October 2011 Edition - Access Press

Richard Devylder Pg 14

Volume 22, Number 10

Accomplishments celebrated by state council

by Access Press staff

National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the accomplishments of Minnesotans with disabilities were celebrated Sept. 26 at the Minnesota State Council on Disability (MNSCOD) annual luncheon and awards ceremony. MNSCOD is a state agency that provides leadership to empower and strengthen the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities.

The luncheon featured keynote speaker Richard Devylder. In July 2010, President Barak Obama appointed him as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s first Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation.

Devylder, who has a significant disability himself, advises the department on the development and execution of effective policy strategies aimed at providing accessible transportation for all Americans. Devylder gave an excellent presentation on emergency preparedness and warned all of us to take the Accomplishments- p. 14

Senator Linda Berglin & Diogo Reis

October 10, 2011

www.accesspress.org The quarterly Access Press Directory of Organizations (DOO) is included in this issue. Pull it out, save it and use it as a resource to find service providers, businesses and groups that serve Minnesota’s disability community.

The easy-to-use category headings will help you find everything you need, from advocacy groups to vision loss resources. The DOO is also featured on our website, www.accesspress.org, to help you 24/7.

And if your business or group isn’t in the DOO, what are you waiting for?

Read more about it on pages 9-12.

Thompson Hall seeks national status

by Jane McClure

Supporters of Thompson Hall, the nation’s oldest and largest social hall for the deaf, have taken a key step in getting their building named to the National Register of Historic Places. The St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) unanimously voted Sept. 15 to support the nomination. A letter of support for designation will go to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

SHPO will consider the request for historic designation Nov. 1. A recommendation from SHPO then goes to the National Parks Service, which oversees the National Register.

HPC members agreed that Thompson Hall is worthy of historic designation on a national scale due to the building’s ongoing function as a social hall and gathering place for deaf and hard of hearing Minnesotans. The building is more than 90 years old.

Thompson Hall, which is at 1824 Marshall Ave., and Hamline United Methodist Church Thompson Hall is vying for National Register of Historic Places status. in Hamline-Midway neighborhood are the Photo by Jane McClure two St. Paul sites that SHPO will consider Nov. 1. The church also won a vote of support Thompson Hall. The commission has worked Sept. 15 for its National Register request. Unwith SHPO and the Minnesota Association of der the nomination guidelines, Mayor Chris Deaf Citizens to prepare the National Register Coleman can also weigh in prior to Nov. 1. request for Thompson Hall.

If the two buildings do find spots on the Na“We all believe that Thompson Hall is detional Register, they will join 105 other St. serving of this nomination, as it is a truly Paul buildings, bridges and neighborhood disunique building that was specifically designed tricts approved could be added to the National and built as a clubhouse and civic center for Register of Historic Places. continuous use by the deaf community. It was Teika Pakalns, senior project manager for a gift from a deaf woman in memory of her the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard deaf husband’s desire to give the deaf commuof Hearing Minnesotans, was one of four people who attended the public hearing for Thompson Hall - p. 8

James S. Krause, Ph.D

Award winner’s story is about the people in his life

by Jane McClure

From row, left to right: Stephen Barriteau, vice president, Chief Development Officer, Courage Center; James Krause, Ph.D.; former Minnesota Viking Bob Lee. Back row, left to right: Christian Manley, personal care assistant to Dr. Krause; Laura Krause, wife of Dr. Krause; Janice Lee, wife of Bob Lee; Martha Swenson, senior director, Transitional Rehabilitation Program, Courage Center; Julie Flanagan, director of Nursing, Courage Center.

Photo courtesy of Vicki McEvoy

2011 Medtronic National Courage Award winner James S. Krause, Ph.D., has a long and distinguished resume of academic accomplishments. Kraus is a professor and associate dean for Research in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. He is a leading national expert and researcher who specializes in health and longevity following a spinal cord injury.

Krause is also a man with deep roots in Minnesota, as

he is a native of Wadena and a University Minnesota alumnus. And he also is someone who believes in the value of people, dating back to his days as a 16-year-old who had sustained a spinal cord injury at the C4-5 level. Access Press spoke to Krause on the eve of his Courage Center award ceremony Sept. 24.

“This is a great honor,” said Krause of his award. “I was aware of the past honorees through my connections to Courage Center and I often thought how cool it would be to receive the award.”

Medtronic award winner- p. 7

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities. MN Permit No. 4766 Address Service Requested

“My motto about Medicaid is that fair isn’t when everybody gets the same thing. Fair is when everybody gets what they need” Caroline Levy, Arlington, Va

NEWS DIGEST

We hope to see you Friday, Nov. 4 for the Access Press Charlie Smith Award banquet.

Join us!

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Read about a remarkable group, the Pink Deafies, and see them on TPT in October.

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Collaboration for an new program designed to get more people with disabilities into the work force.

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Radio Talking Book has announced some changes in children’s programming.

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Opportunity Partners luncheon to spotlight the hiring of employees with disabilities: 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Doubletree Park Place, St. Louis Park.

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INSIDE Regional News, pg 6 People & Places, pp 13-14 Radio Talking Book, pg 15 Accessible Fun, pg 16 Events, pg 17

Pg 2 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

EDITOR’S DESK

Tim Benjamin It’s been a very active month for us at Access Press. After 15 years in the Griggs Midway Building, Access Press has signed a lease to move to a new location. We will be occupying an office space on the 9th floor of the Kelly Inn, overlooking the Department of Transportation, the State Office Building, the Capitol and downtown St. Paul, where most of the offices for the Department of Human Services are located. Because we’ll be closer to the Capitol, we think we can improve our coverage of legislative issues. We also hope that the office will be more convenient for our readers and advocacy colleagues. After the move, we’ll invite you to drop in—during the legislative session and throughout the year. Oh, and did I mention cheaper rent? We’ll have more money to spend on the content of the paper instead of on real estate.

The move will take place after the Charlie Smith Award event on Friday, November 4. This year we are recognizing Jeff Bangsberg for all his accomplishments. Once again, the award banquet will be held at the Airport Marriott in Bloomington. Reserve your tickets if you haven’t yet, and if you can, please also help to sponsor the event. You can join one of the many generous organizations that sponsor tables, or contribute to our popular silent auction with a special

item. Sponsorship opportunities will be ending soon, so please call to sign up and contribute to this magnificent night where recognition will be shown to Jeff Bangsberg and to all of Access Press’s sponsors and supporters.

I have been lucky enough to attend two outstanding award celebrations in the past month. On September 24 was the National Courage Award banquet, where my admission was courtesy of UCare Minnesota. The keynote speaker was James Krause, Ph.D., this year’s recipient of the National Courage Award. After a diving accident in 1971 left him with a C5-6 spinal cord injury, Dr. Krause did rehab at Courage Center from 1976 to 1979. It was an extraordinary night for Courage Center, as Dr. Krause is the first recipient of the award who had also been one of their residents. “At the time I was injured there was very little hope of ever walking, because in that time it was just not realistic. So my goal was to continue growing and moving forward,” said Krause. With the help of Minnesota rehab services, and the drive he gained from supporters in his hometown of Wadena to make something of himself, he worked his way through the University of Minnesota to earn his BA in 1980 and his Ph.D. in 1990. With his doctorate, he went on to a career in research on spinal cord injuries. Now, as Associate Dean for Research at the Medical University of South Carolina, his department’s research is focused on the

secondary complications of spinal cord injury and how to ensure the greatest quality of life for those who live with a spinal cord injury.

The State Council on Disability held its 2011 Annual Awards Luncheon two days later on September 26. The keynote speaker was Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation. President Obama appointed Devylder to his position. He is an expert in many areas and his talk at the luncheon concerned emergency or disaster preparedness. Devylder dove right into a PowerPoint presentation that was interesting and fact-filled. He was very straightforward, even apologizing for his bluntness.

But he said that we as people with disabilities need to unlearn any sense of helplessness about disasters. He said there’s plenty that we can do to be prepared, and went on to provide many helpful steps. For instance, he asked the audience how many of us have a current contact list that is available to someone close but not in our household. Few hands went up, and I’m sure many in the audience realized (like I did), that there are a lot of things we can do to be more prepared. The longer he spoke, the more I realized how ill-prepared I am. If you’re feeling as unprepared as I, I suggest you get in contact with the State Council and get the emergency preparedness brochures that they have. In fact, I will see if I can get copies to distribute at the Charlie Smith Award event on Friday, November 4! Hope to see you there. ■

HISTORY NOTE

Pink Deafies provide support during cancer battles

by Jane McClure

Fresh off of its showing at the Twin Cities Film Festival, Signing On: Stories of Deaf Breast Cancer Survivors, Their Families and the Deaf Community will be shown on Twin Cities Public Television this month. Director Barbara Allen’s documentary shares

Volume 22, Number 10 • Periodicals Imprint: Pending ISSN Co-Founder/Publisher (1990-1996) Wm. A. Smith, Jr. Co-Founder/Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief (1990-2001) Charles F. Smith Board of Directors Brigid Alseth Steve Anderson Kristin Jorenby Anita Schermer Carrie Salberg Kay Willshire Cartoonist Scott Adams

Advertising Sales 651-644-3139 Executive Director Tim Benjamin Assistant Editor Jane McClure Business Manager/Webmaster Dawn Frederick Production Ellen Houghton with Presentation Images Distribution S. C. Distribution

Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed.

We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Editorial material does not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/publisher of Access Press.

Paid advertising is available at rates ranging from $12 to $28 per column inch, depending on size and frequency of run. Classified ads are $14, plus 65 cents per word over 12 words. Advertising and editorial deadlines are the last day of the month preceding publication, except for employment ads, which are due by the 25th.

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 450 copies are mailed directly to individuals, including political, business, institutional and civic leaders. Subscriptions are available for $30/yr. Low-income, student and bulk subscriptions are available at discounted rates.

Inquiries and address changes should be directed to: Access Press 1821 University Ave. W. Suite 104S St. Paul, MN 55104 651-644-2133 Fax: 651-644-2136 email: access@accesspress.org www.accesspress.org

the store of a group of deaf breast cancer survivors who are known as the Pink Deafies.

The film provides a glimpse into the diversity within the deaf community through the stories of five women and follows the inspiring story of Anita O’Hara Buel, a two-time cancer survivor and founder of the only cancer support group for deaf women in the country, the Pink Deafies. The film gives historical perspective to the problems that people who are deaf face in accessing the health care system. The Pink Deafies members struggle with communication in the hearing-dominated, health care system, where patient/provider communication, Communication is vital and can mean life or death.

During filming, Buel and her family unexpectedly learn the real truth of her prognosis some 25 years ago and also must face the realities of a previously unknown genetic condition that could affect other family members. (Sadly, her sister has also been found to have breast cancer and recently went through treatment.)

United under the banner of a quilt, the Pink Deafies

meet monthly to offer support to one another, to plan educational conferences, and to discuss how to reach out to more women who might benefit from the group’s work. In this way, the Pink Deafies are not like any support group in the hearing world.

Because they are members of a close-knit community, the women’s commitment to the support group and to each other lasts for years, often a lifetime. The quilt is the centerpiece of the group. When a new member joins the Pink Deafies, she is asked to sign her name to a quilt square. The signing of a person’s name is followed by food and socializing. It marks the beginning of that person’s journey to health and wellbeing.

If a member dies, the quilt is displayed at the funeral (with the family’s permission). If a member is diagnosed a second time, they find special ways to offer support.

Buel, a founding member of the Pink Deafies, is a trained Community Health Worker (CHW) and a survivor of breast and ovarian cancer. She functions as a patient navigator for survivors of cancer and their families.

Buel’s family, the O’Haras, is a longtime St. Paul family, with roots in the Merriam Park neighborhood. Buel’s father, John, was a great boxer who once sparred with Gene Tunney. The family name was originally Ehrlich and the neighborhood legend is that it was much better to be an Irish boxer than a German one, so the family name was changed to O’Hara.

Twin Cities Public Television will air the program on channels 2.1 and 2.2. On Channel 2.1 the History Note - p. 4

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

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Fiday, Nov. 4

Access Press Charlie Smith Award banquet is not to be missed Access Press invites everyone to come and celebrate with us Friday, Nov. 4 at the annual Charlie Smith Award Banquet. Every year Minnesota’s disability community celebrates its accomplishments and honors a person, group or organization for outstanding service.

