Enjoy our parks, pp 8-9
Volume 25, Number 8
www.accesspress.org
Life in Olmstead Plan moving ahead community is rules’ focus by Access Press staff
Work on Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan continues, as the plan office’s new executive director introduced herself to the community. Darlene Zangara took time during the 24th anniversary Minnesota Americans with Disabilities Act celebration July 25 to introduce herself and outline what is happening with the plan. Zangara was hired earlier this year as director of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan Implementation Office. She and a team of leaders will implement a plan to improve the way Minnesota provides services Darlene Zangara spoke to a large crowd at the ADA Anniversary event July 25. and support to people with disPhoto by Jane McClure abilities. The event was held in St. Paul at the Minnemany community members to meet Zangara. sota Department of Human Services. AddressShe is the founder of Leveraging Your Voice, a ing the crowd in American Sign Language consulting company that worked with people with an interpreter and captioning, Zangara with disabilities. said that while much has changed in 24 years, She also has worked with Communication “we have a long way to go” to satisfy the Services for the Deaf, led the Ohio Resource promise of equal access for all. But she also Center on Deafness, and served on numerous said Minnesota is moving in the right direcboards and commissions and as adjunct faculty tion. member at several colleges and universities. “I want complete and equal access,” she To promote change and inclusion, Zangara said. “How many of you want that?” The urged all Minnesotans with disabilities to get crowd applauded loudly. involved with work on the Olmstead Plan. The Zangara told the group she is committed to plan serves as frame work as a framework to the Olmstead Plan and its implementation. She help people with disabilities choose where they said it was a “historic moment” when state live, where they work or go to school, and how agencies came together to work on the plan. they participate in community life. All states She said that for the plan to be a success and are required to have similar plans, as a result of for Minnesota to be a place where all can live, a federal court decision. learn and enjoy life, Zangara and a panel of state agency leaders The celebration was the first chance for Olmstead - p. 4
by Jane McClure
New regulations for Medicaid, Home and Community-Based Services could alter the lives of people with disabilities. That’s why it’s important for Minnesotans who receive Medicaid to weigh in on the proposed federal community setting regulations and their impacts. More than a dozen people attended a July 22 session at Lutheran Social Services in St. Paul to learn about regulations and how to comment to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) about a transition plan. “At the heart of the rule, it gets to what it means to live in an integrated community,” said Sean Burke of the Minnesota Disability Law Center. Another aspect of the rule changes is that settings considered to be institutional in nature would have to prove that they indeed provide community-based services. Proposed regulations - p. 3
New history museum
Fair's new attractions designed for access New attractions at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair, including the West End Market, are designed with accessibility in mind. Getting to the Great Minnesota Get-Together will also be easier this year, with accessible express buses and an additional Metro Mobility stop. This year’s fair starts Thursday, August 21 and ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 1. One big change visitors will notice is that the longtime Heri-
It's always fun to visit the Minnesota State Fair Photos courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
tage Square attraction is gone. In its place are a new transit center, new West End Market attractions including restaurants and shops, and a new Minnesota State Fair History and Heritage Center. The new center showcases the history and heart of the fair for all of its past decades. While visitors enjoyed Heritage Square and its shops and old-time exhibits, the area’s steep slopes were often challenging, said fair spokesperson Brienna Schutte. “What had been Heritage Square is now level with Dan Patch Avenue,” Schutte said. Heritage Square had just one ramp access point. Otherwise, visitors had to go around to the back of the exhibit to enter. The Center replaces the smaller, cramped old railroad cars that people with mobility limitations could not visit. Developed in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, the center reflects the progression of change in society’s views as has always been the intent of the state fair. Exhibits bring to life the significant events, intriguing stories and inspiring traditions that have laid the foundation for the present-day Great Minnesota Get-Together. Visiting the center is free with fair admission. “The new history displays were designed with accessibility in mind,” Schuette said. People using wheelchairs and scooters will be able to easily see what is on display. One longtime Heritage Square attraction, the Minnesota Newspaper Museum, has found a new home on the other side of the fairgrounds, in the 4-H Building. Volunteers publish a newspaper, which recently featured Access Press. A more accessible State Fair - p. 15
August 10, 2014 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities. MN Permit No. 4766 Address Service Requested
“We are firmly committed to making Minnesota an inclusive, integrated state.” — Yvonne Prettner Solon, Minnesota’s Lt. Governor
NEWS DIGEST
VSA grants will provide a range of options for arts groups. Page 7 Don’t miss out! It’s your last chance to make a nomination for the Access Press Charlie Smith Award. Page 3 Learn about changes to the Minnesota STAR Program website. Page 5 Southern Minnesota dental clinic finds new home. Page 7 Changes are coming to movie theaters. Page 12
INSIDE Accessible Fun, pg 10 Events, pg 11 People & Places, pps 7 & 15 Radio Talking Book, pg 14 Regional News, pps 6 & 13
Pg 2 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
EDITOR’S DESK
Tim Benjamin Summer is more than half over, which means it’s time to look ahead to the Great Minnesota Get-Together, the State Fair. But before we start thinking about fall, let’s keep enjoying this beautiful summer we’ve had lately. All that June rain was followed by a mild and sometimes cool July. I’m not complaining. The State Fair has some new attractions this year. Heritage Square has changed completely. Well, it actually no longer exists; a new exhibit and restaurants will take its place. Scooter and wheelchair rentals can be reserved, 24 hours prior to your visit. Metro Transit and Metro Mobility are offering many new accessible rides to the grounds from many more of the park-and-ride sites. Find out more at http:// tinyurl.com/mn-state-fair-park The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has also increased accessibility features at many of the state parks, giving all of us new opportunities to take better advantage of the outdoors. We’ve got a few months before the snow flies, so why not plan a visit to the parks to bird-watch, to hunt and fish, to see the fall colors and enjoy many other activities that have not been accessible to us previously.
