December 2002 Edition - Access Press

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December 10, 2002

Inside ■ Republican Win/Commentary— p. 2 ■ Accessible Winter Wear— p. 6 ■ Packaging Woes— p. 6

Mayors/One Year Later — Page 3

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“Happy Holidays.” — Access Press

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Volume 13, Number 12

SOURCES

RESOURCES

December 10, 2002

STATE FACES MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICIT by Anne Henry

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ith the economic picture in Minnesota still very grim, the state budget deficit facing the new governor and 2003 session of the Minnesota Legislature is forecasted to be $4.5 billion ($5.5 billion with 2% inflation added in). This amounts to more than 15% of our state two-year (biennial) budget. In addition, a $356 million deficit was announced for this state fiscal year ending June 30, 2002. The Legislature and governor will likely make cuts during January to deal with the

immediate deficit. Unfortunately, this spells extremely bad news for many with disabilities who rely on state-funded programs and services such as special education, personal care assistance, home and community waiver programs, and medical assistance coverage for health care services. Over 64% of all state spending goes to education, kindergarten through high school, and health and human services funded through the Department of Human Services (DHS). Just looking at the

Pawlenty Names Goodno As Commissioner by Tim Benjamin

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n November 20, 2002 Governor-elect Pawlenty named retiring Representative Kevin Goodno (GOP-Moorhead) as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Rep. Goodno had been the Chair of the Health and Human Services Finance Committee (HHSFC) since the 1999 legislative session. In July of this year, Access Press reported on the retirement of our ally Kevin Goodno. Five months later, he is back in a leadership role. Many in the disability community are excited about this new appointment. Anne Henry, of MN Disability Law Center, said, “This could be the golden lining for the disability community in this time of budget deficit.” Senator Linda Berglin thinks Goodno is a good candidate because of his extensive

experience in Health and Human Services, but she has also sat across the negotiation table from him and is concerned, with the huge budget deficit, that he will cut programs to some of the more vulnerable. In the last session, though cutting the budget in excess of $2 billion, Goodno maintained many of the services that the disability community has been lobbying for over time. He watched so that PCA raises were not jeopardized. He minimized the cuts to MA-EPD by only allowing some minor changes in the premium calculations. In 2001, he very convincingly negotiated an Omnibus Health and Human Services bill, which included services to people with mental illness and expansion of community-based services for people with disabilities. Goodno

was a strong supporter of the Unlock the Waiting List campaign for persons with developmental disabilities in 1999. Although some welfare reform groups have seen Kevin Goodno as a target and have picketed his office at the Capitol, others, like Arc Minnesota and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, have awarded him Legislator of the Year honors. Goodno’s years of legislative experience with HHSFC will be invaluable when evaluating the needs of the clients served by his new department. He has promised to work with human service providers and let client needs dictate his approach to shaping private and public sector services. The governor-elect has continued to state that he will not propose new taxes as a

solution to the deficit. This means that services and supports for persons with disabilities will come under close scrutiny during the budget process. Goodno is in agreement with Pawlenty that they are not going to try to squeeze more out of the existing programs but focus on the things that work in people’s lives and improve those programs. No explanation on how this will be done without cutting services or raising taxes has been given. The Department of Human Services budget makes up more than a quarter of the total state spending and is likely to be a major target for spending cuts. Pawlenty could start by decreasing the $108,000 salary of the commissioner—Goodno will be receiving a $77,000 increase in salary from his representative stipend of $31,000. ■

DHS budget, 84% of its spending is in the areas of health care such as hospitalization, physicians, medication and continuing care services such as nursing facilities, home and community waiver services, and personal care assistance. It is important to remember that if the health care and continuing care services funded through DHS are cut at least 10%, this would equal over $600 million in state dollars, but Minnesota would also lose another $600 million in federal Medicaid match. Any cuts to Medical Assistance services must be doubled to reflect the real impact of the reduction in state funding. When examining budget balancing options for health care, the DHS can: 1. cut services (for example, limiting dental care or family support grants, etc.), 2. cut eligibility (such as lowering the financial limit for medical assistance, increasing evidence of work for MA-EPD, etc.), or 3. cut rates to providers (such as home and community services, doctors, hospitals, etc.). The Legislature has several options in dealing with the budget deficit: shift financial responsibilities, such as local government aids; cut spending; or raise revenue. Governor-elect Pawlenty has promised not to raise state taxes. The use of the tobacco endowment as part of the budget solution is under discussion and will likely be debated by the Legislature as

part of the solution. It is clear there will be significant cuts to state spending in order to resolve the budget deficit. The cuts do not have to be evenly spread across all departments and programs. Because disability services are often crucial for the daily lives of those using the services, it is important that your legislators understand the effect of service, eligibility, or rate cuts on you. This legislative session, more than ever, it will be important that your state senator and representative know who you are and what kind of state funding you benefit from. In other words, now is the time to introduce yourself or get reacquainted with your state senator and representative and let them know how the services you use assist you. You can find out how to get in touch with your state senator and representative by calling 651-296-2164 or 1800-657-3550, or using this website: www.leg.state.mn. us. During the legislative session it will be important to stay connected with disability advocacy groups in order to be informed of various budget proposals which might affect you. The Pawlenty administration will unveil their budget, including how they intend to make up the huge budget deficit, by midFebruary of 2003. It is important to take the time to contact your senator and representative now so that they are informed about the importance of the array of disability-related services funded with state dollars. ■ Anne Henry is an attorney with the MN Disability Law Center.

December 10, 2002

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in turn they can help us.”

Tim Benjamin,

I’m going to make this my New Year’s resolution: Get to know my neighbors.

Editor

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e at Access Press wish you all the best during this holiday season. It’s not hard for me to look back and see a very successful year in my life and in the life of the paper. Together, we can make 2003 another productive and successful year. *** On December 2, I went to the screening of the documentary, “We Watch the City,” a film about 9/11 told by the developmentally disabled.

One of the participants in the movie, Deacon Tony Philips, was asked after the screening if he thought a list of addresses of people with disabilities would be a good idea so that if a tragedy like this happened again they would know where to find everyone. His answer was sharp: “Lists get lost; every list I have ever made ended up getting lost. We don’t need a list, we need to get to know our neighbors. We need to get to know the people down the street so we can help them and

Dennis Straw, independent living skills group manager at the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), passed away Thursday, November 14, 2002. Dennis was dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through his extra effort in running consumerdriven programs and involvement in the many support groups he facilitated, including the chemical dependency group. Dennis will surely be missed! ***

I must thank the columnists this month: Pete Feigal, Jeni Mundl, John Tschida, and especially Ellen Houghton who has been filling in on the spirituality column. These writers faithfully produce columns, month after month, one always better than the last. I hope all of you enjoy the insights, updates and new ideas that they come up with each month. *** A commentary on the Republican win is Laurie’s writing contribution this month. In it, she gives her opinion of the written messages that our newly elected senator and governor submitted to Access Press prior to the election. I applaud her extra effort this month. Her willingness to tell

it the way she sees it is always he entertainingly explains appreciated. those simple problems that occur in his everyday life as a *** PWD that become a springboard to action. Thanks We went back to the “new” Derek, for sharing your mayors to ask them about unique view on a problem we their successes on the disabil- have all experienced. ity issues of concern to them one year ago. You can read *** their comments and judge for yourselves. I wish we had Contributor Kevin Kinney room to print all of their may be as crafty as the fox remarks from last year along- alluded to in the name side those of today, but we (Vulpine) of his company. don’t. Jeff Nygaard put this He wanted us to get the word one together—we value his out on his products—though efforts. we would have preferred an ad, we could not do a *** disservice to the community by keeping quiet about what Derek VanderVeen composed he does. Maybe he will an interesting and humorous reward us someday with a article on the frustrations of paid advertisement. ■ today’s product packaging. True to the VanderVeen style,

Commentary

The Republican Win

A New Way To Support Access Press Minnesota’s Disability Community Newspaper We would like to acknowledge the GENEROUS donations of the Leadership Circle. Participants: Advocating Change Together • Minnesota Governor’s Council on DD Remembering with Dignity • University of Minnesota ICI Accommodating Care Inc. • Metropolitan Center for Independent Living Handi Medical Supply • Equity Services of St. Paul PACER Center • Vinland National Center Please consider joining The Leadership Circle Call Tim at 651-644-2133

