September 2013 Edition - Access Press

He's a happy camper Page 6

Volume 24, Number 9

Campaign to increase wages rolled out

by Access Press staff

The 5% Campaign is on the march, kicking off with advocacy during the Minnesota State Fair and a wellattended press event in Duluth last month. Supporters hope to continue to gain momentum before the start of the 2014 Minnesota legislative session.

The coalition behind the campaign wants a 5 percent increase in state funding for services people with disabilities and aging adults receive at home and in their communities. If successful, the campaign would raise the wages of about 112,000 people who provide direct services to aging adults and disabled people.

Self-advocates, their family members, caregivers and 5% Campaign - p. 13

www.accesspress.org 2013 Charlie Smith award winner

Access to college is one of Appleby's many contributions

September 10, 2013 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities. MN Permit No. 4766 Address Service Requested

By Access Press staff

Cal Appleby is a man of selfless action, who has helped many others overcome challenges that he himself also faced, is the winner of the 2013 Access Press Charlie Smith Award. Cal Appleby is this year’s honoree.

“My life’s purpose has been to work with people who may be marginalized by the rest of society,” said Appleby. If people are willing to come forward and take part in his classes and groups, Appleby said he is willing to help them better themselves. He sees himself as a catalyst in the lives of others.

For decades Appleby was part of a remarkable team that founded and shaped many programs for students with disabilities at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, at the University of Minnesota and beyond. The work of Appleby, and the late Vern Bloom and Wayne “Mo” Moldenhauer, had impacts throughout the region. The three will Cal Appleby is the 2013 Charlie Smith Award winner.

Photo courtesy of Laurie Savran be recognized at the annual award banquet, set for November 1.

Charlie Smith award winner - p. 10 Bloom died in 2012 and Moldenhauer died in 2003.

Connection to rail line celebrated by advocates ance provided by the Metropolitan Council from the Central Corridor Light Rail Project Contingency Budget. Cardenas and other advocates for accessibility fought for the connection, saying the elevator is imperative. They took their request to regional and local officials and lobbied state lawmakers before the federal funds and council grant were obtained “Transit investments like the Green Line are designed to better connect people to jobs and homes around the region. This project adds to the connections created by the light rail line and makes it easier for all people, particularly those with limited mobility, to access 40 blocks of downtown St. Paul via skyway from the light rail station and major bus stops,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh. “I’m pleased that we were able to make contingency money from the Green Line project budget available to improve access to transit services for all people.

I’d like to thank our project partners for helping make this a reality including the city of St. Paul, Activist Rick Cardenas celebrates with Metropolitan Council representatives, downtown residents and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Council Member Dave Thune, at right, at Advocating Change Together and the the groundbreaking.

CapitolRiver Council.” The council is the Photo courtesy City of St. Paul Downtown Neighborhood District council.

On August 28, one of the hottest days of the summer, ground St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, City Council Member Dave was broken for a skyway/ground connection in downtown St. Thune, Ramsey County Commissioners Rafael Ortega and Jim Paul. Efforts for the connection to the METRO Green Line McDonough, Metropolitan Councilmembers Rich Kramer and light rail station were led by Rick Cardenas, co-director of the Jon Commers, and Cardenas were among those at the advocacy group Advocating Change Together (ACT). groundbreaking.

Cardenas was one of those who got to wield a shovel at the St. Paul’s skyway system and accessible connections to and groundbreaking. “With the support of ACT and Corridors of Opfrom street level have been under scrutiny in recent years. One portunity, the elevator will make it easier for people with disproblem has been building owners and managers who wish to abilities, seniors, people pushing strollers and the general public lock up skyway access, leaving people hunting for elevator conto get to the Xcel Energy Center, Wilkins Auditorium, Ordway, nections. Access to the light rail line, which starts operations in their homes, work and everything in-between protected from the 2014, has been a huge concern. elements—even the heat!” said Cardenas.

“I heard from many of my constituents—downtown residents, Financial support for the $1.7 million connection is from an employees and employers—on how important reestablishing a Rail line connection - p. 10 $800,000 federal grant received by Metro Transit and the bal-

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

— Mark Twain

NEWS DIGEST

Mural about disability on display.

Page 13

Adaptive bowling loses a champion.

Page 2

Meet the 2013 Charlie Smith Award runnersup.

Page 3

Olmstead Plan details deserve more scrutiny.

Page 4

New name for a longtime service provider.

Page 7

Plan to attend an upcoming town hall forum, sponsored by MNCCD. Page 14

INSIDE Accessible Fun, pg 13 Events, pg 14 People & Places, pps 6-7,10 Radio Talking Book, pg 14 Regional News, pgs 8-9

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EDITOR’S DESK

Tim Benjamin In a summer of unusually mild weather, it kind of figured that the end of August would bring a week of record-breaking heat just in time for the State Fair.

Attendance hit some record-breaking lows because of the heat. Then the last Sunday of the State Fair was a beautiful day and because of the cooler temperatures the final two days of the Fair resulted in record-breaking crowds. Oh well. Normal is overrated.

This year’s Charlie Smith Award banquet will be on the first Friday in November as it has been for the last nine years. This year we’ve received nominations for a very strong mix of candidates for the Charlie Smith Award. Throughout this issue, we have biographies and photographs of most of the nominees. As you’ll see after reading them, the Access Press board of directors had a difficult time choosing the honoree. Every one of the nominees deserves applause from each of us for their hard work and efforts to improve the lives of Minnesotans with disabilities and our older adults. Each one has

made a distinct impact on the disability community and expanded the services that are available to our community. We will be inviting each of the nominees to the banquet, and I hope you’ll plan to come, applaud them, and help us give special recognition to 2013 Charlie Smith Award recipient, Cal Appleby. Appleby has a long record of accomplishments, but we want especially to recognize his contributions in making higher education at Augsburg University more accessible to people with disabilities.

Sue Mattson has written a very informative commentary on the Olmstead plan. As you’ll read, Mattson has been closely following what will be a landmark change for the future of Minnesota’s disability community. She brings forward some challenging concerns from the committee working on the Olmstead plans. She explains how this plan will affect the Minnesota Department of Human Services and how DHS interacts with all of us who use their services. It is very difficult to achieve both constructive transparency and policy oversight in such a huge state agency, but we need both in an organization that manages so much taxpayer money. All of us have responsibilities as taxpayers and clients of the Department of Human Services, and DHS in turn has the tremendous responsibility to supply social health supports, with swiftness and dignity as the legisla-

ture has intended. Unfortunately, sometimes the way that legislation is ultimately written and adopted slants one intent or philosophy over others, and the way that supports are delivered and used do not always execute the same legislative intent. It’s critical that the Olmstead plan establish clear guidelines, and well-defined appeal processes that are weighted in favor of the consumer rather than in favor of the department.

Congratulations to all those self-advocates, Commissioners, council members and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who worked to make the light rail more accessible to the skyway. Now with the new elevator in such close proximity to the light rail station and to the skyway, people with mobility disabilities will have a much easier time during the winter to access each area. We thank you for your hard work and dedication.

Finally, a reminder that MNCCD’s 5% Campaign is in full swing. The campaign rollout in Duluth was a huge success with Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL— Duluth) signing on along with other legislators from northern Minnesota. I understand also that some Congressional staffers at the state fair became excited about the new campaign and will be supporting it. Now, we all have to attend one of the forums that MNCCD is putting on for the campaign (see the Events listing on page 12). We also have to encourage our caregivers to support the campaign by being at the forums and telling their stories.

Stay safe and enjoy the beautiful September weather while it lasts. ■

HISTORY NOTE

Minnesotan was a kingpin in adaptive bowling circles Adaptive sports of all types help people with disabilities get exercise and have fun. Adaptive bowling, which began in the 1940s, is one of the most popular forms of recreation thanks to various devices that make bowling enjoyable. A Minnesotan who was a national champion of adaptive bowling died recently.

Garland “Gar” Giddings of Ramsey was 68 years old.

He had initially taken up adapted bowling in 1969.

Volume 24, Number 9 • Periodicals Imprint: Pending ISSN Co-Founder/Publisher Wm. A. Smith, Jr. (1990-1996)

Executive Director Tim Benjamin

Co-Founder/Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief Charles F. Smith (1990-2001)

Assistant Editor Jane McClure

Board of Directors Brigid Alseth, Steve Anderson, Kristin Jorenby, Elin Ohlsson, Halle O'Falvey, Carrie Salberg, Walt Seibert and Kay Willshire Advertising Sales Michelle Hegarty 612-807-1078

Business Manager/Webmaster Dawn Frederick Cartoonist Scott Adams 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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For a few years, Giddings held the third-highest bowling average in the nation. His highest series ever was 513. He bowled for Team USA in the 2007 International Blind Sports Association’s Blind Bowling Tournament in Australia. He won a bronze medal in a singles event for the blind and finished fourth worldwide in the all-around category.

Giddings lost his sight in a car accident at age 19.

His wife Nancy Giddings told the Star Tribune that he “always refused to let his blindness define him.”

Giddings enjoyed a long career as a computer programmer with Wells Fargo.

In the community of adaptive bowling, he was known as one of the top blind bowlers. He belonged to the American Blind Bowling Association (ABBA).

His average score was 126; his best score was 226.

Giddings was highly competitive, using his strong memorization and mathematics skills gained through his work to become a champion bowler. He used the latest technology and Braille on the job. Nancy Giddings said his work “was logical, and he was a highly logical person.” He used geometry as a bowler and memorized bowling scores.

He also was a member of the Twin Cities Audio Darts League.

