May 10, 2002
Inside ■ Grant Conference — p. 3 ■ Outstate Reports — p. 6
Sports — Page 7
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“He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times.”
—Johann von Schiller
Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mpls. MN Permit No. 4766
Volume 13, Number 5
SOURCES
RESOURCES
May 10, 2002
WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE TAXICABS by Tim Benjamin
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or many in the disability community, being spontaneous on a Friday night used to mean having a pizza delivered rather than eating the frozen one out of the refrigerator. Calling a friend and making impromptu “plans” was not an option. Now it can be, because there is an alternative to calling 24 hours ahead of time to plan a ride for every occasion: wheelchair-accessible taxis. Thanks to years of advocacy by many dedicated members of the disability community, county commissioners, and state legislators, spontaneity can play a larger role in the lives of people with disabilities. History In 1976, the Metro Transit Commission (MTC) initiated para-transit services for persons with disabilities in Minneapolis. By 1986, the program had grown to cover 980 square miles of the St. Paul/Minneapolis metropoli-
tan area. By that time the program was no longer being run by the MTC—it had been decentralized and preapproved contractors were providing the service. The program cost had increased from 1.7 million to 5.6 million. In 1993, Metro Mobility collapsed due to a lack of experienced drivers and unreliability of ride arrivals. The governor called in the National Guard to keep the buses running. A New Era On April 10th at Courage Center, our new option was unveiled: 12 brand-new minivans pulled into the parking lot and dropped off wheelchair users. Ted Mondale, Metropolitan Council Chairman and overseer of Metro Mobility, was introduced by Eric Stevens, CEO of Courage Center, to cut the ribbon for this new fleet. Mondale said, “We’re very proud to be part of this. It will make a huge difference
in the disability community.” Several other dignitaries and advocates echoed these sentiments. These vans will operate as regular taxicabs but fulfill all ADA regulations and are fully equipped for occupancy by one wheelchair user and 4 to 6 companions. Consumers will have access to these vans anytime at regular taxicab rates: $2.00 base fare and $1.60 per mile, with no added fees. A customer will be able to call and expect a taxi within two hours—and most times much sooner. There are about 30 more vans from three different cab companies—Rainbow Taxi, Yellow Taxi (see ad on page 2), and Airport Taxi—that will soon hit the streets. Metro Mobility Enhancements In 2001, the Metro Mobility fleet was increased by approximately 10 percent and
incentives were put in place to increase the benefit for private vendors such as the three taxi companies mentioned above. The state has increased funding by 11 percent for the 2002-2003 biennium for Metro Mobility. The new cabs will also enhance Metro Mobility services. If an eligible user is denied services or a Metro Mobility vehicle is not available, he or she can request a
voucher that will allow reimbursement for up to $16 of the taxi ride. This means more flexibility for Metro Mobility, which will improve their ability to provide more scheduled transportation. The largest percentage of Metro Mobility trips are for medical appointments; going to work ranks second. With this new option, maybe going to work
will move up into the first place spot. In turn, working can improve quality of life, increase tax revenue, and maybe break down some of the stereotypes of people with disabilities not being productive citizens. We all know having reliable transportation can be the key to finding and maintaining a good job. And we’ve just made a big step in that direction. ■
To Clone Or Not To Clone by John Tschida
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hould the cloning of human embryos to aid in the development of medical therapies be permitted? For two leading stem cell researchers, Dr. Catherine Verfaillie and Dr. Austin Smith, the answer is an emphatic “yes.” Verfaillie, director of the University of Minnesota Stem Cell Institute, and Smith, director of the Centre for Genome Research at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, addressed this and other controversial subjects during a recent speech at the University of Minnesota.
Smith acknowledged that cloning is a hot-button issue, but called the furor “more emotional than logical,” noting there is often a failure to distinguish between therapeutic and reproductive cloning. While he called the latter “irresponsible,” many countries in Europe are moving toward the production of embryonic stem cells for therapeutic purposes. The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to ban both types of cloning. President Bush has indicated he would sign the proposal should it reach his desk. “Scientists
have always been accused of playing God,” Smith said, adding that the job of science is to use the natural world to improve people’s lives. “We don’t want to clone Saddam Hussein. We want to help sick people.” Recent discoveries in the area of stem cell research have brought much attention to the U of M. Verfaillie and her colleagues announced last year that adult stem cells have demonstrated the potential to differentiate into other types of cells. “Your discovery will fundamentally
change the way people think about this subject,” Smith said. “Adult stem cells are not as restrictive as we thought.” The goal with both embryonic and adult cells is to purify or “coach” them into becoming other types of cells. Neural cells would be ideal, said Smith. “We are nowhere near where we need to be” for clinical application, he said. “We need purification technology” to target the cells for development. “The challenges are not insignificant, but they are approachable.”
Ironically, little attention has been paid to another source of stem cells that faces no limits or prohibitions: aborted fetuses between 8-12 weeks gestation. Dr. Carol Tauer, senior scholar at the Minnesota Center for Health Care Ethics, said virtually no public debate has occurred in this area. “Much of the energy has been focused on the creation and destruction of embryos for research purposes,” she said. Last August, President Bush limited the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research to the 64 lines of
cells that have already been developed. Pro-life organizations and politicians have seized on Verfaillie’s adult stem cell discovery to say there is no need to focus on embryonic research. Both Verfaillie and Smith said it was too early to limit any efforts in this budding field. Both agree that embryonic cells must be compared to adult stem cells and studied. “It is too early to cry victory for one type of cell,” Verfaillie said. She is now recruiting two embryStem Cells - cont. on p. 8