimination based on health status and more.

The House version also has items of concern. It eliminates a tax deduction for those with high medical expenses. It eliminates tax incentives that encourage businesses to hire people with disabilities and make businesses.

The proposed tax cuts are expected to create massive pressure on the federal budget. Legislation that adds to the national debt must be offset, under existing budget rules. Programs like housing assistance and vocational rehabilitation could face automatic cuts.

Many disability and elder groups have lobbied furiously against the bills. So did state and regional groups including Minnesota’s This Is Medicaid coalition. After the Senate passed the bill, This is Medicaid released a statement.

“Having defeated substantial threats to the promise of Medicaid since February, the This Is Medicaid coalition is extremely dismayed to witness the passage of a tax bill that causes over 5 million people to lose Medicaid as a result of the individual mandate repeal. The bill adds more than $1 trillion to the federal deficit, and lawmakers have made clear their plans to deeply cut Medicaid, Medicare, and other federally-funded services that support families and build thriving communities.”

“With the passage of this widely unpopular bill, millions who live and thrive because of Medicaid face threats to critical services and supports – including the nation’s children, elderly, people living with TAX To Page 3

market to help the treatment of aggression or co-existing disorders. Cannabis will change a lot of lives for the better.”

Each year the Minnesota Department of Health uses a formal petitioning process to solicit public input on potential qualifying conditions. Throughout June and July, Minnesotans were invited to submit petitions to add qualifying conditions.

The process included public comments, a citizens’ review panel and a set of research summaries for each condition prepared by health department staff.

Petitioners put forward a total of 10 conditions for consideration this year, including anxiety disorders, autism, corti-

co-basal degeneration, dementia, endogenous cannabinoid deficiency syndrome, liver disease, nausea, obstructive sleep apnea, Parkinson’s disease and peripheral neuropathy. There were also petitions to add cannabis delivery methods including infused edibles and vaporizing or smoking cannabis flowers. These requests were not approved.

In October, the New Condition Review Panel heard from several parents of children with autism. Media accounts indicated that those parents believe medical cannabis would help, especially with children who become aggressive. "He fractured my

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December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

EDITOR’S DESK

Tim Benjamin One of our good friends, John Tschida, wrote me earlier this month after running into, Yoshiko Dart in Washington DC, where John lives now. Yoshiko is the late Justin Dart’s wife, the woman Justin said was not only the love of his life, but also his coworker, ally, partner in advocacy and teammate. Together, they were hugely responsible for passage of the ADA in 1990. Yoshiko asked John why he wasn’t writing for Access Press anymore. He said he didn’t have a good answer. So, John got in touch with me to see if we needed anything written from the nation’s capital.

Well, I took him up on his offer and we’re planning for him to get started writing about the federal tax reform bill and block grants. We jointly decided these two topics are rapidly moving targets for a monthly paper, but agreed that John would contribute a couple paragraphs for my editor’s column this month (below) and in January do a commentary on the tax bill and or block grants.

For those of you who don’t know John

I have real hopes that our younger emerging leaders will take on the work that is neverending in protecting the care and independence of people with disabilities. As John points out here, there’s a lot of work to be done.

Tschida, he was the public policy lead at Courage Center (now Courage Kenny) for many years and was one of the first cochairpersons for the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD).

John was the go-to man on state policy questions, second only perhaps to Anne Henry, who is herself known by many in the community as the Wikipedia of disability public policy law. While John was an invaluable leader in the Minnesota community, we were glad to see him take on an opportunity at the federal level, where, as a public policy director at the Department of Health & Human Services and now at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, he is helping even more people in the disability community.

We have lost some valuable, successful and respected leaders recently to their well-deserved retirements, and have had to say goodbye and thanks to several friends.

Anne Henry was celebrated and honored for her amazing work at the disability law center and we wish her true joy in

We have lost some valuable, successful and respected leaders recently to their welldeserved retirements, and have had to say goodbye and thanks to several friends.

retirement. Bruce Nelson, retired as chief executive officer of ARRM and moved out to California. Steve Larson has also retired from The Arc after having done just about everything and known just about everyone involved in bettering the disability community at the Minnesota Legislature.

And I still miss Ronna Linroth, one of my mentors, who retired from Gillette Children’s a couple years ago. I expect, however, that we will be seeing Steve, Anne and probably Ronna now and then at the capitol in St. Paul. They were all models of the dedication that our earlier advocates had for the disability cause.

I have real hopes that our younger emerging leaders will take on the work that is never-ending in protecting the care and independence of people with disabilities. As John points out here, there’s a lot of work to be done: The federal tax bill really amounts to a tax on people with disabilities, senior citizens and their families in many ways. It eliminates the medical expense deduction, which the IRS says 8.8 million filers took advantage of in 2015. It would also eliminate the deduction for charitable contributions, which many nonprofit disability and elder service organizations rely on to balance their budgets. It also removes tax incentives for businesses to hire people with disabilities and for drug companies to develop high-cost ‘orphan’ drugs for those with rare or low-incidence disabilities.

Remember, the bill also repeals the requirement in current law that all Americans must have health insurance coverage. This individual mandate is a critical part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which helps keep premium costs lower than they otherwise would be without this requirement. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says this will lead to 13 million people losing their health care – many with chronic and disabling conditions. A new estimate released Nov. 30 by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation says the bill adds more than $1 trillion to the budget deficit over the next ten years. This reality means that significant budget cuts will need to be made elsewhere in federal spending. Medicaid is most at risk here, although programs like VR, special education, housing supports and Head Start will also be at risk.

Bottom line: This bill has little to benefit people with disabilities and much that will trigger cuts in the very near future to programs and services that support community living and independence.

It seems very clear from what John is saying that we must pray that the House and Senate can’t finalize a bill that both chambers can agree on, even as we keep writing and calling our Congress members to say what an absolute disaster this tax bill represents for our community.

Stay warm and happy holidays! ■

HISTORY NOTE

New book details anniversary of special education’s start For many years children with disabilities were all too often denied an education in public schools. Children who weren’t institutionalized had few options.

Programs in larger cities were often in the oldest buildings, with few resources.

For children in rural areas special education was typically just a wish, unless a persistent parent or persevering teacher could get a child into a classroom.

The University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration has announced the publication of a new book marking the 60th anniversary of a legal landmark in special education. The book Dogged Determination: An Anthology of the 1957 Law Requiring Education for Handicapped Children in Minnesota's Public Schools - A First in the Nation is by Norena Hale and is now available.

A state statue overwhelming approved in 1957, Special Instruction for Handicapped Children of School Age, required special education in Minnesota's public

schools for children with disabilities. It was one of the first laws of its kind in the United States.

The law helped lay the foundation for the later passage of Public Law 94-142, the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, which required special education to be provided in all public schools in the U.S. That was a forerunner of the current Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Hale provides historical context and tells the stories of the reformers who got the law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. In the book Hale points out how ambitious the law was, in the face of how things had been for so very long.

“With the passage of the Special Instruction for Handicapped Children of School Age bill in 1957, Minnesota became one of the first states to require special education in public schools,” Hale wrote. “In the state at that time

Volume 28, Number 12 Periodicals Imprint: Pending ISSN

Co-Founder/Publisher............................................................................................................Wm. A. Smith, Jr. (1990-96) Co-Founder/Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief.............................................................................. Charles F. Smith (1990-2001) Board of Directors................................................. Mohamed Alfash, Stephen Anderson, John Clark, Kristin Jorenby, ..............................................................................................................Jane Larson, Julius Williams, Kay Willshire, Mark Zangara Advertising Sales......... Michelle Hegarty, 612-807-1078 Cartoonist......................................................Scott Adams Executive Director.....................................Tim Benjamin Production........................................................ In-Fin Tuan Managing Editor........................................ Jane McClure Distribution............................................ S. C. Distribution Business Manager/Webmaster......... Dawn Frederick EDITORIAL: Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Editorial material and advertising do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/publisher of Access Press.

there were no teacher training programs, no Special Education Section at the Minnesota Department of Education, no special education administrators, very limited teaching methods, few teaching materials or curricula, very few national experts to provide guidance, most rural schools had no programs for these children, etc. Most everything had to be created from scratch.”

The book draws on the work of Evelyn Deno, a University of Minnesota professor who collected stories from those who were involved in drafting and implementing the 1957 law. Deno, who also supervised special education in Minneapolis Public Schools, died in 2005 before her work could be published. The book draws its title from her dogged determination to save the stories of those who created special education programs.

Hale organized and condensed Deno's stories. Gretchen Bratvold provided editing to create a publishable manuscript.

Part I of the book provides a succinct history of how children with disabilities were at first institutionalized and then gradually educated in public schools in Minnesota. Part II shares the stories from those involved in getting the law passed.

Part III summarizes through first-hand accounts about how the 1957 law provided for the creation of a special education section in the Department of Education, for teacher training programs, and for individualized specialized services in the public schools.

The book is available at various booksellers, including Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. ■ The History Note is a monthly column sponsored by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, www.mnddc.org or www. mncdd.org and www.partnersinpolicymaking.com.

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December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

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Old lights and cords welcomed by ProAct recycling program Clear out non-working holiday lights are offered in Dakota, Goodhue, Scott and Center, 325 Oak St. and p electrical, phone and appliance Washington counties in people Minnesota, and in with In Hastings, items can be dropped at O p o r t u n i t i e s lacking for disabilities cords while creating jobs for people with Hudson, Wisc. at the ProAct facilities at Dakota County Administrative Services

TAX From Page 1 disabilities or mental illnesses, and those living on lower wages.”

“In the end, this bill harms all of us.

We’re calling on our Congressional representatives in the House to soundly reject a tax bill that essentially dismantles the promise we made 50 years ago to people who need health care as the one that passed the Senate.”

National organizations are also weighing in. The Arc described the Senate’s action as “a big and dangerous step closer to cutting the services and supports that people with disabilities rely on to be a part of their community.” The Arc’s longstanding position on tax policy is that it should raise sufficient revenues to finance essential programs that help people with disabilities to live and work in the community. The Arc also supports tax policy that is fair and reduces income inequality; people with disabilities are twice as likely to experience poverty. The advocacy organization states that both the House and Senate versions of the bill fail to meet either standard. By reducing federal revenue by at least $1.5 trillion, the Senate bill turns up the pressure on Congress to cut Medicaid and other programs that are critical to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Arc CEO Peter Berns said, “The disability community has fought against threats to vital programs and won several times this year, and we are prepared to do it again. As the House and Senate finalize the bill, we encourage our advocates across the

1202 Beaudry Blvd. Note that some sites have changed from 2016.

In Apple Valley, visit the Dakota County Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Ave. In Eagan, visit ProAct, 3195 Neil Armstrong Blvd. Drop items off west of the main entrance, near the garage. The Lebanon Hills Visitors Center, 860 Cliff Road, is also a drop point.