Giddings was born in Anoka and lived on a farm in what is now Coon Rapids, before his family moved to the Chisago City area. He’d planned to be a farmer until losing his sight in a car accident when he was a freshman at the University of Minnesota’s agricultural campus in St. Paul.

After graduation from the University of Minnesota he learned computer programming in 1969 in Cincinnati. There he joined a blind bowling league. He moved back to the Twin Cities in 1970.

The bowling bug bit Giddings again years later.

Eleven years ago, he borrowed bowling rails from the ABBA so he could bowl with his wife, children and others at a church outing. He joined the ABBA at that time and became an avid bowler, finding new friends and a new way to compete.

“He loved the sound of the pins falling,” his wife said.

“He was constantly thinking of how to do it, how to better his score.”

Giddings is survived by his wife, four daughters, three sisters, two brothers, five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Services have been held. ■ 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

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

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Many talents shown

Meet the other 2013 Charlie Smith Award nominees

Mary Benhardus

Can-Do Canines

Tom Fogarty

Luther Granquist

MARY BENHARDUS, HANDI MEDICAL SUPPLY Mary Benhardus took her experiences as a personal care attendant (PCA) and her business skills, and turned them into a thriving home medical supply business. Benhardus founded Handi Medical Supply in 1988, with the vision of properly serving consumers who require medical equipment and supplies. The vision for the company began when she was working as a PCA for a quadriplegic friend who had trouble finding needed medical items.

In the late 1980s home medical services for people with disabilities were very poor. People would call a medical supplier, only to often wait for weeks for their medical equipment and supplies to be delivered. Suppliers had no organized way to track prior order information, which made the ordering process very time-consuming for consumers and their health care professionals. After-hours emergency medical equipment services were unheard of.

Benhardus believes that people with disabilities deserve more caring consideration than what she had experienced with her friend. She made changes in how orders are tracked and clients are cared for. She developed a personalized after-hour service. Benhardus made it Handi Medical Supply’s mission to enrich lives and find quality products and equipment for people with disabilities.

Under her leadership, Handi continues to be dedicated to the people who need medical supplies and equipment for independence and mobility. She is the driving force in the organization and challenges team members to provide high-quality service, care and commitment. Her nominator and co-

worker Mike Bailey stated, “Humanity has always been and will continue to be an essential part of Mary Benhardus and Handi’s business plan.”

In 2012 Handi Medical Supply was recognized as the Home Medical Equipment Provider of the Year by HME News. The company also won the Better Business Bureau Integrity Award.

In 1997 Handi began providing an annual education and equipment referral conference. It now draws more than 700 attendees. Medical professionals, case managers and others can continue their medical education and learn about the latest medical supplies and equipment.

“They are helping people who need help,” said nominator Claudia Fuglie.

She noted that the independence people have thanks to a service animal is important to Minnesota’s disability community and is worthy of consideration for the Charlie Smith Award.

The nonprofit now serves Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota, and Iowa, with a few placements in Missouri and Illinois and added new services, providing assistance dogs to people with seizure disorders, children with autism, and people with diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia awareness. Because the previous name no longer reflected what the nonprofit had become, in 2009 Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota became Can-Do Canines.

All assistance dogs are provided to clients at no charge, thanks to generous donations and the hard work of fundraising that Can-Do Canines takes on. Start to finish, $25,000 typically sponsors an assistance dog team. The actual cost to train one team can be even higher.

Can-Do Canines has 14 full-time employees; six part-time employees and 20 field trainers. There are 10 board members. But it is largely a volunteerdriven group and they deserve much recognition. The 200-plus volunteers include 100 puppy raisers.

come. “As a person with a significant hearing impairment, Tom has been a superb role model for people who are deaf and hard of hearing,” said nominators Jeff Bangsberg and Anita Boucher.

“He has worked quietly behind the scenes in developing and implementing innovative recreational opportunities for people with a wide range of physical, sensory, cognitive and other types of disabilities.”

Fogarty is known for his personal warmth and humor, and for giving everyone a chance to be successful. Many campers considered him to be a father figure and a mentor.

In 1964 Fogarty attended the first experimental program for deaf/hard of hearing children at Camp Courage.

Two years later he returned to the Maple Lake camp for a kitchen job. He later was a camp crafter, riding instructor and maintenance supervisor.

Fogarty attended St. Cloud State University, earning a degree in special education in 1975. For two semesters he and Access Press founding editor Charlie Smith were roommates. They became good friend and Fogarty was Smith’s personal care attendant.

Fogarty became camp director of Courage North near Park Rapids in 1985. Under his direction the camp expanded programs and facilities. The camp offered sessions for deaf/hard of hearing children and teens, adults with physical disabilities and the Courage Handi-Ham Radio Camp. Programs for children with Asperger’s syndrome and hemophilia were added. He also coordinated staffing and logistics for the California Radio Camp held each winter.

He helped the camp develop partnerNominees - p. 5

CAN-DO CANINES Can-Do Canines has a long tradition of service to people with disabilities.

The New Hope-based nonprofit raises, trains and places specially trained dogs with people who need them. The dogs are trained to provide specific types of assistance, tailored for the client. Dogs provide assistance for people with hearing impairments, mobility issues, seizure disorders and diabetes. Children with autism also benefit from the assistance of a service dog.

Can-Do Canines dogs help people achieve greater freedom, independence and peace of mind. Matching specially trained dogs to a client’s personal assistance needs creates a mutually beneficial partnership. The dogs are raised from birth with loving care and are specially trained before going to a client.

Can-Do Canines staff and volunteers envision a future in which every person who needs and wants an assistance dog will have one.

TOM FOGARTY, CAMP COURAGE For almost 50 years, Tom Fogarty has helped Minnesotans with disabilities enjoy the great outdoors independently. In December 2012 he retired as director of camping services for Camp Courage and Courage North. Fogarty’s work will benefit campers for years to

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GUEST COMMENTARY Olmstead Plan

Don’t sweep aside concerns, delay plan until it is done

by Susan Mattson

Editor’s note: Mattson is a disability advocate, special education professional, court-appointed guardian and licensed care provider. Mattson has followed the progress of the Minnesota Olmstead compliance issues since 1999 and has monitored the current activity on the creation of the newest plan. Mattson’s greatest concern is that this current plan effort, as past movements, will be swept aside and/or prolonged to such an extent that the necessary, significant changes fall by the wayside. This draft proposal of the Olmstead Plan misses the “elephant in the room” and needs to include, from the first day of implementation. The following is excerpted from her comments on the most recent draft. The full article can be seen at www.accesspress.org: • Transparent meaningful oversight with accountability to consumer, • Measurable demonstration of implementation of the Olmstead philosophy by government agents/ agencies involved and all providers accepting Medicare and Medicaid dollars • Simplified direct means for the consumer to impact the administration, implementation and direct outcomes of the Plan without encountering the circular bureaucratic within the “system.”

• Comprehensive and ongoing training and enlightenment Accountability to the consumer is expressly written into the DHS Mission Statement “to the people we serve.” It is the foundation of the Olmstead Act/Plan.

Ombudsman Roberta Opheim covers it in her video: http://tinyurl.com/OlmsteadPlan Other comments considered from the July 9 listening session. Daniel Olson, PCA said, “look at the experiences on the ground.” Galen Smith, of ADAPT, urged the planners to “be bold and take this opportunity to create a legacy,” Chris Bell said, “the planners should turn the system upside down. True integration means being able to make decisions; get information without jumping through hoops.”

No effective means exist for consumer evaluation of agents/agencies and the plan has no provision.

Touted “safeguards” are ineffective/meaningless to the consumer and are weighted heavily in favor of the agency. Statutes grant deference to the agency in any given appeal situation. Government attorneys represent the agency/department, while consumers fend for themselves. The agent/agencies/department faces no adverse action for failure to adhere to deadlines or statutes. If they fail to comply, the Ombudsman’s Of-

fice and the Disability Law Center have their own limitations.

County commissioners serving as the Human Services Board directly appointing and supervising case managers and providing direct oversight of the administration of services generally minimize those duties to that of rubber stamping the work of the agents. Commonly, commissioners bring a constituent concern to an agency. The commissioner is assured that DHS directives are followed, that confidentiality takes precedence, and/or the agency paints the consumer as “just trouble.”

State law mandates local Human Services Advisory Committees whose membership cannot include Human Services employees and where one-third of the membership shall be representatives of persons receiving services. Task forces shall be established and chaired by an advisory committee member. Since not all counties have advisory committees or ones that operated as statutorily mandated, this level of consumer accountability is ineffective.

Oversight is another concern. The 2004 Legislative Audit of the Administration of the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver noted concerns raised under Olmstead. The state auditor recognized a failure to solicit the views of the consumer, made recommendations for close oversight by the legislature, and stated that DHS was to provide specific oversight of the county agencies. The 2005 update reveals DHS started to implement those recommendations, found them “too time consuming,” and quit. Legislators critical to the oversight process never knew Opheim said in the 2005 William Mitchell Law Review http://tinyurl.com/Opheimtalk regarding agents who do not follow the law and/or when agents openly practice vendettas: “History has shown that counties are not held accountable when they fail to follow the law. There are few, if any, administrative, legal, or financial sanctions which can be applied by the state against the counties.” She adds: “The Ombudsman’s Office acknowledges that there are many conscientious workers at all levels of the social service system working hard every day to improve the lives of children. The stories of families and the cases reviewed by the Office, however, reveal that the destructive practices and harmful decisions made by counties contained within this essay are not simply isolated cases.” She concludes, that those being harmed “cannot wait for the system to slowly evolve.”

