MADE IN THE SHADE Page 12
Volume 29, Number 7
July 10, 2018
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Disability is not a brave struggle or 'courage in the face of adversity.' Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live."
HARRY MEYERING CENTER
Kyle, activities coordinator and Richard, a client at Mankato's Harry Meyering Center, are among the many Minnesotans watching cuts to services.
Emergency bid fails; cuts take effect July 1 to waiver services by Jane McClure Tough times are ahead for many Minnesotans with disabilities and their service providers. Efforts to stop a seven percent cut to waiver services fell short June 28. U.S. District Court Judge Wilhelmina Wright issued a 13page ruling that allows the cuts to go forward, starting July 1 and continuing to December 31, 2019.
Wright ruled against a group of four people representing a larger group of plaintiffs as well as the service provider coalitions Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation (MOHR) and ARRM. A hearing on an emergency injunction to stop the cut took place June 27 in federal court in St. Paul, with disability community and state government representatives presenting arguments.
CUTS To page 5
Neil Marcus NEWS DIGEST Reach for Resources leader honored Page 12 Community mourns losses Page 3 Fund suicide prevention Page 4 Use our Directory of Organizations to find resources Page 7-10
Getting children safely to school is training goal by Access Press staff Students with disabilities in the Mankato area will be able to join their schoolmates when walking or biking to classes in the future. Educators in that part of the state enjoyed a June 28 training day focused on safe walking and bicycling for students of all abilities. The expanded Walk! Bike! Fun! Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum was presented by a coalition of groups led by the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The training will provide lesson plans for students. Funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is helping the partners to provide equitable pedestrian and bicycle safety education for all students. It is the first such curriculum available in the nation. “Minnesota is taking another important step to expand access to physical activity opportunities for students of all abilities with this expanded curriculum,” said Kristine Igo, director of the MDH Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives. Twenty-five educators participated in curriculum training with BikeMN at Immanuel Lutheran School in Mankato. Numerous organizations worked together to develop an adaptive toolkit for the
THANK YOU
trainings. They will use feedback from teachers to refine the curriculum and training over the next three years. Statewide Health Improvement Partnership communities work to bring Walk! Bike! Fun! into local schools by applying for teacher trainings, lending bike fleets and helmets, and supporting local training opportunities. The objective is to continue to build local momentum for biking and walking education. Youth use the streets for bicycling every day. Yet roads can be hazardous, and children are not formally educated Educators from southern Minnesota are developing a biking to maneuver skillfully on and walking to school program for students with disabilities. the streets. With lessons from this curriculum, local Walk! Bike! Fun! Pedestrian and Bicycle volunteers learn what they need to help Safety Curriculum. Collaborating teachers educate students about traffic organizations include MDH, Olmsted rules and regulations, potential hazards County Public Health, PartnerSHIP and skills needed to walk and bike safely. 4 Health, Courage Kenny Institute, Studies show that children who walk Minneapolis Public Schools, BikeMN, and bicycle to school are more physically Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling, Blue Earth active, have improved mental health County Public Health and area schools. SCHOOL To page 5 Project collaborators rolled out the
Access Press thanks this month's issue sponsor MRCI!
MDH
One more resource for Minnesotans in mental health crisis is gone. As June ended, Canvas Health shut down its crisis hotline, Crisis Connection. Like many other health needs statewide, funding for Crisis Connection was involved in the ongoing dispute between Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders. Canvas Health had sought $1 million to support the crisis call center, but that funding and the rest of the supplemental budget bill fell to Dayton’s veto pen in May. During the 2018 legislative session, Canvas Health, the Oakdale-based nonprofit agency that operates the crisis services, requested long-term sustainable state funding to continue its services. “We are disappointed that these crisis services will not be funded by the state,” said Canvas Health CEO Matt Eastwood. “Our primary concern is for the health and safety of Minnesotans who rely on Crisis Connection as a lifeline during difficult times.” After June 30, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273TALK) that were previously routed to Canvas Health’s Crisis Connection for triage and counseling will now be routed to another state that accepts overflow calls. People who call the Crisis Connection number (612-3796363) will be redirected to other community resources. Canvas Health is encouraging those who distribute the Crisis Connection number to remove it from their printed materials, web sites and other communications. “We regret that making these changes is the only option we have to maintain Canvas Health’s other mission-driven services, including providing mental health, substance use, mobile crisis, and emergency social services to those who have the most complex needs in our community,” Eastwood said. Crisis Connection’s phone lines received about 50,000 calls per year. About half of those calls came from people contemplating suicide or in the midst of mental health crises. Canvas Health provides services to people struggling with mental illness, substance use, crisis, unstable housing and trauma. The nonprofit community health agency offers more than 35 programs at seven metro clinics. The agency acts as a safety net provider, serving people with complex needs who may not otherwise be able to afford care. The hotline nearly closed last summer after a similar budget request failed, but Canvas Health diverted federal grant money to keep it afloat and received other support. The shutdown comes amid increases
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July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
EDITOR’S DESK
Tim Benjamin I’m writing this on a perfect summer morning, but there haven’t been too many of them so far this year. It’s been a long, hot summer and it’s only July. Maybe the weather seems worse because the news in healthcare legislation has also been so rough this summer. We’ve had some difficult cuts in services and very little clear information. It’s been hard to know what is really going on. One thing that is clear is that the 7 percent cut in reimbursement rates for PCA care was not stopped by the courts. As you’ll read in other articles in this issue, the state hearing didn’t yield any injunctions that would stop the cut. For people who get 12 hours or more of PCA care per month, the legislation that provides a 5 percent increase means they’ll see “only” a 2 percent cut. But there is just a lot of confusion with how all this will play out in the next couple
months for them and for all who depend on Minnesota medical assistance for the care they need to live and work. Meanwhile, life goes on and we all have to get through each day and make plans as we can. We still have the ability to find new caregivers, new jobs, new friends—and new housing. Because I’m moving this month, I’ve been noticing how many people make housing changes in the summer. After 15 years in the same house, I’ve also just become more aware of what a housing shortage there is the Twin Cities, and how that drives up rents and makes for even less accessible and affordable housing. It feels like everything is catching up with us and we are having to pay the piper for our lack of progressive movement over the last 10 years. We have known about, and added to, shortages in healthcare financing and
"It feels like everything is catching up with us and we are having to pay the piper for our lack of progressive movement over the last 10 years."
"No matter what, we can't give up. We have to help one another when we can. We have to adapt and keep building a strong community that we can depend on." building policy and social supports for at least the last 10 years. Because it’s been so hard to make incremental changes, and the powers that be have done so little, it starts to become easier to see why people on the right and the left seem to think we need a whole new system. No matter what, we can’t give up. We have to help one another when we can. We have to adapt and keep building a strong community that we can depend on. And each one of us needs to be both a leader and a follower. Whether we recognize it or not, we, as people with disabilities, are good leaders. The way we have to work to manage our lives, and to coordinate care and services, makes us effective leaders. As followers, we need to be careful in choosing the right people to lead, and we have to be vocal in telling them what we really want and need. We also have good leaders in our friends and families and other allies. We have to talk to our allies and tell them the real story, especially the ones who aren’t involved already. I know this is preaching to the choir, but we must, absolutely must, let our politicians know that there’s trouble in River City. There’s trouble in every U.S. city and something
has to be done. I’m sure you’ve heard from your parents that it could be worse. Many older people have lived through worse times, and certainly in other parts of the world things are currently much worse. Well, now you’re hearing it from me, too. I had to spend some time in the hospital this month, and that can always get a person feeling sorry for themselves. Then recently I learned that 65 million people around the world do not have wheelchairs but need them desperately. It’s true that we face not being able to get out of bed because we don’t have caregivers. But those 65 million can’t get out of bed because they don’t have wheelchairs to get into. Which would you choose? Let’s all choose to make a world where people can make the most of their lives. That’s what will make for the best and most productive society. If some people need some more kickstart supports than others, let’s make sure they get them. How else are we going to build a better world? n
HISTORY NOTE
Looking at the past and the future provides important perspectives by Access Press staff The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Development Disabilities (MNGCDD) continues its work to preserve the state’s disability history. The latest effort, which was unveiled in June, is With an Eye to the Future. This important online archive is a follow-up to With an Eye to the Past, which summarized 50 years of history. It was first presented in 2001, as part of an important commemoration. On February 1, 2001 the council hosted a luncheon to celebrate a big milestone. That was when the last resident with developmental disabilities left the Regional Treatment Center system. With an Eye to the Past was converted to a website feature. It includes historical documents, video interviews, and slide shows and presents a detailed look back at the days of regional centers. The first state hospital in Minnesota opened at St. Peter in 1866, for people with mental illness. The first state
school for people with developmental disabilities opened in Faribault in 1881. These and other facilities were tied to a social reform movement which linked the therapeutic concept of “asylum” with the good of society. Peaceful rural settings were seen as providing treatment and shelter in a bucolic setting, while shielding the rest of society. But as thinking changed, the regional treatment center approach evolved. That was later replaced by the push to instead keep people with disabilities in their home communities. While With an Eye to the Past contains much valuable history gleaned from more than 130 years’ worth of paper documents, much has changed in less than two decades. One is how the state’s legislative reference library preserves its records, focusing on keeping accessible digital copies of important documents. Other key changes affect everyday lives. One important document file is the Jensen case. James and Lori Jensen
Volume 29, Number 7 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, 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. ADVERTISING RATES: Display Ad: $12 to $28 per column inch (size and frequency of run). Classified Ad: $14, plus 65¢ per word over 12 words. DEADLINE: 25th of each month. CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTION: 11,000 copies are distributed the 10 th of each month through more than 200 locations statewide. Approximately 450 copies are mailed to individuals, including political, business, institutional and civic leaders. SUBSCRIPTION: $30 per year. Low-income, student and bulk subscriptions available at discounted rates. ABOUT ACCESS PRESS: A monthly newspaper published for persons with disabilities by Access Press, Ltd. Application to mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at the St. Paul, MN 55121 facility. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Access Press at 161 St. Anthony Ave, Suite 901, St. Paul, MN 55103. INQUIRIES AND ADDRESS CHANGES should be directed to: Access Press, The Capitol Ridge Inn Offices 161 St. Anthony Ave; #910, St. Paul, MN 55103; 651-644-2133; Fax: 651-644-2136; email: access@accesspress.org www.accesspress.org
on behalf of their son, Bradley J. Jensen, joined forces with James Brinker and Darren Allen on behalf of their son, Thomas Allbrink, and Elizabeth Jacobs on behalf of her son, Jason Jacobs. The families sued the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Cambridge-based Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) program and METO leadership over maltreatment of residents with developmental disabilities. It was alleged that METO residents were unlawfully and unconstitutionally secluded and restrained. The new files contain everything from the original complaint filed in 2009 to the completed settlement agreement, which won judicial approval in December 2011. A second section is on the Olmstead Plan, which was set into motion by the settlement over METO. Minnesota has moved ahead with its Olmstead Plan, which guides the state as it works to include people with disabilities in their home communities. That