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Access Press Co-Founder/Publisher (1990-1996) ....................................................... Wm. A. Smith, Jr. Co-Founder/Publisher/Editor-in-Chief (1990-2001) ............................ Charles F. Smith Board of Directors ...................................................... Mary Kay Kennedy, Steve Kuntz, Lolly Lijewski, Bridget Smith, Joani Werner, and Linda Wolford Editor .............................................................................................................. Tim Benjamin Assistant Editor .......................................................................... Laurie Eckblad Anderson Cartoonist .......................................................................................................... Scott Adams Production ........................................................... Ellen Houghton at Presentation Images 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 last day of the month preceding publication. Access Press is available on disk. 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 104S • St. Paul, Minnesota 55104 • (651) 644-2133 • Fax (651) 644-2136 • E-mail: access@mninter.net.

by Laurie Eckblad Anderson [Note: Candidate submis- generalities were essentially sions can be reviewed at valid: the Republicans were www.accesspress.org.] often vague and relied on empty rhetoric; the Democcess Press’ approach to crats seemed to know the key informing our readers of issues and enough about them the 2002 election platforms of to give solid supporting inforthe Minnesota senate (Sep- mation on each; the Indepentember issue) and gubernato- dents were on the right track, rial (August issue) candidates but needed to flesh out their on disability matters was answers more; and the Green simple: we gave them either Party candidates tended to go questions or a prompt, a off on tangents. (As they were desired word count, and a entertaining tangents that prodeadline—in other words, the vided for interesting front basic tools with which to page reading, the editor in me did not hold this against show their true colors. them.) When I read the responses from each race, both the text I naively assumed that any and between the lines, I felt careful reader (or listener) pretty clear on whom to vote would make sound choices at for. After all, a candidate’s the polls on November 5. I handling of disability issues certainly don’t blame Access can be viewed as a microcosm Press readers as I know they of his/her concern about and were privy to the same knowledge of the big picture. information that I was. But I also noted how party what happened to the rest of responses across races were the voters? more consistent than responses within a race. In As balm for my post-election other words, the following wounds (and because I can do

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it now without breaching my journalistic integrity), I went back to the candidates’ submissions and focused on those of the Republican victors, both of whom have records as public servants and can’t use naivete as an excuse. I read and reread them—and the dormant English composition teacher in me came out. I found myself giving marks off for not following instructions, not giving detailed support, using limited or improper vocabulary, and so on. Here are some of the comments I would have put on the “papers” of the governorelect and the senator-elect. Pawlenty For starters, instead of answering our three distinct questions, Pawlenty decided to write a catch-all answer. Therefore, I had to include a disclaimer especially for him in my introduction. Now sometimes those who buck the format are free thinkers who wow you with their innovative, albeit unauthorized, writing plan. Pawlenty was not one of them. His idiosyncratic format smacked more of not paying attention to instructions and/or avoidance due to not having good answers to all the questions. Neither of these hypotheses make for good traits in an elected official. Furthermore, all of our questions had a “you” or a “your” in them, but Pawlenty had no true “I” answers. Instead, he told us what he thought the House or Legislature had done for persons with disabilities— unlike Moe, for example, who was able to name bills that he and running mate Sabo had authored on behalf of PWD. Pawlenty had little to say for himself and he didn’t even Commentary - cont. on p. 9

December 10, 2002

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The “New� Mayors: One Year Later Access Press sent the following to the mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis: Last December, Access Press asked you some questions about your administration’s plans to address issues of concern to the local disability community. At that time, we asked “If we check back in a year or two, what actual progress on disability issues will we see in your city?� A year has passed, and here are our questions (based on their responses from last year) and their answers, printed as received.

Randy Kelly, St. Paul Question: Before taking office you said, “I will...work very closely with the Disability Council [St. Paul Mayor’s Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities] and the agenda that they have created and prepared for the city.� What has been the nature of your relationship with the Committee so far? Have you met with the Committee regularly? Do you have other ways of keeping in touch with the agenda that they have created? Mayor Kelly: I have spent the first nine months of my Administration getting acquainted with the priorities of the committee and interviewing prospective candidates to fill some of the vacancies. Some of the Advisory Committee’s top priorities include addressing transportation issues, addressing employment issues and the basic goal of educating the public on disability issues. The committee is charged with advising the mayor and City Council on problems, issues and opportunities for people with disabilities, and I think we’ve been making progress over the years on that mission. I met with the committee early on in my administration and then attended the annual meeting in late October. Roger Schwagmeyer, safety and ADA coordinator for our Risk Management department, is my staff liaison for the committee and keeps me regularly updated on the monthly meetings or as immediate issues arise. The committee also has a page on the city’s website dedicated to its activities and contains the minutes from its monthly meetings. Question: You also said that,

“The administration will work Questions: to ensure that measurable • Before taking office you said, “I will work to progress has been made on improve the quality of life in all issues identified as prioriMinneapolis for individuals ties for persons with disabiliwith disabilities in ties.â€? What progress has transportation, affordable been seen so far? How is it housing, employment, being measured? education, recreational opportunities, and other Mayor Kelly: I believe the needs as identified.â€? In city of Saint Paul has made which of these areas have great progress over the years you had particular success, we have had this advisory or been particularly committee in educating our disappointed, do you think? city departments and the Please explain. general public about issues important to people with disabilities. In fact, the State • A year ago you said, “The mayor will have ongoing Council on Disabilities reoutreach to the disability cently commended the city’s community.â€? What specific committee for its advocacy outreach programs or other and assistance to people with methods have you used to disabilities. hear from and hold yourself accountable to the disability I would say that under my community? watch so far, we’ve made the most progress in our goals to help people with disabilities • Are there any other comments you would like to in our workforce—in the make about your first twelve areas of recruiting more months working on issues of people in jobs throughout the concern to people with city and community, and in disabilities? helping those who are already in the workforce. Mayor Rybak: My AdminisAn important element of our tration has placed a high Administration’s new Minor- priority on working to improve ity Business Development the quality of life for those and Retention office is that of with disabilities. We are working with our community active participants on the partners to better serve people Mayor’s Disability Advisory with disabilities. We look to various advocate groups to or looking at redevelopment assist us with outreach to projects in the city and persons with disabilities, to working to carve out employbusinesses owned by people ment opportunities for people with disabilities, and those with disabilities. Another businesses that employ people program supplies technical with disabilities. We also are support and workshops for looking at improving our managers and staff of busicontract procurement activi- nesses that employ persons ties, our employment place- with disabilities. ment with departments in the city. Question: Are there any other comments you would Another targeted program like to make about your first designed to help us reach out twelve months working on to our citizens with disabili- issues of concern to people ties includes two programs with disabilities? provided by Kaposia, Inc. One focuses on “job carving,â€? Some of the committee’s most

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

R.T. Rybak, Minneapolis Committee and meet with Center, Guthrie Theater and over 3000 housing units this many individuals on a regular the Gateway projects (public year, with approximately 40 basis. art projects in neighborhoods). percent of them affordable. We are also working to make The Disability Advisory sure recreational opportunities We have been active in Committee and I worked are accessible, including next ensuring transportation access together to encourage Block summer’s Minneapolis by meeting regularly with E’s Crown Theaters to install Mosaic, Celebrating the Arts Metro Mobility and Metro technologies that allow and Cultures of Minneapolis Transit. We worked with the hearing and sight-impaired (www.minneapolismosaic.com). Minnesota Twins during the individuals to go to the playoffs to guarantee that all movies. These are the only I have been working on a the Metro Transit buses theaters in the state with these number of fronts on affordable transporting fans to the game cutting-edge technologies (and housing, a particular concern were 100 percent accessible. one of 50 in the country). The of the disability community. The City also does compliance new theaters boast two screens We’ve been working on a checks with taxicabs and with DVS Theatrical, which comprehensive approach to service dogs to make sure provides blind people audio solving this critical issue, they accommodate persons descriptions of what’s including modifying zoning with disabilities. occurring on the screen. In and planning codes, addition, two screens have reorganizing the City’s I welcome your thoughts, so been fitted with rear window development functions please let me know if there’s captioning, which allows through Focus Minneapolis more I can be doing to subtitles to be reflected off the (www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ improve the quality of life in back wall so they can be seen news/communitydevelop Minneapolis for persons with by deaf people with special ment) and dedicating what disabilities. Please e-mail me units, but remain unseen by scarce resources we have at mayor@ci.minneapolis. the rest of the audience. available to affordable mn.us, and for more housing. I was pleased last information on the Mayor’s The Mayor’s Disability month to report that the City Advisory Committee on Advisory Committee regularly of Minneapolis has completed Disabilities, please call (612) evaluates all public and some or is in the process of building 673-2133. â– private housing projects for accessibility, and many recent projects have gone well Âł+RZ FDQ , JR WR ´,V WKHUH D OLPLW WR KRZ ZRUN DQG NHHS P\ beyond the code requirements. PXFK , FDQ HDUQ RQ 66',"Âľ KHDOWK LQVXUDQFH"´ In addition, the committee Âł66, 66', ´,5:( " " " reviews every significant :KDWÂśV WKH :KDW GRHV WKDW ´+RZ GR , public project underway in GLIIHUHQFH"´ PHDQ"´ UHDOO\ NQRZ the City, including the new ZKLFK EHQHILW central library, Walker Art Âł:KDW LV D 7ULDO ,¡P RQ"Âľ