In Farmington, go to City Hall, 430 3rd St. The municipal liquor stores at 109 Elm St. and 18350 Pilot Knob Road also accept items, as does Rambling River

Items for recycling are taken until Jan. 31 disabilities in the areas of employment, life skills, and community inclusion.

ProAct cannot accept cord adapters, battery packs, plastic rope lights, light fixtures or CFL lights. Lights in a tree, garland or wreath need to be removed for recycling.

The drop-off locations serviced by ProAct country to act now. We’ve shown again and again this year our strength, and now we have to do it again, or we will be right back where we started in the coming new year.”

“The proposed tax cuts will create enormous pressure on the federal budget,” Julia Bascom, executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, told the online publication Disability Scoop. “Both the administration and congressional leadership have made clear that they plan to alleviate that pressure by slashing Medicaid, including (home and community-based) waiver services, and other basic programs that allow people with disabilities to live good lives in our community.”

But all eyes are on programs that have been a lifeline for people with disability and elders. The Congressional Spending Office projects that spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would cost the federal government $28.6 trillion through 2027. The tax cuts add to pressure to cut those programs. Medicare along would face a $25 billion cut for the current fiscal year. AARP has warned that the one impact could be of hospitals turning away patients, because of dramatic cuts to reimbursements.

Want to learn more about what is happening next? Negotiations over the House and Senate bills are underway, and will be tracked closely by national and regional media. Advocacy groups will also be tracking the issues. One of the best resources for information on the tax cut legislation and impacts is www.thehill.com ■

SUBMITTED PHOTO

disabilities. The nonprofit ProAct is kicking off its Holiday Lights Recycling effort in conjunction with several east and south Twin Cities metro cities.

“Keep your lights and cords out of the trash and recycle bins, and know that they will be handled properly and that the valuable material will be reclaimed and reused in new products,” said ProAct Production Coordinator Jennifer Cavalier. The effort also helps to employ dozens of people with disabilities in Dakota County.

The program is underway until January 31.

Christmas lights and electrical cords cannot be recycled in standard, single-sort recycling bins, and can cause problems in the regular waste stream. ProAct has expanded its recycling effort each of the last four years. All the work and income from the processed material will benefit individuals with disabilities in its programs.

People with disabilities process the cords and bulbs at ProAct’s Eagan facility.

ProAct is headquartered in Eagan and has additional operations in Red Wing, Zumbrota and in Hudson, Wis. Its mission is to provide person-centered services that enhance the quality of life for people with

Center, 1690 Highway 55; Hastings City Hall, 101 4th St. E.; Hometown ACE Hardware, 1355 S. Frontage Road; Sterling Drug, 1399 S. Frontage Road and Terry's Hardware, 375 33rd St. W. In Inver Grove Heights, items can be dropped at ACE Hardware & Paint, 3098 65th St. E.; City of Inver Grove Heights, 8150 Barbara Ave. and Inver Grove Veterans Memorial Community Center, 8055 Barbara Ave. E. In Lakeville, items can be dropped off RECYCLING To Page 5

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

FROM OUR COMMUNITY

∏∏f∏∏

Day training and habilitation programs are invaluable resources for Millie, her family

by Sue Cell I am the mother of twin girls with autism. Our family has searched out the resources that are most appropriate for each child. The twins are now 26; no longer children but adults. Millie is the oldest (by four minutes) and has been involved with CHOICE Inc., a day training and habilitation program in Eden Prairie, for the past five years.

Some say day training and habilitation programs might not be all that necessary, or that they should simply act as a job placement agencies to get people with disabilities employed. I feel a need to speak out. From my point of view, these programs are invaluable in coaching the whole person.

I want Millie to not only survive in a job but to also be self-sufficient in many aspects of her life. Who can teach her these skills? Can the day training, non -profit in my community be concerned about the whole person?

Millie's sister, Dayna, has severe autism that requires our full attention to meet her needs. Since she requires almost constant redirection and supervision, Millie received less attention from us. She did not get consistent parental reinforcement, direction, and support. She often had to wait to receive our help or attention.

By the time she was a young adult, she was unsure of herself, lacking in confidence and initiative. The CHOICE Inc., environment brought a needed positive change for her.

At CHOICE she was guided, supported and challenged in multiple ways to move into adulthood. Millie applied and

was accepted into the Partners in Policymaking program to learn to advocate for herself. For the first time, she stayed in a hotel room without her family. She tasted a new freedom. At the end of the program, she was interviewed by a reporter and her story was published in several community newspapers.

CHOICE encouraged her to join Toastmasters and gain more comfort with public speaking. It also helped her to find wider options for her personal time. She took up bowling and attended an advocacy conference. As counselors and advisors, they continued to look for fitting and safe opportunities for Millie to grow and to be challenged.

In considering career options, her initial interest was in child care, but the CHOICE job coach found that the job she desired required a four year college degree. When the staff at CHOICE gave Millie leadership responsibilities with her peers, she realized she could also enjoy the challenge of working with adults.

As she began a job search, Millie was urged to apply for work at a restaurant, and she was accepted at Culver's. As she became more comfortable with the employment setting, she received training and support as a cashier and now work the drive-through. Her successful experiences with a variety of people prepare her to take on the responsibilities of serving the public.

CHOICE did not stop after getting Millie settled in that job. They kept asking her about her dreams. With a goal of moving away from home, she was introduced to some options for a new living situation. CHOICE helped her prepare

for the responsibility of living on her own, from advocacy skills to healthy eating and exercise.

Each morning participants are waiting to make their connecting rides to work.

Millie and a small group meet at the table every morning and have established themselves as the "Breakfast Club” They discuss work and life in general. Once Millie moved into her own apartment she hosted a "Breakfast Club” get together to celebrate her independence.

In a next step towards independence, Millie has started to consider getting her driver's license. Her CHOICE van driver started working with her during travel times to be an active passenger. They review rules of the road and the safety requirements for driving. They identify landmarks and directions to where they are going.

Millie is now able to embrace most change. She is willing to mingle and engage in conversation with the people she meets. It has been astounding to see her blossom and come into her own.

CHOICE has mentored her the whole way providing choices, feedback and supports that foster self-confidence and measured courage. Millie is open to trying new things and to the excitement of making a life of her own.

Thanks to CHOICE Inc., for seeing the whole person and not limiting themselves to only "finding Millie a job." They have carefully nurtured the skills within Millie that will last a lifetime.

Sue Cell and her family live in Richfield.

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS We need access to businesses Dear People of Minnesota, We are a group of people with brain injuries who have problems accessing businesses. While the doors comply with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), they do not meet our needs. Our needs include having automated doors on the entrance, exit, and restrooms.

We need automated doors because some doors weigh too much for us to pull on our own. We often rely on staff or strangers to open doors for us. If they are not there we are stuck. Furthermore, when we need to use the restroom, it can be inconvenient for us to rely on others to assist us. This is an issue of independence for each one of us.

We should be able to access your facility alone. We want to be able to go to any business we want, but are unable to because we cannot open the door. There are others like us who have disabilities and rely on automatic doors. We ask that you support our needs and help us gain independence so we can lead a more independent public life.

Thank you for your help in ensuring that everyone can access public spaces.

The Structured Day Program of Opportunity Partners Edina Editor’s note: Instructor Natalie Cherne is teaching self-advocacy to persons served at Opportunity Partners Edina.

Group members care about accessibility, and are working with a business to get automated doors to help people with disabilities more easily access the business.

Group members have met with state representatives, the Minnesota Council on Disability and Bloomington Planning Commission.

They have worked hard at sharing their stories about their lives and their voices are important.

Don’t ignore bus riders with disabilities Attention, orthopedically disabled people. This letter is regarding the failure to remove snow at bus stops and near small

convenience stores in a timely fashion.

Metro Transit does not remove the snow. I fell near a convenience store when trying to access the bus stop via a ramp due to accumulated snow from the parking ramp. As a result of the fall I had a stroke and was in the hospital for 16 days.

It could happen at other stores too.

Making money is more important to them than keeping people with disabilities safe. There is no other space for people who use wheelchairs or walkers to get to the bus stop. The open end of the ramp abuts the curb. I was boxed in and there was no place to go because snow was not removed. It’s just as important to provide safe access to the bus stop as it is to provide parking.

We have to have a solution. Do not use the ramp if it is not safe. Ask for a supervisor.

Ironically I was coming home from the Wasie Pool at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. I have been going there for 15 years.

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In Memoriam

Moffatt was young advocate

Jennifer Elizabeth Moffatt not only was the 2017 Miss Amazing Teen Queen for Minnesota, she also advocated for people with disabilities and emergency services in in her home community of Edina. Moffatt, 20, died on Thanksgiving.

Moffatt won the title in April and represented Minnesota at the national competition. She was part of the theater group for students with disabilities, Theater for All at Edina High School.

Theater for All participated in the 2016 International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska and was the only inclusive program to participate.

She was also active with Special Olympics of Minnesota and Circle of Friends at Mount Olivet Church, Minneapolis. Pageant organizers remember her for her vivacious spirit.

Moffatt is survived by her parents, Daniel and Debra and her six siblings, Odysseas, Marianna, her triplet brothers, Patrick and Daniel, Megan and Brian. Services have been held.

Poole was part of care shift

Frederick Winston Leuchovis Poole is remembered as a member of activist family who worked to provide better homecare and community inclusion for people with disabilities. Poole, 33, died in October at his St. Paul home.

Poole, his family, caregivers and medical providers worked to make home care and inclusion a viable option for people with significant disabilities. Poole enjoyed a full life and was remembered as an ardent patriot, fan of audiobooks, and lover of dogs and music. He had an independent nature. He attended St. Paul Public Schools.