documentation is also online. Another section is on mandated legislative reports. These cover a broad range of issues including vulnerable adults, quality assurance, health equity, prevention of abuse and neglect, positive supports, community-based services, Individualized Education Programs, Medicaid spending and waivers, quality of life, transportation and everything in between. A grant allowed the council to add more than 750 documents and 20 videos to the ongoing archive. It can be founded at www.mncdd.org ■ 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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CHARLIE SMITH AWARD FORTHCOMING ISSUEDETAILS SPONSOR | MRCI
65 Year Anniversary for MRCI
A families' response to the workforce shortage in finding care for their loved one From MRCI
It’s a big number that signifies the big impact MRCI has on its clients. That number is 65. That is the number of years the nonprofit has been serving individuals with disabilities through innovative programs that help individuals achieve their personal goals. “This networking of many minds working toward a common goal has made an astounding difference for Suzy,” said Diane Sukalski, mother of MRCI client Suzy who has Down Syndrome. “The focus is on her abilities, not her disabilities. Suzy is like a wildflower; she has been allowed (and actually encouraged) to grow in all the places some people thought she never would or even should! She has been given opportunities to learn and grow every day. Suzy is a citizen who is a contributing member of society. She has learned to live, believe and inspire. Suzy is so fortunate to have these supports; her life is truly full of possibilities. Thank you MRCI!” Today, MRCI is one of Minnesota's largest and most diverse providers of employment, day services and fiscal management services for self-direction programs. It serves individuals all over the state from facilities in Chaska, Fairmont, Mankato, New Ulm, Shakopee and Rosemount. But MRCI got its start as a modest program, during very different times. In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn in as president, the Korean War ended, and after debilitating tens of thousands of people, a polio vaccine was introduced. It was also the year a concerned group of community members, seeing the effects of the polio epidemic and injured veterans returning from war, started MRCI. The founders wanted to make sure people with disabilities could adjust to a life different from what they had known before. Although locations and programs have changed over the last six decades, the mission has not. MRCI strives to provide innovative and genuine opportunities for people with disabilities and disadvantages to participate in their community. MRCI has embraced
change to stay true to this mission. For example, in the 1960s, MRCI began facility-based work services for individuals with developmental disabilities. This was part of a statewide effort to get more people living, working and engaged in their home communities. At that same time, the MRCI Auxiliary established the Mankato Thrift Shop to help fund many emerging MRCI programs. And MRCI was one of the first organizations in the Mankato area to provide childcare services with the opening of its Open Arms preschool. That program was later transitioned to the Mankato school district. By the late 1970s MRCI began making plans to build a new facility in Mankato complete with computerization. It was another big change to keep up with the times. In the 1980s offices were established in Fairmont, New Ulm, Burnsville (now Rosemount) and Chaska (and now also Shakopee) to meet growing needs of supported employment programs in those communities. The 80s began a significant transition to community employment and long-lasting community employment partnerships. “Our team members here really do a good job of making the MRCI clients feel like an extension of the team,” Kristine Clausen, Director of Human Resources for Apothecary Products in Burnsville said. “They are not segregated, they are right on the floor with everyone else. They help make us better.” In the early 2000s, MRCI created a Client Directed Services division in an effort to help loved ones of those with special needs to hire a caregiver of their choice. Entering the self-direction industry was natural from MRCI who already was committed to individualized care for individuals and families. “We are able to find who we want and who we think will fit in best with our family,” said Laura Elkins, mother of two MRCI clients.
Who remembers the early video display terminals and computer, with those giant monitors? Some MRCI clients do. Beth Ponstein, whose son Bryson was born with Spina Bifida, is thankful MRCI allows her to care for her son. “Our rep, Joel, came in and had it all laid out for us and made it so easy to understand. They’ve just been wonderful. It allows me to focus on taking care of Bryson’s needs. We are thankful for MRCI!” But the organization is not stopping there. The future includes a renewed commitment that means integrating clients at home, at work and in the community. “It’s a passion from the heart,” said Brian Benshoof, MRCI CEO. “MRCI is committed to the individuals we serve, the families we support and the partnerships that make our mission possible. Thank you for 65 great years.” Today, MRCI is the eighth largest nonprofit human service organization in the state. With a staff of more than 425, the agency empowers more than 4,000 clients. It would not have been possible without a dedicated group of founders and the experienced, passionate staff and community members today. To learn more about MRCI, visit mymrci.org or call 800.829.7110.
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In Memoriam
Ohlsson was care provider, artist
Elin Ohlsson is remembered as a disability rights advocate and the founder of the Care Planners and Care Planners Medical Supply. Friends recall her sense of fun and fashion, her love of the arts, her concern for animals and most importantly, her willingness to help other people. Ohlsson died in June due to complications from a stroke. She grew up in the Brainerd area, but was a longtime Twin Cities resident. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a young child. Ohlsson recalled stays at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul for treatment, including a stay that coincided with when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. She spoke eloquently of what it was like to grow up with a disability, in a time when there were few accommodations. After college and a long professional career, Ohlsson founded Care Planners and Care Planners Medical Supply in 1994 as a means to better provide services to people with disabilities. She served as company CEO until her retirement in 2013. The company serves clients around the state. Ohlson was a tireless and dedicated advocate for people with disabilities. She was a fixture at the state capitol. She was involved with various disability community groups and served on the board at Access Press. She enjoyed supporting the banquet silent auction and was proud to be a banquet co-emcee one year. She had a deep interest in and compassion for the American Indian community and attended many events and ceremonies. She also delivered needed goods and children’s gifts to reservations. Ohlsson had a deep love for the arts and was a talented painter, specializing in Sum’e brush paintings. She
served on the board of a national Sum’e painting group. Ohlsson is survived by a sister, two brothers and their families. Services have been held.
Tucker helped people reach potential
Catherine Tucker drew on her own health issues to challenge assumptions about people with disabilities and worked to help other reach their full potential. Tucker died in June. She was 59 and lived in Plymouth. Tucker worked for various disability service agencies in the Twin Cities area for more than 30 years, including Homeward Bound Inc. in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area. She also served as a volunteer and past board member for the ARRM organization. She is remembered as someone who stood up for her clients, and for what was right for them. Tucker was a strong proponent of the active support person-centered approach to empowering people with disabilities to engage more in their daily lives. She trained staff to let people with disabilities to do as much for themselves as possible. Tucker was at the forefront of the active support movement, which is considered to be standard now. “She gave her life to people with disabilities,” Jeremy Wendt, executive director of Episcopal Group Homes in Wayzata, told the Star Tribune. “She had humanity and gentleness, and she made an impact on people just by being herself.” Tucker had previously worked at Episcopal Group Homes and recently was elected president of the board of directors there. She had worked to shift the organization’s focus from disability-centered to peoplecentered services. “She was a strong leader in the field and just a
IN MEMORIAM To page 5
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July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
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FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Take the number of lives lost seriously, fund suicide prevention by Sue Abderholden It’s been a little over two weeks since the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain and the Centers for Disease Control report on the dramatic increase in suicides in our country. Calls to suicide helplines went up, some people made calls to loved ones and friends to check up on them, a few people took a suicide prevention class. Now what? During the coming weeks will our attention to a truly serious public health crisis wane? By the time the next legislative session starts will our attention have turned to other issues? Our history demonstrates that we too often stop paying attention and don’t take action. The first suicide plan for our state was developed by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2000. At that time there was concern about the rising number of suicides – which was about 400 people a year back then. The legislature appropriated $1.1 million annually to
SERVICES From Page 1 in Minnesotans reporting anxiety and suicidal thoughts. The state's suicide rate has been gradually increasing over the past decade, particularly among white, middle-aged adults, according to state and federal death record data. People in crisis do have other options. Many counties operate their own crisis hotlines. The Minnesota departments of Human Services, Health and Agriculture are publicizing the availability of other mental health crisis line services. The state agencies are emphasizing that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will continue to be available at 800-273-TALK (8255). A list of 24/7 mental health crisis services is available at mn.state/dhs/crisis. In the Twin Cities metro area, people can call **CRISIS (274747) from a mobile phone. The mobile phone service will soon be available statewide. Text crisis services are available 24/7 by texting MN to 741741. No interruption is expected in hotlines for gambling help, or for the Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Rural Helpline Crisis Connection had operated for almost 50 years. ■
YOUR LETTERS ARE
WELCOME
Access Press welcomes letters to the editor and commentary pieces from readers, on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. Letters should be no more than 500 words, with 750 words per commentary. Ask the editors if more space is needed. Letters and guest commentaries must be signed by the authors. With letters, a writer’s hometown is published but not a street address. Please send contact information in case the editors have questions about a letter or commentary. Contact information isn’t published unless the writer specifically requests that the newspaper do so. Pictures of the author can be published with a guest commentary but aren’t required. Access Press asks that letters and guest commentaries be specifically written for the newspaper. Letters must have a focus on disability issues and ideally, a focus on those issues as they affect Minnesotans. Form letters will not be published. Because Access Press is a non-profit publication and must follow regulations on political partisanship, political endorsement letters are not published. That is true for candidates’ endorsements as well as for ballot questions. Before making a submission writers are always encouraged to contact the newspaper to discuss ideas or to ask questions about From Our Community submissions, at 651-644-2133 or access@accesspress.org. Let the newspaper staff know if accommodations are needed to submit a letter or commentary. Letters and commentaries reflect the view of the authors and not the views of the staff and board of directors of Access Press. Deadline for the print edition of the newspaper is the 25th of each month, with publication the following month.
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implement the plan. But in 2005 state funding was eliminated due to budget cuts. Funding was restored for the 20082009 biennium only to be reduced for the 2010-2011 biennium by more than 75 percent. There was about $98,000 a year to fund community suicide prevention efforts. By the end of 2013, 673 people had died by suicide in Minnesota. In 2015, the Minnesota Legislature allocated $146,000 per year for suicide prevention, funding a part-time suicide prevention coordinator and three community-based grants and in 2016 allocated $348,000 per year for suicide prevention, funding a full-time suicide prevention coordinator and six community-based grants. This funding allowed the department to fund suicide prevention efforts across the state including evidence-based trainings, working with the media on safe messaging, and holding post-vention trainings to provide technical assistance to communities after a suicide in order to prevent clusters and contagion.