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recent activities include assisting Xcel Energy Center and the Science Museum of Minnesota with several access issues, and giving advice to the Heritage Preservation Committee on curb cut design issues. Also, we still have some open spots on the committee; interested people can apply on line on the city’s website: http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/ mayor/committeeinfo/ . â–

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December 10, 2002

Disability Culture

Mental Illness/Brain Disorders

The Bakken Model

No Gifts For The Manger

by John Tschida

by Pete Feigal

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s Gov. Jesse Ventura prepares to gallop off into the sunset, he has left us with the Big Accounting, a report card of sorts evaluating his tenure and attaching outcomes to the Big Plan. While the results are mixed, Ventura deserves credit for developing the Big Plan, which attempted to look at many areas of public policy in the context of a greater whole. As with most ambitious efforts, he fell short of the mark in several areas. But despite his Gatsby-like penchant for recklessness, our good governor did realize that the overall health of the state and its residents is better served when someone takes the time to develop a vision for success. Vision is a prerequisite for good leadership, but the rubber meets the road in implementing its components. Many state agency commissioners chose to own the Ventura vision, but the governor himself alienated most state lawmakers who controlled the financial resources to make its components hap-

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ears and years ago, when I was a little kid, the pastor at our church in Pine Island revealed in a sermon how poor he had been as a child—how his family didn’t have money for toys, and that his greatest sadness and regret was that he had never had a bike. And now that he was elderly, would never have a chance to ever learn how to ride one.

pen. Breathing life into a vision takes dollars and political sense, the strength of positive relationships, trust and a willingness to empower others. In this regard, there is another, more successful vision for overall community health now benefitting the people of North Hawaii. There, on the Big Island, a handful of organizations have emerged to support the vision of Earl Bakken, who in 1949 founded Minnesota-based Medtronic. (Today the medical device manufacturer has 28,000 employees and operates in 120 countries.) Ventura—and his successor, Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty— would be wise to look westward for the details.

approach was needed to accomplish his goals and translate his vision into reality. Under the umbrella of the Five Mountains Group (www.fivemountains.org) Bakken has created a hospital, a community resource center, and a comprehensive research and outcomes program to measure the effectiveness of his efforts.

Bakken is the architect behind a series of interdependent organizations that encourage active consumer participation, action and personal accountability. On an island whose residents face staggering rates of poverty, unemployment and chemical dependency, it is an ambitious but focused approach. Bakken has recognized that a holistic

So what does all this have to The pastor was transformed. He was like a little kid. He do with disability? Lots. rode his trike everywhere— People with disabilities need you never saw him without it. a variety of supports to live He was happier, his step was successfully in the community, which means someone ought to be watching to make incorporated these principles sure all the programmatic into his system of community pistons are firing at the same health but has pushed the time in our community’s best envelope even further, enviinterest. Failure to see the big sioning a system that empicture can result in program braces alternative healing cuts in one area that under- methods to achieve better mine the potential success of health outcomes. These policy changes in another, include additional medical with catastrophic results. (For therapies such as acupuncexample, if budget cutbacks ture, massage and healing force DHS to pull back from touch. Such complementary focusing on nursing home therapies may be newly disdischarges for the under-65 covered by most Westerners, disabled population, this but have been an integral part would have a ripple effect.) of many cultures for centuries. (Newsweek magazine Consumer-driven programs has devoted half its current and services have been de- issue to the subject.) Health manded for years—and dur- practitioners in Hawaii, from ing the Ventura years, signifi- Ob-Gyn docs down to the cant progress was made in this nursing aide level, will tell area. New programs have you complementary care is emerged to provide flexible contributing to shorter hospifunding streams within pro- tal stays, decreased patient grams serving people with stress levels and faster recovdisabilities that foster both eries from surgery. The empowerment and account- research program is in place ability. Earl Bakken has Tschida - cont. on p. 8

But the comprehensiveness of his vision extends far beyond the business model for his organizational success. It includes the biological and the spiritual, with a fundamental belief that the mind and body are inextricably linked and cannot be separated.

My dad, moved by the pastor’s story, drove to Rochester the next day, to the Schwinn dealership, and bought a beautiful, jade-green tri-wheeler. He tied a ribbon to it, and after dark that night, anonymously left it outside the parish door.

lighter, his outlook was brighter. Neither he, nor anyone else in our town, ever learned who it was who had given him this healing gift. The only reason I knew was because I had glimpsed my father putting the ribbon on it in our garage the evening before he delivered it to the pastor’s door.

your life—you either accept your worthlessness or try to find some way to “beg, steal, or borrow” some tiny sense of goodness for yourself, something of what you’ve seen and admired and learned from your greatest teachers. But my dad has taught me other things, too, even if it’s taken me thirty years to learn them. He’s shown me that money is not the “report card” of adults. That if a gift is something you feel you owe to someone else, then it’s not a gift, it’s payment. That if a gift is given to someone because you feel you have to, or because they’ve given you a gift, then it’s a transaction.

My dad is the most generous man I’ve ever known. In my 30-year struggle with MI and MS, he helped me out of more jams than I could name. Gave me more money and gifts than I could ever repay, did everything he could to ease my life and burdens. And more than that, he and my mom both gave me all the love in their hearts. I think that the greatest gift I every gave or received was Giving to others was one of after being absent from some the most certain measures I of the family Christmas gathlearned of how to be a good erings because I was deperson. But my mental illness pressed and ashamed of my stopped me cold at age mental illness. I showed up fifteen, and I never was able to unexpectedly on Christmas finish high school. My illness Eve for the party one year. I interfered with jobs, with self- had no packages to give, I was esteem, with my ability to dressed in faded old jeans, stick with anything. I wanted and I felt so bad about myself to be a good person like him, that it took me 20 minutes to to feel good about myself, to come in through the garage feel like a “real” person, but I and to knock on the kitchen believed I had nothing of my door. But the look of joy on own to give. And so I gave my dad’s face when he came away to others the things he to the door is one that I will had given me. When he gave never forget, a gift that I will me a record player, I gave it cherish ‘til the day I die. away to someone else who I thought needed it more. If he I was wrong in thinking all helped me with money, I’d those years that I had nothing use it to help someone else. to offer, that I was poor in any way. I have been rich my Understandably, it baffled whole life and just didn’t see and frustrated my family. It it. The most valuable gifts we was justifiably said about me offer are the ones of kindness that I would “give the shirt off and love. And if true wealth in my father’s back.” I didn’t this world was measured by have the insights or vocabu- the love and kindness one has lary to make them understand. been given by their family and It’s hard to explain that when friends, then I would be the you feel you have nothing— richest man on earth. no gifts to bring to the manger, nothing of value in It is. I am. ■

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December 10, 2002

AT For Visually Impaired by Jeni Mundl

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n 2000, the American Foundation for the Blind reported that just 46 percent of visually impaired and 32 percent of legally blind working-age adults were employed. For people who are blind or visually impaired, work site accommodation is the first step in successfully obtaining a job and independently performing job responsibilities. Over the years, technology has advanced and opened new career choices, such as computer programming and even proofreading, for people with visual impairments. The options are endless! The following list includes assistive technology devices (with corresponding websites) which help make your job easier if you are blind or visually impaired:

Large Key Stickers ZoomCaps are enlarged stickers that can be placed over the keys on a standard computer keyboard. The letters, numbers and characters are larger, bolded and come in various contrasting colors and backgrounds. www.DonJohnston. com Antiglare Screen Guards These filters are designed to relieve eyestrain, fatigue and headaches. Some filters reduce or eliminate exposure to radiation emissions. www. CompUSA.com Devices for the Legally Blind It is estimated that only 24 percent of persons who are legally blind are able to efficiently read Braille; for the others, there is voice output.

