December 2011 Edition - Access Press

Anita Boucher and Jeff Bangsberg

Volume 22, Number 12

MN-CCD eyes reorganization, staff changes

by Access Press staff

The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD) is weighing changes designed to make the group more sustainable and effective. Following a Nov. 17 membership meeting in St. Paul, MN-CCD member organizations are discussing a proposed reorganization. Groups will weigh in Dec. 14 when they meet again. If the changes are approved, they would be implemented during 2012 and take effect in early 2013.

MN-CCD is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 organizations for providers and advocates for people with disabilities. The group is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Its main activity is to address public policy issues that affect people with disabilities by collaborating with others, advocating, educating, influencing change and creating awareness for understanding.

If the proposed restructuring is adopted in December, the 17-year-old organization will be reorganized under a plan developed over the past year. MN-CCD would MN-CDD - p. 14

December 10, 2011

www.accesspress.org Learn about Minnesota Medical Assistance changes coming in January As of Jan. 1, Minnesota adults and children with disabilities receiving Medical Assistance (MA) will be assigned to a Special Needs Basic Care health plan (SNBC). The January deadline means that people with disabilities who receive MA will be asked to join a health plan participating in SNBC. The new law provides the choice to opt out of enrollment at any time and return to MA fee-for-service (FFS). The changes can be confusing, so consumers and their family members need to educate themselves about these programs and how it would affect their healthcare. In Minnesota approximately 95,000 adults and 17,000 children with disabilities receive MA benefits. Due to various managed care exclusions, an estimated 89,760 of these people could be affected by the new law. Learn about the changes at informational meetings sponsored by MN-CCD, on page 12.

Read more about the changes on page 4

Legislative priorities are being chosen

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

“The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian.

He can't ask his patients what is the matter-he's got to just know.”

— Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

by Jane McClure

When the 2012 Minnesota Legislature gavels into session Jan. 24, the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD) will have its legislative agenda set. Despite cautious optimism about a recently announced $876 million state surplus, members expect a difficult legislative session.

Member organizations’ representative will meet Dec. 14 to set the agenda and choose the organization’s top five priorities. A large group of representatives met Nov. 17 to review the agenda and discuss priorities. Groups were told to choose the agenda items they consider to be most important and submit those to MN-CCD for ranking.

Work groups have meet for several months to draft position papers on areas of focus. The consortium will also be looking at two possible Constitutional issues expected to come up in 2012. One is the voter identification issue, which would require everyone to show ID before voting. This is opposed by a number of disability community groups. Another Constitutional issue that is raising red flags is a proposal that all tax increases require approval by a “super-majority.” How the latter proposal would play out is unclear, but any push for a supermajority vote would make it harder for tax increases to get passed.

Here is an overview of the position papers: Children’s Issues For children with disabilities in Minnesota, having access to quality services and supports

NEWS DIGEST

2011 Charlie Smith Award winner Jeff Bangsberg paid tribute to many people during his acceptance speech.

Page 7

We made ourselves heard in 2011 and will be back in 2012.

Photo by Jane McClure

can have a significant impact on their ability to participate in community life across their lifespan. MN-CCD has suggested monitoring use of prone restraints in schools. Preserving Minnesota special education rules and laws, Priorities - p. 9

Area colleges face an accessible housing crunch

by Amber Bunnell

This new dormitory at Hamline University in St. Paul is accessible. All schools must provide accessible housing but supply often exceeds demand.

Photos by Ali Mohamed

Colleges and universities must provide accessible housing for students with disabilities, both in long-term and short-term situations. Sometimes the demand for accessible housing exceeds the supply.

The crunch for accessible living space is truly being felt this year at Macalester College in St. Paul as student demands for accessible housing rise. According to Residential Life Operational Manager Kathy McEathron, there has been a dramatic increase in athletic and summer injuries requiring specialized housing.

Last year and this year, McEathron explained, there have been more requests for accessible space than ever before. The college does provide permanent accessible housing but has been challenged in finding more temporary quarters for students.

Accessible space is generally defined as wheelchair-friendly living quarters, with a bathroom closed off to the exterior hallway. Features like automatic door openers, accessible door handles, and wide hallways are also associated with accessible living. Only a few spots on campus meet these criteria—a Housing crunch - p. 14

Students with disabilities and their service animals must be provided with accommodations at area colleges and universities.

Page 3 Hail to the Mustangs and the Robins! Each team won a fall title in adapted soccer.

Page 5 PACER Center’s antibullying efforts have been honored by the Minneapolis office of the FBI. Page 10 Jane Strauss’ photos, now available in book form, will be featured at two events in December.

Page 11

INSIDE Regional News, pg 6 People & Places, pg 10 Accessible Fun, pg 11 Events, pg 12 Radio Talking Book, pg 13

Pg 2 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

EDITOR’S DESK

Tim Benjamin

Again this year we had a fabulous time at the Annual Charlie Smith award banquet! Jeff Bangsberg’s acceptance speech was one of my all-time favorites.

Two of our previous award winners, Anne Henry and Steve Kuntz, introduced Bangsberg to a packed crowd who gave him a standing ovation. Bangsberg told us about several experiences in his lobbying career with Charlie Smith and with many others who had helped him throughout the years. Bangsberg gave special thanks to Rhoda Becklund who had initially hired him as a lobbyist and allowed him “almost free rein” to pursue passage of many of the legislative programs and statutes for which he had a personal passion. And of course, all of the laws that Jeff advocated for offer us the independence we have today. Minnesota has come a long way in becoming the state that best guarantees its citizens that if you have a disability, you can have a good quality of life. I’m proud to say that Jeff, along with the entire Charlie Smith Award winners group, Charlie Smith himself, and so many other lobbyists, made this happen.

It was a great night, and I am thankful to everyone who was in attendance, including Bangsberg’s family,

all the sponsors, Land O Lakes, NHHI, members of the State Council on Disabilities, Bangsberg’s colleagues from the Home Care Association, departmental directors and staff from the Department of Human Services, Courage Center, several PCA agencies and many of our durable good providers. Jeff was honored and applauded by so many of his colleagues, and by members of his family—including, of course, wife Anita Boucher. She looked proud and happy to have, as he said, “put up with [his] quirks for all these years.” We all thank you, Jeff, for all your efforts.

A new semester is coming up at many of our colleges, and we have a couple articles highlighting the accessibility features—or in some cases, the lack of them—at many of our colleges. Some of the colleges are having difficulties with the number of accessible dorm rooms available. For years, the focus was just on accessibility for people with disabilities, but the colleges are recognizing that there are more students with short-term disabilities who need the same accessibility features that are available for people who have lived with disabilities before they started pursuing their college education. We have an article also on how service animals fit into the classroom. Many of our colleges and universities have difficulties with personal care attendants being in the classroom, so you can imagine their objections to having a service

animal. It’s a simple thing to require that assistants of any kind not be disruptive to the classroom and other students, but there have to be policies in place to address these needs.

We also have an article on a very important decision that many of us will have to make and may find confusing: whether to join a Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC) health plan or to opt out and stay on traditional Medical Assistance (fee-for-service). There are many pros and cons to the issue and I would urge everyone to make a very informed decision concerning this mandated choice. I’ve been on an SNBC for many years and like it, but I can see where it would be a little intrusive for some people. There are many places online for more information; our online article will have links to many of the SNBCs and informational websites. And if you don’t have access to the Internet, the Disability Linkage Line has all the information available for you over the phone.

Finally, in his Charlie Award speech, Jeff Bangsberg recognized U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad as a mentor of his. But we can’t forget so many of Ramstad’s fellow lobbyists and legislators, including Minnesota Senator Linda Berglin. She has just retired and we’ll miss her tremendously. Let’s end the year with thanks to the many of our state and federal senators, representatives and governors who have worked tirelessly to create a Minnesota that is so inclusive for people with disabilities. ■

HISTORY NOTE

Babies benefitted greatly from one doctor’s research

by Luther Granquist

In October the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the Minnesota Department of Health could not retain blood samples from the newborn baby screening program indefinitely or provide them to other researchers without consent from a baby’s parents. This ruling, however, did not affect the newborn screening requirement itself. This program was established in 1965 after Dr. Robert Guthrie from the University of Buffalo Children’s Hospital developed a simple and

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effective screening test for phenylketonuria (PKU).

Guthrie, who grew up in Minneapolis, received both his M.D. and his Ph. D. degree from the University of Minnesota. After his son John was diagnosed with developmental disabilities or “mental retardation” as was the term used back then, Guthrie concentrated his research efforts on ways to prevent that condition.

And after his niece, Margaret Doll from Minneapolis, was diagnosed with PKU in 1959 as a one-year-old, he sought to find an effective way for early screening and diagnoses for PKU. A person with PKU lacks an enzyme needed to break down an amino acid called phenylalanine. If this condition is detected shortly after birth and if a strict low-phenylalanine diet is followed, the baby would develop normally. If not, the baby would likely have brain damage and have cognitive delays. But the delayed development caused by PKU does not appear immediately, so many babies up to the early 1960s, including Margaret, were not tested for PKU until it was too late. The standard test used then, applying ferric chloride to urine in a freshly wet diaper, was not effective until the baby was about four weeks old, again too late to prevent significant harm.