This year’s banquet will be held again at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott in Bloomington. The hotel is at 2020 East American Boulevard, Bloomington.

Tickets are $45 per person or $325 for an 8-person table (save $35). Order tickets online at www.access press.org, call the office at 651-644-2133 or send a check to Access Press, 1821 University Av. W., Suite 104S, St. Paul, MN 55104. For mail orders, put Att’n: Dawn on the envelope. Checks should be written to Access Press with the notation tickets on the subject line.

Doors open at 5:30 pm, with the silent auction and raffle getting underway then. Enjoy a beverage and social time, see your friends and bid on your favorite items. Items include gifts, sports and theater tickets.

The sit-down dinner and award ceremony start at 7 p.m.

Enjoy music by Larry McDonough and a speech by Jeff Bangsberg, this year’s award winner. Bangsberg is honored for decades of service to the disability community, in several capacities. The award is named for the newspaper’s founding editor, the late Charlie Smith Jr. He was a longtime disability community ac-

tivist and journalist. Bangsberg was chosen from a large field of nominees. One nominee’s biography was inadvertently left out of the September issue of Access Press: Richard A. Brown Richard Brown has a variety of passions that center around his community involvement. He is a person who looks at where and how he might help, whether it has to do with helping raise money for causes, as he puts it, for the truly needy, such as Toys for Tots or Made in the Shade. His visual art has been recognized as groundbreaking and “jaw-dropping” in its beauty.

Kent Fordyce, Access Press accountant visits with friends during the social hour.

Carrie Salberg, front left, and Brigid Alseth, front right mingled early in the evening at last year’s event.

Luther Granquist will be the emcee for this year's Charlie Awards.

Photos by Catherine Whipple

His art, which can take months to create, now sells for hundreds of dollars; all while breaking stereotypes about people with disabilities. Brown is an advocate, volunteer, writer, editor and artist. He is a person with cerebral palsy but doesn’t allow that to define him, according to the person who nominated him.

Past winners of the award are: 2010: Steve Kuntz, Minnesota Department of Energy and Economic Development (DEED) 2009: Anne Henry, Minnesota Disability Law Center 2008: Pete Feigal, Co-Founder of Tilting at Windmills 2007: Jim and Claudia Carlisle, People Enhancing People 2006: John Smith, University of MN 2005: Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) 2004: Rick Cardenas, Co-Director of Advocating Change Together (ACT) 2003: Margot Imdieke Cross, Minnesota State Council on Disability ■

Kevin Sullivan outlined his plans for an exciting night to Access Press editor Tim Benjamin.

Sullivan passed away earlier this year.

Call 651-644-2133 to purchase your tickets to the Access Press Charlie Smith Awards banquet.

Pg 4 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

At Dunwoody

New Twin Cities program helps people get back to work People with disabilities face high unemployment rates as well as assumptions that they cannot work. A creative new retail training program, offered

by Opportunity Partners and Arc Greater Twin Cities in cooperation with Dunwoody College of Technology, will provide training to get more people into the work force.

The program should boost job opportunities and eventually greater independence for people with disabilities.

The certified training program is designed around existing jobs and employer needs, and developed into course curriculum by Dunwoody’s Custom Training & Continuing

Education department. Opportunity Partners adapts the curriculum to be delivered to students with disabilities. Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store & Donation Center serves as the training site. Currently, five students ages 18-21 are taking part in the pilot program. Once they graduate from the fiveweek program, they will earn a joint certificate from Opportunity Partners and Dunwoody College.

“With our expertise in how people with disabilities learn, Dunwoody’s experience in curriculum development, and the opportunity to use Arc’s Value Village stores for community-based training, we

Getting people back to work helps build self-esteem as well as providing a job.

make a dynamic team for people with disabilities who want to train and succeed in employment,” said Opportunity Partners President & CEO George Klauser.

This is the second certified educational track in which Opportunity Partners has collaborated with Dunwoody. The first program, professional cleaning was launched in 2010.

“We want to raise the bar on employment of people with disabilities,” said Kim Keprios, Chief Executive Officer of Arc Greater Twin Cities. “Having a job opens doors to a better life. Work brings us purpose, greater financial security, and social connections and friendships. We all want to take pride in what we do and in knowing we are contributing to the community.”

The need for increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities is great, as illustrated in a June national study by The Arc. Still in the Shadows with Their Future Uncertain, a report on Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS), outlines the many challenges people with intellectual/developmental disabilities face in trying to find work. In 1988, only 21,000 people with I/DD were participating in supported/competitive employment in the U.S. By

History note - from p. 2 show airs at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23. On Channel 2.2 the show will air at 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 28; and 2:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 29.

Would you like to make history?

Access Press is interested in reader submissions for the monthly History Note column, to complement the articles written by Luther Granquist

and other contributors. Submissions must center on events, people and places in the history of Minnesota’s disability community. We are in interested in history that focuses on all types of physical and cognitive disabilities, so long as the history has a tie to Minnesota. We are especially interested in stories from Greater Minnesota.

Please submit ideas prior to submitting full stories, as we

may have covered the topic before. Past History Note articles can be found on www.accesspress.org Contact us at access@accesspress.org or 651-644-2133 if you have questions.

The History Note is a monthly column sponsored by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, www.mncdd.org and www.partnersin policymaking.com ■

Diamond Hill Townhomes Diamond Hill Townhomes is a great property located near the Minneapolis International Airport. Our waiting list is currently closed. Call for updated openings as this can change from time to time.

We have two and three bedroom townhomes that are HUD subsidized and rent is 30% of the total household's adjusted gross income.

We have a large number of mobility impaired accessible units.

To check for future waiting list openings please call (612) 726-9341.

Workers take a break from their duties.

Photos courtesy of The Arc Greater Twin Cities and Paula Keller

2006, more than 117,000 people were participating in supported/ competitive employment.

The report indicates that many more people could be working. In a survey that was part of this same report, 85 percent of families indicated that adult family members with I/DD were not employed, either full-time or part-time. Of the 15 percent who said their family member was employed, only 41 percent worked in a regular job in the community.

Just over half of them earn at least minimum wage.

In the new Opportunity Partners-Arc-Dunwoody program, enrollees earn $7.25 per hour during the training. The pilot covers three levels of retail associate training and on-the-job work experience. Both Opportunity Partners and Arc Greater Twin Cities have raised funds through donations and grants to supplement costs of the pilot program.

Opportunity Partners is a Twin Cities nonprofit organi-

zation serving 1,700 people with disabilities annually through employment, training and residential programs. More information can be found at www.OpportunityPartners.org Arc Greater Twin Cities is an advocacy organization whose mission is to help all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families realize their goals of where and how they live, learn, work and play. More information can be found at www.Arcgreatertwincities.org Dunwoody College of Technology is a private, not-forprofit, endowed institution of higher education. It is one of the few institutions of its kind in the nation, and has been a champion of applied education throughout its history. Its mission is to provide students with a high-quality technical education that result in an immediate job and a fulfilling career.

More information can be found at www.dunwoody.edu ■

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

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Get your flu shot and have a happier, healthier winter From the Centers for Disease Control

Who should get a flu shot this fall? According to the CDC, everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year. This recommendation has been in place since February 2010 when CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu to more people.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that people with disabilities and others in high-risk groups get vaccinated either because they are at risk of having serious flu–related complications.

Pregnant women, children younger than age five, people 50 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions and people who live in nursing

homes and other long–term care facilities need an annual flu shot. So do people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including health care workers, household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu, Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than six months of age. These children are too young to be vaccinated.

Many of us saw the flu shot reminder signs going up around Labor Day. Flu vaccine shipments began in August and will continue throughout September and October until all vaccine is distributed. Doctors and nurses are encouraged to begin vaccinating their patients as soon as flu vaccine is available in their areas. See your doctor or nurse to get the flu vaccine, or seek out other locations where vaccine is being offered.

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the three influenza viruses that experts predict will be the most common during the upcoming season.

Each season, this includes an influenza B virus, an influenza A (H1N1) virus and an influenza A (H3N2) virus.

The 2011–12 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.

The CDC recommends an influenza vaccine every year as the first and best way to pro-

tect against getting the flu. By two weeks after vaccination, the body develops antibodies to protect against the viruses in the vaccine. Those antibodies help protect people from influenza viruses if they come in contact with them later.

However multiple studies conducted over different seasons and across vaccine types and influenza virus subtypes have shown that the body’s immunity to influenza viruses (acquired either through natural infection or vaccination) declines over time. The decline in antibodies is influenced by several factors, including a person’s age, the antigen used

in the vaccine, and the person’s general health. For example, certain chronic health conditions may have an impact on immunity.

Even if a person got vaccinated last year, the level of immunity from a vaccine received last season is expected to have declined.

For information on flu shots, ask you health care provider or your city or county health department. One good source of information in Minnesota is www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ idepc/diseases/flu/index.html For detailed information on flu, go to www.cdc.gov/Features/FLU/ ■

TO THE EDITOR

Turn in snowy sidewalks and keep us safer To the editor: I have worked to get St. Paul sidewalks shoveled in the winter to enable people with mobility problems to use the sidewalks. St. Paul Smart Trips developed a door hanger to tell property owners to shovel their sidewalks.

To get a sidewalk shoveled, a disabled person just needs to call the City of St. Paul with the address. Call 651-2668989. I have been told that Minneapolis and the suburbs have similar systems.

I live in the Seal Hi-Rise on Raymond, a block north of University. I got the entire sidewalk between my building and the sidewalk (last) winter shoveled to the concrete with the exception of one stretch of parking lot that is zoned residential. It is

shoveled better than it has been, but it is not to the concrete. Two people have told me how much they appreciate being able to reach the University 16 bus stop easily. I am on You Tube and Google for my efforts.

It would be good if disabled people knew the phone number to call in their areas if the sidewalks are not shoveled. St. Paul won’t do anything without an address because they need it to identify the property owner.

Linda M. Mainquist St. Paul Editor’s note: Access Press thanks Linda M. Mainquist for this timely reminder. To report unshoveled sidewalks in Minneapolis, call 311 or visit www.ci.minneapolis.

mn.us/311 For other communities, contact your city hall.

In most Minnesota cities, sidewalks must be cleared of snow and ice 24 hours after a snowfall. Not doing so can result in city crews coming out to do the shoveling. The property owner is then assessed a fine.

If you are a senior citizen or a person with a disability who needs help shoveling snow, Minneapolis city officials keep a list of community groups that do shoveling for a small fee.

Call 612-673-3004 for help. In St. Paul, contact your neighborhood district council.

In the Twin Cities, call United Way 211 for help with shoveling. Or try www. minnesotahelp.info/public/ for resources for people with disabilities and senior citizens. ■

From Scott Adams’ viewpoint

Pg 6 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Many must change health plans

REGIONAL NEWS Charges filed in group home death Charges have been filed in the Aug. 28 death of Gerald Hyska, who drowned at a state-run group home near Braham. Devra C. Stiles was charged Sept.

29 with second-degree manslaughter for “her culpable negligence,” according to a complaint filed in Isanti County. Stiles was supposed to be watching Hyska as he had a bath but left him alone in the tub to take a phone call.

It still isn’t clear how long Hyska was left alone in the tub. Hyska’s care plan said he should never be left alone in a bathtub and required around-the-clock assistance, court records show. He lived at the residence with three other people with disabilities. Hyska, 56, was born with severe brain damage and was quadriplegic, blind and unable to speak.

Stiles was the lone staff member on duty the night of the drowning. Prosecutors claim that it took Stiles nearly 30 minutes to call 911 after ending the phone call with her son.

Gov. Mark Dayton and state officials are closely watching the case, which has already prompted changes in how quickly deaths at state-run facilities are reported to top managers at the state Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS continues its own investigation.