His mother Deborah Leuchovis works at PACER Center and has published works about the Americans with Disabilities Act and community inclusion. She is a longtime disability rights advocate. He is also survived by his father James Poole and many friends. A memorial service was held in November in Edina.

Longtime volunteer is remembered

Willmar resident Jennifer Loehr was a valued volunteer for disability organizations and is remembered as being independent and courageous. Loehr, 54, died in September at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.

At birth Loehr weighed only two pounds. She worked hard during her childhood to overcome the physical limitations of cerebral palsy with therapy, swimming and biking. She graduated from Faribault High School in 1984.

Loehr attended Southwest State University in Marshall, earning a degree in social work. She spent many hours volunteering at Courage Center in Golden Valley, Good Samaritan United Methodist Church in Edina and Bethesda Heritage in Willmar. She was an avid sports fan, cheering on the Willmar Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, and Minnesota Vikings.

For the past 12 years she lived at Bethesda Heritage and Bethesda Grand.

MEMORIAM page 15

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

AUTISM From Page 1 jaw, dislocated his father's arm, he's attacking us on a daily basis," one woman said of her son. “This is what life was like for us before medical cannabis.”

Another parent said doctors should be able to choose to prescribe medical cannabis. “I think it should be a doctor's choice,” the parent said. "I think we need some more doctors that learn about medical marijuana, for sure, for children.”

Children who have what is called a dual diagnosis have been able to use medical cannabis, if the second diagnosis is already covered by the state program. The parents who testified in October include parents whose children also have seizures and Tourette’s syndrome, which are already covered by the state program.

“He was punching himself in the head 3,000 times a day, lots of skull fractures, and then we were offered this medication that's safe and non-addictive,” said one parent.

“And not only has it stopped the self-injury completely and the aggression, but he's now starting to speak.”

Opponents contend that adding autism under the state program is risky, including the Minnesota Psychiatric Society. “The Minnesota Psychiatric Society is concerned about efforts to add autism as a qualifying condition eligible for medical cannabis in Minnesota,” the group said in a statement. “We believe there is little or no significant scientific evidence that marijuana is beneficial for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Of particular concern to our members who treat youth, is the message that marijuana can be beneficial. As doctors, we are concerned about known adverse effects of marijuana on the developing brain.”

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association also spoke out in opposition.

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by sustained social impairments in communication and interactions, and repetitive behaviors, interests or activities. Patients certified for the program because of autism must meet specific requirements. The health department’s autism research brief found a growing body of research indicating that the human body’s endocannabinoid system may play a role in autism symptoms. In support of adding autism, the review panel report noted the lack of effective drug treatments, the potentially severe side effects of current drug treatments and anecdotal evidence of Minnesota children with autism already receiving benefits from medical cannabis taken for other qualifying conditions.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder involving repeated episodes of reduced airflow caused by a complete or partial collapse of the upper airway during sleep.

Patients certified for the program because of obstructive sleep apnea must meet published diagnostic criteria for the condition, including interpretation of a formal sleep

GIFT From Page 1 that keep them from easily getting out of their homes.

Reading news online can also be impossible due to physical or financial limitations.

We often hear from readers who would very much like a subscription, but even a $30 fee is out of financial reach. Generous donors and often just the cost of doing business in our community has allowed us to pay for many gift subscriptions for readers in need. Would you like to be one of those helpers/donors just to help your brother and sister on fixed incomes?

By making a tax-deductible donation for a gift subscription or subscriptions you can help Access Press give the gift of access to vital news and information delivered right to someone’s doorstep. You may have someone in mind, and we would honor that or it would allow us to say yes, of course, when a request has been called in. You don’t even need to have someone in mind for the gift subscription. Your gift can help us meet requests for the newspaper when those requests come to our office.

We also honor gift subscriptions for newspapers for libraries, schools, places of worship, activity centers or other places and organizations that advance the inclusion of the disability and elderly communities.

Please contact Access Press, Executive Director Tim Benjamin if you have questions, at 651-644-2133, tim@ accesspress.org or just mail it in with a note to put it into the Access Press free subscription fund. The mailing address is Access Press, Capitol Ridge OfficeS, 161 St. Anthony Ave., Suite 910, St. Paul, MN 55103.

RECYCLING From Page 3 at Lakeville City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Ave.; Lakeville Liquor Heritage, 20164 Heritage Ave.; Lakeville Liquor Kenrick, 16179 Kenrick Ave, and Lakeville Liquor Store, 1600 Galaxie Ave. The drop point in Mendota Heights is City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. In Rosemount, items can be taken to City of Rosemount-Community Center, 13885 S. Robert Trail or Terry’s Hardware, 14635 S. Robert Trail. The South St. Paul drop-off is City Hall, 125 3rd Av. Ave. The West St. Paul sites are the Dakota County Western Service Center, 1 Mendota Road W. and West St. Paul City Hall, 1616 Humboldt Ave. One drop point is offered in Goodhue County. In Cannon Falls, take items to D & G ACE Hardware, 31265 County 24.

The City of Savage has the lone Scott County drop-off, at City of Savage, 6000 McColl Drive. In Washington County, take items to Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Ave. N. Washington County’s drop-off is at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Ave. N.

study. Over time, sleep apnea can result in long-term health effects such as hypertension and cardiovascular problems, reduced cognitive function, decreased mood and quality of life, impaired performance at work and while driving, and even premature death.

The review panel and the health department’s research brief identified some scientific evidence of effectiveness of cannabis treatments. Continuous positive airway pressure is a very effective treatment already in use, but some people with the condition often struggle to stick with that therapy.

Pg 5

Patients certified to have autism or obstructive sleep apnea will be newly eligible to enroll in the program on July 1, 2018 and receive medical cannabis from the state’s two medical cannabis manufacturers beginning August 1, 2018. As with the program’s other qualifying conditions, patients will need advance certification from a Minnesota health care provider. More information on the program’s certification process is available from the Office of Medical Cannabis.

When the 2014 Minnesota Legislature authorized the creation of a medical cannabis program, the law included a set of nine medical conditions that would qualify a person to receive medical cannabis. State rules also direct the commissioner of health to consider the possible addition of other qualifying conditions and delivery methods. The list of current qualifying conditions includes: cancer associated with severe/chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting; glaucoma; HIV/AIDS; Tourette’s syndrome; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); seizures including those characteristic of epilepsy; severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease; terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of less than one year; intractable pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Information from the Minnesota Department of Health was used for this article. For more information on medical cannabis in Minnesota, go to www.health.state.mn.us/topics/cannabis/ ■

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

Pg 6

REGIONAL NEWS has helped spur a poroposed city policy. The tenant, who has physical disabilities, had to find a new apartment to meet her needs before the new structure could be built.

Terry Spaeth, Rochester redevelopment director, told the Rochester City Council that a policy outlining tenant relocation requirements for developments seeking tax-increment financing could have helped save time for the project.

He said that would ensure that relocation for low-iocme residents is place before a developer seeks public assistance such as tax increment finacing.

The council debated the policy this fall. Some council members said relocation costs are a private matter between a developer and displaced tenants. Others said that when public finan cing is sought for a project, it is jo longer a prvate manner. Council President Randy Staver said the proposal has merit but needs further review to make sure it's not misused by someone on either side of the table. "I want to make sure as we do these things that it has the intended impact we are looking for," he said.

The city is looking at a $25,000 cap on relocatioin expenses, whivh could be waived if a tenant who has special needs requires additional accommodations such as renovations to his or her nw home. The relocation costs would be covered by the developer.

(Source: Rochester Post-Bulletin)

Task force looks at abuse

Abuses in Minnesota nursing homes will be scrutinized by a state task force. Gov. Mark Dayton made that announcement after the Star Tribune newspaper published a series of articles about abuse. The articles described physical and sexual abuse of nursing home residents, facilities that repeatedly violation state regulations, and even facilities that retaliate against residents who complain.

“The senior care failures are really appalling,” said Dayton. The task force, to be made up of state agency heads and experts, is directed to assess the situation and come up with solutions. Proposals could be ready in time for the 2018 legislative session, which begins in February.

The Star Tribune series has detailed abuse of residents in senior care centers by other residents and staff -- frequently without consequence -- while the victims who report the abuse often face retribution. The Minnesota Department of Health, which regulates the industry, investigates a mere three percent of abuse claims, according to a review of public records.

"Some of the acts that have been reported are criminal acts. I'm at a loss to understand why they aren't reported immediately as criminal acts to law enforcement agencies. Those are the kinds of questions I have," Dayton said.

His goal, he said, is that Minnesotans "be assured that their loved ones are being properly cared for and protected in those situations."

Dayton also said the industry should step up. "And I also call on the care industry that house these individuals, as well as others with disabilities and infirmities, to step forward and be part of the task force and take responsibility."

(Source: Star Tribune)

Indoor universal playground eyed

The builders of Madison’s Place in Woodbury, a large universal playground, aren’t done providing fun for children with disabilities. The playuground bvackers ate eyeing space at Maplewood Mall for a new indoor, univerdal playground.

The playground at the mall has an estimated price tag of $400,000. The mall would donate the needed space.

Madison’s Place founder Dana Millington said construction could begin in the fall of 2018. The 6,700-square-foot playground will be named Madison’s Place at Maplewood Mall.

The playground will be in former retail space, near the Kohl’s entrance to the mall, said Millington. To her knowledge, this will be the first indoor all-inclusive playground in the state.

The Woodbury location was completed for $850,000, on a 16,000-square-foot parcel donated by the city. It opened in June 2016.

The name “Madison’s Place” memorializes Millington’s daughter Madison. The little girl died in 2004 at the age of two due to complications of spinal muscular atrophy.

To make a donation, visit givemn.org/organization/Madisonclairefoundation (Source: Pioneer Press)

Licensing fight imperils rsidents

Residents of a West St. Paul apartment complex, including residents with didabilities, contend that they could be hgomeless now that their landlord has lost his rental licenses. But neghbors argue that the Charlton Street apartment building is a property property.

The rental license was revoked this fall and rsidents have to be out by July 2018. City officials said they revoked the license — a rare move — because the landlord hasn’t improved conditions. That is despite repeated warnings.

They postponed the revocation from Janaury 1 to July 1 after rssidents and property owner Greg Mailand attended a council meeting.

