She's the wheel deal: Page 11
Volume 24, Number 7
www.accesspress.org
July 10, 2013
Olmstead hearing draws many ideas for new plan
Effective July 1
by Jane McClure
by Jane McClure
Minnesotans have until this fall to weigh in key quality of life issues, as part of the state’s Olmstead Plan. Their comments will help shape a plan that is to be unveiled Nov. 1. Release of an 83-page draft plan and the opportunity to comment drew a large crowd June 19 to the DS Event Center in St. Paul. Representatives from eight state departments presented updates on plan activities. Several members of the public weighed in with suggestions and concerns on topics including housing, employment and self-advocacy. All states are required to have an Olmstead Plan, as a Olmstead - p. 5
July 1 was a significant date for many Minnesotans with disabilities who rely on medical supplies for daily living. That’s when new federal regulations on competitive bidding for Medicare program suppliers were to take effect for the Twin Cities region. The result thus far has been a lot of confusion for clients and suppliers. People are questioning where their supplies will come from and if costs will increase. While some suppliers contend that needed medical goods can be provided with little disruption and at the same or lower costs, clients and other suppliers are worried about the quality of products, the possibility of long shipping delays and how equipment will be serviced if repairs or replacement parts are needed. For seniors and people with disabilities, it may mean severing long-term relationships with suppliers and finding new ones. For some suppliers, there are fears of lost business and ultimately economic survival. “There’s really a lot of concern about vendors serving Minnesota, who are from other states,” said Anne Henry, attorney for the Minnesota Disability Law Center. Competitive bidding- p. 4
“Don’t knock the weather. If it didn’t change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn’t start a conversation” — Kim Hubbard
Elevator link to light rail line is moving on up
Partners in Policymaking has graduated its 20122013 class. New participants are wanted for 2013-2014. Page 11
Wary disability community eyes competitive bidding changes
community,” said Metropolitan Council Chairperson Sue Haigh. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said city officials are working with artist Jo Ann Verberg to incorporate art into the structure. “Equally important is providing a means for people at all mobility levels to enjoy all that downtown has to offer,” he added. The stairway-elevator tower project has a 15.5 percent Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal. PCL, the low responsive bidder among five bidders, passed the DBE review. PCL also built the line’s operations and maintenance facility in Lowertown. The light rail line, which is about 93 percent completed, will link downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis along Washington and University avenues via the state capitol and the University of Minnesota. It opens next year. Testing of the line has started and will continue until it opens. How to get the stair-elevator tower project paid and built for The long-awaited downtown St. Paul elevator and stairway connection had vexed people with disabilities for several months as neither between the skyways and light rail is depicted here. the Metropolitan Council nor City of St. Paul had committed Illustration courtesy of Metropolitan Council funding to the project. Pleas were also made to the 2013 Minby Access Press staff nesota Legislature. The tower will be built in an area that is open space now. The Efforts to link the Central Corridor or METRO Green Line old Bremer Bank was torn down in 2011 to make way for the light rail service to St. Paul’s skyway system took another step station. Its skyway link was torn down and replaced that same ahead June 26. The Metropolitan Council awarded PCL Conyear, but without an elevator and stairway access. struction an $1.8 million contract to build a stairway-elevator Anyone using the tower will have to travel outdoors to get to tower to connect the skyway system to Central Station. It will Central Station or to the nearby bus stops. Lucy Thompson, a provide a connection to and from Fifth Street and bus and light planner for St. Paul, said the bus stops are some of the busiest rail service. in the area. Having good access to and from them is important. Construction is to begin later this summer, so the link can be Downtown resident and disability community activist Rick completed before light rail service begins in mid-2014. Cardenas led the charge for the elevator access and had perThe link is paid for through an $800,000 federal grant provided suaded state lawmakers to bring forward bills requiring that the to Metro Transit and $969,620 from the light rail project budget. elevator access point be provided. Cardenas said he is pleased Recently the City of St. Paul and Metropolitan Council approved that the project has been funded and is moving forward. a maintenance agreement for the link, which will cost each entity But one long-term issue the disability community must watch about $75,000 per year. The city and council also have agreeis how the block is ultimately redeveloped. That could mean the ments on nearby property redevelopment and bus passenger planned tower is either replaced as part of a development or inwaiting improvements. corporated into a new larger building. That in turn means “Few public entries exist into the skyway system in downtown watching to see that hours of access aren’t reduced, which is a St. Paul, making this project a benefit not only for the Green Line but also other transit riders, pedestrians and the disability Moving on up - p. 12
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NEWS DIGEST
It’s time for our Directory of Organizations! Find the resources you need. Pages 7-10 Associated Bank Liberty Branch is the first sponsor of the Charlie Smith Award banquet. Find out how your business or group can get involved. Page 3 The state has a special education teacher shortage. Read about it in Regional News in Review. Page 6 He made a record number of skydives and now wants to celebrate. Page 13
INSIDE Accessible Fun, pg 13 Events, pg 14 People & Places, pp 11-12 Radio Talking Book, pg 15 Regional News, pg 6