Stiles, 62, faces up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. In a past Star Tribune interview, her husband said his wife was a 37-year state employee with an excellent work record. He said that staff cuts had made her job harder and that answering the phone was a critical part of her responsibilities. She also had to lift residents in and out of the tub by herself because there was no equipment. ■ [Source: Star Tribune]

This fall more than 70,000 Twin Cities residents enrolled in state health insurance programs must choose new plans. This is because a new program at the Minnesota Department of Human Services is being implemented. By putting managed care contracts out for competitive bids, state officials hope to save money in the Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare health programs. Gov. Mark Dayton asked his administration to implement competitive bidding for healthmaintenance organizations (HMOs) in the sevencounty metro area to test whether such a program can reduce overall costs. Five HMOs now have contracts with the state to manage the public programs in some or all of the seven counties. But next year, at least two and possibly three of those options won’t be available in some of the counties.

This change affects many people with disabilities.

Medical Assistance is Minnesota’s version of the state-federal Medicaid health insurance program, which serves lower-income residents and people with disabilities. The state hires HMOs to manage care for

about 70 percent of the state’s 732,500 Medical Assistance recipients in the state. MinnesotaCare is a state health insurance program for people with slightly higher incomes. About 132,000 people are enrolled in the program.

HMOs came under fire this spring when media reports focused on their profits. Health plan operating income from state health programs came in at $130.8 million for 2010, up from $98.7 million in 2009.

In September the Department of Human Services mailed about 74,000 letters to beneficiaries under the age of 65 whose health plans won’t be renewed for 2012. Callers to a Medica customer service line for public programs, for example, heard a recorded message: “If you have recently received a plan change notice in the mail and are calling with questions, press one.”

But because some negotiations are still in progress final details of plans and impacts on clients aren’t clear. Anyone with questions should call his or her HMO for details. ■ [Source: Pioneer Press, Star Tribune]

Woman accused of beating is found guilty

Suicide program in peril

A woman accused of beating her husband, who is a stroke survivor and uses a wheelchair, was found guilty in Pope County in September. Loretta Buhl, 36, of Glenwood, was accused of blaming the beating on an intruder in their home.

Buhl called police in November 2010 and claimed an intruder entered the family home, beat her husband and assaulted her. Her husband sustained head trauma and broken ribs. Local and state law enforcement officials soon found that the story about an intruder was untrue, and she was found guilty this week of thirddegree assault and falsely reporting a crime. Buhl will be sentenced Nov. 16 and faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. ■ [Source: Pioneer Press]

The Minnesota National Guard leads the country in the number of soldiers who have committed suicide.

But a Lutheran Social Services program that has been shown to successfully prevent suicides in the state’s military may run out of money by year’s end. The program is spending $50, to $70,000 a month, and only has a $500,000 state allocation. More funding won’t be available until June at the earliest, leaving the only option a federally-funded program based outside of Minnesota.

“We run a real risk of being victims of our own success,” Mary Beth Galey, senior director of counseling and adoption for Lutheran Social Service, the state’s largest nonprofit social service organization, told the Star Tribune. “To a great extent, we’ll probably be stuck.”

From 2007 to 2010, 18 members of the Minnesota Regional News - p. 15

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

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Medtronic award winner - from p. 1 who had been through the experience for a while The Medtronic National Courage Award, presented Humphrey, who made sure Krause’s brother could come home from the military and help the family. could support others, and make sure people weren’t annually by Courage Center and the Medtronic FounAnother important community that supported by themselves on their anniversary date.” dation, recognizes an individual’s outstanding contriKrause and helped move him forward was at Courage After leaving Courage Center, Krause received his butions to the health, welfare and rehabilitation of Center. From 1976-79, he was a patient at Courage B.A. degree in 1980 and his Ph.D. in 1990 from the people with disabilities.

Center’s Transitional Rehabilitation Program (TRP), Department of Psychology at the University of Min“I was a Courage Center inpatient for more than known then as Courage Residence. A three-year inpa- nesota. He and his best friend from Courage Center, three years and certainly would not have been able to tient stay at Courage CenTony LeBon, lived in California for a time. accomplish nearly as much “I was not a good student.

I was very ter was common during in He then worked the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a as I have without the benthe 1970s and 1980s.

Tonationally known rehabilitation facility, for 13 years. efit of the services I reaverage—my best grades were day, the average length of “When I moved away from Minnesota, and lived in ceived there. It gave me a probably in physical education.” stay for someone with a other places, I was struck by seeing that there are foundation from which to spinal cord injury is 99 days. fewer resources for people in other states than there build. The friendships I developed there have lasted.

“It was a great, supportive environment,” Krause are here.”

Receiving this award will help me continue my work said of his Courage Center years. “I really started to Krause’s career includes many published articles in and to positively impact the lives of people with disgrow up there.” professional journals, as well as numerous awards. In abilities.”

“With numerous medical rehabilitation and 2008, Dr. Krause was inducted into the Spinal Cord Over the years, Krause’s important spinal cord inassistive technological advancements in the past 25 Injury (SCI) Hall of Fame by the National SCI Assojury research has involved more than 5,000 people. years, our client’s length of stay in the TRP has been ciation for his research in quality of life. He is quick His curriculum vitae is packed with articles and redramatically reduced,” said Martha Swenson, senior to share his successes with others, mostly his wife search that has changed many lives. While many director, Transitional Rehabilitation Program. “Our Laura and included those who have helped with his scholar-researchers focus on research in a clinical program continues to be based on a holistic approach studies. way, Krause looks at the human side.

He also offered insights into his work, saying it is “My story is really about people,” he said. Growing to rehabilitation with the belief that our clients can realize their full potential in every aspect of life.” important to focus on people and how their quality of up in Wadena, “I was not a good student. I was very “Different people talk about different phases of life can be improved. In his field, there is much deaverage – my best grades were probably in physical their lives that defined education.”

A three-year inpatient stay at Courage bate over recovery from them and this was one of special cord injuries. ReAfter his accident and injury in 1971, family memCenter was common during in the mine,” said Krause.

He covery was given a higher bers, friends and the entire community of Wadena ral1970s and 1980s. Today, the average profile in recent years by began his undergraduate lied around. “I have a wonderful family and they studies at the University made many sacrifices on my behalf.” Community length of stay for someone with a spinal the late actor Christopher Reeve. members hung a banner across Wadena’s Main Street of Minnesota, met his best cord injury is 99 days. friend, Tony LeBon and a Krause said that while to encourage him and helped his family by raising number of role models, and used the experiences as a recovery deserves research and attention, and gets $10,000 to help with medical expenses. “That was a many of the headlines, there needs to be a focus on lot of money back then, and a lot of money for people springboard for his career.

“There was nothing like it at the time,” he said of rehabilitation and helping people find the best quality in a small town to raise,” he said. Knowing the comthe TRP. “People who had led lives with disabilities of life available. He noted that it is critically impormunity was behind him helped Krause move forward hadn’t had a place where they could live and make the tant to help people make life changes that allow them and seek purpose in his life. transition to independence.” The program not only to be productive and contributing members of society.

Others stepped in to help. One person who has behelped people with rehabilitation, it also brought “We look at how so many things are tied to quality come a lifelong friend is former Minnesota Viking of life—having a job, getting an education, being in a Bob Lee, who was contacted by Krause’s mother after people with shared experiences together.

Longer-term residents would help and support new- community,” he said. Quality of life can be tied to his injury. Lee not only sent a “great big Vikings comers. Residents would mark the dates of their spihealth and lifespan. “That is the focus for me.” ■ blanket” as a gift, he and Krause became friends. Annal cord injuries together. “It would help that people other person who stepped in to help was Sen. Hubert

Air travel rules are under review

by Kathleen Corcorabn

Richard Devylder, keynote speaker for the Minnesota State Council on Disability awards luncheon Sept. 26, is the U.S. Department of Transportation advisor for accessible transportation. His speech here came at a time when there is an increased focus on complaints about air travel and accommodations for travelers with disabilities.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are more than 15 million adults in the United States with vision, auditory or mobility disabilities. About 30 percent of adults with disabilities travel by air, and the DOT expects this number to rise if it were easier to buy tickets and other services online, and to check-in using kiosks. Airlines and online travel agencies have argued, however, that the costs of achieving full accessibility are too great.

The Cornell University e-Rulemaking Initiative (CeRI) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) are working together to make it easier for the public to comment on proposed new federal regulations requiring air travel websites and airport check-in kiosks to be fully accessible to travelers with disabilities.

Travelers with disabilities, web designers, usability experts, and others with an interest in this proposal can use CeRI’s online participation site, Regulation Room (www.regulationroom.org), to get easy-to-read explanations of the proposal, look at the cost and benefit estimates, and discuss how the proposal could be improved. Then, CeRI will summarize the discussion on Regulation Room and submit it as a public comment that DOT will consider in finalizing the accessibility regulations.

“The Department’s partnership with the Cornell eRulemaking Initiative makes it easier than ever for the public to comment on our proposed rules,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I en-

courage everyone interested in our proposed website and kiosk accessibility to share their thoughts on the userfriendly Regulation Room site.”

“CeRI and DOT are both committed to getting more of the public involved meaningfully in the rulemaking process, and we believe that Regulation Room efforts so far have been quite successful,” said Cynthia Farina, Professor of Law and CeRI principal researcher. “We are especially Richard Devylder holds the audience's attention, in a nearly packed room, with his oratory excited about doing the air skills and a PowerPoint presentation.

Photo courtesy of State Council on Disability (MSCOD), Doug Knutson travel accessibility rule. DOT needs help from travelers with (law.cornell.edu), CeRI researchers consult with govdisabilities and from others with practical experience in accessible design to answer many questions the De- ernment agencies on, and engage in theoretical and applied research about, the technology and practice of partment has about creating reliable, cost-effective e-rulemaking and related areas of e-government. standards for websites and kiosks.“ Regulation Room (www.regulationroom.org) is a This is the fourth rulemaking in which DOT and CeRI are using Regulation Room to make it easier for CeRI pilot project that provides an online environment for people and groups to learn about, discuss, ordinary people to participate effectively in important and react to selected rules proposed by federal agengovernment policy decisions. “We look forward to cies. Contributions become part of a formal public again providing an open, transparent, and collaboracomment prepared by CeRI researchers and submitted tive forum for people to have their voices heard on an to the federal agency for use in preparation of a final important federal policy initiative,” said Farina. ruling. Regulation Room is supported by grants from The Cornell e-Rulemaking Initiative (CeRI) is a the National Science Foundation, Google, and the multidisciplinary research collaboration bringing toIBM Center for the Business of Government. gether Cornell University faculty and students from Regulation Room on Facebook: http:// Computing and Information Science, Law, and the www.facebook.com/regulationroom Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution. Working Regulation Room on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ with legal informatics professionals at the Legal Inregulationroom ■ formation Institute at Cornell Law School

Pg 8 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Thompson Hall - from p. 1 It was erected in 19151916. Since then it has been used by numerous organizations that serve the deaf and hard of hearing. The Thompson Hall Deaf Club and Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens are two of the hall’s most frequent users.

Pakalns emphasized the importance of Thompson Hall to generations of deaf Minnesotans. She also said the deaf community has worked hard over the years to maintain Thompson Hall as a “cherished building.”

HPC Chairman John Manning replied that the HPC is grateful for the deaf community’s stewardship of Thompson Hall.

Pakalns noted that the nity a place to gather and position it for receiving building is worthy of hisfind strength in numbers, preservation and intertoric designation because and it was designed by a pretation funding so that it not only has a unique deaf architect,” Pakalns it can become even more history, it has also served said. accessible to both the its original mission all of “Achieving National community and the pubthese years. Many hisRegister designation will lic.” toric buildings have had not only establish ThPakalns testified with a change or changes in ompson Hall’s historical the assistance of an uses. significance as a building American Sign Language St. Paul HPC is conthat continues to serve its (ASL) interpreter. sidered a certified local original mission, but also The building honors government agency and recognize is qualified to the historiHeritage Preservation Commission is review and cal contribuweigh in on tions of the grateful for the deaf community’s National Regstewardship of Thompson Hall. deaf comister nominamunity in tions, said city establishing Charles Thompson, a historic preservation speand maintaining this prominent St. Paul comcialist Amy Spong. The cherished building, and munity leader as well as HPC has four members furthermore encourage a leader and activist in who are architectural histhe community to preMinnesota’s early deaf torians or historians. serve and utilize it for the community in the late They are the ones who future,” she added. “The 19th and early 20th cenare tasked with reviewNational Register desigtury. After his death his ing the National Register nation will also serve to widow Margaret, who application, under Naincrease awareness about was also deaf, gave the tional Parks Service crithis unique ‘living hisbuilding to Minnesota’s teria. tory’ property, and better deaf community as a gift.