A new statewide plan was developed to guide our efforts. The goals are broad, focusing on preventing suicide but also reducing risk factors such as isolation, trauma, and limiting access to lethal means. The goals also include timely access to mental health care, including crisis care along with better data collection to inform prevention efforts. The question now is will the legislature consider this a public health crisis and take action to increase funding for these efforts? In 2016, 745 people in our state died by suicide. We need to take the number of lives lost seriously – famous or not – and fund the work to prevent further suicides. Sue Abderholden is executive director of NAMI Minnnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness), a non-profit organization working to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families through education, support and advocacy. ■
July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
CUTS From page 1 Wright’s ruling stated that the disability groups failed to demonstrate that the cuts would create irreparable or imminent harm. She said it is speculative to say that actions may occur if the cuts are implemented. But funding cuts eventually will impact more than 32,000 Minnesotans who receive services through the Disability Waiver Rate System or DWRS. They will also affect as many as 100,000 direct service providers. Having the emergency injunction and funding denied at the height of a direct care staffing hiring crisis dismays many service providers. All over the state, personal care agencies, group homes and other service providers are already struggling to hire staff. Cuts could mean cuts to services provided. Minnesota has already lost several service providers due to the funding and staffing situation. “This was a complicated case, and ultimately we respect the ruling of the court,” said Julie Johnson, president-elect of MOHR. Legislators supported a fix but by combining that fix with other unrelated items, it got caught up in a political battle. “Addressing this issue should have been a top priority for legislative leaders and the governor from the day it was announced,” said Sue Schettle, CEO of ARRM. “More than 8,500 people affected by the first round of cuts will see an immediate hit July 1 to the supportive services which provide choice and options to live as independently as possible in their communities.” “The great tragedy here is that Minnesotans with disabilities and the hardworking staff who support them have been allowed to become collateral damage of partisan battles at the state capitol,” Johnson said. After the court ruling, DHS Commissioner Emily Johnson Piper issued a statement indicating that the state would start adjusting some disability service rates as of July 1. Scheduled rate increases will be reversed. The first round of cuts hit people who receive what are called unbanded services. Other cuts will be rolled out over time, affecting a wide range of services that help Minnesota’s with disabilities live and participate in their home communities through assistance with personal care, independent living and employment supports, transportation and much more. The proposed rate increases and the cut have a complicated history. The DWRS includes a complex formula that is used to determine services provides to people with disabilities, through the Medicaid waiver program. The seven percent refers to a one percent increase passed in 2013, a five percent increase passed in 2014 and a one percent quality add-on rate increase passed in 2015, totaling seven percent. The rate increase is considered an “after model adjustment” meaning it is added to an individual’s disability service rate after their framework rate has been established. Numerous disability groups and individuals fought hard for the rate increase during recent legislative sessions, as wages for service providers have not kept up with growing demand for service and a competitive employment environment.
SCHOOL From page 1 and have lower odds of being overweight or obese than students who are driven or bused to school. Strong evidence also connects physical activity to improvements in school attendance rates, classroom behavior and student academic performance – including grades and standardized test scores. Michelle Kiefer manages the Safe Routes to School Program for BikeMN. Safe Routes is a program with many partners including the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Blue cross/Blue Shield While many Minnesota communities have held events and added sidewalks and other physical improvements to help children safely walk and bike to school, the Mankato event for educators is unique. Kiefer said it could spread statewide after it is developed. “It is something that there is a need for,” she said. Learn about BikeMN at www.bikemn.org.■
IN MEMORIAM From page 3 champion for people with disabilities,” said Lori Merriam, director of development at Homeward Bound. "When you're working with people with severe disabilities, it's easy to do too much for them," Merriam said. "Cathy trained staff to see that the long road is sometimes the best road." "This philosophy is mandated now, but Cathy was on the forefront of that," Wendt said. Tucker is survived by her sister and many other family members and friends. Services have been held.
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But in February the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced that the rate structure had to be changed. A high-profile lobbying effort was mounted to stop the cuts, led by the groups involved in the emergency injunction and the Best Life Alliance. Money to rectify the situation was in a 990-page supplemental budget bill. But Gov. Mark Dayton objected to other provisions in the bill and vetoed it. With no legislative special session, ARRM, MOHR and other advocates had no choice but to file for an emergency injunction. Technical and complex arguments were presented before the court June 27, with much focus on banded and unbanded services. The DHS website provides detailed explanations about banding, as well as a glossary. Banding limits changes in service payment rates that are caused by DWRS implementation, to ensure ongoing service access for people who receive services. It is meant to limit impacts to service providers and county and state budgets, and to allow time for additional comprehensive research and analysis to ensure service rates are based on provider costs. But people can be moved from banded to unbanded services, it was argued. The lack of a comprehensive state process to challenge the cuts, rather than individual appeals, was also a concern. Wright responded by saying that state lawmakers could act to make changes in the next 18 months. She also said DHS could change its policies. “I’m just saying
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it’s not certain,” she said. One argument the state made is that a reduction in rate doesn’t change the services authorized, and that the case isn’t about reduction of services to a particular recipient. Instead, the argument was made that providers can continue to provide services or opt to provide fewer services. The change is what DHS will pay for services. That argument frustrated some services providers at the hearing. It also prompted a question from Wright, who said she was “perplexed” by the idea that funding doesn’t affect services. A recent ARRM survey showed that providers as a whole have a 40 percent turnover rate for first-year staff. Direct care workers in Minnesota on average make $12.50 per hour. Many people opt for jobs paying more and agencies and clients are left begging for help. The job vacancy rate is around 10 percent. “Our members are competing for staff with other employers offering a $15 per hour starting wage for entry-level food and retail service jobs, while demands for the support services our members provide continue to go up and up,” said Johnson. “We need policymakers to step up to the plate and provide long-term stability to funding for providers to meet the current and projected needs for high-quality supportive services.” To learn more about banding and DWRS, go to https:// tinyurl.com/# ■
July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
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REGIONAL NEWS Agreements reached with schools The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has reached agreements with nine more school districts and charter schools to reduce disparities in suspensions for students with disabilities, American Indian students and students of color. This brings the total to 20 districts and Kevin Lindsay charter schools. The latest agreements were reached with Bemidji Public Schools, Columbia Heights Public Schools, Hopkins Public Schools, Minnesota Transitions Charter School, Prodeo Academy, Onamia Public Schools, Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan/District 196, St. Paul Public Schools and Winona Public Schools. “I want to thank these educators for their willingness to tackle this issue headon,” said Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey. “These leaders should be commended for working to reduce suspension disparities for students with disabilities and students of color while maintaining safe environments for all. These efforts will help build a stronger Minnesota that is ready to embrace the dramatic demographic changes in our near future as our population ages and becomes more diverse.” The three-year agreements are unique to each school district or charter school, to redirect student behavior, support staff, and communicate with
County tries Lyft option
In Dakota County, people with disabilities are trying a different option for transportation. The pilot project involves contracting with the ride-sharing service Lyft. The contract will allow Lyft to bill the county for rides, within restrictions on the number of rides per month, county officials said. The project is funded with a $100,000 state grant. “People want to work that have disabilities, but in Dakota County in particular, transportation is a big barrier to getting to your job,” said Megan Zeilinger, the county’s employment services manager. Many people aren’t able to contract with Metro Mobility for rides. Dakota County officials said that the program, which begins this summer, gives people with disabilities increased independence and saves them time. With reliable transportation, many participants will be able to increase their hours or even rejoin the workforce, Zeilinger said. Dakota County’s ride-sharing project is the first in the state to work with local government, said Noel Shughart, Minnesota Department of Transportation transit planner. It’s expected to serve 500 adults with disabilities by 2019, and state
their community. Parents, students, school personnel and the educational community will be given meaningful opportunities to provide feedback and qualitative assessment of practices and policies. Diversion committees will be offered to facilitate sharing best practices on reducing suspension, cultural competency, and increasing student engagement. There will also be improved data collection, training practices, discipline policies, and behavior management strategies will be consistently implemented, and semiannual reports to the department detailing efforts to implement their plan. None of the agreements prohibit suspensions. Nor will the work affect student discipline resulting from behavior causing safety concerns, such as fighting, student possession of weapons, or illegal drugs. But for other behavior, suspension should only be a last resort. The largest district in the latest round of agreements is in the capital city. “St. Paul Public Schools will continue its work to reduce suspensions and expulsions for students of color, American Indian students, and those with disabilities. The district also welcomes the opportunity to continue to collaborate with others to explore solutions for these complex and statewide issues,” said Dr. Joe Gothard, superintendent. (Source: Minnesota Department of Human Rights)
planning, quality assurance and performance improvement. Implementation involved changing a wide variety of policies and practices. “The entire team at AnokaMetro Regional Treatment Center has worked hard to bring about this crucial turnaround for patients, their families and the staff,” said Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Emily Piper. “We’ve been focused on changing the way we do things. In a very challenging environment, we are on the right track.” Three separate investigations in 2015 found the Anoka hospital out of compliance with one or more federal regulations related to patient care and hospital operations. To correct the deficiencies and avoid losing federal funding, the facility and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services entered into a systems improvement agreement to bring the hospital into compliance. After determining that the hospital successfully completed the systems improvement agreement, CMS will drop an earlier decision that would have blocked the hospital from billing Medicare and Medicaid. The Anoka hospital worked with outside consultants approved by the federal regulators, Efforts were made to increase patient capacity at Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center and to attract and retain employees at the facility and six Community Behavioral Health Hospitals, which together make up Minnesota’s system for patients with the most severe mental health issues. Increased state funding has also led to improvements. (Source: DHS)