The Minnesota health departments and Minnesota

physicians recognized the need for early testing for PKU. Before 1960, Well Baby Clinics in St. Paul and Minneapolis provided urine screening. In May 1961 the Minnesota State Medical Association and the Minnesota Department of Health recommended that physicians in the state test all infants for PKU using the urine Bob Guthrie and Margaret Doll pictured in 1978 screening test.

Courtesy of Mary Lou Doll Guthrie’s test simplified the process. A few drops of blood from a pin prick on the heel of the baby were applied to a filter paper, dried, and sent to a lab for testing. This test proved effective when a child was only four or five days old.

Guthrie was an advocate as well as a scientist. He publicized his test in a letter to the editor in the Journal of the American Medical Association in October 1961 and stressed the need for nationwide testing for all newborn babies in a press conference at the annual meeting of the National Association for Retarded Children. After Guthrie presented information about his new test at the American Public Health Association annual meeting, also in October 1961, the U. S. Children’s Bureau awarded him a grant to try it on 400,000 infants, including an offer to pay the cost of sending personnel from every state’s health department to Buffalo for training.

Twenty-nine states accepted History Note - p. 15

Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

Court approves METO settlement agreement

by Luther Granquist

After a two-hour hearing in federal district court on Thursday, Dec. 1, Judge Donovan Frank ordered final approval of the settlement of the class action lawsuit prompted by excessive use of restraint of residents of the Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) in Cambridge. Parents of three METO residents brought this lawsuit in 2009 and sought changes in the facility practices and money damages for those residents and other METO residents who had been restrained or secluded there.

None of the class members, about 300 persons who had been secluded or restrained while at METO from July 1, 1997 through May 11, 2011, objected to the settlement agreement which, among other things, prohibited the kinds of mechanical restraint that had been used at METO at the new program, Minnesota Specialty Health System-Cambridge, started when METO closed at the end of June. The agreement also provided for money damages awards to class members in amounts ranging from $200 to $300,000, calculated on the basis of about $200 for each time a resident was restrained or secluded.

A unique aspect of this “fairness hearing” was that the judge took a very active role to ensure that class members would continue to be eligible for public benefit programs such as Medical Assistance after they received the funds. He emphasized that the agreement included protections to ensure that class members could actually make use of this money. Among them was his order that “to the extent of the Court’s authority” taking the damage award would not jeopardize any disability benefits or related funding. All damage awards more than $3,000 (the assets limit for one person on Medical Assistance) would be held by the Court until Frank was shown that the person to receive it could do so without losing eligibility for benefits. The settlement provided for $50,000 to pay for lawyers to set up special needs trusts if they were necessary, but Frank had also arranged for pro bono representation so that this sum could be used in other ways. He stressed in his comments from the bench that no check would be written for the settlement money held by the Court until he was sure that the person would actually be allowed to use it.

Steve Larson from Arc Minnesota, Bud Rosenfield from the Disability Law Center, Colleen Wieck from the DD Planning Council, and Roberta Opheim, the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities all spoke in support of sections of the agreement regarding expansion of state operated community support services, development of a plan for expansion of community resources (called an Olmsted plan with reference to a United States Supreme Court decision), and establishment of a committee to propose changes in Rule 40, the rule governing use of aversive and deprivation procedures. In response to questions from Frank, each of them assured him they would seek to hold the Department of Human Services accountable to comply with these provisions. The judge’s question reflected the lack of other enforcement procedures in the agreement. DHS Deputy Commissioner Anne Barry also assured the Court that she, the Commissioner of Human Services, and others within the Department were committed to fulfilling the requirements of the settlement agreement to enable persons with disabilities to live in our communities and to be treated with respect and dignity.

Barry’s comments echoed statements by Heidi Mhyre and Kurt Rutzen, persons with disabilities. Mhyre, who had been placed in restraint at Anoka State Hospital, said the settlement agreement was important for the future of people in the next generation. Rutzen emphasized to Frank that the settlement agreement was a way METO - p. 5

Access for service animals

by Clarence Schadegg

“We are diverse in so many ways. We’ve become so accepting,” said Jane Larson of MCTC. Yet despite progress, difficulties remain for some Minnesota college and university students who use service animals. Office of Students with Disabilities staff from Metropolitan State University and Disability Resource Center at Minneapolis Community Technical College (MCTC) outlined the challenges.

Eve Nichols is Director of the Office of Students with Disabilities at Metropolitan State. Jane Larson is Director of the Disability Resource Center at MCTC. Neither of the schools has a policy for handlers of service animals in the classroom. Both schools, refer to the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) for protection of the rights of service animals and handlers for equal access to classrooms. The needs of people with disabilities supersede the rights of people in most situations.

MCTC has many students with disabilities in its enrollment, including about half a dozen who are handlers of service animals. There are few if any student handlers with service animals at Metro State.

No handler of a service animal has been denied access to a classroom by either school. The school officials said they consider service animals to be animals that provide a specific task or tasks, such as dog guides for people with visual impairments, dogs that alert their owners who are hearing-impaired or dogs that assist a handler who uses a wheelchair.

Other service dogs allowed in classrooms are dogs that alert the handler of a pending seizure as well as veterans who live with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Neither school allows therapy and comfort dogs.

Nichols and Larson cited several questions Metro State and MCTC staff may Service animals - p. 9

Pg 3

Pg 4 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

50 percent may opt out

Explore, prepare for Special Needs Basic Care changes

by Access Press staff

Beginning Jan. 1 through July 2012 Minnesota adults and children with disabilities receiving Medical Assistance (MA) will be asked to join a Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC) health plan by Department of Human Services (DHS). This is a result of state legislation passed in 2011.

The new law provides that people may choose to opt out of enrollment at any time and return to MA fee-for-service (FFS). If someone initially opted-out and then wants to be on an SNBC plan, they can decide to do so at the end of each month. People who do decide to enroll in an SNBC plan will also be able to return to their original fee-for-service medical assistance plan if they decide the SNBC plan is not a good fit. People in counties where more than one plan is available will have the op-

tion to switch to a different SNBC plan as well.

The first thing those affected by this change need to do is watch their mailboxes.

Each enrollment phase-in group will be sent a mailing 40-60 days prior to their specific enrollment date for enrolling in a plan or opting out.

The mailing will specify a date by which they must notify DHS which SNBC they want join or that they want to opt out. People who have chosen to opt out would receive information annually from DHS about current plan choices and the opportunity to enroll. New MA enrollees will be sent information on SNBC, current plan choices and the opportunity to opt out.

The goal of SNBC is to promote access to primary and preventive care, including coordination with Medicare. The changes can be confusing, so

consumers and their family members need to educate themselves about these SNBC’s programs and what they would mean for them.

SNBC covered benefits includes basic care services (also called State Plan services) including behavioral health services, skilled nurse visits and home health aide services. Under SNBC, most long-term care services and most waivers services will continue to be provided through MA fee-forservice. Medical assistance copays will be waived by the health plans.

SNBC plans also currently provide care coordinators or care guides to assist SNBC members with accessing benefits. Make sure the plan you choose covers your preferred providers (psychiatrist, physician, therapist, etc.) and your medications. Also check if the plan requires Prior Authorization or Step Therapy (trying an older, cheaper medication first) for your medications; if this is the case the plan may not be a good choice for you. SNBC plans are also required to provide special training to their member services staff around the needs of people with disabilities.

SNBC is not a new program, but not everyone is familiar with it. The SNBC managed care program was designed for people with disabilities, including those dually eligible for Medicare benefits with the assistance from the Disability Managed Care Stakeholders’ group. The legislation continues to require ongoing involvement of the Disability Stakeholders’ group in the oversight of the SNBC program: SNBC began in 2008 and now serves about 6,000 adults ages 18 to 64. While SNBC plans have been serving adults for several years, now they will begin en-

rolling children under 18. DHS expect to conduct reviews with the plan to consult with the stakeholders’ group to review contract requirements for serving children. DHS is recommending that people get involved with their local stakeholders’ group to help the program grow and better fit each individual’s needs.

SNBC is delivered through five health plans covering 78 counties; 57 counties have one plan option, 20 counties have two plan options, and one county has three plan options.

Nine counties do not have SNBC plan options currently, even though it is required.

Three of the SNBC plans are integrated with Medicare through Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs.) South Country Health Alliance (SCHA), Prime West (PW), MHP. UCare and Medica SNBC plans are Medicaid only plans and coordinate services with Medicare. When joining an SNBC plan you can maintain the Medicare Part D you are in or join a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan, if it’s offered in the plan you choose.

If you have waivered services you can join an SNBC but waivered services remain covered under Medical Assistance Fee-For-Service (MAFFS). Important to understand, SNBC do not include personal care assistance (PCA) or private duty nursing (PDN) services. These services continue to be provided under MA-FFS for SNBC enrollees.

DHS intends to apply current managed care enrollment exclusions to SNBC. After exclusions are applied, about 78,216 adults and 11,544 children under 18 would be eligible to enroll.

