April 2013 Edition - Access Press

Rise’s new board chair Julie Weaver, Pg 11

Volume 24, Number 4

Voters with disabilities want changes Changes to voting laws are among many issues still in play during the final weeks of Minnesota’s 2013 legislative session. But with no clear agreements and Gov. Mark Dayton insisting that any measures have broad bipartisan support; it’s not clear what if anything will be signed into law this spring.

That hasn’t deterred state lawmakers from sponsoring election law bills this session. Nor has it kept members of Minnesota’s disability community from calling for changes ranging from guardianship under voting to improved polling place accessibility.

The Minnesota State Council on Disability Voters want changes - p. 15

April 10, 2013

www.accesspress.org Tied to Affordable Care Act

MA earning limits negatively impact disability community

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

by Access Press staff

Minnesotans with disabilities and senior citizens are protesting a new state law that limits earnings for those on Minnesota’s Medicaid or Medical Assistance (MA) program. The state law change is tied to the federal Affordable Care Act. The change is being criticized by the state’s disability groups because it specifically leaves out Minnesotans with disAnne Henry gave testimony on Income Standards to the House Health and abilities, while allowing Human service committee. other medical program parPhoto courtesy of Access Press ticipants to earn more.

The push to support fair health care policy for all is gaining momentum at the capitol and is expected to be a key focus during the rest of the 2013 legislative session.

In a recent community alert, the Minnesotan Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) noted that the new law raising the income level leaves people with disabilities and seniors behind. “Why should people with disabilities and seniors be forced to live in deeper poverty than fellow Minnesotans who are accessing the same health care system?” In the alert, MN-CCD stated MA earning limits - p. 4

“ Our

attitude towards others determines their attitude towards us.”

— Earl Nightingale

NEWS DIGEST

Meet the new Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota.

Page 11 Guess which groundbreaking art show turns 50 this year? A benefit is being held in its honor.

Page 2

Assistive technology conference helps farmers be outstanding in their fields

Massive health and human services budget cuts are causing alarm.

Page 3.

by Jane McClure

Read about Reform 2020 and what it means for employment for Minnesotans with disabilities, from the Department of Human Services.

Page 5

Spring is a busy time for farmers and ranchers. Long days are spent tilling the fields and planting crops, caring for livestock and their offspring, and doing the countless chores.

More than 190 farmers and ranchers with disabilities, speakers and vendors took a break from spring work to attend the National AgrAbility training conference held April 8-11 in Bloomington. Farmers and ranchers with disabilities are served by the Agr-Ability project, which just marked its 20th anniversary nationally.

Minnesota AgrAbility also celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

“We get to feature what we are doing and help farmers and ranchers connect with resources,” said Al Rasmussen, Minnesota AgrAbility Program Director. “Farmers and ranchers are doing what they love to do, and we’ve excited to help them find the equipment and resources they need to do their work.”

AgrAbility has active programs in 24 states. Minnesota AgrAbility is a program of the University of Minnesota Extension Service and Equipalife. Equipalife is a statewide nonprofit

Southern Minnesota John Whalen, far right, can continue to farm thanks to an adapted tractor with lift seat and other devices obtained through AgrAbility.

Photo courtesy of AgrAbility

organization dedicated exclusively to assisting individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them, to find adaptive technology devices and services.

The vision of AgrAbility at the national level is to enable a high-quality lifestyle for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities. Through education and assistance, AgrAbility helps to eliminate or at least minimize obstacles that inhibit success in production agriculture or agriculture-related occupations. Nationally AgrAbility is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and consists of a national project and state/regional projects each involving collaborative partnerships between land grant universities and various nonprofit disability services organizations. The national project is led by the Breaking New Ground Resource Center at Purdue University in partnership with Goodwill Industries International, the Arthritis Foundation—Indiana Chapter, and University of Illinois-Urban/Champaign.

Minnesota AgrAbility leaders said they are honored to have Minnesota host the annual national training conference. Attendees could attend a number of sessions, hear speakers from around the county and take tours of area agricultural enterprises. Farmers and ranchers and their families, states’ and national AgrAbility staff members, United States Department of Agriculture staff and staff from Extension Service participate in the conference.

The farmers and ranchers involved in Minnesota have a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities, said Dan Stores. He is the assistive technology manager for Minnesota AgrAbility and assistive technology program manager for Equipalife.

The types of assistive technology and services each farmer and rancher needs vary by the type of disability, as well as by the type of farming or ranching operations. “We deal with a host of issues and the adaptive equipment needed to help,” Stores said.

What the farmers and ranchers share is a love of the land and a passion for their careers. “Most people tell us that even with a disability, they want to stay on their farms and ranches, and be working for as long as they can,” Stores said. “We’ve had people AT conference helps farmers - p. 15

Find resources in our Directory of Organizations Pages 7-10 View our website and Facebook page for a countdown to the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and a spotlight on those who shaped it. The Council for Minnesotans with Developmental Disabilities is spotlighting Judge Donovan Frank this month.

Learn more at www. mnddc.org/ada-legacy/ ada-legacy-moment4.html

INSIDE Accessible Fun, pg 13 Events, pg 12 People & Places, pg 11 Radio Talking Book, pg 14 Regional News, pg 6

Pg 2 April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

EDITOR’S DESK

Tim Benjamin Spring may be finally here, with the melting of the snow in the southern parts of Minnesota and the lakes nearing ice-out. We’re also at the halfway mark of our state legislative session. With only a couple months left, our legislators have a lot to do.

At the beginning of the session, it looked like we were going to have a huge deficit, but that deficit was cut in half to about $627 million in the March projection by an upswing in the economy. Things were looking up and it seemed that Gov. Mark Dayton was leaning toward helping reverse some of the devastating cuts of the last decade to Health and Human Services programs. But just before the session recess in late March, the House and Senate’s revised targeted budgets came out and it looks as though disability advocates will again be struggling to convince the governor and many legislators to maintain Health and Human Services (HHS) funding to serve the most vulnerable of our citizens. Disability supporters were asking for increases in HHS funding to reverse the ruinous cuts of the last administrations. Advocates may have misread their intentions, though, because their budget includes a cut of $150 million to HHS’s budget.

Even some of our other legislators were shocked at the target budgets that they eventually proposed. Rep.

Tom Huntley (DFL, Duluth) said, “I’m very upset. I came close to resigning as chair. If that’s what the Democrats are going to do, what’s the difference between that and what the Republicans have done over the last two years?” Sen. Paul Thissen (DFL, Minneapolis) said that HHS in the last 10 years has borne the brunt of the budget cuts, but he believes that recovering overpayment to health plans, continuing reforms and efficiencies and taking advantage of changes in Federal healthcare coverage could make up some of the $150 million. He believes that “it’s possible to provide the same level of services to make sure that people can live their lives fully and with as much dignity as possible, but spend less money.” I certainly hope the senator is right, and I certainly agree with him that our goal needs to be “to make sure the money we’re spending is directed to the people who are suffering from very serious health issues…keeping our focus on the patient and letting them make the decision on the specific services they need to buy.”

Last month there were hearings on various provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The first issue was income standards for people who use the state’s Medical Assistance program. Because of a provision of the Affordable Care Act, the eligible income standard was increased from 100% to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. This means that people would only have to spend down to 138% of their income to maintain their MA eligibility (or have income less than 138% of FPL to become newly eligible). Unfortunately, citizens over 65 and people with disabilities were not included in the ACA’s language. Call it oversight,

unintentional or cost-savings, but these two categories of individuals are stuck spending down to 100% of the FPL. What all that means is that seniors and people with disabilities on MA are allowed less income per month than others using the same programs.

In the same Minnesota legislation dealing with income standards, people with disabilities who are married but have their spouses’ income disregarded (using MA-EPD) could lose that disregard and be forced into impoverishment to maintain MA. Although employed, married people often have private health insurance; most employers’ health insurance does not cover PCA services. It makes no sense to impoverish people and remove their incentive to work. Not only do they add to the state’s income tax rolls, they purchase goods and services with their income, and they use private insurance for 80% of their healthcare needs, like durable medical goods, prescriptions, hospitalizations, doctor visits and emergency room visits.

The end result of removing the spousal disregards will mean that the state would spend more taxpayer money on the married couple.

So nothing’s stable in healthcare right now, at the state or federal level. One final issue in my current list of concerns is that Medicare has begun competitive bidding for reimbursement of durable medical goods, which seems to be a lose/lose proposition. The medical suppliers that won the competitive bidding will lose because they undervalued the cost of the goods.

The small medical supply companies that didn’t win the competitive bids will lose income on the products they won’t be selling because reimbursements aren’t available. And soon all of us will lose because there won’t be any Medicare-reimbursable goods available, period. ■

HISTORY NOTE

Benefit kicks off 50th anniversary for Sister Kenny show In 1963, fear of polio and its effects was widespread. 26-year-old Margaret Anderson was one of many people who contracted the dreaded disease.

Anderson’s polio resulted in quadriplegia and dependence upon a respirator to sustain her life.

While in an iron lung, Anderson learned to paint in oils while holding the brush in her mouth to create her beautiful paintings. Anderson continued refining her

Volume 24, Number 4 • Periodicals Imprint: Pending ISSN Co-Founder/Publisher Wm. A. Smith, Jr. (1990-1996) Co-Founder/Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief Charles F. Smith (1990-2001) Board of Directors Brigid Alseth, Steve Anderson, Kristin Jorenby, Kim Kang, Elin Ohlsson, Halle O'Falvey, Carrie Salberg,Walt Seibert and Kay Willshire Cartoonist Scott Adams

Advertising Sales Michelle Hegarty 612-807-1078 Executive Director Tim Benjamin Assistant Editor Jane McClure Business Manager/Webmaster Dawn Frederick Production Ellen Houghton with Presentation Images Distribution S. C. Distribution

Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Editorial material does not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/publisher of Access Press.

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Access Press is a monthly tabloid newspaper published for persons with disabilities by Access Press, Ltd. Circulation is 11,000, distributed the 10th of each month through more than 200 locations statewide. Approximately 450 copies are mailed directly to individuals, including political, business, institutional and civic leaders. Subscriptions are available for $30/yr. Lowincome, student and bulk subscriptions are available at discounted rates.

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skills while developed a passion for painting. Anderson inspired the establishment of the art show and directed it for many years with support from the former Sister Kenny Auxiliary.

Anderson has passed away but the art show continues and is celebrating 50 years this spring. The Twin Cities community has enjoyed Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute’s Annual International Art Show by Artists with Disabilities that stemmed from Anderson’s dedication The show has expanded to include artists with disabilities from around the world. The first art show featured 43 pieces of art. It has grown to 350 entries today, including paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs. The show is juried.

Artists have the pleasure of having others admire their work in a gallery setting. Sister Kenny Institute buys some of the pieces for its permanent collection.

Other pieces are sold to collectors and to those who want art for their home or workplace. artAlive! is an event to launch the anniversary of the International Art Show by Artists with Disabilities. It is at 8 p.m. Friday, April 26, at the Burnsville

Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Avenue, Burnsville. Proceeds benefit Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, part of Allina Health. It is a tribute to Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute’s International Art Show by Artists with Disabilities.

Prominent artists will headline artAlive! Kevin Kling, playwright and storyteller, was born with a birth defect and was further disabled by a motorcycle accident. Billy McLaughlin, world-class guitarist and composer, had to restart his career after adapting to a neuromuscular disorder.