Centers lack oversight
officials hope to replicate it elsewhere. Some disability advocates and potential riders point out possible problems, including safety concerns. Kathy Sutherland said her son Grant, 23, who has autism, worries about the backgrounds of the new drivers picking him up every day. “He’s nervous about a stranger hurting him,” she said. In other cities, Lyft has faced complaints about its service to people with disabilities. Dakota County officials said they chose Lyft over ride-sharing competitor Uber because of its strong customer service and, they believe, more robust background checks for drivers. (Source: Star Tribune)
Center in full compliance
After two recent unannounced inspections by federal regulators, AnokaMetro Regional Treatment Center has returned to full compliance with federal rules for hospital operations and patient care. The state-operated psychiatric hospital in Anoka treats patients with complex mental illnesses and behavioral health conditions. Improvements focused on patient rights, nursing services, treatment
The state agency responsible for protecting vulnerable adults failed to provide adequate oversight over 20 Minnesota adult day centers, which contributed to numerous health and safety violations. Problems were disclosed in a federal audit released recently by the Office of Inspector General for the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Federal inspectors made unannounced visits to the adult day centers in early 2017. It was found that all 20 of the centers reviewed failed to comply with state licensing requirements. Overall, the agency found 200 violations of health, safety and administrative requirements at the adult day centers, which primarily serve seniors and adults with disabilities. Violations ranged in severity from peeling paint and loose plaster to hazardous chemicals and a knife left out in the open and easily accessible to clients. The federal inspectors found 81 instances of noncompliance with health and safety requirements, as well as multiple violations of state record-keeping and background study requirements. The federal audit was focused on adult day centers that serve older Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid’s Elderly Waiver
program, which helps low-income seniors live more independently by paying for certain services, such as those provided in the day centers. Roberta Ophanim, the state ombudsman for mental health and developmental disabilities, said the federal audit report raises broader concerns about the state’s oversight of adult day centers, which offer social activities, meals and a range of other activities to thousands of older adults across the state. A staff shortage at the state level prevented the agency from performing routine inspections of the centers, including re-licensing visits every two years, the report said. The audit comes as DHS, the state’s largest agency, faces widening questions over its oversight of state-licensed programs that serve tens of thousands of vulnerable Minnesotans, including children, seniors and people with disabilities. In response to the audit report, DHS Inspector General Carolyn Ham called the violations identified in the report “very concerning.” Since the audit, her office has taken action to hold the centers accountable, by conducting licensing inspections at the 20 day centers. Two programs closed, and a dozen others received correction orders. (Source: Star Tribune)
Volunteers fix wheelchairs
The World Health Organization has estimated that there are 65 million people worldwide that need a wheelchair because of a disability but don't have one. Gregg Olson of Mankato is one of a couple dozen Minnesota volunteers in Minnesota working to change that need. Olson collects and stores no longer needed wheelchairs on his farm for shipment to countries such as Uganda, El Salvador and Ukraine. Nursing homes in the Mankato area donated old chairs to his cause. “When the individual passes away, the family doesn't need them — they don't know what to do with them,” he said. “They just accumulate.” The wheelchairs he collects are as diverse as the people who need them. “It's amazing the different styles and youth chairs,” he said. “There's a need for every single one of them.” Olson said he began collecting the wheelchairs after hearing Joni Eareckson Tada speaking about her charity organization, Joni and Friends. A diving accident in 1967 left her quadriplegic and requiring a wheelchair for mobility. Since being established, Joni and Friends has collected 188,000 wheelchairs. About 150,000 were shipped abroad since 1994 with the remainder used for parts. In Minnesota, volunteers plan to collect 5,000 wheelchairs by 2020. Minnesota State University graduate Tiffany Carlson also volunteers for the organization. “I've had 15-20 collapsible wheelchairs and then I can get a lot of REGIONAL NEWS To page 15
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Pg 7
July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
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July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
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A Chance to Grow
V-612-789-1236
V-612-706-5555
www.actg.org
Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
V-763-588-0811
V-612-262-7979
www.allinahealth.org/couragekenny
DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM)
V-612-362-8454
TTY-612-362-8422
www.dbsmllc.org
Fraser
V-612-767-5180
F-612-861-6050
www.fraser.org
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
V-651-291-2848
TF-800-719-4040
www.gillettechildrens.org
EMAIL ___________________________________________
In Home Personal Care
V-763-546-1000
F-763-546-1018
www.inhomepersonalcare.com
Lifetrack - St. Paul
V-612-788-8855
TTY-612-788-8577
www.lifetrack-mn.org
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CITY/STATE/ZIP _____________________________________ PHONE___________________________________________
July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
Pg 10
DIRECTORY OF ORGANIZATIONS RESIDENTIAL/GROUP HOME PROGRAMS Community Involvement Programs (CIP)
V-612-362-4403
V-612-362-4417
www.cipmn.org
Fraser
V-612-861-1688
F-612-861-6050
www.fraser.org
Hammer Residences
V-952-473-1261
F-952-473-8629
www.Hammer.org
Living Well Disability Services
V-651-688-8808
F-651-688-8892
www.livingwell.org
Opportunity Partners
V-952-912-7475
V-952-930-4232
www.opportunities.org
Phoenix Residence
V-651-227-7655
F-651-227-6847
www.phoenixresidence.org
REM Minnesota
V-952-945-4952
F-952-922-6885
www.remminnesota.org
Restart, Inc.
V-952-767-3350
F-952-767-3351
www.restartincmn.org
Wingspan Life Resources
V-651-644-2665x100
V-651-646-3846
ww.wingspanlife.org
Can Do Canines
V-763-331-3000
F-763-331-3009
www.can-do-canines.org
Helping Paws, Inc.
V-952-988-9359
F-952-988-9296
www.helpingpaws.org
V-612-643-5671
www.PawPADS.org
V-612-879-2262
TTY-612-879-8889
www.fairviewebenezer.org
V-952-767-3350
F-952-767-3351
www.restartincmn.org
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
V-651-291-2848
TF-800-719-4040
www.gillettechildrens.org
PACER Center, Inc.
V-952-838-9000
TTY-952-838-0190
www.pacer.org
SMILES Center for Independent Living
V/TTY-507-345-7139
TF-888-676-6498
www.smilescil.org
STAR Program
V-651-201-2640
TF-888-234-1267
www.starprogram.state.mn.us
SERVICE ANIMALS
Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)
SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES Ebenezer Care Center
Canoeing at Vinland’s main campus in Loretto, Minnesota
Vinland Center provides drug and alcohol treatment for adults with cognitive disabilities. We make all possible accommodations for cognitive deficits and individual learning styles. Located in Loretto, Minnesota — just 20 miles west of Minneapolis.
866.956.7612 • VinlandCenter.org
SOCIAL SERVICES Restart, Inc.
TECHNOLOGY
TRANSPORTATION RENTAL/SALES/MODIFICATION V-651-635-0655
TF-800-788-7479
www.imedmobility.com
Vision Loss Resources
V-612-843-3400
F-612-872-0189
www.visionlossresources.org
Volunteer Braille Services
V-763-544-2880
F-763-544-3612
www.vbsmn.org
IMED Mobility
VISION IMPAIRMENT
WAIVER CASE MANAGEMENT Fraser
V-612-861-1688
F-612-861-6050
www.fraser.org
Reach for Resources
V-952-200-3030
F-952-229-4468
www.reachforresources.org
Be part of our Directory of Organizations! Next edition: October 2018 24/7 online CONTACT DAWN TODAY! 651-644-2133 dawn@accesspress.org
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July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
Pg 11
ENJOY! MENTAL HEALTH IS CELEBRATION FOCUS Celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The theme for this year’s Minnesota celebration is ADA & Mental Health: Removing the Stigma. Join community members 1-4 p.m. Thu, July 26 at the Science Museum of Minnesota, Discovery Hall, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. Keynote speaker is Marya Hornbacher, a Minneapolis-based awardwinning writer, journalist, teacher and lecturer whose body of work includes a huge range of topics, including writing, literature, feminism, ethics and mental health. Enjoy entertainment with Sam Miltich and Friends, presenting The Improvised Life: Exploring Intersections of Mental Health & Creativity through Jazz, a program highlighting cultural contributions of famous artists with mental illness and inspiring hope through his own story and original compositions. Another entertainer to look forward to is Adina Burke. Burke identifies as a bisexual woman with cerebral palsy, using storytelling through spoken word poetry and punk music to address issues of sexuality and ableism. Light refreshments will be served. Hear other speakers and an official proclamation honoring the day. The event is free and in a wheelchair-accessible venue. Free admission to the Science Museum for ADA attendees will include its exhibit Mental Health: Mind Matters. There is a charge for parking. The Science Museum of Minnesota has its own parking ramp, separate from the RiverCentre ramp. The RiverCentre ramp has been closed for repairs. Parking meters are on streets nearby. Accommodations provided include CART, ASL interpretation and Audio description. The museum is wheelchair-accessible. Please let organizers know if accommodations are needed. Everyone is asked to preregister by Mon, July 16. Go to www.disability.state. mn.us/events/28th-ada-celebration-registration/ to sign up. Many disability community organizations are working to put together this event. For more information, or if you have difficulty completing the form, please contact Cindy Tarshish at 651-603-2015 or cindyt@mcil-mn.org HAMMER RESIDENCES INC. Reach for Ralph, Hammer Residences’ annual summer fundraiser benefiting adults and children with developmental disabilities, 5:30-10 p.m. Thu, July 12 at Earle Brown Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center. Enjoy a casual atmosphere, dinner, auctions, games and beautiful outdoor space. The mission of Hammer is to provide adults and children with developmental disabilities the opportunity to experience life to its fullest. Proceeds from the event will be used to support and expand our programs and services for children and adults with disabilities. Tickets $100 at the door. FFI: 952-3450115, www.hammer.org
COURAGE AND TRIUMPH Minnesota Orchestra hosts its first full orchestra symphonic sensory-friendly concert conducted by Akiko Fujimoto and featuring guest cellist Nygel Witherspoon. Come early for pre-concert activities, including opportunities to try orchestral instruments, engage in creative movement, participate in collaborative art-making, learn more about the program, and meet musicians. This is a concert for all ages to enjoy. Braille and large print playbills and assistive listening devices available. At Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. ASL/OC/SENS offered 2 p.m. Sat, July 14. Tickets $12; Phone: 612-371-5656, www.minnesotaorchestra.org
JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITION Support the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) and register a team for the inaugural AuSM Connections Jigsaw Puzzle Competition, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat, July 21 in the Mall of America rotunda, Bloomington. Prizes will be awarded in both divisions to the three teams completing their puzzles in the quickest time. Teams will keep their competition puzzle, created by PuzzleTwist. Compete in the adult or family divisions, in teams of four. Cost is $50 per team. Who can complete a puzzle in the shortest amount of time? All proceeds support Autism Society of Minnesota programs and services for our local autism community. FFI: www.ausm.org
