April 2000 Issue

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Inside Legislative Update — p. 6

Volume 11, Number 4

Art Of The Eye — Page 8

SOURCES

April 10, 2000

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“Respect is based on justice.”

— Dick Gregory

RESOURCES

April 10, 2000

RALLY AT THE CAPITOL Hundreds Gather To Ask “Who Cares”

by Charlie Smith

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he Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN CCD) handed out a pink flier at a rally at the capitol Rotunda on March 22.

In large, bold type, the flier asked, “Who Cares?”

Caregivers and advocates gather at the Capitol rotunda on March 22.

Clothes With Style Student Designs Fashions For Mobility Impaired Women

by Christine Tomlinson

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any a shopping spree has been stretched interminably by the quest for the perfect fit. Dressing rooms are laden with discarded sizes.

It seems that finding a fit is bound to inspire a fit sooner or later.

Clothing options don’t often heed the vast differences in the modern body shape, especially for anyone with a special need—be it a dexterity issue, the use of crutches, or simply being seated in a wheelchair most of the day.

Design student Jennifer Stahlberg plans to present some solutions to the everyday problems of fit and fashion for someone with mobility issues in her senior fashion show at the University of Minnesota Department of Design Housing and Apparel.

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Stahlberg first began to consider the design challenge after she was injured in a car accident. She became more acutely aware of the feel of fabrics on sensitive skin and the difficulties in working with certain types of clothing. “It could literally ruin my day if something was poking me,” she said.

Ultimately she plans to develop clothing that is both stylish and adaptable to certain mobility needs for the population of people with disabilities, people with temporary conditions and older adults. She will begin with her senior show, which takes standards of fashion and cuts them a new pattern.

“The industry is still relying on things that were developed in the 40’s,” says Stahlberg,

for sizing standards that don’t recognize the evolution of body shape and different abilities. Based on a study of army wives, a predominantly young and predominantly white group, the sizing standards were set in the 40’s and have not been revisited since. The population now embodies the sizes and shapes of a variety of cultures, lifestyles and disability issues. Stahlberg says the standards are due for revision.

The technology now available, in 3D imaging and computerized applications is exciting, says Stahlberg, especially for people with different needs. New technology also abounds in synthetic fibers and fabrics that mimic natural fibers, but are washable, treatable for stain resistance, duFashion - cont. on p. 3

“Who cares for people with disabilities?” the flier continued. “Staff care! But unfortunately, in today’s economy, many direct care staff simply cannot afford to remain in their jobs because the pay and benefits are too low. This means that there is high turnover and vacancies in these essential programs.”

in nursing homes.

Jeff Bangsberg and Bruce Nelson, representing the CCD, led the rally, explaining the issue and occasionally leading the assembled in a chant of “What do we want? We want COLA! When do we want it? Now!” They also introduced speakers from the House and Senate.

“Unfortunately, in today’s economy, many direct care staff simply cannot afford to remain in their jobs because the pay and Approximately 300 people benefits are too low.” converged on the capital rotunda to attend a rally sponsored by the MN CCD. The intention of the rally was to challenge legislators to admit that they are not budgeting enough money for important programs for people with disabilities. Everyone had gathered to garner support for the cost-of-living increase (COLA) for direct care workers, expansion of the prescription drug program and an increase of the income standard for people with disabilities living on Social Security and not working. Direct care workers include Personal Care Attendants (PCA), group home workers and people who work

The first speaker was Senate majority leader Roger Moe, who told the crowd he was very supportive of the issues and understood the workforce crisis facing direct care workers. He said that he was very happy to see such a large crowd turn out for the event, and he urged them to let the governor know how important this issue is.

Senator Moe was followed by Senator Don Samulson chair of the Health and Human Service Finance committee, who said that including the 3 percent COLA in the Health and

(L to R) Bruce Nelson, Bev Tomkins, Jeff Bangsbergm Bill Blom and Pam Weaver.

Human Services bill was a necessary step toward raising the wages of direct care workers. Next to speak was Representative Kevin Good-no, chair of the Health and Human Service Finance committee, who also stressed the importance of raising wages.

Representative Jim Abler, sponsor of the expansion of the prescription drug program, closed by saying that he felt this expansion was extremely important to people with disabilities. He encouraged the crowd to build a relationship with their senators and representatives by meeting them face-to-face at any opportunity and by contacted them on a regular basis. By doing so, disabled voters can inform the legislature of the importance of certain issues.

Abler explained that it is harder for legislators to vote against an issue once they have understanding of the needs of their constituents.

During the rally, the MN CCD gathered signatures on a petition to encourage the governor to sign the Health and Human Services Omnibus bill, which will include the COLA expansion of the Senior Drug Program and an increase of the income standard for people with disabilities on Social Security. It is expected that Governor Ventura will veto this bill because of Pro-Life amendments and increased spending that the bill requires.

After the rally, a group of about 25 people went down to the governor’s office and presented the petition to Pam Weaver and Bev Tomkins, who are staff members for the governor. Tomkins informed the assembled group that Gov-

Capitol - cont. on p. 3

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April 10, 2000

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Charlie Smith Editor

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s we go to press the conference committees at the legislature are meeting to rash out the differences between the House and Senate bills. In a year where our state has a $1.8 billion surplus, it seems like there should be more than enough money to go around. Yet programs such as the expansion of the senior drug program to cover people with disabilities and raising the income standard for people who live on Social Security are not even in the Senate Health and Human Services bill. The crazy part of

all of this is that we’re not talking about hundreds of millions of dollars. The combined priced tag for these bills is in the neighborhood of $19 million dollars. The raising of the income standard means that people who are living on $467 would see any increase to $484 per month, and then these people would also be able to get a cost of living increase each year the same way as

people who receive Social Security supplemental income (SSI). This sure doesn’t seem like very much, but it can make a big difference for somebody living at the poverty level. The expansion of the senior drug program could have a huge impact on the lives of people with disabilities; it really can mean the difference between life and death for many people.

These people are choosing between buying expensive drugs and having food in their house. Again, this program is not funded in the Senate bill. If these programs are not funded this year, our legislators and the governor should be ashamed of themselves. The governor has stated that he only wants to see spending bills this year when there’s a crisis. Governor, I would say this is a crisis for many

Benefit For Wilderness Inquiry S

inger/composer Kim Richey will present a benefit concert at the Cedar Cultural Centre, 416 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2000.

credit, Richey is no stranger to the music business. Not only did she write the entirety of her recordings, but she co-wrote two hit recordings; “Nobody Wins” for Radney Foster and Grammy nominated “Believe With two critically acclaimed me Baby (I Lied)” for Trisha full-length records and two Yearwood. number one singles to her

MINNESOTA STATE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY Applicants sought for the Minnesota Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities (MNYLF 2000) Selected MNYLF student delegates are high school juniors and seniors who demonstrate: Community Involvement, Involvement in extracurricular activities (sports, arts, music), Leadership potential, Academic achievement, An ability to effectively interact with other students The MNYLF 2000 will be housed at the University of Minnesota July 23-27, and will include activities at the State Capitol along with recreational activities. For an application or more information contact our office.

121 E. 7th Place • St. Paul, MN 55101 651-296-6785 V/TTY 1-800-945-8913 V/TTY; Fax: 651-296-5935 E-mail: council.disability@state.mn.us

The evening includes a pre-show reception with the artist (tickets $50, space limited), a concert featuring songs from Richey’s new album Glimmer (tickets for concert only are $20), and a silent auction with one-of-a-kind items from today’s biggest musical stars.

You may bid on these items starting April 19 on the eBay charity Website at www.pages. eBay.com/charity.

Proceeds from the evening will benefit Wilderness Inquiry, a non-profit organization whose mission is to integrate people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities through the medium of outdoor education. and adventure experiences. Persons served include those with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.

people with disabilities.

ability against another. Again, when filling positions that are Governor this is another crisis going vacant. What these The other issue facing many and you should sign this bill. employers are finding now is people with disabilities is the that people with disabilities workforce crisis. People who make great employees. **** rely on direct care workers to live. Rep. Kevin Goodno has The Medical Assistance for Typically, people with distaken a position that personal Employed Persons with Dis- abilities rely on a number of care attendants (PCA) deserve abilities (MA-EPD) program is government-funded proa 5 percent cost a living in- a huge success. People with grams, such as Social Secucrease (COLA). He has looked disabilities are going to work in rity, section 8 housing and at the hourly wage that PCA’s record numbers. The Depart- medical assistance. All of receive vs. people who work in ment of Human Services un- these programs are inter-congroup homes or nursing derestimated the number of nected and earning income homes. His conclusion was people who would want take will affect each other. Since that the PCA’s hourly rate is advantage of this program. The many people with disabilities much lower, therefore his pro- latest numbers I have: as of are going to work for the first posal would narrow this in- December 31st over 3,100 time, or are returning after a come gap. I believe he has a people are enrolled in the MA- long absence, DHS would like valid point, but this year we EPD program. DHS didn’t ex- make sure you understand really should be looking at rais- pect to reach this number until how going to work is going to ing the hourly rate for all. Next 2002. The record low unem- affect these different proyear, when the legislature has ployment rate has helped grams. On page 7, DHS has more time, this issue should be people with disabilities. Em- written a brief article explaindiscussed and we need to be ployers are now forced to con- ing some of these issues. careful not pit one type of dis- sider people with disabilities

Book Review

New Book For Caregivers

by Linda Larson

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at Samples’s Daily Comforts for Caregivers is a book compiled of short thoughts and a quote of the day for each day, for a year.

The topic of caregiving is complex, with subtleties as varied as each caregiver. In perusing the book, I felt that the author touched on many concerns caregivers have. A few topics that impressed me were: privacy, receiving care, a breaking point, asking permission, boundaries, community support, creating a record, guilt, health regimen, jealousy, money decisions, rules of the system, and sudden sadness.

Ms. Samples had some great suggestions. Envision a knapsack and what you, as a caregiver, might need. Suggestions were keeping a journal, keeping memories you and your loved one share, remembering to rest, exercise, eat well, spend time with friends, do activities which replenish you, just to touch on a few. Other thoughts reflected on how to

set boundaries with professionals, volunteers, family and friends. Others helped to speak about the unspeakable, sadness, anger, how the body of a loved one may change, death, feeling trapped; being embarrassed by a loved ones’ behavior. The author suggested that this book be used as a point of discussion with other caregivers, friends, or family members.

cific Was the author speaking from the viewpoint of caring for a parent who was aging, or was the author expressing a parents’ concern about an adult child who has a mental illness, or was the viewpoint of a parent with a young child with a disability, caring for other children as well? How does ones’ culture, sex, ability, age and class affect how one reacts to different issues?