The Olmstead Planning Committee has finished its search for a new executive director, and, as many of you know, Darlene Zangara has been chosen. She introduced herself at the recent 24th anniversary event for the ADA, and it seems like the committee made a good choice. I look forward to meeting her and getting a one-on-one interview for Access Press. We need a strong leader to achieve the goals set out in the plan, which is to create access for all individuals with disabilities to living, learning, working and enjoying life in the most integrated setting in Minnesota communities. The Olmstead Plan will be an ever-evolving document, continually refined to best suit the needs of the disability community. The document itself needs to address truly broad topic areas: competitive and meaningful employment, safe housing, reliable transportation, K-12 and higher education, access to lifelong learning, and most importantly, social services that support the personal care needs of people with disabilities to ensure access to all these life activities. This is one reason that we all must contact the planning committee to share our thoughts about what is working and what is not working. There is wording in the plan requiring the committee to look at modifications to the document on a six-month cycle. In order to make positive modifications to the plan, the committee will need to target clear and measurable outcomes that determine how the plan is working for all Minnesotans. Public comments can be sent to opc.public@state.mn.us
On August 1, the Star Tribune ran a lengthy story on the raise of minimum wage, from $6.15 to $8, in Minnesota. The article featured a story about Jacquita Berens, who will earn around $53 more a week for her 70-hour workweek. Berens holds three jobs, one of them as a personal care assistant. Berens stated that this increase in income will come in very handy. Indeed. Recently, we celebrated a 5% increase in our PCA reimbursement rate, which was a fantastic accomplishment of wwhich e should be very proud. We also all know that our personal care attendants are still not making ends meet in many cases. There’s something wrong when our personal care assistants are often eligible for many of the same social services for which their clients are eligible. The real kicker about that front-page article in the Star Tribune was pointed out in letters to the editor the next day. A former corporate chief operations officer wrote to point out that just opposite the minimum wage article was another article about Target Corporation hiring its new chief executive officer, Brian Cornell, who will be making about $100,000 per day, or $36 million per year. It’s hard to grasp what job responsibilities could be worth that kind of salary. And what kind of responsibilities are worth a $53 per week increase? One of these earners is taking care of our most vulnerable Minnesota citizens while the other is responsible for millions of dollars in stock returns to Target Corporation investors who are also most likely millionaires or billionaires. I wonder which PCA will get the grand job of taking care of Cornell’s aging parents? Have a great month and don’t forget nominations are due for the Charlie Smith Award banquet. ■
HISTORY NOTE
Exploitation was an unfortunate fair tradition by Jane McClure
Going to a county or state fair can be a highlight of the summer. It’s fun to see the exhibits and animals, try new foods, take a ride or play a game of skill. But one dubious part of the history of many fairs, including the Minnesota State Fair, is that of the sideshow. The Disability Social History project, a website devoted to preservation of historic issues, notes that: “For one hundred years (1840 - 1940) the sideshow was one of America’s most popular forms of entertainment. Today the same shows would be considered unacceptable and cruel, or as one disability rights activist put it, ‘the pornography of disability.’ One of the best-know stories of a person exploited in this way was John Merrick, the so-called “Elephant man” in 19th century England. It was at this time that P.T. Barnum brought the concept of such shows to the United States, as part of his circus. While Barnum touted his productions as the “Greatest Show on Earth,” the notion of what he promoted as entertainment would appall us today. Author Robert Bogdan in his book “Freak Show” stated that, “How we view people who are different has less to do with what they are physiologically than with who we are culturally. ‘Freak’ is a way of thinking, of present-
ing, a set of practices, an institution - not a characteristic of an individual.” One particularly cruel aspect of history was that children with disabilities who were born into slavery were often sold to shows and separated from their families. An example of this is Millie and Christina, conjoined twins born into slavery in 1852. They were sold for $30,000 and after years of abuse and exploitation, gained freedom after the Civil War. Of their own choosing, they took control of their earnings and made a good income through sideshows and public appearances. One group of people who came to the Minnesota State Fair in the 1930s was the Singer Midgets, a term we would not use today because of its derogatory meaning. These little people made up a troupe of performers who portrayed the Munchkins in MGM’s 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz.” They were organized by Leo Singer, a Viennese showman. Members sang, danced, wrestled and did acrobatic stunts. History of the 1939 movie indicates that many members of the troupe were Bavarian and didn’t speak English. The troupe grew in response to the needs of the movie, with about 125 members hired from around the country. The performers were paid $50 per week