Two ticket packages are available for artAlive!

The $200 ticket ($125 is tax-deductible) includes a cocktail reception and dinner, art show and auction, performance and an after party. A $40 ticket ($10 is tax-deductible) includes the performance and an after party. For more information, visit allinahealth.org/artalive The Sister Kenny Art Show begins Thursday, May 2 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital with a free grand opening from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibit is available for viewing during business hours through May 24. ■ Information for this article came from Sister Kenny Institute.

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

April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

Pg 3

Potential for deep budget cuts concerns Minnesotans

Advocates of home health care workers’ ability to form a union are among those who have had a presence this legislative session.

by Access Press staff

A proposal to cut $150 million in state health and human services spending has Minnesotans with disabilities and their advocacy groups converging on the state capitol. Protests erupted after legislators returned from the Easter/Passover break April 2. People lined the capitol steps and filled space outside the chambers, waving signs and chanting “No more cuts!”

Demonstrations, rallies and packed hearing rooms are likely to continue throughout the session as the cuts take shape.

Anger over possible cuts is widespread. It comes at a time when many other issues including: unionization of health care workers, calls for funding for specific programs and changes tied to the federal Affordable Care Act, are still in play. What frustrates many in Minnesota’s disability community is that they didn’t anticipate a DFL-controlled House and Senate to propose spending reductions on some of the state’s poorest residents, especially at a time when about $2 billion in additional tax revenue is proposed.

Gov. Mark Dayton, who has made the revenue-raising proposals, isn’t suggesting severe cuts.

Over the past two years Health and Human Services budgets sustained more than $1 billion in reductions. There had been hopes that the DFL leadership would hold the line on further cuts or even find new funding. But a state deficit of $627 million is having an impact, as are other spending demands.

Some lawmakers, including Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth, are urging the disability community to continue to lobby to prevent cuts. While House and Senate leadership say they can decrease the human services budget without affecting Minnesota’s most vulnerable residents, and that the proposed cuts represent less than 1 percent of the total budget. House Speaker Paul Thissen has said the budget can be held in check without undermining the social services safety net.

Caregivers are especially concerned about the impact of cuts, noting that many people who provide care have not had a cost-of-living wage increase over the past four years. They noted that the work they do, and the use of group homes, saves the state money.

“Does it really take one of us to have a family member who’s disabled to get it, to be sensitive?” Norm Munk of Partnership Resources and president of the Minnesota Organization for Habitation and Rehabilitation told the media.

Writer and illustrator Marrie Bottelson has cerebral palsy and lives in a group home. She handed out a ‘zine she wrote and illustrated, and spoke with the aid of a computer. “I feel like they are saying ‘I don’t care about you. You’re not worth it. It makes me so mad. I live, work and contribute to the well-being of my community too. I am not ‘the wheelchair’ or ‘that poor disabled girl.’”

The Arc Minnesota stated, “These proposals should not go forward without strong objections from the disability community. Human services require adequate funding to meet the needs of people with disabilities. $150 million less for human services can mean more cuts to disability services; an inability to fund muchneeded wage increases for direct care staff; or worse yet, possible wage cuts; continued waits by thousands

of Minnesotans for the services to help them live independently; parental fees that are still too high; and an inability to meet the needs of the rising number of people diagnosed with autism.”

The Arc Minnesota states that it agrees with legislators’ push for funding for all students, but doesn’t want to see students with and without disabilities pitted against each other.

Here’s a look at some other issues at the capitol: • A request for up to $8 million in funding for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury research got a favorable reception April 4 from the Senate Health and Human Services Finance Committee. The bill would provide $8 million over fiscal years 2014 and 2015 for research. The committee did agree to cut administration funding from as much as $320,000 to $150,000. Senators said they want to see more money spent on research and not administration.

The bill is named for Jake Jablonski and Gabe Rodreick, two young men with recent spinal cord injuries. It has been controversial as some opponents contend it could take away funding for care of people with disabilities. “It was never my intention to cut services with this bill,” said bill author Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis).

One theme of the April 4 testimony was how much the state could save over time if research provides advancements in treatment. Hayden estimates that services for people with both forms of injury top the $1.5 billion mark per year.

Excelsior resident Rob Wudlick broke his neck April 4, 2011, while rafting in the Grand Canyon. He is a quadriplegic. “I’m trying to get my body back,” he said.

Wudlick and Matthew Rodreick, Gabe’s father, testified that research that provides even incremental mobility improvements could save the state money on long-term care, as people would potentially regain abilities.

Several senators said they are inclined to support the bill, but cautioned Hayden and supporters that with tight state budgets, funding could be a challenge.

Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) commended supporters for their approach to the bill and for taking a “sensible, reasonable approach.”

“This (sic) time for this bill has come,” Kiffmeyer said.

• A base funding increase for Minnesota’s Centers for Independent Living (CILs) was heard in mid-March by the House Jobs and Economic Development Committee, Funding Division. The increase

The capitol rotunda has been home to many rallies this session, including this one where banners were unfurled. This rally was for home health care workers.

Photo courtesy of ADAPT-MN

would be up to $2.5 million. David Hancox, Executive Director of Metro Center for Independent Living (MCIL) presented the request with support from three people who use MCIL services. The increase is being considered for inclusion in the larger funding bill.

• Legislation that would allow home care workers the right to form a union continues to make its way through the legislative process. During the month of March the bill was passed through eight House and Senate committees. People with disabilities, their family members and their home care workers have testified in support of the bill at each hearing. No recipients or home care workers have spoken in opposition to the bill, although there is opposition from fiscal support entities.

The measure is expected to continue through committees this month. One part of the bill would create a Quality Self-Directed Services Workforce Council, with a majority of members being people who receive direct support services. The council would advise the commissioner of human services on steps that the state should take to ensure the quality, stability, and availability of the direct support workforce.

The bill protects the rights of people who receive services to select, hire, direct, supervise, and terminate the employment of their workers. It also recognizes that home care workers are essential employees who would not have the right to strike.

• Anti-bullying measures sparked intense debate last month, over costs as well as expectations of what schools should do. Rep. Jim Davnie (DFLLegislative wrap up - p. 4

Pg 4 April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

Parents want Medical Assistance fees reduced Medical Assistance (MA) costs are also a concern this legislative session for parents who pay for coverage of in-home supports and medical services for their children with disabilities. A bill to reduce fees passed Minnesota House and Senate policy committees before state lawmakers went on Easter/Passover recess.

Parents whose incomes would normally be too high to quality for MA have been able to receive coverage for in-home supports and medical services through special MA programs. Families pay a sliding scale fees in addition to premiums for other health care coverage for their families.

But over the past decade state lawmakers have increased parental fees as one measure to balance the state budget, most notably in 2003 and 2010. For many Minnesota families the fees have become a burden, to the point of putting care out of reach. In some cases, fees have been as high as a family’s mortgage payment or equal to the amount of state taxes the family already pays. Some families have seen their monthly fees go up by 200% or more because of the rate hikes.

To provide families some financial relief, Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault) and introduced House File 1156/Senate File 980, which would reduce parental fees to levels parents paid before the 2010 fee hike. Fees would be reduced what families pay by $1.2 million.

At one hearing last month, Tim Kasemodel, Wayzata, testified about his family’s unaffordable fees and highlighted other costly out-of-pocket expenses they incur to meet the needs of their son with disabilities. He and his wife saw a dramatic drop in their income in the past year, but no accompanying drop in their fees. As a result, they have emptied their savings and drawn tens of thousands of dollars from a retirement account.

Legislative wrap up - from p. 3 Minneapolis) said the state’s current anti-bullying statue is weak and ineffective.

He has brought forward a bill which would create a “strong, comprehensive” state policy against bullying. But critics say many schools already have strong policies in place, and that the measure is too broad. It narrowly got through the House Education Finance Committee and was sent on to Ways and Means.

Bullying is a critical issue for many children and young people with disabilities.

The bill defines bullying and would specifically prohibit it on the basis of characteristics such as sexual orientation, religion, and race. School districts would be required to adopt either a state model policy or a local policy that met specific criteria. School districts would have to name a point person in every school building to handle bullying complaints, investigate reports of bullying that disrupted the education process, and provide ongoing anti-bullying training to their staff and volunteers. But critics said it is too broad and confusing, and has potential additional costs for schools. ■

Leslie Sieleni, whose 12year-old son Sean has Down syndrome, also told of her family’s struggles.

After realizing that they couldn’t provide for all Sean’s needs by themselves, the family applied for Personal Care Attendant services through MA, only to receive a bill for $8,000 a year for parental fees to pay for those services. This is twice the deductible on their family’s private health insurance policy. The family is now considering drop- Leslie Sieleni testified before a House committee as Rep. Patti Fritz and Steve Larson of The Arc Minnesota lisping their son’s services. tened.

Steve Larson, Senior Photo courtesy of The Arc Minnesota Policy Director for The Arc Minnesota, also testified in support of reducing parental fees legislation alongside the parents. Other disability advocates attended additional hearings to show support for the bill.

As of Access Press deadline, the two bills were in the hands of the House and Senate Human Services finance committees. ■ Information for this story is from The Arc Minnesota.

MA earning limits - from p. 1 “Why is the state budget being balanced by taking money from people who don’t have any to spare?”

MN-CCD and ADAPT-MN are among the groups working to address the issue.

The objection centers on the fact that people with disabilities and seniors who don’t have earned income and who live on income from Social Security must give the state hundred of dollars through a spend-down before they can gain access to the MA program.

One respondent on the MN-CCD blog stated, “People with disabilities have many barriers to finding employment of any kind, even if it’s trying to work through a temporary employment agency. How can one live on less? I have had epilepsy for over 49 years, and am unable at this time to get Social Security Disability. I have had to work at stopping foreclosure and have also dealt with two utility shutoffs this past winter as well as hospitalization after a fall.”

Attorney Anne Henry, who works for the Minnesota Disability Law Center, notes that the changes could force many people to live on less than $700 per month.

House File 1039 and Senate File 762 would bring persons with disabilities and seniors up to the new income limit, the same level as other Minnesota’s MA recipients will have in January 2014—138% of federal poverty guidelines or $1,278 per month.

Without the legislation, people with disabilities and seniors with income over 100% of the federal poverty guidelines will be left behind and remain at the current income limit of only 75% of the federal poverty guidelines to live on, $699 per month if it doesn’t pass. Under the Affordable Care Act the new income limit is described as 133% of federal poverty guidelines using Modified Adjusted Gross Income which includes a 5% income disregard, thus 138% of federal poverty guidelines.

Another bill section would require the Minnesota Department of Human Services to recommend how to increase the asset limit for persons with disabilities and people age 65 and older on MA. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities would remain limited to $3,000 per person in assets except those using the MA for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) program. MA-EPD participants could have up to $20,000 plus retirement savings.

However, if a person on MA-EPD loses their job for four months, the savings must be spent down to $3,000 in one month. Also, raising the asset limit is complicated for people on MA-EPD because some people live in long-term care facilities or group homes where room and board costs are covered and the others live independently in the community where room and board costs aren’t covered.

Yet another bill section addresses the issues of income and assets for married couples, when one spouse is receiving home and community-based services.

This requires DHS to seek federal authority to allow home and community waiver participant who are married to disregard the non-disabled spouse’s income and assets.