Devices for Limited Vision Hand/Stand Magnifiers A hand magnifier is positioned over an object or text to enlarge it, and is adjusted by simple movements. A stand magnifier has a base to hold it steady. www.magnifierlamp. com/index.html

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) OCR scans printed materials and provides voice output translation or creates a text file. JAWS and OmniPage have built-in keystrokes for making the software work with the technology. Otherwise, there are stand-alone Closed Circuit Television programs such as Open Book CCTV uses a video camera and Kurzweil 1000. www. (hand-held or stand-alone) to CompUSA.com project a magnified image onto a PC or TV screen. It Tactical Display comes with many options These slim, portable displays including magnification size, instantly transform screen color contrast, black-and- data into 8-dot refreshable white view, and split-screen Braille. Three sizes—40, 65 technology. www.telesensory. and 80 cells—are available to com/ meet all access needs. Each PowerBraille includes effiVision Enhancement Devices cient screen-reading software, These are portable vision which has an on-line Grade 2 products that can be worn Braille translator. Thumbwith glasses or a head mount. controlled rocker bars are They are useful for seeing used to operate the device. objects—such as faces, tele- www.synapseadaptive.com/ vision, blackboards, computer screens, telephones and Screen Readers street signs—at mid-range These devices allow one to distances. www.scs-mall.com/ operate a computer entirely by listening to what is

Spirituality and Disability

The Gift Of Acquiescence

occurring on the computer monitor. Voice output can be customized (for pitch, speed, special software scripts and laptop vs. desktop computers) for the amount of information spoken. www.freedom scientific.com

by Ellen Houghton

Braille Embosser These devices print in Braille rather than text using software which interprets the text, math or graphic. Warning: these printers are noisy! Some are able to print on both sides of the paper. www.freedom scientific.com

This was illuminated for me many years ago while I was talking with someone who holds a very dear spot in my life. She is a woman who, in her sixties, was given the opportunity for a new marriage. She had previously buried two loving husbands who were in ill health for the greater part of those marriages and was about to marry someone who was 14 years her senior. Even though he was more alive and healthy than men much his junior, she knew her chances of the heartbreak of burying a third husband were great. They had known each other through past marriages and had watched each other’s kids grow from infants into mature adults. They both loved to travel and her lifelong desire to do that was finally being fulfilled.

Talking Watch and/or Clock Features include time, calendar, alarm and timer. www.Maxiaids.com Braille Notetaker This device looks like a small typewriter with only six keys. One product, Braille ‘n Speak, combines speech with a standard Perkins-style (Braille format rather than QWERTY) keyboard. The Braille ‘n Speak includes word processing with spell check and other features. Its built-in speech synthesizer gives voice output and text which can be put directly into the memory. Just press a single command for information to be read back. You may use Grade 1 or Grade 2 Braille through a sixkey input mode. www. freedomscientific.com Global Positioning System (GPS) GPS uses satellite communication to pinpoint your location. The technology enables you to reach buildings and streets easily with voice navigation. Best of all, it’s portable and can be placed in a backpack. www.gpstalk.com/

M

y message this month is best described by this quotation: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

the wedding ceremony and dealt with her feelings about the compromises, emotions, disappointments and so on of two people who both held strong, old-fashioned religious feelings toward their individual doctrines—hers Protestant, his Catholic. She had graciously given up her church as the site for the wedding, but when confronted with some verbiage the priest planned to use in the ceremony, she felt as though she was being asked to compromise to the point of threatening “her principles.”

for someone to actually do, but what stress we put on ourselves by worrying about others instead of being secure in the knowledge that we know who we are—and that’s ultimately all that matters.

It must be at this point—when we are so confident in who we are—that we can exhibit the true sense of “turning the other cheek.” We can give a gift of our acquiescence to another—when it will not harm us—since in the larger scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter. We know who we are and what we When I heard this last believe—isn’t that enough? statement, I found myself thinking this could be one of I was once in a relationship the happiest times in her life if with someone who held the she could look beyond this philosophy that we can work one small hour and concen- at having a good relationship trate on the rest of their future by giving in to the other together. I mentioned that person when his/her need to regardless of what the priest do something is stronger than or anyone else says or does, it our need to not do it—always, does not reflect on her as a of course, if it will not be person and what her values harmful to our growth and and ideas are. The priest is as healthfulness. Once again, right in his beliefs as she is in this is often easier said than hers, and true friends and done, and defining a “greater” relatives already know her need can be very subjective. I had two contrasting conver- beliefs by her actions—not by But then, perhaps, the process sations with her before the someone else’s words. Obvi- of talking thorough the needs marriage. The first was when ously, this is easier to say than Houghton - cont. on p. 8 she made her announcement and sounded as giddy as a teenager. The other was not so joyful. This second conversation was about planCelebrating 30 Yrs Of RENTAL • SALES ning the “technical” side of SERVICE • REPAIR

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December 10, 2002

The Check Is In The Mail Vulpine Adaptive Wear by Kevin Kinney

by Derek VanderVeen

I

have something of an ego. Appearances mean a lot to me, despite my attempts to make people believe otherwise. In fact, my ego fuels most of the decisions I make throughout my day. I’ll admit, too, it was originally due to my disability. I felt like I had to do twice as well as everybody else just to prove to them, and to myself, that I was an equal. Over the years, though, it’s become less an ego thing and more just a part of who I am. Because of my persistence to ignore my handicap and do anything anybody else can do, though occasionally with a little more effort—such as holding a real job, being part of and working to sustain a real relationship, living independently—most people who know me now will not even acknowledge what I can’t do because they only see what I can do. This is why it’s so frustrating when I come up against something that I actually have to “tackle” to accomplish—a simple, everyday job that involves so much effort, and possibly even personal injury, that it can blow all my selfesteem out of the water and remind me that no matter how

hard I try, I can’t undo the fact that I’m handicapped. Even after that feeling is gone, there are times when the situation that brought the feeling on can’t be ignored. Recently, I had a very negative experience while trying to open the package of a new product, Colgate Simply White, the whitening gel you brush on your teeth. The packaging was, dare I say, not very accessible. The heatsealed plastic outer box provided no method or instructions for opening it. There were no pull tabs, no strips to tear to create an opening. Nothing. Somebody with a pair of hands that doesn’t function like those of the average person had no way of opening it. Finally, I grabbed the scissors and just tore into it. And if you’ve ever tried this, you know that plastic isn’t the easiest material to cut with ordinary kitchen shears. During this effort, my grip slipped and the edge of the plastic which I’d managed to penetrate with the scissors swiped across my wrist, giving me an approximately one-inch gash just below the joint.

My first instinct was to drive, in a snit, to Target and return the product—but I realized that driving probably wouldn’t be a good thing considering the frame of mind I was in, and also Target was not the focus of my anger. They are just the middleman. My beef was with the manufacturer of the product in question. After screaming obscenities (I live alone, so I didn’t offend anyone) and stopping the bleeding, I called the comment line on the bottle.

I

was a quiet, creative youth who dreamed of outdoor adventures. During my years at Penn State, I took up a range of outdoor sports from climbing to hang gliding. Because I had little money, I made most of my gear. After graduation, my passions took me to Boulder, Colorado where I worked day jobs and sewed at night. My skills grew, but there was little hope of making a living.

To set myself apart, I made custom clothes and packs. I found little satisfaction or profit competing with the giants of the industry. Then on September 9, 1995 at 11:45 a.m., I saw a young woman in a wheelchair. She was making her way in the world with ill-fitting clothes, and a huge backpack dragging behind her frame. She was my inspiration. I founded Vulpine Adaptive that month.

I also immersed myself in adaptive sports to determine what people really needed. My big break came in 1997, when I settled in Duluth with my fiancée.