Managed care exclusions can vary but the people ex-

cluded may include: people with other cost effective insurance or other HMO coverage, people with only Medicare A or only Medicare B, individuals on a spend down, people living in IMD/RTCs, people receiving services through the Consumer Support Grant (CSG), other small groups such as people with ESRD, terminally ill individuals, torture victims, and American Indians in certain circumstances may also be excluded.

DHS has created an Interdivisional SNBC Expansion Team that includes representatives of all divisions involved with care for people with disabilities. This team meets monthly to identify special issues and assist with implementation and communications.

Also, the Managed Care Stakeholders group has established a list serve and updating DHS website. Each SNBC plan must operate a local stakeholders group and is required to respond to their concerns. Special Needs Plans have been encouraged to begin adding additional stakeholders representing children to their groups.

DHS has purposed establish several workgroups as part of the stakeholders’ group that will meet in between the larger group meetings. DHS is interested in stakeholders’ thoughts about these groups and other options.

Suggested workgroups: Children with Disabilities in Managed Care: issues and Readiness Reviews, Consumer Education, Involvement and Outreach, Evaluation, Care Coordination and Transitions.

Check the website www.dhs. state.mn.us/SNBC for meetings schedules and times. The answers to most questions can be found by either calling the health plan, visiting their website or by calling the Disability Linkage Line at 1-866-333-2466. ■

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Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

PEOPLE & PLACES Robins, Mustangs are repeat champions in adapted soccer The Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs and Robbinsdale/ Hopkins/Mound-Westonka Robins are the winners of adapted soccer state tournament titles. This was the second straight Cognitive Impairments (CI) title for the Mustangs, while the Robins won their fourth straight title in the Physical Impairments (PI) division.

Stillwater Area High School hosted the tournament.

In the CI division, Anoka-Hennepin defeated St. Cloud Area 3-2. For third place honors, Park Center topped Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville 5-2. The fifth place game was won by Dakota United, which defeated South Suburban 12-4.

The defending champions from Anoka-Hennepin were the top seed in the North Division this year.

Chaska/Chanhassen/Prior Lake/Shakopee was the top seed in the South Division. Four quarterfinal games were played Nov. 18. The Mustangs defeated Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville in the first round, while

CI Division and PI Division Adapted Soccer All-Tournament Teams The CI Division and PI Division Adapted Soccer AllTournament Teams were honored by Wells Fargo and the Minnesota State High School League after the state tournament Nov. 18-19 in Stillwater. Teams were chosen by a panel of coaches attending the tournament CI All-Tournament Team members are: Jake Wilson, Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville Aaron Brennan, Chaska/Chanhassen/Prior Lake/Shakopee Rory Gaston, South Suburban Joe Sandey, Dakota United Bruce Matusovic, Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville Augie Wodrich, Park Center Sergio Rodriguez, St. Cloud Area David Lewis, St. Cloud Area Marcelli Kombo, St. Cloud Area Jeff Shogren, Anoka-Hennepin Zach Theroux, Anoka-Hennepin Tyler Kurkowski, Anoka-Hennepin PI Division All-Tournament Team: Zach Saice, Minneapolis South Nay Tham, St. Paul Humboldt Mark Braun, Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville Karen Kreidler, South Suburban Nathan Liter, Park Center Grayson Nicolay, Dakota United Emily Fiske, Anoka-Hennepin Erik Santa, Anoka-Hennepin Corey Gieske, Anoka-Hennepin Chaun Johnson, Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka Mike Madson, Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka Charlie Wittmer, Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka

Chaska/Chanhassen/Prior Lake/Shakopee was knocked out by Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville (6-3-0).

In other first round action Park Center (7-2-0) topped Dakota United (8-1-0) and St. Cloud Area (81-0) defeated South Suburban (5-4-1).

In the PI division, Robbinsdale/Hopkins/MoundWestonka defeated Anoka-Hennepin 3-0 to win the state title. Dakota United defeated Park Center 4-3 in overtime for third place honors. South Suburban defeated Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville 8-3 for fifth place.

The Robins were the top-seeded team in the North Division, going into the tournament. The South Suburban Flyers were the South Division’s top seed. The Robins knocked out Minneapolis South in the first round. In other first round action Dakota United (6-11) defeated Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville (4-4-0), Park Center (4-3-1) beat St. Paul Humboldt (3-5-0) and Anoka-Hennepin (5-4-0) beat South Suburban (70-1). South Suburban teams are from the Richfield, Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Edina schools.

Records shown behind each school name reflect pre-state tournament season records. Teams play in sections to reach the state tournaments.

Two state consolation champs were also crowned.

In the CI division, Dakota United defeated the South Suburban Jets, 12-4. In the PI division, the South Suburban Flyers beat Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville, 8-3.

Minnesota State High School League adapted soccer is played indoors and has its own set of rules.

Gymnasium walls determine the size of the field. The ball can be played off the walls. The ball itself is a felt-covered indoor soccer ball, inflated so that it won’t bounce as high as a regular soccer ball.

Teams consist of no more than seven players, including a goalkeeper, who, incidentally, cannot throw the ball past half court. In the PI Division every team with a full complement of players must field a minimum of two wheelchair players. Wheelchair pushers are not allowed.

Meto - from p. 3 to bring issues of respect and dignity and integration into the community to the forefront.

Frank’s responsibility in this hearing was to determine whether the settlement agreement was fair and reasonable and adequately protected the interests of all members of the class. At the close of the hearing he made that determination in open court. He also said that the agreement made to pay almost $1,000,000 in attorney’s fees to the plaintiffs’ lawyer was appropriate. ■

Pg 5

Athletes from the South Suburban team are shown in adapted soccer state tournament action. The team won the consolation title in the PI (Physically Impaired) Division.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Sun Publications, Michael Shaughnessy, photographer

Two halves of 20 minutes of running time are played. If necessary in tournament play, a 10-minute running-time “sudden victory” period is played; followed, if necessary, by four-player shootouts until a winner is determined.

The ball may be moved the best way for each participant. The abilities of the athlete dictate whether feet or hands can be used. One or the other can be used by an individual, but never both hands and feet, with the exception of goalkeepers.

Intentional trapping of the ball beneath a wheelchair is prohibited. Running is prohibited in the PI Division. But there are no restrictions on the speed of wheelchair players. ■

Pg 6 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

REGIONAL NEWS New health reform website launched The Minnesota Health Care Reform Task Force has launched a new website that will serve as a clearinghouse for information on Minnesota’s health reform efforts. The website will provide Minnesotans with information on how health reform affects them, their families, and their businesses. It also contains basic facts about health reform in Minnesota, and opportunities to connect to activities in our state. The website was previewed in November at the first meeting of the

Minnesota Health Care Reform Task Force.

The website uses the term “health reform” in a way that encompasses policies and partnerships to improve health and lower health care costs. Minnesota has a long history of reform and, most recently, in 2008, passed a state health reform law that improves community health, patient experience and affordability of health care in Minnesota. In 2010, federal health reform (the Affordable Care Act) became law, providing additional tools for Minnesota to cover the uninsured, build the health care workforce, prevent illness and contain health care costs. Throughout the website, the term health reform includes both state and federal laws and policies.

The website is: http://healthreform.mn.gov ■ [Source: State of Minnesota]

Veterans’ court provides help, hope Hennepin County Veterans Court is a pilot project in Minnesota that focuses on the unique demands of veterans in the court system. While homecoming parades go on and flags are waved for those who have come home from war, a recently completed report on the first year of this first-in-the-state project shows the lasting effect military service can have on some who have served and come back different. In the past year, the new court has witnessed soldiers accused of drunken driving, domestic assault, terroristic threats, burglary and fleeing police.

When it began in July 2010, court officials expected to see about 50 cases the first year. But in the first 12 months, the court heard more than twice as many cases.

Now Ramsey, Washington, and Anoka counties are considering similar programs. The courts are a help for veterans dealing with physical and emotional disabilities.

“It’s up to us who’ve been there to help this new generation,” said John Baker, an attorney and retired Marine gunnery sergeant who led an initiative to start the program. “Ninety-nine percent of the folks put those yellow ribbons on their vehicles and that’s it. You peel back the yellow ribbon and what are they doing?”

One year into the Hennepin pilot program, 71 vets were actively participating in the court and two had graduated. The participants ranged in age from 20 to

64 years old. Of the 71 active participants, 90 percent had chemical abuse or chemical dependency issues.

The true test of success will come two or three years down the road, after participants have completed their programs. Statistics compiled by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals show that 70 percent of defendants in specialty courts like the vets court finish their programs, and 75 percent do not reoffend for at least two years.

A key component is that the courts are not a forum for determining guilt or innocence but an entry point for counseling and resources. Offenders can be charged with a misdemeanor, a gross misdemeanor or a felony, provided the charge doesn’t involve a presumption of a prison sentence.

A team of professionals reviews each case. It includes representatives from the county attorney, public defender and probation, as well as people from Veterans Affairs, Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development and Hennepin County’s Veterans Services office. Part of the process involves a mentoring program through the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living that pairs offenders with volunteers. ■ [Source: Star Tribune]

Mental health cuts take a toll Modest increases in some states’ mental health budgets have done little to erase massive cuts nationwide over the past three years and a reduction in Medicaid funds, according to a report released recently by the nation’s largest mental health advocacy group.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 28 states and the District of Columbia have cut nearly $1.7 billion from their mental health budgets since 2009.

