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Inside ■ Get banquet tickets–pg 3 ■ Happy 20th!–pg 7 ■ Be a volunteer–pg 10
H i s t o r y
N o t e
“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.”
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— C. S. Lewis
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Volume 21, Number 9
Minnesota’s Disability
Community Newspaper
September 10, 2010
Celebrating 125 years by Access Press staff Renaissance of the Minnesota Deaf is the theme of the Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens’ (MADC) 125th anniversary celebration. The organization began in 1885 in Faribault. Members are looking back at their history September 25 through October 2, with events throughout the state. A full list of events appears on www.minndeaf.org/125 years and on MADC 125th Anniversary on Facebook. Volunteers have planned numerous activities to commemorate the anniversary. On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26, Faribault is the place to be. A homecoming celebration is planned at the Minnesota State Academy of the Deaf, with deaf heritage bus tours. Visitors will see significant sites and buildings, including the graves of those who lived at the academy. They can also attend an open house and interpretive tours, hosted by MSAD and the Alumni Association Museum. On Sunday, Sept. 26, the action moves to Minneapolis. A celebration of deaf fellowCharles Thompson Memorial Hall is the nation’s oldest deaf social club. For informaship is planned at the North tion about activities there, check the Web site thdeafclub.com Photo by Jane McClure Central University Sanctuary.
NCU is located at 910 Elliot Ave. That will be followed by a brunch at the university’s gymnasium, hosted by the Junior National Association for the Deaf. In the afternoon the whole family can enjoy oldfashioned fun and games. Many other activities are planned in the Twin Cities and statewide during the week. The week’s activities Sept. 27-30 include the Gallaudet University traveling exhibit about the life and work of deaf architect Olof Hanson, art exhibits at the Minneapolis Art Institute, deaf heritage bus tours, ASL storytelling at the Merriam Park Branch of the St. Paul Public Library, an open house at Metro Deaf School/Minnesota Northstar Academy, a “red hat” tea party and a Minnesota Twins game Sept. 30 with a tribute to a deaf/hard of hearing audience. Much attention will be focused on Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, which stands at the corner of Fairview and Marshall avenues in St. Paul. Many people have passed by that building countless times, without knowing its unique heritage in the state and nation.
Thompson Hall is the nation’s first and oldest clubhouse for the deaf. It is a local historic site in the City of St. Paul, winning designation from the City Council and mayor in 1995. MADC History Chairman Douglas Bahl has extensively researched Thompson Hall history and his history appears online. Thompson Hall was dedicated on Nov. 5, 1916, and was named in honor of the late Charles Thompson. Thompson was a St. Paul civic leader and leader in the growing Minnesota deaf activist community in the late 19th and early 20th century. After his death in 1915, his widow Margaret built the hall in his memory, keeping alive his dream that there be clubhouse for deaf Minnesotans. The three-story brick structure, designed by Thompson family friend Olof Hanson, cost $45,000 to build. It has stone and terra cotta trim, a large front staircase and a large porch. An additional $45,000 was set aside for building maintenance and a five-member Board of Trustees was set up MADC - cont. on p. 5
Restraints hearing delayed; families still want answers by Jane McClure Debate over use of restraints and seclusion as punishments at the Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) facility in Cambridge continues. A hearing set for August 30 was postponed as attorneys for the state and for families affected by METO’s practices discussed a possible settlement. That raised hopes that a settlement would end the legal dispute, which has gone on for more than a year. But the hearing is now rescheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21 in U.S. District Court in downtown St. Paul. The
Jensen, Brinker/Allen and Jacobs families will argue for class action status in the case. They also will renew their request for a temporary injunction that would prohibit the use of various types of restraints and the use of seclusion at METO, which is a program of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. DHS and DHS staff are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The families involved are the Jensen, Brinker/Allen and Jacobs families. The Jensens were the initial plaintiffs. The Brinker/Allens and Jacobs
families joined the case later. All allege abuse of their children at METO, through use of restraints as well as seclusion. The families contend that restraints and seclusion were used improperly on their developmentally disabled children. Their intent is to get the practices to stop, arguing that there are more appropriate ways to handle behavior problems. The preliminary injunction would cover all types of restraints, including mechanical restraints, manual restraints, HEARING - cont. on p. 13
Minnesota State Services for the Blind was one of many groups represented at the Minnesota State Fair, which wrapped up on Labor Day. Volunteer Joan Lindusky, left, handed out jokes in Braille to visitors. Look for more state fair photos on page 5. Photo by Jane McClure