“Revoking a rental license is not a process we take lightly,” said Jim Hartshorn, West St. Paul’s community development director. “It’s an option that we have for ongoing problem properties [whose owners] refuse to listen to us.”

But many tenants say the city’s claims of a chaotic building are unfounded. City officials responded that the landlord is taking advantage of tenants. Local faith leaders and county officials said the city’s actions threaten to make tenants — many low-income or people with disabilities —

Governor Mark Dayton

homeless in a tight housing market that is especially short on affordable housing.

“When I got wind of this situation, my heart just bled,” said Oliver White, a pastor at Clark-Grace United Church of Christ in South St. Paul. “I mean, where will these people go? Where will they get the money?”

Mailand has petitioned the Minnesota Court of Appeals to review the city’s decision to revoke his rental licenses, asserting in court documents that its actions were “unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious and in violation of the City’s City Code and Minnesota law.”

(Source: Star Tribune)

Contestant makes history

History was made in Novermber at the Miss Minnesota USA pageant, as Mikayla Holmgren became the first woman with Down syndrome to compete. She didn’t win the title but she was honored with the Miss Minnesota USA Spirit Award and Director’s Award. Holmgreen is 22 and lives in Marine on St. Croix.

“You make people smile every time you talk, cheer, smile and dance,” said Denise Wallace Heitkamp, executive state director, as she read from Mikayla’s nomination letter for the Spirit Award. “You exude the spirit of Miss USA by always being true to yourself and putting others first. You have selflessness, humility and the ability to overcome obstacles with a smile on your face and excitement in your heart.”

“I’m so excited,” Holmgren said. “I can’t believe it!” The contest is part of the Miss Universe Organization.

Parents of girls with Dopwn syndrome brought them to watch the pageant and cheer Holmes on. Holmgren said dhe is proud to be a role mode. The Bethel University student works with Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization that works to promote one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Sandi and Craig Holmgren said they were proud of their daughter’s accomplishments. “Competing in this has been an incredible experience for her,” Sandi Holmgren said.

“She’s just amazing. She goes after what she wants. She said, ‘I want to do this. I’m going to go do this,’ and we said, ‘All right.’ She just goes after it.”

(Source: KSTP-TV, Pioneer Press)

Rochester considers new policy

A tenant of an apartment building torn down to make way for a new six-story mixed-use building near downtown

Woman wins support dog case

Jane Poeschel and her tiny Shih Tzu dog Trudy are working to draw attention to the issue of emotional assistance or support animals. Poeschel adopted her dog in spring 2014 and informed her New Brighton apartment complex management that the puppy was coming. Her lease showed that dogs and cats were welcome at the complex.

That sparked a long and complex legal battle, which culminated in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed last year. "I continually lived with harassment," said Poeschel, 57. "They were making it an absolute nightmare." She and Trudy eventually moved out, living in a camper for a time.

The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a lawsuit in October 2016 alleging that Garden Grove apartments violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to allow Poeschel to keep Trudy as an emotional assistance dog. The suit stated that she faced repeated bullying from property managers, including attempts to evict her.

Poeschel's struggle is not unusual, advocates and attorneys say. "The facts of the case are really common," said Lisa Hollingsworth of Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), who worked with Poeschel. The organization sees 50 to 100 cases each year.

Garden Grove, in settling the lawsuit, admitted no liability but did agree to change its policies. Poeschel is going south for the inter and isn’t sure if she will return to Minnesota.

"People's treating doctors recognize how much a companion animal can provide to people who are relatively shut in because of a disability," Hollingsworth said.

VA health care causes frustration

After Winthrop resident Phil Klenk injured himself with a shovel during yard work, his wife, Lisa, drove him more than an hour to the VA hospital in Minneapolis for urgent care. The Klenks, who are both veterans, hoped for health care closer to their homes.

But Lisa Klenk, the veterans service officer for Sibley County, quickly found the Veterans Choice Program to be so bureaucratic and slow-moving — it took her 2 1/2 months to get a physical therapy appointment near home — that she’s reverted to visiting VA hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, 75 miles away.

“Even though it’s an hour and 10-minute drive, it’s quicker for me to go there than to go to my local choice program,” she said.

Three years after the Veterans Choice Program began, federal lawmakers are racing to overhaul the troubled multibillion-dollar effort before it runs out of money. That

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December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

Pg 7

PEOPLE & PLACES NAMI Minnesota gives out honors for oustanding service

Ernst & Young

Carla Nelson with the Special Events Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is given to an individual who has given generously of their time, resources and energy to a NAMI special event.

“Gail is part of a wonderful group of women who have dedicated countless hours to NAMI Minnesota’s Gala, which is held every spring to raise funds for NAMI’s mission. With a great smile and laugh, she helps with whatever is needed. She attends planning meetings, helps with obtaining auction items, sets up the day of the event and more.

We could not carry out this event without volunteers like Gail,” said Abderholden.

Northwood Children’s Services, Duluth, was given the Provider of the Year Award, in recognition of an organization that provides mental health services that demonstrate excellence, respect and best practices.

Northwood provides residential treatment, intensive day treatment, school-based intensive day treatment, diagnostic and assessment center, corporate foster care,

therapeutic foster care, Little Learners Enrichment Center, outpatient and children’s therapeutic services and supports.

“All of their services are delivered by passionate, professional and highly trained staff,” said Abderholden. “In addition to providing a supportive work environment, Northwood offers their staff funding support for education so that they can become mental health professionals or practitioners.

Northwood has consistently been an early adopter of best practices and was one of the first programs to have all of their therapists certified in trauma-informed care. This has led to a very committed staff with low turnover that provides continuity of care for the children they serve.

Will Johnson, an adult-targeted case manager and care coordination lead through the Central Minnesota Mental Health Center in St. Cloud, was given a Professional of the Year Award. The award is given to a professional who provides high-quality services, exemplifies best practices, and demonstrates

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commitment and leadership to the field.

Johnson’s award nominator wrote: “I highly recommend Will for this honor because he totally understands what it's like to have a mental illness, for us to have our ups and downs. Will is a man who never backs down when it comes to being an empathic listener when it comes to his natural healing skills, and overall, his case management skills and dedication to his team.

Andy Mannix, a reporter for the Star Tribune, was given the Media Award, which honors an individual or organization instrumental in reporting on the needs of people with mental illnesses or effectively portraying the stories of people with mental illnesses and their families.

In December 2016 the newspaper published a four-part series on solitary confinement in Minnesota prisons. Mannix looked at the impact of solitary confinement on people, and the many people placed in solitary confinement. The articles used data NAMI AWARDS To Page 13

Hennepin County 2018 Citizen Advisory Boards – Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council (LAC) – Capital Budgeting Task Force – City Planning Commission (Minneapolis) – County Extension Committee (University of Minnesota Extension) – Human Resources Board – Library Board – Lower Minnesota Watershed District Board – Mental Commitment Attorney Panel Advisory Board – Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Board Application deadline: Friday, December 29, 2017 For more information and to apply online: www.hennepin.us/advisoryboards

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota has honored many individuals and businesses that make a positive difference for people with mental illness. The awards were presented during the organization’s annual conference, held November 4 in St. Paul. NAMI Executive Director Sue Abderholden gave an overview of what each winner has done.

Alexandria Police Department was given the Criminal Justice Award, which is presented to someone in the criminal justice field who has demonstrated a strong commitment to the decriminalization of mental illnesses.

“The Alexandria Police Department has been providing crisis intervention team (CIT) training to all of its officers and has developed strong partnerships with community mental health providers. They are active partners in the Region 4 South Adult Mental Health Initiative, looking to address the needs of adults with mental illnesses in their community – not just in the jail,” said Abderholden. “As a founding member of the Douglas County Mental Health Coalition, they have demonstrated their commitment to the decriminalization of mental illnesses.

They have also taken great strides in making it ok to talk about mental illnesses in their community and even among their staff.”

Rep. Jeff Backer (R - Browns Valley) and Sen. Carla Nelson (DFL - Rochester) were given the Legislator of the Year Award.

Both have authored many bills, working with NAMI on issues including ACT teams.

Backer helped pave the way for certified community behavioral health clinics and last session authored the bill to expand school-linked mental health grants. He worked to expand the eligibility for PCA services. He also worked on workforce issues by authoring a bill that requires private insurance to pay for services provided by clinical trainees.

Nelson was honored for work on loan forgiveness programs for mental health professionals, and championed and authored the bill to ensure that drug formularies can’t change in the middle of a plan year. Abderholden said that very controversial but important bill helped people who didn’t want to be forced to change medications.

Ernst & Young was given the Employer of the Year Award. The award honors an employer who has demonstrated support for hiring and retaining people with mental illnesses; has taken extraordinary measures to educate its employees about mental illnesses, or has created a supportive workplace for families who have a loved one with a mental illness.

The company has started an “r u ok” project focused on mental health, and works with NAMI to provide education and support. A video about the project states that “mental illness is complex but offering your support needn’t be” and it goes on to offer four simple steps: notice, ask, listen, and act. The program connects employees to resources, identifies employee champions, virtual events, e-learning and peer-to-peer connections.

Gail Gislason of St. Paul was honored

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

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December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12

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December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12 Pg 10

Disability issues highlighted at large rally PEOPLE & PLACES MDI adds two board members

MDI, a nonprofit social enterprise with the mission to serve people with and without disabilities by offering inclusive employment opportunities and services.

MDI has elected two new board members. Rhonda Graves, retired 3M chief diversity officer and head of talent acquisition, and Jonathan Palmer, executive director of Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Inc. have joined the board.

Rhonda Graves “Rhonda’s corporate experience supports our inclusion and diversity efforts, and Jonathan brings a wealth of business and community activism experience to the MDI board,” said Peter McDermott, president, and CEO of MDI. “We are pleased both have joined our board. We look forward to their support and counsel in growing our business, and expanding integrated employment opportunities to people with disabilities.”

Jonathon Palmer Graves recently retired from 3M with 35 years of service. For the past year, she served on the MDI Human Resources/Employment Services Committee. Graves has many years in human resources of increasing responsibility and a strong commitment to strengthening diversity and inclusion. Her commitment and passion helped lead 3M as a company striving to build a high performing and diverse global workforce that represents the markets and customers served.