Volume 25, Number 08 • Periodicals Imprint: Pending ISSN Advertising Sales Business Manager/Webmaster Michelle Hegarty Dawn Frederick 612-807-1078 Co-Founder/Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Cartoonist Co-Founder/Publisher Wm. A. Smith, Jr. (1990-1996) Charles F. Smith (1990-2001)
Executive Director Tim Benjamin
Scott Adams
Board of Directors Production Brigid Alseth, Steve Anderson, John Clark, Ellen Houghton with Presentation Images Managing Editor Kristin Jorenby, Elin Ohlsson, Halle O'Falvey, Jane McClure Distribution Carrie Salberg, Cheryl Vander Linden, Walt S. C. Distribution Seibert and Kay Willshire 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 and advertising do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/publisher of Access Press. Paid advertising is available at rates ranging from $12 to $28 per column inch, depending on size and frequency of run. Classified ads are $14, plus 65 cents per word over 12 words. News, display advertising and classified advertising deadline is routinely the 25th of the month. When the 25th falls on a weekend, deadline is the next Monday. Access Press is a monthly tabloid newspaper published for persons with disabilities by Access Press, Ltd. Circulation is 11,000, distributed the 10th of each month through more than 200 locations statewide. Approximately 450 copies are mailed directly to individuals, including political, business, institutional and civic leaders. Subscriptions are available for $30/yr. Low-income, student and bulk subscriptions are available at discounted rates. Application to mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at the St. Paul, MN 55121 facility. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Access Press at 161 St. Anthony Ave, Suite 901, St. Paul, MN 55103. Inquiries and address changes should be directed to: Access Press; care of The Kelly Inn Offices; 161 St. Anthony Ave; #910; St. Paul, MN 55103; 651-644-2133; Fax: 651-644-2136; email: access@accesspress.org www.accesspress.org
plus expenses during the preliminary costume and makeup tests, and $100 per week through the rehearsal and filming of the Munchkin scenes. Payment came through Singer and there were claims of pay being withheld. But in other histories performer spoke highly of Singer. The group disbanded in Sideshow visitors gawked at the 1940s and mempeople deemed "different." From s-tremain.blogspot.com bers returned to their homes. Learn more at www.disabilityhistory.org/exhibits.html ■ The History Note is a monthly column sponsored by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, www.mnddc.org or www. mncdd.org and www.partnersinpolicymaking.com
August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
Pg 3
Deadline approaching for award nominations by Access Press staff
The deadline to submit nominations for the 2014 Charlie Smith Award is Friday, August 15. The board and staff at Access Press, Minnesota’s disability community newspaper, await your nominations. It is hoped that there will be the usual strong field of candidates to choose from. The Charlie Smith Award is named in honor of the late Charlie Smith, founding editor of Access Press. He was a well-known Minnesota disability rights advocate. With the support of his family, Smith founded the newspaper in 1990. He died in 2001. The award is given to an individual or group, in recognition of outstanding service to Minnesota’s disability community. The nominee and finalists are honored in the September issue of Access Press. The winner is celebrated at the annual award banquet, which is Friday, Nov. 7. Pictures and information about all nominees will be displayed at the banquet. That event includes a delicious meal, a silent auction and raffle, speeches and social time at the Minneapolis Airport Marriot 2020 E. American Blvd., Bloomington. Interpretation is offered for guests. The venue offers ample parking and plenty of space for banquet guests to enjoy themselves. Nominees can be from anywhere in Minnesota. Nominations and questions about the nominations can be sent via email to CSAnominations@accesspress.org via fax to 651-644-2136, or mail to Access Press, c/o Charlie Award Committee, 161 St. Anthony Ave. #910;
St. Paul, MN 55103. If possible, send the newspaper office either a jpeg photo or an actual picture of the nominee, or be prepared to tell the editors where a picture can be obtained. The nomination form is on the Access Press website, at www.accesspress.org and can be downloaded in .pdf and .docx formats. Anyone who needs accommodations to fill out the form or needs the form in another format can call the newspaper office at 651-644-2133. Reservations can now be made for the Nov. 7 banquet, which starts at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m. Cost is $45 per person for early registration, $50 per person at the door or $325 for an eight-person table. The table rate represents a savings of $35. Registration can be made online, at www.accesspress.org Look for the Charlie Awards tab at the top left corner of the home page. Groups that purchase tables can have a sign posted denoting themselves as table hosts. Checks with the name and number of guests can be mailed to Access Press, Attn: Dawn, 161 St. Anthony Ave. #910, St. Paul, MN 55103. Please make checks payable to Access Press and note “banquet” in the notation line. Credit card transactions can be made over the phone by calling the office at 651-644-2133 and speaking with Dawn Frederick, the newspaper’s business manager.