A DHS Developmental Disability Supervisor, in an e-mail exchange with me stated, “We haven’t found a specific statutory protection against retaliation or vindictive behavior by a county.”

Legislation introduced years ago attempted to protection against retaliation and establish a Board of DHS Oversight. The bills sit dormant.

Implementation of the philosophy is also a concern.

The philosophy has been spelled out in the ADA, the

State Application for 1914 HCBS Waiver, The Olmstead Act, and the most recent order to establish the Olmstead Plan. The fact that the philosophy has eluded many who are in positions of administrative authority is disturbing.

On July 9 Joan Willshire of the Minnesota State Council on Disabilities said, “The Options Too report in 2006 covered many of these same concerns . . . unfortunately many of these same issues are discussed in the plan today. There should be ongoing monitoring of the plan so that it is implemented and so we’re not looking at these same issues again years later.” Turning things “upside down” as Bell said can happen quite quickly in a multi-disciplinary action when all are committed to practice the same philosophy and when those who are not are eliminated Direct means for consumer to impact is the fourth point I will raise. The consumer and/or their guardian, under Chapter 256B.092 subdivision 7, (among other statutes, laws, and the State Application for the Waiver) are to have significant authority to direct the services.

A plan for training is the final point I will raise The consumer, their advocates, commissioners, advisory committees, providers and agents, and legislators need training that true choice exists in matters as this “ new norm” and that retaliation by agents will not be tolerated. ■

Remember to get your banquet tickets Want to hear more about the Charlie Smith Award winner and nominees? Attend the banquet Friday, Nov. 1 at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott in Bloomington. Tickets are on sale now and menu choices have been announced.

Cost is $45 per person or $325 for an 8-person table (save $35) in advance. Tickets are $50 per person day of the event, at the doors.

There are several ways to reserve tickets. Go to www.accesspress.org and click on the line for the awards event. Or, Mail your check(s) to: Access Press, Attn: Dawn, 161 St. Anthony Ave., Suite 910, St. Paul, MN 55103. A third way is to call the office and do the transaction over the phone, at 651-644-2133 Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction startBanquet tickets - p. 15

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

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Nominees - from p. 3

Sam Jasmine

Diana Kommer

June Lacey

Margaret Perryman

ships with Mayo Clinic, the Autism Society of Minnesota and Minneapolis Children’s Hospital.

In 2005 Fogarty became director of camping services for both Camp Courage and Courage North. He received the Spirit of Courage award from Courage Center in 2008.

For many years he wrote the Access Press “History Note” column. His work did much to add to the written history of Minnesotans with disabilities. He also gathered and organized historical documents for the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities’ website. He continues to assemble material for a book he is writing on the history of disability in Minnesota.

Granquist also was a strong presence at the state capitol and was well-known among members of the Minnesota Legislature, self-advocates and disability advocacy groups.

The Arc Minnesota has named its annual systems change award after Granquist, to recognize his decades of work for people with disabilities. In 2012 Granquist was given a lifetime achievement award by The Arc Minnesota.

for Sam Jasmine taking over upon my retirement from the program.”

Jasmine is a talented actress and won an award for Outstanding Achievement in Acting from the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres. She is a board member and past president of the Twin Cities Audio Dart League. She was instrumental in manufacturing he only accessible dartboard on the market. The dartboard “speaks” in her voice and describes the location of the board to the player, announces the scores and offers instructions and the rules for each game.

She has been a teacher to newly visually disabled individuals and children with visual impairments. She gives presentations about visual disabilities, use of Braille and accessibility for people with disabilities in schools.

She also volunteers in University of Minnesota experiments on visual perception and navigation. Hage noted that Jasmine is not only active in media, the arts and recreation, she also is a very effective self-advocate. “Sam has successfully prosecuted a cab driver for refusing to let her guide dog in has cab.

This has brought attention to cab companies that refusal under these circumstances is unlawful.

with Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Associates in the outpatient clinic. she is also coordinator of the annual art show.

For 11 months out of the year she volunteers her personal time for the show.

“The work is barely out the door before she begins to prepare for the next year’s show,” said Kommer’s nominator Elizabeth Rosalind Young. Kommer is well-known for making the show an enjoyable experience for all who participate, including artists, their family members, visitors and what is now the Courage Kenny staff. More than 360 pieces of art arrived for the 2013 show.

Art that isn’t sold is returned to the artists. When a piece is sold, the artist receives 75 percent and 25 percent goes to support Courage Kenny. Artists receive monetary prizes in six categories.

“Diana works tirelessly to get the art show on its feet and running without a hitch,” Young wrote. “It’s almost too smooth. Few people have any idea of the tremendous amount of work and energy it takes to make this show happen.” The show is in May. But the work to organize it starts the September before, with outreach to find artists and their work.

For two months after the show Kommer returns artwork and closes the event books. One facet to her work is asking employees of Courage Kenny to donate Encouragement Awards of cash to various artists in the show. The awards give the artists a boost as well as needed resources to buy more supplies and possibly enter other exhibits and contests.

Kommer more than doubled the amount of awards this year by offering incentives and her own contributions, without reimbursement.

Her son Alex has also volunteered as a co-coordinator.

Nominees - p. 11

LUTHER GRANQUIST, ATTORNEY AND HISTORIAN

For many years, Luther A. Granquist was a key figure at the Minnesota Disability Law Center/Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. In his 36-year career, he brought independence and dignity to the lives of countless people with disabilities. He was involved in several landmark cases that greatly improved the lives of Minnesotans. His legal expertise, determination, work ethic and commitment to everyone’s dignity and rights resulted in changed laws, policies and practices.

“He was the face of the Minnesota Disability Law Center and Legal Aid,” said nominator Mary Lou Doll. “Luther’s work in Minnesota set an example for other states.” Doll said that many families wouldn’t have received the help they needed if not for Granquist.

Granquist was a leader in efforts to close state hospitals in the 1970s, in the Welsch V. Minnesota case. He and others worked closely with families whose loved ones were in state institutions.

Granquist and the legal team documented horrible conditions that people lived in. People were living without having even their basic care and medical needs met. Many lacked proper medical equipment. The lawsuit helped start the movement of people with developmental and physical disabilities from institutions into the community.

Through the Disability Law Center, Granquist helped many people obtain their legal rights.

SAM JASMINE, RADIO HOST Sam Jasmine has devoted years to helping people with disabilities have access to media. She volunteers for the weekly radio show Disabled and Proud on KFAI radio station, 90.3 FM Minneapolis and 106.7 FM St. Paul.

Jasmine has been an engineer for the program 19 years and has been primary host for nine years. She has interviewed hundreds of people on topics that bring people insights and ideas about disability. As a radio host she is facilitator for countless discussions about disability.

“As the host of Disabled and Proud on KFAI, she has brought attention to hundreds of relevant topics concerning the integration of people into the mainstream community through activism, giving a venue for open dialogue concerns the disability community,” stated nominator Martha H. Hage. “I believe that Disabled and Proud on KFAI would not have continued if it were not

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DIANA KOMMER, COURAGE KENNY INTERNATIONAL ART SHOW FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES On the opening night of the Courage Kenny International Art Show for People with Disabilities, the happy faces of the artists say it all. The person who makes that possible is Diana Kommer. She has led efforts to stage the show for the past three years.

Kommer has worked for Allina Health for more than a decade. Her primary job is as administrative assistant

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PEOPLE & PLACES New program makes these campers happy Camps of Courage & Friendship has added to its offerings with a new partnership. Creative Learning Ideas for Mind and Body or CLIMB Theater was added this summer to the camping program’s extensive list of activities.

The non-profit children’s theater provides programming once a week at each of the Camps of Courage & Friendship sites. The company presents plays and engages campers in fun and creative games all while touching on topics like respect, friendship and acceptance of differences. The camping program can provide these experiences throughout the summer because of the Partner in Arts Participation grant it received through the Minnesota State Arts Board this past spring.

CLIMB Theater started in 1975 as a theater company for persons with disabilities “This is our way of getting back to our roots,” said Peter Mol of CLIMB Theater.

“The program offers a unique experience that differs from typical camp activities by focusing on theater skills and expressing themselves in a different way. We are so pleased to add this new and fresh experience to our programming,” Camps of Courage & Friendship Program Director Jon Salmon said.

Peter Mol entertains campers by acting out a skit.

Photo courtesy of Camp Courage & Friendship

Camps of Courage & Friendship, a nonprofit, privately-funded agency, enriches the lives of nearly 4,000 people with developmental or physical disabilities and special needs annually. Camp locations include Camp Friendship near Annandale, Camp Eden

Wood in Eden Prairie, Camp New Hope near McGregor, Camp Courage near Maple Lake and Camp Courage North near Lake George. ■

New name for a longtime Twin Cities area service provider Living Well Disability Services is the new name for a longtime Twin Cities area service provider.

Eagan-based Dakota Communities made the name change last month. The new name reflects changes in residential care, which allow more people with disabilities to live in the community.

Parents and volunteers in the West St. Paul area founded what was originally Dakota’s Children in 1972. The nonprofit now offers support services to

adults and children with physical and developmental disabilities. Living Well Disability Services still owns and operates 33 group homes in 19 communities. But over the years the nonprofit has expanded to offer services in a client’s home. Living Well Disability Services currently offers customized home services to about 120 people and is expected to double by 2016.

The name change includes a new logo and the slo-

gan, “Transforming Lives,” which represents the organization’s mission to deliver exceptional services that transform the lives of people impacted by disabilities.

“Changing our name to Living Well Disability Services was driven by the fact that we intend to serve more families in the future and become a resource to a People & Places - p. 7

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

Pg 7

Youth Legacy Foundation takes shape

continued from p. 6

PEOPLE & PLACES same commitment to excellence intended by our founders in 1972.”