These topics are pressing issues for caregivers. Ms. Samples does state that the book is merely meant to be a quick reflection in ones’ day. I feel that the topics and the persons whose’ lives are affected by these issues, deserve much, much more. There is a lack of organization of these topics, which makes it nearly impossible to reflect upon how these topics intertwine in ones’ life. The writing style is repetitive and mundane. It is very “I” centered. I also felt that the author, in trying to be inclusive, ended up being non-spe-

I have grave concern for some issues that need and deserve thoughtful discussion and immediate attention: addiction and/or depression of a caregiver/carereceiver, and loss of faith.

Benefit tickets are $20 for general admission and $50 for VIP seating and a pre-show reception with the artist. Call Wilderness Inquiry, 612/379-3858 or the Cedar Cultural Centre at 612/338-2674 for ticket reservations. Q "...the compassionate mom-substitute every caregiver needs."

-Bowen White, M.D., Preventive Medicine

Daily Comforts for Caregivers

by Pat Samples

ACCESS PRESS Co-Founder/Publisher (1990-1996) ................................................................... Wm. A. Smith, Jr. Editor/Publisher/Co-Founder ............................................................................. Charles F. Smith Cartoonist ..................................................................................................................... Scott Adams Production .......................................................................... Presentation Images, Ellen Houghton Editorial Assistant ....................................................................................................... Max Sparber ACCESS PRESS is a monthly tabloid newspaper published for persons with disabilities by Access Press, Ltd. Circulation is 11,000, distributed the 10th of each month through more than 200 locations statewide. Approximately 650 copies are mailed directly to political, business, institutional and civic leaders. Subscriptions are available for $15/yr.

Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed.

Paid advertising is available at rates ranging from $14 to $18/column inch, depending on size and frequency.

Classified ads are $8.00, plus 35 cents/word over 20 words.

Advertising and editorial deadlines are the 30th of the month preceding publication; special scheduling available for camera-ready art.

Access Press is available on tape. Call MN State Services for the Blind, 651-642-0500 or 800-652-9000.

Inquiries should be directed to: ACCESS PRESS • 1821 University Ave. W. • Suite 185N • St. Paul, Minnesota 55104 • (651) 644-2133 • Fax (651) 644-2136 • E-mail: access@wavetech.net.

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ISBN: 1-57749-088-6 • $10.95

This book has potential if it were organized days into weeks, weeks into months, months into seasons, and seasons into a year. Sharing personal stories of caregivers and carereceivers would have been preferred over the same “I” approach in every thought. The choosing of daily quotes should have come from diverse backgrounds as well. I realize that much thought and time was put into compiling this book. Indeed, I have a hard time in being critical. Daily Comforts of Caregivers is a timely topic. I feel that it just didn’t live up to the potential it has. Q

Fairview Press call: (800) 544-8207 • fax: (612) 672-4980 • visit: www.amazon.com

Linda Larson freelance reviewer caregiver and carereceiver.

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FASHION - Cont. from p. 1 rable and beautiful. The potential is growing for more comfortable and more custom-fit clothes.

Stahlberg shudders a bit when she begins talking about the market. Her class work included much market research, which Stahlberg says she understands, but she doesn’t want it to be the driving force in her designs. The statistics, though, speak to a market that needs attention. “There are a significant number of people with disabilities who would like to work,” she says. Seventy eight percent would like to work, but only about 35 percent do, for a variety of reasons, including transportation, the need for a safety net of social services funding and, often, what to wear.

“To me, there is a certain dignity in looking good,” Stahlberg asserts. “I think everybody knows this phenomenon of how you yourself act differently depending on how you’re dressed. Something as simple as putting Velcro at the back of the neck, kind of akin to a hospital gown, something as simple as that can really rob you of your dignity.”

models, each with mobility is- and determining how much sues. Stahlberg worked from movement is necessary in the the ground up to create the item. designs.

For Tiffany, closures are an Slopers are the patterns used issue, so a sweater set with to rough out the fit of the cloth- material that clings together ing. Stahlberg found that she helped avoid the issue. For had to work so much to modify Lisa, a professional silk jacket the slopers she found in regu- is adorned with large buttons lar patterns, it was best to cre- with a horizontal buttonhole ate custom slopers for her de- so the button won’t pop open, signs, a process that added and enough space to easily fit considerable time and effort to the button into the hole. The her project, but one on which jacket is roomy enough in the she can build in the future. In arms to accommodate her working with crutches’ wrist holds. Lisa’s the slopers pants are a dip front sailor pant out of patwith pockets diagonal to the tern books, waist, as side angle pockets Stahlberg are more difficult to slide a hand found that into. certain One of the most basic, and universally helpful design modifications for someone who uses a wheelchair is the low front, high back pant, that doesn’t bunch in the front, and provides for greater comfort in a length of time in the chair.

Stahlberg says four inches from the front to the back would make a world of difference.

Stahlberg plans to create a line of patterns from which she can style clothing that accommodates a variety of mobility issues. She plans to market the line in the Minneapolis area when she finishes school.

Stahlberg wants to create simple designs that are appropriate for business, and for fun, but that also make a person’s available dexterity work.

Sometimes the simplicity of a solution is stunning. Holding up a sleek black jacket lined in hounds tooth, with a needle still dangling from the thread, Stahlberg demonstrated the movement of the raglan sleeves, and the ease of a one button closure, which will be positioned on the right for its model, Linda, who has greater mobility with her left arm. Right over left closures isn’t usually done in women’s clothing. So, the solution for Linda means venturing from those existing standards.

Stahlberg is designing for five models who will appear in the April show. She is tailoring the designs specifically for the

April 10, 2000

IN BRIEF . . . .

Disabled Playwrights Award The 2000 VSA Arts Playwright cans with Disabilities Act. A For information, call or write Discovery Award invites promising writer with disabilities to explore the human experience of living with a disability through the creation of a dramatic work for the stage. You are eligible if you have a disability as defined by the Ameri-

monetary award, an expensespaid trip to see your play in a staged reading or full production at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts an Washington D.C., and a meeting with out distinguished Artists Selection Committee.

TASH, an international disability rights and advocacy organization and Music From the Heart, an independent publisher of advocacy-oriented music, announce the release of their new CD, See How Far We’ve Come, a retrospective on the last quarter century of

progress in the disability rights movement. This debut collection of spoken word and music selections incorporates the stirring and memorable oratory of Justin Dart, an internationally prominent leader within the disability rights movement, with the songs and poetry of

Jeff Moyer, a leading songwriter, musician, and disability rights activist. CDs and cassettes are available through TASH, 410-828-8274, ext. 108 or e-mail Jaime Cherry at jcherry@tash.org.

Hospice: A Photographic Inquiry Hospice care, offering physi- Museum on May 20 and run- pice Foundation. cal, emotional and spiritual assistance to terminally ill people and their families, is the subject of a unique photographic exhibition opening at the Frederick R. Weisman Art

ning through August 13, 2000.

Hospice: A Photographic Inquiry was organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in collaboration with the National Hos-

The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum is located at 333 East River Road, Minneapolis. For more information call (612) 6259494.

Wings Annual Spring Retreat This year’s topics: Prayer Be the Best You Can Be! Our annual Spring Retreat will be on April 15, 2000. The Bible study will be led by Pastor Brett Miller, pastor of Southeast Christian Church.

There will be a time of small group discussion after the message to share how we can use this teaching in our lives to best serve God. A light lunch will be served.

CAPITOL - Cont. from p. 1

ernor Ventura has been getting letters and telephone calls encouraging him to sign the bill. At this point, the office is keeping track of the number of letters that they receive, and suggested that if Ventura receives enough letters it may Stahlberg considers the tem- sway his decision regarding perature of a fabric for the individual’s comfort. She works with specific dexterity issues, determining which side in which to focus the fasteners, deciding on the appropriate size and type of fastener

the Playwrights Discovery Award, VSA arts, 1300 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036; 1800-933-8721 (phone), (202) 737-0645 (TTY), (202) 737-0725 (Fax). Submissions must be postmarked by May 1, 2000

New Disability Rights CD

Saturday, April 15, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the GMAE Headquarters. Free will offering; RSVP: MANDATORY by The fashion show will be held April 12. Call Wings at (612) 866-0462 at 3:00 p.m. on April 16th at the and speak to Maynard or Mark; or Ted Mann Theater at the Uni- leave a message with the receptionist. versity of Minnesota. Q Wings is a ministry of and for adults with physical disabilities. things were consistently changing. “I was always moving the shoulders forward. The manual chair users would have the bigger muscles. Even the power chair users see that problem,” she said. “Or the dart shape would be so far off it would create this odd shape.”

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whether or not to veto the bill.

Governor Ventura can be telephoned at (651) 296-3391. Letters to the governor should be addressed to Office of the Governor, 130 State Capitol, St. Paul MN 55155. Q

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April 10, 2000

Religion And Disability

Disability Culture

Today’s Meditation: Psalm 23 Museums Have A Lot To THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT. The LORD is my Shepherd. He, is a God who loves, who is our Shepherd, He is a God who knows all we go through, that is out guide, He is a God who is powerful, who is at our side.

The Lord is MY Shepherd. The Lord is YOUR Shepherd, He knows me. He knows you. He knows what we can be and loves us now where we are at.

He leads us uniquely and maybe much differently than others. Because God knows us and loves us, we shall not want.

God provides for all of our needs. If we desire more, we need only ask.

HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES. Being grateful for the gifts we have is sometimes difficult, Sometimes we just don’t see them. But when we really look around, we see how many them are. Gifts of friends, opportunities, creation, rest and many more. Many gifts surround us and are a part of the green pastures given us. Can you name the gifts you have? All of us have things to be grateful for from our loving God HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATER. HE RESTORES MY SOUL. God leads us to peace. Sometimes we find that still water with someone else. Maybe we find it in a place, or a moment we can take to calm down.

Sometimes we discover it within. God leads us then to be refreshed, to renew, to readjust, rejuvenate and to restore us. God brings us to life with a flower sent by a friend, a card, a visit, a book read, or by a smile from a staff member. It was God who lifted our spirits.

HEGUIDESMETHROUGH THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. He guides me and He guides you in right paths, because He is a wise Shepherd, We might question the path, because we can’t see down the read. But He knows what He is doing.

We will arrive safety and at the best place. Let’s entrust our lives in confidence to the One who loves us, and we will be led He will bring us to Himself.

ALTHOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH I FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE BESIDE ME. In our painful days, we walk with God at our side. That is what God, our friend, would want. It is not God who causes this suffering. But it is God who wants to be with us as we go through it. If we know a loving God gives us the strength to live through our dark days, we can give over our fears to this God who is with us. He does not promise us that suffering will not come to us. But He says He will be with us always. We do not have to feel God is present. He promised He would be. He understands suffering. He sent His son Jesus who suffered on the cross for us. Jesus knew suffering and Jesus said “I am with you always.”

YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF ARE THERE TO COMFORT ME. What are the rod and staff that God gives to us in our life to comfort us? Is it people we love and who love us? Is it a staff person who is loving and careful in our needs? Is it the skilled doctors and nurses caring for us? Maybe it is a word from a therapist or even a stranger we meet. The rod and staff can be the Word of God, our faith, and prayer sustaining us throughout out days

and nights. What are those supports we receive, that comfort us in times of need?

YOU PREPARE A TABLE FOR ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY FOES. God has a place Prepared for each of us. He wants us with Him there. All the dinners and celebrations we have ever attended could not compare to what God has prepared for those who love Him. Even the obstacles in our lives we not big enough to deter us from this being with God and all of God’s family at this banquet.

We are invited as we are, the person we were created. We belong there and ate being led there.

YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL. MY CUP IS OVERFLOWING. God is our healer. Even inspire of illness and disease, inside we am being healed and readied for God. Being anointed and chosen as Gods people is a great privilege. Our cup is overflowing. God blesses us over and over daily.

GOODNESS AND KINDNESS WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. God is our Shepherd for life. It will never stop that God is with us, guiding us, and showing us His love. Let us be open and watch for how God is leading us today - We will see it when we ask for this grace.

I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AS LONG AS I LIVE. God is leading me, God is leading you home. We will continue to be with God just as we have been close, to Him on earth. What a Good Shepherd.

Let’s continue to listen and follow how He leads, trusting in His love. Q

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Learn From The Field Of Disability Studies

by Simi Linton [This is the secomd part of a two part series started 3/00 ] ome renovations of muse ums have been successful in bringing in disabled and nondisabled visitors in meaningful ways. The recent renovation at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, housed in a New York mansion that once belonged to Andrew Carnegie, has been hailed as a model of providing accessibility in landmark buildings.

While designers might have complied with building codes by putting a ramp off to the side or by providing an entrance through another part of the building, at the CooperHewitt they integrated the ramp into the existing entrance, and all visitors enter through the front door. The social meaning of this is powerful to those of us used to being shunted off to the back door. Further, the design allows all visitors to see the exhibits in the same order.

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Another example is in Paris, at the architecturally controversial glass pyramid that I.M. Pei designed to create a new main entrance to the Louvre. It is not controversial to me. I think the pyramid integrates the different elements of the museum, as well as integrates the visitors.

The wheelchair user enters the pyramid along with other visitors, and straight ahead is a platform that is an extension of the floor of the vestibule. The platform is, in fact, an open-air lift that descends in the middle of a grand spiral staircase. It can hold four or five people, wheelchair users as well as anyone who would be discomfited by stairs or escalators — someone pushing a stroller, using crutches, or just feeling tired. As I ride down the lift, I see what those walking down the stairs around me see, and we see each other. Unlike the wheelchair lifts on city buses, which tend to be used only by

people with specific mobility impairments, this one creates fluid access for all. Further, while the lift is an explicit and conspicuous access feature, as rendered it is also a beautiful architectural feature.

There are numerous examples of such shifts in the physical terrain of museums, and in the communications systems that have increased access for people who are blind or deaf.

While some of the changes have been made purely to satisfy legal mandates, others speak of institutional commitments to welcome a wide audience. Yet — while those endeavors are guided by ideas about disability and disabled people — little has been done in mainstream cultural institutions to examine those ideas in exhibits.

Basing museum projects on such new perspectives on disability can mean tackling difficult — often-contentious — questions. For example, just what is the significance of the new content, how does the presentation of art or artifacts influence social practices, and what is the museum’s role in shaping those ideas? Similar questions emerged at the National Museum of American History when curators contemplated an exhibition planned around Ed Roberts’s wheelchair.

demic history as it is an exemplar of a particular type of medical technology. Roberts was heralded by many as the preeminent leader of the socialjustice movement that has increased the integration of disabled people into American society. He had contracted polio as a young boy, was quadriplegic, and used a motorized wheelchair with a portable respirator attached to it.

His career as an activist began in 1962, when he lobbied the University of California at Berkeley to admit him. Although a dean told him, “We’ve tried cripples before and it didn’t work,” the university decided to allow him in as an “experiment.” A local newspaper ran the headline “Helpless Cripple Goes to School.” Ed Roberts lived at a hospital on the campus, because dormitory floors were not strong enough to support the 800-pound iron lung that he slept in.

He completed undergraduate and master’s degrees in political science, and began work on his doctorate. He did not complete that degree, but went on to be one of the founders, and then the director, of the first independent-living centers for disabled people in the United States. Later, he became the director of the California Department of Rehabilitation, an agency that had once called him too disabled to be rehabilitated. He received a MacArthur fellowship, awarded to “geniuses,” and traveled throughout the United States and the world to work for disability rights. Ed married, had a son, and was a charismatic and often outrageous public figure.

They debated whether to highlight the chair as a personal artifact of a leader of the disability-rights movement, a venerated symbol that honors disabled people like Roberts; to feature it as an artifact primarily of interest to medical historians; or to use it to explain One of Ed Roberts’s legacies, significant social history. and an idea that drives the disability-rights movement, is The museum’s staff members the importance of the active have come to realize that the voice and leadership of dischair is as significant a piece of abled people in matters that social, civil-rights, and aca- concern us. Debates have raged in museums and academic institutions over who can speak and teach about disability. A recent “Point of View” Metropolitan Area Transit, Inc. column in The Chronicle (“Whose Field Is It, Anyway?

SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION Disability Studies in the AcadPROVIDER emy,” by Leonard Cassuto) highlighted just how fraught “On Time Every Time the issue can be. The piece or we will buy you lunch” questioned whether scholars call for details should disclose their own status as a disabled or non-disabled person. I, and others who contributed to a heated colloMA, U-CARE, MEDICA, quy about the piece on The PRIVATE PAY, PRIVATE INSURANCE Chronicle’s Web site, pointed **Standing Orders ** Group Charters

M.A.T.

(612) 379-4107

Culture - cont. on p. 5

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Hello Nicole: Dear Nicole,

yourself a break and give your- your need for patience with self credit for dealing with such your family in as calm and lovI have been newly diagnosed a difficult situation. ing a way possible. Let them with MS. I have been fighting hear that you understand this this disease a long time with- It takes a long time to integrate is very hard on them. Tell them out diagnosis, and it’s got me a disability into our lives. I you wish you could hurry up to the point now that it’s dan- have been disabled my entire and feel OK too! It’s so imporgerous to walk. I am having life and it’s still disappointing tant that you keep the lines of trouble accepting the walker sometimes not to be able to do communication open during and future right now. My fam- “ordinary” things. Living with this process. It may be that ily is getting impatient with me. a disability is hard, it’s incon- some family members are misAny advice to get me on track venient, it’s frustrating and it’s interpreting your emotional would be appreciated. I know scary. I think we expect too state and thinking you don’t there’s a lot of people worse much of ourselves if we be- love them the same anymore. off than I am. lieve that after a certain amount Make sure you understand of time we’re supposed to be where your family is coming Sincerely, MS levelheaded and reasonable from before you react when about accepting our disability they say things you hear as Dear MS, and all the things we cannot insensitive or impatient. Likedo. Eventually, life with MS wise, do you best to be honest Thank you for the honest let- will probably get a little easier about what is bothering you, ter. Of course you don’t want to bare. You will grow and moment to moment. Make sure to accept the walker and fu- change from this experience in you apologize if you accidenture. I don’t think you are “off ways that you cannot imagine tally treat someone unfairly track” at all for wishing things now. However, this integra- while you are in the throes of were different. tion process needs a lot of this turbulent adjustment propatience. If we try to force our- cess explain as best you can While it seems logically true selves to “accept” before we what is really bothering you. that there are people worse off are ready it will just make us than you are, the emotional feel more angry, out of control If you haven’t already, getting truth is that there is never any- and isolated. a lot of outside support would one worse off. be helpful. You need a place to Unfortunately, just as you vent and cry and share what To each of us, our own suffer- can’t force yourself to hurry you are going through with ing feels the worst. Your suf- up and feel better, your family people besides family memfering is the worst for you; my can’t force themselves to be bers. I suggest leaning as much suffering is the worst for me. patient. It’s really hard for our as you can on a support group, When we deny or belittle our loved ones to see us struggle caring counselor and friends. suffering by comparing our and suffer. Probably the reasituations with others “worse son your family wants you to —Nicole off” all we’re really doing is “accept” your situation Question? Complaint? being harsh with ourselves and quickly is so that they can relax Comment? saying, “See, you should be and feel like you’re going to be Write to Nicole: happy! What’s wrong with OK and life will take on some % Access Press, you?” It would be more helpful predictable normalcy. There’s 1821 University Ave. W, to be kind to yourself and real- nothing wrong with your fam#185 N; ize what you are going through ily wanting that, however, it is St. Paul, MN 55104; is really hard! Then instead of not realistic to expect that you HelloNicoleAccess@yahoo.com shaming yourself, you can give can simply comply. Express

CULTURE - Cont. from p. 4 out that the author’s arguments in favor of non-disclosure glossed over the history of the economic and social exclusion of disabled people, and the paternalistic agencies and agents who have traditionally spoken for us. Some of us also pointed out that recent academic theories amply demonstrate the valid use of identity and personal perspectives in scholarship.

The issue also emerged in planning the Smithsonian conference. Our committee was in general agreement that we would have significant representation of disabled people on the roster of speakers. We also discussed whether it was possible, or desirable, to explain a complex phenomenon like disability — or, for that matter, race, gender, or sexual orientation — without consideration of the political forces that affect people’s participation in the discourse about disability and its representation — and, as many believe, that shape the discourse itself.

conference, other encouraging signs exist that this obscure subject is beginning to emerge from the back wards and basements of America.

Several institutions have developed guidelines for creating accessible exhibits. Those include ways to make content accessible to people with cognitive impairments — by, for instance, providing a map that follows a narrative or sequential thread through an exhibit — and ways to provide information in more than one sensory mode for people who are deaf or blind. Guidelines at the Smithsonian go further and instruct curators on the incorporation of content as well.

The National Endowment for the Arts and state arts councils have advisory boards to assess how their grant recipients can create accessible and usable facilities and programs for all people. Last June, the N.E.A. sponsored the “National Forum on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities” to find ways to advance In addition to the Smithsonian educational and career oppor-

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tunities in the arts for people with disabilities. The National Arts and Disability Center at the University of California at Los Angeles works with arts organizations to create inclusive programs and train staff members, and provides resources and information to artists. The planned Disability History Museum and Learning Resource Center, an online service, will be the first indepth library of material on disability history. The journal Curator published two articles in 1998 on the representation of deaf history in museums.