THE STATE OF ARTS ACCESS FOR PERSONS WITH DIVERSE SENSORY AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES Minnesota Access Alliance presents a workshop about current trends and the future of arts access for persons with diverse sensory and cognitive abilities, at Orchestra Hall, Target Atrium, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. Program is targeted to arts administrators. Roger Ideishi, program director and associate professor of occupational therapy at Temple University in Philadelphia, will speak about a global wave of sensory friendly, relaxed experiences at cultural arts venues including museums, performing arts, zoos and even comedy clubs. OC offered 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fri, July 13. For additional accommodations, contact Maren Levad at 651-259-3480 or maren.levad@ mnhs.org. Free; pre-registration is requested online at EventBrite: https:// mnaa-sensory.eventbrite.com. FFI: MNAccessAlliance@gmail.com
NEW ART OPPORTUNITY The St. Paul Saints baseball team and its home at CHS Field in St. Paul host Showings with the Saints at Andy’s Gallery. The art shows are set up in cooperation the Show, a nonprofit arts group that promotes diversity in art and welcomes artists from all backgrounds. The events are free and are welcoming artists of all abilities. Artists can show a wide range of work during a baseball game. The artists will be recognized during the games. FFI: katieemeroy@theshowgallerylowertown.org 23RD ANNUAL AUSM GOLF CLASSIC Autism Society of Minnesota’s 23rd Annual AuSM Golf Classic tees off at the new Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo Mon, Aug. 6. AuSM Golf Classic participants will enjoy the exciting new course while networking with professionals from across Minnesota. In addition to 18 holes of a golf in a scramble format, the event will feature lunch, a silent auction, contests to win exciting prizes, and an awards banquet sponsored by Fox Sports North. All proceeds benefit local autism community programs and services. Sponsors and silent auction donations sought. FFI: Monika Kopet, 651-647-1083 ext. 27, mkopet@ausm.org (sponsorships), www.ausm.org WEST SIDE STORY Guthrie Theater presents the musical about 1950s New York City gang rivalry and romance at Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls. ASL and AD offered 1 p.m. Wed, July 11 and Sat, July 21. Free sensory tour at 10:30 a.m. OC offered 1 p.m. Wed, July 11 and Sat, July 21. AD and OC offered 7:30 p.m. Fri, July 13. ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Fri, July 20. Tickets reduced to $20 for AD/ASL, $25 for OC (regular $15-67). FFI: 612-377-2224, www.guthrietheater.org BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY Park Square Theatre presents the area premiere of a mystery tale, at Park Square Theatre, Proscenium Stage, 20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul. OC offered 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat, July 27-28, 2 p.m. Sun, July 29. Assistive listening devices available. ASL available by advance request. AD/OC single ticket discount is half-price for patron and one guest with code ACC (regular $40, $60; previews $27, $37). Other discounts available. FFI: 651-291-7005, www.parksquaretheatre.org FRENCH TWIST Flying Foot Forum presents an inspiring evening of dance, theater and percussion set in a Paris sidewalk café, at Park Square Theatre, Andy Boss Thrust Stage, 20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul. OC offered 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat, July 1314; 2 p.m. Sun, July 15. Assistive listening devices available. ASL available by advance request. AD/OC single ticket discount is half-price for patron and one guest with code ACC (regular $40, $60; previews $27, $37). Other discounts available. FFI: 651-291-7005, www.parksquaretheatre.org CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Mounds View Community Theatre presents the tale of a flying car, at Irondale Fine Arts Theater, 2425 Long Lake Road, New Brighton. SENS offered 7:30 p.m. Thu, July 12. (Preview will have lower house lights and sound; donations accepted). ASL offered 2 p.m. Sat, July 21. Contact MVCT at least two weeks in advance to request ASL or other accommodation or to reserve special seating. Tickets $20, other discounts available. FFI: 763-785-9466, www.mvct.org
RING OF FIRE, THE STORY OF JOHNNY CASH Rochester Civic Theatre Company presents a unique tribute to the Man in Black, at Rochester Civic Theatre Main Stage, 20 Civic Center Dr. SE, Rochester. ASL offered 7 p.m. Sat, July 14. Please indicate ASL seating when booking tickets. Tickets $31, other discounts available FFI: 507-2828481, www.rochestercivictheatre.org
A limited number of seats near the interpreters are held in reserve for ASL patrons until three weeks prior to the performance. If no ASL seating has been reserved three weeks before the show (Sun, June 24), 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 $30-34; $5 discount for ASL seats, FFI: 763-422-1838, www.lyricarts.org JEEVES IN BLOOM Theatre in the Round Players presents P.G. Wodehouse’s story of an ingenious valet, at Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave., Mpls. AD offered 2 p.m. Sun, July 22. 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 THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Cross Community Players presents the Gilbert and Sullivan pirate frolic, at Osseo High School, 317 2nd Ave. NW, Osseo. ASL offered 2:30 p.m. Sun, July 22. AD offered 7:30 p.m. Sat, July 28. Tickets $18, other discounts available. ASL patrons and AD patrons half-price up to two tickets. For each ticket, please bring a non-perishable food item for the local food shelf. FFI: 763-391-2787, www.crossplayers.org MADAGASCAR - A MUSICAL ADVENTURE JR. Stages Theatre Company presents the animal comedy, at Hopkins Center for the Arts, Mainstage, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins. AD and ASL offered 2 p.m. Sun, July 22, with tickets reduced to $12. SENS offered 10 a.m. Sat, July 21. All SENS tickets $10, not available online. To reserve, call 952979-1111, opt. 4. General admission tickets $16, other discounts available. FFI: www.stagestheatre.org MAMMA MIA! The musical about a mother, a daughter and three possible fathers is presented at Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. OC offered 7:30 p.m. July 26. ASL and AD offered 2 p.m. Sat, July 28. If using ASL or Captioning, recommended seating locations (subject to availability) are: ORCH-RGT G 307-310, ORCH-RGT H 308-311, ORCH-RGT J 309-312. Braille, large-print programs and infrared listening systems available at Patron Services in Ordway’s first level lobby. Tickets $34-132. FFI: 651-224-4222, www.ordway.org THE BEST SUMMER EVER Storyteller Kevin Kling’s tale of a nine-year-old’s summer is presented by Children’s Theatre Company and the Old Vic, at Children’s Theatre Company, United Health Group Stage, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. AD and ASL offered 7 p.m. Fri, July 27. To reserve seating in the ASL section, enter the ASL-19 promo code in the upper right hand corner. To reserve AD seating, enter the AD-19 promo code. Assistive listening devices, induction loop system, Braille programs and sensory tours available upon request. Tickets start at $15, other discounts available. FFI: 612-874-0400, www.childrenstheatre.org SISTER ACT Fridley Community Theatre presents the comedy of a nun (imitator) on the run, at Fridley District Auditorium, 6000 W. Moore Lake Dr., Fridley. ASL offered 2 p.m. Sat, July 28. Large print programs are available upon request. Anyone requiring wheelchair accessible seating or other special services, call or email Tickets@FridleyCommunityTheatre.org. Tickets $15, other discounts available. FFI: 763-502-5100, www.fridleycommunitytheatre.org GLENSHEEN History Theatre presents a Minnesota murder mystery, at History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul. OC offered 7:30 p.m. Sat, July 28 and 2 p.m. Sun, July 29. AD and ASL offered on request. The accessible entrance is on the east side of the building off Cedar Street. The theatre has six spaces for wheelchairs, plus companion seats. Hearing enhancement devices and Braille or large print playbills are available. Tickets reduced to $20 for OC patrons (regular $2556). FFI: 651-292-4323; www.historytheatre.com
ENJOY! To page 14
HELLO, DOLLY! Trollwood Performing Arts School celebrates its 40-year history by staging the blockbuster musical, at Bluestem Center for the Arts, IMAGINE Amphitheater, 801 50th Ave. S., Moorhead. AD offered 8:30 p.m. Sat, July 14 (pre-show description begins at 7:45 p.m.). ASL offered 8:30 p.m. Fri, July 20. For seating using accessible services, call the box office or Ally Beil, 218-477-6542. General admission $15, other discounts available. Reserved seating $22, $27 & $32. Group discounts available FFI: 218-4776502, www.trollwood.org DISNEY'S NEWSIES Chanhassen Dinner Theatres presents a story inspired by the New York City Newsboys Strike of 1899, at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen. ASL offered 6 p.m. Wed, July 18, show at 8 p.m. Limited seating in ASL area, first-come first-serve. Tickets $15 discount off regular price: Wed eve regular $75. FFI: 952-934-1525, www.ChanhassenDT.com MUSIC MAN Duluth Playhouse presents the story of trouble in River City, at NorShor Theatre, 211 E. Superior St., Duluth. ASL offered 7:30 p.m. Thu, July 19. To reserve an ASL viewing seat, call 218-733-7555. (Make ticket reservations sooner than later.) Tickets $25-$35, FFI: www.duluthplayhouse.org LYNGBLOMSTEN MID-SUMMER FESTIVAL The Lyngblomsten Mid-Summer Festival celebrates how Lyngblomsten is promoting artistic exploration, wellness, and lifelong learning for older adults 365 days a year, with an arts showcase featuring works created by older adults, make-and-take art activities, live music and entertainment, wellness opportunities, food, games, and more at the Lyngblomsten campus 1415 Almond Ave., St. Paul. Offered 2-8 p.m. Fri, July 20. Free admission, food and activities for purchase, ASL offered and artists with disabilities will perform. FFI: Andrea Lewandowski, 651-632-5318, https://celebratemsf.com/ entertainment/ THE WIZARD OF OZ: YOUNG PERFORMERS EDITION SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development presents an adaptation of Frank Baum’s classic tale, at SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria St. N, St. Paul. AD offered 7 p.m. Fri, July 20. ASL offered 3 p.m. Sun, July 22. Tickets $10 when VSA is mentioned. FFI: 651-225-9265, www.steppingstonetheatre.org GUYS & DOLLS Lyric Arts Company of Anoka presents a comedy about rolling the dice and falling in love, at Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, 420 E. Main St., Anoka. ASL offered 2 p.m. Sun, July 15. 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.
West Side Story June 16 – Aug 26
Sponsored by
based on a conception by JEROME ROBBINS book by ARTHUR LAURENTS music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM directed by JOSEPH HAJ
612.377.2224 • accessibility@guthrietheater.org www.guthrietheater.org/access
July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
Pg 12
OPPORTUNITIES MADE IN THE SHADE WALK, RUN & ROLL Since 1992 disability service organizations have relied on the Made in the Shade Walk, Run & Roll event as a fundraiser and community celebration. This year’s event is Sat, Sept. 15 at Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun), Mpls. What sets this fundraiser apart is that it is unusual for so many organizations to unite for a fundraiser. The event benefits each organization through sharing event expenses as well as resources for in-kind donations, so that the majority of money raised goes directly to their bottom line. The 2018 partner agencies include EGH, Homeward Bound, Inc., PAI, Partnership Resources, Inc., The Phoenix Residence, TSE, Inc., and Wingspan Life Resources. These seven agencies provide support and services to more than 6,000 people. Sign up now for a day of fun and celebration. Funds raised help pay for many essential services such as accessibility in homes and transportation, adaptive communication technology, educational and skill-building classes, job training, health & wellness memberships, and so much more. Because of recent state budget cuts, the seven organizations rely on the event to raise needed funds. More details can be found on the Made in the Shade Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ madeintheshade5k. Or contact Kristine Morin, Homeward Bound, Inc. at 763-7464821, kmorin@hbimn.org, to get involved.
