August 10, 2005
15 Anniversary Thank You Edition
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mpls. MN Permit No. 4766
Volume 16, Number 8
Minnesota’s Disability
Community Newspaper
August 10, 2005
ACCESS PRESS AND ADA: 15 YEARS STRONG
New Publication To Serve Persons With Disabilities Effective May 1990, a new monthly publication assumes an advocacy role for tens of thousands of previously under-represented Minnesotans– those with physical or mental disabilities. Access Press’ premier edition features a circulation of 10,000, distributed initially throughout the greater metropolitan Twin Cities area approximately 100 drop points including rehabilitation, education, training and medical centers. Edited by Charles Smith, an activist whose 23 years in a wheelchair have limited neither his vision nor his ability to redress untenable
Volume 1, Number 1
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ummer 2005 is a time for two 15-year anniversaries: both the ADA and Access Press came into being in 1990. I’m amazed at all the accomplishments I see among friends in Minnesota and the disability communities across the country because of the ADA. It also amazes me to consider all the accomplishments of Access
circumstances, the tabloid will provide information regarding both sources and resources to state residents for whom the tasks of daily living have been rendered somewhat more challenging. Access Press will contain information of interest to the sight- and hearing-impaired, the MR community, those challenged by CP, MD, MS and other neurological disorders, the physically disabled and others. A broad-based editorial board is being formed to ensure that the interests of all challenged communities are editorially
SOURCES
RESOURCES
Press. Charlie Smith was right 15 years ago when he decided, with the help of family and friends, that a disability community newspaper would be a benefit to folks with disabilities and would thrive in the Twin Cities. The paper’s success has been a result of a lot of influences. It hasn’t been a success over
addressed to the extent possible.
The paper’s editorial mission will be two-fold, according to Smith: to serve as a source of enlightenment for the disabled community, and to serve the general public as a source of enlightenment about the disabled community.
Suggestions for editorial coverage, distribution points, or editorial board membership are welcomed. Subscriptions will be available for those whose access to distribution points is limited.
May 1990
all those years just because of Charlie’s tenacity or his entrepreneurship or intelligence or his ability to surround himself with intelligent, informed people. No, it hasn’t been a success simply because of financial contributors or foundation funding. Its success is not due solely to the information and insights in its columns or to the importance of
by Tim Benjamin the directory of organizations or accessible performances or news at a glance. It’s not just been the journalistic ability of Charlie Smith or Tim Benjamin or of all the contributing writers or the hard work and dedication of board members and staff past and present. It’s not any one of these. It’s been all of these things and many more, including each one of you as readers, that have contributed to the outstanding success of Access Press. Just as with the ADA, the paper’s success is because of the people who knew they were supporting a good cause, something that was good for all of society, ensuring that people with dis-
abilities should not be kept silent or uninformed. Everyone who has contributed to the paper believes that people with disabilities need to be seen and heard, and being seen and heard, they will change preconceived notions and misconceptions among the mainstream public. They believe that people with disabilities do have the right to contribute to their own success. Most of all they believed in the brain-child of a young man with a dream of a community newspaper giving a voice to the disability community. So, one side of these anniversaries is the celebration of amazing accomplishment. The
Victories And Concerns As Legislature (Finally) Adjourns by John Tschida
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Several core components of the Minnesotans with Disabilities Act of 2005, the comprehensive proposal championed by the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, were enacted into law, including lower parental fees for parents of kids with disabilities, choice of community provider for those leaving nursing homes, lower prescription drug co-payments and an increase in the personal needs allowance.
budgeting from May into midJuly was largely caused by major differences in health care priorities. Governor Pawlenty’s desire to rein in spending would have significantly cut MinnesotaCare enrollment. House Republicans initially aligned with Pawlenty while Senate DFLers not only refused to trim public programs but demanded additional revenue. In the end, state health programs were protected and additional investments were made that rolled back some of the cuts made in 2003, largely funded by an additional 75 cents per pack charge on cigarettes. The ‘health impact fee’ will raise an estimated $401 million each year.
The legislative stalemate that extended the business of state
Of concern to Capitol advocates are limits that will be
fter enduring the first partial government shutdown in state history, the 2005 special session ended July 13, 2005, with major policy advances for people with disabilities.
placed on the state Medical Assistance waiver programs. Access to these services, which provide access to a case manager and additional community based services, will be ‘capped’ at certain levels each month and may delay or prevent individuals from getting the health services they need. The state will save $52.7 million over the next two years by limiting enrollment for those eligible for the TBI, MR/RC and CADI waivers. Additional funds were also directed toward transit programs, which will preserve the current Metro Mobility service area. While modest fare increases (50 cents for peak hours and 25 cents for offpeak) took effect July 1, the draconian cuts proposed earlier this year by the Metro-
politan Council will not take effect. While details on all the legislative action can be found online at www.leg.state.mn. us, the following summary highlights several key changes that will affect Minnesotans with disabilities: Dental Services Eliminates the annual $500 cap on dental services for Medical Assistance, GAMC, and MinnesotaCare enrollees. This cap has significantly limited access to dental services and resulted in increased hospital emergency room utilization. Lower Drug Co-pays People enrolled in Medical Assistance will pay a maximum of $12 per month regard-
less of their prescription needs. Currently, the cap is at $20. More Pocket Money Individuals receiving subsidized housing in licensed group residential setting can keep more of their money before turning it over to the state to pay for room and board. The proposal lets them keep an extra $12 per month. (Current law allows them to keep $79 each month.) Parental Fees The proposal moderates monthly premium costs that parents of children with severe disabilities must pay to access needed medical services. Some increases implemented in 2003 have created tremendous hardships for Legislature - cont. on p. 10
other side of anniversaries, though, is closure. An anniversary brings to mind all the things we’ve had to say goodbye to and now only have as memories. Even in my short tenure, I’ve had to say goodbye to a number of people who have worked on and made the paper better. How many people did Charlie say goodbye to? Especially in the beginning of the paper when so many people were influential in his conceptualizing of the paper. Closing the door on ideas can be especially hard; the “what-if’s” come into play. It’s difficult to move on, knowing you’ll only have the memory of what was and what might have happened if the changes were made. An anniversary always involves what is and what might have been. Think of how the people you’ve said goodbyes to in the last 15 years have changed your life. What if those people hadn’t crossed your path; who would you be today? As for myself, I certainly wouldn’t be the editor of Access Press without Charlie Smith crossing my path and trusting me to continue working with all of you, as he did. We wouldn’t have the civil rights that we have without the influences and advocacy work of Justin Dart and Ed Roberts. People with disabilities in Minnesota certainly wouldn’t have the political impact that we have today without the voice of Paul Wellstone. Again, my point is that we have closure every time we celebrate an anniversary. We have to say goodbye and accept the changes in our lives, learning from those people who struggled to succeed and left us with their successes. In another 15 years, whose successes will we be remembering? Anniversary - cont. on p. 16