Meanwhile, Ed Roberts’s wheelchair sits in a storage area at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, as curators wait for the go-ahead to mount an exhibit they have planned. The chair was fabricated to Ed’s specifications, using sheets of aluminum and metal bars welded together. It is a motorized chair, with a tailgate for batteries that could be slid in and out when Ed traveled by plane. It uses a standard chain drive, with go-cart sprockets in the front and back, and the

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April 10, 2000

5

On Mental Illness

No Place Like Home

by Pete Fiegal

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e with this illness fear that there will never be a place of safety and belonging for us. Our experience of belonging seems conditional on our performance. We feel as if we are valued for not making trouble and, if we amputate our hearts and feelings, we minimize our undesirability and make ourselves harmless. Only then can we take up space.

We learn to guess, try to figure our place out, try to earn it somehow. But we never really feel we’ve found it, and it seems as though we could be exiled at any moment. So we learn to grab whatever is offered, thankful for being allowed to stay somewhere, anywhere. This is how we define belonging: the temporary postponement of certain exile.

Some of us try to earn our place by being the clown, or the savior, or just invisible. We clutter our lives with these strategies for belonging, trying through some combination of performance and cleverness to make ourselves look attractive and valuable so that those who “really” belong will let us stay around. Some of us take what seems to be the only other choice: self-imposed exile.

With a good hiding place, we can simply disappear in secret, avoiding the problem altogether. Some of us hide out in our rooms, others in books, some with their pets, others retreat into television or computer games. Some choose to hide in their bodies. seat is a modified automobile seat, the sort used in Mercedes-Benz and Porsche vehicles. The most compelling feature — both for its artistry and its symbolism — is a large headlight mounted low on the chair.

When we are hiding out, waiting sometimes takes the place of belonging: waiting to be discovered, waiting to be asked in, waiting to for it to be safe, Waiting and hiding are strategies of powerlessness.

Our history as a species is filled with conflicts between people seeking a rightful place. Indians with Europeans, blacks with apartheid, Jews with Nazis, women with men, rich with poor, we have been terribly clumsy in allocating a place of safety; and we all seek refuge, a home. Even Jesus was born a refugee, homeless among his own people.

But safety and belonging are not freely granted by the world.

Millions of homeless people in our cities testify to the enduring truth of Jesus’s experience.

Millions of refugees worldwide reveal our inability or perhaps our unwillingness to provide a homeland for all our children.

Any child in pain claims kinship with all others who live in exile from true belonging. For those of us who have felt emotional exile and isolation in our lives with mental illness/brain disorders, this kinship is difficult to feel, hard to imagine.

But it lies of the heart of our Journey, When we doubt our belonging, we grow desperate, and we learn to grab almost anything—a job, a sexual partner, a gang, a therapist, a lifestyle— and make that our place of belonging. In our desperation we as sculpture, historical artifact, medical equipment, circus ride, mechanical device, or a symbol of disabled people’s struggle for rights and justice?

That is just the kind of question that museums and academic institutions are supposed to address. Q

lose both our serenity and our sensitivity to the needs of others.

Yet no other human being can provide that belonging for us.

They are not in charge of granting us a place here, our place is already given. Our challenge, our work, is to honor our place in this moment, to breathe deeply, in the unconditional gift of home.

The search for a home is an ancient spiritual metaphor. In the Hebrew story of Exodus, God saw the suffering of the Hebrew slaves and promised them an unconditional “land of milk and honey.” No matter how unfaithful or sacrilegious they proved to be along the way, no matter how much they complained about the difficulty of the journey, the gift of belonging was never taken away.

They were not given the land as a reward for their performance, they were given the land because they required a home.

The invitation to belong is made again and again, but we must be able to hear the promise and accept the gift. The journey to our home need not always lead to a separate county or place.

Sometimes it leads us to a still, small voice within our souls, a place of belonging as sure and quiet as our very breath. This search for home is essential to our healing because finding a place where they let us stay is not the some as haying a place where we belong. Q Simi Linton is the co-director of the Disability Studies Project at Hunter College of the City University of New York, a consultant on disability and the arts, and the author of Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity (New York University Press, 1998).

Will visitors perceive this work

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6

April 10, 2000

Henn. County CareS Looks At Self-Determination Model

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he Hennepin County CareS planning team continues to seek out Medical Assistance consumers and their representatives to help create a better health care delivery management system.

In studying other programs to learn better practices for consumer involvement, the Hennepin County CareS planning team reviewed the work done around self-determination for persons with developmental disabilities.

In 1997, Hennepin County brought together 300 consumers, family members and system stakeholders to talk about self-determination and the future of services for Hennepin County residents with developmental disabilities. Since that time, the County’s Developmental Disabilities Division has taken steps to implement their recommendations in a number of areas, including individualized budgets, purchasing services, case management, community networking, information/education and quality assurance.

Together, these changes are helping to give people needing services and those closest to them the tools to design

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their own support system.

In the past, too often people had to fit into what service was available. In order to design unique services, use of a planning process helps to describe desired outcomes based upon the dreams and interests of the person. From there, a variety of ways to get there are explored. Decisions about how to implement the plan are made within an assigned dollar amount that can be spent for services. There is more flexibility to use community resources, select who will provide services and decide how much they are going to pay as well as using licensed service providers.

Examples of how people are beginning to have more choices and exert more control are found in the use of fiscal intermediaries and employer of record agencies. These agencies help a person buy needed support from non-traditional sources; including hiring friends, family members or others that they interview and select. The plan developed for one person who wanted to be more active in his community and meet more people included participation in a therapeutic

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Legislative Updates

The Senate bill: horseback riding program and classes at the YMCA. A neighbor or friend may be hired to •provides per pupil funding to address the special educaaccompany them as they join a tion cross subsidy issue funscout troop, attend dance neling about $48 million to class, workout at the Y or parlocal districts. ticipate in community ed class.

•delays until July 1, 2001 the requirement that school disOngoing input from people tricts hire only American sign using services is critical. The language/English interpretDD Division has established a ers or oral or cued speech Self-Determination Advisory transliterators who hold a naCommittee and will sponsor tional certification. community forums to provide feedback and ideas. Educa- •Delays the implementation of an interagnecy coordition will continue to be a prinated service system to Janumary focus for everyone. ary 1, 2001.

The Hennepin County CareS •requires the department to conduct a study on the overplanning team is excited to learn all incidence rate of children of the innovative ways the prindiagnosed with ADD and ciples of self-determination ADHD who take prescripgive consumers greater choice tion drugs such as Ritalin. and control. The planning team will continue to both inform •permits a district to refuse to enroll a pupil under the open and seek information from conenrollment option who was sumers regarding the next planexpelled due to weapons, ning phase by quarterly newsdrugs or assault. letters and other press releases.

If you would like to receive this •requires notification when a schools will be applying a information, please call Bill pesticide. Both bills contain Blom or Julie Wegscheid at language allowing school (612) 348-2200 or TTY (612) personnel to use reasonable 596-6758. force under certain situations. This information must This column is a paid inserbe included in the district’s tion by the Hennepin County discipline policies.

CareS Planning Team Q

one time grant can be awarded to pay off or pay down loans for services for home or vehicle modifications that would have been covered by the waiver, if the family had a DD Information provided by Sue waiver slot. Funds would be available if the family is offered Aberholden, Pacer Center a waiver slot but may decline due to the outstanding loan.

Family Support Grant HF2670/SF 2566 The second bill requires DHS This bill deals with the Family to develop specific legislative Support grant program, which recommendations for the 2001 is a program, designed to as- legislative session regarding sist families so they can con- the transfer of public guardtinue to raise their child with ianship responsibilities. Curdisabilities in their home. rently the commissioner is rePeople on this program receive sponsible for this function for a monthly cash grant to pay for about 4700 state wards that services not covered by medi- have developmental disabilical assistance. If a family is on ties. The commissioner delthis program it cannot receive egates the task to counties who waived services. Some people most often delegate it to the have turned down waiver slots person’s casemanager. The because they’ve used this casemanager is in a delicate grant to pay for home or ve- situation because she must hicle modifications and need always consider the ward’s the monthly grant to make on- best interest, while reporting to a county that wants her to going payments. control costs. This bill HF This bill has passed both bod- 2671\SF 2567 has passed both ies and is on the way to the bodies. There are differences Governor’s office. It has been in the bill so it will go to conferamended since introduction. ence committee.

The Final language requires DHS to set aside funds within Info. from Bob Brick of ARC existing appropriations so a Update - cont. on p. 7 Advocates are focusing on calls to the Governor and representatives to support increased funds for special education.

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April 10, 2000

7

Important Info For MA-EPD Enrollers T

he Minnesota Department of Human Services reminds Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) enrollees of the following.

Report Your Earnings to Other Government Programs While MA-EPD allows you to earn any amount, this is not true for other government programs. If you receive benefits from other programs (Social Security cash benefits, food stamps, subsidized housing, etc.), you must report your earnings to these programs. Your earnings could affect your benefits under these programs (that is, your benefits could be reduced or stopped). Failure to report your earnings could result in an overpayment of your benefits under these programs, and you might have to pay that money back.

Possible Tax Liability Because of your earnings, you may need to file federal and state income tax returns. If you are self-employed, you may have to pay self-employment tax and file certain tax forms.

Contact the Internal Revenue Service (1-800-829-1040), the Minnesota Department of Revenue (651-296-3781 or 1800-652-9094), or a professional tax preparer if you are not certain if you must file an income tax return or have questions on how to complete your return.

Your Employment Rights If you work for someone else, your employer must comply with applicable federal and state labor laws, including minimum wage, overtime pay, wage records and wage payment requirements. Certain employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay require-

ments. There are also special labor laws that apply to children, including minimum age, hours of work and certain jobs children cannot do. If you have questions about your employment rights, contact the MN Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards Division, at 651-296-2282.

Important Information for MA-EPD Enrollees The MN Depart. of Human Services reminds Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) enrollees of the following.

Report Your Earnings to Other Government Programs While MA-EPD allows you to earn any amount, this is not true for other government programs. If you receive benefits from other programs (Social Security cash benefits, food

HOUSING AND PERSONAL CARE SERVICES Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI) offers subsidized one and two bedroom apartments for individuals with physical disabilities. We have housing in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Austin, Marshall, Willmar, and Duluth.

The apartments are fully wheelchair accessible and each building has a central laundry room, large community room, secured entry and an on-site caretaker.

ASI also offers shared personal care services 24 hours a day, at most locations, for adults with a physical disability and/or traumatic brain injury who qualify for Medical Assistance.

For more information call (651) 645-7271 or (800) 466-7722. For services or housing call Lisa, for employment as a personal care attendant call Al or Kellie.

stamps, subsidized housing, etc.), you must report your earnings to these programs.