I met Eric Larson, director of Courage Duluth. We both understood the roles of recreation in personal development, communities and regional ecosystems. Courage Duluth offers year-round activities for individuals of all Large companies flood Ameri- Since I had no industrial abilities, so the participants can stores with gear for able- experience I took factory are an invaluable source of Of course, I had to read the bodied, 5’10" males like me. sewing jobs to learn the trade. Vulpine - cont. on p. 7 phone number through the packaging because the bottle the corporation feels they Initially, I wanted to shred the decades since the Tylenol was still in the plastic casing. must provide to protect us.” check. It was such a cop-out scare. He listened and apologized, response to cover their collecThe man with whom I spoke saying that there was nothing tive behinds and let them So this column has no real got quite an earful. I can be he could do, himself, but that think they had rectified the ending or solution at the quite an eloquent speaker he would send my complaints situation. Unfortunately, it’s present time. But now that when the situation requires, to his supervisor. (I got the not that easy. A simple check I’ve taken the first steps of but piss me off and my docile sense he was doodling a love for less than five dollars might engagement, I can assure you demeanor gives way to an note to his mistress through- relieve the symptoms of their this won’t be the last battle. I unbleeped Jerry Springer out the conversation.) Having headache, but the tumor that will continue to pursue this script. I’ll no sooner take calmed down a bit, I slipped causes the headache is still because there are many other anyone else’s feelings into back into eloquence mode. I there. This is a war between products out there that I have consideration than censor my- thanked him, left my name, the consumer and the manu- personally had trouble with, self. Through all the ranting address, and phone number facturer, because I know, and many beyond that which I and raving, I basically told with him—and hung up. handicapped or not, people haven’t even dealt with yet. him I was a disabled Ameriare growing tired of the Everyone needs some kind of can who’d just injured him- A week later, I received a impossible and wasteful advocacy campaign. Maybe self “on the product. No. Not check from Colgate-Palmolive overpackaging that corporate this will be mine. ■ on the product. On the blatant for the purchase price of America has used increasand ridiculous overpackaging the product. ingly over the last two

December 10, 2002

“The Boys Next Door� M

ixed Blood Theatre joins with Interact Theatre to bring back the former’s most oft-requested show, “The Boys Next Door,â€? by Tom Griffin. This production, running from December 4 through December 29, marks the first time actors with disabilities have ever performed lead roles in the show. The play provokes laughter leavened with appropriate sentimentality and immense affection as it tracks the lives of four adult residents of a group home who need to be cared for and cared about. As seen through the eyes of a staff supervisor, their tales are courageously honest and provocative, yet funny and ultimately uplifting. Directed by Warren C. Bowles, “The Boys Next Doorâ€? features Peter Goldberg as the obsessive-compulsive Arnold Wiggins; Damon Hollingsworth as the lowfunctioning Lucien P. Smith; AndrĂŠĂŠ Samples as the schizo-

phrenic golf instructor Barry Klemper; Eric Wheeler as Norman Bulansky, a man with Down syndrome who is enamored of doughnuts; and Jason Lausche as Jack, the staff supervisor (originally portrayed at Mixed Blood in 1988 by Don Cheadle). Mixed Blood produced the play in 1988 and 1992—it earned rave reviews and became one of the company’s biggest audience hits. With this production, Mixed Blood Artistic Director Jack Reuler has joined with Interact Theatre’s Artistic Director Jeanne Calvit, leader of the organization whose mission is to create art and challenge society’s view of disability. “Mixed Blood’s purpose is to challenge artificial barriers to people succeeding in American society. That has historically manifested itself in racial and cultural issues. ‘The Boys Next Door’ is one of several productions extrapolating that mission to include disabilities,� says Reuler.

According to director Bowles, “‘The Boys Next Door’ gives the nondisabled audience an appreciation for the lives and struggles of people with disabilities, but this production is allowing us to take this a step farther. We’re not only recognizing the daily lives and challenges of people living with disabilities but we’re allowing them to speak for themselves. The Interact actors have brought incredible insight to this production. They have a special view of it because they have lived it; it’s their lives.â€? Tickets for show are now on sale at (612) 338-6131 or at www.mixedblood.com. There will be an audio-described performance on Friday, December 13 and an ASL performance on Friday, December 27. All performances are at the Alan Page Auditorium in Mixed Blood Theatre Company’s historic firehouse theatre, located at 1501 South Fourth Street on the West Bank in Minneapolis. â–

U Of M Pilot Program: Lab In A Bag by Bob San

I

f you can’t find space for a computer lab that students with disabilities can go to, then create a portable computer lab that can go to the students. That’s the idea that came to Phil Kragnes (photo), the University of Minnesota’s Adaptive Technology Specialist. Aptly titled Lab in a Bag, the pilot program—the first of its kind in the nation—made its debut October 28. The program serves students with disabilities taking courses on the St. Paul campus only. (Although there are four computer labs for use by students with disabilities on the Minneapolis campus, none exist on the St. Paul campus.) Kragnes searched for space on the St. Paul campus in which to establish an adaptive technology lab for students with disabilities, but had no luck. Endeavoring to provide

VULPINE - Cont. from p. 6 feedback. They tested the first Access Mittens, with fulllength zippers that allow for easy dressing. They also helped me develop footwear, hats, and now, children’s clothing. To this day, the staff, volunteers and students provide both inspiration and useful criticism. Duluth is a great proving ground because of its climate. Dressing for the weather is simple if you’re able to use any of the thousands of garments available in stores. To make good adaptive garments, I had to step back and ask “how do you get into this in the first place?� Wellplaced zippers and convenient adjustments make all the difference when it comes to accessibility. People of all sensory, cognitive and physical abilities appreciate ease of

use. I avoid external flaps, complicated folds and produce ergonomically shaped garments with room to move.

industry is now made up of small shops who focus on low volume and high quality. My advantage is flexibility. I really listen to my customers, I also evaluate the realistic and I have the ability to make needs of my customers. Most what they need. winter boots are fine for shoveling snow, but their People may gasp at the bulky shells are heavy, diffi- thought of paying $85 for a cult to put on and conduct pair of mittens. What they cold. I decided to use foam don’t realize is that this is a soles and a lightweight alumi- realistic cost for skilled labor, num/plastic honeycomb fab- overhead and materials. There ric in Vulpine boots. For a are no bargains for tailored customer who doesn’t walk, outerwear, and you won’t find this easy access footwear it at a discount retail store. retains body heat, folds flat and weighs only a few ounces. Vulpine is a true cottage industry. I decided not to rent Finally, I determined that work space, and converted Vulpine Adaptive, LLC will much of our small house into a remain small. Cheap labor shop. When you ring our drew many larger companies phone/fax at 218-525-9836, overseas years ago. Their you may spook our cat. Our profits are staggering. What website at http://www.vulpine was once a strong U.S. adaptive.com takes shape

from the clutter of the living room. To me, a power lunch means four miles of trail running with our dog. Vulpine Adaptive has grown to have a life of its own. Still, it wouldn’t exist without my passion for the outdoors and my desire to do something meaningful with the skills I’ve developed. Each day brings bigger challenges, but greater satisfaction. I don’t think it will ever get easier, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Feel free to call and chat—the cat needs the exercise. Other contact information for Vulpine Adaptive: 4337 Tioga St., Duluth, MN 55804; info@vulpineadaptive.com; kkinney@charter mi.net. â–

access to information and information technology for students with disabilities on both Twin Cities campuses, he came up with the Lab in a Bag idea. “If we cannot create a lab space for people to go to, we should make equipment that books from the library. Stucan go to the people,� he said. dents can check out a bag for a period from a day to up to one With an investment of nearly semester. Staff with disabili$37,000, Kragnes created six ties can also check out the Labs in a Bag. Four include a equipment for conferences or laptop computer equipped other employment-related with a modem, a standard needs. Borrowers are responnetwork card and wireless sible for the well-being of the network capability; a flatbed equipment. The Lab in a Bag scanner; speech recognition can be carried like a briefcase, software and a headset for worn like a backpack or dictation and hands-free com- pulled on wheels like many puter operation; and a traveling luggage bags seen in trackball, an optical wheel airports. mouse and other pointing device options that make it Kragnes does not know exeasier for students to move actly what the demand for the about the screen and interact Labs will be, but if it goes well with the computer. The he will consider expanding remaining two bags contain a the program. “It’s an idea computer loaded with adap- whose time has come,� “Today’s tive software, but do not Kragnes said. include a scanner or a headset society is more and more on for speech recognition. This the go. To me, if you add allows equipment to be portability, you add more swapped among bags, in- flexibility.� creasing flexibility and deFor more information, contact creasing cost. (612) 624-4082 or sanxx001 The Lab In A Bag program @umn.edu. ■works much like checking out