The Affordable Care Act provision, which is called an “impoverishment provision,” currently only applies to those over age 65. The spousal impoverishment provision will be required of those under age 65 beginning in January 2014. This new requirement would cause a serious hardship or in the worst case, even divorce for many people with significant disabilities who are living at home with an employed spouse. ■ Updates on the bill can be found on the MN-CCD blog, at www.mnccd.org

April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

REFORM 2020 UPDATES

Pg 5

Reform 2020 promotes empowerment through work, independence

by Alex Bartolic

People with disabilities and the challenges they face with employment was the topic when Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Lucinda Jesson met with a group of employers and employees in downtown St. Paul to talk about a part of Governor Mark Dayton’s 2013 budget.

Among the employees was Scott, a 17-year employee at Securian Financial Group. “I keep myself pretty independent but I have help when I need it,” Scott told Jesson.

Scott is able to live in his own apartment in downtown St. Paul and walk to work. Over the years, Scott has received help in meeting his goals from Lifework Services. Lifework provides employment opportunities and other services for people with disabilities.

Lifework has had an employment partnership with Securian since 1997.

Helping more people live and work as Scott does is a proposal titled “Work: Empower and Encourage Independence.” It is part of a package of Reform 2020 legislation proposed by the governor to reform Medical Assistance (MA) for the future. This particular proposal envisions a future in which more people with disabilities, like Scott will be able to hold a living wage job, have their own place to call home, enjoy an active social and community life, and be able to have access to help when it is needed.

Upon federal approval, the proposal would create a demonstration project providing navigation for a targeted group of MA recipients. The focus would be on young people with disabilities looking to enter the workforce.

“Navigation” and “navigators” are the buzzwords for the help needed to access services from different systems and organizations. The Reform 2020 proposal invests about $400,000 in the next biennium in health care and employment services provided by navigators employed by community organizations. The navigators will help participants find and keep competitive employment, plan for health insurance and benefits, act as a liaison between the participant and their health care provider when necessary, and help participants integrate other services they receive into their life.

Eligible participants, primarily young adults, would include MA expansion recipients with a potentially disabling severe mental illness, MA for Employed Persons with Disabilities or MA recipients exiting foster care. All of these participants must be between age 18 and 26. Others who could benefit from the program would include MA recipients in transition from the Department of Corrections, and parents in the Minnesota Family Investment

Program who have turned to cash assistance as minor parents or because of the demands of caring for a seriously ill family member.

The proposed employment and navigation supports are designed to help people achieve personal goals, increase income and decrease loss of health care services while also delaying or reducing application for Social Security disability benefits. Success of the program will be measured by participants’ success in maintaining employment and earnings, which will in turn help them get and keep housing and employment. About $543,000 in savings is projected for the state’s 2015-16 budget as a result of participants needing fewer and less expensive services.

The proposal builds on other efforts and developments to promote employment and earnings for people with disabilities. It is modeled after the Stay Well, Stay Working program implemented by our agency with federal funding from 2006 to 2009 as a Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment. That demonstration also created a coordinated set of behavioral health care and support services for employed people with serious mental illness. An evaluation of that program showed that, compared to a control group of non-participants, program participants had significantly increased earnings, showed greater improvements in functioning, had greater access to and higher use of health services and were less likely to apply for Social Security benefits. ■ DHS has taken steps to help make work a part of a life plan by supporting the Disability Linkage Line and its Disability Benefits 101 (DB 101) information as an interactive online benefit estimators tool. DB 101 offers people consistent information in real-time. It helps people make informed choices about their work, their income and benefits and maximize their potential.

These initiatives demonstrate strong support for people with disabilities to work and fulfill their goals, as well as a commitment to invest in the help people sometimes need.

Reform 2020 is an initiative to reform Medical Assistance to meet the challenges of rising health care costs and a growing aging and disabled population while still providing the services Minnesotans need to lead fulfilling lives.

Learn more about Reform 2020 on the DHS website at dhs.mn.us. For more information about DB101 and employment supports for people with disabilities, contact the Disability Linkage Line® at 1-866-333-2466.

Alex Bartolic is director of the Disability Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Competitive bidding program draws scrutiny Medical supply companies and disability rights advocates are continuing the push for changes in federal competitive bidding regulations for home medical equipment.

The changes, which are at the center of a recent lawsuit filed by Minnesota-based Key Medical Supply, are a concern for medical suppliers and consumers around the country.

The bidding changes are being rolled out state by state. They are tied to the Affordable Care Act. Suppliers contend the bidding requirements will make it costprohibitive for companies to provide equipment and for clients to be able to afford equipment and obtain it in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

The law currently being challenged requires providers to bid for Medicare contracts. The concern is that low bidders may not be locally-based providers. The low bids may not necessarily mean the lowest price and the best service for consumers who need the medical equipment for daily living.

In a history of the program, the advocacy group People for Quality Care notes that the program has been plagued by delays since it Access Press welcomes your events began in 2008. While competitive bidding may Access Press welcomes news of organization galas, fundraisers, charity be seen as a way to prowalks, art shows, theatrical productions and vide cost savings, advoother special events for our cates and home medical equipment providers conAccessible Fun pages. tend it will make it harder Items must have a tie to the to provide equipment. disability community and be Consumers may be forced accessible. Deadline is the to get equipment from 25th of the month, with multiple vendors rather than relying on one firm. publication on the 10th.

Equipment may cost more and in some cases Call 651-644-2133 or be harder to find. A longemail term impact could be that access@accesspress.org more people with diswith questions. abilities won’t be able to

stay in their homes and will be forced into institutions, which is more expensive than keeping people in their homes.

One resource on the issue is People for Quality Care. Its website includes an “understanding the issues” tab which gives an overview of what competitive bidding means for medical equipment suppliers and consumers. Go to www.peopleforqualitycare.com/ People for Quality Care also has a page on Facebook, which is regularly updated.

A home medical equipment provider from New York State has started a petition on the whitehouse.gov website urging Congress to replace the competitive bidding program with a market pricing program. It has almost 3,000 signatures but needs at least 10,000 for the White House to respond. A link can be found on the People for Quality Care Facebook page. ■

Pg 6 April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

Family claims pool staff discriminated

REGIONAL NEWS Pet owners get help during crises Losing a pet is hard enough but surrendering a pet because of hospitalization is even harder. Carver County mental health officials have launched a program to prevent people with severe depression or other mental illness from losing ownership of their pets during times of crisis. In some cases, pet owners who had no one to care for a creature had to surrender beloved pets for adoption. But Shawna Vivant, who works on the county’s mental health crisis team, recently organized an anonymous foster system. Volunteers care for pets temporarily until they can be returned to their owners. The project is in cooperation with county law enforcement.

“I’ve witnessed people who got out of the hospital and had lost their pet,” Vivant told the Star Tribune.

Law enforcement agencies and other professionals had no choice but to take pets to the pound. After about a week, animals in Carver County usually go to a rescue agency to be adopted. Pets with no one else to care for them would be taken when someone in crisis is a danger to themselves or others and needs immediate hospitalization, such as during episodes of acute psychosis or after a suicide attempt.

In other cases, hospitalization might be needed to evaluate someone or change their medications, she said. Some clients refused help if it meant surrendering and possibly losing a pet.

“For people that have mental illness, a pet can be their life,” Vivant said. “I work with people all the time who are suicidal and I ask them what’s preventing you from committing suicide and they say it’s my dog.” ■ (Source: Star Tribune)

Spring break meant many families went to indoor swimming pools but one Clearwater mother claims her family’s spring break wasn’t fun. Hatti Edwards contends that staff members at the Monticello Community Center discriminated against her disabled son.

Center management disagrees, even though the management sees the situation differently.

“Jeremiah will be 12 years old in June and I can honestly say I have never ever felt the way I felt yesterday,” Edwards told KARE 11 News.

Edwards’ son Jeremiah was born premature.

Jeremiah has cerebral palsy, is blind, is deaf, has a lung disease and a seizure disorder. He uses a wheelchair much of the time, and loves being in the water with a special “water walker” floatation device. The device helps him stay independent.

Man charged with prosthetics theft Peter Stasica, a 52-year-old man from Coon Rapids was charged in March in federal court for allegedly stealing prosthetics and related supplies from the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Stasica faces as much as 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. He is alleged to have stolen items from his work and sold them online during 2011. Sale of at least 21 devices was traced to his eBay account.

Stasica was manager of Fairview’s orthotics and prosthetics department. He is also alleged to have solicited prosthetics from patients who weren’t using them. He didn’t tell the patients that he planned to sell the devices.

According to Fairview policy, old prosthetics were supposed to be donated to injured war veterans. But several prosthetic devices, including a lower leg, an arm and a knee, were found in a search of his home.

He was suspended without pay in the fall of 2011 pending the investigation. He had worked for Fairview since 1994 and was secretary of the Minnesota Society of Orthotists, Prosthetists and Pedorthists, a nonprofit industry group that promotes ethical standards. ■ (Source: Star Tribune)

Edwards says lifeguards at the pool told her that her son’s device was blocking the way for kids to get by on a day the pool was crowded during spring break. Her family then moved to a deeper, more secluded area of the pool away from the crowds.

Monticello Community Center Director Kitty Baltos said the center always strives to be inclusive and ensure that everyone has a good experience, and stressed that she tried to accommodate Edwards’ needs. Edwards disagreed and made her complaints known.

Monticello Mayor Clint Herbst called Edwards’ claims an opportunity to learn. He invited the family back to the community center to educate the staff on how to better accommodate people with disabilities. ■ (Source: KARE 11 News)

Research targets muscular dystrophy Using stem cell technology, University of Minnesota has sparked muscle regeneration in laboratory mice with a fast-moving form of muscular dystrophy, a disease that severely weakens muscles. Researchers hope their breakthrough in mice will one day lead to more effective treatments for humans who have the disease known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The fatal degenerative disorder typically affects boys before the age six. Symptoms include muscle weakness, difficulty walking, fatigue and learning disabilities.

Researchers took a number of steps in their research, to correct the disease in reprogrammed skin cells. While results appear promising, researchers are cautious. The work didn’t cure ill lab mice but restoration of some cell function was seen. While many challenges are ahead, work will continue.

The University of Minnesota study is published in the journal Nature Communications. It was funded with grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Muscular Dystrophy Centre Core Laboratories, the Dr. Bob and Jean Smith Foundation and the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation. ■ (Source: Minnesota Public Radio)

April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

Pg 7

ADVOCACY Advocating Change Together (ACT)

V-651-641-0297

TF-800-641-0059

www.selfadvocacy.org

Amputee Coalition

V-888-267-5669-

F-865-525-7917

www.amputee-coalition.org

Arc Greater Twin Cities

V-952-920-0855

F-952-920-1480

www.arcgreatertwincities.org

Arc of Minnesota

V-651-523-0823x115

TF-800-582-5256

www.thearcofminnesota.org

Association of Residential Resources in MN

V-651-291-1086

TTY-800-551-2211

www.arrm.org

Courage Center

V-763-520-0725

TTY-763-520-0245

www.CourageCenter.org

Hearing Loss Assoc. of America (HLAATC)

V-763-537-7558

www.hlaatc.org

MCIL

V-651-646-8342

www.mcil-mn.org

MN Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

V-651-523-0829x112

F-651-523-0829

www.mnccd.org www.mndaca.org

MN Developmental Achievement-Center Assoc

V-651-647-9200

F-651-647-9353

PACER Center, Inc.