Your earnings could affect your benefits under these programs (that is, your benefits could be reduced or stopped). Failure to report your earnings could result in an overpayment of your benefits under these programs, and you might have to pay that money back.

Possible Tax Liability Because of your earnings, you may need to file federal and state income tax returns. If you are self-employed, you may have to pay self-employment tax and file certain tax forms.

Contact the Internal Revenue Service (1-800-829-1040), the Minnesota Department of Revenue (651-296-3781 or 1800-652-9094), or a professional tax preparer if you are not certain if you must file an income tax return or have questions on how to complete your return.

Your Employment Rights If you work for someone else, your employer must comply with applicable federal and state labor laws, including minimum wage, overtime pay, wage records and wage payment requirements. Certain employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. There are also special labor laws that apply to children, including minimum age, hours of work and certain jobs children cannot do. If you have questions about your employment rights, contact the MN Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards Di-

vision, at 651-296-2282.

Important Information for MA-EPD Enrollees The MN Depart. of Human Services reminds Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) enrollees of the following.

Your Employment Rights If you work for someone else, your employer must comply with applicable federal and state labor laws, including minimum wage, overtime pay, wage records and wage payment requirements. Certain employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. There are also special labor laws that apply to children, including minimum age, hours of work and certain jobs children cannot do. If you have questions about your employment rights, contact the MN Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards Division, at 651-296-2282. Q

Report Your Earnings to Other Government Programs While MA-EPD allows you to earn any amount, this is not true for other government programs. If you receive benefits from other programs (Social Security cash benefits, food stamps, subsidized housing, etc.), you must report your earnings to these programs.

Your earnings could affect your benefits under these programs (that is, your benefits could be reduced or stopped). Failure Cont. from p. 6 to report your earnings could Patient Protection Act result in an overpayment of Hf3610\SF3156. your benefits under these proThe bill contains a number of grams, and you might have to provisions affecting people pay that money back. who are enrolled in state regulated health care plans. Of Possible Tax Liability Because of your earnings, you interest to persons with dismay need to file federal and abilities are provisions, which state income tax returns. If you require continuity of care when are self-employed, you may an employer changes health have to pay self-employment plans; access to specialty care; tax and file certain tax forms. and coverage for clinical trials.

Contact the Internal Revenue The insurance industry, chamService (1-800-829-1040), the ber of commerce and other Minnesota Department of small businesses who are conRevenue (651-296-3781 or 1- cerned about rising premiums 800-652-9094), or a professional have actively opposed the bill. tax preparer if you are not cer- Proponents believe that the tain if you must file an income fiscal impact of this bill on pretax return or have questions on miums is negligible and will how to complete your return. result in a more responsive health care system. Q

UPDATE -

Info. from Bob Brick of ARC

Accessible Space, Inc.

Make Your Ride Count!

Are you having difficulty scheduling rides with Metro Mobility?

Are you not able to arrange transportation when you need it?

We need your help to accurately document the number of trip denials now occurring within the Metro Mobility transportation system. Our goal is to accurately document the current demand for Metro Mobility service.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration, a trip denial occurs in any of the following situations: • You request a ride and don’t receive it - even after being placed on standby.

Example: You place a request at 6 a.m. four days prior to a doctor’s appointment but your requested time is not available. After being placed on standby, you are also told no ride is available.

• You are able to schedule a ride to your requested destination but cannot get a return trip.

Example: You are offered - and accept - a ride to your destination but are denied a return trip to your home when a standby ride is unavailable. Cancellation of the oneway trip should also be recorded as a denial.

• You are not offered a ride within one hour before or after your requested ride time.

Example: You request a pick-tip time of 1:00 PM. The provider must offer you a ride time between 12 noon and 2 PM. If not, this is considered to be a trip denial - even if YOU choose to accept the ride. You have a right to receive a ride within an hour of your requested pick-up time!

Make Your Ride Count!

Call CMIL’s hotline at 651/603-2039 Voice or 612/794-7514 TTY.

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P Accessible Arts Performances

April 10, 2000

Review

Art Of The Eye II

The following will be Audio Described (AD) for people who are blind or have low vision, or Interpreted in American Sign Language

by Linda Larson (ASL) for people who are deaf or RT OF THE EYE II, the Artist Flo Fox lives with Mul- Jon Leverentz is another Min- hard of hearing.

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Second Exhibition on Vision is a most unique experience. Premiering in 1986 at the Minnesota Museum of Art, Eye of the Art informs audiences of the artists’ perceptions of the world as only they can see it. This is an idea conceived by Minnesota artist and curator Scott Nelson. (ART OF THE EYE I is a collection of 52 pieces and is still touring and has been in 60 cities to date.)

Eye of the Art II is an intimate collection of 44 pieces by 10 artists from all around the United States, three of them from Minnesota. This is a collaborative effort by Target Foundation, St. Johns’ University, College of St. Benedict, Delta Gamma Foundation, VSA Arts Minnesota, Vision Loss Resources, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Scott Nelson has put together an intriguing exhibit. There is great diversity of medium: pastel, oil, cloth, ceramic, photography, bronze and steel.

Here are a few highlights from the exhibit. Tara Arlene Inman is an artist from Minnesota who lives with infantile glaucoma.

This leaves her with a vision of the world which is fluid, has no distinct lines, and causes auras to appear. During a year and a half, Tara painted the same view of the office waiting room. This is a telling documentary of her loss of vision.

Her work is done in pastels and goes from light to shadow.

tiple sclerosis. She has a camera strapped to the arm of her motorized wheelchair. She presses a rubber bulb with her teeth to open the shutter. Her works are reflections in water of various scenes. (This was a personal favorite of mine.)

Lynette Downey has total loss of sight. Among her four works exhibited, I fell in love with her bronze piece entitled Blind Mother. There are actually two statues. The mother is thin, strong and wrinkled. The babe in her arms (a totally separate piece, entwined in the mother’s loving arms) is smooth. To me, there is endurance in the mother; there is love for the child, and that love is not dependent on the ability of the mother to see. One feels that the mother knows her baby intimately.

Carmella Ganmello’s work is flamboyant and fun. Mr. Ganmello sees “floaters.”

These are playfully put in his artwork. His work has wonderful movement in it. He has chosen some wonderful mediums to work with, including linocuts, print, ink on linen construction and painting construction.

Scott Nelson, a Minnesota artist, uses steel tripods in his work. Scott has 20/50 vision in both eyes and his field of vision is about 10 degrees. These stark works, to me, profoundly reflect the world Mr. Nelson sees.

nesota artist whose work is three-dimensional, and use of color is vibrant, outlined thickly in black. He reminds me of Gauguin. What is astounding about his work is that he portrays order and beauty even though he has double vision and tremors in his eyes. His use of acrylic on acrylic panels give one a sense of depth, while his use of thick outline forces an in-your-face point of view.

ASL - Sun., April 16, 2:00, “The Chosen” adapted by Chaim Potok/Aaron Posner, MN Jewish Theatre Co., 651-647-4315 ASL - Sat., April 15, 8:00, “Harry Belafonte” performing at the PACER Center Benefit, Minneapolis Convention Center, 612-827-2966, $35+

Ramsey Community College, 612-989-5151 Coon Rapids, 612-422-3459 ASL/AD - Sat., April 29, 8:00, AD - Fri., April 21, 8:00, “La- “The Gangster Musical” by dies and Gentlemen” Outward David Hawley, Great AmeriSpiral Theatre, Hennepin Cen- can History Theatre, St. Paul, ter for the Arts Little Theatre, 651-292-4323 Mpls., 612-253-5222 * AD/ASL - Sun., April 30, ASL - Sat., April 22, 8:00, “La- 2:00; Thurs., May 4, 12:30, “The dies and Gentlemen”, Outward Boxcar Children”, Stages Spiral Theatre, Hennepin Cen- Theatre Co., Hopkins, 612-979ter for the Arts Little Theatre, 1111 Mpls., 612-253-5222 AD - Wed., May 3, 7:00, “Lily * AD - Sat., April 22, 8:00, “Two Cai Chinese Dance Co.”, Weeks with the Queen: The Ordway Music Theatre, St. Musical” by Mary Morris, Paul, 651-224-4222 Robert Hartmann, Peter J. Rothstein, Illusion Theater, ASL - Fri., May 5, 11:00 am, Hennepin Center for the Arts, “Freedom Train”, St. John’s University, Stephen B. 612-339-4944, $12-$25 Humphrey Theatre, College* ASL - Fri., April 28, 8:00, ville, 320-363-5777 “Two Weeks with the Queen: The Musical” by Mary Mor- * Selected performances are ris, Robert Hartmann, Peter J. eligible for Reduced AdmisRothstein, Illusion Theater, sion Prices through Access to Hennepin Center for the Arts, Theatre, funded by United Arts 612-339-4944, $12-$25 and VSA arts of MN, For more information, or to receive a AD/ASL - Sun., April 23, 2:00, monthly e-mail of this list, con“Fosse”, Orpheum Theatre, tact VSA arts of MN, 612-332Minneapolis, 612-373-5650 or 3888 (voice/TTY).

ASL/AD - Sat., April 15, 8:00, “Eleemosynary” by Lee BlessDon Pearson uses oil on large ing, Park Square Theater, 651canvas to portray a depress- 291-7005 ingingly honest view of the world. I particularly enjoyed AD - Sun., April 16, 2:00, “I his painting of “Ophelia.” The Hate Hamlet”, Theatre in the vibrant, large lily pads that Round Players, Minneapolis, seem to engulf her, the beauti- 612-333-3010 fully detailed rich red brocade of her gown, her pale grayish ASL - Sat., April 22, 7:30, “The skin eloquently come together Diary of Anne Frank” , Lyric in a visual statement of the Arts Company of Anoka, tragedy that Shakespeare so Anoka, 763-422-1838 eloquently put into words.

ASL - Fri., April 21, 7:30, “ArWhat makes this work prosenic and Old Lace”, Anokafound is that Mr. Pearson is never able to see his work in both detail and over-all at the Artist Mary Solbrig uses diResources, 1936 Lyndale versity Ave. W., St. Paul, same time. verse mediums in her work, ink Ave. S., Minneapolis. Cost 9:45 a.m. from Vision Loss on paper, mixed media, pastel $7. Call VLR, 612-871-2222, Resources, 1936 Lyndale Don Giirouard is a sculptor who on sandpaper, gouache, and ext. 14.

Ave. S., Minneapolis; returnuses both ceramic and bronze watercolor, gouache. Her work • Saturday, April 29, - departing by 4:00 p.m. Cost $2. Call to create “birds” which are present curious missing ing 9:30 a.m. from State SerVSA arts of Minnesota, 612heavy and large. These are spaces, which reflects her vivices for the Blind, 2200 Uni332-3888, voice/TTY. Q wonderful pieces to touch. sion of the world due to macular degeneration.