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December 10, 2002

HOUGHTON - Cont. from p. 5 of each is where true under- on life. Looking back now, standing develops. the wedding and marriage were wonderful for all parties. This also brings to mind the Mom and Ray had a very concept of being “used,” by fulfilling marriage, which ungiving in too much, too often. fortunately ended much too Isn’t being used a state of soon with Ray’s passing. mind? Eleanor Roosevelt Mom, however, was left a said: “Nobody can make you better person for having taken feel inferior without your a chance and looking way consent.” I interpret this beyond that one hour of that consent in a “self-talk” man- one day. She grew in more ner more than through actual ways than I could ever list and words. We choose—by how has been left with terrific we think and perceive things— memories—created all over whether or not we are being the world—and many joys used. from her union with Ray. If you asked her, she would tell It occurred to me that the you that her gift of acquiessituation above can be summed cence for that one hour gave up with an analogy of stones back to her more than she in a stream. Think of the could have ever imagined. As stones as human beings and is often the case, when we the water as life. We can choose to give from our heart, relax, let go and experience we receive tenfold. ■ life by floating with the water, or we can dig in our heals and Ellen Houghton—desktop let the water erode us and then publisher of Access Press— ultimately pass us by anyway. owns Presentation Images, a I personally feel it is more fun company assisting others in to float with life and experi- the selection, development, ence all of its joys and beauty. and implementation of the In order to do this, though, we proper media needed to must begin the journey with convey their messages. Addian open mind, ready to learn tionally, she was the pubfrom the lessons we are lisher/editor of “Stepping fortunate enough to be given. Up,” a discontinued newspaper which helped others Well, enough of my outlook explore their spirituality.

State Council On Disability Awards A

t its annual fall luncheon, members of the Minnesota State Council on Disability presented awards recognizing the work of organizations and individuals from several communities around the state. Past members were recognized for their work on the Council as were individuals who have distinguished themselves with their efforts to increase the quality of life of people with disabilities in Minnesota. Past members recognized for their years of service on the Council included Jeff Bangsberg, New Hope; Melanie Fry, Plymouth; Diane Garasha, Duluth; and Mickey Kyler, Crookston. Distinguished Service Awards were presented to two organizations: Reuben Lindh Family Services Parenting Program, Minneapolis and Chisago County Home Health Aides and Homemakers, Chisago City.

Manager for Northwest Airlines; Laurel Frost, St. Paul Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Disability; and Virginia Richardson, Manager of Parent Training at PACER Center. Educator of the Year Award was presented to Steve Dahlstrom, teacher in the Bloomington Public Schools. The Recreation Award was received by Erin O’Hearn L’Allier, “Access to Fitness” program coordinator at Miller Dwan Medical Center in Duluth. Laura Doyle of the MN Department of Human Services received the Public Personnel Award. Minnesota Wild Hockey received the Access Award, presented by John Schatzlein, Council vice chair. The U.S.D.A Food Safety Inspection Service in Minneapolis was recognized as Employer of the Year by Joan Willshire, Council chair.

Distinguished Service Awards were given to the following individuals: Jerome Cliff Miller of New Hope, first executive Djam, Employment Services Marketing director of the disability council, received Director at Chisago Lakes Achievement the Chair’s Award. ■ Center; Karen Moore, Accommodations

TSCHIDA - Cont. from p. 4 to attach hard numbers to their anecdotal tales of success. For Bakken, the addition of such services is a means to an end: improved community health. By providing other community resources where individuals can benefit from information or classes to make better informed life choices, the overall health of the community improves. Solid research and a focus on outcomes will help drive policy changes to financially support these efforts. So while the services and opportunities are focused on the individual, they are provided within the context of a broader vision and set of identified goals. Components of the Ventura administration’s vision improved the lives of people with disabilities, but were limited by the governor’s attention to them. In Hawaii, Bakken’s vision continues to breathe daily toward the betterment of all Hawaiians, one individual at a time, all pistons firing simultaneously. ■

NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SAINT PAUL PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY SECTION 8 PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) announces the availability of up to 81 units of federal rent subsidy under its Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance Program (PBA). The PHA wishes to improve the existing rental housing stock and increase the supply of affordable rental housing available to low income households. Proposals will be accepted from owners, developers or other ownership teams who agree to rehabilitate or construct dwelling units for occupancy by tenants eligible for Section 8 rental assistance, or from owners of existing rental housing who agree to lease units to eligible Section 8 participants. Upon acceptance and approval of the proposal, and completion of the construction or rehabilitation if applicable, the PHA will provide rental assistance to eligible Section 8 applicants who agree to live in those units. Financing for the construction or rehabilitation of the dwelling units must be arranged independently; as such funds are not available through the PHA. The property must be located in the city of Saint Paul. Owners must be willing to enter into a Housing Assistance Payments Contract with the PHA for a minimum of one year and maximum of ten years. PHA goals for the program are to contribute to the upgrading and long-term viability of the city’s housing stock; increase the supply of affordable housing and locational choice for very low income households; integrate housing and supportive services; and promote the coordination and leveraging of resources. The PHA, through this RFP, does not promise to accept any proposals and specifically reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any formal proposal requirements, to investigate the qualification and experience of any proposer, to reject provisions in any proposal, or to obtain new proposals. Proposals which do not meet basic program requirements or which are not sufficiently detailed or in acceptable form may be returned for completion or rejected by the PHA. The PHA is accepting all applications through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) SuperRFP process, scheduled for release December 2, 2002. You can obtain more information and an application and guidebook by contacting the MHFA Multi-Family Division at 651-297-3294 or 1-800-657-3701, checking the MHFA web site at www.mhfa.state.mn.us. Applications are due to MHFA no later than 4:00 p.m. on February 6, 2003. Note: The PHA may have the opportunity to access “Hollman” Section 8 Vouchers for use as Project-Based Assistance. The PHA will accept proposals for the use of Hollman Section 8 PBA units until further notice. This is a separate allocation and review process from the regular PBA program described above. Additional regulations apply to Hollman Vouchers. Proposals for Hollman PBA units in Saint Paul can be sent directly to the Saint Paul PHA, not MHFA. Questions about Hollman PBA units should be directed to Barbara Sporlein at 651-292-6175.

Mark your calendar now for

Working Together for Change 2003 Self-Advocacy Conference April 25 and 26, 2003

Join self-advocates and allies from across the region at this important gathering Call Kathy at ACT today for information on the conference and to purchase buttons:

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December 10, 2002

“Medicare’s Midlife Crisis� by Jim Czechowicz

P

eople with disabilities • Medicare now has over often report that access to 130,000 pages of goverhealth care determines whether nment regulations. Medithey can work or not. Some care requires that may even say that free participating doctors and government health-care-forproviders navigate through all is tantamount to greater a labyrinthine code of employment of persons with reimbursement procedures disabilities. that provide careerthreatening sanctions for But “be careful what you wish unintentional or accidental for, you just may get it,â€? is noncompliance. Twila Brase’s and Sue Blevins’ response to the • The popular notion that notion of a universal, singleMedicare reduced poverty payer, Canadian-style Mediamong the elderly is care system here in the U.S. inaccurate. Blevins’ research shows that because Brase, a registered nurse, is of demography, technology the founder and director of and other reasons, poverty Citizens’ Council on Health in the U.S. was in decline at Care (CCHC), a Twin Cities a similar rate well before nonprofit organization dedithe advent of Medicare. cated to the analysis and monitoring of health care • Medicare patients are policy. already having trouble finding physicians to treat Blevins is founder and presithem in more than half the dent of the Institute for Health states, according to the Freedom, a nonpartisan, nonAmerican Medical Assocprofit think tank in Washingiation website. The Los ton, D.C. She developed her Angeles Times recently insights into health care reported that because of systems though years of inadequate reimbursement hands-on experience as a rates and fear of government registered nurse in the United penalties, six of 10 primary States and Canada. She is care physicians will no author of the recent book, longer accept Medicare in “Medicare’s Midlife Crisis.â€? Colorado and Washington state. According to Brase and Blevins, a Canadian-style Blevins’ diagnosis? “35 years Medicare system could have since its inception, Medicare the unintended effect of has still not met its initial actually limiting the choices purported goal of reducing and access to health care (and seniors’ [and persons with employment) of people with disabilities’] out-of-pocket disabilities. health care costs.â€? In her book, Blevins reveals However, if more and bigger that: government health care doesn’t equate to more access • In 1965, the government’s and better care, how do we actuaries estimated that improve Medicare and health Medicare’s inflation- care in the U.S.? adjusted, 2001 hospital costs would be about $9 Blevins’ prescription? Medibillion. The actual 2001 care reforms should: costs: $66 billion. Medicare - cont. on p. 10