EVENTS SEEKING VENDORS AND SPONSORS Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities hosts its second annual health and wellness conference, Healthy Independent Living for People with Disabilities Tue, Sept. 25 at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, Mpls. Matthew Sanford is the keynote speaker. Registration is open, as are requests for presentations, vendors and sponsors. FFI: www.mnccd.org SELF-ADVOCACY SUMMIT SET Autism Society of Minnesota has announced its first-ever AuSM Self-Advocacy Summit, presented by Anime Twin Cities. Save the date of Sept. 22. It will include a keynote presentation and nine breakout sessions featuring topics including mental health, executive functioning, sensory needs, employment, relationships, and more. This event is for individuals on the spectrum, by individuals on the spectrum. Visit the AuSM Bookstore, network with peers, and visit with vendors who support adults on the spectrum. Additional details about the summit will be announced soon. Registration opens soon. FFI: www.ausm.org
CHILDREN & FAMILIES ATTEND PACER SYMPOSIUM PACER Center’s annual symposium on children and young adults with mental health and learning disabilities is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed, Aug. 8 at the Mpls. Convention Center. Registration fee of $35 includes lunch. The national keynote speakers include Dr. Steven Schlozman, associate director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he practices child and adult psychiatry; Rosemarie Allen, president and CEO for the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence, the lead agency for ensuring equity in educational practices throughout the nation; and David Stember, clinical psychologist and maintains faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital. He is a recognized expert in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, learning, and behavioral disorders. Many topics will be covered by speakers and in breakout sessions. FFI: www.pacer.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 least 48 hours’ notice is needed for interpretation. Ask if workshops are live-streamed. 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. Too Many Apps for That? How to Find, Choose, and Evaluate Mobile Apps to Meet Your Needs is offered 2-3:30 p.m. Thu, July 28 at PACER Center. With so many apps available for mobile devices, it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones will best meet unique needs. This workshop will explore ways to find and choose mobile apps, with an eye on evaluating user needs including ease of access and privacy concerns. Tech for Girls Club: Creatures of the Ocean is offered 10 -11:30 a.m. Sat, July 21 at PACER Center. Girls with disabilities, ages 11-18, will learn about the differences between fresh water and salt water, ocean zones, and what creatures can be found in each zone. They will take a virtual field trip to explore the ocean and make their own oceans in a bottle. Off to College: What You Need to Know Before You Go is offered 6-8 p.m. Tue, July 24 at PACER Center. The interactive workshop for families of youth heading off to postsecondary education programs will provide essential information
about changing rights, roles and responsibilities, along with practical tips for student success. FFI: PACER, 952-838-9000, 800-537-2237, www.pacer.org
INFO & ASSISTANCE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT OFFERED 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. 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 6:308 pm 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. A peer support group is offered for LGBTQ adults living with a mental illness. The group meets 1-2:30 p.m. Sat, Living Table United Church of Christ, 3805 E. 40th St, Mpls. FFI: David, 612-920-3925, 651-645-2948. 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: 651645-2948, 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, 612253-5155, www.visionlossresources.org GET TO KNOW NAMI NAMI Minnesota hosts a free Get to Know NAMI class 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Wed, July 11, at NAMI Minnesota, 1919 University Ave., Suite 400, St. Paul. Meet staff and volunteers and hear firsthand how NAMI’s work directly affects the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. Learn about education and support programs and how to advocate for better mental health policies. RSVP requested. FFI: Kay King, 651-645-2948 x113, kking@namimn.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 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. NEW! A People of Color with disabilities group has started meeting, 5:30-8 p.m. the third Thu of each month. FFI: 651-603-2030 ILICIL OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES ILICIL 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. 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. FFI: 651-647-1083 ext. 10, www.ausm.org 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. Open to those diagnosed with Parkinson’s, their families, caregivers and the public. The group provides support, education, and awareness about the disease. FFI: 320-529-9000 DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS SUPPORT Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, in partnership with Sholom Home East and the Alzheimer’s Association, facilitates a caregiver support group for people who are providing care to a loved one suffering from dementia. Designed to provide proven resources and methods for caregivers who are caring for someone at home or considering in-home services or a transition to assisted living or long-term care. Meets 3-4 p.m. on the second and fourth Mon of each month in the Community Room at Sholom Home East, 740 Kay Ave., St. Paul. Free and open to the public. RSVP. FFI: Grace, 651-690-8903, glundquist@jfssp.org, or Cassandra, 651-328-2014.
OPPORTUNITIES To page 15
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July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
PEOPLE & PLACES Bottinger honored with award
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits has awarded Kate Bottiger its 2018 Transformational Leader Award. Bottiger has been the executive director at Reach for Resources since August 2014 and was secretly nominated by a group of Reach staff and board members. The council oversees a membership of more than 2,100 nonprofits and 230 businesses. The award was presented at a June luncheon. As the Transformational Leader Award recipient, Bottiger has the opportunity to become a 2018-2019 Executive Leadership Fellow at the Center for Integrative Leadership at the University of Minnesota. The center is focused on research, learning and discussion to catalyze intersector and other boundary-crossing collaboration for social impact. It is a university-wide initiative specifically affiliated with the Humphrey School of Public Policy, the Carlson School of Management, the Law School, the College of Education and Human Development, and the School of Public Health. Bottiger has spent her entire 27-year Kate Bottiger career in nonprofit work, beginning with 22 years at Hammer Residences. At Hammer she ascended to the post of director of advocacy and volunteer resources. She then served one year as the executive director at Rein in Sarcoma before moving to lead Reach for Resources and
Metro Arts Groups Receive Accessibility Grants
ADA Access Improvement Grants will help 10 Minnesota nonprofits make arts programs more accessible for people with disabilities. VSA Minnesota announced the awards totaling $114,256, in June. The Arts’ Nest, Minneapolis, received $15,000 to provide audio description and ASL services for every group renting its Phoenix facility for a multiple performance run. Arts’ Nest will also install an augmented hearing assistance system and offer biannual trainings for front of house staff and rental groups. Art Shanty Projects, Minneapolis, received $5,400 to improve access to and outreach for its annual festival, and On-Ice Program. The festival is held on the frozen surface of Lake Harriet. Cow Tipping Press, Minneapolis, received $7,500 to expand the impact and accessibility of its creative writing program for adults with developmental disabilities. In 2018-2019 costs of classes will be reduced for four new partner organizations. Friends of the Lakeville Area Arts Center, Lakeville, received $7,681 to assist with accessibility improvements including a sidewalk ramp, added accessible parking
the National Neutropenia Network. The nomination highlighted Bottiger’s innovation in advancing Reach’s mission, her partnership with other nonprofits, and the trust and collaboration she practices with her staff. She was recognized for championing the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as her leadership at Reach for Resources and beyond. The nomination also emphasized Bottiger’s humility, capturing how she even regularly takes home and washes dirty dishes used by staff, since the office break room does not have a sink. Reach’s Board Chairperson Nico Montoya stated, “One thing I’d like to highlight is how much Kate cares about not just the people she serves, but the people who work for us. It comes across very clearly that she feels empathy toward everyone in the organization and is willing to make personal sacrifices to make their jobs more sustainable.” “I am humbled and greatly honored to have been nominated for the Transformational Leader Award from my colleagues at Reach, who provide inspiration to me and those around them every day. Thank you,” said Bottiger. “I would also not be where I am today if it was not for those who supported me throughout my career … Thank you for instilling in me the passion I have for the work we do, the hard lessons learned along the way, and the support and trust you have provided to me.”
spaces and other site improvements. The work is part of a larger arts center renovation project. Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis, received $15,000 to support its continued efforts to meet the needs of theater patrons from diverse disability communities. Funding will help ensure accessibility of shows. Nimbus, Minneapolis, received $15,000 to complete construction of two new accessible restrooms and renovate existing facilities to meet ADA compliance at the Crane Theater. Simply ArtAble, Minneapolis, received $15,000 to provide free painting classes to older adults and residents with disabilities in public housing and assisted living facilities including Presbyterian Homes, Heritage House and Mt. Olivet Homes. Threads Dance Project, Golden Valley, received $11,175 to create and premiere a new dance work geared specifically toward blurring the boundaries between the Twin Cities’ deaf/hard of hearing community and the hearing community. Threads will tour excerpts of the show and teach dance workshops to schools with deaf/hard of hearing programs and students. Upstream Arts, Minneapolis, received $15,000 toward a series of specialized
From the showcase to a “cold” case
Artists often find work outside the performing arena in order to support their pursuit of dance, theatre, singing, storytelling and other fields. St. Louis Park dancer Mike Cohn, a Sage award recipient and an Emerging Artist grantee from VSA Minnesota, just opened Cohnnies Ice Cream Treats to provide refreshments for dancers and students who take classes and rehearse at the Cowles Center for Dance & Performing Arts in downtown Minneapolis. Cohn, who has worked with Young Dance, Off-Leash Area and other companies, won’t be giving up dance, however. The same week he opened his ice cream and frozen treats sales case, Cohn also was part of the 16 Feet: Splashes of Dance choreographers showcase.
trainings and curriculum development sessions, led by experts from the disability and arts community. The intent is to increase the capacity of its teaching artists to use and make poetry and music more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Another focus is on grief and loss-related arts programming. Young Dance, Minneapolis, received $7,500 for Intersect, an investigation of the crossroads of music and dance through improvisation, choreography and performance led by artists Gaelynn Lea and Angelique Lele. Applications were scored by a panel
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of persons active in arts and disability communities; VSA Minnesota’s board approved the panel’s recommendations. The next grant application deadline is anticipated to be in late 2018.
First of its kind service dog graduates
The Orono Police Department graduated from Can Do Canines in June with Xerxes, Minnesota’s first community service dog. Xerxes will have the important role of comforting and connecting with individuals impacted by trauma or experiencing a mental health crisis in the community. “Having a K-9 partner introduced into those situations can have a calming effect,” said Orono Police Chief Correy Farniok. Graduation was held at the Can Do Canines facility in New Hope. The ceremony represented the culmination of a long journey for Xerxes and 12 assistance dogs and their human partners. Before the pair go through team training together, the assistance dog has experienced months of training with volunteers, prison inmates, and staff. Each dog has been touched by numerous selfless volunteers who donate their time, energy, and love to raise and train a dog for someone with a disability. It costs more than $25,000 to raise and train each dog, but they are provided free of charge to clients thanks to generous contributors.