V-952-838-9000

TTY-952-838-0190

www.pacer.org

ASSISTED-LIVING PROGRAMS Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)

V-651-645-7271

TTY-800-466-7722

www.accessiblespace.org

Dungarvin Minnesota, LLC

V-651-699-6050

TTY-651-695-5802

www.dungarvin.com

Mary T. Inc. Catered Living

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

BRAIN INJURY Brain Injury Association of Minnesota

V-612-378-2742

TTY-800-669-6442

www.braininjurymn.org

Courage Center

V-763-520-0312

TTY-763-520-0245

www.CourageCenter.org

Mary T. Inc. Human Service Programs

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

Tandem Residential

V-651-641-0491x315

F-651-645-2780

www.tandemresidential.com

TBI Metro Services - Richfield & W. St. Paul

V-612-869-3995

V-651-457-4756

www.opportunitypartners.org

V/TTY-763-479-3555

F-763-479-2605

www.vinlandcenter.org

CCP - The Cooperating Community Programs (CCP) V-651-917-8322

F-651-917-8322

www.theccpinc.com

DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM)

V-612-362-8454

TTY-612-362-8422

Dungarvin Minnesota, LLC

V-651-699-6050

TTY-651-695-5802

Howry Residential Services

V-651-917-9111

F-651-917-1018

www.howryinc.com

Mary T. Inc. Human Service Programs

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

CHEMICAL HEALTH Vinland National Center

COMMUNITY LIVING

MCIL

V-651-646-8342

Metro Work Center, Inc

V/TTY-612-729-7381

www.dbsm.llc.org www.dungarvin.co

www.mcil-mn.org F-612-729-7382

www.metroworkcenter.org

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

TTY-952-930-4293

Reach for Resources

V-952-988-4177

F-952-988-6728

www.opportunitypartners.org www.reachforresources.org

REM Minnesota

V-952-945-4952

F-952-922-6885

www.remminnesota.org

So. MN Independent Living Enterprises & Services

V/TTY-507-345-7139

TF-888-676-6498

www.smilescil.org

CONSUMER-DIRECTED COMMUNITY SUPPORTS Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-362-4437

Lifeworks Services, Inc.

TF-866-454-2732

www.cipmn.org TTY-651-365-3736

www.lifeworks.org

EDUCATION Community Education Network on Disabilities

V-651-748-7436

V-507-494-0950

V-320-529-6500 x6271

Institute on Community Integration

V-612-624-6300

F-612-624-8279

www.ici.umn.edu

MRC - Minnesota Resource Center

V-612-752-8100

TTY-612-752-8019

www.mrc-mn.org

Upstream Arts

V-612-331-4584

F-612-353-6638

Kent’s Accounting Service, LLC Kent Fordyce 612-889-2959 • fordyce6@aol.com Fax: 952-472-1458 6371 Bartlett Blvd, Mound, MN 55364 Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor 2013 & 2005-2012

www.upstreamarts.org

CONTINUED

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

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

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

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

Please call us for more information.

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

Pg 8 April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

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

V-763-479-8239

CCP Works! - Cooperating Community Programs

V-651-379-9744

Chrestomathy, Inc.

V-952-974-0339

TF-866-535-8239

www.equipalife.org

www.theccpinc.com/employment_support.aspx F-952-974-0307

www.chrestomathyinc.org

Community Connections Partnership (CCP)

V-763-540-6833x302

Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-353-4595x101

V-612-353-4595x102

www.communityconnectionspartnership.org

Courage Center

V-763-520-0564

TTY-763-520-0245

East Suburban Resources, Inc.

V-651-351-0190

Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota

V-651-379-5800

F-651-379-5803

Kaposia Inc.

V/TTY-651-224-6974

F-651-224-7249

www.kaposia.com

Lifetrack Resources - Minneapolis

V-612-788-8855

F-612-788-8577

www.lifetrackresources.org

Lifetrack Resources - St. Paul

V-651-227-8471

TTY-651-227-3779

www.lifetrackresources.org

Lifeworks Services, Inc.

TF-866-454-2732

TTY-651-365-3736

Merrick, Inc.

V-651-789-6231

F-651-789-9960

www.merrickinc.org

Metro Work Center, Inc.

V/TTY-612-729-7381

F-612-729-7382

www.metroworkcenter.org

Midway Training Services

V-651-641-0709

F-651-641-0976

www.midwaytraining.org

Midwest Special Services, Inc.

V-651-778-1000

F-651-772-4352

www.mwsservices.org

www.cipmn.org www.CourageCenter.org www.esrworks.org

Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI)

V-651-999-8200

F-651-999-8242

MRC - Minnesota Resource Center

V-612-752-8100

TTY-612-752-8019

www.goodwilleasterseals.org

www.lifeworks.org

www.mdi.org www.mrc-mn.org

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

TTY-952-930-4293

Partnership Resources, Inc.

V-952-925-1404

F-952-925-6055

www.partnershipresources.org

Partnership Resources, Inc. - Minneapolis

V-612-331-2075

F-612-331-2887

www.partnershipresources.org

Partnership Resources, Inc. - Older Adults Program V-952-746-6206

F-952-746-6209

www.partnershipresources.org

ProAct Inc.

F-651-686-0312

www.proactinc.org

V-651-686-0405

www.opportunitypartners.org

Rise, Inc.

V/TTY-763-786-8334

F-763-786-0008

www.rise.org

TBI Metro Services - Richfield & W. St. Paul

V-612-869-3995

V-651-457-4756

www.opportunitypartners.org

TSE, Inc.

V-651-489-2595

F-651-489-0410

www.tse-inc.org

University of Minnesota Disability Services

V-612-626-1333

F-612-625-5572

Work Incentives Connection

V-651-632-5113

TF-800-976-6728

www.mnworkincentives.com

Minnesota State Council on Disability

V/TTY-651-361-7800

TF-800-945-8913

www.disability.state.mn.us

MN Gov. Council on Developmental Disabilities

V-651-296-4018

TF-800-627-3529

www.mncdd.org

http://ds.umn.edu

GOVERNMENT

HEALTH CARE COORDINATION AXIS Healthcare

V-651-556-0887

F-651-556-0880

www.axishealth.com

Cornerstone Solutions

TF-866-601-8962

TTY-800-627-3529

www.cornerstone-solutions.org

Medica

V-800-266-2157

TTY-800-855-2880

www.medica.com

UCare

V-800-707-1711

TTY-800-688-2534

www.ucare.org

Break-Thru Home Care, Inc.

V—763-502-1505

F-763-502-6777

www.breakthrucare.com

In Home Personal Care

V-763-546-1000

F-763-546-1018

www.inhomepersonalcare.com

Mary T. Inc. Home Health Care

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

People Enhancing People (PEP)

V-763-586-0049

F-651-234-0864

www.pepeople.org

HEALTH CARE PLANS

HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES

CONTINUED

Your home, your independence . . . 763-546-1000 At In Home Personal Care, we pride ourselves not only on the help we provide, but also on our ability to listen. We understand that each of our clients has different needs at different times. Our quality home care services are formed around a plan that works for you and your individual situation.

Serving Adults and Children with Long-Term Needs since 1991

8441 Wayzata Blvd; Suite 130 Golden Valley, MN 55426

“ I have been an In Home client for at least 20 years. During that time I have received excellent, reliable, consistent care from PCAs and HHA’s trained and supervised by In Home.” - Jean T (Client)

April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

HOUSING-CONSTRUCTION/REMODELING AccessAbility Options, Inc.

V-763-571-6789

F-800-632-0798

www.accessoptionsmn.com

Accessibility Design

V-952-925-0301

F-952-926-7712

www.accessibilitydesign.com

Accessible Homes, LLC.

V-612-978-1054

F-651-554-3085

www.accessiblehomesllc.net

Equal Access Homes, Inc.

V-651-249-7751

F-651-450-1330

McCarthy Builders & Remodelers, Inc.

V-612-250-0816

www.McCarthyBuildersandRemodelers.com

SRR Construction, LLC

V-612-419-5787

www.SRRConstruction.com

www.EqualAccessHomes.com

HOUSING-RENTAL Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)

V-651-645-7271

TTY-800-466-7722

www.accessiblespace.org

Ebenezer Park Apartments

V-612-879-2233

F-612-879-8889

HousingLink

V-612-522-2500

F-612-521-1577

www.housinglink.org

National Handicap Housing Institute, Inc

V-651-639-9799

F-651-639-9699

www.nhhiaccessiblehousing.com

Villas and Townhomes by Mary T. Inc.

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.fairviewebenezer.org/minneapolis

www.marytinc.com

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL RESOURCES Assistive Technology of Minnesota

V-763-479-8239

TF-866-535-8239

www.atmn.org

Minnesota State Council on Disability

V/TTY-651-361-7800

TF-800-945-8913

www.disability.state.mn.us www.mssociety.org

The Natl Multiple Sclerosis Society - MN Chapter

V-612-335-7900

TF-800-582-5296

PACER Center, Inc.

V-952-838-9000

TTY-952-838-0190

www.pacer.org

V-651-294-0710

TF-800-886-7201

F-651-644-9137

V-612-334-5970

TF-800-292-4150

www.mndlc.org

INSURANCE Lee F. Murphy Insurance Group

LEGAL MN Disability Law Center

MEDICAL SUPPLIES/EQUIPMENT Handi Medical Supply

V-651-644-9770

F-651-644-0602

www.handimedical.com

HME Medical Shop

V-800-258-6313

F-800-258-6313

www.hmemedicalshop.com www.keymedicalsupply.com

Key Medical Supply

V-651-792-3860

F—651-792-3867

Liberty Oxygen & Medical Equipment

V-952-920-0460

F-952-920-0480

www.libertyoxygen.com

Phoenix Medical Services Inc.

V-651-636-0848

F-651-636-5746

www.PhoenixMedical.org

Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.

V-763-795-0057

TF-866-795-0057

Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-362-4434

V-612-362-4452

Courage Center

V-763-520-0312

TTY-763-520-0245

Fraser

V-612-861-1688

F-612-861-6050

www.fraser.org

Howry Residential Services

V-651-917-9111

F-651-917-1018

www.howryinc.com

Lifetrack Resources - St. Paul

V-651-227-8471

TTY-651-227-3779

National Alliance on Mental Illness of MN

V-651-645-2948

TF-888-NAMI-Helps

www.tamarackhti.com

MENTAL HEALTH

People Incorporated Mental Health Services

V-651-774-0011

TTY-651-774-6535

Vinland National Center

V/TTY-763-479-3555

F-763-479-2605

V-715-268-0175

TTY-715-268-0177

www.cipmn.org www.CourageCenter.org

www.lifetrackresources.org www.namihelps.org www.PeopleIncorporated.org www.vinlandcenter.org

PHYSICIANS Wound Healing Center

www.AmeryMedicalCenter.org

RECREATION-ADAPTIVE HOBBY/EXERCISE/SPORTS/ARTS Capable Partners Inc.