The new name also more accurately reflects the nonprofit’s wider service area, which has grown beyond Dakota County.

“The name Living Well Disability Services builds on our rich legacy and honors what we help people do —live well,” said Julie Manworren, President and Chief Executive Officer, Living Well Disability Services. “Our board, volunteers and employees are approaching this transition with great energy as we work together to extend exceptional service to families we currently serve and those who would benefit from our unique approach.”

Innovation in service, accessibility, wellness and technology are allowing more people to live as independently as possible through customized home services. The changes and added staff should be part of addressing a current state backlog in care. The state has a moratorium on new group homes and restricts how openings are filled, so home care demand continues to increase. Home care is also typically less costly than group home care.

Living Well Disability Services has a staff of more than 600 full-time, part-time and occasional employees, including direct-care providers, occupational therapists and medical and support staff. It also has a team of about 250 volunteers. Its annual operating budget is about $19 million. ■

UCare adds two executives UCare has added two executives to its leadership team. Gregory A. Hanley is the nonprofit health plan’s new Quality Management Director in UCare’s Quality Management department. John Rotilie, M.D., is UCare’s new Associate Medical Director, a parttime position in UCare’s Clinical and Quality Management area As UCare’s Quality Management Director, Hanley oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of UCare’s member-focused clinical quality improvement processes. His team analyzes clinically oriented health plan performance reports and ensures that UCare’s clinical quality performance meets or exceeds requirements set by regulatory agencies. He provides oversight and direction for UCare’s practitioner credentialing as well as complaints, appeals, and grievance processes, and participates in the setting and accomplishment of UCare’s strategic direction as a member of the leadership team. Hanley most recently was the Regional Director of Quality Improvement at Coventry Health Care in Kansas City.

Rotilie is an internal medicine physician with Rotilie, Toman and McRaith, LLC, in St. Paul. In his part-time position with UCare, he reports to Michael Lynch, M.D., UCare’s Medical Director, and joins UCare’s team of Associate Medical Directors, Craig Christianson, M.D., and Dan Rubin, M.D. As a member of UCare’s Clinical and Quality Management team, Rotilie helps oversee the health care needs of UCare’s nearly 300,000 members. He also contributes to the development, implementation, and maintenance of UCare’s quality improvement, utilization review, and case management activities. Rotilie has close to 30 years of health care experience.

UCare is an independent, nonprofit health plan providing health care and administrative services to more than 300,000 members. UCare serves more people from diverse cultures and more people with disabilities enrolled in Medical Assistance than any other health plan in Minnesota. ■

Aaron, Bridget and Imani attended the celebration.

Photos from Youth Legacy Foundation

The Youth Legacy Foundation is celebrating its newly obtained nonprofit status. About 80 people attended an August 17 celebration and ribbon-cutting event at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis.

The Youth Legacy Foundation empowers youth with disabilities to lead exemplary lives in the community. Youth are involved in activities centered on volunteer service, Legacy, mentoring and peer mentoring.

“Youth are important to our future, so they are important to us,” said Mai Thor, Youth Legacy Foundation board chairperson. She is a well-known disability community leader and a former Access Press writer.

“For too long, society has focused on the perceived deficits of people with disabilities because of the stigma and discrimination attached to labels. This is really unfair and it inhibits people with disabilities from being all they can be for themselves and their communities. We want to break through all of these barriers to make way for youth with disabilities to not only be a part of community life, but to influence it and shape it,” said Bridget Siljander. She is the founding executive director for the foundation and has been involved in a number of disability community groups.

Organizers said the fun event energized those involved and captured a sense of community around youth with disabilities. The foundation will continue to build momentum to unify, organize and leverage community resources, networks, and programs. Another goal is to facilitate access and negotiate accommodations to promote personal and professional development and capitalizing on strengths, gifts, and abilities to give back to the community.

Elected officials and disability community leaders were among those who congratulated the foundation, with many speaking during the program. Joining the speakers were four young people who shared their disability experiences and what is important to them.

Brian Barnes, a recent Congressional candidate whose last campaign had significant youth participation, said, “Let’s look at what youth can do.”

The foundation already has a long list of accomplishments, including the formation of a youth advisory council and design of a new website. Members hosted a conference at Courage Center and gathered community input. They also presented at the Minnesota Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference, on Diversity Day, and at the Wisconsin Youth Legacy Forum 2013 annual youth retreat. The foundation has been featured on KFAI Radio and on the television show “Disability Viewpoints.” Foundation members also exhibited at the ARRM Conference. Several members spoke at a large disability rally at the capitol during the 2013 session.

One key accomplishment was participation in National Disability Mentoring Day and activities to commemorate National Disability Awareness Month and Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Youth Legacy Foundation would like more community participation as it prepares for upcoming projects and more public policy advocacy by its constituents, It included more outreach and community visibility, fundraising to expand the organization and recruitment of mentors to support youth participants with planning, goal setting, and activities. A working partnership with Wayzata Public Schools will connect students with diverse community opportunities around volunteer service, mentoring and Legacy.

Help with event planning and the creation of a public service announcement are other needs.

Anyone wanting to be involved with Youth Legacy Foundation can call 612-293-7008 or email bridgetsiljander@yahoo.com The group’s website is www.youthlegacyfoundation.org ■

Find more People & Places on page 10

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Pg 8 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

REGIONAL NEWS Security hospital faces sanctions The Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter was fined $2,000 and had its conditional licensing status extended by one year after authorities documented two cases of patient maltreatment and a number of

serious record-keeping violations related to the use of restraints and seclusion. Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Lucinda Jesson issued a statement August 28 saying that state officials are “Deeply Concerned” about the incidents.

“While these incidents are serious, we are encouraged that the Licensing Division has acknowledged that significant improvements have taken place at the facility over the past year,” Jesson said. “We are committed to achieving continued progress to-

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ward improving the care and safety of patients.”

The St. Peter hospital, Minnesota’s largest psychiatric facility with roughly 400 patients, has been roiled over the past two years with management problems, turnover in key staff positions and cases of patient maltreatment. That has led to more state scrutiny and work to correct problems.

State reports indicated that hospital staff failed to intervene in August 2012 as a patient repeatedly banged his or her head against a concrete wall over a threehour period. In a separate incident, two members of the medical staff failed to obtain timely help for a patient who exhibited unusual symptoms after an apparent seizure. The patient waited for hours for advanced medical care and was found to have suffered a stroke.

Extension of the conditional license has resulted in new and modified requirements governing the care of vulnerable adults and documentation of seclusion and restraint practices. ■ (Source: Star Tribune)

Brain injury treatment at risk Ellie Cizek, 20, sustained a head injury while skiing in January. Her family has dealt with considerable frustration over her care since then. The accident left her in a coma for days. She was in an amnesia-like state until April. Only four months into her recovery from a traumatic brain injury, her health insurer denied further care at a rehabilitation center in Omaha. She was brought home to St. Paul. So like many other families, the Cizeks must raise funds for their daughter’s care.

“Insurance is pretty mean to brain-injured patients,” Cizek’s sister, Josie, said. But it’s a common refrain for patients like Cizek and a growing concern in the United States, where the concussive force of sport injuries, car crashes and other accidents causes 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries each year, including 90,000 severe enough to cause long-term disability.

Doctors often recommend cognitive rehabilitation —a set of therapies to retrain patients’ brains and restore lost brainpower—beyond what insurance companies cover. Insurers face the dilemma of trying to hold the line on therapy costs, especially if it appears that patients have platituded in their recoveries Her family told her story to the Star Tribune to raise awareness of the dilemma Cizek and so many others face in trying to get care. She participates in group therapy at Courage Center in Golden Valley, but her parents want her to return to Quality Living Inc., in Omaha, one of the only inpatient rehab centers for traumatic brain injuries so she can receive more intensive services during this critical period of healing. But because she can walk and talk, her insurance Regional News - p. 9

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

Video provides judicial access for hearing impaired, deaf

continued from p. 8

REGIONAL NEWS carrier refused coverage. The family isn’t naming the insurance carrier. The Brain Injury Association of America believes there should be no arbitrary caps on days of cognitive rehab because treatment of patients is so individualized. ■ (Source: Star Tribune)

Confused about a court proceedings? Not clear how Courts operate? The Minnesota Judicial Branch has created a video to make sure citizens who are deaf or hard-of-hearing have equal access in the state court system. The 20-minute video called: “Going to Court: Tips for Minnesotans who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.”

It‘s meant to help those who are deaf or hard-ofhearing prepare for a court appearance, and request

Disability leads to action A former online news service editor, who has Crohn’s disease, has taken action against Patch.com The lawsuit was filed in late August in U.S. District Court.

Crohn’s is an incurable inflammatory bowel disease with symptoms that include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Mary Vandergrift, former editor of the Golden Valley Patch website, claims that five hours after her baby was delivered by Caesarian section, she was emailed and asked to work from her hospital bed. She is alleging that employer AOL and Patch failed to ac-

Pg 9

commodate her under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act and other laws.

She is also claiming that when she sought to exercise her rights her bosses would retaliate, shorting her paycheck and not providing needed technical support.

She was let go last year.

AOL and Patch have not filed a response to the lawsuit. Patch is an online news site founded in 2007 and acquired by AOL in 2009. It was formed with the aim of giving readers more local news. ■ (Source: Pioneer Press)

communication assistance if needed. It is captioned and is in American Sign Language. It was developed with input from persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The video was produced to help explain what can be confusing court rules. It is posted online at www.mncourts.gov ■ (Source: Minnesota Judicial Branch)

Pg 10 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Charlie Smith award winner - from p. 1 Nominator Clarence Schadegg noted he also wants Appleby’s former coworkers and friends honored as well. “They were effective in changing the lives of many people, for the better.”