Patrick Farley is another sculptor who works in ceramic. Mr. ART OF THE EYE II, is at St. Farley is an educator and cura- John’s University Art Center tor who has created exhibits of in Collegeville, Mn., from art by artists with disabilities. March 12-April 30, 2000. It is a His “Harlequin II” is a master- wonderful half-day trip that is piece of detail, which draws well worth experiencing. Galthe viewer into the work. One lery Hours are 10am.-4pm. MonApril 11: Talking about accessible vans wants to experience touching Sun and 10am.-9pm. Thurs. his work and going over every April 18: Jon Tellekson discusses speech recognition fine detail. Visually, it is im- Buses from the Twin Cities to technology pressive.

Art of the Eye will leave: • Thursday, April 13, 9:00 a.m. April 25: Discussing a forthcoming conference about people of color with disabilities - 4:00 p.m., from Vision Loss May 2: Talking about the Speech to Speech telephone system

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Access To Employment

by Barbara Hanna year ago, no one could Her interests include helping convince me that some- out at her daughter’s school day I might own my own home. and belonging to the Trust Board (an organization that Having a mental health disabil- strives to make low-income ity and living on a fixed income people feel empowered in their I thought it was impossible. homes).

Then I needed to rethink what I believed when I read about Pauline stated that about ¼ of Home Choice (a program which her clients are people with disaids disabled people in obtain- abilities. In our interview, she ing homes) in the Access Press recalled the experience of loand when I met a kind and cating a very nice condominium compassionate Realtor from for her sister-in-law with a menRE/MAX Real Estate Guide: tal health disability. It was just Pauline Rohrman. what her sister-in-law was hoping for. I have to believe it was I found the Home Choice pro- Pauline’s caring empathetic gram to be wonderful but their style that made it possible. She help was not enough. also shared her most memorable experience of aiding a I truly benefited from the rela- low-income not-so-conservationship I developed with tive couple in purchasing a realtor Pauline Rohrman. Her home. Pauline’s gentle nonknowledge and positive atti- judgmental approach was helptude kept me from getting dis- ful here. couraged from buying a home.

Pauline has worked at RE/ When Pauline was asked what MAX Real Estate Guide for the she felt she had to offer the past four years and has been in disabled community she said, the field of real estate for nine “Respect and the belief in their years. She resides in South right to own their own home.”

Minneapolis with her husband She offers that the home buyJohn (“architectural social ing process starts first with a worker”), teenage daughter thought, then a belief, next tapKatherine, a black lab (“Feebee”), and a cat (“Sweetie”).

April 10, 2000

ping into resources, and finally making it happen. Pauline sees herself as a “cursor” helping her clients move though the home-buying process and instilling positive thinking along the way. We have more than positive thinking to go on.

Pauline discussed the current trends in real estate. There are more opportunities for the nonmainstream buyer in real estate. We are seeing home buying workshops. It has become socially acceptable to live in a maintenance-free lifestyle (i.e., condominiums and townhouses).

Employment ads are $14 per col. inch; Apr 29 is the deadline for the May 10 issue.

BUILDINGMAINTENANCE Mail to: ACCESS PRESS • 1821 University Ave. CUSTODIAN • #185N • St. Paul, MN 55104 The City of Minnetonka has a FAX 651-644-2136 • E-mail: access@wavetech.net full-time employment oppor- DIRECTOROFRESOURCE More adv.s on tunity available for a Building DEVELOPMENT pages 10 & 11

Maintenance Custodian. Position is responsible for the security, cleaning and maintenance of the interior of city-owned buildings, along with their mechanical and electrical systems. Applicants must be experienced with cleaning methods, materials and equipment, and work primarily from 10 p.m. - 6 a.m., Sunday - Thursday. One to five years relevant experience preferred; As our interview ended, boilers license a plus. Salary: Pauline touched on why she $25,147.20-$29,577.60, with exwanted to become a Realtor. cellent fringe benefits.

She said, ”Because there is so much room for people like me in To obtain an application real estate: people that care. I packet, call the JobLine at (952) believe in the happy ending.” 939-8212. Application deadline As for the happy ending, in my date is April 14th. case, I have decided to wait a year to purchase a home when CITYOFMINNETONKA I am in a better position. I know 14600MINNETONKABLVD that I will be in contact with MINNETONKA, MN 55345 Pauline for I have surely learned a great deal from her. Owning a ANAFFIRMATIVE home is possible for someone ACTIONEMPLOYER with a disability. Q

Exp FR professional needed to manage development program for dynamic non-profit, United Way affiliated agency. Work w/ exec dir & board to strengthen annual fund, develop & expand major gift solicitation efforts, develop planned giving program & assist in completion of capital campaign, Qualifications: 5-10 yrs FR exp & a proven track record, excellent interpersonal, organizational, written & verbal skills & computer proficiency w/ fund raising software & MS Office 2000. Flexible sched & supportive work environment comp sal, & generous benefit pkg. EOE. Mail or fax cover letter including sal req & resume, by April 15 to: Arc Hennepin County 4301 Hwy 7, Suite 140 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Fax (952) 920-1480

PRODUCER KTCA-TV, one of PBS’s leading Public Television stations, is seeking a producer to produce episodes of a national, field-based, personal finance series. Duties include developing, writing and producing as well as staff supervision.

This is a full-time position that provides a competitive salary and benefit package. Minimum requirements include a BA, 5 years of television experience and 3 years producing with demonstrated abilities to produce quality national television productions. Personal finance or how-to television experience preferred. Submit letter, resume and salary requirements by 04/15/2000 to: Box 330-0; KTCA; 172 E. 4th St.; St. Paul, MN 55101.

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Computerized Desktop publishing: Brochures Catalogs Direct Mailings Flyers Newsletters Newspapers Project Mgmt Resumes Scanning ... & more!

Ellen Houghton

Attorney at Law

Lift Installation Lift Repair Drop Floor

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Access To Employment

P EMPLOYMENT ADS ARE $14 A COL. INCH; APRIL 28 IS THE DEADLINE

FOR THE MAY 10 ISSUE.

11 dvs age 9 & A e r Mail to: ACCESS PRESS • 1821 University Ave. • #185N • St. Paul, MN 55104 • Fax 651-644-2136 • E-mail: access@wavetech.net Mo on p FACILITIES Law Enforcement GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ HUMAN RESOURCES PROGRAM AND TEACHING MANAGEMENT OFFICE AAS Degree Program PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MEMBERSHIP GENERAL COLLEGE CAMP RIPLEY 2 INSTRUCTOR COORDINATOR ACTIVITIES MANAGER UNIVERSITY OF LITTLE FALLS, MN POSITIONS Faegre & Benson LLP, MINNESOTA Courage a leading rehab & re- Minnesota’s second largest The City of Minnetonka has a Position 1 - Must have mini- The General College, of the source center for people with law firm, is seeking candidates full-time employment oppor- The Facilities Management mum of 5 years experience, University of Minnesota is cre- disabilities seeks a FT Graphic for a Human Resources Assis- tunity available for a Program Office is seeking a Buyer I to Minnesota P.O.S.T. license, ating a pool of potential appli- Designer/Production Coordi- tant. You would be respon- and Membership Activities work in the Purchasing SecAnd no criminal history. Mini- cants to draw from should the nator to work in our Communi- sible for providing a wide vari- Manager for the cities of tion at Camp Ripley. mum 2-year related degree, pre- need for Academic Profession- cations Dept. In this exciting & ety of services and assistance Minnetonka and Hopkins. This fer 4-year degree, Additional als arise in the 2000-01 aca- critical role, you’ll work with to the HR Department and the position is responsible for the This position: Provides for and preferences include: working demic year. These staff mem- design, typography, illustra- Firm including employment fitness, aquatic and health club monitors the procurement of knowledge of jail management, bers would teach tion, photography, print buy- activities, general employee membership programs offered materials, services, and fixed civil process procedures, MN lower-division (freshman and ing & print production to cre- services, new hire orientations, by the Recreation Department, assets; prepares formal bid juvenile justice system, radar sophomore) courses in a de- ate communication tools such HRIS input and administrative and assists in the management packages, awards bids reunits, officer survival skills, velopmental setting during day as brochures, flyers, posters, support. of the Williston Fitness Cen- ceived, and places vendor orders (automated purchasing/ defensive driving, instructor or evening school. Appoint- advertisements & invitations. ter. accounting system); and precertification and computer lit- ments would be of a temporary Reg AA or BFA or equivalent The successful candidate will eracy. and/or part-time nature, and in graphic design and 5+ yrs of have a minimum of 2 years ex- Responsibilities include: man- pares related correspondence may be limited to one semester. exp in graphics & publications perience in human Resources. aging the land and water aero- and reports.

Position 2 - Must be MN li- Openings are possible in the design & prepress standards. A 4 year degree in Human Re- bics programs, exercise censed attorney and no crimi- following areas: basic writing, Proficiency in PageMaker, sources or a related area is classes, swimming lessons and Incumbent is required to atnal history. Must have mini- social sciences, humanities, QuarkXPress, PhotoShop & preferred. The position re- other programs; supervision tend training and become cermum of 5 years experience. speech, business, science, sta- Illustrator. FileMaker Pro/Ex- quires the following skills: of program instructors; tified to accomplish purchasAdditionally prefer experience tistics, career planning, and cel a plus. Must have ability to strong written and verbal com- AND WILLISTONCENTER ing up to $5,000 level (continuprioritize large numbers of print- munication; a service-orien- STAFF, sales and administra- ing annual training requireas a law enforcement officer, student development. ing projects under tight bud- tated, problem-solving work tion of Williston Center mem- ments must be met to maintain enforcement of traffic law, knowledge of criminal law, of- Applications are sought from gets. For consideration, please style; the ability to work suc- bership and customer services this certification), ficer survival skills, MN juve- individuals who meet the fol- mail or fax cover letter & re- cessfully in a fast-paced, pro- programs, Assists in managnile justice system. and Min- lowing requirements: (1) at least sume to Edgar Johnson, Em- fessional service environment; ing the day to day operations This is a full-time position with a salary range starting at $13.53 nesota P.O.S.T. license. a Master’s degree or ABD sta- ployment Rep., Courage Cen- strong analytic skills; and ex- of the Williston Center. per hour. As a State of Minnetus in a related field, (2) a mini- ter, 3915 Golden Valley Rd., perience with word processBoth positions are full-time mum of two years of experi- Mpls, MN 55422. Fax: (612) ing, spreadsheet and HRIS Minimum qualifications: four sota employee, you will receive teaching positions, starting ence teaching the subject at 520-0577 database applications. This is year degree in Recreation, health insurance, and accrued AA/EOE. We welcome & August 1, 2000. Position de- the college level and working an excellent, opportunity for a Sports Management, or related sick and annual leave. embrace diversity. scriptions and license infor- with underprepared students, candidate dedicated to a ca- field. Two years experience mation available upon request. and (3) familiarity with uses of INDEPENDENT LIVING reer in Hunan Resources. We with effective customer ser- To qualify you must pass a Send letter of application, computers in instruction. offer competitive wages and vices processes and employee written test covering buying SPECIALIST P.O.S.T. certification with apan excellent benefits package; supervision. Computer knowl- terms and practices and math. plicable transcripts, and re- Review of applications will Options is seeking a highly including a discounted bus edge, and the ability to work a sume to: Human Resources, begin April 10, 2000, and con- motivated, dedicated, and program – Metropass. For ad- flexible schedule which may To apply for this position, subAlexandria Technical College, tinue until positions are filled. qualified ind. with a disability ditional career opportunities include evenings and week- mit a State of Minnesota application for employment to the 1601 Jefferson Street, Alex- Fall Semester 2000 appoint- to provide independent living with Faegre & Benson, visit ends.