Palmer leads St. Paul’s Hallie Q. Brown, Community Center, Inc., an African-American, nonprofit social service agency open to all. Founded in 1929 as a settlement house, it has evolved from an independent human services provider to a multi-service center hub. Before joining the center, Palmer held various posts including director of the Minneapolis Empowerment Zone, a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Renewal Initiative designation which worked to improve the quality of life for Minneapolis residents.

Direct support worker is honored

Ryan Trihey, a direct support professional with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), has been honored by the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed. He received the organization’s prestigious Direct Support Professional Award for Excellence in November, during the association’s annual conference in Charlotte, N.C. Trihey works with clients in DHS’s Minnesota Life Bridge Program in Hastings, which provides treatment in residential settings for adults who have developmental disabilities along with mental health or chemical dependency diagnoses.

“Ryan’s devotion to our clients and their personal growth is apparent to anyone who sees him in action,” said DHS Commissioner Emily Piper. “He’s a role model and an inspiration to his coworkers, who nominated him for the award.”

The National Association for the Dually Diagnosed is a New York-based training and advocacy group that focuses on bridging the gap between the mental health and development disability service systems. The Award for Excellence is given each year to a direct support professional whose work has resulted in significant improvement in the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. Organization founder and CEO Robert J. Fletcher said, “Dedication, advocacy, compassion, competence, person-centered approaches, and collaboration. Ryan Trihey demonstrates all of these qualities.”

“I am beyond humbled to receive this award. I hope it draws attention to the work my colleagues at DHS and I do each day,” said Trihey. “Adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness want, need and deserve to participate

in community life, not superficially but to the fullest possible extent. I’m honored to be part of this important work.”

Guild Incorporated hires new officer

Tiffany Grandchamp is the chief operations officer for Guild Incorporated. She began her duties in November.

Grandchamp comes to Guild with more than 20 years of industry experience in healthcare. She most recently worked at Resource, Inc. as the director of quality and operations, overseeing revenue cycle management, operations, quality, and compliance.

Prior to her time at Resource, Inc., Grandchamp worked for Allina, as a performance improvement advisor and implementation practice consultant in the health catalyst area.

She was the recipient of the Colleen J. Goode Research into Practice Award at the 2017 National Evidence-Based Practice Conference, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is currently completing her MASL/MBA and is certified in a number of leadership and skills areas.

Guild Incorporated is based in St. Paul and provides services for people with mental illness.

Writer wins national award

St. Louis Park resident Belo Cipriani has won an award for an article he wrote last year for a California publication.

Cipriani was honored with the Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for Excellence in Reporting on Disability, one of the only national awards devoted to disability issues coverage. The awards are given by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Seeing in the Dark, published by the Bay Area Reporter, received an honorable mention and $250 prize. Cipriani is blind and has written extensively about disability issues in the Bay area.

Cipriani currently works at Metro State University as a professional writing tutor, working with all levels of students on improving their writing skills. In addition, he’s the national spokesman for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

A Chicago Tribune investigation into the mistreatment of disabled adults in Illinois group homes won the top honors.

New anti-bullying handbook available

A new resource is available for anyone concerned about bullying, especially the bullying of students with disabilities. The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities has released The Ambassadors for Respect Anti-Bullying Handbook.

The replication manual provides background information about the program and addresses the problem of bullying, including the incidence of various types of bullying, academic studies showing the more immediate as well as the long-term effects of bullying, and comparisons between students with disabilities and students without disabilities.

Ambassadors for Respect, self-advocates who experienced bullying, inspired an anti-bullying program that was initiated in the St. Paul Public

REGIONAL NEWS

From Page 6 could happen as early as December, following the approval of $2.1 billion in emergency funding in August.

At least a third of the people enrolled in the VA health care system live in rural areas and are more likely to be older and face medical problems that require costlier care.

“It’s pretty hard to find a veteran who’s happy with the way the Choice Program is working,” said Congressman Rick Nolan, whose sprawling, largely rural northeastern Minnesota district faces the very challenges that the program was supposed to address. “Just colossal administrative snafus and delays and problems have been associated with (it).”

Nolan said he has a neighbor who tried for two years to get an appointment to be treated for a neck injury that the VA system couldn’t handle in-house. The congressman recently attended a gathering of about 100 veterans in International Falls to talk about a solution. Replacement programs have been proposed but nothing is final.

(Source: Mankato Free Press)

Schools in 2013. Over the past four years, the ambassadors have successfully led 38 training sessions for 1,010 fourth grade elementary school students and 45 classroom teachers in 12 schools.

The handbook provides details about the presentations – preparing for the training sessions, materials for activities, the on-site presentation process, take-away information for the students, and student surveys. Quality principles and a continuous quality improvement process are built into the program to measure its overall effectiveness, success in creating and reinforcing positive student attitudes, and reducing and eliminating bullying incidents.

See a slide show featuring the training and learn more at http://mn.gov/mnddc/

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12 Pg 11

OPPORTUNITIES RESOURCES TECH FOR TEENS IS BACK Minneapolis: PACER’s Simon Technology Center will present new sessions of its innovative and popular Tech for Teens Club. Activities started in December and continue through March. Activities are designed for middle school and high school teens with disabilities, ages 11 to 19. The club meets Saturday mornings at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. Next session is 10 a.m. - noon Sat, Jan. 6, with Programming Robots. Program a Finch robot to interact and respond to its environment, and control its lights, movement, and reaction to obstacles. Other sessions offer the chance to design a website, do 3D printing and more. Space is limited so register right away. FFI: 952-838-9000 or 1-800-537-2237 (toll free), PACER.org/workshops AUTISM CAREGIVERS’ SUPPORT Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) announces a new free resource for caregivers and parents. The Caregivers of Kids with Autism Support Group provides a space for parents and caregivers of children with autism ages 4-21 to come together, discuss challenges, share solutions, and form relationships with families in similar situations. Many families report feeling alone or isolated, and support groups allow caregivers to make meaningful connections. Meeting at 10:30 a.m.-noon on the second Sat of each month AuSM, 2380 Wycliff Street #102, St. Paul, and led by a therapist. FFI: www.ausm.org PACER WORKSHOPS SAMPLING PACER Center offers many useful free or low-cost workshops and other resources for families of children with any disabilities.

Workshops are at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, unless specified. Workshops are offered throughout the state. Advance registration is required for all workshops. At leasst 48 hours’ notice is needed for interpretation. Ask if workshops are livestreamed. Check out PACER’s website and link to the newsletter of statewide workshops that allows participants to pick and choose sessions catered to their needs. Tech for Girls Club : Space Explorer is 10-11:30 a.m. Sat, Dec. 16 at PACER Center. Discover the science behind many space phenomena through hands-on activities! In this workshop, middle school girls with disabilities will create their own star map as they explore the final frontier of space!

They will discover the fascinating science behind solar eclipses, constellations, and more. FFI: PACER, 952-838-9000, 800-5372237, www.pacer.org

INFO & ASSISTANCE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP The St. Cloud Area Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets 1-2:30 p.m. the third Mon of each month at ILICIL Independent Lifestyles, 215 N. Benton Drive, St. Cloud. Free. Meetings are open to those diagnosed with Parkinson’s, their families, caregivers and the general public. The group provides support, education, and awareness about the disease. FFI: 320-5299000.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT OFFERED National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota offers more than 300 free educational classes statewide each year, along with help in navigating the mental health system. NAMI also has more than 70 free support groups for people living with a mental illness and their families. NAMI Minnesota offers more than 300 free educational classes statewide each year, along with help in navigating the mental health system. In the Twin Cities NAMI has about two dozen family support groups, more than 20 support groups for people living with a mental illness, anxiety support groups, groups for veterans and other groups.

Led by trained facilitators, groups provide help and support.

PROMOTE EVENTS WITH ACCESS PRESS Access Press remind readers that the Enjoy! and Opportunities pages are a chance to promote events or ongoing groups. Banquets, galas, walks/ runs, fundraisers and theatrical and musical events appear on our Enjoy! page. Conferences, meetings, ongoing groups, volunteer needs and other resources appear on the Opportunities page.

Listings must meet our guidelines. Deadline for the print edition is always the 25th of the month.

If that date falls on a weekend, deadline is the following Monday.

Items need to be no more than 75 words, including time, date, place and contacts. If there is a charge or fee that needs to be listed as well.

Items will be edited or rewritten. Items run on a space available basis and there is no charge for listings. Questions? Contact us at 651-644-2133 or access@accesspress.org

Parent resource groups are facilitated by a parent who has a child with a mental illness and who has been trained to lead support groups. A group meets 6:30-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday at Eagle Brook Church, 2401 East Buffalo St., White Bear Lake. FFI: Jody Lyons 651-645-2948 x109.

Family support groups help families who have a relative with a mental illness. A group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wed at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 Co. Rd. C-2 West, Roseville. FFI: Anne Mae. 651-484-0599.

Open Door Anxiety and Panic support groups help people cope with anxiety disorders. One group meets 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. the second and fourth Thu in Room 104, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul. Another group meets 6:30-8 p.m. the first and third Thu at Woodland Hills Church, 1740 Van Dyke St., St. Paul.

Young Adult NAMI Connection is a free support group for persons ages 16-20. One group meets 7-8:30 the first and third Thu at Friends Meeting House, 1725 Grand Ave., St. Paul. A group also meets 7-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Thu at Dental Office of Dr. Crandall & Associates, 2300 East Highway 96, White Bear Lake. The group is facilitated by young adults who live with mental illnesses and are doing well in recovery. A full calendar of all events is offered online. FFI: 651-645-2948, www. namihelps.org VISION LOSS GROUP OFFERS ACTIVITIES Vision Loss Resources provides free and low-cost activities in the Twin Cities for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Life skills classes for those with low vision; card games, craft classes, book clubs, walking groups, dinners out, special outings and technology classes are among the offerings. Participants need to RVSP to participate, at least three working days prior to an event. The calendar is also available on the Vision Loss Resources website and as a printable large-print PDF document for those who wish to print their own or additional copies. FFI: RSVP hotline, 612-843-3439; activity line and audio calendar, 612-253-5155, www.visionlossresources.org MCIL HOSTS CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living provides many life skills classes as well as fun outings and events for people with disabilities. MCIL is at 530 N. Robert Street, St Paul and

AROUND THE DIAL DISABILITY AND PROGRESS Disability and Progress is aired on KFAI Radio, 6-7 p.m. Thursdays. Host Sam Jasmine and her guests explore a wide range of topics that are important to people with disabilities.