“What a remarkable trio,” said Access Press Executive Director Tim Benjamin. “Their work has helped so many people and we are pleased to present them with the 2013 Charlie Smith Award. They have a long legacy of service to Minnesotans with disabilities.”

“I am overjoyed and elated to be receiving this award, and to share it with my friends and colleagues, especially since the three of us worked together for so many years,” Appleby said. “I feel so honored that the work we did over the years is being recognized.”

“Working with them for so many years was the pinnacle of my career,” he added. He and Bloom collaborated for more than 50 years.

He and Moldenhauer developed a strong friendship after they had met while Moldenhauer was in prison.

“He was a hard case but he was able to turn his life around and reach so many people,” Appleby said.

Appleby has been a chemical dependency treatment counselor since the 1970s and developed and led disability awareness and sociology classes and meditation groups. He began teaching at Augsburg College in the fall of 1969. He drew on his own recovery from alcohol addiction through yoga and meditation and helped many others do the same thing.

He started the Beverly White Community Project, an organization that has brought meditation and yoga to people facing challenging life conditions. Another of his projects at the University of Minnesota resulted in the Student Parent HELP Center, which helps single parents complete college degrees.

He has also been a pioneer in disability awareness at Augsburg, The classes and groups were open to all, brought much-needed positive change and awareness about disabilities to Augsburg students, faculty and staff. Classes were held at Augsburg’s campus and throughout Minnesota at facilities that including Travilla in Robbinsdale, the Beverly White Foundation, nursing homes, treatment centers and state men’s and women’s correctional facilities in Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Sandstone, St. Cloud and Shakopee.

Augsburg officials are adding their congratulations.

“As Cal, Wayne, and Vern were keenly aware, Augsburg College exists to provide quality education to individuals from diverse backgrounds and with an array of capacities,” said Ann Garvey, vice president of Student Affairs at Augsburg College. “When these men were at Augsburg, they saw that segments of our student population had unmet needs; they took action, and their influence continues to inform our work.”

“In the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and beyond, these men helped Augsburg faculty and staff build a stronger understanding of how students’ varying physical and learning abilities influence their success in our courses and learning environments. Today this attentiveness is built into our culture and our infrastructure, and that’s a tradition they started.”

Bloom led Augsburg College programs for decades, including the Continuing Education for Nontraditional Students (CENTS), Community Human Resources (CHR) and Augsburg’s College of the Third Age. He also taught sociology and social work classes for more than 25 years.

Moldenhauer had served time in prison and brought an awareness of the challenges prison inmates face.

He helped raise the funds necessary to establish a transportation program between Augsburg and Travilla. He founded the Deafness Education Advocacy Foundation (DEAF), the message relay system for deaf and hearing people. DEAF has grown considerably since it was started. Moldenhauer was also the administrator/fundraiser for the Northern Sign Theater, a theatrical program made up of people with hearing loss.

Moldenhauer also raised funds for the installation of ramps and elevators at Augsburg College for users

of wheelchairs.

The three founded a unique model of support to people with disabilities, to transport students between Augsburg and Vernon Marvin Bloom Travilla for September 3, 1934-October 20, 2012 classes. Their work influenced the creation of Metro Mobility when state planners grasped the significance of their transportation model.

Today there are robust programs for students with disabilities at Augsburg College, thanks to these three men They helped guide generations of college students and inmates through the Augsburg College education process. They not only taught off and on-campus they also helped organize Open Doors, a conference to bring faith communities together to support people released from prison.

“People with disabilities have many allies, people who step up and do their part to make our lives a little better. Certainly, there are many people doing this kind of work who haven’t been recognized,” Schadegg said.

“Cal, Wayne and Vern were but three people who walked the talk. Many programs came about because of the work done by Cal, Wayne and Vern.”

Appleby lives in St. Louis Park with his longtime partner, Laurie Savran. He also has an adult son. ■

Rail line connection - from p. 1

Everyone helped break ground Photo courtesy of Ruby McKusick

connection between the street and skyway at this location is to maintaining pedestrian access, comfort and safety throughout downtown,” said Thune. His ward includes the downtown area. “I am pleased that the Metropolitan Council understands this as well, and continued from p.7

PEOPLE & PLACES

has committed its resources to making it happen.”

“Central Station will be one of the busiest stations along the Green Line, so connecting it to the heart of downtown is critical,” said Coleman. “Thank you to the accessibility advocates who worked hard to make this connection a reality, and to the Met Council for finding the funds to construct this valuable connection on the largest infrastructure project in Minnesota.”■

New personnel at Fraser Fraser, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit serving children and adults with special needs, has announced that it has received three-year accreditation from CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). This accreditation primarily focuses on two areas, Fraser Career Planning and Employment Services and Fraser Autism Center of Excellence. Several Fraser services were also acknowledged as exemplary and deserving of national recognition.

Fraser also has two new members of its leadership team. Aric Jensen is now Director of Mental Health.

Jensen will manage, develop, and expands Fraser’s Mental Health Programs serving children with severe emotional and behavioral disturbances. He was previously employed at Portia Bell Hume Center as Program Manager for the School Based Prevention and Early Intervention Program. While there he developed and managed all aspects of the program from initial community needs assessments to developing, implementing and providing service offerings to expansion

and growth of the program. He also had ongoing evaluations of program and service outcomes and continuous community needs assessments.

Michael Nass is the new Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Fraser. He will be responsible for the overall financial, information technology, facility and revenue cycle management operations of Fraser. He serves as a key advisor to the chief executive officer and board, providing financial leadership in developing and executing long-term strategies and goals of the organization.

Nass was previously employed at HealthEast Care System serving in the capacity of Vice President/ Chief Financial Officer for the last two years, and for 28 years previously as corporate controller, assistant controller and divisional controller.

Fraser, founded in 1935, is Minnesota’s largest and longest-tenured provider of autism services. Fraser also serves children and adults with more than 60 types of mental and physical disabilities. ■

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 11

Nominees - from p. 5

Cliff Poetz

Jim Thayer

Ruth Ulvog

Joani Werner

(Photo as requested)

JUNE LACEY, LIFELONG VOLUNTEER June Lacey has volunteered countless hours of community work every week for more than 75 years.

Daughter, Joyce Lacey, calls her mother “a remarkable woman.”

June Lacey co-founded Project Bear Hugs, which provides stuffed animals to nursing homes, children’s and veterans’ hospitals, shelters and disaster scenes. “June saw a need for an outreach to give love, hope and companionship to those individuals in hospital beds, those facing hardships, those who had no one else to turn to, and who were all alone,” said Joyce Lacey.

“Since you can’t always get a real pet, the next best thing is a stuffed animal to hug, hold and tell your troubles to.”

Of Project Bear Hugs, Joyce Lacey said, “What a difference it has made!

Nurses, doctors and family members have shared hundreds of stories on how much happier, less fearful and more receptive their patients and loved ones have become. The stuffed animals give them someone to love and they know that someone loves them.”

June Lacey has been a leader with the Midwest Walk and Roll for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. She volunteers with the MS Walk, 150 Bike Ride, MS Tram, MS Root Beer Float Days, Community MS Booths, 30/60 MS Bike Ride and Challenge Walk. She served on the steering committee for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure. Her other cancerrelated volunteer work includes American Cancer Association Relay for Life, Golf for the Cure, Bike for the Cure and Shop for the Cure. She also helps with the Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. She serves meals at the Salvation Army and Union Gospel Mission, and helps with the annual Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts. She is a Salvation

Army bell ringer and knits scarves for the homeless.

June Lacey does volunteer work despite dealing with lifelong disabilities.

Severe arthritis, scoliosis, heart issues, loss of vision and a seizure disorder caused by a head injury haven’t ever slowed her down.

MARGARET PERRYMAN, GILLETTE CHILDREN’S SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE During her 25 years as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Margaret Perryman has advocated for public policies that meet the unique medical needs of persons with disabilities. She is retiring soon.

She has raised awareness of the unique medical problems faced by children and adults with disabilities, the range of health services needed to meet those needs, and the crucial importance making health services available regardless of income. Anita Schermer, Luther Granquist and Deb Holtz nominated Perryman. “Margaret Perryman deserves to receive the Charlie Smith Award because of the simple idea that she has always seen people with disabilities as people. That sounds so basic, but most professionals do not understand that,” said Holtz. She has a daughter with disabilities.

Schermer and Granquist said Perryman should be honored for her leadership in making Gillette more accessible to children and adults. “In 1986 the future of the hospital was in doubt,” they wrote. Budget deficit and staff cuts had leaders considering affiliation with another hospital. But in her job interview, Perryman told hospital leadership she didn’t want to be a mortician for the organization, but wanted to help Gillette grow and expand. She led Gillette to profitability and major facilities expansion. For Perryman and for Gillette, the bottom line was not

just a positive operating margin but also provision of needed services to meet unique needs.

Gillette has one of the nation’s largest groups of pediatric orthopedic surgeons and the region’s largest group of pediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians. It has a mobile outreach clinic, clinics around Minnesota and a partner in Chile.

Perryman recognized that when children reached adulthood they still need the specialized services provided by Gillette. In 2001 she helped establish Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare to meet needs of teenagers and adults with childhood onset disabilities Last summer Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare joined United Cerebral Palsy as an affiliate organization, the first children’s hospital to do so.