Department of Employee andria, MN 56308. 320-762- ments begin August 28, 2000; services in Grand Forks serv- our web site at www.faegre.

0221. Application deadline is Spring Semester 2001 appoint- ing people of all disability com. Please submit resume Salary: $36,172 - $40,191, with Relations, 200 Centennial Office Building, 658 April 25, 2000. Alexandria Tech- ments begin January 13, 2001. groups and ages. Services in- and salary history to: Human excellent fringe benefits.

Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN nical College is an equal op- To apply, send (1) a letter of clude advocacy, EL skills train- Resources: portunity educator/employer. application, (2) a vita, (3) tran- ing, peer counseling and comTo obtain an application and 55155-1603 or fax to Women and minorities encour- scripts, and (4) names and ad- munity education and out- FAEGRE & BENSON LLP job description, contact the Job (651)-296-8919. Further inaged to apply.

2200 Norwest Center Line at (952) 939-8212. Appli- formation is available at dresses of three references to reach.

90 South Seventh Street cation deadline is APRIL 14, www.doer.state.mn.us. the Academic Professional LEGAL SECRETARIES Minneapolis, MN 55402 2000 Pool Search, 240 Appleby Must possess knowledge of Applications should be subFax: (612) 336-3846 Hall, General College, Unithe IL philosophy, disability Faegre & Benson LLP, mitted between March 31st and E-mail: HR@Faegre.com City of Minnetonka versity of Minnesota, 128 rights legislation, human serMinnesota’s second largest Web site: www.faegre.com 14600 Minnetonka Blvd April 21st, 2000. Protected group law firm, has various career Pleasant St. SE, Minneapo- vice systems and the medical, Minnetonka, MN 55345 members and persons with dissocial and psychosocial as- Equal Opportunity Employer opportunities for legal secre- lis, MN 55455. abilities are encouraged to appects of disability. BA in hutaries in its litigation and transBRICKLAYERS & ply.

An Affirmative Action For information on General man service related field, 4-year actional practice groups. These BRICKLAYERS Employer College, view the College Web disability related exp. or trainpositions offer interesting and site at http://www.gen.umn. ing or a combination of educa- Minnesota-based commercial satisfying work opportunities edu/. tion, exp. or training. Salary union General Contractor is in a professional work envibased on qualifications and seeking experienced and relironment Candidates should The University of Minnesota exp. have 3-6 years litigation or able workers. Immediate openis committed to the policy that transactional experience; exings for Hastings and Minnecellent organizational and com- all persons shall have equal Send letter of application, re- apolis projects, munication skills; proficient access to its programs, facili- sume, and three letters of referword processing skills; key- ties, and employment without ence postmarked by April 29, Contact: BOR-SON boarding at 70+ wpm; and a regard to race, color, creed, 2000 to: CONSTRUCTION, INC. team-oriented, flexible work religion, national origin, sex, P.O. Box 1611 Options: Interstate style. Faegre & Benson LLF age, marital status, disability, Minneapolis MN 55440 Resource Center for offers competitive wages and public assistance status, vetAttn: M. Lynch or J. Boe eran status, or sexual orientaIndependent Living an excellent benefits package.

(612) 854-8444 318 3rd Street NW Ramsey Cty adv For additional information tion EOE/AA East Grand Forks, ND 56721 about Faegre & Benson, visit our web site at www.faegre.

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT — Full-time position com. Please submit resume and salary history to Human Come grow with us! Housing Link is a technology-based nonprofit focused on improving Resources: services to people. We offer a supportive and flexible environment that encourages you to learn and grow. We are seeking a detailed person to assist the President and other staff members with FAEGRE & BENSON LLP communication and administrative duties. We would like a person that possesses superior 2200 Norwest Center organizational, writing and verbal communication skills, as well as strong data entry skills.

90 South Seventh Street Knowledge of Microsoft Office software programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook Minneapolis, MN 55402 and Access is desired. Previous work experience or personal experience with subsidized rental Fax: (612) 336-3846 housing a plus. In return for your abilities, you will receive a competitive salary and benefit E-Mail: HR@Faegre.com package. Please send your resume to The HousingLink, Attn: CA, 600 18th Ave. N., Website: www.faegre.com Mpls, MN 55411.

Equal Opportunity Employer EOE

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EMPLOYMENT ADS ARE $14 A COL. INCH; APRIL 28 IS THE DEADLINE

FOR THE MAY 10 ISSUE.

Mail to: ACCESS PRESS • 1821 University Ave. • #185N • St. Paul, MN 55104 • Fax 651-644-2136 • E-mail: access@wavetech.net NOTICE OF VACANCY - MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

DOMESTIC ABUSE ADVOCATE NEEDED!

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST - I.V. The Domestic Abuse Project seeks an advocate to staff our collaborative effort with Little 1. Provide daily network administration, maintenance and user support for the Commission’s Earth of United Tribes HousLocal Areas Network. ing Corporation. DAP and Little Earth are partnering to 2. Plan for and implement system expansion and modifications that will enhance the agency’s offer information, support and ability to access critical data more readily and to more effectively manage information. assistance within the Little Earth community to reduce and 3. Develop and implement a plan and system by which to enhance stakeholder access to eliminate domestic violence.

Commission actions and activities.

In order to effectively and ap4. Represent the interests of the Public Utilities Commission in Technology Forums. propriately serve Little Earth residents, DAP seeks an indiThe job requires knowledge in the following areas: Project management principles and practices vidual with extensive personal sufficient to determine program direction, plan work and set goals, monitor and evaluate experience of Native American accomplishments; Methods and techniques of system analysis and design; Understanding of culture. department policies, procedures, programs and business goals. The job requires the ability to do the following: Plan, lead and schedule major systems efforts and provide work direction and This 75% time position will guidance to others; Plan and coordinate a management information system; Work on multiple advocate for Little Earth resiprojects and with diverse technologies. dents affected by domestic violence by assisting residents The Public Utilities Commission is the state agency responsible for determining the rates and in meeting emergency needs, terms of service for the larger providers of telecommunications, electric and natural gas services helping residents to use opin Minnesota. tions available through the legal system and by helping resiSalary range $43,600 - $71,723. dents develop a plan for their future safety.

In order to be considered, candidates must be included on the certified list of candidates from the Department of Employee Relations. For more information about how to apply, please refer This advocate will also work to the following at the Department of Employee Relations: with existing Little Earth community organizations to deJob Information Line: 651.296.2616 velop an effective community Teletypewriter: 651.282.2699 response to domestic violence E-mail: Recruiter@state.mn.us and will work with police to World Wide Web: http://www.doer.state.mn.us improve the effectiveness of their response.

The Commission intends to begin its review of candidates as of April 17. Interested persons should be sure to contact the Department of Employee Relations early enough to allow time for Applicants should have expereview by that agency. rience in crisis intervention and knowledge of community PARALEGAL resources. Applicants must be committed to DAP’s belief that Faegre & Benson LLP, violence is a learned behavior Minnesota’s second largest and that it is the perpetrator’s law firm, is seeking a motivated, responsibility to end the vioteam oriented Paralegal to work lence. in our Environmental law prac- Minnesota State University, Minnesota State, University, tice group. Responsibilities Mankato invites applications Mankato a comprehensive Please send a resume and cover include: research, discovery, for two professional positions. public university of 12,500 stu- letter to: trial support and document and Director of Learning Center. dents, located 80 miles south Advocacy Director database management, sched- Primary responsibilities include of Minneapolis, invites appliDomestic Abuse Project uling and coordinating meet- overall direction, development cations and nominations of 204 W. Franklin Ave. ings and hearings. We prefer and management of the Cen- qualified candidates for a posiMinneapolis MN 55404 candidates with a paralegal ter, which provides academic tion in the Admissions and Northland Community and certificate or related field, 3+ support for a diverse popula- Financial Aid Office. The Technical College in Thief years of litigation paralegal tion of students. Master’s de- ADMISSIONS/ FINANCIAL River Falls, Minnesota is curexperience, excellent commu- gree and three years experi- AID OFFICER is a twelve- rently accepting applications nication and client-service ence required. month assignment, with eight for three vacancies as follows: skills. We offer a competitive months of the year as an Adsalary, outstanding benefits Director of Disability Services missions Officer and four 1) Specialty Crops Instructor package; including a dis- Office. Half-time position. Pri- months as a Financial Aid Of- 2) Speech/Theater Instructor counted bus program - mary responsibilities include ficer. A Bachelor’s degree is 3) Dir. of Learning Center (Mn SCU Program Supervisor 1) Metropass. For additional ca- development, implementation required. For further informareer opportunities with Faegre and management of support tion, please contact A complete vacancy an& Benson, visit our web Site at services for eligible students nouncement is available either WWW.faegre.com. Please with disabilities. Master’s de- Admissions/Financial Aid by calling voice (218) 681-0844 submit resume and salary his- gree and two years experience Officer Search TTY (218) 681-0990 or on tory to: Human Resources % Admissions Office or baccalaureate degree and the Northland web site at ten years of experience re- Minnesota State University, www.northland.cc.mn.us FAEGRE & BENSON LLP quired. For complete informaMankato 2200 Norwest Center tion on qualifications for both 209 Wigley Admin. Center Application procedure: A let90 South Seventh Street Mankato, MN 56001 positions, see Website at http:/ ter of application, resume, copy Minneapolis, MN 55402 /www.mankato.msus.edu. Telephone: (507) 389-1822 (V) of transcripts and names of Fax: (612) 336-3846 or Academic and Administrative three professional references E-mail: HR@Faegre.com Job Postings are posted within (800) 627-3529 (MRS/TTY) should be forwarded to Becky Web Site: www.faegre.com the heading of Administration.