The HPC members

who reviewed the ThFerguson also noted redevelopment is also ompson Hall application that Thompson Hall arbeing done with an eye said the building merits a chitect Olof Hanson was toward use of the state place on the National one of the first deaf arand federal historic credRegister. HPC member chitects to gain national its. and St. Paul historian prominence. “This buildThompson Hall was Steve Trimble noted that ing meets the National built at a cost of $45,000.

Thompson Hall was deRegister criteria in It is three stories tall and signed with large winspades,” Ferguson said. made of brick, with stone dows and high-ceiling The brick building has and terra cotta features. It rooms so that people who had local historic desighas a large front staircase sign to communicate can nation status since 1995, and prominent porch. Afsee each other better. part of a group of more ter Thompson Hall was Lights, built, an addiswitched on and tional $45,000 Lights, switched on and off, off, were hiswas set aside for were historically used to call torically used to building maintemeetings to order. call meetings to nance and a fiveorder. member Board of “Architecturally, it’s a than a dozen sites around Trustees was set up to really unqiue building,” the city given local hismanage the trust fund.

Trimble said. “And toric status at that time.

Four Thompson family there’s a real sense of National Register stamembers and one deaf community there.” tus also allows for a person made up the first HPC member Robert building owner to seek board. Thompson family Ferguson is a former state and federal historic members continued on neighbor of Thompson tax credits. Several prop- the board until 1951. The Hall, and remarked on erties around the city board is now made up of how actively it is used by have used historic tax deaf community memthe deaf community. He credits for rehabilitation bers and it is a nonprofit noted it was the first-ever projects, including the organization. ■ clubhouse specifically Carleton Lofts on Unibuilt for the deaf in the versity Avenue. The onUnited States. going Schmidt Brewery

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Pg 9

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EDUCATION Community Education Network on Disabilities

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CONTINUED

BDC Management Co. is now accepting applications for our waiting lists at the following affordable communities Albright Townhomes Buffalo Court Apartments Elliot Park Apartments Evergreen Apartments Franklin Lane Apartments Hanover Townhomes Lincoln Place Apartments Olson Towne Homes Prairie Meadows Talmage Green Trinity Apartments Unity Place Vadnais Highlands Willow Apartments Woodland Court Apartments

Minneapolis Buffalo Minneapolis Hutchinson Anoka St. Paul Mahtomedi Minneapolis Eden Prairie Minneapolis Minneapolis Brooklyn Center Vadnais Heights Little Falls Park Rapids

(612) 824-6665 (763) 684-1907 (612) 338-3106 1-800-661-2501 (763) 427-7650 (651) 292-8497 (651) 653-0640 (612) 377-9015 (952) 941-5544 (612) 623-0247 (612) 721-2252 (763) 560-7563 (651) 653-0640 (320) 632-0980 1-888-332-9312

We are accepting applications for our large number of mobility impaired accessible units.

Please call us for more information.

1 BR 2 BR 2 BR 1 BR 1 & 2 BR 1 BR 2 BR 1 BR 2 & 3 BR 2 BR 1 BR (sr) 2 BR 3 BR 1 & 2 BR 1 BR

Pg 10 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

EMPLOYMENT/VOCATION Assistive Technology of MN - DBA Equip A Life

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CONTINUED

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Pg 11

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REHABILITATION (PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH, AUDIOLOGY THERAPISTS) Cooperating Community Prog -Home-Based Support V-651-379-9711

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Courage Center

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Courage Center - Burnsville

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Courage Center - Forest Lake

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Courage Ceter - St. Croix

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DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM)

V-612-362-8454

TTY-612-362-8422

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Fairview Acute Rehabilitation Center

V-612-273-8660

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www.fairview.org/arc

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Thanks to all of you for supporting Access Press FRIEND SPONSOR ($50 and above) Leo & Susan Bulger Bernie Hernandez Chavez Teresa Dock Dawn Doering Skip Finn Thomas & Mimi Fogarty Kent Fordyce Claudia Fuglie Lael Gatewood Patty Hoy Marjorie Huebner Barb Kane William & Joen Overby Annette Pantel Linda Paulson Kelly Rathcke Virginia Schwartzbauer Anni Simons Patty Woodey John Sherman BRONZE SPONSOR ($75 and above) Anonymous Donor Monte Blair Robert & Gail Buuck Pat Chelf Stepanie Cunningham Christopher Duff Craig Dunn Nancy Eustis Kent Fordyce Leigh Gleason Anne Henry Dianna Krogstad Dave & Carol Larson Christopher Meyer Twyla Misselhom Richard & Vicki Dalle Molle Scott Neamy Donn Poll & Eric Nelson Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat Mark & Mary Payette Julee Quarve-Peterson John Schatzlein Peter Vaill Hennepin County Library MN-DACA NAMI Minnesota Ted Cole Memorial

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REHABILITATION (continued) Fairview Balance Center

V-612-273-6228

F-612-273-7360

www.fairview.org/balance

Fairview M.S. Achievement Center

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Fairview Rehabilitation Services

V-612-273-6228

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Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

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In Home Personal Care

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Lifetrack Resources - St. Paul

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RESIDENTIAL/GROUP HOME PROGRAMS Capstone Services, LLC

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CCP-The Cooperating Community Programs - Residential Services

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Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-362-4403

V-612-362-4417

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Dungarvin Minnesota, LLC

V-651-699-6050

TTY-651-695-5802

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Fraser

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Howry Residential Services

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Mary T. Inc. Human Services Programs

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Mt. Olivet Rolling Acres

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Opportunity Partners

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People Inc. Epilepsy & Mental Health Services

V-651-338-9035

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Phoenix Residence

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Restart, Inc.

V-763-588-7633

F-763-588-7613

www.restartincmn.org

Can Do Canines

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F-763-331-3009

www.can-do-canines.org

Helping Paws, Inc.

V-952-988-9359

SERVICE ANIMALS

Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)

F-952-988-9296

www.helpingpaws.org

V-952-226-2063

www.PawPADS.org

SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES Ebenezer Care Center

V-612-879-2262

www.fairviewebenezer.org/minneapolis

V-763-588-7633

F-763-588-7613

www.restartincmn.org

Assistive Technology of MN - DBA Equip A Life

V-763-479-8239

TF-866-535-8239

www.equipalife.org

Fairview Assistive Technology Program

V-612-273-6228

F-612-273-7360

www.fairview.org/rehab

SOCIAL SERVICES Restart Inc.

TECHNOLOGY

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

V-651-291-2848

TF-800-719-4040

www.gillettechildrens.org

Marbesoft - Simtech

V-763-755-1402

TF-888-755-1402

www.marblesoft.com

PACER Center, Inc.

V-952-838-9000

TTY-952-838-0190

www.pacer.org

STAR Program

V-651-201-2640

TF-888-234-1267

www.starprogram.state.mn.us

Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.

V-763-795-0057

TF-866-795-0057

www.tamarackhti.com

TRANSPORTATION RENTAL/SALES/MODIFICATION IMED Mobility

Donate at your work place through Community Shares at: www.communitysharesmn.org

V-651-635-0655

TF-800-788-7479

www.imedmobility.com

American Council for the Blind of Minnesota

V-651-428-5059

V-612-486-5180

www.acb.org/Minnesota

Vision Loss Resources

V-612-871-2222

F-612-872-0189

www.visionlossresources.org

Volunteer Braille Services

V-763-544-2880

F-763-544-3612

www.vbsmn.org

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Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

PEOPLE & PLACES Kugler to lead The Arc Minnesota Larry Kugler of Eden Prairie has been appointed President of The Arc Minnesota. Kugler succeeds President Tim Nelson, who died this summer.

Kugler said, “I am committed to continuing the priorities that Tim promoted as President.

He worked tirelessly for a strong presence of The Larry Kugler Arc across the State of Minnesota and to advance the vision that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should live lives of dignity and respect. We will continue our work to enhance our presence statewide and to realize that vision.”

Kugler has served on The Arc Minnesota board since 2006. Before his appointment as president, he served as treasurer and then as first vice president. He

chairs the agency’s Public Policy Committee; serves on its Finance Committee; and is a strong advocate for improved public policies at the county, state, and federal level for people with disabilities and their families.

Before his service with The Arc Minnesota, Kugler served on the Board of Directors of the Arc of Hennepin and Carver Counties. Outside of The Arc Minnesota, he is Human Resources Manager for Olsen Thielen Certified Public Accountant & Consultants of Roseville.

He and his wife Susan have two children, one of whom has autism.

“We are grateful that Larry has agreed to lead our organization during this difficult transition,” said Pat Mellenthin, The Arc Minnesota’s Chief Executive Officer. “Tim Nelson was a superb leader for The Arc Minnesota and an exceptional human being.”

“Larry’s experience and the expertise he has provided our board and the board at our local affiliate, The Arc Greater Twin Cities, are a great reassurance to us that our work will go forward.” The Arc Minnesota is a non-profit organization that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. ■

UCare, CaringBridge are partners UCare and CaringBridge have formed a partnership to help UCare’s members and others experiencing a significant health challenge get and stay connected with their family and friends.

CaringBridge is a nonprofit organization providing free websites that help people easily share health news and receive support during health challenges of all kinds, ranging from cancer and premature birth, to serious injury.

“CaringBridge is a wonderful resource for people experiencing difficult health issues,” said Ghita Worcester, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing, UCare. “CaringBridge offers a convenient, one-stop site that allows news, personal messages, and contact information to be quickly shared with others who want to support a person or family coping with illness or other health concerns. UCare’s

Customer and Clinical Services staff will inform our members about this helpful and accessible service.”

“We are thrilled to align with UCare,” said Sona Mehring, founder and CEO, CaringBridge. “UCare employees touch the lives of so many people during a health journey. By recommending services available through CaringBridge, UCare can help make the health journey easier for its members and their families and friends.”

Personal CaringBridge web sites save time and emotional energy by centralizing communication and simplifying the task of updating everyone during a health challenge. Each CaringBridge site is unique.

Authors select their web site design and add health updates and photos about their story. In turn, visitors can leave messages in the guestbook, creating a network of support. ■.

Park Square names associates Downtown St. Paul’s Park Square Theater has announced four new artistic associates. Artistic Director Richard Cook said this “creative quartet” will work with him to expand Park Square’s play selection and community reach in preparation for the opening of the Thrust Stage in 2013.

“I’m hungry for the insights and perspectives from up-and-coming artists,” said Cook. “My goal with the Artistic Associates is to widen the circle of people who come to me with ideas and open up Park Square to new points of view. I feel this team will serve as a bridge to what is new and different in theatre in the region and nation, and expand our reach to a broader segment of the community.”

The four artists, who are playwrights, directors, producers and actors, have careers in the Twin Cities as well as in other communities nationwide. Each has signed on for a three-year commitment. They are Brian Balcom, director and producer; Aditi Kapil, playwright, director and actor; Carson Kreitzer, playwright and James A. Williams, director, actor and teacher.

Kapil’s current project is indicative of the insights Cook is seeking from the Artistic Associates: she is directing Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries at Mixed Blood Theatre which will open in November. The play features deaf performers Nic Zapko and Alexandria Wailes and will be entirely in American Sign Language (ALS) with super-titles. ■

Pg 13

Disability a focus for arts grantees Organizations that serve artists with disabilities were among recipients of Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) grants. The council gave $515,707 in Arts Activities Support Grants to 56 organizations this fall. This was the first round of its FY 2011-2012 Arts Activities Support grant program. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community. This round’s funded projects include: photography workshops; puppetry; choral, orchestral, and jazz music; theater performances; film festivals; traditional and ethnic dance; outdoor concerts and more.

In Hennepin County, among the groups funded is Angel Foundation, www.mnangel.org A grant of $5,561 will help 10 to 15 teens who have a parent with cancer to participate in a photography workshop under the direction of photographer Scott Streble. The workshop will begin in January 2012.