KFAI is at 90.3 FM in Minneapolis and 106.7 in St. Paul. Recent shows have focused on Wilderness Inquiry and legal assistance for people who are blind. Upcoming shows focus on accessible software for musicians, dyslexia, and the Partners in Policymaking advocacy training program.

Listeners outside of the Twin Cities, or those looking for a past show, will find the show’s archives online at http://www.kfai.org Look for the link to archives and for Disability and Progress. Listeners need to have a Real Audio Player downloaded so that this will work.

A smartphone app is also available to hear archived programs.

To make comments or make suggestions, for future shows, call 612-341-3144, or email disabilityandprogress@tcq.net. Postal mail can be sent to KFAI, 1808 Riverside Ave. S., Disability and Progress, Box 116, Minneapolis MN 55454.

DISABILITY VIEWPOINTS Disability Viewpoints is an award-winning public access television show by and for people

with disabilities. Mark Hughes and his team of co-hosts feature current news, interesting people and groups, and events in Minnesota’s disability community. The show is marking two decades’ service.

The show is produced by volunteers at CTV North Suburbs in the Twin Cities. The North Suburban Access Corporation, CTV, is a nonprofit organization that provides community media for several communities in that area.

Some shows are archived on YouTube, so search for Disability Viewpoints on that web channel to find past shows. The program has also been shown in the past on Twin Cities Public Television.

Disability Viewpoints has a Facebook page, and a web page at http://www.ctv15.org/ programs/local/dv OTHER PROGRAMMING Access Press would be interested in listing other regularly scheduled broadcast, cablecast or podcast programs by and for people with disabilities. Programming needs to have a tie to Minnesota or the Upper Midwest. Around the Dial is published on a space-available basis.

Anyone with questions can contact jane@ accesspress.org

most activities are there or start there. Classes and events are listed on the website, www.mcil-mn.org. Click on “Classes Groups and Sessions” for updated information or to print their calendar. Please give two weeks’ notice if the alternative format or other accommodations are needed. Events are free, accessible and mostly scent-free. FFI: 651-603-2030 ICICIL OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES ICICIL Independent Lifestyles, 215 N. Benton Drive, St. Cloud, offers a number of classes, events and other opportunities for Minnesotans with disabilities in central Minnesota. The center offers its own programming and hosts other groups. The free mental health discussion group 6-:30 p.m. Mon. Learn to live life to the fullest and support each other. FFI: Ricky at 320-281-2025.

The center has a full schedule of activities including support groups, martial arts, Nordic walking and more. FFI: 320-267-7717 ADULT SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED AuSM offers free support groups for adults with autism spectrum disorder. Groups include those for adult family members, women with autism spectrum disorders and independent adults with autism. Check the website for upcoming groups. Groups meet at the AuSM offices at 2380 Wycliff St., St. Paul. FFI: 651-647-1083 ext. 10, www.ausm.org

VOLUNTEER OPEN THE DOOR TO EDUCATION Help adults reach their educational goals and earn their GED. Tutor, teach or assist in a classroom with the Minnesota Literacy Council. Give just 2-3 hours a week and help people expand their opportunities and change their lives through education. The literacy council provides training and support and accommodations for volunteers with disabilities. FFI: Allison, 651-251-9110, volunteer@mnliteracy.org, http://tinyurl.com/adultopportunities ■

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612.377.2224 • accessibility@guthrietheater.org guthrietheater.org Access programs at the Guthrie are sponsored by Travelers, Medtronic and Xcel Foundation

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12 Pg 12

ENJOY! A CHRISTMAS CAROLE PETERSEN Theater Latte Da presents the story Christmastime with the Petersons in Mankato, at Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave. NE, Mpls. AD and ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Thu, Dec. 14.

Tickets reduced to $17.50 for ASL/AD patrons and one guest. FFI: 612-339-3003, www.theaterlatteda.com

Street, Suite 200, St. Paul. The exhibit is free and held during office hours, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays. Continues through February 2018. FFI: Natalie Kennedy, 651-215-1617, Natalie.Kennedy@arts.state.mn.us CECILE BELLAMY & HOLLY TAPPEN Vision Loss Resources, 1936 Lyndale Ave. S. (at Franklin), Mpls, hosts an exhibit featuring the artwork of Cecile Bellamy of Minneapolis and Holly Tappen of Roseville. It is part of a rotating series of exhibits coordinated by VSA Minnesota. Through January 2018. Free during lobby hours, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri. FFI: VSA Minnesota, 612-332-3888

I WILL NOT GO GENTLY Theatre B presents a one-woman show about sex, drugs, rock and roll, and menopause, at Lincoln School, 215 10th St. N., Moorhead. ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 16. AD offered 7:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 23 or by advance request.

Tickets $20. Other discounts available. FFI 701-729-8880, www.theatreb.org AND THEN THERE WERE NONE Theatre in the Round Players present Agatha Christie’s tale of terror, at Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave., Mpls. AD offered 2 p.m. Sun, Dec. 17. Tactile tour at 1 p.m. upon request based on reservations. Large-print programs and assisted-listening devices available at every performance. Tickets $22. Other discounts available.

FFI: 612-333-3010, www.theatreintheround.org BLITHE SPIRIT Guthrie Theater presents Noel Coward’s light-hearted tale of a séance with unexpected consequences, at the Guthrie Theater, McGuire Proscenium, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls. OC offered 1 p.m. Wed, Dec. 20 and Sat, Jan. 6. AD and ASL offered 1 p.m. Sat, Dec. 30 with free sensory tour at 10:30 a.m. AD, ASL and OC offered 7:30 p.m. Fri, Jan. 5. Tickets reduced to $20 for AD/ASL, $25 for OC. FFI: 612-377-2224, www.guthrietheater.org DOT Park Square Theatre presents the Midwest premiere of the play about memory and family, at Park Square Theatre, Proscenium Stage, 20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul. AD offered 7:30 p.m. Fri, Dec. 22. ASL offered 2 p.m. Sat, Jan. 6. OC offered 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat, Jan. 5-6 and 2 p.m. Sun, Jan. 7. Assistive listening devices available. ASL/AD/OC single ticket discount is half-price for patron and one guest with code ACC. Other discounts available. FFI: 651-2917005, www.parksquaretheatre.org BLACK NATIVITY Penumbra Theatre with the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Choir presents the timeless holiday tradition, at Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul. ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 23. Tickets $40. Discounted tickets $5 with code ‘ACCESS’ at 7:30 p.m. Wed, Dec. 6, 13, 20. Ask about ASL discount. FFI: 651-224-3180, http://penumbratheatre.org TOUR FOR PEOPLE WITH MEMORY LOSS At 10 a.m. on the first Tue of every month the historic James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul, offers a sensory-based tour designed for people with memory loss and their caregivers. Each themed tour, usually an hour or less, highlights three rooms and is followed by an optional social time until 11:30 a.m. with pastries and coffee. Private group tours are available for care facilities. Next tour is Tue, Jan. 2. Free but reservations are required. FFI: 651-297-2555, www.mnhs.org SUPERIOR DONUTS Lyric Arts Company of Anoka presents the story of Chicago doughnut shop, at Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, 420 E. Main St., Anoka. ASL offered 2 p.m. Sun, Jan. 14. Lyric Arts reserves seats in Row I for parties including persons using wheelchairs or with limited mobility. ASL interpreters are provided at the first Sun performance of each regular season production.

A limited number of seats near the interpreters are held in reserve for ASL patrons until 3 weeks prior to the performance. If no ASL seating has been reserved 3 weeks before the show (Fri, Dec. 22), the ASL interpretation will be canceled and seats will be released to the general public. When ordering tickets, please indicate the need for seating in this section. Assisted listening devices are also available upon request. Tickets $26-30; $5 discount for ASL seats. FFI: 763-422-1838, www.lyricarts.org THE NINE WHO DARED: COURAGE AT LITTLE ROCK GREAT Theatre presents an interactive drama about the civil rights movement, at Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre inside GREAT World Headquarters, 710 Sundial Drive, Waite Park. ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Fri, Jan. 19. Tickets

Brave New Workshop presents the Polarizing Express: Dysfunction Junction, a holiday show including unique carols and political commentary, at Brave New Workshop, 824 Hennepin Ave. S. Mpls.

ASL offered 8 p.m. Fri, Jan. 19. Assisted listening devices available. Tickets $38, ASL discount available. Ask about sightlines. FFI: 612-332-6620, www.bravenewworkshop.com

BLACK NATIVITY Penumbra Theatre with the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Choir presents the timeless holiday tradition, at Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul. ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 23. Tickets $40. Discounted tickets $5 with code ‘ACCESS’ at 7:30 p.m. Wed, Dec. 6, 13, 20.

Ask about ASL discount. FFI: 651-224-3180, http://penumbratheatre.org

zone-based seating: adult $28-34; student/child $18-22, FFI: 320-259-5463, www.GreatTheatre.org THE LAST FIVE YEARS Artistry presents the musical story of a complex relationship, at Bloomington Center for the Arts, Black Box, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington. ASL and AD offered 2 p.m. Sun, Jan. 21. Tickets reduced to $29; regular $41. Other discounts available. FFI: 952-563-8575, www.artistrymn.org RHINOCEROS Theatre in the Round Players presents Ionesco’s story of social conformity, at Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave., Mpls. AD: offered 2 p.m. Sun, Jan. 21. Tactile tour at 1 p.m. upon request based on reservations. Large-print programs and assisted-listening devices available at every performance.

Tickets $22. Other discounts available. FFI: 612-333-3010, www.theatreintheround.org LEO LIONNI’S FREDERICK Stages Theatre Company presents the Caldecott Medal-winning children’s story, at Hopkins Center for the Arts, Mainstage, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins.

AD and ASL offered 1 p.m. Sat, Jan. 27. OC offered 7 p.m. Fri, Feb. 16. Tickets $16, discount for AD and ASL patrons. Other discounts available. SENS offered 10 a.m. Sat, Feb. 3. All tickets to sensory-friendly performances are $10. This production is not available online; to reserve, call 952-979-1111, opt. 4. FFI: 952-979-1111, opt. 4, www.stagestheatre.org PURDY FESTIVAL: FREDERICK DOUGLASS NOW Penumbra Theatre presents the story of the famed abolitionist, at Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul. ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Sat, Jan. 27. Tickets $20. FFI: 651-224-3180, http://penumbratheatre.org/ DEAD MAN WALKING Minnesota Opera presents a story of grief, grace and redemption, at Ordway Center Music Theatre, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. OC offered 7:30 p.m.