V-763-439-1038

Courage Center

V-763-520-0537

Mind Body Solutions

V-952-473-3700

Mixed Blood Theatre Company

V-612-338-6131

Upstream Arts

V-612-331-4584

www.capablepartners.org TTY-763-520-0245

www.CourageCenter.org www.mindbodysolutions.org www.mixedblood.com

F-612-353-6638

www.upstreamarts.org

RECREATION-TRAVEL/CAMPING Camp Winnebago

V-507-724-2351

Camps of Courage & Friendship

V-952-852-0101

Hammer Travel

V-952-277-2458

F-507-724-3786

www.campwinnebago.org www.campscouragefriendship.org

TF-877-345-8599

www.HammerTravel.org

Margaret’s Missions

V-651-583-4471

Ventures Travel, LLC

V-952-852-0107

TF-866-692-7400

www.margaretmission.com www.venturestravel.org

Wilderness Inquiry

V-612-676-9400

TF-800-728-0719

www.wildernessinquiry.org

REHABILITATION (PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH, AUDIOLOGY THERAPISTS) Courage Center

V-763-588-0811

TTY-763-520-0245

www.CourageCenter.org

DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM)

V-612-362-8454

TTY-612-362-8422

www.dbsm.org

Fraser

V-612-861-1688

F-612-861-6050

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

V-651-291-2848

TF-800-719-4040

In Home Personal Care

V-763-546-1000

F-763-546-1018

Lifetrack Resources - St. Paul

V-651-227-8471

TTY-651-227-3779

CONTINUED

www.fraser.org www.gillettechildrens.org www.inhomepersonalcare.com www.lifetrackresources.org

Pg 9

Pg 10 April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

Thanks to all of you for supporting Access Press FRIEND SPONSOR ($50 and above) Anonymous Monte Blair Ellen Boucher Martha Brown Jerry Caruso Mel & Georgia Duncan Robert Engstrom Steve & JoAnn Erbes Nancy Eustis Thomas & Mimi Fogarty Claudia Fuglie Lael Gatewood Marjorie Goldberg Laurie Jarvis Barb Kane Noreen Linney Gene Martinez Christopher Meyer Lee Ohnesorge Henn. Cty Commissioner Mike Opat William & Joen Overby Annette Pantel Linda Paulson Kelly Rathcke Virginia Schwartzbauer John Sherman Amanda & Mark Tempel BRONZE SPONSOR ($75 and above) Brigid Alseth Susan Bulger Rick Cardenas Mike Chevrette Stephanie Cunningham Christopher Duff Craig Dunn Anne Henry Mary Kay Kennedy Dianna Krogstad Dave & Carol Larson Richard & Vicki Dalle Molle Scott Neamy Donn Poll & Eric Nelson Mark & Mary Payette Ann Roscoe John Schatzlein Patty Woodey Blue Worm Labs Hennepin County Library

SILVER SPONSOR ($150 and above) Jeff Bangsberg & Anita Boucher Bill & Alex Bartolic Robert Paul Gregory Kathleen Hagen Ellen & Skip Houghton Kim Kang Elin Ohlsson Manley and Ann Olson Debra Shriver John G. Smith Peter Vaill Associated Bank Accessible Homes, LLC Courage Center Handi Medical Institute on Comm.

Integration LOTTSA Tax & Accting Services Minnesota Diversified Industries People Enhancing People Rise, Inc. Ten Thousand Villages Vinland National Center

RESIDENTIAL/GROUP HOME PROGRAMS Capstone Services, LLC

V-651-641-0042 x211

F-651-645-2780

Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-362-4403

V-612-362-4417

Dungarvin Minnesota, LLC

V-651-699-6050

TTY-651-695-5802

Fraser

V-612-861-1688

F-612-861-6050

www.fraser.org

Howry Residential Services

V-651-917-9111

F-651-917-1018

www.howryinc.com

Mary T. Inc. Human Services Programs

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

Mt. Olivet Rolling Acres

V-952-474-5974

F-952-474-3652

www.mtolivetrollingacres.org

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

TTY-952-930-4293

www.opportunitypartners.org

Phoenix Residence

V-651-227-7655

F-651-227-6847

www.phoenixresidence.org

Restart, Inc.

V-952-767-3350

F-952-767-3351

www.restartincmn.org

Can Do Canines

V-763-331-3000

F-763-331-3009

www.can-do-canines.org

Helping Paws, Inc.

V-952-988-9359

F-952-988-9296

www.helpingpaws.org

V-952-226-2063

www.PawPADS.org

Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)

SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES Ebenezer Care Center

V-612-623-3363

F-612-331-9401

www.meals-on-wheels.com

Restart, Inc.

V-952-767-3350

F-952-767-3351

www.restartincmn.org

V-763-479-8239

TF-866-535-8239

www.equipalife.org

TECHNOLOGY Assistive Technology of MN - DBA Equip A Life Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

V-651-291-2848

TF-800-719-4040

www.gillettechildrens.org

Marbesoft - Simtech

V-763-755-1402

TF-888-755-1402

www.marblesoft.com

PACER Center, Inc.

V-952-838-9000

TTY-952-838-0190

STAR Program

V-651-201-2640

TF-888-234-1267

www.starprogram.state.mn.us

Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.

V-763-795-0057

TF-866-795-0057

www.tamarackhti.com

www.pacer.org

TRANSPORTATION RENTAL/SALES/MODIFICATION

IN KIND (For this issue) The Arc Minnesota

WAIVER CASE MANAGEMENT

V-651-635-0655

TF-800-788-7479

www.imedmobility.com

VISION IMPAIRMENT Vision Loss Resources

V-612-871-2222

F-612-872-0189

Volunteer Braille Services

V-763-544-2880

F-763-544-3612

www.vbsmn.org

V-651-556-0887

F-651-556-0880

www.axishealth.com

AXIS Healthcare

Moving? Please contact Access Press with your new address so you don’t miss a single issue!

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April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1 Pg 11

PEOPLE & PLACES

Criss Knott Photo courtesy of Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota Pageant

There she is

Winona woman wins title Winona resident Crissa Knott is the new Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota. She was awarded the crown March 9 during the Third Annual Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota pageant in Bloomington.

Robins, Cougars win state hockey titles The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) has crowned its 2012-2013 adapted floor hockey champions. The Robins of Robbinsdale/ Hopkins/Mound-Westonka won a third straight PI Division title, while the North Suburban was a first-time state champion in CI Division. The tournament was hosted by Bloomington Jefferson High School.

In the PI Division, for players with physical disabilities, the Robins capped a perfect season with the 5-0 win over the Dakota United Hawks. It was also the champion’s sixth shutout this season. Robins goalie Charlie Wittmer finished the game with 29 saves, holding off a strong Dakota United offense.

The teams were scoreless for the first nine minutes of the game before Robins junior Tyler Sarff scored back-to-back goals within 10 seconds. He finished the game with three goals. Junior Joe Dubisar tallied the other two. The team finished 16-0.

The Robins got to the title game by defeating Rochester 8-4 in the opening round, then topping BrainerdPillager by a score of 6-2 in the semi-finals. Dakota United topped Wayzata/Minnetonka and Anoka Hennepin, in overtime, to get to the title game.

Anoka-Hennepin defeated Brainerd/Pillager, 8-6, for third place. Wayzata/Minnetonka beat South Suburban, 10-5, for fifth place. In the consolation round, Wayzata/ Minnetonka downed South Suburban 10-5, for the title.

St. Paul Highland Park also played in the tournament.

In the CI Division, for athletes with cognitive disabilities, the North Suburban Cougars had to mount a comeback to win 7-6 over the Burnsville/Farmington/ Lakeville Blazing Cats. The Cougars rallied in the third period from two goals down. Eighth grader Anthony Bengston scored five points, including two critical late-game goals. Cody Jacobson and Tyler Engel also scored for the Cougars. Steve Friday, Brendan Wong and Michale Burns also scored for the Blazing Cats.

North Suburban defeated Winona, 14-3, and Dakota United, 7-5, to get to the finals. Burnsville/Farmington/ Lakeville defeated Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville and New Prague/Tri-City United/LeSeuer-Henderson.

The Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs, coming into the tournament as the three-time defending champion, lost in the first round to Dakota United.

Dakota United topped New Prague/Tri-City United/ LeSueur-Henderson, 12-6, for third place. Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville won fifth place by defeating Winona, 9-3. Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville topped Winona for the consolation title, 13-2. Maple Grove also played in the tournament. ■

Knott said she is now a believer in the adage that the third time is truly the charm. She competed for the title in 2011 and 2012.

“I just hope I make this organization proud,” Knott said after she was crowned. “I can’t wait to get started!”

The 23-year-old has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She plans to graduate this year from Winona State University, with a B.A. in psychology. Knott has already been accepted to the counselors’ education graduate program at Winona State.

After Knott completes her graduate studies, she wants to be a professional counselor in a community setting.

As Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota, Knott’s platform is “Encouraging disabled people to go to college.”

“My platform has many different aspects to it, so I want to try and highlight all of them,” she said.

After winning the title, Knott indicated that she is most excited about heading to St. Paul to “make some changes.”

Helping people with disabilities find ways to attend college is a key focus for Knott during her reign. She notes that obstacles to higher education can include “not being able to pay a personal care attendant (PCA) to attend classes with you to provide assistance with writing, typing and other tasks.”

Knott will appear and speak at numerous community events during her 2013-2014 reign. In July she will represent Minnesota at the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant in Texas.

Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota is nonprofit organization and is affiliated with the Ms. Wheelchair America program. Its mission is to provide an opportunity of achievement for women who happen to be wheelchair users, and to successfully educate and advocate for Minnesotans living with disabilities. ■

Tamarack device is finalist Tamarack’s FlexForm Seating System is a finalist for the 2013 da Vinci Awards, which are presented by the Michigan Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The awards program will be April 11 in Dearborn. The program will feature finalists across five rehabilitation categories.

Tamarack sought votes for its seating system on YouTube. Voting ended April 7.

The new patented product design relied extensively on feedback from approximately 100 wheelchair users and seating experts across the world. Being a finalist for this national award signifies the value and market potential for the patented seating system and adjuster technology as seating experts look for more efficient and effective ways to optimize pressure, shear, and microclimate for wheelchair users. ■

Julia Weaver

Attorneys honored for service

Photo courtesy of Rise, Inc.

Rise announces new board chair

Every year the Hennepin County Bar Association recognizes three attorneys who have made a signifiJulie Weaver, a marketing consultant from Anoka, cant contribution through pro bono service. The Pro will serve as chair of the Rise Board of Directors Bono Publico awards are presented to lawyers in recthis year. She has served on the board since 1997 in ognition of the time, knowledge, and devotion given several executive positions. in service to the community. The 2013 recipients Also elected as officers are Vice Chair Steve Well were honored March 7 at the 33rd annual Bar Benefit and Treasurer Tom Kettleson, both of Shorewood. in Minneapolis.

Gene Merriam of Coon Rapids, the immediate past The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an president, will serve as board secretary. individual for career-long volunteer work on behalf of Jon Grunewald of Elk River and Manfred the community and the two Excellence Awards recog- Tatzmann of Brooklyn Park joined the board in nize current or recent excellence in service by indiJanuary. Other board members are Larry Pietrzak of viduals–one from the private sector and one from the Brooklyn Park, Mary Zins of Golden Valley and public sector.

Dixie Mengelkoch of Blaine.

Anne Schryver Quincy of Mid-Minnesota Legal Since 1971, Rise has helped people work in the Assistance is the recipient of this year’s Pro Bono community, earn competitive wages, live safely and Publico Award for public sector service. Quincy, who comfortably, and make a productive contribution to has been at Mid-Minnesota Legal since 1984, works society. Rise has 20 office locations throughout the with many clients who are homeless and live with Twin Cities, Central Minnesota, and East Central physical and cognitive disabilities. In addition to proMinnesota, and works with hundreds of area landviding representation for her clients at disability hear- lords, businesses and employers to carry out its misings, Quincy has helped many clients secure safe shel- sion. ■ ter, obtain appropriate identification documents, and receive health care benefits.

