Many are honored Page 7
Volume 29, Number 12
‘Tis the season to make lists and head to the state capitol
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 4766
by Jane McClure
"Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down." President George H. W. Bush
NEWS DIGEST
FILE PHOTO
Key recommendations from a report on Minnesota’s direct care worker crisis are moving ahead, with support from the Minnesota Olmstead Subcabinet. While much work remains to make the recommendations become reality, advocates are pleased to see progress. The subcabinet, which oversees work to make Minnesota and its government agencies more inclusive to people with disabilities, approved a vital work plan November 26. The plan is tied to the report, Recommendations to Expand, Diversify, and Improve Minnesota’s Direct Care and Support Workforce Workplan. The report, which has been under subcabinet consideration for months, was tabled in October so that the Minnesota Department of Human Service (DHS) could review the plan recommendations further and the implication of some action items. Longtime disability community advocate Jeff Bangsberg, who served on the advisory committee that researched and drafted the report, thanked the subcabinet for moving recommendations ahead and expressed gratitude for the work state agencies put in during November to move the report along. He spoke to the worker shortage and how it is affecting many people. “We need direct care staff to get us out of bed in the morning, and to help us with our activities and our daily lives,” he said. Bangsberg also agreed with state agency representatives’ call for more data on the workforce issues. “We really need the data to enable us to go to the legislature, and put our best foot forward in explain what the problems are.” The recommendations were reviewed and amended before the November 26 vote. Staff from the Department of Human services (DHS) and Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reviewed the work group’s proposals, with the state agencies delineating what each is responsible for. The plan stated, “This workplan is designed to improve access to needed services and increase quality of life for people with disabilities by increasing the number of qualified direct care workers and retention of experienced workers who are needed to support people to live, work and engage in their communities. Having well-trained direct care professionals in place, leads to better health outcomes, more consistent care as turnover rates drop, and supports people to be fully participating and contributing members of society. The stakeholder working group which brought forth recommendations drew on research and expertise within Minnesota and nationally to understand the issues, and prioritize strategies to meet the challenges Minnesota faces with demographic changes that are contributing to the current workforce shortage.” The plan goes on to state that there RECOMMENDATIONS To page 13
The Minnesota Legislature starts the 2019 session next month, and disability advocates will be ready. This picture is from a past Tuesdays at the Capitol event.
by Access Press staff With the 2019 Minnesota Legislature starting its session January 8, Minnesotans with disabilities and their advocacy groups are getting ready. It’ll be a new ball game, with incoming Gov. Tim Walz. a DFL majority in the House taking their seats and new commissioners leading state departments. Very little got done at the capitol in 2018, with much legislation being wrapped into two omnibus bills. Outgoing Gov. Mark
Dayton, who had urged state lawmakers to not pass such large and encompassing measures, vetoed both. That not only stalled a number of programs and initiatives, it also led to months of complications ranging from a seven percent cut to waiver services to an ongoing legal battle over state program to supply incontinence products. Waiver services, the direct care crisis and worker compensation, special education, state parks access and a wide range of mental health issues are among the concerns that SEASON To page 13
An open letter to the governor Page 4 Remember Access Press with year-end donations Page 3 Bethel University sued over program Page 6 Enjoy a show this month Page 11
VSA Minnesota closing a loss to arts community by Jane McClure VSA Minnesota, which has served Minnesota artists and audience with disabilities for more than three decades, is shutting down at the end of September 2019. The closing was announced in early December. Over the next several months, the nonprofit will be handing off its programs to other arts agencies. Executive Director Craig Dunn and Accessibility and Grants Coordinator Jon Skaalen will retire. They are VSA Minnesota’s only two full-time employees. The decision to shut down was made by VSA Minnesota’s Board of Directors in October following nearly a year of community inquiry, financial analysis and organization examination. Decreasing financial resources to support its work and the pending retirements of Dunn and Skaalen are two primary factors. But a third is the January 1, 2020, loss of rights to the name, VSA Minnesota. That is due to trademark issues with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which manages the international VSA affiliate network. “None of us are happy that the organization that began as Very Special Arts Minnesota and grew to the entity now known as VSA Minnesota is to be no more,” said Board Chair Maggie Karli. “However, we are proud to have been part of its many triumphs over the years and we each look forward to the many ways new individuals and organizations will step forward to enliven the mission that has served Minnesota so well.” It welcomes communications from constituents at 612-332-3888 or info@ vsamn.org. Board and staff are listed at
through, participate in and access the arts.’ And more Minnesotans have access to arts programming and arts education than before our founding in 1986,” said Dunn. “In fact, it would not be wrong to say that Minnesotans with disabilities have greater access to the arts than do individuals with disabilities in the 49 other states. However, we cannot say that every person with a disability in this state has full and equitable access to the arts in all its forms.” As of December 3, VSA Minnesota’s website has a recorded statement by Dunn (direct YouTube link is https:// youtu.be/QxR_P6TmbyQ), a FAQ document with more information about its closing process and a listing of some of the organization’s highlights over 33 years at http://vsamn. org/about/vsa-minnesota-events. VSA Minnesota staff and board members want arts VSA Minnesota has provided arts opportunities for more access and education for people than three decades. with disabilities to move forward, and continue to seek sponsors for http://vsamn.org, along with upcoming existing programs and services. As of Access events. Press deadline, Springboard for the Arts has Dunn said that “mission accomplished” agreed to incorporate the services to artists was not one of the factors leading to with disabilities program into its program closing. That is why there is a push to find offerings. COMPAS will be absorbing new homes for existing VSA Minnesota school arts programming for students with programs. Some programs are in the disabilities and special education needs. process of being handed off. Others face an The Metro Regional Arts Council, uncertain future. which has funded VSA’s Americans with “We have indeed created strong inroads Disabilities Act (ADA) Improvement to our mission ‘to create a community where people with disabilities learn CLOSING To page 13 VSA MINNESOTA
Workforce recommendations moving ahead
December 10, 2018
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