CLIFF POETZ, PIONEER SELF-ADVOCATE For more than 40 years, Cliff Poetz has been one of Minnesota’s leading champions of human rights and social

justice for people with developmental disabilities. He is a founder of the selfadvocacy movement, giving people with disabilities a voice in decisions that affect their lives.

One defining moment in Poetz’s calling as an advocate came in 1972. He spoke to the directors of what was then the Minneapolis Association of Retarded Citizens (now The Arc Greater Twin Cities). He explained the imperative for people with developmental disabilities to control their own lives, the absolute necessity for equal pay for work and the need for giving due respect as an equal. That was a real groundbreaking concept then. His requests were groundbreaking demands from someone with a developmental disability.

His nomination from The Arc Greater Twin Cities stated, “Disability rights and self-advocacy are ideas whose time would have probably come eventually but they came sooner and with greater impact because of Cliff Nominees - p. 15

Pg 12 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

UPCOMING EVENTS Advocacy Attend home visits The Arc Greater Twin Cities invites residents of Senate District 57 to discuss issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families at the home of Kelly and Mike Kausel to visit with elected officials, 6:30-8 p.m. Wed, Sept. 18, 14414 Everest Ave., Apple Valley. Elected officials invited to participate are Sen. Greg Clausen, Rep. Anna Wills, Rep. Tara Mack, Dakota County Commissioner Chris Gerlach, District 196 School Board Members Joel Albright and Art Coulson, Metropolitan Council Member Wendy Wulff, Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland, and Apple Valley City Council Members John Bergman, Tom Goodwin, Ruth Grendahl and Clint Hooppaw.

A second meeting is for residents of Senate District 37, 6:30-8 p.m. Mon, Sept. 23 at the home of hosts Sheri and Murray Radoux, 3508 127th Ave. NE, Blaine.

Elected officials invited to participate are Sen. Alice Johnson, Rep. Jerry Newton, Rep. Tim Sanders, Anoka County Commissioner Julie Braastad, Anoka-Hennepin School Board Members Marci Anderson and Jeff Simon, and Metropolitan Council Member John Doan. The visits are free and open to the public but space is limited, so preregister. FFI: 952-915-3665, denafelper@thearcgtc.org The Arc Minnesota hosts conference Mark your calendars for The Arc Minnesota’s 2013 state conference Nov. 1-2 at the Doubletree Park Place in St. Louis Park. This year’s theme is “Raising Expectations: Achieving Your Goals and Dreams.” International motivational speaker and author Jonathan Friesen will kick off the conference. The Conference Planning Committee is finalizing workshop topics, and workshop presenters, and the Awards Committee is collecting nominations for outstanding Minnesotans and Minnesota organizations to honor at the awards banquet during the conference. Join us for another great event that will benefit self-advocates, parents, direct care staff, and members of The Arc. More information coming in the weeks ahead. Questions? Contact Mike Gude at mikeg@arcmn.org or 1-800-582-5256,ext.113

Fitness, fun and fundraising Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying Join PACER Center to support bullying prevention in Minnesota communities and help raise funds for PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, 9 a.m.

Sat, Oct. 5 at Mt. Normandale Lake Park, Normandale Blvd. and 84th St., Bloomington. Do the four-mile run or 1.5 mile walk/roll. Registration is $20 for adults, $10 for ages 7-16 and free for little ones. Pledge or gather pledges. Food and entertainment provided. FFI: 952-838-9000, bullying411@PACER.org Made in the Shade The Made in the Shade walk, run and roll raises funds for several non-profit agencies serving people with disabilities at 9:30 a.m. Sat, Sept. 21 at Thomas Beach, Lake Calhoun, Mpls. Register, collect pledges, walk, run, bike or roll and enjoy post event lunch, entertainment food and receive a T-shirt. FFI: www.madeintheshade.org/ NAMI Walks this month National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota is

hosting NAMIWAlks, a 5K walk to increase public awareness of mental illnesses, fight stigma, and raise funds.

The walks are held at various locations 1 p.m. Sat, Sept.

28 including Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis and the Community & Technical College in Rochester. More than 4,000 people from around the state are expected to join.

The walk supports the efforts of NAMI Minnesota, to provide education, support and advocacy for children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. To register the day of the walk, please arrive by 11:30 a.m. or register in advance online. FFI: 651-645-2948, 1-888NAMI-HELPS, www.namihelps.org and click on the NAMIWalks logo.

Youth and families Transitions workshops set Transitions is a free workshop offered by NAMI Minnesota to help parents to assist young adult children living with a mental illness. The workshop helps parents gain tools to prepare their teen or young adult for independence, learn about special education, employment, college, transportation, life skills and housing. It includes helpful tips for living with young adults who aren’t ready to leave the nest. Registration requested. One workshop is 6-8 p.m. Mon, Sept. 16 at Roseville Public Library, 2180 N. Hamline Ave. Another is 6-8 p.m. Tue, Sept. 17 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. FFI: Andrea, 651-645-2948 ext. 106.

New PACER workshop newsletter PACER Center offers many 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.

Several are offered around the state. Check out PACER’s website and link to a new bimonthly newsletter of workshops that allows participants to pick and choose sessions catered to their needs. Advance registration required for all workshops. FFI: 952-838-9000, 800-537-2237 (toll free), www.PACER.org/workshops Family fun day and open house Join PACER’s Simon Technology Center for a free Family Fun Day & Open House and discover the latest in assistive technology (AT) with an emphasis on early childhood. The event is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat, Sept. 21 at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. Don’t miss the new mobile technology station, one of several exciting additions for 2013, along with ‘Ask an Advocate,’ and do-ityourself AT. Children can play with a parachute, tie-dye Tshirts, dress up in costume at the photo booth, get creative with adaptive art, or relax in the hang out room with various sensory objects. Registration is required. FFI: 952-8389000, (toll free) 800-537-2237 www.PACER.org.

Hope for Recovery Workshop in St. Paul NAMI Minnesota is holds a free, one-day education workshop that provides families and individuals with information on mental illnesses, practical coping strategies, and hope for recovery. It is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat, Sept. 21 at Regions Hospital, Teeter Library, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul. Registration requested. FFI: 651-645-2948.

Information and assistance 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 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

Fall forums are set The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) is gearing up for its fall town hall forum series, “Breaking Through Poverty.” The focus is on policies that impoverish members of the disability community, and what advocates and elected officials can do to create change. Share stories with elected officials, develop advocacy skills and meet representatives of MNCCD member organizations.

Sessions are 2:30-4:30 Wed, Sept. 18, Arrowwood Lodge, 6967 Lake Forest Road, Baxter; 1-3 p.m,. Wed, Sept. 25, Opportunity Partners Koch Campus, 5500 Opportunity Court, Minnetonka; 5-7 p.m. Tue, Oct. 1, Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud; 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thu, Oct. 10, Goodwill/Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave N, St. Paul; 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Wed, Oct. 16, Mary T Inc., 1555 118th Lane NW, Coon Rapids; 5-7 p.m. Mon, Oct. 21, RSI, 2900 Piedmont Ave, Duluth: 5-7 p.m. Mon Oct. 21, Blue Earth County Library, 100 E Main St, Mankato; 5-7 p.m. Tue, Oct. 22, Mains’l Services, 7000 78th Ave N, Brooklyn Park; 5-7 p.m. Tue, Oct. 22, Rustic Rock Chop House, 301 Hat Trick Ave, Eveleth; 5-7 p.m. Tue, Oct. 29, Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Rd, Eagan, and 4-6 p.m. Wed, Nov. 6, Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Avenue North, Moorhead.

Questions? Contact MNCCD at www.mnccd.org groups. Led by trained facilitators, the various groups provide help and support. FFI: 651-645-2948. A full calendar of all events is offered online.

A free 12-week educational course is offered for those who have a family member living with a mental illness?

Families can gain a greater understanding of mental illness, discuss resources, build communication skills, reduce stress and find support. Over 3,000 Minnesota families have benefited from this course. The Family-toFamily course meets weekly on Tuesdays for 12 weeks.

It starts 6:30 p.m. Tue, Sept. 10, at North Heights Lutheran Church, Roseville. Registration is required.

FFI: Stacia, 651-330-1730 or Anne, 651-653-5116.

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, 651-7881920, 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 Thursday at Goodwill-Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave. N., St. Paul. FFI: 651-645-2948.

NAMI Connection peer support group for adults are led by trained facilitators who are also in recovery lead NAMI Connection groups. A group meets at 6:30 p.m., on the fourth 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, 651-228-1645. 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 family support group meets in Oakdale on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Canvas Health, 7066 Stillwater Blvd., in the community room.

FFI: Dan, 651-341-8918. 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, 651-730-8434

Activities for adults Independent living classes offered The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living 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.

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. Field trips to destinations including the farmers’ market and area parks are also offered.

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. Please bring spending money for weekenders events. All other events are free of charge, accessible and mostly scent-free. MCIL has an online newsletter which includes event information. It is available in alternate forms. Please RSVP and give two weeks’ notice of needed accommodations for any events. FFI: Corbett Laubignat, 651-603-2028, corbettl@mcil-mn.org, Cindy, 651-603-2037, cindyl@mcil-mn.org,or www.mcil-mn.org ■

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 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. The web accessible performance listings at www.vsamn.org/calendar.html, 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.

Performances on Facebook; sign up to connect with Audio Description Across Minnesota (www.facebook. com/pages/Audio-Description-Across-Minnesota/ 202035772468). Connect with ASL Interpreted and Captioned Performances across Minnesota on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/FBcaption

The Story of Luke “The Story of Luke” focuses on a 25-year-old with autism who is adjusting to life with relatives after his grandmother —and long-time caretaker—dies. Luke resolves to make it on his own and embarks on a journey to find a job and a girlfriend. The fictional account is rooted in the real-life experiences of the film’s writer and director, Alonso Mayo. The film will be shown Thu, Oct. 3 at Paramount Theatre, 915 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud.