“Anne Quincy is an exceptional lawyer who combines wisdom, compassion, and legal expertise with fierce advocacy on behalf of the very poor and vulDiamond Hill Townhomes is a great property located near the nerable,” said Greg Marita, Minneapolis International Airport. We have spacious two and three deputy director of Midbedroom townhomes that are HUD subsidized and rent is 30% of the Minnesota Legal Assistotal household’s adjusted gross income. tance. “She is a model for our staff as well as the broader legal community.” Our Three Bedroom waiting list is now open and we are currently Other attorneys honored accepting applications. Our non-accessible Two Bedroom waiting list are Fred Ojile, recipient of is also opened.

The Distinguished Service Award for work with the We are always accepting applications for our large number of mobility Volunteer Lawyers Netimpaired accessible units. Please contact us for more information. work, and Steven Kaplan recipient of the Pro Bono Publico Award for his We look forward to hearing from you! work to over an 11 yearPlease call (612) 726-9341. period to exonerate a Louisiana death row inmate. ■

Diamond Hill Townhomes

Pg 12 April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

UPCOMING EVENTS Advocacy Disability Day at the Capitol Disability Day at the Capitol is Thu, April 25. Make plans now to attend and speak out about budget decisions and plan to meet with your legislators. Events start at 10 a.m. in the great hall of the state capitol with registration, followed by briefings at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. A rally is at noon, and then participants can break for lunch on their own. The event is free but participants should register. The event is sponsored by Advocating Change Together, Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, People First of Minnesota, Self-Advocates Minnesota, and The Arc Minnesota. FFI: Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, 1-800669-6442, info@braininjurymn.org Tuesdays at the Capitol Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) resumes its traditional legislative session schedule once the 2013 legislative session is underway. This includes “Disability Matters Tuesdays at the Capitol” on every Tuesdays, a 10 a.m. briefing in the basement cafeteria of the State Office Building and full membership meetings on Fridays during the legislative session from 12- 1 in room 500 N of the State Office Building as well during the legislative session FFI: www.mnccd.org Self-Advocacy conference Deadlines are approaching for the 2013 Minnesota State Self-Advocacy Conference, “Together, Yes We CAN!” The conference is April 26-27 at Crowne Plaza, St. Paul Riverfront Hotel, 11 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. Several organizations sponsor the conference, which includes speakers, information sessions and networking opportunities. FFI: 651-641-4053, act@selfadvocacy.org

Activities for adults Independent living classes offered The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) offers free and accessible classes on living independently for people with disabilities. Most classes are held at 1600 University Ave., #16, the green tile building at University and Snelling, St. Paul, unless specified. The office will be closed May 27 for Memorial Day. A new event is a happy hour gathering, with different activities. Meet at 4 p.m. Thu, April 18 at MCIL for a night on the town.

Our Disability Day at the Capitol is noon-1 p.m. Thu, April 11. Go to a rally and then go meet with your legislators. The MCIL staff will help you find your legislators’ contact information.

A full calendar of all events is offered online. Enjoy field trips, knitting and crafts, wii fun, cooking, and classes to help with everyday living. Classes include the Working Well with a Disability series, which continues

with home management 6-7 p.m. Tue, April 16. Bus training is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wed, April 17 and May 15.

Cook with others and enjoy social time 1-6 p.m. Tue, April 30 in the MCIL kitchen. Weekenders outings are for those who are tired of sitting home all weekend. Meet other people who share similar interests and want to meet new people. Guests are welcomed. Noon-2 p.m.

Sat. April 27 the group has lunch at Colossal Café at 1839 E. 42nd St., Mpls. Please bring spending money for weekenders events. All other events are free of charge, accessible and mostly scent-free. Please RSVP and give two weeks’ notice of needed accommodations. FFI: Corbett Laubignat, 651-603-2028, corbettl@mcil-mn.org, Cindy, 651-603-2037, cindyl@mcil-mn.org,www.mcilmn.org

Youth and families Children’s challenging behavior class Raising a child or adolescent with challenging behaviors can be difficult but the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Minnesota can help. Learn the five essential tasks to build confidence, improve parent-child relationships and create family balance. A free, one-day workshop is for parents and caregivers of school-age children, and is approved for two hours’ training for foster care families. The class is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thu, April 25 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul. Preregister. FFI: 651-645-2948 Free guardianship workshop Families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can learn the basics of guardianship and conservatorship for their loved one at a free guardianship workshop from The Arc Greater Twin Cities, 6-8 p.m. Mon, April 15 at MRCI, 15191 Boulder Court, Rosemount. People with I/DD become legal adults with full rights and responsibilities when they turn 18, but some need help making responsible decisions. Guardianship and conservatorship are options for those who need assistance. This workshop will answer many questions about guardianship and conservatorship. An attorney who practices in that field will provide information about legal processes and procedures for obtaining, ending or changing a guardianship order. This workshop is free thanks to support from the Dakota County Community Transition Interagency Committee (CTIC). Advance registration requested by April 12. FFI: Dena Felper, 952-915-3665, denafelper@thearcgtc.org PACER offers workshops PACER Center offers useful free or low-cost workshops and other resources for families of children with disabilities. Workshops are at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, unless specified.

Workshops for April include High Expectations: A Panel of Experienced Parents,7-8:30 p.m. Tue, April 16.

When parents discover that their child has a disability, their dreams and hopes may have to change. That doesn’t mean they will expect less of their child, although it may mean that they will expect something different. In this workshop, a panel of experienced parents of children with disabilities will discuss how having high expectations can be a benefit. Technology for Girls— Control Your Online Identity, is 10-11:30 a.m. Sat, April 13. Families with middle school girls can learn how to use the Internet and social media to have fun but stay safe online and not reveal too much information, Advance registration required for all workshops. FFI: 952838-9000, 800-537-2237 (toll free), www.PACER.org Sages Forum on guardianship Questions about guardianship for a family member with a disability can be answered at The Need to Know about Guardianship, a Sages forum 1-3 p.m. Fri, April 19 on at Fellowship Hall of Christ the King Church, 8600 Fremont Ave. S., Bloomington. Rebecca Levine, attorney at law with Thiel, Campbell, Gunderson, Anderson and Levine PLLP, and Brad Hansen of The Arc Greater Twin Cities will answer questions and cover issues such as preparing for guardianship, how the guardianship process works and how to arrange successor guardians.

Sages is a collaboration of community organizations offering education about disability issues for self-advocates, family members, caregivers and service providers for people with disabilities. The organizations of Sages are The Arc Greater Twin Cities, Dakota Communities, Fraser, The Learning Exchange, Opportunity Partners and ProAct. Register by Tue, April 16. $15 charge. Make checks payable to ISD #271. FFI: Gina Carpenter, The Learning Exchange, 952-681-6122, gcarpenter@bloomington.k12.mn.us Parents with disabilities group MCIL offers a support group for parents with disabilities, Learn from and grow with others who are dealing with the intricacies of disability and parenting responsibilities. Everyone’s experience is valuable and questions

are important. The group meets 5-7 pm. Mon, April 22 and Mon, May 13 at MCIL, 1600 University Ave. W., St. Paul. Preregistration requested. RSVP: Corbett, 651603-2028, corbettl@mcil-mn.org

Information and assistance Explore assistive technology Courage Center invites anyone interested in assistive technology to drop in during an open house, 2-5 p.m.

Thu, April 11 at the Courage Center AT Lab, second floor, 3915 Golden Valley Road Golden Valley. Explore a multitude of new assistive technology that is improving the independence and options for people with disabilities. Meet experts, learn to make a referral, asking about volunteering and donating. FFI: jenim@courage.org Job training available Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota offers job training classes in several career fields, and also offers instruction in job skills, job searching and interviewing techniques; earning certifications, credits or CEUs; and providing ongoing employment and support services. Automotive services, banking and finance skills, construction, customer service call center and medical office skills training are offered. Scholarships are available for training if certain enrollment and eligibility criteria are met.

Training programs range from eight to 12 weeks long, consist of more than 150 hours, and include paid training in some cases. All training programs are available to those who meet eligibility requirements and complete the required enrollment process. To find out more, interested parties should come to a prerequisite information session held at 1:45 p.m., the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the main office, 553 Fairview Ave. N, St. Paul. FFI: 651-379-5997 Free eye exams for service dogs Ophthalmologists from BluePearl Veterinary Partners will be conducting free eye exams for service dogs during the ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event in May. The eye exams will be provided free of charge to eligible service animals including detection dogs, guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs and therapy animals. There are locations in St. Paul and St. Louis Park. Registration for the free eye exams must be completed by service animal owners or handlers by Tue, April 30. Appointments are first-come, first served. FFI: www.acvoeyeexam.com Hope for Recovery workshop The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota (NAMI Minnesota) hosts a free, one-day educational workshop that provides families and individuals with information on mental illnesses, practical coping strategies, and hope for recovery. The workshop is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat, April 20 at Regions Hospital, Teeter Library, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul. Registration requested. FFI: 651-645-2948 Free exterior house painting Metro Paint-A-Thon offers free house painting for lowincome seniors and people with disabilities every August, Qualifying home owners whose homes need paint and minor exterior repairs must live in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington counties. Deadline to apply is April 12. Eligibility guidelines are online.

FFI: 612-276-1578, paintathon.gmcc.org, www.gmcc.org.

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 serves Medicare-eligible individuals and families enrolled in income-based Minnesota Health Care Programs, such as Minnesota Care 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: 1-877-523-1518 (toll free), www.ucare.org Mental Illness support groups NAMI-MN has free support groups for families who have a relative with a mental illness. NAMI has about two dozen family support groups, more than 20 support groups for people living with a mental illness, anxiety support groups, groups for veterans and other groups. Led by trained facilitators, the groups provide help and support. FFI: 651-645-2948 Partners and Spouses support group meets 6:45 p.m. the first Tue of each month at Falcon Heights United Church of Christ, 1795 Holton St. FFI: Lois, 651-788-1920, or Donna, 651-645-2948 ext. 101. Open Door Anxiety and Panic support, meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thu at Woodland Hills Church, 1740 Van Dyke St., St. Paul and 6:30-6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thu at Goodwill-Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave. N., St. Paul. FFI: 651-645-2948.

NAMI Connection peer support group for adults are

Events - p. 14

April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1 Pg 13

ACCESSIBLE FUN Welcome to the Access Press Accessible Fun listings. Readers looking for additional opportunities to enjoy the arts have these options: For information on galleries and theater performances around the state, join the Access to Performing Arts email list at access@vsamn.org or call VSA Minnesota, 612-332-3888 or statewide 800-801-3883 (voice/TTY).

To hear a weekly listing of accessible performances, call 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883. On the web accessible performance listings are found at www.vsamn.org/ calendar.html, or www.mrid.org, www.accesspress.org, or http://c2net.org (c2: caption coalition, inc.), which does most of the captioned shows in Minnesota and across the country.

Sign up to connect with ASL Interpreted and Captioned Performances Across Minnesota on Facebook or www.facebook.com/pages/ASL-Interpreted-and-Captioned-Performances-Across-Minnesota/ 257263087700814. Sign up to connect with Audio Description Across Minnesota Performances on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/Audio-Description-Across-Minnesota/202035772468.