Access Press is also seeking banquet sponsors and donors for the very popular silent auction and raffle. All types of prizes are needed. Information is available by calling the office or visiting the newspaper’s website. ■
Proposed regulations - from p. 1 After five years’ of work, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this spring released proposed rules on community-based services to the states. The proposed rules, when finalized, will define the settings in which it is permissible for states to pay for community-based services. The purpose is to ensure that individuals receive services in settings that are integrated in and support full access to the greater community. Opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive and integrated settings, engage in community life, control personal resources, and receive services in the community, to the same degree as individuals who do not receive services, are among the characteristics of everyday life service covered by the rules. Burke said that like many federal regulations, the rules can be interpreted fairly broadly. Minnesota and other states will prepare their own plans to comply with and transition into following the new regulations. The Minnesota state plan for the transition is to be released in late August, with the transition to be made by year’s end. “Minnesota is in a good position as compared to other states but we can do better,” Burke said. That is why public input is vital. The CMS changes are part of a process that began in the 1970s, as Minnesota and other states began to move away from housing people with disabilities in large institutions. CMS created the HCBS in the early 1980s. The response took different forms in different
state, said Burke. In Minnesota it began with four-person foster care or group homes as an alternative to institutional settings. Passage of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 then set the stage for the Olmstead U.S. Supreme Court decision nine years later. That case centered on the rights of people with disabilities to live in the community. In Minnesota, the court case that raised the issue of the need for community-based setting was Wilkins versus Likins, which began in 1972 and ended with a U.S. District Court ruling in 1974. In that case six residents of Minnesota state hospitals filed a lawsuit alleging that their rights had been violated. The court ruled in their favor, opening up more communitybased living options. Despite decades of legal challenges, problems remain. One issue is that some programs funded through HCBS appear to be more institutional in nature than they should be, Burke said. An example is in New York State, where places with as many as 200 residents considered themselves to be “group homes.” Those settings were challenged as not being true community settings. The federal Department of Justice became involved, which forced CMS to work on new rules. Any place defined as a community setting must have several characteristics, Burke said. The setting must be integrated in and support full access to the greater community, including opportunities to seek
employment and work in integrated settings, engage in community life, control personal resources … and receive services in the community. The setting is selected by the individual from among setting options including non-disability specific settings and an option for a private unit in a residential setting. Setting options are identified and documented in a person-centered service plan and are based on the individual. In residential settings, resources available for room and board are also considered. The setting ensures the individual’s right of privacy, dignity and respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint. It also optimizes but doesn’t regiment individual initiative, autonomy and independent in making life choices. These include but are not limited to daily activities, physical environment, and with whom a person interacts. Another consideration is that a setting must facilitate an individual’s choice for services and supports, and who provides them. In provider-owned or controlled residential settings, additional conditions have to be met, said Burke. Those conditions range from the need for physical accessibility of a facility to the privacy and lifestyle choices of the individual served. Choices can include whom one’s roommates are, privacy in a room and how a room is furnished and decorated. More information can be found http://tinyurl.com/ Medicare-hcbs ■
Charlie Smith's picture is displayed with the award given in his name. File photo
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Pg 4 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7 Olmstead - from p. 1 have been working to gather comments on the Minnesota plan draft. A number of changes have been made. Proposed plan modifications were submitted the court on July 10. The modifications as well as a June 20 subcabinet report to the court are posted online, as are other plan updates, meeting minutes and other documents. Information has been added recently on how to request an audio version of the November 1, 2013 Minnesota Olmstead Plan. To link to documents and other information, go to http://tinyurl.com/n2b49pq The latest set of plan modifications brought forward in July fill three pages. They include comments held during listening sessions. (The last of which was to be held as Access Press went to press.) Other changes are technical in nature and include needed definitions and background information. Modifications cover lifelong learning and education, transportation, supports and services, healthcare and healthy living, community engagement, employment and housing. One section was added to provide more information on person-centered planning. That has been a concern for many advocates, who believe more must be done at the county and state levels to promote person-centered planning rather than institutionalization. Throughout the latest modifications are calls for more attention to issues facing people leaving correctional institutions and how to address the challenges they face in finding housing, work, and supports and services. Another issue getting scrutiny is use of restraints, especially use of prone restraints in schools.
Tony Wentersdorf and Mary Parker entertained the crowd at the July 25 ADA celebration. Photo by Jane McClure
Olmstead office seeks input on a new office name Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan office is up and running but it lacks a unique name. Officials working on implementing the plan would like a public name for the office. Its secondary title would continue to be Olmstead Implementation Office. During preparation of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan, the Olmstead Sub-Cabinet was keenly aware of the need for an office to assure that the commitments of the plan, the ‘Promise of Olmstead’ and equal access, would become reality. The purpose of the Olmstead Implementation Office is to assure that the plan, in its entirety, is implemented. This is the responsibility of the Olmstead Sub-Cabinet, which is made up of leaders from state agencies.