Arrive at 5:30 p.m. for a slice of pizza and can of pop, then stay for the movie at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Extra pizza is $2 per slice.

Tickets available at the Paramount Box Office, Independent Lifestyles, or any Disability Awareness Task Force member. The task force will be selling “Inclusion Priceless” T-shirts. FFI: 320-529-9000

DanO Golf Outing and Banquet The fifth annual DanO Golf Outing and Banquet is Mon, Sept.16 at the Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington. The fun-filled event is a celebration of life in honor of Dan Olson who died by suicide after a long struggle with severe anxiety. The organizers are committed to keeping his legacy of having fun with family and friends, while making a difference in the lives of those families dealing with mental illnesses and/or suicide.

Proceeds from the event benefit NAMI Minnesota’s suicide awareness and education efforts. FFI: Erin, 651645-2948 x104, www.danofund.org

5 % Campaign- from p. 1 representatives of a wide range of disability community organizations braced the heat and went to the state fair to make their point to elected officials. One goal is to sign up legislative supporters. Many state representatives and senators, along with Gov. Mark Dayton, were at the fair to meet constituents.

Other opportunities to meet legislators will be sought before the session begins, including home visits with advocacy groups and the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD).

MNCCD member groups voted in August to support the campaign. Other initiatives MNCCD voted to support are the Medical Assistances Income Standard and Asset Limit campaign, the establishment of a Quality Self-Directed Services Workforce Council, and the DSPMatch project.

Of these efforts, the 5 % Campaign is one of the most high profile. One focus for the campaign is that nursing home workers received a 5 percent wage increase during the 2013 session. Expansion of the plan for other care providers would cost about $70 million.

It is seen as not only providing more equitable wages and better care, it also is seen as a way of retaining existing workers and attracting new ones. The goal is to get the increase passed and in place on July 1, 2014.

Community-based services touch the lives of about 60,000 individuals. Advocates contend that the services are also an efficient tool to ease state budget woes. For example, the Elderly Waiver Program is able to serve three seniors in the community for every one individual in a nursing home with the same level of funding. However, despite the numbers served and the cost savings for the state, these programs have experienced deep cuts over the last decade.

Services include a wide range of supports designed

Mural project on display in St. Cloud and Minneapolis More than 750 Minnesotans with disabilities areas have been busy creating art this summer as part of VSA Minnesota’s Disability Mural and Story Project. The first of two exhibits is at Gallery Saint Germain, 912 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud, Oct. 4-13. A reception is 6-8 p.m. Thu, Oct. 10. Gallery hours will be announced soon.

A Minneapolis exhibit is Oct.21-30 in the first floor atrium of City Center, located between Hennepin Avenue and the Nicollet Mall between 6th and 7th Streets. A reception is 6:30-8 p.m. Wed, Oct. 23. Exhibit hours at 8 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Both exhibits are free and open to the public. Theme of the work is what art access means to individuals with disabilities and their family members. Those who participated created visual art, wrote responses or participated via video. “What does arts access mean to you?” They created visual art, or responded in writing or video, to illustrate why they do or don’t participate in the arts. The project replicates a 2011 project directed by Bridget Riversmith with the Arrowhead Alliance of Artists with Disabilities (AAAWD) in Duluth. Anyone wanting more information can contact VSA at 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883, or email disabilitymural@vsamn.org Photo courtesy of VSA

Save the date for Rise gala Rise, Inc. hosts its annual gala Thu, Oct. 10 5:308:30 p.m. at International Market Square. Network with area business leaders, families, and participants in Rise’s employment and housing programs. Enjoy great food and music. Proceeds support Rise programs, including the vans and buses that are taking people to work at hundreds of area companies. Emcee is WCCOTV’s Jason DeRusha. Be a table or event sponsor. FFI: Betsy Jaros, sponsorships, 763-792-2415; 763-786-8334 general information; www.rise.org

The Miser Rochester Repertory Theatre presents the 1950s comedy about love and long-lost family, at 103 7th St. NE, Rochester. ASL show is 8 p.m. Fri, Sept. 13. Tickets are $18-20. FFI: 507-289-1737; boxoffice@rochesterrep.org, www.rochesterrep.org

Bloomington. AD show is 7:30 p.m. Fri, Sept. 27. ASL is 7:30 p.m. Thu, Oct. 3. Tickets are reduced to to $15 for AD/ASL (regular $22, $20 senior, $17 age 25 & under).

FFI: 952-563-8575; boxoffice@btacmn.org, www.btacmn.org

Uncle Vanya Guthrie Theater’s first production of this classic show in nearly 25 years of one of the world’s great plays is a version by renowned Irish playwright Brian Friel, at the Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls. AD shows are 1 p.m. Sat, Sept. 28, and 7:30 p.m.

Fri, Oct. 11. Captioning is 1 p.m. Wed, Oct. 2, and 7:30 p.m. Fri, Oct. 25. ASL is 7:30 p.m. Fri, Oct. 18 and Thu, Oct. 24. Tickets are reduced to $20 for AD/ASL, $25 for Captioning (regular $29-71). FFI: 612-377-2224, TTY 612-377-6626, www.guthrietheater.org/visit/ access_services.

Schoolhouse

Good People

Tin Roof Theatre Company presents the regional premiere of a show set in a 1938 one-room schoolhouse, at The Stage at Island Park, 333 Fourth St. S., Fargo. AD show is 7:30 p.m. Sat, Sept. 14, pre-show description at 7:10 p.m. Tickets are reduced to $8 (regular $15, student/senior $10). FFI: 701-235-6778, www.tinrooftheatre.org or www.fmct.org

Park Square Theatre presents a show about a colorful south Boston neighborhood, its residents and class divisions, at 20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul. AD show is 2 p.m.

Sun, Sept. 29, and 7:30 p.m. Fri, Oct. 4. ASL is 2 p.m.

Sun, Sept. 29, 2:00 PM. An ASL promo video is online.

Captioning is 2 p.m. Sun, Oct. 6. Captioning by c2. Tickets include a limited number of $5 and half-price tickets for Captioned, AD & ASL performances (regular $25-58, $48 ASL area). FFI: 651-291-7005, www.parksquaretheatre.org

Proof Bloomington Theatre and Art Center presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama at Bloomington Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd,

to increase independence, including home-delivered and congregate meals, homemaker and chore services, independent living skills training, direct support in foster care homes and help with personal care.

State Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) spoke before a crowd of campaign supporters August 13 in front of Duluth City Hall to kick off the campaign. He pointed out that the median wage for caregivers for people with disabilities and the elderly has declined by about 10 percent over the past decade.

“We got a 5 percent increase for nursing homes, but we didn’t get the same for the disability community,” Huntley said. “We’re not keeping up with inflation. I’ve always believed that the disability community should be getting the same as what the nursing home community is getting. They’re doing the same job.” He conceded that the issue is one legislators should have addressed during the 2013 session.

“This campaign is critical for providers across the state,” said Jon Nelson, executive director at Duluthbased Residential Services, Inc. “I’ve see the good that our services do for the people we serve, but needs are being unmet and our hard working staff can’t continue to do so much with so little.”

Steve Larson, campaign co-chair and senior policy director for The Arc Minnesota, outlined the various services of the caregivers provider programs and said.

“All of these programs received several cuts in recent years, during tough budget times,” Larson said. “Now is the time to correct that situation. Legislators are charged with difficult budget-balancing decisions and have to pick their priorities. 2014 is now the time for their top priority to be adequately funding community support for people with disabilities and older adults,” he said. ■

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Stages Theatre Company presents the story of a youngster who looks at things very simply and loves everything, at Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins. ASL show is 1 p.m. Sat, Oct. 5, with OC 1 p.m. Sat, Oct. 12. Tickets are $15, child/student $12; discount for AD/ASL/OC: $11, child/senior 60+: $9. FFI: 952-979-1111 x4, www.stagestheatre.org ■

Pg 14 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

Radio Talking Book

September Sampling

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 Call 1-800722-0550, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The catalog is online at www.mnbtbl.org, click on the link Search the Library Catalog. Persons living outside of Minnesota may obtain copies of books via inter-library loan 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 previous week, on the Internet at www.mnssb.org/rtb Call the Talking Book Library for a password to the site. To find more information about Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network

CLASSIFIEDS Access Press Classifieds are $14 for the first 12 and 65¢ per word thereafter. They must be prepaid.

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FOR RENT Lewis Park Apartments: Barrier-free housing with wheelchair users in mind. Section 8 subsidized. Oneand 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 one-bedroom 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.

events go to the Facebook site at http://tinyurl.com/ RadioTalkBook.

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

solace is her gift, escorting mothers through the challenges of childbirth. Just beginning in her profession, she takes on the jobs no one else wants, for those most in need and least likely to pay. Read by Alletta Jervey.

Weekend Program Books

PM Report • Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

Blind Devotion, Nonfiction by Sharlene Prinsen, 2012.

12 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 26. When Sharlene married Sean, he was handsome in his camouflage fatigues. A combat veteran, he was plagued, though, with addiction, rage, and depression born from PTSD. She had to protect her children. L - Read by Sue McDonald.