Want to attend a show but not finding the accessible services needed? Contact the performing company as far in advance as possible to request the service. Arts organizations can borrow a captioning display unit from VSA Minnesota for free. Call the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529 with the number of the arts organization box office. With video relay a caller’s video phone (VP) number automatically connects to a sign language interpreter when making a call to another caller who does not also have a VP.

Jay Leno headlines benefit Comedian and talk show host Jay Leno is bringing his popular brand of humor to PACER’s 31st Annual Benefit on Sat, May 11 at Mpls Convention Center. Benefit tickets include Leno’s performance as well as silent and live auctions. The evening begins at 6 p.m., and tickets start at $65. A pre-benefit gourmet dinner is available by separate ticket, and a post-concert patron party is available for people purchasing benefit tickets of $140 or more. The benefit supports free PACER Center programs for children with disabilities and their families as well as PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.

FFI: 952-838-9000, PACER.org

Music for the Mind The Rockin’ Hollywoods will highlight Music for the Mind, a 1960’s-themed benefit for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Minnesota. The event, emceed

by Ken Barlow of KSTP-TV, will be held Saturday, April 13 at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America. Guests will be decked out in 60’s era dress and enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions. Music for the Mind supports NAMI’s programs of education and support for children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. FFI: 651-645-2948, www.namihelps.org

Nice Fish nesota with money from Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. Nonprofit arts groups in the seven-county metropolitan area can apply for grants of up to $15,000 to help make their arts programming, activities and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. Deadline is May 17. Potential projects anything that helps to remove barriers and more effectively serve and attract artists, audience members, board or staff with disabilities. FFI: VSA Minnesota, 612-332-3888, access@vsamn.org or www.vsamn.org/forms.html

Dignity Center fundraiser The Dignity Center and the Music at Hennepin Series with the Laura Caviani Trio present Dave Brubeck’s Gates of Justice 7:30 p.m. Sun, May 19. The benefit concert will be held at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church (HAUMC), 511 Groveland at Lyndale Ave, Mpls. Silent auction begins at 6 p.m. Composed in 1969 after Martin Luther King’s death, this epic choral work is about social justice and community responsibility. The concert will help support the important work of the Dignity Center, an outreach ministry of (HAUMC), offering support, opportunity, and resources to persons in need on their path to self-sufficiency. $35 per ticket or 10 tickets for $300. FFI: www.thedignitycenter.org, ask about accommodations.

Artists around town Upstream Arts, a Mpls-based program for artists with disabilities, offers a number of programs and services for artists. The mission of Upstream Arts is to enhance the lives of adults and youth with disabilities by fostering creative communication and social independence through the power of arts education. The program has a blog that is always worth checking, to see what activities Upstream Art staff and artists are doing in the community.

The blog is updated regularly.

FFI: www.upstreamarts.org

River See Pillsbury House Theatre presents a southern Black American blues and jazz experience at Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls. The AD show is 3 p.m. Sun, April 14. Tickets are pick your price. FFI: 612825-0459, www.pillsburyhousetheatre.org

Gulliver’s Travels Anoka Middle School for the Arts presents a play based on Jonathan Swift’s novel, at the school, 1523 Fifth Ave. S., Anoka. ASL show is 7:30 p.m. Fri, April 19. Tickets are $10; seniors/students under 18, $5.

FFI: 763-506-5089, www.anoka.k12.mn.us/amsatheater.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Burnsville High School Theatre Guild presents a sensory-friendly performance, tailored for families who have children with autism or similar disabilities, at Mraz Center for the Performing Arts, 600 E. Hwy 13, Burnsville. Sensory-friendly show is 1:30 p.m. Sat, April 20. Tickets are $10, seniors $9, students $8; discount to $5 for children with autism and related disabilities. FFI: 952-707-2150, www.beyondthespotlight.org or www.mrazcentertickets.com

PACER welcomes author

Handle with Care

The Gift: LD/ADHD Reframed will be presented by wellknown author and speaker Jonathan Mooney, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thu, April 25 at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd, Mpls. Often students with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) struggle in traditional school settings. Yet emerging brain research suggests that many students labeled LD/ADHD have gifts for creative and visual thinking that go unrecognized in academic environments. In this presentation, Mooney tackles this paradox head-on by outlining research that validates LD/ADHD as a set of cognitive gifts. He speaks honestly about the systemic and cultural barriers to normalizing these unique learning styles.

Most importantly, Mooney empowers parents with applicable strategies to build a positive self-understanding in their labeled student. Mooney has dyslexia and didn’t learn to read until age 12. He has since earned an honors degree in English Literature at Brown University and has written and published two books. His speech is free but preregistration is required. FFI: 952-838-9000, 800537-2237, PACER@PACER.org

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company presents the sweet story of a young Israeli woman, who is a reluctant traveling companion to her grandmother on a trip to America.

Performances are at Hillcrest Center Theater, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul. AD show is 1 p.m. Sun, April 21.

Tickets $22. FFI: 651-647-4315, www.mnjewishtheatre.org

Arts Accessibility grants available Access to the arts for people with disabilities has increased in recent years, thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Access Improvement Grants for metro arts organizations are available through VSA Min-

Art in Bloom Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 Third Ave. S., Mpls, hosts tours starting in the second floor rotunda. On the second weekend of each month, free tours are offered for visitors with memory loss, Alzheimer’s and their friends or care partners. ASL tour is 7 p.m. Thu, April 25 and 1:15 p.m. Sun, April 28. Interpreted tours are also scheduled on other days. Free. FFI: 612-870-3131, TTY 612-870-3132; dhegstro@artsmia.org, www.artsmia.org

Region V AACTFest Community theaters from seven states will be featured at Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, 333 Fourth St. S., Fargo. AD sessions are at 12:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Fri, April 26, ands 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sat, April 27. Tickets are $20 for all plays ($5 per play session); full festival package $85 includes all shows, workshops, parties, awards brunch. FFI: 701-235-6778, www.fmct.org

Guthrie Theater presents the world premiere of the story of two men who have gone ice fishing on the last day of the season; the ice is melting and the DNR is watching.

They are hoping for something essential, immortal, when a construction worker roars across the ice on his snowmobile, spear, dynamite and fancy dress in hand! And the last blizzard of the season is about to begin. At Guthrie Theater, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls. AD show with sensory tour is 1 p.m. Sat, April 27, and the show alone is 7:30 p.m. Fri, May 3. Captioning is 1 p.m. Wed, May 1 and 7:30 p.m. Fri, May 17. ASL shows are 7:30 p.m. Fri, May 10 and Thu, May 16. Tickets are reduced to $20 for AD/ASL, $25 for Captioning (regular $24-62). FFI: 612377-2224, TTY 612-377-6626, www.guthrietheater.org

Coriolana William Shakespeare’s tale of women ruling in a postapocalyptic world is performed by University of Minnesota Duluth Theatre at the Marshall Performing Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre, UMD Campus, 1215 Ordean Court, Duluth. ASL and AD show is 2 p.m. Sun, April 28, with pre-show half an hour beforehand. Tickets are $18, $13 seniors 62+/students, $6 UMD student, $8 children to age 12. FFI: 218-726-8561, www.d.umn.edu/theatre or www.tickets.umn.edu

A Doll’s House Commonweal Theatre Company presents Henrik Ibsen’s classic tale at Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro. AD show is 1:30 p.m. Sun, May 5, preshow at 1:10 p.m.; tactile tour at 12:30 p.m. by advance reservation. Tickets are $30; student $15. FFI: 507-4672525 or 800-657-7025; info@commonwealtheatre.org, www.commonwealtheatre.org

The Seat of Our Pants Interact Theater & Gallery presents a high-energy comedic romp through popular culture at Interact Theater, 212 Third Ave. N., #140, Mpls. ASL show is 7 p.m. Thu, May 9. AD show is 7 p.m. Thu, May 16. Tickets are $18. FFI: 800-838-3006, 612-339-5145, www.interactcenter.com

A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams’ story on family dysfunction, delusion and desire gets a new twist from Ten Thousand Things Theatre, at Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. AD show is 8 p.m. Fri, May 10. Tickets are reduced to $18 (regular $25; students on Sundays $15).

FFI: 612-203-9502, contact@tenthousandthings.org, www.tenthousandthings.org ■

Pg 14 April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1

Radio Talking Book Take the National Library Service survey The Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) would like to know how to better serve the needs of readers of talking books and Braille. To take their survey online or to learn more about it, go to www.LibraryOfCongress Survey.com. Or call 1-866-545-1618 to schedule a time to take the 25-minute survey over the phone. Anyone can take the survey and being a current National Library of Congress reader is not required.

Those who aren’t currently using the National Library Service can use the survey to let library staff what services are desired. Current NLS reader, let them know what they are doing well, where they can improve, and what new services you would like NLS to offer. Your answers to the survey questions will be kept confidential.

Take the survey now to help Library of Congress NLS better serve all readers who use talking books and Braille.

Books available through Faribault Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Phone is 1-800-7220550 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.

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 at 651-642-0500 for your password to the site. See more information about events on the Facebook site for the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network. Facebook is a free social networking web site. Register at www.facebook.com Access Press is one of the publications featured at 9 p.m. Sundays on the program It Makes a Difference.

Weekend Program Books Your Personal World (Saturday at 1 p.m.) is airing You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap), by Tammy Strobel; For the Younger Set (Sunday at 11 a.m.) is airing Touched, by Cyn Balog; Poetic Reflections (Sunday at noon) is airing Everyday People, by Albert Goldbarth; The U.S. and Us (Sunday at 4 p.m.) is airing Prairie Silence,

by Melanie Hoffert, and Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask, by Anton Treuer.

Events - from p. 12 led by trained facilitators who are also in recovery lead NAMI Connection groups. One group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tue, . A group meets at 6:30 p.m., on the 4th Tuesday of the month, at Goodwill-Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Av., St. Paul (The group previously met at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.) FFI: Shelly, 651228-1645. Bi-weekly adult recovery groups meet at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wed at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 Co. Rd. C-2 West, Roseville.

FFI: Will, 651-578-3364.

A family support group meets in St. Paul on the second Wednesday of each month from at 6-7:30 p.m., at Goodwill-Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave. N., St. Paul, in room 123. FFI: Sonja, 651-357-2077. A group also meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 Co. Rd. C-2 West, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. FFI: Anne Mae, 651730-8434 Chronic pain support group Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) offers a peer support group for people who live with chronic pain. The group will start meeting at 6:30 the first and third Thursday at MCIL, 1600 University Ave. #16, St. Paul. Group members will discuss what chronic pain is and how it affects people. FFI: Cindy Langr, 651-6032037, cindyl@mcil-mn.org GLBT group meets Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) offers a GLBT support/social group that meets 6-7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at 1600 University Ave. W. #16, St. Paul to discuss topics related to being a part of the GLBT community and dealing with a disability. Dinner is provided. RSVP at least 2-3 days in advance, as group cancels if fewer than three people sign up. FFI Corbett Laubignat, 651-603-2028, corbettl@mcilmn.org. ■

Chautauqua • Tuesday – Saturday 4 a.m.

What Are You Looking At? Nonfiction by Will Gompertz, 2012. 16 broadcasts. Begins April 17. Art historian Will Gompertz is also the BBC Arts editor, and probably the world’s first art history standup comedian. In What Are You Looking At?, his goal is to change the way people look at modern art, from Claude Monet to Andy Warhol.