The office staff works on behalf of the sub-cabinet to make sure that the vision, goals and time-specific tasks are achieved. The broad scope and dimensions of the plan necessitates a community effort with the sub-cabinet agencies. A name would better brand and identify the office, which is currently located in downtown St. Paul. A possible name could be CHOICE, Minnesota’s Olmstead Implementation Office. Office staff and sub-cabinet members are eager to hear the public’s suggestions. The deadline to submit suggestions is Oct. 1. Contact Kristin Jorenby at 651-259-7356 or kristin.jorenby@state.mn.us ■
Other focuses include more use of assistive technology and plans to expand technology use, establishing a baseline to measure housing stability, and looking at measures to improvement the patient experience of care. Another action item in the proposed modifications is to start collecting stories to determine whether the Olmstead Plan is improving peoples’ lives. All states are required to have Olmstead plans, but progress has been mixed. Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan work was pushed into gear almost three years ago, by the settlement of a federal court case against Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO). Families with loved ones there claimed mistreatment by facility staff. The settlement of Jensen versus METO brought the need for an Olmstead Plan into prominence. Gov. Mark Dayton called for work on the plan to begin as quickly as possible. But Minnesota’s plan efforts have been criticized for not moving quickly enough and for missing deadlines for action. That has concerned the U.S. District Court and disability rights advocates who are monitoring the plan. U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank has scolded state officials in his rulings, noting the slow pace of change. A Star Tribune article recently noted that county social workers across the state have yet to be trained on how to provide individual support for disabled people moving out of institutions and into their own communities, as required by the settlement. Federal court officials are concerned that there isn’t broad understanding of the court settlement and its mandates. The article also cited a second case noted by the court monitor. A 24-year-old man who moved to a group home for people with disabilities found that the staff kept his shoes locked in a closet along with those of other residents. The man had to ask when he
wanted to wear his shoes. Many other aspects of the man’s life, including snack times, family visits and use of plastic utensils, also were restricted by group home staff. For some people with disabilities, the monitor wrote, such services “are more life-wasting than life-fulfilling.” The court monitor has also worked with outside consultants to track and review what happened to six people released from a state facility for people with developmental disabilities. The monitor learned that county case managers and community service providers had little to no knowledge of the settlement’s requirements and the focus on person-centered planning. The settlement was reached in December 2011. The draft Olmstead Plan was released last year. State officials have been working to comply with the settlement, including reducing use of physical restraints and moving toward person-centered care in communities. More than 6,000 state employees have been trained in person-centered planning and other elements of the settlement, and efforts are underway to train county workers. More changes are coming. “We’ve undertaken a lot of major changes in a very short period of time,” Gregory Gray, chief compliance officer for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, told the Star Tribune. “It’s been a complete paradigm shift in how we handle individuals with disabilities.” Gray said the department had to “get our own shop in order” by training state employees before extending the training to the county level, which could take more than a year. “It’s an ambitious effort, and a lot of it depends on buy-in from the counties,” he said. Statewide surveys to measure quality of life for people with disabilities will continue over the next several months. ■
—————— In Memoriam ————— Peterson was a strong advocate Donations to our fundraiser not only help Access Press, they provide visibility for your organization or group. We’re looking for art, gift items, jewelry, gift cards, certificates and more. Please contact Dawn at (651)644-2133 or by email at dawn@accesspress.org if interested in donating an item.
Richard John Peterson, 49, passed away July 28, 2014 at Conemaugh Hospital in Johnston, PA. He was a former employee of the Minnesota STAR Program, as well as a volunteer. He was known for his enthusiasm for assistive technology. Peterson was born May 10, 1965 in Chisholm. He held graduate degrees in electrical engineering, speech science and communication disorders. After spending much of his life in Minnesota he came to Johnstown to use his skills as an assistive technology Buyers and sellers alike want someone with my expertise and contacts to search and list homes with accessibility.
specialist at Hiram G. Andrews. He loved to work, with the nurturing staff, the positive surroundings and the great students of varied interests and skills. He loved to dance and found challenge, support and fun in ballroom dancing and folk dancing. He loved to sing and enjoyed being part Richard John Peterson of the Johnstown Community Chorus and the Grove Avenue United Methodist Church Choir. He always enjoyed fishing, especially with his father. Many people described Peterson as a “gentle giant.” He is survived by his fiancée Mary Muss and her mother, Florence Muss of Johnstown, parents Pat and Dick Peterson of St. Paul, and sister Corinne Peterson and John Moore of Evanston, IL. He is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins and their families, and many friends. Services were held August 3 at the Grove Avenue Methodist Church. ■
August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
State unveils new accessible website
Assistive Technology Assistive technology can help people with disabilities achieve their goals for education or employment. Funding for technology is available. Knowing how to find that technology and funding is easier than ever thanks to the new Minnesota System of Technology to Achieve Results or STAR Program website, at http://tinyurl.com/q4dkg3o The website has lots of useful information; it includes captioned videos featuring Minnesotans with disabilities discussing their experiences, and step-bystep, easy to follow guides to information. It also includes activities to help users practice what is learned and to find the right assistive technology item to meet specific needs. Assistive technology is a broad term that includes a wide range of devices. The STAR website is designed to teach users about assistive technology and how it can help them, a family member, coworker, or a friend live a more fulfilling life. The site was developed after program staff determined that there were only a few free and accessible learning tools specifically designed for adults with disabilities that addressed assistive technology for employment and post-secondary settings. The site provides an introduction to assistive technology, as well as topics essential to becoming a savvy user of such technology. The site can help consumers select the right piece of technology for a specific task when there are many tools available. The site has videos which introduce viewers to Minnesotans who use assistive technology. The persons interviewed explain how they have used and benefitted from assistive technology. Ken Rodgers works at the Minnesota Department of Transportation. At his job