Another Hennepin County grantee is Ascension Place, www.ascensionplace.org An $8,000 grant will provide a multidisciplinary arts program for residents of Ascension Place-a transitional housing program serving women struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency. The 2011 - 2012 program will include creative writing, sewing, and soul art groups, in addition to hosting six artists-in-residence.

Ramsey County recipients include the Artsy Aging Project, which received $5,266 for six months of arts programming for seniors. Programming will take place at senior homes in the seven-county metro area.

The Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health , www.macmh.org, received $10,000 for Beyond Fidgety Fairy Tales: The Fourth Mental Health Musical, a 40-minute performance using familiar fairy tales to illustrate symptoms of children’s common mental health disorders. Twelve performances will take place throughout the metro area in April 2012.

A third Ramsey County-based recipient is Veterans in the Arts, www.veteransinthearts.org/ This group will use $9,150 for six introductory art classes for military veterans from September 2011 through June 2012. Classes will take place at the Veteran’s Resource Center in New Brighton and travel to six partnering arts centers.

A suburban Hennepin County group awarded a grant of $8,295 is Partnership Resources, Inc. www.partnershipresources.org. This group will present Subject: Impressionism, a series of art classes introducing the works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists to adults with developmental disabilities. The activities will take place between October 2011 and February 2012 and culminate in a public exhibition of student work.

Also out of suburban Hennepin County, Reach for Resources, Inc., www.reachforresources.org, will use a $2,000 grant for a four-part workshop introducing teens and adults with developmental disabilities to a variety of fine art forms. Workshops will take place at the Brooklyn Center Community Center in October and November 2011 and culminate in an art exhibition at the Minnetonka Community Center in December. ■

Pg 14 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Accomplishments - from p. 1 memorial specifically created to honor their services and fellow comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Morse recruited friends who were pilots and began flying veterans to Washington, D.C. To date, Southeast Minnesota Honor Flight has taken more than 900 elderly and disabled veterans from southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa to visit the World War II memorial.

June Lacey was given a Friend of the Council Award for her work over the past 65 years to enhance the empowerment and employment of individuals with disabilities. Her comKTSP-TV host Tom Hauser, left, and retired Sen. Linda Berglin, right, celebrate with MNSCOD munity television show “FoDirector Joan Willshire. cus on the Community,” has Photos courtesy of State Council on Disability (MSCOD), Doug Knutson covered hundreds of topics pertaining to the disabled necessary steps to prepare for any emergency. He and has honored heroic individuals with disabilities stated, don’t expect the government to be there in a from all parts of America. She continually pushes catastrophic type emergency, they will have other for roles for actors with disabilities in theater, televipriorities than looking after people with disabilities. sion and print ads.

He advised everyone on many of the specifics but in Another Friend of the Council Award was given general take the necessary steps to fend for yourself to Tom Hauser, political reporter for KSTP-TV and for at least three to five days. There is a very good producer of the award-winning show At Issue. emergency preparedness brochure that is available to Kevin Schmitz was given the Council’s Media all of us from the state Council on disabilities. It is Award for his work on the television show Disability available by request.

Viewpoints. The show covers a broad range of isThe luncheon also featured the presentation of sues of interest to the disability community. Schmitz awards. The Minnesota Award was given to Tom is a municipal production facilitator with CTV North Lijewski. It is MSCOD’s highest honor to a MinneSuburbs, and until recently served as producer of sotan with a disability who has worked to enhance Disability Viewpoints. the empowerment and employment of individuals Cindy Sapinski won the Mentorship Award. For with disabilities. This individual has demonstrated the past 33 years, she has guided and challenged stuoutstanding achievements in the world of work and dents with disabilities to made significant contributions that increase public reach beyond their perawareness of Minnesotans with disabilities. ceived limitations and not Among Lijewski’s many accomplishments are: only succeed, but excel. radio and television personality, politician, business In her first year of teachowner, disability rights and access visionary, shaper ing she created a program of public policy and transportation pioneer. And all to teach independent livof these incarnations of his life have been fueled by ing skills. Sapinski also his desire to enhance the lives of those with disabili- teaches the transition proties, to the end that they might chart their own destigram at Intermediate nies. Currently, Lijewski is in the final stages of School District 916, and ALS, yet he continues to teach several students to works directly with stuuse assistive technology each week. dents who have developRecently retired State Sen. Linda Berglin was mental disabilities as they given the Legislator of the Year Award, for her long- learn skills and enter the time commitment to issues affecting Minnesotans world of work. with disabilities. Berglin recently stepped down to Robert Mingo was take a position with Hennepin County. given the Emergency PreThe public policy team at the Brain Injury Assoparedness Award. Mingo ciation of Minnesota was awarded a Certificate of and his wife Amy reAppreciation for work on the Youth Concussion Bill cently relocated to North passed during the 2011 legislative session. This new Minneapolis, where he law requires coaches to remove athletes under 18 grew up. He has muscular years of age from sports events if they have sympdystrophy and is in a toms of concussion; requires permission from a wheelchair. In the afterhealth care provider before these youth re-enter the math of the recent torsports event; calls for ongoing training of coaches nado, he was a steadfast and provides increased concussion information to figure in the initial debris parents. and tree volunteer cleanA Certificate of Appreciation was given to Rod up effort for residents. He Haworth, recently retired, project manager at Minne- was involved in food dissota Department of Energy and Economic Developtribution for 3,000 volunment (DEED) for the Pathways to Employment initeers that joined the retiative. He led an outstanding team that created an sponse effort, provided infrastructure to support programming for people support services for the with disabilities. He was instrumental in creating a disaster response team variety of new programs that have enhanced the opand assisted with tool doportunity for individuals with disabilities to increase nations. the chances for competitive employment.

Don Sheldrew of the A Certificate of Appreciation was also given to Minnesota Department of Honor Flights. The National Honor Flight program Health was given the Acwas conceived by veteran Earl Morse, who realized cess to Emergency Prethat many veterans had given up hope of visiting the paredness Award. Safe

access is critical during emergencies and disasters.

Sheldrew is relentless in his efforts to ensure equal access to shelters and mass care facilities. He provide leadership and is responsible for organizing the upcoming training for emergency planners, responders and others involved in mass care.

The Goodrich Corporation was honored with the Above and Beyond Veterans’ Employment Award.

Goodrich Corporation makes it their business to attract veterans as employees, advertising job opportunities to veterans via Minnesota Workforce Centers and other vet-friendly employment resources.

Navarre Corporation won the Small Employer of the Year Award. Since 1996, Navarre Corporation has employed three to four people with disabilities as mailroom clerks. Navarre considers their mailroom crew an integral part of their team, and as their business has expanded over the past 15 years, so have the duties of mailroom employees.

Target/Edina won the Large Employer of the Year Award. Chris Simon and Rosie Boran at the Target store in Edina have not only done an exceptional job at employing people with disabilities at their store, they have also set the bar for other area Targets to follow suit. They have carved out niche roles for everyone based on abilities and never failed to consider someone who could not operate dangerous or technical equipment.

MSCOD also honored its own. One person singled out was the late Ed Butterfass. He served three terms on the state council. Butterfass also was active with a number of other organizations including Agri-ability and Assistive Technology Minnesota. Butterfass continued to farm after he became disabled, and was known for his sense of humor and commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

The council also recognized outgoing council member Ken Rodgers, who served two-three year terms.

■

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Radio Talking Book October sampling Changes for the younger set Changes are coming to Radio Talking Book’s (RTB) children’s programming with the retirement of volunteer Arlene Cardozo. Cardozo was an incredible resource for RTB for the past 20 years, recording the children’s program, Once Upon A Time. She also researched new books for children.

Cardozo’s retirement means RTB will change the program format. For the Younger Set will feature books written for readers ages eight through mid-teens. The books will be heard in their entirety but with only one broadcast per week. Books will also be available in complete form from the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library.

Remember weekend programming Enjoy RTB’s weekend books. Your Personal World (Saturday at 1 p.m.) is airing The Mindfulness Code by Donald Altman and Surviving Your Serengeti by Stefan Swanepoel. For the Younger Set (Sunday at 11 a.m.) is airing The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman.

Poetic Reflections (Sunday at noon) is airing 10 Mississippi by Steve Healey and On Days Like This by Patricia Connor. The U.S. and Us (Sunday 4 p.m.) is airing The Nearly Departed by Michael Norman.

Books available through Faribault Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Phone is 1-800-722-0550 and hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday. The catalog is online and can be accessed by going to the main website, http://education.state.mn.us, and then clicking on the link. Persons living outside of Minnesota may obtain

Regional News

- from p. 6 National Guard have killed themselves. While Minnesota ranks 36th in the country in suicide rates overall, no other state National Guard unit has a higher rate of suicide, according to statistics maintained by the National Guard Bureau. In addition, there have been four confirmed Guard suicides in Minnesota this year. A fifth is being investigated.

The program is CORE, for crisis management, outreach, referral and education. Started in 2008 to combat post-deployment problems, it provides free, confidential counseling to veterans and active-duty service members and their families. It served more than 1,400 clients in the 2009-10 fiscal year and more than 1,500 in its most recent fiscal year. Program officials claim it has prevented more than 14 suicides, helped mend more than 45 marriages and kept more than 40 people from becoming homeless. ■ [Source: Star Tribune]

Veterans’ homes are honored The Minnesota Veterans Homes were recently awarded Best in Class titles in various categories at all five veterans’ homes across Minnesota. Over the course of the last year, Pinnacle Quality Insight, a nationally recognized customer satisfaction firm, interviewed the families and Residents of the Minnesota Veterans Homes in Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne, Minneapolis and Silver Bay regarding their levels of satisfaction across a variety of care and service areas.

“This is a great achievement for each of our Veterans Homes,” said Larry Shellito, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. “It is just one example of the dedication and commitment our Veterans Home staff has in enhancing the quality of life for our residents and continuing to provide excellent care to our nation’s heroes. As a result of these surveys, Pinnacle awarded the Homes a combined total of 49 “Best in Class” certificates, recognizing their commitment to high quality care. Admission process, communication from facility, dining service, cleanliness, individual needs, laundry service, nursing care, quality of food, recreation, resident care and quality of stay were among areas evaluated. ■ [Source: Minnesota Department of Veterans’ Affairs]

copies of books by contacting their home state’s Network Library for the National Library Service.

Listen to the Minnesota Radio Talking Book, either live or archived programs from the last week, on the Internet at www.mnssb.org/rtb. Call the staff for your password to the site. See more information about events on the Facebook site for the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network.

Access Press is one of the publications featured at 9 p.m. Sundays on the program It Makes a Difference.

Chautauqua • Tuesday – Saturday 4 a.m.

Quirk, Nonfiction by Hannah Holmes, 2011. Our personalities are endlessly fascinating to ourselves as well as to our families and friends. As a social species, humans need to navigate among a wide variety of personalities, but how did these differences come about? Read by Jeanne Burns. 12 broadcasts. Begins Oct. 18.

Past is Prologue • Monday – Friday 9 a.m.

Fifty-nine in ’84, Nonfiction by Edward Achorn, 2010. In 1884, Providence Grays pitcher Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn won an astounding 59 games, more than anyone in major-league history ever had before, or has since. He then went on to win all three games of baseball’s first World Series. Read by Phil Rosenbaum.

12 broadcasts. Begins Oct. 17.

Bookworm • Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

Molly Fox’s Birthday, Fiction by Deirdre Madden, 2010.

The actor Molly Fox has loaned her house to a friend while Molly is performing in New York. The friend wonders if they ever really knew each other. Rated L - Read

by Jenny O’Brien. Seven broadcasts. Begins Oct. 13.

Pg 15

Choice Reading • Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

Perfect Reader, Fiction by Maggie Pouncey, 2010. Flora Dempsey is the only child of Lewis Dempsey, beloved college president and famous literary critic. When Lewis dies, she is appointed his literary executor and she discovers many love poems written to a woman Flora doesn’t know. Rated L - Read by Elan Perry. 10 broadcasts. Begins Oct. 31.

PM Report • Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

Griftopia, Nonfiction by Matt Taibbi, 2010. The grifter class has been growing in power for a generation, transferring wealth upward through increasingly complex financial mechanisms and political maneuvers. The financial crisis that exploded in 2008 isn’t past but prologue.