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COMMENTARY - Cont. from p. 2 touch on our third question Plus I believe it is unseemly to about his future plan of repeatedly call oneself “pasaction. sionate� about a cause. (I contrast this with how many Proper terminology and grieving citizens sincerely awareness of audience are described Paul Wellstone as also important when writing. “passionate.�) Going on, the Pawlenty did include a para- third paragraph is where the graph about “Working Incen- word “American� gets beaten tives.� Now I’m no expert, to death. Again, besides but that is the first time in over showing a limited vocabulary, a year at AP that I’ve heard I don’t like the use of words that phrase used over “work that are supposed to cause a incentives.� But perhaps that knee-jerk patriotic reaction. is nitpicking. What is more Norman’s final word theme is troubling about the same one of “doors,� as in opening paragraph is that he goes on to them and beating them down. explain what I recognized as Puh-leeze! MA-EPD and ends with “This program is known as the MA Early on, Coleman tells us for Employed Persons with that he was a prosecutor in the Disabilities Program.� I think Human Rights office of the he loses point for insulting Minnesota Attorney General, readers, many of whom know where he “fought discriminamuch more than he on the tion on behalf of disabled topic, by telling them some- Minnesotans.� Oh, now thing in such an obvious we’re getting somewhere— manner. but wait, another Republican instance of no details given. Another Pawlenty quotation: “Community Services: The Next stop: Mayor of St. Paul. House made a significant Coleman says he “worked commitment to move dis- closely with [his] Advisory abled people from institution- Committee for People with based to community-based Disabilities.� The only exservices, which will allow for ample he gives of their more healthcare options.� “vigorously pursued improveThis paragraph is in direct ments� is complete skyway contrast to the one on MA- access. Now I know the EPD as it gives no details. I winters are bad and this guess I’m just never satisfied. sounds like an honorable effort, but what about educaFinally, Pawlenty’s empty tion, employment, health care, final sentence: “If elected and so on? Just to make sure I governor, I will continue to be wasn’t judging too harshly, I a vocal advocate for addi- checked with Tim, AP Editor tional reforms.� This is and a St. Paul citizen with a inaccurate, as you can’t con- disability—he agreed that tinue something that none of other things should be higher the preceding paragraphs show on Norm’s list than skyway that you started. Oh well, at access. least he got around to using an “I.� Coleman goes on to mention concerns that he has heard: Coleman equal housing and rental opportunities (good), a desire The first thing that struck me for shared recreational activihere was the word repetition. ties (OK) and full access to In the first two paragraphs parks and trails (OK, but a alone, there are two instances possible overlap with the last of “passion� and three of item). Apparently this recre“fair(ness).� Any teacher ation/park issue is really big who sees such repeated vo- for Norm as he devotes cabulary is instantly suspi- another paragraph to it later cious of a lack of substance. on. Because he never tells

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exactly why he mentions it so much, it comes off sounding like the only point that keeps surfacing in his brain. In my experience, students who circle a subject like this are lost because they have little else to say. Midway though his “speech,� there is a major shift—it sounds like a relief writer has stepped in to add some oomph to Coleman’s start. A change in voice is always a red flag to a teacher. Suspiciously, it is right when he mentions his benefactor, the president, and Bush’s New Freedom Initiative. Perhaps the Coleman campaign was just cutting and pasting some stuff from D.C. Well, whoever wrote it needs to work on adding more details, too. One example given as a major area of interest is: “Improving Accessibility to Voting for Americans with Disabilities by working with Congress to eliminate all barriers to voting for Americans with Disabilities.� Hmm, lots of Americans (but not much else) in there as well. Coleman finishes with a grand statement of the obvious: “A Senator’s job is to listen to his constituents and present their interests in Congress.� Thanks for that news flash. There was one interesting omission in Coleman’s piece that I would never have known about if Paul Wellstone had not died. In Access Press,

most of the other senatorial candidates mentioned how disability had touched their lives through people they have known. Even while speaking to the disability community, Coleman neglected to mention his two infant children who died of a congenital hereditary disability. Yet when he wanted to portray the upstanding, grieving competitor after Wellstone’s death, I never saw or heard him without noting his mention of those lost infants. Without belittling the effect of these losses on the lives of the Coleman family, I have to wonder why he chose to use that example in such a calculated manner at such a late date in the campaign. Whether written by the candidates, staffers or someone in D.C., the messages of Pawlenty and Coleman have some critical gaps in them that the disability community— and others—should remain aware of. (Personally, if I had been a staffer reading these submissions, I wouldn’t have let either of them out of the campaign office as written.) Let’s hold Pawlenty and Coleman responsible for reviewing their priorities, giving us more details, showing that they are personally accountable, proving that they truly know their constituents and their needs, and not hiding behind empty words. â–

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December 10, 2002

Accessible Performances IN BRIEF . . . .

The following performances will be Audio Described (AD) for people who are blind or have low vision, or interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Fully Committed; runs 11/22-1/5; AD Thurs., 1/2, 7:30; Jungle Theater; Mpls.; 612-822-7063; www.jungle theater.com. The story of an actor working as a telephone reservationist in a trendy Manhattan restaurant who must cope with the absurd demands of his patrons and a temperamental French chef. 42nd Street; runs 12/17-1/5; ASL/AD Sat., 1/4, 2:00; Ordway Center for the Performing Arts; St. Paul; 651224-4222, TTY 651-2823100; www.ordway.org. Winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, this timeless, inspiring tale tells

how adorable Peggy Sawyer Revelations of Mann; AD rose from chorus girl to Sat., 1/25, 8:00; ASL Thurs., Broadway star. 1/30, 10:30 a.m. & Sat., 2/1, 8:00; Great American History The Circus of Tales; AD Theatre; St. Paul; 651-292Sat., 1/18, 8:00; Theatre de la 4320; www.historytheatre. Jeune Lune; Mpls.; 612-333- com. David Mann stars in his 6200; www.jeunelune.org. own story about teaching at Hill-Murray Catholic High Queen Nanny!, Queen School, where a parade of Nanny!; runs 1/17-2/9; ASL dudes and shy starlets audiFri., 1/24, 7:30; AD Sun., 2/9, tion for his plays and take us 2:00; In the Heart of the Beast into the frightening inner Puppet & Mask Theatre; sanctum of the principal’s Mpls.; 612-721-2535; www. office. hobt.org. Puppetry, poetry, music and dance bring to life For updates by phone, call the incredible story of a leader VSA arts of Minnesota at of the Windward Maroons, 612-332-3888 or statewide one of Jamaica’s national 800-801-3883 (voice/TTY). heroines. ■

MEDICARE - Cont. from p. 9

Deaf Resources And News “American Deafness-Related Resources” lists contact information for deaf associations/clubs; service organizations; education, employment, interpreting, health, and addiction services; legal help; mental health services; companies selling technical devices/books/videotapes; captioning groups and much