Sat, Jan. 27; 2 p.m. Sun, Jan. 28; 7:30 p.m. Tue, Jan. 30 and Thu, Feb. 1 and 8 p.m. Sat, Feb. 3. Sung in English with English translations projected above the stage. AD offered 2 p.m. Sun, Jan. 28. Tickets reduced to half-price for AD patrons (regular $25-165). Braille, large-print programs and infrared listening systems available at Patron Services in Ordway’s first level lobby. FFI: 612-333-6669, www.mnopera.org AS WE ARE The Minnesota State Arts Board presents a visual showcase featuring more than three dozen Minnesota artists with disabilities. Artists have produced work with the support of an Arts Board grant, either as individual artist grantees or through organizations serving individuals with disabilities. The art forms include photography, drawing, mixed media, and painting. Among the artists are five who participated in VSA Minnesota’s statewide Mural Project in 2015: Mark Davison (Living an Inspired Life), Dunji Diego (Untitled), Cecile Bellamy (Dahlia Girl), Samantha Esguerra (Touch & See), Stacey O’Connell (Untitled). At the Minnesota State Arts Board offices, 400 Sibley

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THE 1940S RADIO HOUR Rochester Civic Theatre Company presents a live broadcast from Dec. 1942, at Rochester Civic Theatre Main Stage, 20 Civic Center Dr. SE, Rochester. ASL offered 7 p.m. Sat, Dec. 16. Please indicate ASL seating when booking tickets. Tickets $31. Other discounts available.

FFI: 507-282-8481, www.rochestercivictheatre.org

WHAT’S LEFT: LIVES TOUCHED BY SUICIDE A multi-media traveling exhibit designed to spur conversation about mental illness and suicide is offered until Jan. 7 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 715 Minnetonka Mills Road, Hopkins. A Blue Sunday event offered 9:4010:40 a.m. Sun, Dec. 17 is an adult education class that offers reflection and support for those anxious at the holiday season; it includes afternoon services. Free. FFI: Paul MacKenzie, 952-935-1753 x113, www.whatsleftmn.com.

MORE EVENTS INFORMATION VSA MINNESOTA VSA Minnesota is a statewide nonprofit organization that works to create a community where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in and access the arts, at http://vsamn.org. The website has a comprehensive calendar at the upper right-hand corner of its homepage. For information on galleries and theater performances around the state join the Access to Performing Arts email list at access@vsamn.org or call VSA Minnesota, 612332-3888 or statewide 800-801-3883 (voice/TTY). To hear a weekly listing of accessible performances, call 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883. Access Press only publishes performance dates when accommodations are offered.

Contact the venue to find out the entire run of a particular production and if discounts for seniors, students or groups are offered. VSA Minnesota advises everyone to call or email ahead, to make such that an accommodation is offered, as schedules can change. VSA Minnesota can also refer venues and theater companies to qualified describers, interpreters, and captioners.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Another web events listing is http://c2net.org (c2: caption coalition, inc., which does most of the captioned shows across the country. Facebook is another way to connect with performances. Sign up to connect with Audio Description across Minnesota http:// tinyurl.com/d34dzo2. Connect with ASL interpreted and captioned performances across Minnesota on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/FBcaption. Another resource is Minnesota Playlist, with a recently updated website calendar with all the ASL-interpreted, audio-described, captioned, pay-what-you-can shows and other features. Go to http://minnesotaplaylist.com/calendar Arts festivals are held throughout the state. Check: www.exploreminnesota. com/index.aspx, http://festivalnet.com/state/minnesota/mn.html, www.fairsandfestivals.net/states/MN/ ABBREVIATIONS: Audio description (AD) for people who are blind or have low vision, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, Open captioning (OC) for people who are hard of hearing, sensory-friendly (SENS) performances, Shows featuring performers with disabilities or disability-related topics (DIS)

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12 Pg 13

PEOPLE & PLACES NAMI AWARDS From Page 7 and graphics to help readers understand the extent to which solitary is used in Minnesota prisons. It presented real people and the scars it left on their lives and provided examples of what other states are doing in this area. Thanks to Mannix’s reporting NAMI was able to secure support for a bill that would limit the use of solitary confinement, require reporting of the data and require oversight of its use. The bill passed the House but not the Senate. Abderholden said Mannix’s reporting gives NAMI a strong start on future legislation to strongly limit the use of solitary confinement.

Dan Parnell of Mahtomedi was given a Leadership Award, for his giving generously of time, spirit, resources and skills for NAMI in a leadership capacity. “Dan Parnell has led the NAMI Washington County affiliate for several years and been involved for many more. He leads support groups; he talks to county commissioners and legislators, and to county staff,” said Abderholden. “As an affiliate leader, he is a vocal proponent of building the support people need and providing education. This year he is striving to establish a Parent Resource Group in Washington County as well as opportunities to provide social outlets for individuals living with mental illness.”

Parnell is an exceptionally strong advocate for decriminalizing mental illnesses. He works locally to connect different counties to think critically about criminal justice reform. He has been heavily involved in the Dept. of Corrections’ work to implement crisis intervention team (CIT) training for prison staff. Because of this work, he was the recipient of the 2014 Advocate of the Year Award from CIT International.

Andy Mannix

Dan Parnell

Don Russell Dr. Phuong-Giang Pham was given an Anti-Stigma Award, honoring her for promoting justice, dignity, and respect, and for

What’s more fun than a trip to accessible movie theaters?

Several technologies are available to make movies accessible for people with vision or hearing loss. Minnesota theaters offer a variety of options. Contact the theater before attending as options vary from theater to the theater, or from movie to movie.

Some technologies include: Rear Window Captioning displays reversed captions on a light-emitting diode (LED) text display which is mounted in the rear of a theater. Patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing use transparent acrylic panels attached to their seats to reflect the captions so they appear superimposed on the movie screen. The reflective panels are portable and adjustable, enabling the caption user to sit anywhere in the theater without bothering patrons in surrounding seats. The LED display is easy to read.

DVS Theatrical presents concise descriptive narration of visual cues, including actions, settings, scene changes, facial expressions, and silent movement, through an FM or infrared system, making movies more meaningful to people with vision loss. The moviegoer hears the narration on a headset without disturbing other audience members and at no extra cost.

Films equipped with MoPix or motion picture access technology can be found by calling 617-300-3400 or TTY: 617-3002489. The website is http://ncam.wgbh.org Or e-mail access@wgbh.org Some theaters use other variations of open captioning, which is a text display of words and sounds heard during a performance, film, video, speech or dialogue.

The display is “open” for anyone to see in a particular seating area. The website www. captionfish.com lists theaters with these accessibility features. Put in a zip code and the site will give current listings of nearby movies with open or closed captioning, an audio description track, or English subtitles in foreign films.

Minnesota theaters with accommodations include: Science Museum of Minnesota Omnitheater hosts many films, closed captioning, audio description, audio amplification and large print scripts offered. Admission for films: $9.95 adults, $8.95 senior 65+/child age 4-12, the additional cost to tour museum; members free. If ordering online, add $3 service fee. The museum is at 120 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul. FFI: 651-221-9444,

Northwood Children’s Services

800-221-9444, option 2 for Omnitheater, www.smm.org/accessibility. To request accommodations for exhibits, call at least 72 hours in advance, 651-221-9406.

Landmark Theatres offer CaptiView Closed Caption Viewing Systems, which allow people to read movie dialogue from the comfort of their seat anywhere in the auditorium, and Fidelio, a wireless audio system that delivers descriptive narration for people with vision loss and amplified sound for people with hearing loss. Patrons can get a compact audio receiver with a plug-in headset at the box office or bring their own headsets. Descriptive narration and closed captioning availability are subject to the content made available from distributors.

All films are available with amplified sound through assisted listening devices. The theaters are Edina Cinema, 3911 W. 50th St., Edina, phone 952-920-8796; Uptown Theatre, 2906 Hennepin Ave., Mpls, phone

her work to reduce stigma. She is a dentist at the United Family Medicine Clinic on West 7th Street in St. Paul.

612-823-3005; and Lagoon Cinema, 1320 Lagoon Ave., Mpls,612-823-3020.

AMC Theatres offer accessible films.

Eden Prairie Mall 18 Theatres, Auditorium 7, Eden Prairie Shopping Center, 8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Suite 4000, Eden Prairie; the phone is 952-656-0010. Park in the upper-level lot between Sears and Kohls.

AMC Rosedale 14 Theatres, Auditorium 14, 850 Rosedale Center, Roseville; the phone is 651-604-9347. AMC Showplace Inver Grove 16, 5567 Bishop Ave., Inver Grove Heights, offers open captioned films generally Wed-Thu; 651-453-1916, 1-888-2624386. Website is www.amcentertainment.com Regal Theatres offers films with open captioning or descriptive video. Regal Brooklyn Center 20, 6420 Camden Ave N, Minneapolis; 763-560-6300. Regal Eagan 16, 2055 Cliff Road, Eagan; 651-452-8329, www.fandango.com/55122_movietheatershowtimes Marcus Theatres in the Twin Cities, St. Cloud and Duluth now offer accessible CaptiView technology for deaf and hard of hearing guests at its digital cinemas. This closed captioning system is available for most movies and can be used at any show-

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LEVEL: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LEVEL:

“Now you might be thinking a mental illness anti-sigma award for a dentist? But breaking down stigma is done in small and large ways and she does it one patient at a time. She approaches her patients with great respect and inclusiveness. She is a model for all clinic staff how to treat people and creates a positive atmosphere that permeates the clinic,” said Abderholden.

Too often people with mental illnesses feel misunderstood by health and dental care professionals. Her nominator for the award said, “While there is often a lack of mental health knowledge that negatively influences the outcomes of providing physical care, Dr. Pham demonstrates a clear person-first approach in her practice that results in the best outcomes for individuals receiving her services.”

Don Russell was given a Program Volunteer of the Year Award, for his giving generously of time and expertise. Russell has shown exceptional leadership in one of NAMI’s programs.