Holthusen, Director of HuSalary commensurate with ex- Minnesota State University, man Resources, Northland Equal Opportunity Employer perience, excellent benefits Mankato is an Community and Technical Affirmative Action/Equal package. AA/EOE College, 1101 Highway One No legs? No problem! You’ll Opportunity University.

East, Thief River Palls, MN call on your phone—we’ll train 56701 by April 28, 2000 you all the way. Call Jim Affirmative Action/Equal Peters (952) 936-0583; Fax Opportunity Employer and (952) 935-9999 Educator This full-time position involves the following major duties:

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Central Community Housing Trust of Minneapolis (CCHT) a nationally recognized nonprofit provider of quality affordable housing in dntn Mpls seeks bright, passionate, creative, flexible individuals to join our Resident Connections/Services & Asset Management teams, If you possess excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, problem-solving and analytical skills—come and join our committed team.

ASSET MANAGER (Full-time) Major or areas of Responsibility: Oversight of prop mgmt objectives; budget prep & financial analysis; compliance reporting, part. for subsidized housing; and capital planning.

Qualifications: BA/BS in Finance, urban plng, real estate or related field w/2 yrs rel exp; OR 4+ yrs of exp in prop mgmt/real estate. Spreadsheet/database skills req w/strong problem-solving & writing skills. Knowledge of GIS/CAD helpful.

COMMUNITY SPECIALIST (Full-time) Major areas of responsibility: Connect community services to CCHT residents. Organize and engage residents to participate in community events and activities; conduct resident mtgs, produce/distribute monthly community newsletter.

Qualifications: BA/BS Human Services and/or related field w/ 2 yes human svc exp. or equiv. Exp. Knowledge and understanding of citizen participation and community organizing; ability to facilitate groups; proven ability to work with culturally and socioeconomically diverse populations; strng computer skills; valid MN drvs lic & auto req.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION SPECIALIST (Part-Time 20 hours per week) Major areas of responsibility: Provide technical support and maintenance to Community\ Resource Rooms located at CCHT properties,, maintain files on employment and education materials; conduct outreach among residents to ensure participation; prep Monthly rpts Qualifications: 2 yr tech degree or equiv exp. strong computer skills part. creation/ maint of databases; 1 yr nonprofit prof or volunteer exp desirable ability to work with culturally and socio-economically diverse populations; valid MN driver’s license and auto required.

CCHT offers a professional, mission-driven environment with a competitive salary and benefit package including medical, dental, and disability insurance, retirement and Section 125 plans, and free parking.

Send cover letter indicating position of interest resume and salary requirements to: “Employment” Central Community Housing Trust 505 E. Grant Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404 or fax to 612.341.4208 Resumes will be reviewed until positions are filled. People of Color and People with Disabilities are Strongly Encouraged to Apply WORD PROCESSOR SRF Consulting Group, Inc, has a position open for a Word Processor. Duties include word processing, reception, data entry, and report production. Ideal candidate will have 5-8 years experience, including experience with MS Word and Excel or similar spreadsheets. Professional appearance, good written and verbal skills a must.

We are a growing and well-established transportation planning and engineering firm providing services throughout the Midwest. We offer a competitive salary and benefits. Interested candidates may fax resumes to (612) 475-2429; e-mail to www.srfconsulting.com; or mail to One Carlson Pkwy, N., #150, Plymouth, MN 55447.

EOE

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MAIL TO: ACCESS PRESS; 1821 University Ave. W., #185N, St. Paul, MN 55104. (651) 644-2133

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April 10, 2000

CLASSIFIEDS

Reach 11,000 Active, Interested Readers with ACCESS PRESS Classifieds. $8 up to 20 words, 35¢/word thereafter. Mail with check to: ACCESS PRESS, 1821 University Ave W, #185N, St. Paul, MN 55104; (651) 644-2133 MISCELLANIOUS Gary Reyzer’s Lawn Service.

We do big jobs or little jobs. In business for 20 years. Serving Coon Rapids, Forest Lake and the North side of St. Paul. Average yard, 100-150’, is $40.

(763) 755-2613

3 and 4 Wheel Mobility Scooters, Scooter lifts and ramps.

New scooters from $1,975.00.

Free in-home demonstration.

Sales and services. FastServ Medical. (320) 654-0434 ( S t . Cloud) or toll free 1-888-565-0434.

3 and 4 Wheel Scooter Repair.

FOR SALE We repair Amigo, Bruno, Electric Mobility, most brands. New Uni-lift, simple electric, plat- and used scooters for sale. Buy, form is 26x36. Like new condi- sell & trade. FastServ Medical. tion. $400/offer, call Deb at (320) 654-0434 (St. Cloud) or (651) 459-2466. toll free 1-888-565-0434.

1986 Ford E-15O Van w/ wheelchair lift, lowered floor, 6-way seat AC, rear heat, 126,000 miles, $5,300/ best offer. Call Tony 593-9502.

FOR RENT Lewis Park Apartments: Barrier free housing with wheelchair user in mind. Section 8 subsidized. One- and two-bedroom units. For more information on availability call (651) 488-9923. St. Paul, MN Equal Opportunity Housing.

Holmes-Greenway Housing One and two bedroom apartments designed for physically handicapped persons. Convenient SE Minneapolis location.

Call (612) 378-0331 for availability information. Equal Opportunity Housing.

Seward Square Apartments: We are currently accepting applications for our waiting list at Seward Square Apartments in Minneapolis. Seward Square is barrier-free housing and is federally subsidized. For an application, please call (612) 338-2680. Equal Opportunity Housing.

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------------------------------------- BASIC SPONSOR ------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRONZE SPONSOR ------------------------------------Beverly Ammons Margaret Beier M. Cotcamp Susan Asplund David Baldwin Jeff Bangsberg Jerry Dempsey Patricia Guerrero Beth Jensen Jill Bedow Janet Berndt Tom Brick Ericka Johnson Rosanne Kramnicz Steven McKeever Rick Cardenas Michael and Janice Chevrette Margot Imdieke Cross Kathleen M. Miller Cindy Moore Jane & Albert Olson Chris Duff M. Therese Gockenbach Luther Granquist Roger A. Hoffman Dianna Krogstad Carla Reichenberg Ramona Sherer Paul W. Taylor Robert Gregory Lolly Lijewski Matt Liveringhouse Paul & Corrine McNamara Kelli N-E Wysocki Christopher Meyer Bill Niederloh Manley & Ann Olson Louise Pattridge Catherine Reid & Liddy Rich Rick & Debbie Ryan ------------------------------------- FRIEND SPONSOR ------------------------------------John Smith Peter & Pamela Stanfiel Mary Jane Steinhagen Lynda Adams Cheryl A. Anderson David Baldwin Erica Stern Eric and Caroline Stevens J. Quinn Tierney Kathy Ball Marisa Bennett Mike & Karen Bjorgan Julie Wegscheid Linda Wolford Jerrold Wood Susan Blaylock Bill Blom Maynard Bostrom Joe & JoAnn Zwack Anita Boucher Bob Brick Wendy Brower Bridgeton Healthways Co. Dept. of Occupat’l Therapy-U of M Carlyn Bryngelson Susan Bulger Deah Cain AC Transportation Div. MN Rehab. Assoc Job Placement & Dvlpmt Merrick Companies Lynne Corneli Marty Cushing Jolene Davis Pat Siebert, MN Dis. Law Ctr. National Results Council LeRoy deBoom Neil Doughty Mel Duncan Craig Dunn Lee Ann Erickson Tom & Mimi Fogarty ------------------------------------- SILVER SPONSOR ------------------------------------Dr. Robert A. Ganz Candace/David Gislason Tom Gode Scott Beers Robert E. Buuck Catherine Eilers Rep. Kevin Goodno Robert Gregory Nadine & Andy Groven David Grosvenor Martha Hage Judy Haaversen Ken Hennessey Anne Henry Ellen & Skip Houghton David and Susan Houghton Dean Doering & Lisa Scribner Judy Hunt Beth Jensen Cindy & Gregory Johnson Arc Hennepin County Help Yourself Ericka Johnson Linnea Johnson Hoff Barb Kane Job Placement and Development Division, MN Rehab Assn Corbin Kidder Janet and Bill King Beth Knutson-Kolodzne Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network Mpls. Advisory Committee Ann Kranz Sherry Lampman Sue Lasoff Twin City Transportation Vinland Center David Larson Linda Larson Linda Lattin LoRene Leikind Donna Liveringhouse Dorothy McCoy ------------------------------------- GOLD SPONSOR ------------------------------------Tim McMillan Cliff Miller Kathy Moran Shirley Larson Ronna Linroth Margaret Perryman William O’Dowd Amy Olmscheid Dwight & Chris Porter MATRIX Advocare Network Barbara Proehl Virginia Puzak Julee Quarvee Peterson ------------------------------------- DIAMOND SPONSOR ------------------------------------Mary Rapson Stuart Rosen Ginger Rudberg Chris Berndt Rapit Print Mary E. Rupert Patricia Rydeen Art Sauter Elizabeth Smith Adele Spavin Diane Sprague ------------------------------------- BENEFACTOR SPONSOR ------------------------------------Helen Thompson Gerry and Barb Tollakson Cathleen Urbain Deluxe Corporation Handicabs Caryl Wattman Mary Frank-Wawokiyawin Teri Welcher David Wood ------------------------------------- IN HONOR ------------------------------------Accord Health Care Services All Temporaries, Inc Alliance for the Mentally Ill of MN Anne Henry

by Karen Adamson Cecelia Bilbrey-Baer by Patrick J. Bilbrey Arc of Anoka/Ramsey Cty Arc Suburban Arc Minnesota Kyle by Joe & JoAnn Zwack Best Care Brain Injury Assn. of MN U of M Occupational Therapy Education Program by Erica Stern Consumer Council of The Alliance for the Mentally Ill Disabled Dealer Work Incentive law by LeAnne & Larry Dahl East Suburban Resources Equity Services-St. Paul Franciscan Sisters of St. Paul Forensic Alliance of Mentally Ill ------------------------------------- IN MEMORY------------------------------------Fraser Community Services Goodwill/Easter Seals Rochester Equipment Loan Troy Fahlenkamp and Valerie Birosh by David Dreier Bill & Renee Smith by Helen Thompson Home Health Care Kaposia Bill & Renee Smith by Becky J. Bugbee-Tong Mabel Heuer by Dawn Doering MBW Company Metro Mobility Service Center Staff Michael Graf by E. Alexandra Gray Bill Smith by Joe & Peg Figliuzzi MN Bio Brain Association MN Developmental Achievement Center Assoc. (MnDACA) Bill Smith by Kathy & Paul West New Dimensions New Ways Northeast Contemporary Services Resource S.M.I.L.E.S. United Cerebral Palsy of MN ------------------------------------- FOUNDATION SPONSOR ------------------------------------The Medtronic Foundation

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