November 10, 2006
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Inside ■ This I Believe Essay—p. 3 ■ Marla Runyon Interview—p. 4 ■ Medicaid Changes in 2007—p. 12
“This is the first election where I actually
like the people I’m gonna vote for.” – Scott Adams, cartoonist, Fall 2006 Page 2 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mpls. MN Permit No. 4766
Volume 18, Number 11
Minnesota’s Disability
Community Newspaper
November 10, 2006
Coalition Seeks Lost Cemetery Group continues to reclaim history and dignity for people with disabilities. by Jim Fassett-Carman
H Kelly Lee of Advocating Change Together emcees the restoration ceremony at the site of the former Rochester State Hospital cemetery, while Jim Fassett-Carman looks on. On the table are two of the numerous numbered grave markers that are now being replaced with engraved stones bearing the person’s name and birth/death dates.
ow well do you know the city of Rochester? If you used to live there and have some knowledge of the way things used to be, Remembering With Dignity would like to talk with you. You see, the Rosemont Cemetery, where the earliest residents of the Rochester State Hospital are buried, is completely missing. A plat map exists, showing the location of graves and names of each of the 75 people buried in Rosemont Cemetery. “How could a cemetery be lost?” you ask. We don’t have the answer, but it speaks
to the disregard for people with disabilities and neglect of state hospital cemeteries. Over 12,500 people were buried without a named marker in Minnesota state hospital cemeteries in the last century. Remembering With Dignity (RWD), a coalition of Minnesota disability groups, has so far facilitated the marking of over 2500 of these with proper, named headstones. In May of this year, RWD received a grant from the State of Minnesota to continue their work at state cemeteries in Hastings, Rochester and St.
Peter. By August 2007, approximately 1500 more named grave markers will be installed, along with other physical cemetery improve-
“ . . . the Rosemont Cemetery, where the earliest residents of the Rochester State Hospital are buried, is completely missing.” ments, such as signage, fencing and landscaping. The second cemetery con-
nected to the Rochester State Hospital came to life October 1st, when close to 200 people gathered there for a ceremony, organized by the Rochester State Hospital Cemetery Recognition Group and RWD. The event recognized the 2019 people buried in numbered graves. The old, impersonal numbered markers—found discarded in the nearby woods—were set out on graves as a display, along with a typed sheet of information researched from old records. Susan Hayes, from Moline IL, came to pay her respects for RWD - cont. on p. 6
Willing To Work Longer And Harder A Tribute To John Smith by Charlie Lakin
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have known and worked with John Smith for many years. I first met him as an advocate for The Arc of Hennepin County (which has since become part of Arc Greater Twin Cities). I have gotten to know John much better in the 15 years or so that he has worked at the University of Minnesota. There is no one I’ve ever known to be more completely dedicated to increasing op-
“John’s success has been in large part because he has been willing to work longer and harder than others to accomplish what he is driven to accomplish.” portunities for persons with developmental disabilities than John Smith. His work with People First Minnesota
is legendary. During John’s Brian Abery to develop methyears as the advisor of People ods of data collection on selfFirst Minnesota, state chap- determination. He has pushed ters expanded for programs steadily and the that make perattendance at son-centered 2006 annual self-adoutcomes the Charlie vocacy conferfocus of qualSmith ences grew ity assessment. from dozens to He has worked Award hundreds of to increase acWinner: participants. cess for people John is known with developJohn for never balkmental disSmith ing at loading abilities to his car with homes of their self-advocates own. He has and heading to distant parts of written and spoken about (and the state whenever and wher- exemplified) the importance ever there was hope that a of self-determination and new self-advocacy group leadership as key goals of the might result. developmental experiences of children and youth with disJohn’s work in self-advocacy abilities. is just one reflection of his passion for increasing self- John is also well known for determination for people with his commitment to environdisabilities. In his research mental stewardship and supwork at the University of Min- port of wilderness and advennesota, John has teamed with ture opportunities for all. He
has long and often been recognized for his volunteer and trip leadership work at Wilderness Inquiry. This outdoor passion has spilled over into John’s work at the Institute on Community Integration, where he has been a key figure in joint initiatives between Wilderness Inquiry and the University of Minnesota. Together they have developed and evaluated programs that increase outdoor adventure opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and members of their fami-
“John is known for never balking at loading his car with selfadvocates and heading to distant parts of the state whenever and wherever there was hope that a new self-advocacy group might result.”
Mary Kay Kennedy and JoAnn Cardenas Enos acknowledging John G. Smith, the 2006 Charlie Smith Award winner lies. Finally, John has been active in publicizing the outcomes of these initiatives in publications and presentations. I am generally hesitant to speak of someone’s disability as adding an important subtext to what they are able to accomplish. But on a personal level it is significant in my appreciation of all that John
has accomplished that he has done so with substantial physical handicap. His substantial knowledge and skills notwithstanding, John’s success has been in large part because he has been willing to work longer and harder than others to accomplish what he is driven to accomplish. In that way John has enriched his world—and those of us who Award - cont. on p. 8