Three large states—California, New York and Illinois—collectively accounted for a staggering $1.2 billion in mental health budget cuts since the 2009 fiscal year, according to the report.

Among the other 22 states, mental health budgets increased about $487 million, though the group cautioned that spending was offset by state funding cuts to Medicaid, the largest public payer of mental health care. Medicaid spending wasn’t included in the report, nor was spending that might come from other areas of a state budget. The amount would have been much higher had that been the case.

“The system is staggered,” said Mike Fitzpatrick, executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness. “Many of the services that existed either no longer exist or exist in such small amounts you have decreased services, waiting lists backing up, crowded emergency rooms.”

Cuts are felt nationwide, thanks in part to the expiration in June of $87 billion in federal stimulus money to state Medicaid programs. While most of the states that cut their mental health budgets trimmed by single-percentage-point rates, a number of states slashed funding even more sizably, as much as 39 percent in South Carolina since the 2009 fiscal year.

Among the states with the largest cuts were Illinois, which cut funding by 31.7 percent since the 2009 fiscal year; Nevada, which cut by 28.1 percent; and California, which cut by 21.2 percent. ■ [Source: Associated Press ] Regional News - p. 15

Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

Pg 7

Jeff Bangsberg:

Strives to make lives of others just a little bit better

Jeff Bangsberg and Anita Boucher

Photo by Ali Mohamed

Editor’s note: Jeff Bangsberg is the recipient of the 2011 Charlie Smith Award, given for outstanding service to Minnesota’s disability community. The award was presented at the Access Press banquet Nov. 4.

The following is excerpted from Bangsberg’s acceptance speech.

I’m truly humbled to receive this award for two reasons: Charlie Smith was a close friend of mine for years before he passed away; and, I see this award as a recognition from my peers.

I view this award as a legacy for the things I was fortunate to be part of, from the days when I first became involved in Project Mobility; the days in the late 1970s [when the] personal care assistance program [began]; when I had the opportunity to chair the State Rehabilitation Council; and contracting with the Minnesota Department of Health in evaluating health care homes as a consumer representative.

Years ago, I met Clint Schultz, who is no longer with us, and found out that he was trying to solve the problem of being able to live at home in the community without the need to live in a nursing home. In other words, how we as physically disabled individuals would be able to get all activities of daily living help we need in order to stay out of a nursing home or relying family. At last, we saw the personal care assistance program come into play.

I remember when I dipped my toe into public policy the first time. Tom Haben and I would go down to the capitol to speak with legislators. I can’t even begin to tell you how scared we were. It was an intimidating experience! We would sit outside of their offices for what seemed to be hours. One day, Jim Ramstad, who was our state senator at the time, took the two of us into his office, sat us down and role-

played with us until we felt comfortable. Then, he literally walked us to one of his colleagues’ offices and said, “Senator, these two gentleman would like to talk to you.” Well, there we were. . .

Charlie Smith, the man whom this prestigious award is rightly named after, was with me before Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MAEPD) even became a concept. MA-EPD is a thriving program that allows people with disabilities to go to work without fear of losing health benefits. Before MAEPD, people who wanted to work would have to pay huge amounts of their income to maintain their PCA services. Charlie and I were together the day it all began— encouraging lawmakers to look at the MA-EPD issue.

It was in the early 1990s, we were sitting outside a committee room looking at the agenda for the hearing that was going on inside. The topic in the room was welfare reform and they were taking public testimony on the proposed changes at that time. We thought we should say something about the large amount of money we have to pay while working. Many of you know the term “spend-down”. The people testifying were upset by the new proposals for people on AFDC being required to work in order to receive their benefits. They had very legitimate reasons why they could not work, and it was sort of apples and oranges because our situation was completely different than theirs. It was our one chance to make the legislators listen, our opening was just sitting there plain as day – we told them that we wanted to work, but couldn’t because of MA rules.

The rest happened over the next few years, with surveys, resolutions, and legislation to pass the MAEPD program. When this legislation was brought to the Minnesota House of Representatives, it passed 137 to 0.

During this time, I was working at Becklund Home Health Care seeking reimbursement increases at the legislature for all of the caregivers in home care. If it wasn’t for Rhoda Becklund, I would not have had the opportunity to work on additional health care-related issues like MA-EPD. I would like to thank her for her vision in promoting home care and the issues she believed in for people with disabilities. As a result of my work with Becklund Home Health Care, I later had the opportunity to represent the entire home

health care community by working for the Minnesota HomeCare Association. I was privileged to be part of that association, for over five years and have Steve Lund and Neil Johnson to thank.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family who drove all the way from South Dakota, as well as my mother-in-law and great friend Gary, and most importantly, my wife Anita, my best friend and partner of over 16 years now—I love her ever so much.

In closing, I want to acknowledge my mother for teaching me compassion toward others. And my father who taught me the value of our environment. He taught me to “always leave the campsite better off than before I got there.” I take this little saying and try to apply it to everyday life and work.

It’s how I view my life—how can we make it just a little bit better. ■ Anita and I want to send out a great big Thank You to those who attended the Charlie Awards Banquet, hosted by Access Press on November 4th. We were honored to be part of this wonderful event, and your warm presence made it a truly memorable evening.

Thank you again to the Board of Directors and staff of Access Press, and to Luther Granquist for entertaining us as the emcee. To Anne Henry and Steven Kuntz - your nomination and introductions were a total surprise. I cannot think of a more appropriate pair to introduce me because you two have been a big part of my life for so long. Many others have also worked with us on disability issues for many, many years. We didn’t even get a chance to talk to all of you, let alone give you the acknowledgement you deserve. Thank you for being with us!

— Jeff Bangsberg

Pg 8 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

The Charlie Smith Award banquet was a highlight for our community

Jeff Bangsberg is the recipient of the 2011 Charlie Smith Award, given for outstanding service to Minnesota’s disability community. The award was presented at the Access Press banquet Nov. 4.

Photos by Ali Mohamed

The Graves family enjoyed the delicious dinner.

A large crowd enjoyed the banquet, held at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott.

Steve Kuntz, Joan Willshire, Jeff Bangsberg

Access Press Board members Kristin Jorenby and Carrie Salberg enjoyed the event.

Many companies donated merchandise and services to the silent auction and raffle.

Award winner Jeff Bangsberg gave a great speech. it is reprinted on page 7.

Past Charlie Smith Award winners Anne Henry and Steve Kuntz introduced this year’s winner, Jeff Bangsberg.

There were so many wonderful items at the silent auction, it was hard to decide on what to bid.

Steve Kuntz, Alex Bartolic and Randy Backmann were amoung those who gathered to enjoy the celebration.

Elin Ohlsson, Mark Hughes, and board members Brigid Alseth and Kay Willshire were among those in attendance.

Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

Priorities - from p. 1

Pg 9

anti-bullying measures are priorities. Gov. Mark Dayton has also called for more to be done to prevent bullying. Two work groups are also listed, one on alternative licensure and the other on special education funding.

Employment For many Minnesotans with disabilities (physical, developmental, mental illness) access to employment is a critical component of their quality of life. The benefits that come with being employed are significant, from generating income to providing a sense of purpose to serving as an opportunity to contribute to a larger entity. Priorities for the session include access to vocational rehabilitation services, rate restricting/ PEPSI program changes; and “employment first’ initiatives.

Healthcare/Long-term Services and Supports Today’s healthcare and long-term services and supports system is complex and often difficult to navigate, particularly for those with disabilities or complex medical conditions. Many believe that bridging the acute and long term care parts of the health continuum could lead to improved health outcomes and potential cost savings. Areas of focus for the legisla-

tive session would include managed care for persons with disabilities, dual eligibilities, Medical Assistance reform waivers, the “money follows the person” model, Olmstead Commission actions, state insurance exchange and provider-based delivery reform.

PCA Services Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services are provided to Minnesotans who need assistance from another person to live in their home. Today, an average of about 13,000 persons with disabilities live at home in Minnesota’s communities with the help of PCA services obtained through the fee-for-service Medical Assistance program. PCA services are an essential part of Minnesota’s community support service system for persons with disabilities. Areas of focus during the session that are proposed include the 20% PCA relative wage cut, Department of Human Services policy bill language that impacts PCA services and unresolved issues with new PCA assessment passed in 2009 legislative session.

Housing Access to affordable and accessible housing is a critical need for Minnesotans with disabilities. There has been increased recognition over past years that an individual’s access to quality employment, healthcare,

transportation and other daily needs increases greatly when they have access to safe and secure housing.

Focus areas include supporting individual housing choice, the bed de-licensing provision passed in 2010 legislative session and rate restructuring.

Transportation While much progress has been made over past years, overall access to transportation for Minnesotans with disabilities still remains inadequate. Focus areas during 2012 include Metropolitan Council transit programs, transit in rural Minnesota and Minnesota non-emergency medical transportation services.