Rated L - Read by June Prange. 10 broadcasts. Begins Oct. 24.

Night Journey • Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

The Wilding, Fiction by Benjamin Percy, 2010. Justin has a complicated relationship with his father. When his father, Paul, suggests a hunting trip, Justin accepts hoping to put things right, and he brings his son along. But as the weekend progresses, Justin is pushed to his limit by his father and the terrain. Rated L - Read by Scott Ford. 12 broadcasts. Begins Oct. 31.

Good Night Owl • Monday – Friday midnight Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder, Fiction by Travis Nichols, 2010. With only an address and his grandfather’s memories, a young man and his girlfriend try to reunite his grandfather with the woman who saved him during World War II. Read by Jack Rossman. 10 broadcasts. Begins Oct. 31.

The Writer’s Voice • Monday – Friday 2 p.m.

After Midnight • Tuesday – Saturday 1 a.m.

Endgame, Nonfiction by Frank Brady, 2011. Bobby City of Cannibals, Fiction by Ricki Thompson, 2010. Dell Fischer, raised in poverty, with an IQ of 181, had incredhas been told the city is full of cannibals but she needs ible concentration which allowed him to memorize hunto go there anyway. The city is full of dangers, but none dreds of chess books. An international chess master, he Dell suspected. Read by Pat Lelich. Seven broadcasts. ended his life as a notorious recluse. Read by Dan Begins Oct. 25.

Sadoff. 15 broadcasts. Begins Oct. 18.

Abbreviations: V—violence, L—offensive language, S—sexual situations.

HUD announces grants

Use of cameras is rising

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded Minnesota more than $1 million in grants to help public and assisted housing residents find employment; connect with needed services; and help the elderly and people with disabilities maintain independent living. The funding also allows the grantees to retain or hire “service coordinators” or case workers to work directly with these HUD-assisted families to connect them to the supportive services that meet their individual needs The funding announced also includes: Approximately $35 million through the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC) Program; approximately $15 million through the Public Housing – Family Self-Sufficiency Program (PH-FSS); and $45 million through the Multifamily Housing Service Coordinator Program (MHSC). “Providing housing assistance alone is often not enough to help individuals increase their independence,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

“The service coordinators funded through these programs open doors that help HUD-assisted families find jobs, access services and assist the elderly and disabled to continue living as independently as possible in their homes.”

The purpose of the ROSS-SC and PH-FSS programs is to encourage local, innovative strategies that link public housing assistance with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance; and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. ■ [Source: HUD]

Nursing home abuse and neglect cases have more families using advances in surveillance technology and using video cameras to help protect loved ones they suspect are being abused or mistreated by caregivers. Even some facility managers and law enforcement officials are now using hidden cameras to catch workers who mistreat elderly or vulnerable residents, including at least two cases at assisted-living facilities in Minnesota in recent years.

No figures are available, but specialists in the longterm care industry say the use of so-called “granny cams” is spreading, though the technology is also raising a host of legal and privacy issues. Recent cases that have drawn attention to the issue include one in Ohio this spring, when a man placed a hidden camera in a desk fan to catch two nursing home workers abusing and hitting his 78-year-old mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. New Jersey workers were caught abusing an 87-year-old woman, prompting a wrongful-death lawsuit in June.

Georgia Anetzberger, president-elect of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, said the spread of cameras in nursing homes is part of a broader proliferation of video surveillance in society to catch anything from traffic violations to shoplifting. But many in the long-term care industry has fought legislative efforts across the United States to legalize the use of cameras, citing insurance costs and resident and employee privacy issues.

A 2009 Minnesota law allows adult foster-care facilities to install cameras for overnight monitoring of vulnerable residents to save on staff costs. ■ [Source: Star Tribune]

Year-round free drug disposal set The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department has announced the Twin Cities metro area’s first free, yearround safe disposal site for unused and expired prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, and pet medicines. Sheriff Matt Bostrom announced the site opening Sept. 12.

While many counties offer drug collection days, this is the first site where drugs can be dropped into a receiving slot.

Prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse is a growing problem, especially among teens, who get

drugs from family medicine cabinets. Poisoning is also the second leading cause of accidental death in Minnesota, which can occur when unused medicines are left around the home. Improperly disposed of medicines can also end up in our lakes and streams, and harm wildlife. Bostrom and Ramsey County commissioners and public health officials attended the grand opening.

The drugs can be dropped off at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), 425 Grove Street, St. Paul. ■ [Source: Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department]

Pg 16 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

ACCESSIBLE FUN Welcome to the Access Press Accessible Fun listings.

Get further information on things to do around Minnesota at www.accessminnesota.org and click on the calendar.

For information on galleries and theater performances around the state, visit www.vsamn.org or call 612-3323888 or 1-800-801-3883 (voice/tty). Or check c2 (caption coalition) inc., which does most of the captioned shows in Minnesota, also captions shows across the country: http://c2net.org\

Bridges dance program Minnesota Chorale announces its 17th annual Bridges program, a partnership with Courage Center, and the Dance Exchange. Join the Dance! focuses on Minnesotans with physical disabilities. Clients of the Courage Center will be paired with singers in the creation and performance of choreographed works, set to music.

Dancers from the Dance Exchange of Takoma Park, Md., will lead singers and dancers in the creation of these works, using the Dance Exchange’s nationally acclaimed methods in developing community-based art.

Following a performance at the Courage Center’s Golden Valley location on Fri, Nov. 18, two public performances are scheduled, 7:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 19, Music Room of the SPCO Center, Hamm Building, 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul and Sun, Nov. 20, 4 p.m. at St. Richard’s Catholic Church, 7540 Penn Ave., S., Richfield. Tickets available at the door.

Il Campiello Ten Thousand Things Theater opens the 2011–12 season in October with Steven Epp’s new adaptation of II Campiello by Carlo Goldoni. The commedia-inspired play centers on four scrappy, hard-working, hard-playing families whose daily lives on a small square are interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious wealthy stranger during Carnival. The show begins its tour to prisons, lowincome centers and shelters Oct. 13 and concludes with four weekends of public performances: Oct. 28–30 Open Book, Mpls, Nov. 4–6 and 11–13, Plymouth Congregational Church, Mpls, Nov. 18–20 Open Book, Mpls Tickets for the public performances of Il Campiello are $25 ($15 for students on Sundays). But numerous performances offer free admission for those needing financial assistance. Ten Thousand Things is committed to making its performances accessible to all audience members. The audio described performance is 8 p.m.

Fri, Oct. 28, 8 p.m. For other special needs, call 612-203-9502. FFI: 1-800-838-3006, www.tenthousandthings.org

Unity Dance Day Dance—and make a statement against bullying—by joining PACER’s Unity Dance Day Wed, Oct. 26. That’s the day when schools, students, community organizations, and businesses around the world can unite with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in music and dance to bring awareness to bullying prevention.

PACER’s Unity Dance Day can be held anywhere – at schools, malls, or in homes. The performances can be followed by activities designed to inspire people to take action in their communities to prevent bullying. “The culture of bullying won’t end until people across the country take action and show children and teens that they care,” said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. “The Unity Dance Day celebrates the influence of music and dance as a powerful avenue to reach kids and teens about the bullying prevention message.” Schools and community organizations can find everything they need to hold a Unity Dance Day in PACER’s online toolkit, available at PACER.org/bullying.

The toolkit includes the designated song for the dance, the choreographed dance moves, and additional materials and resources. The Unity Dance Day is part of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month of October. Throughout the month, organizations and individuals can show their support for the cause by visiting PACER.org/bullying and disseminating bullying prevention resources, signing the online “The End of Bullying Begins with Me” petition, and participating in Unity Day on Oct. 12 by wearing orange and hosting different activities.

Expression for Wellness and Effectiveness Walker Community United Methodist Church and MINED ARTS host free Expression for Wellness and Effectiveness (EWE) groups at Walker Community UMC, 3104 16 Ave. S, Mpls until the end of 2011 to prepare, share and critique participants’ work. Writing group the first, third and fifth Mondays and second Sundays will be facilitated by James Livingston, editor of MINED. Drawing/ art second and fourth Mondays is facilitated by artist Janet Court, President of MINED ARTS. A gallery exhibition of at least 12 works will be presented in L‘Orange

Music of Difference presented The Wayzata Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Marlene Pauley present Music of Difference, a concert that illuminates the positive effects of disability. The concert is 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 at Wayzata Community Church, 125 Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata, Minnesota.

The performers are eager to present this concert featuring the World Premiere of Concerto No. 2 “for Catherine”, by composer Robert J. Bradshaw. The piece is written for Catherine Branch, an exceptional flutist whose life mission is to raise awareness of disability in American in a positive and enlightening way through music. Branch has diplegic cerebral palsy.

The concert is made possible through a Minnesota Regional Arts Council Community Arts Grant.

“Music of Difference” will help to illuminate the positive aspects of disabilities. “As a flutist with diplegic cerebral palsy,” said Branch, “I’ve been given a unique perspective on music’s versatility, especially regarding its ability to act as a catalyst for conversations and an instigator of positive change. During the last several years I’ve been exploring the classical concert as a vehicle to encourage re-evaluation of generalizations, thereby promoting inclusion and equality for people with disabilities.”

A collaboration between the flutist and composer began when Branch was honored with a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to research the role of art in social activism around the world. She commissioned several composers to write works for her and then toured the world to promote the positive aspects of disability.

Bradshaw’s creation was a trio for flute, violin and piano. He was interested in the idea of a disability resulting in unique rhythms of movement rather than “awkward gaits, wobbles, or limps.” Using video of her walk and body movement, he was able to turn her movements into music.

Gallery in November. A magazine will be published in December. Deadline for submissions is Oct. 31. A maxim of three 8x10 pages of 12 point Times New Roman type (WORD) and/or drawings/photographs (JPEG) or less can be accepted from each contributor for the magazine. Accepted work earns $10/page. MINED ARTS is an arts organization of, by, and for those who have experienced mental illness/emotional disturbances.

Mail submissions to Walker Church, Box 7588, Mpls MN 55407 or email to James.Livingston_less_minedarts@hotmail.com

Halloween Bash The Halloween Bash and Pumpkin Bash is a fundraiser for Little Freedom, Inc., which renovates housing for people with disabilities. The event is 3 p.m. – 1 a.m. Thu, Oct. 27, at O’Gara’s, Selby and Snelling, St. Paul. Enjoy live music, a costume contest, prizes, games and more.

Saturdays with puppets Heart of the Beast Theater in Minneapolis offers Saturday morning activities with puppets, Oct. 22 through March 31. Performances are 10 a.m. and noon, There will be a make and take workshop at 11 a.m. For admission the theater suggests a donation of $4 per person or $2 per person if you live in the Phillips, Central, Corcoran or Powderhorn neighborhoods. Workshop cost is $5 per child, $3 per adult. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Different artists will perform each Saturday. The theater is fully accessible. Call about other accommodations or special needs. The theater is at 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls. FFI: 612-721-2535, info@hotb.org

Hennepin Gallery exhibit October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Hennepin Gallery will showcase 14 recipients of VSA Minnesota’s Project Grants for Artists with Disabilities Program, funded by the Jerome Foundation. The annual competitive grant recognizes excellence by Minnesota artists with disabilities and funds the creation and exploration of new work. Grants were awarded to Minnesotans with disabilities who have distinguished themselves artistically. The exhibit will be on display Oct. 3-28 during business hours, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday. The Hennepin Gallery is located on A Level (lower) of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. Sixth St., Mpls. Participating artists are Loretta Bebeau, Mpls, multi-media; Adrean Clark, Maplewood, comics; John Lee Clark, Maplewood, poetry; Naomi Cohn, St. Paul, poetry; Mark Davison, Mpls, ceramics; Lisa Dietz, Golden Valley, fiber art; Barbara Harman, Mpls, visual art; Pamela Kirton, Burnsville, mixed media; Anne Krocak, Prior Lake, multi-media wall installation on “access”; Bridget Riversmith, Duluth, animation; Amy Salloway, Mpls, performance; Anne Sawyer-Aitch, Mpls, performance; Christine Sikorski, Mpls, poetry and Alec Sweazy, Minnetonka, accordion.