Rodgers uses several pieces of assistive technology throughout his day. In one video Rodgers explains why he chooses to use a Perkins Brailler to take notes for himself in preparation for a meeting. Another person featured in videos is Autumn Paulson, a student at Normandale College. In one video she describes various programs including Partners in Policy Making, which have helped her develop advocacy skills and achieve her goals. In others, she explains how assistive technology has enabled her to participate in class with other students, and complete homework assignments. As website users go through the videos and training, they have opportunities to complete assignments that practice the skills outlined on the site. Users also learn about contacts and resources that will address their specific needs. Feedback from individuals with disabilities as well as information from service providers, educators, employers, and others was compiled to produce the information shared on this website. State officials see the site and its training tools as a one-stop shop for assistive technology, with information about the process of obtaining needed tools as well as information about technology loan programs, support for those in college or seeking employment, how to connect with other users of assistive technology, information for those who are new to using assistive technology and more. The website was funded by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education through the Federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. For more information, please contact the Minnesota STAR Program by calling 651-201-2640, or email star.program@state.mn.us â–
Find more Assistive Technology information on pages 8 and 9
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Pg 6 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
‘Disability Viewpoints’ weighing options
REGIONAL NEWS
Unionization efforts continuing
Home health care workers in Minnesota are moving ahead with a union election, despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a last-minute lawsuit. Nine home health care workers filed suit to block the union vote, which began August 1. Workers are organizing with the help of the Service Employees International Union. The nine workers trying to block the union filed the lawsuit July 28 against the union and the state of Minnesota. They have backing from the National Right to Work Foundation. About 26,000 personal care attendants from around the state are affected by the union vote. Union supporters contend representation is needed to fight for better wages, benefits and working conditions. Union foes argue that they don’t need a union negotiating with the state for wages on their behalf. Some argue that a union could do more harm than good. All of this plays out against a backdrop of national activity. Earlier this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that similar workers in Illinois don’t have to pay any union dues. The 2013 Minnesota Legislature passed a bill that allows a unionization vote by workers who provide care to elderly and disabled people in their homes. More than 9,000 cards delivered to the state Bureau of Mediation Services recently exceeded the 30 percent required to trigger an election. Minnesota’s union leaders have said people who don’t want to pay dues wouldn’t have to, if the unionization vote wins approval. ■ (Source: Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio)
Therapy dog program seeks awareness An incident this summer in Brainerd is raising awareness about therapy dogs. Paul Junker of Brainerd was turned away from a restaurant because of questions about his dog. The dog came to Junker through the Patriot Assistance Dog program, which is in Detroit Lakes. Program staff members note that there is need to raise awareness about service or assistance dogs and how they help military veterans. There is also a need to educate the public about what kinds of questions can and cannot be asked about service dogs. For many veterans dogs help ease anxiety issues. Dogs can pull someone out of a public place if conditions create stress. Dogs can also assist during incidents of night terrors. Patriot Assistance Dogs trainer Dennis Junker told Forum News Services that the Brainerd incident is providing a teaching opportunity. He said that because dogs aren’t required to wear vests or scarves, members of the public may question why a therapy dog is needed. Junker said he has had to help several veterans who have been denied access to restaurants, hotels, and stores. One veteran and his dog were denied access to a post office. ■ (Source: Forum News Services)
The future home for the award-winning public access television program “Disability Viewpoints” continues to be in question. For months the North Suburban Cable Commission and Comcast have been debated public access fees paid by cable TV subscribers. The cable commission and its production entity, CTV, contend that cuts would make it impossible to provide the level of community access programming currently provided. CTV could sustain substantial production cuts if the changes in public access fees are approved. Cities that are part of the cable commission are debating the fees. The Shoreview City Council is to vote August 18 as to whether or not to continue to be part of the
commission. Having cities leave the commission impacts the ability to provide programming. “Disability Viewpoints” could work with CTV to find sponsors to help cover costs of the show. The program could also move from its longtime home at CTV and be produced at another studio. That too would require fundraising. Earlier this summer the 10 cities that make up the North Suburban Communications Commission voted to preliminarily reject the formal proposal offered by Comcast. The two sides are meeting informally but the issue could wind up before an administrative law judge. ■ (Source: Access Press staff)
New app could guide pedestrians Walking through construction zones is challenging for Nicole Plan, a recent University of Minnesota graduate who’s visually impaired. When Plan attended school, crossing campus was sometimes confusing, she said, because sidewalks often closed for construction of the Green Line light rail. University of Minnesota researchers and students are developing a smartphone application to help people who are blind and visually impaired navigate Minneapolis streets safely. The project began in 2010 and is nearly complete, but there are a few steps left until the app could be used at intersections throughout the city, said Chen-Fu Liao, a senior assistance engineer at the
Facility cited for resident’s death A resident of a south Minneapolis assisted-living facility suffered a seizure and later died after going for 10 days without a key medication. That was a conclusion of a state investigation that cited Accessible Space’s staff for failing to restock the prescription. The March 6 death is being blamed for failing “to adequately supervise staff to ensure medications were available,” according to a summary of the Health Department report. The resident took phenobarbital to control seizures and had used the medication for several years before missing his twice-a-day dosage 19 times over a 10-day period. He last took the drug on Feb. 23, the report said. On March 5, he “had a seizure that lasted for 15 minutes” and died the next day in a hospital, the report continued. The resident’s death was caused by respiratory failure. The resident also had multiple sclerosis. He needed assistance with medication because of cognitive difficulties. Kristy Schutt, director of program services for Accessible Space, said the findings will not be appealed, noting that some staff members have been disciplined and “all the remaining staff properly retrained.” The resident had lived in the facility for many years. Investigators found he also missed three days of phenobarbital in December and a drug for a urinary tract infection for all of January. Three licensing orders were issued for the March incident. A follow-up in April found that Accessible Space had made the necessary corrections. ■ (Source: Star Tribune)