Self Direction/Quality Assurance Self direction is growing across the country, and with good reason. Not only is there a federal mandate to provide options for community based long-term care, but it can be a cost efficient way to manage a finite budget while respecting each person’s individual preferences. Efforts to expand self direction here have stalled. Areas of focus include the MA reform waive, a state consumer-directed advisory committee, the My Life My Choices and Money Follows the Person models, consumer-directed community services budget methodology and the statewide quality assurance council. ■

Service animals - from p. 3 ask if questions arose about whether the dog is or is not a trained service animal. These include: Does the dog perform a service? What service does the dog perform? Does that service pertain to somebody who has a disability?

For example, if a student had asthma or a dog allergy, the handler and the student with the breathing disorder would sit at a safe distance apart in the classroom. “(There is) Nothing to dictate where somebody should sit,” said Nichols.

But there are safety concerns for dogs and students.

“In a weight training room, the dog sits in a corner away from the weight machines,” said Larson.

Cultural and ethnic diversity can play a role in the lives of service animals and their handlers, especially when animals are around people who may not be comfortable with dogs. MCTC is an especially diverse campus.

Larson said there needs to be a lot of give and take for a handler with regard to people of other religions, cultures and backgrounds. A newly hired MCTC employee was afraid of service dogs, having grown up in a country where dogs were kept outside, used to guard property.

Metro State has never had an issue on campus between somebody, who due to religious or cultural background, expressed fear or negatively reacted to a service dog.

There needs to be respect given to both sides, both women said.

Larson cited one example in which students of a religious group had set up a club activity inside a classroom. A handler of a service dog accidentally walked into that classroom and club members were upset by the presence of the handler and the dog.

In a situation that involved a student with a disability, Larson stated, “I would advocate for the student.

We are usually able to work things out.

Many colleges and universities are offering more opportunities for students to travel. That can create issues for students with disabilities and their service animals. One MCTC student brought his dog guide along on a domestic flight. There was a problem with the bulkhead seat arrangement Larson made for him in advance. The flight attendants wanted him to sit in a seat that was part of a three-row seat but the dog guide couldn’t fit in such limited space.

“When we travel abroad, students experience problems with prejudice about how dog guides are accepted,” Nichols said, she would suggest that students do some advance research of what is the policy of the other countries. One difficulty is in countries with rabies quarantines, such as Ireland. Student handlers and their service dogs could be separated for weeks if not months at a time. ■

Pg 10 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

PEOPLE & PLACES FBI honors PACER Center

(L to R) Paul Luehr, of Stroz Friedberg, LLC and the Vice President of PACER’s Board; Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center; Paula Goldberg, PACER’s executive director; Donald E. Oswald, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Minneapolis; Kyle A. Loven, FBI Division Counsel/Media Coordinator, Minneapolis; Ron Cutlip, FBI Community Outreach Specialist, Minneapolis.

Photo courtesy of PACER Center

PACER Center’s anti-bullying efforts have won recognition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Minneapolis office FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald E. Oswald presented the 2011 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to PACER Center and its National Bullying Prevention Center in November, thanking PACER for “addressing America’s most alarming and violent trends against children.”

Oswald presented the prestigious award to Paula F. Goldberg, PACER’s executive director, and Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, at PACER Center. The official award trophy will be presented by FBI Director Robert Mueller, III in Washington, D.C. on March 16, 2012.

“Each year, the FBI is proud to recognize a champion from our community which has had a tremendous impact on the community through the reduction of crime or improving the quality of life,” Oswald said.

Since 1990, the Director’s Community Leadership Award has been presented by the FBI. It is a way of recognizing individuals and organizations which have made extraordinary contributions to crime prevention, violence prevention or education in the community.

“PACER Center without a doubt fits all three categories,” Oswald said.

Oswald cited PACER’s work since 1978 on behalf of parents and children to address the stigma of disabilities, as well as its programs for families of children with disabilities. PACER’s programs have gained local, national, and international attention, with an estimated 1.3 million visitors reaching out to PACER’s bullying prevention website this year. More than 3 million visitors have used PACER’s website

this year in search of information, training, and solutions to parenting and children’s issues, including people from more than 80 countries.

He also praised PACER’s bullying prevention efforts through its National Bullying Prevention Center (PACER.org/bullying), as well its websites for children: KidsAgainstBullying.org and TeensAgainst Bullying.org. PACER’s work has provided a way for kids and teens to learn how to handle, report, and eliminate bullying, he said. One example of the teen website’s impact came through an e-mail to PACER from a young person who was planning to commit suicide, but did not after finding the website.

“Pacer Center continues to organize events to bring awareness to a crime that seldom gets the attention it deserves,” Oswald said. “Bullying, whether it is committed in person or conducted on the Internet – is unacceptable.”

Oswald honored Goldberg for her “persistence, guidance, and vision” in addressing bullying, and recognized Hertzog for the day-to-day management of the bullying prevention program. “We know your program is making a difference, and we commend you for it,” Oswald said.

Each of the FBI’s field offices annually recommends to the FBI Director one person or organization deemed worthy of this prestigious award. The Minneapolis FBI Division represents Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. ■

HCMC housekeeper honored Few housekeepers are credited with saving a life, but according to one patient, that is exactly what Louise Lewis of Hennepin County Medical Center was able to do. For her exemplary actions, Lewis was named one of only five national CARES awards at Sodexo’s annual healthcare meeting in October in Orlando. The CARES awards recognize employees each year who embody the company values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Service.

Lewis was honored for her compassion toward an HCMC patient. After a major heart attack and losing one of her legs, the patient often would lay in her hospital bed, motionless and quiet, with thoughts of letting go and giving up. Attempts to snap a depression that seemed to have taken hold were not having an impact. Through each day, Lewis spoke to her and offered words of encouragement as she made sure the room was cleaned and sanitized. Day after day, even though the patient would not respond, Lewis refused to give up. Then, one day the patient began to speak to her.

The patient said, “It was not my mother’s words or my doctor’s words that inspired me to get out of bed and back into life. It was the inspirational words from Louise that truly made the difference. There are many people that lay in these beds who never make it out, but because of Louise’s caring words of encouragement, I will be healthy again. The doctors did all that they could do, but it was truly Louise’s words that gave me the will to carry on. Louise was Heavensent!” ■

New travel support program introduced MedSafe Travel, based in Buffalo, is introducing a unique travel support program for seniors and adults with disabilities who would feel more comfortable traveling with a full-time senior travel specialist or a personal companion. MedSafe is offering one-week, all-inclusive senior group trips to Cancun, on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, to escape the hard winter months.

“Travel can be a rewarding experience, but many people, including my own father, become intimidated by it as they age,” said Mark Austin, MedSafe Travel CEO and founder. “We worry about the things that can prevent you from enjoying your trip so you don’t have to.”

MedSafe Travel has partnered with Prairie River Home Care, an established, family-owned, Medicarecertified home health care provider, to offer companions and even nurses when needed for a successful travel experience. Combined services include free safe travel planning assessments; caregivers for assistance with packing and unpacking, airport check-ins, baggage handling, transportation, medications, personal grooming, meals, social activities and sightseeing and full-time senior travel specialists for group trips. At the destination there will be local Cancun ground transportation, tour assistance and an on-call medical director.

A video documentary of each trip will be provided featuring daily highlights for long-lasting memories.

The company also offers respite travel for caregivers and their loved ones. ■

Six clinics certified as Health Care Homes Six of Hennepin County Medical Center’s primary care clinics are now certified as health care homes. A Health Care Home or a medical home is a patient and family centered way of providing coordinated primary care for all patients, especially those with chronic and complex conditions. Locally, the concept of Health Care Homes was introduced as part of Minnesota’s health reform legislation in 2008, and they are also part of a national initiative to ultimately improve the health of the population, the patient/consumer experience, and the affordability of health care.

HCMC’s certified Health Care Home clinics include East Lake Street Clinic, the downtown Pediatric Clinic, Richfield Clinic, Positive Care Clinic, Aqui Para Ti, and the Coordinated Care Clinic. These clinics met the series of requirements that included continuous access, care coordination, care planning, registry and quality improvement.

Care coordinators are essential to Health Care Homes. At HCMC, this role is performed by both community health workers and registered nurses, depending upon the complexity of care coordination needs. These care coordinators work closely with patients and families to manage all aspects of care, and are key partners on the patient’s health team.

Health Care Home patients are invited to actively participate in their care, specifically in care planning and goal setting with their primary care provider and care coordinator. “While HCMC has always valued and encouraged patient participation, this program certification demonstrates our commitment to working side by side with our patients to address all of their health care needs and goals,” said HCMC CEO Art Gonzalez. “We strive for patient-centered care for all of our patients, and this approach helped us pave our way to providing care in our Health Care Home clinics.” HCMC is committed to certifying all of its primary care clinics as health care homes. ■

Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

ACCESSIBLE FUN Welcome to the Access Press Accessible Fun listings. Get further information on things to do around Minnesota at www.access minnesota.org and click on the calendar.