Catherine Branch will perform in Wayzata Nov. 13. She has diplegic cerebral palsy.

Photo courtesy of Wayzata Symphony Orchestra Branch has performed Bradshaw’s trio in Ireland, Australia and at the Kennedy Center for the annual festival of VSA International Organization on Arts and Disabilities. “The WSO is thrilled to play a part in Catherine’s educational mission here in the Twin Cities,” said Pauley. “She is a role model for everyone— strong, determined, dedicated and incredibly talented.”

Prior to and following the concert, Pauley, Bradshaw and Branch will host repertoire/concert discussions with audience members. They will dive into the formation of the concert, the concerto and Branch’s work promoting a positive view of the disabled. Bradshaw will use a screen and projector to show digital footage of Branch, thereby providing the “rhythms” that inspired his music.

The concert is free. The church building is accessible. Visit www.thewso.org for details. ■

Enjoy a movie tonight Several theaters around the state offer accommodations for movie-goers, such as captioning or descriptive services. www.captionfish.com lists cinemas with access (AD/CC) features. Find theaters in your area by typing in your zip code. MoPix-equipped Rear Window Captioned Films are listed at cam.wgbh.org/mopix/ nowshowing.html#mn.

The Fetching Ball Support Can Do Canines by attending The Fetching Ball, 6 p.m. Sat, Nov. 5th at Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center . This creative black tie event raises funds and promotes awareness of Can Do Canines, an organization that trains and provides service dogs to people with disabilities. Enjoy a silent auction, games, gourmet dining stations, a photo booth and a “dogniti” bar with celebrity shakers. The main program at 7:30 p.m. features Master of Ceremonies, Natalie Kane, WCCO-TV morning show reporter. Highlights include a calendar dog fashion walk, with guest celebrities and models. And don’t forget the live auction. The auction is followed by a dance with music by Big Toe & the Jam, as well as desserts. Buy tickets at www.fetchingball.com

Ghostly Gala Hopkins-based Reach for Resources, Inc. will host its 10th Annual Ghostly Gala Fundraiser 6:30-9 p.m. Sat, Oct. 29 at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center.

This fun filled night gives individuals with and without disabilities the opportunity to show off their creative costumes, mingle with friends, and dance the night away.

The evening features carnival games, door prizes, a costume contest, dancing and food. All proceeds from the event will benefit Reach for Resources, a non-profit organization that provides training and support to individuals with developmental disabilities. Event sponsors, cash donations and in-kind contributions to support the event.

FFI: Melissa Kloek, Marketing Director, 952-988-4177. ■

Accessible Fun print deadline is always the 25th of the month.

Questions? 651-644-2133 or access@accesspress.org

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

UPCOMING EVENTS Advocacy Disability Matters Town Hall Forums Learn how the state budget impacts you at the MnCCD Town Hall Forums. Share your thoughts and experiences on issues that matter to you and the disability community. Local legislators will join to listen. One forum, co-hosted by The Arc Greater Twin Cities and the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, is 6-8 p.m. Mon, Oct. 10, at Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville. Legislators invited to participate in the event include Rep. Pam Myhra and Sen. Dan Hall from Senate District 40.

The final forums are in Willmar: 2-4 p.m. Thu, Oct. 13; St. Cloud: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Mon, Oct. 17; Duluth: 6-8 p.m.

Tue, Oct. 25; Worthington: 6-8 p.m. Thu, Nov. 3, Rochester: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thu, Nov. 10, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. ASL interpreters will be available at each event. FFI: Anni at (651) 523-0823 ext 112 or asimons@arcmn.org, www.mnccd.org Unity Day: Make It Orange and Make It End “Make it Orange and Make it End” and unite against bullying on Unity Day, Wed, Oct. 12. That’s the day everyone can wear orange and link together—in schools, communities and online—to send a message of support to students who have experienced bullying. Students can unite against bullying on Unity Day by wearing the color orange, using the resources on PACER.org/bullying, handing out orange “UNITY” ribbons at school, or writing the word “UNITY” on their hands or binders.

Facebook is partnering with PACER by posting information about Unity Day and other PACER activities on its safety, educator, and privacy pages during October.

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides creative and interactive resources that are designed to benefit all students, including students with disabilities. It offers educators, students, families and individuals the tools they need to address bullying in schools, recreational programs or community organizations. FFI: 952838-9000, PACER.org/bullying,

Workshops, conferences Disability Awareness Week Northwestern College’s 13th Annual Disability Awareness Week is Oct 24-27 on campus in Arden Hills.

Speakers are at Maranatha Hall. Three guest speakers will embrace the theme “Hope in the Unexpected” during chapel talks Monday through Wednesday and Thursday chapel will feature the annual Friend of ADA award.

Jonathan Friesen of Mora is guest speaker at 9:10 a.m.

Mon, Oct. 24. Jonathan has come to terms with living his life with Tourrette’s Syndrome. He is the author of three books, Jerk, California; Rush; and The Last Martin.

Annie Marie Young, a 1997 graduate of NWC, speaks at 9: 55 a.m. Tue, Oct. 25. She unexpectedly lost her vision shortly after graduation. She has since discovered that she has a gift for artistic topography.

Kempton Turner speaks at 9:10 a.m. Wed, Oct. 26 at 9:10 a.m. Kempton is the Pastor for Young Adult Discipleship at Bethlehem Baptist Church. He and his wife Caryn are the parents of a special needs child.

Thursday’s chapel at 9:55 a.m. in Maranatha Hall will feature the presentation of the annual Friend of ADA award, and an excerpt from The Butterfly Circus featuring Nick Vujicic, an inspirational speaker who was born without arms or legs. Panel discussions, classroom visits, workshops and lunch meetings are a regular part of the Disability Awareness Week at NWC. FFI: www.nwc.edu/doss Free technology classes Free adaptive technology classes are offered by Hennepin County Library, at the downtown Mpls library, 300 Nicollet Mall. Classes are free but you must pre-reg-

Pg 17

ister for these classes for persons who are blind or have low vision. In addition to classes there are often volunteers available to introduce patrons to the equipment and software available. Volunteer hours vary, so it’s best to call ahead. Funding for Adaptive Technology classes is provided by a generous grant from the Hudson Family Foundation. FFI: 612-630-6469, www.hclib.org Arc of Minnesota state conference The Arc of Minnesota hosts its conference Nov. 4-5 in Breezy Point. Prepare for a weekend full of workshops, networking, and fun. Get help to “chart a path” to make successful transitions at all stages of life. Parents, selfadvocates, providers, and state officials will all be there to share information, success stories, and best practices. The line-up of workshops includes: helping parents prepare for the transition from school to life after graduation; new resources for people with ASD and their families, getting and holding a job and keeping essential benefits; current post-secondary options for people with disabilities; innovative public policies; independent housing opportunities; relationships; and creating a secure financial future for loved ones with disabilities. Hotel rates are $10 lower than last year. Reduced registration fee for members of The Arc, self-advocates, and direct care staff who accompany a self-advocate. FFI: www.arcmn.org, or 1-800-582-5256.

NAMI state conference National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Minnesota holds its state conference 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave. S. The conference, titled Changing Attitudes, Changing

Events - p. 19

Hiring of employees with disabilities in spotlight The advantages of hiring workers with disabilities will be shared with 350 area business leaders at “Celebrate Opportunity—An Executive Networking and Business Recognition Luncheon,” co-hosted by nonprofit Opportunity Partners and the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce.

The luncheon is 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Doubletree Park Place, St. Louis Park. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at http:// celebrateopportunity.eventbrite.com The event features keynote speaker Randy Lewis, Walgreens’ Senior Vice President-Supply Chain Management. Walgreens promotes inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce, marketplace and supplier chain.

The company has a goal to fill 20 percent of its distribution center jobs with people who have disabilities. Lewis will share how the multi-million dollar company benefits in countless ways by seeing the “ability” in everyone.

Attendees will enjoy an executive networking session followed by a three-course lunch and an educational presentation emceed by WCCO 4 News anchor Frank Vascellaro.

Opportunity Partners will recognize General Mills, Graco, Lunds and Byerly’s, and Whole Foods Market at the event for advancing work opportunities for people with disabilities.

Among the business people in attendance will be Diane Duguay, Director of Employee Relations and Diversity at Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. Duguay began working with Opportunity Partners in 2006 when KrausAnderson hired a young

man with Down Syndrome to join their team providing office/clerical support.“If employers understood the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and the wonderful relationship they can have with organizations like Randy Lewis Opportunity Partners, more people would do it. That message needs to continue to be shared with employers, because until we actually embarked on it, we didn’t know how awesome it really was,” Duguay said.

Duguay originally connected with Opportunity Partners as her company sought ways to diversity its workforce. Frank Vascellaro This happened after she was approached by a colleague about hiring workers with disabilities.

The partnership with that first hire was so successful, Kraus-Anderson has gone on to hire several other individuals with disabilities including Down Syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Duguay has taken her passion a step further and now speaks publicly about hiring people with disabilities. “One of my missions is to continue to share with other employers about the advantages of hiring workers with disabilities. I think that if employers really understood the benefits, they too would get more involved and actively look for ways to provide opportunities. It is a choice that you can make to can truly make a difference in someone’s life in a very positive way,” she said.

Kraus-Anderson is a sponsor of the Nov. 1 event.

Other supporters include Linked Minnesota, Wells Fargo, General Mills, Walgreens, Graybow Communications Group, Midwest Staffing, and Thiel, Campbell, Gunderson, Anderson & Levine, P.L.L.P. To learn more about this event or to become a sponsor, email events@opportunities.org or call 952912-2494. Tickets are available at http:// celebrateopportunity.eventbrite.com Opportunity Partners is a nonprofit organization serving 1,700 people with disabilities annually through employment, training and residential programs. The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce’s 1,000 members represent a variety of businesses and industries, ranging from national and internationally renowned corporations and industrially driven manufacturers, to home-based businesses and companies involved in the service and professional sectors. Most chamber members are from the western and northwestern Minneapolis suburbs. For more information, go to www.TwinWest.com ■

Pg 18 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Electronic medical records practical for many reasons The current administration has done its job incentivizing physicians and hospitals to transition from a paper-based system to electronic health records through meaningful use. However, patients have yet to claim their role as the new focus of healthcare and suggest—or even demand—that their physicians adopt electronic technology and offer them greater ownership of their care and records. Betty Otter-Nickerson, president of Sage Healthcare, listed 10 reasons why patients should start asking their doctors to go electronic.

1) In the wake of natural disasters, electronic medical records are much more secure when kept electronically. Recent floods and tornados are proof that paper medical records are at great risk of being destroyed during any disaster, natural or man-made.

2) Patients want access to their own records anytime and anywhere, regardless of their doctor’s office hours. Medical records and test results should be available at all times to patients from any web-connected portal, as is the case with electronic systems currently and readily available.

3) Patients who strive to be environmentally responsible can do their part by supporting the transition from paper records to electronic. A

study published in the May 2011 issue of Health Affairs reflected that electronic records not only save thousands of tons of paper, but the technology also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by replacing face-to-face visits for virtual visits and by allowing patients to fill prescriptions online.

4) What patient doesn’t want a doctor who is up on the latest technology? Perceptually, a physician’s use of an electronic record-keeping system signals that the doctor is up to date on their medical methodologies for treating patients. There is something innovative to be said for physicians who embrace technology and updated approaches to running their practice.

5) When patients travel locally or abroad, they want to know that, if they get sick, whomever is treating them will have access to their latest medical procedures, medication and any care instructions their physician may have included in their record. This increases the chances they will get appropriate care, regardless of where they are in the world.

6) If a patient has a medical directive in their will, medical records can show what the next of kin should do based on a patient’s records and conversations they have had with their doctor.

7)

8)

9)

10)

Electronic records eliminate the need to read through reams of paper and simplify the next of kin’s already difficult task of making decisions for their loved one.

Electronic records allow family members to share records for historical medical factors that can affect the care of a patient in the future.

Data portability is an important factor when moving or switching physicians. A patient that owns their records can move location or even physicians more easily than patients that have to request a copy of their medical records.