“Don Russell facilitates the North Minneapolis NAMI Connection support group for people recovering from mental illnesses.

NAMI Connection groups meet weekly, and Don has been leading the group since November 2012. That’s over 250 group meetings – now that’s dedication,” said Abderholden. “He doesn’t want there to be any barriers to people learning about mental illnesses or the mental health system. Most importantly, Don offers people hope – hope for recovery, that not only can you get better, you can turn around and help others.”

NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families through its programs of ing for movies that are captioned using this technology. When purchasing a ticket, a guest requests the CaptiView device (about the size of a large smartphone with a screen to display the captions). It has a flexible support arm designed to fit into the cup holder of the guest’s seat and the viewing angle can be adjusted. Patrons can also request assistive-listening devices at the box office at all film showings. The wireless headphones have adjustable volume. Guests with vision loss can use these headphones as descriptive audio devices when a movie offers a descriptive audio option. Not all films are produced this way, but the number of available films is increasing. Marcus Also, ask about sensory-specific showings and technologies, through its Reel Movies for Real Needs Program. Theatres are Oakdale Ultrascreen Cinemas, 5677 Hadley Ave. N., Oakdale, 651-770-4992; Marcus Lakes Cinema, 4351 Stebner Rd., Hermantown, and Marcus Duluth Theatre, 300 Harbor Drive, Duluth, 218-729-0335. What is available varies by location, www.marcustheatres.com ■

PROOFREADERS PROOFREADERS LEVEL: LEVEL:

KEYLINERS KEYLINERS LEVEL: LEVEL:

The Smith TheCharlie Charlie Smith

Award Banquet Award Banquet DoubleTree By Hilton, Bloomington, MN

DoubleTree By Hilton, Bloomington, MN

December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12 Pg 14

RADIO TALKING BOOK HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING Please join Radio Talking Book for Holiday Programming. The annual tradition begins at 6 p.m. on Sun, Dec. 24 and concludes at 6 a.m. Tue, Dec. 26. (All times CST). During this holiday season, here’s to a joyful present and a well-remembered past. May the closeness of friends and the comforts of home renew your spirits. Season’s greetings from Radio Talking Book.

BOOKS AVAILABLE THROUGH FARIBAULT Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Call 1-800-7220550, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The catalog is online at www. mnbtbl.org, click on the link Search the Library Catalog. Persons living outside of Minnesota may obtain copies of books via an inter-library loan by contacting their home state’s Network Library for the National Library Service.

Listen to the Minnesota Radio Talking Book, either live or archived program from the last week, on the Internet at www.mnssb.org/rtb. The listing published monthly in Access Press is a sampling and doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Many more programs and books are available.

Call the Talking Book Library for a password to the site. To find more information about Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network events go to the Facebook site at http://tinyurl.com/facebookMTBN Audio information about the daily book listings is also on the National

Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newsline.

Register for the NFB Newsline by calling 651-539-1424.

Access Press is featured at 9 p.m. Sundays on the program “It Makes a Difference.”

Donate to the State Services for the Blind at mn.gov/deed/ssbdonate CHAUTAUQUA* Tuesday – Saturday 4 a.m.

The Internet of Us, nonfiction by Michael Patrick Lynch, 2016. With access to the world’s information at one’s fingertips, people may no longer need to go to the library in search of answers.

The Internet has revolutionized the way people learn and know, and how they interact with each other. In some ways, it seems people understand less. Read

by Lannois Neely. Seven broadcasts, begins Dec. 15. – V, L, S Raising Robert, nonfiction by Janet Favorite, 2017. When Robert is born, parents Janet and Carey knew nothing about Prader-Willi Syndrome – and neither did anyone else. With nowhere to turn for guidance, they must learn about the disability on their own. Read by Jodi Lindskog. Four broadcasts, begins Dec. 27.

BOOKWORM* Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

My Kind of You, fiction by Tracy Brogan, 2017. Emily returns to her rustic northern Michigan town to renovate a property in exchange for a loan. But there are complications, including a man named Ryan. Read by Nan Felknor. 12 broadcasts, begins Dec. 26.

THE WRITER'S VOICE* Monday – Friday midnight His Father’s Son, nonfiction by Tim Brady, 2017. Despite being a hero in both World Wars with charm and vigorous demeanor, Theodore Roosevelt’s son Ted seemed destined to live in his father’s shadow. Read by Al Apple. 13 broadcasts, begins Dec. 14.

CHOICE READING* Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

The Stars Are Fire, fiction by Anita Shreve, 2017. Fires along the Maine coast lead Grace Holland to discover the power of her own resilience, along with new freedoms and joys in the midst of catastrophe. Read by Anne Obst. Eight broadcasts, begins Dec. 27. - L, S NIGHT JOURNEY* Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

The Miser’s Dream, fiction by John Gaspard, 2015. Magician Eli Marks is drawn into using his skills to solve a mystery, when he spots a dead body in the locked projection booth of the theater next door. Read by Art Nyhus. Nine broadcasts, begins Dec. 18.

OFF THE SHELF* Monday – Friday 10 p.m.

Who Killed Piet Barol?, fiction by Richard Mason, 2017. Piet Barol and his wife Stacey are living the high life, pretending to be French aristocrats in Cape Town.

But their lives are quickly catching up to them. Read by Arlan Dohrenburg. 18 broadcasts, begins Dec. 20.

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The Bitter Season, fiction by Tami Hoag, 2016. Detectives Nikki Liska and Sam Kovac work on two cases a quarter century apart. Despite the years of difference, they must find answers before a killer strikes again. Read by Isla Hejny.

14 broadcasts, begins Dec. 15. – V, L, S WEEKEND PROGRAM BOOKS Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Saturday, presents The Power of Meaning by Emily Esfahani Smith, read by Beverly Burchett. For the Younger Set, 11 a.m.

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Playing For Their Lives, nonfiction by Tricia Tunstall and Eric Booth, 2016. Musicians with strong social consciences are organizing programs for children in some of the bleakest areas of the world.

From its beginnings four decades ago, El Sistema is now in 64 countries across the globe. Read by Carol McPherson. 18 broadcasts, begins Dec. 12.

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December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12 Pg 15

PEOPLE & PLACES St. Cloud task force honors those who make a key difference The St. Cloud area’s Disability Awareness Task Force held its annual Celebration of Abilities event at the River’s Edge Convention Center this fall, to highlight achievements of people with disabilities in the community. The task force is a communitywide collaborative between organizations committed to educating the public on issues of disability and breaking down the barriers and stereotypes that affect people with disabilities.

More than 300 people attended the event.

They enjoyed hearing from legislators Jim Knoblach and Tama Theis and featured speaker Grace Grell, the reigning Ms. Minnesota. Grell is legally blind and last year took a family trip through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She was inspired to give back by using her artistic talents and sell her paintings, sketches, and ceramics on Facebook to pay for the wishes of others.

This event brings many people together to celebrate the achievements and contributions that people with disabilities make in the community, said Cara Ruff, executive director of Independent Lifestyles, Inc. Five individuals and two businesses received Inspiration Awards. Another highlight was to honor the #BetheONE video challenge award winners.

Inspiration Awards were given to Grell, Connie Driver, Diane Boe, Dustin Christensen and Pamela Tritz-Okia. Computer Repair Unlimited owner Blake Thoennes and his staff were honored for initiating internships allowing people with disabilities to assess their interest and abilities in the field of computer Country Inn and Suites East, General Manager Tammy Van Ormer and Front Desk Hostess Pam Skaalerud were saluted for a return to work program which allows job assessments to be completed to assure skills and abilities match the individual to the job. This is done while providing a welcoming, helpful and supportive environment to individuals with disabilities just starting or returning to work.

The #BetheONE video awards were presented. Contestants created two-minute videos that were uploaded to YouTube in order to generate the highest number of views to win the award. The videos highlighted inclusivity, respect for people with disabilities, and bringing an end to bullying. The two first-place winners are Barb Loesch, Loesch Supported Living Services, Inc. and Sarah Starling, Wacosa. Each received a $375 prize for 1,000 online views. Second place winner, Mary Bernardy, produced a video that garnered 928 views. The sixth grader won a $150 prize.

One highlight this year was the introduction of the founding members of the Stacey O’Connell Memorial Fund. O’Connell was an artist, and advocate for people with disabilities. She was employed for 15 years at Independent Lifestyles. Her fund was developed to support people with disabilities in their efforts to achieve their own artistic dreams.

Founding members include her family members, the Ed and Teresa O’Connell family and the Barb and John Kiffmeyer family. Other founders are Melvin Rohe of St. Cloud, Capital One (supporters of artists with disabilities), and the board of directors of Independent Lifestyles. For further information on the Stacey O’Connell Memorial Fund, call 320-281-2031.

IN MEMORIAM From Page 4

Dustin and Amy Christensen Loesch Supported Living Services

Connie Driver, Anne Redetzke and Cara Ruff

Tammy Van Ormer, Roxanne Ryan and Pam Skaalerud

Diane Boe and Pamela Tritz-Okia

She is survived by her father, James Loehr of Willmar, two sisters and seven nieces and nephews. Services were held in November in Willmar.

Opheim was former state official

Stacey O'Connell Memorial Fund founders

Edwin Orlin Opheim had a long and distinguished career in services for people in with disabilities in two states. Opheim, 90, died in September in Washington state. He had lived there since 1987.

Opheim was a native of the tiny Minnesota town of Cyrus, and was the youngest in a family of five boys. He joined the U.S. Navy at age 18 and after his military service attended St, Olaf College, graduating in 1953. A few years later he began his long career with the state of Minnesota, working in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. He retired as administrator of the state program in 1986, then moved to Washington to work for Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. He retired there in 2002.

Opheim is remembered for his commitment to family and friends, and to people with disabilities.

He is survived by wife Dorothea, five children, 12 grandchildren and many friends. Services were held in November in Columbia Heights.

Cara Ruff and Ms. Minnesota Grace Grell

Blake Thoennes

CLASSIFIEDS FOR RENT Calvary Center Apts: 7650 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN. A Section 8 building now accepting applications for our waiting list. Call 9 am to 4 pm, Mon – Fri 763-546-4988 for an application. Equal Opportunity Housing.

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Access Press December 2017.pdf

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December 10, 2017 Volume 28, Number 12 Pg 16

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