For info on galleries and theater performances around the state, visit www.vsa mn.org or call 612-332-3888 or 1-800-8013883 (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\

VSA calendar seeks support For more than a decade, the VSA Minnesota Accessible Performance Calendar (part of which is used by Access Press) has publicized arts events that offer ASL interpreting, captioning, audio description, or other accommodations. Major cuts to the national VSA program which paid for this outreach means VSA Minnesota is looking for ideas, sponsors, volunteers or other means to continue this service.

Anyone with suggestions, or who wants to say how this service and VSA’s accessibility advocacy is important to the community, should email ideas and comments to access@vsamn.org or call 612332-3888 or 800-801-3883, voice/tty. The current arts calendar can be seen at www.vsamn.org/calendar.

Art fair and sale Walker Community United Methodist Church, hosts its art fair and sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat, Dec. 11 and noon -4 p.m. Sun, Dec. 12. More than a dozen artists will be displaying and selling their goods. Food and beverages will be for sale, along with baked goods. Walker is at 3104 16th Av. S., Mpls.

The church provides meeting space for arts programs for people with disabilities.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development. 55 Victoria St. N., St. Paul, presents the play about the Herdman kids, the worst kids in the whole history of the world. The kids bring chaos and joy to the annual pageant. ASL show is 2 p.m.

Sun, Dec. 11. Tickets are reduced to $10 access rate (regular $14; youth/senior 55+ $11). FFI: 651-225-9265; email: info@steppingstonetheatre.org Website: http://www.steppingstonetheatre.org

See puppets in Winter Dreams In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre, 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls, stages Winter Dreams. Learn how animals bury themselves to hibernate during the winter. Underneath blankets of snow, the animals slumber all winter—snoring and dreaming under the vast skies. Discover the dreams of winter’s secret sleepers and the music of the wide mysterious skies. AD & ASL show is 1:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 10. The tactile tour of puppets and set is at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15; student/ senior $12; children 18 & under $10; re-

duced to $12 for ASL/AD patron & one companion each. FFI: 612-721-2535, ext.

23; info@hobt.org, www.hobt.org.

Attend a holiday show The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is the AR&LE Performers’ Holiday Variety Show (Adaptive Recreation and Learning Exchange). This program serves people with disabilities in Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina and Richfield. Performers are people with and without disabilities. This year’s performance is at Edinborough Park Indoor Amphitheater, 7700 York Ave. S., Edina. The show is 5 p.m. Sun, Dec. 11 and ASL interpretation is offered. The show is free but donations of $5 per person or $15 per household are suggested.

Enjoy a reception after the show. FFI: 952-681-6121; jclarke@bloomington.k12. mn.us, www.shapeschool.info (scroll down and click on Learning Exchange).

Nutcracker and Mother Goose The Nutcracker According to Mother Goose will be performed at Zenon Dance Company at Cowles Center for Dance, 528 Hennepin Ave, Mpls. See the holiday classic performances with Mother Goose favorite characters. The ASL performance is 1 p.m. Sat, Dec. 17. Tickets are $20, $15 children 12 & under. FFI: 612206-3600, www.zenondance.org, www.thecowlescenter.org/

In the Dining Room The Dining Room will be performed by Theatre in the Round Players at Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave., Mpls. Go back to a time when the dining room was the hub of family life. Follow a dining room from the Depression era through the 1980s. AD performance is 2 p.m.

Sun, Dec. 18. Tactile tour at 1 p.m. upon request. Tickets are $22, senior $18, student with ID $10 (Sunday prices). FFI: 612-333-3010, ww.theatreintheround.org

Babe, the Sheep Pig Babe, the Sheep Pig is performed by Lakeshore Players Theatre, 4820 Stewart Ave., White Bear Lake. An orphaned piglet wants to become a champion sheepdog and his story will delight theatergoers of all ages. ASL show is 2 p.m. Sun, Dec. 18. (If no ASL seats are reserved within two weeks of the performance, the ASL interpretation will be cancelled.) Tickets are $10-12; ASL Discount 50% off. FFI: 651-429-5674; tickets@lakeshore players.com, www.lakeshoreplayers. com/Babe.html

A Reindeer Line Youth Performance Company presents the holiday play A Reindeer Line, at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, 1900 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. Hear the stories as the deer vie to see who will fly with Santa on Christmas Eve. AD & ASL performance is 2 p.m. Sun, Dec. 18. Tickets are reduced to half-price (regular $12, student 18 & under or senior 62+, $10). FFI: 612-6239080, www.youthperformanceco.com

Pg 11

A Part or Apart?

The groundbreaking exhibit of black and white photographs by Jane Strauss, showing people with disabilities actively included in the Jewish community, is now a book.

Strauss is a photographer on the autism spectrum, The book includes an expanded format introduction by Strauss, who has been dealing with the issue of inclusion in the community for decades, and several related stories, letters, and articles. Strauss has also developed a series of discussion guides, for use by both Jewish and nonJewish groups, to accompany the book.

The discussion guides and their accompanying written materials make up a second volume. Rimon provided partial funding for the development of the two books as did the Minnesota Jewish Arts Council, and the Howard B. and Ruth F. Brin Arts Endowment Fund.

A reading, slide presentation, and celebration for A Part or Apart? will take place at the Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Road South St. Louis Park, at 7 p.m. Mon, Dec. 12. Strauss and one of the project partici-

One of Jane Strauss’ photos featured in A Part or Apart?

pants will speak. Books will be available for purchase. Also during December selected images from the exhibit will be on display at Blue Moon Coffee Cafe, 3822 E Lake St., Mpls. Blue Moon will host a reading and reception 5-7 p.m. Sat., Dec. 10. Additional information about A Part or Apart? and related events are posted at www.a-part-or-apart.com ■

Of Mirth and Mischief

Always and Forever

The collaborative performance is led by Kevin Kling and Steve Kramer at the Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E Exchange Street, St. Paul. Celebrate the magic of the season with the premiere of Kevin Kling’s fantastical journey that explores the world of broken fairies and mischievous elves who rule the dusk and dawn—all through the wondrous tale of a young boy’s experience. This original production was commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio, written by Kevin Kling and directed by Peter Rothstein, with original music by Steve Kramer and performed by Haley Bonar and James Diers from the band Halloween, Alaska. ASL performance is 2 p.m.

Sun, Dec. 18. Tickets are matinee $20, evening (not interpreted) shows $29. FFI: 651-290, fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/ events/#mirth

Illusion Theater performs Always and Forever at the Illusion Theater, 528 Hennepin Ave (8th Floor), Mpls. AD show is 8 p.m.

Fri, Dec. 23. ASL show is to be announced.

This hit musical review is set in the 1970s.

Tickets are $20-30. Assisted listening devices available at all shows. Enjoy renditions of pop tunes by the Jackson Five, Percy Sledge, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Earth, Wind and Fire (plus three holiday songs). FFI: 612-339-4944, www.illusiontheater.org 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.

Pg 12 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12 Bid on skis and more

UPCOMING EVENTS Advocacy Join state mental health boards The State Advisory Council on Mental Health and the Subcommittee on Children’s Mental Health have vacancies beginning in January 2012. The council and subcommittee advise the governor and state departments on policies, programs and services affecting adults with mental illnesses and children with emotional disturbances. Each group consists of 30 members representing a variety of perspectives on the mental health system. Every two years, the council and subcommittee file a formal report of their recommendations to state leaders. As a federally mandated council, it also provides input on the state’s mental health system for the federal government. The council also assists in coordinating the work of local advisory councils. Members serve four-year terms. The seats open are for consumers of mental health services (3); family members of persons with mental illnesses (2); a family physician; a representative of the discipline of psychology; a representative of the discipline of nursing and a metro county commissioner.

The Children’s Subcommittee needs representatives of advocacy groups for children who have emotional disturbances (2); parents of a child with an emotional disturbance (2); a person who works with children who have emotional disturbances who have committed status offenses; urban and rural county social service agency representatives; a representative of a local corrections department; a representative of educators currently working with children who have emotional disturbances; a person knowledgeable about the needs of children who have emotional disturbances of minority races and cultures; a hospital-based provider of children’s mental health services; a consumer of adolescent mental health services; a rural county commissioner and state legislator. Appointments to the State Advisory Council are made by the Governor; appointments to the Children’s Subcommittee are made by the State Advisory Council.

Members are reimbursed and paid per diems. Applications are due Dec. 29 and available the Secretary of State’s Office at www.sos.state.mn.us/, Open Commissions and Appointments. You may now apply online at Open Appointments Application. Applications and more information are also available at the State Advisory Council’s website: http://mentalhealth.dhs.state.mn.us FFI: Bruce Weinstock, Bruce.Weinstock@state.mn.us, 651-431-2249 Learn about managed care Minnesota’s 2011 Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill requires persons with disabilities under age 65 who have Medical Assistance fee-for-service coverage to enroll in a Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC) Managed Care plan for health care. The choice of what plan to choose or whether to opt out and to stay in fee-for-service is a big decision. Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities would like to invite you to learn about your options at a free forum so you can make an informed decision. Attend a meeting 6-8 p.m. Tue, Dec. 13 at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. The Minnesota Department of Human Services will explain the change and implications. Disability Linkage

Courage Center is a regional resource in adapted skiing and snowboarding for people with physical disabilities and visual impairments. The program is available at three metro area ski areas—Trollhaugen, Welch Village and Hyland Hills—as well as Spirit Mountain in Duluth and Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik.