MN Program Loans Phone Equipment

The Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program loans phone equipment to people who are hard-ofhearing, deaf, or have a speech or mobility impairment. The program provides equipment on a long-term fee-for-service program, the basis at no cost. insurance companies chosen to process claims don’t necessarily have to bid competitively for government contracts, nor do they assume the financial risks In November, The National of beneficiaries—unlike Alliance for the Mentally Ill other private insurance in Minnesota presented a number of awards at its annual companies. meeting. Among them was Finally, Blevins asserts, the Consumer Advocate of “Americans should not be the Year Award recognizing a forced into a single-payer, consumer who has shown government health care system leadership in NAMI and has that limits their health care options and prevents them from spending money on treatments of their choice.” ■

aside funds for their long• Enable people with term health care needs disabilities and seniors to through instruments like sign private contracts with medical savings accounts. health insurance plans and doctors of their choice. For example, Medicare should • Make sure that people with disabilities and seniors are allow Social Security free to pay cash for services beneficiaries to opt out of Medicare covers. They Part A Medicare hospital must be able to enter into coverage and still collect private contracts with their Social Security doctors and other health disability and retirement care providers without benefits. paying a penalty. • Provide health insurance protection for catastrophic • Preserve confidentiality of medical records by illness, instead of forcing decreasing reliance on thirdpeople with disabilities and party health insurance seniors to buy additional payers in general. insurance coverage to fill Jim Czechowicz is a Social Medicare’s gaps. • Stimulate competition based Security PASS Specialitst in on price and quality of care. St. Paul, MN. • Encourage younger AmeriIn the traditional Medicare cans with disabilities to set

more. “International Deaf- Organizations who serve the ness-Related Resources” is deaf are invited to submit also available. listings in the areas above. Listings are free. SubmisFor price, payment informa- sions will automatically be tion and an order form, go to included in “International www.signersnetwork.com Deafness-Related Resources.” and click on “Deaf Interna- Extensive news, and U.S. and tional” or go to http:// international links are also members.roger.com/signnet/ available via the website. ■ DI.html).

To qualify, you must live in Minnesota, have a disability that limits your use of a standard phone, have phone service in your home (or have applied for it) and meet family income guidelines.

call 1-800-657-3663 or TTY 1-800-657-3513. You may also send an e-mail inquiry to ted.program @state.mn.us or visit the site at www.tedprogram. org. ■

For further information,

NAMI-MN Award Winners supported and advocated for They visit schools, churches, other consumers. community forums and the like to raise public awareness This year, Pete Feigal and of mental illness. Melanie Groves were the recipients. Feigal and Groves For more information on the give tirelessly of their time awards, call 651-645-2948. and talent to break down the ■ stigma of mental illness.

Affordable Rental Housing Information For a variety of information on Twin Cities rentals, visit www.housinglink.org. ■

Guzmán & Associates, P.L.L.C. Attorneys and Counselors at Law

Disability Law Conservatorships Guardianships Special Needs Trusts 14800 Galaxie Avenue, Suite 103 Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124

A GREA T RESOURCE! GREAT

DirectAbility.com DirectAbility is a comprehensive, ever-expanding, award-winning, Internet directory devoted to disability-related products, services, resources and information throughout the state. Online at www.directability.com. Computerized Desktop publishing: Brochures Catalogs Direct Mailings Flyers Newsletters Newspapers Resumes and more! Ellen Houghton • 952-404-9981 presentationimages@mn.rr.com

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Access for All The Minnesota Travel Guide for Persons with Disabilities www.accessminnesota.org 3680 Victoria St. N. • Shoreview, MN 55126 Office: (651) 481-4062 • Fax: (651) 787-2790 mike.chevrette@deluxe.com

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December 10, 2002

Access To Employment

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Employment ads are $14 per col. inch; Dec 31 is the deadline for the Jan 10 issue. Mail to: ACCESS PRESS • 1821 University Ave. • #104S • St. Paul, MN 55104 FAX 651-644-2136 • E-mail: access@mninter.net GRAPHIC DESIGNER Graphic Designer wanted to perform a wide variety of tasks including layout, design, desktop publishing, presentation graphics, photolibrary cataloging, archiving and 3-D rendering. Qualifications include 1-3 years experience with a thorough knowledge of Quark Xpress, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Experience with Dreamweaver, Adobe Acrobat and Powerpoint preferred. Must have excellent writing and strong communication skills, and be able to work with employees at all levels of the organization.

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People Enhancing People (PEP) is a new organization created to address the PCA shortage. Through a State of Minnesota Grant, PEP will utilize the PCA Choice program to develop new strategies to make PCA work more attractive. A part-time Program Coordinator is desired to work closely with the Board and recipients to build the program. This is a unique chance for an energetic, collaborative individual to provide leadership to show how the PCA program can work better for all. To apply or for further information, call Jim/Claudia Carlisle at 651455-8691 or e-mail carlisle 1231@ msn.com.

Faculty Positions • History • Information and Computer Science • Ethnic Studies with African American emphasis • Reference and Instruction Librarians • Mathematics Teacher Educator • Nursing SRF Consulting Group, Inc. is • Social Studies Teacher Educator a fast growing, locally owned, and well established transpor- For more information about the positions, qualifications, and tation engineering, design and application proceplanning firm. We offer dures, go to http:// competitive pay and benefits, w w w . m e t r o s t a t e . Lawson believes that including health, life and edu/hr/jobs.cfm disability insurance, vacation our workplace should and sick leave, and 401(k)/ Metropolitan State profit sharing. For considerUniversity is an reflect our world. ation, send your resume to equal opportunity SRF Consulting Group, Inc., employer and One Carlson Pkwy. N., educator We have built our business on creative solutions for #150, Plymouth, MN 55447; fax to 763-475-2429, or edifficult problems. Known worldwide as an industry mail to hr@srfconsulting. leader in providing web-based business management com; EOE. software solutions that are ahead of the technology

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Social Security Announces 1.4 Percent Increase

Our vision is to create an employee-empowered environment that enables us to continue to be the leader in Web-deployable business applications, measured by our ability to meet and exceed customer expectations. We know our employees make the difference.

J

o Anne B. Barnhart, commissioner of Social Security, has announced that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSl) benefits to more than 50 million Americans will increase 1.4 percent in 2003. “... Inflation continues to be low, which is certainly good news for the elderly and disabled,” said Commissioner Barnhart. “Inflation is one of the biggest challenges for people living on a fixed income. The annual Cost-ofLiving Adjustment (COLA) ensures that a person’s

monthly benefit doesn’t drop This year’s increase in the total of $5394. For CPI-W was 1.4 percent. self-employed workin value over time. ers, it will rise by The 1.4 percent increase will Some other changes that take $260.40 to a total of Of the begin with benefits that 46 effect in January of each year $10,788. million Social Security ben- are based on the increase in approximately 155 eficiaries receive in January average wages. Based on that million workers who 2003. Increased payments to number, the maximum amount pay Social Security 7 million SSI beneficiaries of earnings subject to the taxes, about 9.7 milSocial Security tax (taxable lion are affected by will begin on December 31. maximum) will rise to the higher wage base Social Security and SSI ben- $87,000—from $84,900 in in 2003. efits increase automatically 2002. For more informaeach year based on the rise in the Consumer Price Index for As a result of the increase in tion, visit www.ssa. Urban Wage Earners and the taxable maximum in 2003, gov and click on the Clerical Workers (CPI-W) the maximum yearly Social “COLA” header. ■ from the third quarter of the Security tax paid by employprior year to the correspond- ees and employers will ining period of the current year. crease by $130.20 each for a

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And we know that in order to meet our goals, we must increasingly strive to create a workforce that reflects our community, our market and our world. For immediate consideration, please apply online at www.lawson.com and view our Career Section. If you require alternative accommodations, please send/fax resume to: Human Resources, Attn: HR, 380 St. Peter Street, St. Paul, MN 55102. Fax: 651.767.4945. In all correspondence, please note the job for which you are applying. We look forward to hearing from you. EOE

December 10, 2002

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MN Rehab Services NAMI Headwaters Fund Northeast Contemporary Services Resource S.M.I.L.E.S. United Cerebral Palsy of MN -------------------–------------------------------------- IN HONOR----------------------------------------------------Anne Henry by Karen Adamson • Cecelia Bilbrey-Baer by Patrick J. Bilbrey • Charlie Smith by Tom & Mimi Fogarty • Charlie by Fern Rogstad • Jaehn Clare by Candice Warne Kyle by Joe & JoAnn Zwack • College of Saint Catherine’s Occupational Therapy Masters Program by Steven Anderson • U of M Occupational Therapy Education Program by Erica Stern -------------------–------------------------------------- IN MEMORY----------------------------------------------------Charlie Smith by Anita Boucher • Grandma & Grandpa Laughlin, Shamma & Frank Haas, & Fred Benjamin Jr. by Phyllis & Fred Benjamin III Bill & Renee Smith by Becky J. 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