University’s Minnesota Traffic Observatory. To complete the project, the research group still needs to obtain traffic signal information from Minneapolis city officials. The app would provide users with an intersection’s description as they approach and allows them to request walk signals—all from their smartphones. Another feature of the app will alert users as they near construction zones and instruct them on how to avoid the obstacle. University students have contributed to the app throughout its development process. The Disabled Student Cultural Center provided input on the project. Once it’s completed, the goal is to offer the app to users free of charge. ■ (Source: Minnesota Daily)
Access to meeting draws complaint A Sartell woman has filed a complaint, after an incident in which she was denied access to a meeting at the St. Cloud Public Library. Kim Pettman wasn’t allowed to attend a Minnesota Council on Nonprofits meeting because there wasn’t accessible seating. Pettman has a chronic disorder called lipoedema. The disorder causes fatty tissue to accumulate and can cause pain and bruising. Pettman contends that library staff misunderstands the Americans with Disabilities Act and that public seating should be made available for all. At least one of the library meeting rooms has seating that would work for Pettman, but the meeting she wanted to attend was in a different room. “I do public policy awareness about the Americans with Disabilities Act. I have a disability, and in my struggles in trying to get access to this community, that is how I kind of got involved in this,” Pettman told the St. Cloud Daily Times. “Most people when they see a fat person, they think it’s their fault ... but this is not caused by overeating; it’s caused by stem cells that have gone rogue,” said Pettman, who uses a walker. Library staff isn’t comment because of the complaint and ongoing investigation. ■ (Source: St. Cloud Daily Times) Regional News - p. 13
BDC Management Co. is now accepting applications for our waiting lists at the following affordable communities Albright Townhomes Buffalo Court Apartments Elliot Park Apartments Evergreen Apartments Franklin Lane Apartments Hanover Townhomes Lincoln Place Apartments Olson Towne Homes Prairie Meadows Talmage Green Trinity Apartments Unity Place Vadnais Highlands Willow Apartments Woodland Court Apartments
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August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
PEOPLE & PLACES
Accessibility grants given to arts groups
Upstream Arts will fund classes with its grant. Photo courtesy of David Luke
Eleven Twin Cities arts organizations were awarded grants for projects to make their arts programs more accessible to people with disabilities. The grants were announced last month by the arts group VSA Minnesota, which administers the grant program for the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Access Improvement Grants for Metro Arts Organizations are funded through the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The purpose is to enable nonprofit arts organizations in the seven-county Twin Cities area to improve programs, projects, equipment or facilities in ways that have the potential for significant or longterm impact to involve more people with disabilities as participants or patrons in arts programs. Lee Carlson Center - Bridgeview, Fridley, received $15,000. Bridgeview is a drop-in center for more than 500 adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. A previous grant funded its current space. But since that move then center’s member base of participants with artistic talents has outgrown the studio space. The grant will allow enhancements to the studio/gallery space and add technology for design and reproduction of art. Park Square Theatre, St. Paul, will use $15,000 to expand Open Captioning services for 2014-15 from one performance per production to two to four performances per production. This will provide for an expanded season of 19 projects on two stages. The longterm impact of this project includes building audiences for the accessible performances and training workers to operate Caption View software to allow the programming to continue. The History Theatre of St. Paul received $15,000. The theater will produce two videos to introduce patrons to its accessibility services. It will also contract with an experienced consultant to help evaluate its current access plan and facilitate a planning process to establish new access improvement goals and priorities for the next three years. Funds will also be used to purchase larger ads in mainstream media to highlight access services available for productions and microphones to be used at post-show discussions, ensuring all audience members can hear the conversation. Upstream Arts, Minneapolis, was granted $15,000 to support a series of specialized trainings and cur-
R. Lais is a participant in People Incorporated’s annual Artability initiative. Photo courtesy of People, Inc.
riculum development. The sessions will be led by experts from the disability and arts communities. These sessions will increase both its organizational capacity and the capacity of its teaching artists. Most importantly, to provide accessible instruction in the arts to individuals of all abilities that draws on emerging trends and best practices within Special Education. Pillsbury House Theatre, Minneapolis, won a grant for $15,000 to increase participation among artists experiencing disabilities. This will be done by working with a growing corps of community-engaged artists who are designing and implementing creative place-making projects that unleash the creativity of underserved communities. Project activities will include commissioning two projects by artists representing disability communities and increasing ongoing capacity to engage artists experiencing disabilities. Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, was awarded $15,000 for Cedar POPS (Privately-Owned Public Space), a project to redesign and reconstruct its outdoor property into a fully accessible public gathering space that will be used for arts events and music performance. The project will dovetail with the City of Minneapolis’ urban-renewal project to make navigation through the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood possible for people with disabilities with sidewalk and street improvements. Minnesota Fringe Festival, Minneapolis, received $12,140. The festival proposes a three-year plan to incorporate accessibility training into its current producer workshops in order to make ASL and AD a more vital part of artists’ production process. By offering workshops on the importance of accessibility, how to communicate with patrons with disabilities and how to work with ASL interpreters and audio describers, festival organizers will develop producers who consider accessibility a core component of the production process. People Incorporated, St. Paul, received an award for $7,400 for its Artability project. Artability provides adults with mental illness with free workshops,