To raise money for the 2011-12 ski and snowboard season, Courage Center is partnering with the Jobs Foundation to host an online auction of gently used ski and snowboard gear. The online auction opened Dec. 2 and closes at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. To access the online auction visit: www.couragecenter.org/ skiauction2011.

High bidders can pay for and pick up items between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Jobs Foundation, 974 Nathan Lane N., Suite A, Plymouth. The items to be sold were donated. Donated equipment is also used on the hill in weekly programming.

For more information about our adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program or to get involved as a participant or volunteer, visit www.CourageCenter.org/ski or contact: Nels Dyste, program coordinator, 763-520-0480 or nels.dyste@CourageCenter.org.

Link will explain the assistance they can provide.

Medica, UCare and Metropolitan Health Plan will have representatives present to explain their programs FFI: Anni at asimons@arcmn.org Space is limited - please RSVP by emailing denafelper@arcgreatertwincities.org or by calling 952-920-0855

Workshops, conferences Child and adolescent mental health conference The Minnesota Association for Children’s’ Mental Health (MACMH) conference is April 22 – 24 in Duluth. Early deadlines are approaching. Register by Jan. 31 for a $50 savings. Also, exhibitors, sponsors and marketers need to sign on by April 2 for the April 23-24 exhibit days. New offerings this year include a sponsors’ row for event sponsors, a “friend” discount for longtime exhibitors and the ability to select an exhibit space through online registration. Ask about exhibit and conference attendee rates or check the organization website. Presentation deadline has passed but some workshops may be needed; check the organization website. FFI: info@macmh.org, or www.macmh.org

Adult classes Living Well with a Disability Series Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) offers Living Well with a Disability, a free ten-week wellness workshop for people with disabilities that help consumers achieve full participation through health maintenance and health promotion activities. Developed by the University of Montana, the peer-facilitated and consumer directed workshops begin a journey of empowerment.

Classes start 10 a.m. Thu, Jan. 12 and continue Thursday mornings. Please give two weeks’ notice if accommodations are needed. FFI: Corbett Laubignat, corbettl@mcil-mn.org, 651-603-2028 Independent living classes offered The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) offers free and accessible classes on living indepen-

dently for people with disabilities. Most classes are held at 1600 University Ave., #16, the green tile building at University and Snelling, St. Paul. Events are free, accessible and mostly scent-free. Please give two weeks’ notice if anyone needs accommodations. RSVP for classes. FFI: Corbett Laubignat, corbettl@mcil-mn.org, 651 603 2028. Classes include: Knitting Circle: Learn simple techniques, patterns and designs of knitting. Adaptive knitting equipment available; for all levels of knitters. Other crafts are welcome.

10 a.m.-noon, Mon, Jan. 9 and 1-3 p.m. Mon, Jan. 23.

Homemade Gifts: Make fun homemade gifts out of items available at home or with inexpensive materials.

Please bring men’s neckties. 1-3 p.m. Mon, Dec. 12.

Meal Planning: Create a weekly menu and shop with a list. Learn how to expand meals without expanding a household budget. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wed, Jan. 11.

Cooking/Social Group: Come to an evening of fun!

For anyone who would like to come to socialize, use MCIL’s computers, watch a movie, eat, gather information, or just hang out. Come for the entire time or just stop by for a few minutes. Bake and take cookies and have festive fun. 1-6 p.m. Tue, Dec. 20.

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-register 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

Youth and families 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.

Technology for Girls: Watson, 6-8 p.m. Tue, Jan. 10. Free. T.J. Watson is the founder of IBM. Several inventors from IBM created a new computer called Watson, which competed on the popular TV show Jeopardy. Middle school girls with disabilities are invited to come to learn if Watson won or lost at Jeopardy and see if they can stump the Watson computer with questions of your own. Students will learn what computers can and can’t do and challenges the inventors had when creating Watson.

Apps for Autism 6-9 p.m. Tue, Jan. 17. Suggested donation $10-$25. There are thousands of apps for the iPod Touch and the iPad so it can be hard to find the right one. Learn about some of the best apps for children and adults with autism.

Bring your own iPad/iPod Touch with your own favorite apps to share. FFI: 952-838-9000, 800537-2237 (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

Upcoming events - p. 13

Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

Radio Talking Book December sampling Holiday Programming

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.

Every year the Minnesota Radio Talking Book takes a breather at Christmas time. Stories and special programming appropriate to this time of year are offered. Listeners also take the opportunity to hear some of the delightful volunteers’ voices from the past. Christmas programming begins at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24 and continues through Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25.

Special programming ends at 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26.

Chautauqua • Tuesday – Saturday 4 a.m.

The View from Lazy Point, Nonfiction by Carl Safina, 2011. We run our lives and our world with ancient and medieval ideas—our philosophy, ethics, religion, and economics were devised before we realized the world was round. Because of that, we are unable to detect dangers or respond to new realities. Read by Art Nyhus.

16 broadcasts. Begins Dec. 13.

Program Change

Bookworm • Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

The Quickening, Fiction by Michelle Hoover, 2010.

On neighboring farms, Enidina Current and Mary Morrow build a necessary friendship, even though the two women have little in common. The Great Depression threatens the balance of their relationship, pitting neighbor against neighbor. L - Read by Sherri Afryl. Seven broadcasts. Begins Dec. 22.

Beginning on Sunday, Dec. 4, Access Talk is becoming Main Menu. It will now air the first three Sundays of every month at 8 p.m., with rebroadcasts on Thursday mornings at 3 a.m.

Weekend Program Books Your Personal World (Saturday at 1 p.m.) is airing Surviving Your Serengeti, by Stefan Swanepoel; For the Younger Set (Sunday at 11 a.m.) is airing Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos; Poetic Reflections (Sunday at noon) is airing Red Clay Weather, by Reginald Shepherd, and On Days Like This, by Patricia Conner; The U.S. and Us (Sunday 4 p.m.) is airing In Cod We Trust,

by Eric Dregni.

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 1800-722-0550 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 copies of books by contacting their home state’s Network Library for the National Library Service.

Upcoming events - from p. 12 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: 952-8389000 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).

Fraser offers groups Fraser offers a wide variety of classes and programs for families dealing with disabilities. Classes, which typically cost $30 per person or $50 per couple, are held throughout the region. Preregistration required. Fraser offers a wide variety of classes and programs for families dealing with disabilities. Classes, which typically cost $30 per person or $50 per couple, are held throughout the region. Preregistration required. Using the ‘Nurtured Heart Approach’ for Children with Challenging Behaviors I 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wed., Dec. 14 at Fraser Penn – Richfield. Children with high intensity temperaments are often labeled as “challenging” in school or child care settings. This course combines four effective strategies for helping caregivers transform the way they see children who have high energy and high intensity from a challenge to a “gift.” FFI: 612-798-8331 or workshops@fraser.org.

DHS Licensing Information Lookup 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

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

Jackie as Editor, Nonfiction by Greg Lawrence, 2011.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was the consummate first lady, the nation’s tragic widow, the millionaire’s wife, and the embodiment of elegance. Her biographers tend to skip over another stage of her life, her 20 years as a book editor. Read

by Lannois Neely. 15 broadcasts. Begins Dec. 20.

Choice Reading • Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

The Weird Sisters, Fiction by Eleanor Brown, 2011. The Andreas family is an eccentric one. Books are their passion. The father, a professor of Shakespeare, named his girls for great Shakespearean women. Now the three women have returned home, each with her secrets, and find that a book can’t solve what ails them. Read by Isla Hejny. 12 broadcasts. Begins Dec. 26.

PM Report • Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

The Lies of Sarah Palin, Nonfiction by Geoffrey Dunn, 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.

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 Diamond mental illness. NAMI has 23

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Pg 13

2011. Based on more than two hundred interviews and more than forty thousand pages of uncovered documents, Geoffrey Dunn chronicles Sarah Palin’s penchant for duplicity, from her dysfunctional childhood through her failed governorship of Alaska. L – Read by Kristi Sullivan. 20 broadcasts. Begins Dec. 19.

Night Journey • Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

Cut, Paste, Kill, Fiction by Marshall Karp, 2010. When Eleanor Bellingham-Crump, a socialite responsible for the death of a boy, is found murdered, Lomax and Biggs are confronted with artistic brutality. Along with the body, they find a scrapbook documenting a motive for vengeance. L,S - Read by Joe Sadowski. Eight broadcasts.

Begins Dec. 26.

Off the Shelf • Monday – Friday 10 p.m.

The Tragedy of Arthur, Fiction by Arthur Phillips, 2011.

Arthur Phillips’ father is a con artist who loves Shakespeare. Near the end of his life, his father shares with Arthur a treasure he’s kept hidden for 50 years, an unknown play of Shakespeare’s. But is it? Read by Arlan Dohrenburg. 18 broadcasts. Begins Dec. 19.

Potpourri • Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

Finders Keepers, Nonfiction by Craig Childs, 2010.