Gompertz does not want to tell people if a work of art is good; he wants to give people the knowledge to decide for themselves. Read by Leila Poullada.

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

Rise to Greatness, Nonfiction by David Von Drehle, 2012. 18 broadcasts. Begins April 15. When 1862 began, it seemed likely that the Confederacy was going to win the Civil War. By the end of 1862, Abraham Lincoln had changed that and the blueprint for modern America had been indelibly inked. Read by Art Nyhus.

Bookworm • Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

Two-Part Inventions, Fiction by Lynne Sharon Schwartz, 2012. Nine broadcasts. Begins April 16. When Suzanne, a widely-admired pianist, dies suddenly, her record-producer husband, Philip, becomes deeply agitated.

Suzanne’s reputation is based on a fraud about to be exposed in the classical music world. Philip has built Suzanne’s career by altering her CDs, using portions from recordings of other pianists. He has created a wide repertoire of flawless music with Suzanne getting sole credit. L – Read by Esmé Evans.

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

Opium Fiend, Nonfiction by Steven Martin, 2012. 13 broadcasts. Begins April 18. While researching an article on opium in Southeast Asia, Steven Martin began collecting rare 19th century opium equipment, amassing a valuable collection. Then he started putting it to use. His recreational use grew into a 30-pipe-a-day habit that left him incapable of work, exacting a frightful physical and financial toll. Read by Don Lee. Choice Reading • Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

Wife 22, Fiction by Melanie Gideon, 2012. 12 broadcasts. Begins April 15. Alice Buckle answered an e-mail about an anonymous study about marriage and shortly started to question all she assumed to be true about her own marriage. Her anonymous correspondence as Wife 22, her online identity, has begun to take a very personal turn. L - Read by Laura Rohlik.

Night Journey • Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

The Woman Who Died a Lot, Fiction by Jasper Fforde, 2012. 12 broadcasts. Begins April 15. The Bookworld’s leading enforcement officer, Thursday Next has been forced into semiretirement following an assassination attempt. Her new assignment is chief librarian of the Swindon All-You-Can-Eat-at-Fatso’s-Drink-Not-Included Library. But where Thursday goes, trouble follows. Impressively engineered synthetic Thursdays called Day Players are not only waking up in the stacks, they are downloading her very consciousness. Read by Pat Kovel-Jarboe.

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

Sutton, Fiction by J.R. Moehringer, 2012. 15 broadcasts. Begins April 22. Born in the squalid Irish slums of Brooklyn, Willie Sutton seemed trapped in a cycle of panics, depressions, and soaring unemployment. He saw only one way out, and only one way to win the girl of his dreams. So he became America’s most successful bank robber. L - Read by John Beal.

Potpourri • Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

The Unconquered, Nonfiction by Scott Wallace, 2011.

19 broadcasts. Begins April 11. There are tribes in the Amazon rainforest that have avoided contact with modern civilization. Deliberately hiding from the outside world, they are the unconquered, the last survivors of a culture that predates Columbus in the New World. They greet intruders with showers of deadly arrows. But those who would protect them need to enter their world. Read

by Andrea Bell.

Good Night Owl • Monday – Friday midnight What Comes Next, Fiction by John Katzenbach, 2012.

18 broadcasts. Begins April 15. A retired professor is diagnosed with a disease leading him to lose his memory and die in a few years. On the way home from the doctor’s, he sees a young girl kidnapped and he realizes if he doesn’t act, the girl may never be found alive.

V,L,S - Read by Dan Sadoff.

After Midnight • Tuesday – Saturday 1 a.m.

Illusion, Fiction by Frank Peretti, 2012. 17 broadcasts.

Begins April 17. Mandy, supposedly dead from a crash, awakens as the girl she was in 1970 and finds she can pass through time and space. She uses this power to eke out a living performing magic. Dane sees her and is transfixed by the magic he sees and by this woman identical to the one he married 40 years earlier. L - Read by Steve Hebert. ■

Abbreviations: V – violence, L – offensive language, S – sexual situations

—————— In Memoriam ————— Ramberg a musician and showman

Lattu known for advocacy

Musician Dick Ramberg is remembered as a showman who wowed a lot of people with his musical skill and heartfelt performances.

Ramberg, 72, died March 7 of cancer. After losing his sight to retina cancer as a young child, Ramberg learned Braille and took up piano. His mother would play chords and he would repeat them Ramberg later began playing clarinet. He played in numerous Twin Cities bands, joining the Barbary Coast Banjo Band in the 1960s. The band is now known as the Barbary Coast Dixieland Show Band. The band has performed around the world. Ramberg continued to perform until last fall until he became too ill to continue.

Ramberg graduated from Minneapolis Roosevelt High School with honors and then graduated from the University of Minnesota. He held two master’s degrees, one in political science and the other in vocational counseling. He was executive director of the Minnesota State Council for the Handicapped and worked as a stockbroker. He was known for recognizing people by the sound of a voice, even after a few years.

After retirement in 2001 Ramberg pursued his musical career full-time. He would do what he could to not reveal to audience members that he was blind.

One longstanding joke the band played is to ask the audience, “How many have seen the Barbary Coast before?” When the audience is asked, “How many have never seen the Barbary Coast?” Ramberg would raise his hand.

Ramberg was also known for leading the band in playing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” a song the band has retired.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; a son, a daughter, a granddaughter and his brother. Services have been held. ■

Bruce Lattu was known for his advocacy for Minnesotans with disabilities and for bringing cheer to those around. Lattu, who worked for the State of Minnesota for more than 20 years, died March 4 at United Hospital. The Centerville resident was 60 years old.

In fall 2012 the Minnesota State Council on Disability (MnSCOD) gave Lattu its Minnesota Award.

Lattu, who most recently worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) as a disability program coordinator, was known for empowering people with disabilities and helping them become self-advocates. He also worked to ensure that MnDOT and other state agencies are aware of not only the minimum expectations of what the law requires but also why it is better to go beyond the minimum levels. He was known as a creative problemsolver.

Lattu worked to empower others to ask for the reasonable accommodations and worked to find creative ways to meet the needs of people with disabilities so that they can get and maintain employment. He helped raise awareness of disability for the greater community, most recently on the Central Corridor light rail project planning.

He previously worked for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and taught high school in Clinton, where he also served as the basketball, football and baseball coach. He was an avid Minnesota Twins fan.

Lattu is survived by his wife Kathy, two sons and daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, two brothers including his twin brother, a sister and many nieces and nephews. Services have been held. Online condolences can be sent to millerfuneralfridley.com ■

April 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 1 Pg 15

Voters want changes - from p. 1 (MSCOD) hosted a March 18 town hall meeting on election laws. “With the various voting bills up for debate at the capitol this session,” said MSCOD Executive Director Joan Willshire, “We wanted to make sure people with disabilities were both aware of the proposed changes and had an opportunity to talk to the decisionmakers framing the discussion.”

Minnesota had the highest voter turnout in the country with 76 percent of eligible voters casting ballots in November 2012. That is a point of pride for Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. But he and voting rights advocates said more can be done to help Minnesotans with disabilities vote. Panelists raised issues ranging from the need for all polling places to be accessible as required by state law to making it easier to vote before an election. The issues of voting under guardianship, which have caused controversy in some communities, were also discussed.

Ritchie said any changes to election law should preserve the state’s high voting tradition while also expanding the right to vote to more citizens—especially people with disabilities.

AT conference helps farmers - from p. 1 joke with us that we’d have to carry them off of the farm in a sack.”

Stores said the national conference is eagerly anticipated. “We have a lot of good workshops for farmers and ranchers, with information they can use for their operations.” The conference also gives farmers, ranchers and their families a chance to meet each other, network and share ideas.

The conference helps the state and national AgrAbility organizations address priorities including public education, networking, assistance and marketing. Session topics include assistive technology devices and equipment, agriculture opportunities for people with physical or developmental disabilities and social media.

Rasmussen said one feature organizers are expecting to draw attention is the “action track,” a wheelchair on tracks that allows for travel through the roughest and muddiest rural terrain. It also allows users to stand as they do chores ranging from construction to feeding livestock.

The assistive technology is always a huge attraction, Stores said. “It’s a good learning experience for people to see and try out what’s new in terms of assistive technology. It helps people do their jobs better.”

Another popular conference feature is the ability to go on tours, Stores said. Part of the Minnesota conference is a tour of a dairy farm where the farmer uses assistive technology to run his farm.

Additionally, participants can attend sessions devoted to agricultural production and learn about financial planning for agribusinesses; funding opportunities, such as federal Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grants and U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency loans; how to market their products; and estate/succession planning. ■ To learn more about Minnesota AgrAbility, go to http://equipalife.org/news/ minnesota-agrability-project/ To learn more about the national AgrAbility project, go to agrability.org

“There’s momentum to make some change,” Ritchie said. One change being sought that would benefit many Minnesotans would be early voting.

Currently Minnesota only allows absentee voting. If illness, disability or absence from a home precinct would keep a person from voting, an absentee ballot can be cast. Early voting allows ballots to be cast prior to an election without the voter going through the absentee ballot application process.

The disability community in Minnesota voted at the highest rate in the country in the general election, said Jim Dickson. He is vice president for organizing and civic engagement at the American Association of People with Disabilities. But Dickson said the general election is less important than primary elections because the campaign issues have already been decided. “Primaries are the elections that frame the debate,” Dickson said. “Because our participation in primaries is dismal, we do not have elected officials coming to us saying ‘what do you want?’”

Dickson, who spoke via video feed from Washington, D.C., also said that candidates and pollsters don’t recognize people with disabilities as a key subgroup, calling them “invisible voters.”

Jeff Narabrook of the Minnesota Participation Project discussed measures other states use that could be used in Minnesota. Some states have adopted online voter registration systems, while some Pacific Northwest states have created voting systems that operate entirely by mail. A similar measure has been eyed for parts of rural Minnesota.

“There are several options Minnesota could examine in order to make voting more accessible for people with disabilities,” Narabrook said.

Issues for voters with disabilities drew increased scrutiny recently when an 86year-old St. Peter woman was charged with voter fraud for mistakenly voting twice in the 2013 primary. She had voted absentee and then in person. The woman, who has Parkinson’s disease and dementia, said she forgot she had voted.

A Nicolett County District Court judge ruled April 2 that Margaret Schneider will not have to pay a fine, spend time in jail or serve probation under an agreement. Instead she is required to obey election law and will have her record cleared on Nov. 30, 2014 if there are no further infractions.

To view the town hall meeting, which has been archived, go to MSCOD’s website: www.disability.state.mn.us Information by contributing writer Colin Stemper, Access Press staff and the Mankato Free Press was used in this article. ■

CLASSIFIEDS Access Press Classifieds are $14 for the first 12 and 65¢ per word thereafter. They must be prepaid. Mail to: Access Press care of The Kelly Inn Offices; 161 St. Anthony Ave; #910; St. Paul, MN 55103. 651-644-2133 • FAX 651-644-2136 • Email: access@accesspress.org

FOR RENT Lewis Park Apartments: Barrier-free housing with wheelchair users in mind.

Section 8 subsidized. One- and two-bedroom units. For more information on availability call 651-488-9923. St. Paul, MN. Equal Opportunity Housing.

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

Calvary Center Apts: 7650 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN. A Section 8 building now accepting applications for our waiting list. Call 9 am to 4 pm, Mon – Fri 763-546-4988 for an application. Equal Opportunity Housing.

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

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