Just as important as it is to check your credit history annually, consumers need to be educated and aware that it is equally important to verify the accuracy of their medical records regularly (as this can impact insurance, disability and other rates).

Doctors who use electronic records have fewer transcription errors; patients should demand that their doctors do everything in their power to avoid mistakes. In addition to avoiding mistakes, electronic records have been proven to equal fewer redundant tests, saving patients time, money and in some cases discomfort. ■

Open season change is here for Medicare Part D plans

by Rhonda Whitenack and Jim Czechowicz

Medicare beneficiaries who are considering changes to their Medicare Part D plan should mark their calendars for Oct. 15. The “open season” will run from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. This is a change from 2010 open season, when it was Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

The Medicare Part D prescription drug program is available to all Medicare beneficiaries to help with the costs of medications. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and participants pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage.

While all Medicare beneficiaries can participate in the prescription drug program, some people with limited income and resources also are eligible for “Extra Help” to pay for monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. The Extra Help is worth about $4,000 a year.

To figure out whether you are eligible for the extra help, Social Security needs to know personal income and the value of any savings, investments, and real estate (other than the home you live in).

To qualify, you must be receiving Medicare and have: • Income not over $16,335 for an individual or $22,065 for a married couple living together. Even if a person’s annual income is higher, there may still be help available with monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments.

Some examples where income may be higher include if a person or spouse: ° Support other family members who live with them; ° Have earnings from work; or ° Live in Alaska or Hawaii • Resources not over $12,640 for an individual or $25,260 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. A house or car isn’t counted as resources.

Anyone interested can complete an easy-to-use online application for Extra Help at www.social security.gov Go to the Medicare tab on the top of the page. Then go to “Apply For Extra Help With Medicare Prescription Plan Costs.” To apply for the Extra Help by phone or have an application mailed, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-3250778) and ask for the Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020).

More information about the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program is available at www.medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). In Minnesota, the Senior Linkage Line phone number is 1-800-3332433. ■ Rhonda Whitenack and Jim Czechowicz are with the Social Security Public Affairs office in Minneapolis and St Paul.

Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

Pg 19

Events - from p. 17 Lives, will feature fifteen workshops on current mental health issues. NAMI provides education and support for children and adults with mental illness and their families, and advocates for better mental health services and treatment. FFI: 651-645-2948, www.namihelps.org.

Youth and families Autism in Action Individuals and families in the northwest metro whose lives are touched by autism can learn about legislative issues affecting Minnesotans with autism and engage state legislators in a dialogue at the Autism in Action Forum 6-8 p.m. Wed, Oct. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at the Anoka City Hall Community Room, 2015 First Ave. N., Anoka. Participants at Autism in Action will learn what happened in the areas of health and human services and education during the state’s 2011 legislative session, what to expect in the 2012 session and how to effectively share their story with elected officials. During the second hour, state legislators will be on hand to answer questions and listen to stories and concerns. Legislators invited to participate in the forum are Rep. Tom Hackbarth (48A); Rep. Jim Abler (48B); Sen. Michael Jungbauer (48); Rep. Peggy Scott (49A); Rep. Branden Peterson (49B); Sen. Michelle Benson (49); Rep. Tim Sanders (51A); Rep. Tom Tillberry (51B); and Sen. Pam Wolf (51). This event is free, but registration is requested. FFI: The Arc Greater Twin Cities, 952-9200855 or e-mail denafelper@arcgreatertwincities.org

EMPLOYMENT Employment ads are $22-$25 per col. inch. Mail to: Access Press, 1821 University Ave. #104S, St. Paul, MN 55104 FAX 651-644-2136 • Email: access@accesspress.org

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FOR RENT Lewis Park Apartments: Barrier-free housing with wheelchair users in mind. Section 8 subsidized. One- and twobedroom units. For more information on availability call 651-488-9923. St. Paul, MN. Equal Opportunity Housing.

Calvary Center Apts: 7650 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN. A Section 8 building now accepting applications for our waiting list. Call 9 am to 4 pm, Mon – Fri 763546-4988 for an application. Equal Opportunity Housing.

Oak Park Village: We are accepting applications for the waiting list for onebedroom wheelchair accessible apartments. Section 8 subsidized. Convenient St. Louis Park location. Call 952-935-9125 for information. Equal Opportunity Housing.

Holmes-Greenway Housing: One- and twobedroom wheelchair-accessible apartments. Section 8 subsidized. Convenient SE Minneapolis location. Call 612-378-0331 for availability information. Equal Opportunity Housing.

Seward Square Apartments: We are currently accepting applications for our waiting list for barrier-free housing, in Minneapolis, that is federally subsidized. For an application, please call 612338-2680. Equal Opportunity Housing.

VANS FOR SALE 2007 Ford E-350 twelvepassenger van, 23,000 miles, reconfigured to four passengers, leather, vaulted roof, including a Turney Seat and Braun Wheel Chair Lift. $18,900. Please call Len at 763-588-4046

African-American children’s behavior classes Raising a child or adolescent with challenging behaviors can be difficult. Learn the five essential tasks to build confidence in your skills, improve the relationship with your child and create balance in your life. These classes, called African-American Children’s Challenging Behaviors, are for parents and caregivers of school-age children. Presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Minnesota, the classes will be held 78:30 p.m. Oct. 17, Nov. 14 & 28, and Nov. 5 at Washington Tech Magnet Middle School, 1495 Rice St. St. Paul.

FFI: 651-645-2948.

PACER offers workshops PACER Center offers useful free and low-cost workshops for families of children with disabilities. Register in advance. All workshops are at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, unless specified.

PACER Center hosts its Eighth Annual Housing Resource and Information Fair, a free event for families of teens and young adults with disabilities, 9 a.m.-noon, Sat, Oct. 15. After a keynote address at 9 a.m., participants can speak and network with housing providers, information and advocacy organizations, and other parents. State and county housing specialists will also be available to answer questions.

PACER Center offers Everything You Need to Learn Before Your Child Turns 3, a free workshop for parents of young children with disabilities. It is on 9 – 11 a.m.

Sat, Oct. 22. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires states to provide certain services to eligible children with disabilities. Children up to age 3 receive early childhood services under Part C of IDEA. Children ages 3 to 5 receive preschool services under Part B. This free workshop will help parents understand the important aspects of transitioning from Part C to Part B services. FFI: 952-838-9000, 1-800-537-2237 (toll free), PACER.org.

Program focuses on diversity A new PACER Center program offers free help for families of children and young adults with disabilities. The Families Accessing Communities Together (FACT) Project is primarily for culturally and racially diverse families who live in the Twin Cities area and have children from birth to age 25. FACT staff will work one-on-one with a limited number of families to create plans that will meet their specific needs. This individual help will be available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. FFI: 952-838-9000 and ask for Shauna McDonald or a specific staff person: Bonnie Jean Smith (African American), Hassan Samantar (Somalian), Dao Xiong (Hmong) or Jesús Villaseñor (Spanish speaker).

Information available Parents searching for child care for their baby, a son concerned about his mother’s adult day care program, family members evaluating services for their sibling with developmental disabilities—all of these consumers now have 24/7 access to important information about licensed programs with the expansion of information available on the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website. Members of the public can subscribe to email alerts when new documents are posted.

Consumers now have quick access to important health and safety information about child care centers, group homes for people with disabilities, and a range of other services for children and vulnerable adults. Six types of public documents—including compliance reports and public summaries of maltreatment investigations—are now available through the DHS Licensing Information Lookup: FFI: http://licensinglookup.dhs.state.mn.us.

Nominations Grant opportunity for Minnesota artists Nov. 4 is the deadline to apply for the 2011 VSA Minnesota Project Grant for Emerging Artists with Disabilities.

Seven grants of $1500 each, funded by the Jerome Foundation, will be awarded to emerging artists who propose to create new work. Applications and guidelines will be available at www.vsamn.org or can be mailed or emailed. FFI: 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883, or email emerginggrant@vsamn.org.

Support groups, meetings UCare meetings UCare hosts informational meetings about its UCare for Seniors Medicare Advantage plan. Meetings are held all over the region. UCare for Seniors has more than 75,000 members across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. UCare is an independent, nonprofit health plan providing health care and administrative services to more than 185,000 members. UCare serves Medicareeligible individuals throughout Minnesota and in western Wisconsin; individuals and families enrolled in incomebased Minnesota Health Care Programs, such as MinnesotaCare and Prepaid Medical Assistance Program; adults with disabilities and Medicare beneficiaries with chronic health conditions, and Minnesotans dually eligible for Medical Assistance and Medicare FFI: 1-877523-1518 (toll free), www.ucare.org Mental Illness support groups The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota (NAMI-MN) sponsors free support groups for families who have a relative with a mental illness. NAMI has 23 family support groups, over 20 support groups for people living with a mental illness, anxiety support groups, and Vet Connection groups for returning soldiers. Led by trained facilitators who also have a family member with mental illness, the support groups help families develop better coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences. A family support group meets in St. Paul from 5:45-7:00 p.m., on the second Tuesday of the month, at Snelling Office Park, 1625 Energy Park Drive, suite 100. FFI: Sonja at 651-357-2077.

An Open Door Anxiety and Panic support group meets in St. Paul at 6:30 p.m., on the first and third Thursday of the month, at Gloria Dei Church, 700 Snelling Ave. S. St. Paul. FFI: NAMI, 651-645-2948 or www.namihelps.org A new Vet Connection Support Group meets every 6-7:30 p.m. Wed at St. Joseph’s Hospital, 45 West 10th St., room G-752, St. Paul. FFI: Molly, 651-645-2948 ext: 112, or Brian, 651-261-1185.

Volunteer, Donate Give away that car Autos for Arc can take old vehicles off your hands, give you a tax deduction and say “Thank you!” for helping change the lives of people with disabilities. Autos for Arc accepts cars and trucks of any model and condition and other vehicles including boats (with trailers), RVs, ATVs, golf carts, personal watercraft, motorcycles and snowmobiles. Within the seven-county metro area, Autos for Arc can arrange to have a vehicle towed free of charge.

Call the toll-free Autos for Arc hotline, 1-877-778-7709, to arrange a pickup. Or drop off vehicles at a Value Village location. FFI: 1-877-778-7709, www.autosforarc.org Volunteer with RSVP Volunteers age 55 and older are eligible to receive free supplemental insurance, mileage reimbursement and other benefits through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) sponsored by Volunteers of America of Minnesota. RSVP/Volunteers of America of Minnesota and AARP Foundation need volunteers with good budgeting and organizational skills to help manage finances of older or disabled low-income individuals. Have a few hours a month to volunteer? Money Management Program staff will train and match you with someone in the community. FFI: Money Management Program Coordinator, 612-617-7821 Be an English language tutor Encouraging, enthusiastic volunteers needed to help adult immigrants and refugees learn English. By donating two to three hours a week, you can make lasting friendships and foster stronger communities. Ongoing training and support is provided by the Minnesota Literacy Council. The adult English language tutor program offers 12 hours of training, including materials adapted for blind and visually impaired volunteers. Ask about accommodations for other council programs. Contact Allison for details: volunteer@themlc.org, 651-251-9110, or visit www.themlc.org/volunteer ■

Pg 20 Oct. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 9

We would like to acknowledge and thank UCare Minnesota for sponsoring our website and for their generous Issue Sponsorships.

Your home, your independence . . . 763-546-1000 At In Home Personal Care, we pride ourselves not only on the help we provide, but also on our ability to listen.

We understand that each of our clients has different needs at different times.

Serving Adults and Children with Long-Term Needs since 1991 SERVICES: 8441 Wayzata Blvd; Suite 130 • Personal Care Assistants (PCA) • Live-ins Golden Valley, MN 55426 • PCA and PCA Choice Provider • Home Health Aides (HHA)

“I know something about the word “personal” in our company name because I’m not only the founder – I’m also a client. Our quality home care services are formed around a plan that works for you and your individual situation.” - Kevin Sullivan”

Please consider joining as an Issue Sponsor.

Call: 651-644-2133

Kent’s Accounting Service, LLC Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor 2011 & 2005-2010

Kent Fordyce 612-889-2959 • fordyce6@aol.com Fax: 952-472-1458 6371 Bartlett Blvd, Mound, MN 55364