Youth win state tournament titles
Spring is a busy time for Minnesota prep athletes, as champions were crowned in adapted softball, bowling and track and field meet. The tournaments wrapped up the 2017-2018 sports season for the Minnesota State High School League adapted athletics program. At the State Track and Field Meet at Hamline University in St. Paul, wheelchair athletes took the spotlight. In Class A boys’ competition, defending champion and state record holder Peyton Gunnarson of Lewiston-Altura defended his 2017 state titles in the 100 and 200
PEOPLE AND PLACES To page 15
July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
Polar Plungers start time of chills, thrills
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RADIO TALKING BOOK
RADIO TALKING BOOK APP FOR SMARTPHONES Listeners can now enjoy Radio Talking Book on handheld mobile devices. The SERO app is available on both Apple iOS and Android platforms. On iOS, go to the App Store and search for Sero. Select the “Serotek Corporation” button and download the app. On Android, go to the Play Store, pick the “Navigation Drawer,” and search for Sero. Select “Sero (formerly iBlink Radio)” and download the app. Once there run the app and select the “Reading Services” category. Then search for Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network and select it. A password is needed to access the stream. Call 651-539-2363 or toll-free 1-800-722-0550 to receive one. PODCASTS ARE UPDATED Another tech-related note is that Radio Talking Book is updating its podcasts. Podcasts are programs available in a digital format, which can be listened to or downloaded over the Internet. The podcasts feature information on dealing with blindness and vision loss, job search strategies, career management, teens’ issues and topics of general interest. Check them out at https://mn.gov/deed/ssb/ braille/podcasts. PAST IS PROLOGUE* Monday – Friday 9 a.m. Praetorian, nonfiction by Guy de la Bedoyere, 2017. Created to defend the Roman emperor and his family, the Praetorian Guard grew in its dangerous ambition. Read by Mike Piscitelli. 15
broadcasts; begins Mon, July 23. BOOKWORM* Monday – Friday 11 a.m. Rosie Colored Glasses, fiction by Brianna Wolfson, 2018. Rosie and Rex, two opposites, fall in love against all odds. But Willow, their daughter, is stuck between her parents’ two worlds. Read by Linda Kayser. 10 broadcasts; begins Wed, July 25. THE WRITER'S VOICE* Monday – Friday 2 p.m. In the Midnight Hour, nonfiction by Tony Fletcher, 2017. The story of legendary blues and soul singer Wilson Pickett displays his dynamic studio work and contentious road life. Read by Greg Olson. 12 broadcasts; begins Thu, July 19. – L, S CHOICE READING* Monday – Friday 4 p.m. This Could Hurt, fiction by Jillian Medoff, 2018. Five unusual people in the corporate world support each other while hoping to keep their jobs in a changing economy. Read by Carol McPherson. 15 broadcasts; begins Wed, July 18. PM REPORT* Monday – Friday 8 p.m. Raven Rock, nonfiction by Garrett M. Graff, 2017. A secret ring of bunkers surrounding Washington D.C. is designed to protect high-ranking government officials in case of an attack. Read by Linda Kayser. 22 broadcasts; begins Thu, July 19. NIGHT JOURNEY* Monday – Friday 9 p.m. A Curious Beginning, fiction by Deanna
NEW BELL MUSEUM
THE CLEAN HOUSE Commonweal Theatre Company presents a comedy about a cleaning lady whose true calling is stand-up comedy, at Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro. AD offered 1:30 p.m. Sun, July 29, pre-show at 1:10 p.m. Please make AD reservations at least one week in advance. Ask for a tactile tour at noon. Two-week notice requested for a Braille program. Five-week notice requested for ASL interpreting. Assistive listening devices available at the box office. Special seating available for persons with mobility issues. Tickets reduced to $15 for AD/ASL patrons (regular $35), other discounts available. FFI: 507-467-2525, www.commonwealtheatre.org 2018 MINNESOTA FRINGE FESTIVAL The 25th annual Minnesota Fringe Festival features 11 days (Aug. 2-12) full of 650 performances of storytelling, comedy, drama, music, opera, dance, improv and other theatrical entertainment by 150 companies at 15 accessible Minneapolis venues. At least 40 shows throughout the festival will include accessibility services such as audio description and ASL interpreting. Additional performances will have electronic scripts available for patrons to follow the
Seconds to Midnight, fiction by Philip Donlay, 2017. Two researchers in Northern Canada watch an airplane crash into a frozen lake. Then a survivor tells them, “Don’t let them know I’m alive – they’ll kill everyone.” Read by Neil Bright. 12 broadcasts; begins Tue, July 31. OFF THE SHELF* Monday – Friday 10 p.m. How to Think Like a Cat, nonfiction by Stephane Garnier, 2018. The subtle art of feline living can reduce stress, build independence, and influence the world around you. Read by Parichay Rudina. Four broadcasts; begins Wed, July 18. The Daily Show (the book), nonfiction by Chris Smith, 2016. For 17 years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart redefined television comedy, political satire and opinionated news coverage. Read by Mike Piscitelli. 19 broadcasts; begins Tue, July 24. - L POTPOURRI* Monday – Friday midnight Language at the Speed of Sight, nonfiction by Mark Seidenbert, 2017. The science of reading combines cognition, neurobiology, and linguistics. Yet more than half of Americans read only at a basic level. Read by Toni McNaron. 16 broadcasts; begins Mon, July 16.
THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE Guthrie Theater presents the story of an Elvis impersonator turned drag queen, at Guthrie Theater, McGuire Proscenium, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls. AD and ASL offered 1 p.m. Sat, August 4. Free sensory tour available at 10:30 a.m. AD, ASL and OC offered 7:30 p.m. Fri, Aug. 10. OC offered 1 p.m. Wed, Aug. 8 and Sat, Aug. 18. Tickets reduced to $20 for AD and ASL, $25 for OC (regular $15-67). FFI: 612-377-2224, www. guthrietheater.org
ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS AT NEW BELL MUSEUM ‘After nearly three years of planning, construction and exhibit design and development, the new Bell Museum will open to the public on July 13-15, with a grand opening celebration made possible by copresenting sponsors General Mills and McGough Construction, as well as Boston Scientific and 3M. It is at Larpentuer and Raymond avenues, north of the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus The Bell, known previously as the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History, is the state’s official natural history museum, established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1872. In 2011, the museum merged with the Minnesota Planetarium Society to ensure the return of a dedicated public planetarium to the Twin Cities. The facility's planetarium is situated at the heart of the building, surrounded by high-tech exhibits, renowned wildlife dioramas, and outdoor learning experiences. The new Bell not only includes the full dome digital planetarium, but all new exhibition spaces covering broad scientific concepts from cellular to cosmic levels. Improving access was one of the driving reasons behind the new building. The museum offers full physical access throughout the site from parking and outdoor spaces to planetarium seating, gallery exhibits, and more. It plans to host sensoryfriendly programs and relaxed planetarium shows for visitors with a variety of needs. ASL interpreted planetarium shows, programming for guests with memory loss, assisted listening devices and closed captioning throughout the galleries are offered or in the works. Yet another feature is an accessible website with adjustable text size, contrast and language settings site wide. Go to the site to learn about programs, hours, admission costs and other information, at www.bellmuseum.umn.edu
ENJOY! From page 11
Raybourn, 2015. In Victorian London Miss Veronica Speedwell plans a world journey, then meets a German baron who turns up murdered. Read by Isla Hejny. 13 broadcasts; begins Thu, July 12.
story line. Look for interpreted shows posted in midJuly, at www.minnesotafringe.org/access. For a daily recording of shows presented with AD or ASL, call VSA Minnesota at 612-332-3888. FFI: 612-872-1212, www.minnesotafringe.org 2018 FAMILY FRINGE The inaugural Family Fringe highlights six selected companies producing adventurous work geared toward young people and their caregivers in 30 performances at Celtic Junction Arts Center, 836 Prior Ave. N., St. Paul, Aug. 2-5 and 9-12. Family Fringe Central offered at Can Can Wonderland, 755 Prior Ave. N., St. Paul, to participate in additional free arts activities during the festival. Every show at Family Fringe will include an AD and/or an ASL interpreted performance. Check the schedule for specific show accommodations at www. minnesotafringe.org/access. Tickets $5 for children and $10 for adults. For a daily recording of shows presented with AD or ASL, call VSA Minnesota at 612332-3888. FFI: 612-872-1212, www.minnesotafringe.org HAND TO GOD Jungle Theater presents a story about complicated relationships, at Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. AD offered 7:30 p.m. Thu, Aug. 2. Tickets $19 plus fees (regular $37 plus fees). Contact the theater to request an ASL-interpreted show. FFI: 612822-7063, www.jungletheater.com
TELLING STORIES Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. hosts an event where patrons can gather around works of art to look, listen, and tell own stories, 1 p.m. Sun, Aug. 5. Interpreted tours begin by the Information Bar in the upper lobby on the first Sun of the month at 1 p.m., except as noted differently. Other interpreted tours and memory loss tours can be scheduled through the tour office at 612-870-3140. FFI: www.artsmia.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, Aug. 7. Free but reservations required. FFI: 651-297- 2555, www.mnhs.org ART SHOW: EMMA ERSPAMER AND JON LEVERENTZ The work of Emma Erspamer and Jon Leverentz is featured through July at Vision Loss Resources, 1936 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. Lobby hours 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon-Fri. Free. Coordinated by VSA Minnesota. FFI: 612-332-3888, http://vsamn.org/artists-disabilities/ exhibit-program/
GOOD NIGHT OWL* Beartown, fiction by Frederik Backman, 2016. A small-town junior hockey team in Sweden is about to compete in a national tournament. The town’s hopes and dreams rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenagers. Read by Don Gerlach. 17 broadcasts; begins Mon, July 16. – L, S AFTER MIDNIGHT* Tuesday-Saturday 1 a.m. The Flight Attendant, fiction by Chris Bohjalian, 2018. Airline attendant Cassandra Bowden wakes up one morning in a Dubai hotel room to discover a dead man in her bed. Could she have killed him? If not, who did? Read by Laura Young. 11 broadcasts; begins Wed, July 18. – L, S ON THE WEEKEND Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents Living in a Mindful Universe by Eben Alexander and Karen Newell, read by Beverly Burchett. For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken, read by Jim Tarbox. Poetic Reflection, noon Sun, presents Leonard Cohen: Poems and Songs, read by Scott McKinney. The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents November’s Fury by Michael Schumacher, read by Chris Colestock; followed by Gunflint Burning by Cary J. Griffith, read by Tom Speich. ABBREVIATIONS: V – Violence, L – Offensive Language, S – Sexual Situations, RE – Racial Epithets, G – Gory Depictions MORE EVENTS - 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 galleries and theater performances around the state join Access to Performing Arts at access@vsamn.org or call 612-332-3888 or statewide 800-801-3883 (voice/TTY). To hear a weekly listing of accessible performances, call 612- 332-3888 or 800-8013883. Access Press only publishes performance dates when accommodations are offered. Everyone should 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 http://c2net.org (c2: caption coalition, inc., which does most of the captioned shows across the country. Connect with performances with Facebook. 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. Minnesota Playlist, 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 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, and sensory-friendly (SENS) performances.
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July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
Anniversary is celebrated
UCare’s Northland office turned one year old in June, on Grandma’s Marathon weekend. The office in Duluth offers a comfortable setting for members of the community to visit with questions, discuss coverage needs and compare UCare plans. Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer Ghita Worcester, and a Duluth native, said, “Our welcoming space in the Northland allows local folks to connect with our people powered service and get accurate information about UCare plans, especially our regional EssentiaCare Medicare product.” The office offers information on coverage as well as Medicare basics meetings, product sales meetings, navigator trainings, community meetings and social events. It is staffed by Medicare Sales Specialists Ellen Anderson and Leann Frestedt, Sales Manager Nicolle Olness and Sales and Operations Specialist Kristy Herubin.