Childs, a desert ecologist, mourns the loss of context when items are removed from their natural environment, whether for museums or for sale to collectors. L – Read

by Marylyn Burridge. Nine broadcasts. Begins Dec. 15.

Aerotropolis, Nonfiction by John D. Kasarda and Greg Lindsay, 2011. Today’s jet travel and global business have changed the old pattern. Soon, the airport will be at the center and the city built around it. Read by Leila Poullada. 20 broadcasts. Begins Dec. 28.

After Midnight • Tuesday – Saturday 1 a.m.

Original Sin, Fiction by Beth McMullen, 2011. Sally Sin falls in love and becomes an ex-spy, struggling to become stay-at-home mom Lucy Hamilton. But when Ian Blackford starts causing trouble for her old agency, they are desperate to get her back. L – Read by Holly Sylvester. 10 broadcasts. Begins Dec. 23. ■ Key: V-violence, L-offensive language, S-sexual situations.

family support groups, over 20 support groups for people living with a mental illness, anxiety support groups, and other groups. 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 5:45-7p.m., on the second Tuesday of the month, at Snelling Office Park, 1625 Energy Park Drive, Suite 100, St. Paul. FFI: Sonja, 651-357-2077.

A NAMI Connection peer support group for adults recovering from mental illness meets bi-weekly in Roseville.

Trained facilitators who are also in recovery lead NAMI Connection groups. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., at Centennial Methodist Church, 1524 Co. Rd. C-2 West. FFI: Will, 651-578-3364.

NAMI has a support group for those living in the GLBTQ community and their allies. The group meets 1-2:30 p.m.

Saturdays, Minnehaha Spirit of the Lakes Church, 4001 38th Avenue S., Mpls. The support group will be a safe place to confront the challenges that many members of the GLBTQ communities face including low self-esteem, social isolation, stigma, discrimination, anxiety and depression.

FFI: Kim 763-267-5881, Gabi 314-800-4134.

An Open Door Anxiety/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, www.namihelps.org ■

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Pg 14 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

MN-CDD - from p. 1 become a stand-along nonprofit organization, with an executive director and a half-time staff member of administrative support purposes.

Regular MN-CCD meetings are currently convened by co-chairs who are elected to serve alternating, twoyear terms. The changes would mean that Steve Larson, public policy director of The Arc Minnesota and Chris Bell, vice president of the American Council of the Blind—Minnesota Chapter, would be MNCCD’s last two co-chairs. Larson was re-elected to a one-year term Nov. 17.

Joel Ulland of UCare explained the proposed leadership changes. Ideas have been debated since 2010, when a restructuring task force was created. “We’ve looked at a lot of different ways to do this, including different organizational and financial models.”

For years MN-CCD has been led by two volunteer cochairs. That worked in the early years but as the two cochairs have taken on more responsibilities, Ulland and others said that model has become unsustainable.

“Ten years ago I was a co-chair for MN-CCD and the organization has changed dramatically since then,” Ulland said.

One challenge to volunteer leadership is the amount of work MN-CCD has taken on. Over the past decade MN-CCD members have seen an increasing volume in issues that must be dealt with, especially at the state level. Issues have also become much more complex. Another impetus for change is that of solving the unsustainable nature of the current leadership model of co-chairpersons. Not only do co-chairs and MN-CCD board members take on a lot as volunteers, it has become difficult to find new volunteers to take on leadership roles, said Ulland “We’re kind of at a crossroads for MN-CCD. Not making structural changes could mean lost opportunities for the organization,” he added.

Having an executive director would give MN-CCD a consistent spokesperson and point person at the state capitol and in other leadership situations, according to the task force report. The director would be the lead contact for legislators and other policymakers.

The restructuring would allow MN-CCD to meet several goals including broadly enhancing the political power of Minnesota’s disability community,

strengthening the group’s effectiveness and providing opportunities to build a stronger identity for MNCCD. Other benefits of the reorganization cited include enabling MN-CCD to become financially independent. For years organizations have served as fiscal hosts for MN-CCD. The restructured organization would become a 501 c 4 nonprofit if the reorganization wins approval.

That specific status is important because it would allow MN-CCD to continue to do legislative lobbying on behalf of people with disabilities Groups designated at 501 c 3 nonprofits cannot do any lobbying as MN-CCD currently does. One possibility for MN-CCD would be to set up as a 501 c 4 and then have an affiliated 501 c 3 that could provide assistance with fundraising.

Bell said, one advantage of becoming a stand-alone non profit is that MN-CCD could apply for its own grant support. The task force looking at reorganization has also been working on financial models for the reorganized group. Those will be set up if the reorganization is approved. ■

Housing crunch - from p. 1

After being on crutches for three months, Egan can now walk normally but is still recovering. “My roommate’s in a boot,” Egan said, “How is she supposed to move her things?”

Egan’s case is a prime example of simply not having enough appropriate rooms on campus.

According to McEathron, general overcrowding has not been an issue this year. With a total campus capacity of 1,296, Mac currently houses 1,246 students. “We can, but it’s not just about filling beds,” McEathron said. “We want to give students that feeling of community, that Macalester is a nice place to live.”

For the last two years, Macalester has had to dip into overflow housing in Turck and forced triples in Dupre to house its freshman class, but this year’s smaller class fits more comfortably.

“I think the remodeling of the music building might make this year feel overcrowded,” says McEathron, referring to the music practice spaces displaced to Turck and Dayton.

“When you have groups practicing in your residence hall, it feels like a lot more going on with people coming and going.”

But demand for accessible rooms is a completely different story.

“It’s a big investment to the college to build these

spaces,” McEathron said, explaining that increasing the amount of accessible space on campus is always considered while remodeling.

Egan says she understands the bind that the college is in, but still feels inconvenienced.

“I know that they’re trying to help everyone, and that they’re trying to do the best they can,” Egan said, “but the second you’re not on crutches … it’s frustrating.” ■ This article originally appeared in the Mac Weekly, newspaper of Macalester College in St. Paul. It is reprinted with permission.

double in Kirk Hall, a room in Turck Hall, one room in a George Draper Dayton Hall suite and a room in the Grand Cambridge Apartments—though regular rooms can sometimes be modified for easier accessibility.

One story epitomizing the shortage is that of Julia Egan ’13 and her roommate, who were both hit by cars this summer while living on campus.”I was going to be on crutches, but I wanted to be able to make it to class,” said Egan, who Macalester Residential Life promptly placed in an accessible living space. “I felt really supported by the college.”

The roommates, however, were recently given a four-day notice to vacate the room.

“When they moved us in, they said there was a small chance we might have to move,” Egan said. She went on to describe a series of emails she received this semester. According to Egan, the emails began by asking questions like ‘Will you need this room next semester?’ and ‘Do you need it now?’

Then, on the weekend of Nov. 5, Egan received an email saying that someone was having surgery and might need the room. It wasn’t until the next Tuesday, Nov. 8, that she got the email telling her that someone else would definitely be moving into the room—and to be out by Friday.

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Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

History - from p. 2 this offer, including Minnesota.

In May 1962, the Minnesota Department of Health announced that 12,000 babies would be tested between June 1, 1962 and June 30, 1963, primarily in St. Paul hospitals.

In August 1964, the Minne-

sota Department of Health started a voluntary statewide PKU screening program, including follow-up nutrition and genetic consultation. By April 1, 1965, 157 of 179 hospitals in the state with maternity units participated in this program. It is not surprising that the bill

Regional News - from p. 6

New school for EBD students Journeys Secondary School, St. Paul Public Schools’ new program for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, (EBDs), is enjoying a good first year. The school, in the former Open World Learning Community building, merges two EBD programs that school officials say didn’t quite do right by their students. It also now houses the Lab, the district’s 7-year-old program that teaches students to exorcise emotions such as anger, through arts and exercise.

The school wasn’t an instant sell with the district’s board at a time when St. Paul is scaling back other programs, said Dan Wolff, the district’s special-education supervisor. With its 60 students and a staff of 25, including nine teachers, the program is an investment. Statewide, fewer students attend EBD programs like Journeys, completely separate from mainstream programming.

But Principal Hamilton Bell said the program was in keeping with the district’s renewed focus on serving each and every learner: “We are giving our students hope.”

The district used to send students with severe behavioral problems to two rented facilities, including one that shared space with the district’s transportation department. ■ [Source: Pioneer Press]

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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making the program mandatory (with an exception for parental objection based on religious beliefs) passed both houses of the legislature unanimously and was signed by Gov. Karl Rolvaag on April 15, 1965.

Until Guthrie died in 1995, he devoted his professional life to expanding the scope of newborn baby screening. Today, with further advances in screening technology, Minnesota’s

screening program tests for 54 different conditions. Although Margaret Doll was born too soon to benefit from her uncle’s test, she did benefit from the PKU diet started when she was diagnosed. That diet was discontinued, for a time when the premise was that the brain had already fully developed. Some years later she started again on the PKU diet and continues to benefit from it. ■

Pg 15

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Pg 16 Dec. 10, 2011 Volume 22, Number 12

Access Press office closed Dec. 25 & Jan. 1 Have a Happy Holiday!

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