Your Personal World (Saturday at 1 p.m.) is airing Weight Loss for People Who Feel Too Much, by Colette Baron-Reid; For the Younger Set (Sunday at 11 a.m.) is airing Strike Three You’re Dead, by Josh Berk, and The Opposite of Hallelujah, by Anna Jarzab; Poetic Reflections (Sunday at noon) is airing Incarnadine, by Mary Szybist, and Nostalgia, My Enemy, by Saadi Yousef; The U.S. and Us (Sunday at 4 p.m.) is airing Thirty Rooms to Hide In, by Luke Longstreet Sullivan and The Orchid Murder, by Christine Hunt.

Chautauqua • Tuesday – Saturday 4 a.m.

The Philadelphia Chromosome, Nonfiction by Jessica Wapner, 2013. 14 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 17. As a result of discoveries, a once-deadly leukemia became a highly survivable disease, setting the stage for today’s pursuit of comparable therapies against an expanding array of cancers. Read by Yelva Lynfield.

Bookworm • Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

Bella Fortuna, Fiction by Rosanna Chiofalo, 2012. 13 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 30. Valentina is marrying Michael in Venice. But when she thinks everything is falling into place, she is forced to re-examine her life to see what truly makes her happy. Read by Bonita Sindelir.

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

Going Full Circle, Nonfiction by Mike Link and Kate Crowley, 2012. 17 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 30. Husband-wife team Mike and Kate set off on a 1,555-mile, shore-hugging journey around the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Superior. The five-month epic took them through three states and Ontario. Read by Connie Jamison.

Choice Reading • Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

The Midwife of Hope River, Fiction by Patricia Harman, 2012. 13 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 16. As a midwife in West Virginia during the Depression, Patience Murphy’s

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 2012 & 2005-2011

Night Journey • Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

Hour of the Rat, Fiction by Lisa Brackmann, 2013. 11 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 25. Iraq-War vet Ellie McEnroe lives in Beijing and works as an art dealer for Chinese political artists. When the authorities want to interrogate her about a client, she takes a vacation. It’s the perfect time to look for the missing brother of a friend – but she’s not the only one looking. L - Read by Pat KovelJarboe.

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

Sacred Games, Fiction by Gary Corby, 2013. 12 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 16. In 460 B.C., Nico’s friend Timodemus is to compete in the pankration, the deadly martial art of ancient Greece. His only serious rival is Arakos from Sparta. When Arakos is found beaten to death, Timodemus is assumed to be the killer. V, S Read by John Mandeville.

Potpourri • Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

Where They Stand, Nonfiction by Robert W. Merry, 2012. 10 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 25. Robert W. Merry says there are several categories of presidents: Men of Destiny, Split-Decision Presidents, Near Greats, War Presidents, and failures. Read by Charlie Boone.

Good Night Owl • Monday – Friday midnight The Casual Vacancy, Fiction by R.K. Rowling, 2012. 19 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 19. When Barry Fairbrother dies, the town of Pagford is in shock. The empty seat left

by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has seen. L,S - Read by Eileen Barratt.

After Midnight • Tuesday – Saturday 1 a.m.

Velveteen, Fiction by Daniel Marks, 2012. 13 broadcasts. Begins Sept. 19. Velveteen is dead and has decided to haunt the man who killed her. In the City of the Dead, everyone has a job to do, and one of her coworkers is hot and completely off-limits. But Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules, or getting revenge. L - Read by Kara Greshwalk. ■ Abbreviations: V - violence, L - offensive language, S - sexual situations.

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September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 15

Nominees - from p. 11 Poetz.” He has helped shape legislation and policies that have literally changed the world for people with developmental disabilities. He has proven to leaders at all levels of government that people with disabilities have valuable contributions to make to the community.

Poetz is believed to be the first person with a developmental disability to testify at a Congressional hearing, in 1973. His many accomplishments including being a founder and former president of the self-advocacy group People First Minnesota. He was a member of the Community Advisory Council for the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration for 15 years and now works there. What makes his work so remarkable is that he has accomplished so much in light of the barriers he has faced in his lifetime.

He grew up at a time when people with developmental disabilities were separated from society. Many of his peers lived their entire lives in institutions.

Public education for people with disabilities wasn’t mandated during his childhood.

JIM THAYER, MINNESOTA SPINA BIFIDA ASSOCIATION Jim Thayer goes the extra mile for people with spina bifida and their families. He is the volunteer executive director and treasurer of the Minnesota Spina Bifida Association. He is also a member of the St. Paul Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities.

Started in 1973, the Minnesota Spina Bifida Association is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. The association’s mission is to increase awareness about spina bifida and enhance the lives of those affected.

Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs during pregnancy. The baby’s spinal column doesn’t close completely. It is the most common disabling birth defect in the United States.

Without Thayer and his fellow volunteers, Minnesotans with spina bifida and their families wouldn’t have needed resources. “Jim does so much,” said fellow board member and nominator Claudia Fuglie. “Without his efforts, many people with spina bifida would really struggle. He provides help for so many people and their families.”

Thayer has a family member with spina bifida so the association and the people it serves are very important to him, Fuglie said. One of the biggest events is the annual Run, Walk and

Roll, a fundraiser held every August.

This year’s event was at Wolfe Park in St. Louis Park. Participants collect pledges and help raise funds needed for the Minnesota Spina Bifida Association. Thayer helps to organize the event, appearing last year on KARE-11 TV to promote the event and work on the Minnesota Spina Bifida Association.

Another important event Thayer works on year-round is the pre-Christmas silent auction and holiday gathering. He and other volunteers gather a wide variety of items year-round, which are then put up for bids as a fundraiser.

Thayer works professionally in financial planning. As a volunteer he helps people with spina bifida with financial planning, trusts and wills.

Fuglie said that type of assistance is very important and is something people with disabilities might not be able to afford.

RUTH ULVOG, ANOKA AREA VOLUNTEER Tenacity, an ability to see projects through and a commitment to community are what make Maple Grove area resident Ruth Ulvog stand out as a volunteer. Ulvog’s effort to force the City of Anoka to provide more parking spaces for people with disabilities on its Main Street prompted a nomination from Kris Orluck.

“She made life more accessible and thus easier for many individuals with limited mobility,” Orluck said. “If you have mobility difficulty there was no accessible parking.”

Ulvog, Orluck and others shop at Grass Roots Co-Op, an Anoka grocery store, and other businesses. Ulvog noticed there were very few signs posted for parking for people who have disability placards in their vehicles. Ulvog worked with an Anoka parking advisory committee, the city manager, the chief of police, Anoka City Council and Minnesota State Council on Disabilities for nine months to get additional accessible parking spaces. The state council provided technical assistance and was able to help Ulvog document the problems she had found.

Ulvog and others contended that the lack of accessible parking is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Although the ramp predates current parking requirements, Ulvog contended that wasn’t a reason to not add accessible parking.

Although it was a long and some-

times frustrating effort, Ulvog prevailed and got city officials to agree to add the spaces in the ramp. “Ruth worked hard to break barriers and to assure that all people would have access to Anoka Main Street shops and parking. She brought the city ramp into compliance with state and federal law.”

Ulvog is a volunteer with AARP/ Community Action Network of Maple Grove and Mature Voices Minnesota – Northwest. The latter organization works to promote an informed and active electorate and to influence public policy through education and grassroots advocacy. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that doesn’t endorse candidates it does provide voter education and information.

awareness of PASS. Her hard work and dedication has increased the use of the Ticket program and substantially increased the knowledge of individuals, agencies and partners on Social Security’s work incentive efforts.

“For those of us with disabilities, having a job means having a life,” Wolford said. Without Werner many people would be sitting at home.

Last winter Werner was diagnosed with a neurological disorder. Her concern for her clients meant she was back at work in a few short weeks. Wolford noted “She is not afraid to live life with a disability as she knows that many of her friends, including me, do this on a daily basis.” ■

JOANI WERNER, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Joani Werner is the Area Work Incentive Coordinator for the Social Security Administration in Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She helps people with disabilities retain their jobs or find new employment.

Werner has worked for SSA for more than 28 years and is known for her passion and expertise in helping people return to work. Nominator Linda Wolford said, “Joani nearly single-handedly has created awareness about these work incentives for not only Minnesota, but also for people in Wisconsin and Michigan as her territory includes much of the Midwest.”

“Joani has the ability to look at the big picture of people going back to work,” said nominator Steve Kuntz.

“Her passion for maximizing every individual’s opportunity to regain their participation back in society by working is incredible. Her legacy and contribution to the disability community is that she gets involved.”

She participates in countless events throughout the state to encourage disabled individuals to return to work and explain the myriad of Social Security’s work incentives. She has served on many boards and maintains close ties to advocacy groups, government work incentive partners, vocational rehabilitation agencies, employment networks and tribal support entities. Werner is well-known for her work with the Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) cases and for raising

Banquet tickets - from p. 4 ing at 5:30 p.m. Mingle with friends and enjoy a cash bar. Non-alcoholic beverages are available. The sit-down dinner and award ceremony start at 7:00 pm Food choices for 2013 are vegetarian, chicken piccata or beef bourguignon. If mailing in one’s reservation without an official RSVP card, please note accordingly so the proper dinner is ordered.

The venue is fully accessible and has ample parking for people with disabilities.

Opportunities are still available for banquet sponsorships, table hosts and silent auction donations. That information is available on the newspaper website or by calling the office at 651644-2133. Sponsors help make the banquet a success and get recognition on a variety of levels. Table sponsors are also honored at the banquet and in some cases can purchase tickets for those who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Past prizes have included theater and sports tickets, gift certificates, art and more.

Access Press Office Manager Dawn Frederick handles the sponsor, silent auction and raffle. Contact Dawn at dawn@accesspress.org or at 651-6442133 to be a sponsor or to make a donation. ■

Nominees - next page

Pg 16 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8