PEOPLE & PLACES From page 13 meter wheelchair dashes. Aiden Gravelle of LCWMNicollet placed second and James Hagen of Sleepy Eye Unified placed third in both races. In the discus, Luke Johnson of Medford, Gravelle and Ben Bode of St. Peter won the top three spots. Defending state champion Lilly Stiernagle, Maple River, reclaimed her discus throw crown. In Class AA competition, Ben Mathiowetz, New Ulm, won the discus throw. In other tournaments, athletes compete in the CI division for cognitive disabilities and in the PI division for physical disabilities. The exception is bowling, where athletes on the autism spectrum also have their own division. The winner’s circle had a familiar look at the end of the state softball tournament at Coon Rapids High School, with repeat champions. Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound Westonka recorded a 4-1 victory over Anoka-Hennepin for the PI crown. It was the second consecutive title for the Robins and their eighth since 2009. The Robins are the most successful adapted sports program in the state. Dakota United took third place with a 10-8 victory over Rochester. In the consolation final, Mounds View/ Irondale/Roseville won a 5-4 victory over St. Paul Humboldt. Other teams in the tournament were Osseo and Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville/New Prague. Members of the Wells Fargo All-Tournament PI Team are St. Paul Humboldt: Ana Yonkers-Zimmerman; Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville: Grant Drew; Dakota United: Riley Wisniewski and Samuel Gerten; Rochester: Blake Hillman and Julian Stacy; Anoka-Hennepin: Tyler Ezell, Cole Andrzcyzak and Garmen Neal; and Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound Westonka: Hayley Engebretson, Calvin Gerdt and Vincent Luu. St. Cloud Area won the state CI championship for the second consecutive season with an 8-6 victory in an eightinning, come from behind victory over Chaska/Chanhassen/ Prior Lake/Shakopee in the championship game. In the CI tournament, South Washington County raced to a 22-10 victory over North Suburban for third place. In the consolation final, Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville recorded a 19-8 victory over South Suburban in six innings. Other teams in the tournament were New Prague and Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville. Members of the Wells Fargo All-Tournament CI Team are South Suburban: Isaac Honold; Burnsville/ Farmington/Lakeville: Natalya Rawley; North Suburban: Kevin Beaupre and Austin Motzko; South Washington County: Bryce Smith and Katie Sexton; Chaska/ Chanhassen/Prior Lake/Shakopee: Tyler Johnson, Teejon Gilliam and Austin Moore; and St. Cloud Area: Brian Jones, Dayton Wientjes and Jordan Williams. The bowling tournament, held at Bowlero in Brooklyn Park, ended with 12 champions. This tournament draws dozens of athletes and is very popular. Hopkins won the CI title, North St. Paul topped the PI field and Alexandria won the ASD crown. The Hopkins Royals squad of Sam Roles, Holden Frasee, Cole Knoploh and Charles Strozinsky rolled a combined score of 1,788 to capture the CI team crown. Fellow Royals took second and North St. Paul was third. North St. Paul captured the PI team championship thanks to a Polars squad of Max LeMay, Andrew Peabody, Christian Sellie and Debie Morales-Campos. The team tallied 1,625 pins. Alexandria took second and Albany placed third. Alexandria Area won the team title in the ASD Division with a score of 1,685 to narrowly defeat Mankato West by just four pins. The champions are Brendan Fuoss, Ty Burg, Joe Mello and Marcus Decker. Wayzata/ Minnetonka finished third. Ten individual titles were won as well, including two by Simley’s Emily Rettinger. She earned a state title in the girls’ singles of the PI Division and then teamed with Brianna Richter to win the PI doubles title. In PI girls’ singles, Rettinger won over teammate Richter. St. Paul Central’s Emma Fuller was third. Crystal Krohnfeldt, Alexandria Area, won the gold medal in CI singles. St. Michael-Albertville’s Brieanna
Brennan placed second and Mahtomedi’s Phoebe Taylor was third. In the ASD Singles Division, Anoka-Hennepin’s Hanna Naffziger won the gold medal. Albany’s Tristyn Gienger was runner-up. Princeton’s Victoria Greenway placed third. In CI boys’ singles, Princeton’s Dylan Glammeier topped St. Michael-Albertville’s Derek Vetsch to win the gold medal by two pins. St. Paul Johnson’s Marcus Flockencier was third. In PI boys’ singles, Simley’s Dallas Filek won top honors. St. Paul Como Park’s Two Thousand placed second and Simley’s Thomas Juneau was third. In the ASD Division, St. Paul Highland Park’s Titus Natala captured the boys’ singles championship. Princeton’s Ryan Hoeft was second and Anoka-Hennepin’s Owen McKinney placed third. It was a battle between St. Paul City Conference teams in CI doubles. Harding’s Trinity Smith and Cortney Bryant defeated Como Park’s Sar Lay Htoo and Heh Ku Htoo. In the PI doubles event, Simley’s Richter and Rettinger recorded a 10-pin victory over teammates Dallas Filek and Thomas Juneau. In the ASD Division of the doubles tournament, St. Paul Highland Park’s Hagop Mekaterian and Bao Nguyen cruised to victory. North Branch eighth-graders Matthew Fox and Aiden Black were runners-up.
Anderson ends long career
Mary Anderson has devoted more than 40 years working with people with disabilities. Her July 2 retirement marks the end of an era. For the past five years, Anderson served as director of Rise’s CIP Coon Rapids Day Training and Habilitation and Mary Anderson Supported Employment Services in Anoka County. The North Dakota native was inspired by her younger brother Mark, who has Down’s syndrome. Anderson came to the Twin Cities after graduating from North Dakota State University. Her career has included many years with Community Connection Partnership (CCP), where she became executive director and led the organization for 21 years. Anderson then joined Rise, Inc. “I wanted to come work for Rise because it has such a great reputation statewide and nationally and is known for being at the forefront of progressive program development and delivery,” she said. “I have enjoyed my time here.” She described Rise as a “very positive, collaborative environment.” In 2011, Rise recognized Anderson as its “Outstanding Community Partner of the Year,” honoring her 15 years’ service as a volunteer on Rise’s Human Rights Committee, of which she served as chair. CCP worked collaboratively with Rise in the development of services for some of the last individuals to leave the regional treatment centers in the mid-1990s. “I have known and worked with Mary on state and local issues for many years,” said Rise President Lynn Noren. “I have always admired her professional, compassionate dedication to people facing challenges and her ability to look at ‘big pictures’ and develop realtime solutions leading to positive changes. She is wellrespected across the state and I was so happy when she came to work for Rise five years ago. Our DTH team members and the people we serve have benefitted greatly from her experience and expertise.” In retirement, Anderson plans to spend more time on her family’s North Dakota farm. She also hopes to work with her brother on his art projects. She will continue to serve on boards and committees, offering professional expertise to improve the lives of people with disabilities throughout the state of Minnesota. ■
REGIONAL NEWS From page 6 walkers in there,” Carlson said. “I've gotten several from nursing homes. I contact their maintenance department and ask them if they have any old wheelchairs that nobody is using.” (Source: Mankato Free Press)
MNLARS problems continuing
Minnesota’s beleaguered computer system for vehicle titles and tabs won’t be fixed before the agencies responsible for it run out of money. Money to fix the troubled system was vetoed this spring when Gov. Mark Dayton rejected a supplemental budget bill. State officials are continuing to scrutinize the system, known as MNLARS. They were told in June that without money to fix problems, the earliest any fixes could take place is after the Minnesota Legislature meets in 2019. State workers and contractors are scrambling to fix the highest-priority things. But it’s unclear which problems will be fixed, and which will be left until funding becomes available. One struggle is for those who need disability license plates, Transferring specialized license plates, including wheelchair-emblazoned plates for the disabled, is still not possible. People who want or need such plates can still get them, but they have to be new plates. Sometimes this means paying more. Dana Bailey, executive director of projects and initiatives for MNIT, Minnesota’s information technology department, said that she doesn’t know when this will be changed — or if it will be done before the money runs out. License center workers still can’t fix mistakes they catch while double-checking their work. The new upgrade helps this: License center workers can call a “liaison,” a state worker at the Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services Division, and the liaison can correct the error immediately. However, that call can include hold times of half an hour — and the worker and the customer just have to stand there and wait. License center workers — often known as deputy registrars — have been asking for this editing ability since the system was first launched, but they haven’t gotten it. (Source: Pioneer Press)
OPPORTUNITIES From page 12 VOLUNTEER READERS SOUGHT Volunteers are a valuable resource at Radio Talking Book, broadcasting local news and information programs to blind and print-impaired listeners from sites in Duluth, Fergus Falls, Grand Rapids, Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and the Communication Center in St. Paul. The goal is to provide accurate and timely information to thousands of listeners throughout Minnesota and across the nation. FFI: Roberta Kitlinski, 651-539-1423 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 2-3 hours a week and help people expand their opportunities and change their lives through education. Provides training and support and accommodations for volunteers with disabilities. FFI: Allison, 651-2519110, volunteer@mnliteracy.org, http://tinyurl.com/adult-opportunities
Executive Director – MNsure $110,198 - $157,678 annual This is an opportunity to provide executive leadership to a dynamic and evolving area of health care access, health insurance policy and operations. The job offers a great opportunity to work with Minnesota’s health insurance advocates, build relationships with industry leaders and communicate with a broad group of stakeholders. MNsure is located in downtown St. Paul near public transportation. MNsure is Minnesota’s health insurance exchange/marketplace where individuals, families and small business can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs. Through the MNsure exchange, financial help is available to lower the cost of monthly insurance premium and out of pocket costs for eligible persons. For more information about MNsure, visit www.mnsure.org. The Executive Director reports to the MNsure Board of Directors and its CEO and is responsible for all its operations. Lead and work closely with MNsure staff and MNsure Board of Directors to set and execute the operations of MNsure. This position will set strategic priorities for MNsure and ensure successful implementation. To view the complete description, visit www.mn.gov/careers Job ID 24637. MNsure is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action, veteran friendly employer.
CLASSIFIEDS
PEOPLE & PLACES
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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. Find your new home with At Home Apartments. Call 651-224-1234 or visit AtHomeApartments. com for an apartment or town home. Equal Opportunity Housing. Classified rates: $15 for the first 18 words and 65¢ per word thereafter. Classified ads prepaid. Mail to: Access Press, Capitol Ridge Inn Offices; 161 St. Anthony Ave; #910; St. Paul, MN 55103; Phone: 651-644-2133; Fax 651-644-2136; Email: access@accesspress.org
July 10, 2018 Volume 29, Number 7
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