State agencies win honors The Humphrey School of Public Affairs has announced winners of its State Innovation Awards, to celebrate the creative work and projects of Minnesota state government. The awards, organized in partnership with the Bush Foundation, recognize 10 state projects for how they deliver better government services to Minnesotans. The winners were honored August 7 at the Minnesota History Center. Two of the awards are for innovations that help people with disabilities. “Whether it is health care, education, judicial, or social services, state government delivers a broad array of services to Minnesotans and these awards recognize those projects that are doing things significantly better,” said Jay Kiedrowski, senior fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. “Minnesotans should realize that it’s not business as usual in state government; these award winners have done an
exemplary job integrating innovative ideas and problem-solving techniques into their operations and we want to spread the word about their good work.” A panel of judges considered 36 submissions for their creativity, sustainability, and collaboration. The awards were inspired by the Local Government Innovation Awards, which recognize schools, cities, and county government entities for their programs. One award winner is Telling Your Story: An App for Public Policymaking, from the Department of Administration, Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. Another award was given to the Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology. The Minnesota e-Health Initiative was honored for its public-private collaborative to advance the use of electronic health records. Since its inception in 2004, 93% of clinics and 99% of hospitals have adopted electronic health records. ■
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led by experienced artists. Participants expand their artistic techniques and create art in multiple media. Another focus of this grant is arts learning opportunities for individuals with mental illness who are deaf or hard of hearing, by using funding to hire ASL Interpreters for 37 workshops in 2014. Young Dance, Minneapolis, will use $4,745 to create and perform “Wild Swans.” This performance features an integrated cast of dancers, with and without disabilities. Each dance performer offers unique possibilities to contribute to the story, which will continue to build Young Dance as an integrated dance organization. Yellow Tree Theatre, Osseo, will use $2,840 to provide ASL Interpretation for the four productions in its 2014-15 season. The theater will install and implement an ADA-compliant assisted listening device system that will be easily accessible to patrons, and allocate staff time to promote these accessible options. Penumbra Theatre Company, St. Paul, will with its grant of $2,625 install an assistive listening system. The system will have 10 receivers to hand out to patrons that can be used with headphones or an induction loop which will work directly with certain hearing aids. The grants were reviewed by a panel of persons active in the metro arts and disability communities. They read, discussed and ranked the applications. Their recommendations were approved by the VSA Minnesota board of directors. Eighty-three projects have been funded by this grant program since 2010, totaling $960,143. Grants up to $15,000 are available. The next deadline will be announced in early fall. ■ Find more People & Places on page 15
Pg 8 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
Visiting state par
Visistors to Gooseberry Falls State Park enjoy surfaces that are easy to travel on.
When the seasons change, many people visit the Minnesota’s state parks to enjoy beautiful fall colors. With some planning, a visit to a state park can provide a day or weekend trip. Or why not plan a week vacation? Minnesota has more than 227,000 acres in 76 state parks and recreation areas, with 1,030 miles of hiking trails. Voyageurs National Park is uniquely accessible only by boat. Minnesota is also home to Chippewa and Superior national forests. The latter is home to the renowned Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Minnesota’s state parks and trails offer many accessible places to visit and enjoy. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently launched “ParkFinder,” a new online trip planning tool, at www.mndnr.gov/parkfinder The online tool can help people find which of Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas best match their needs and interests. Search options include where to find amenities Minnesota's state parks - p. 9
August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
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ks is worth the planning to see fall colors such as beaches, playgrounds, fishing piers and picnic shelters, including which ones are accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility-assist devices. There is also information on nature programs, visitors’ centers and museums. ParkFinder can also indicate where overnight camping and lodging facilities are accessible, including cabins, RV sites and drive-in, cart-in and canoe-in campsites. It also provides useful information on hiking, biking, horse, ski and snowmobile trails, as well as places with rental equipment. The DNR also has an accessible outdoors page with a number of useful links. One example is its connections to organizations that provide recreation for people with disabilities, including fishing, hunting, archery and exploration of nature. Visit www.dnr. state.mn.us/accessible_outdoors/organizations.html Keep some discounts for state parks in mind. If a visitor’s motor vehicle has Minnesota disability license plates, mirror hang tag, or a Federal Access Pass, park visitors can get a reduced-rate special annual vehicle permit with proof of disability and proof of vehicle ownership. Those who qualify for the reduced rate special annual permit but doesn’t have a vehicle may purchase a special permit “wallet card”
Forestville State Park offers places to explore.
for the same price as the special permit sticker. Carry the card when visiting state parks. Anyone with multiple vehicles may purchase additional special permits at the same rate for other vehicles. The permits can be obtained from the DNR main office in St. Paul or from a staffed office in a Minnesota state park. Contact the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or info.dnr@state.mn.us for an application for the special permit wallet card. Send the completed application back to St. Paul, and the permit will arrive in the mail. Take a tour of state parks without leaving home
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Exhibits at Gooseberry Falls are easy to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
with a virtual tour, by visiting www.dnr.state.mn.us/ state_parks/virtual_tours.html ■ Information for this article is from the Courage Kenny Accessible Technology Program and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Pg 10 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7 Woofaroo a chance to howl
ACCESSIBLE FUN Welcome to the Access Press Accessible Fun listings, a sampling of theater, music, arts, walks, runs, dances and gala events for our community. Readers looking for additional opportunities to enjoy the arts have these options: VSA Minnesota is at http://vsamn.org has a large calendar in the upper right hand corner of their home page. VSA Minnesota would like feedback on the design, so users should weigh in on the site or at access@vsamn. org or 612-332-3888 ext. 2. The new website is intended to be easier for volunteers to maintain and expand. Users of the site should change their bookmarks if they haven’t already done so. For information on galleries and theater performances around the state join the Access to Performing Arts email list at access@vsa.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. Another web events’ listing is http://c2net.org (c2: caption coalition, inc.), which does most of the captioned shows across the country. Facebook is another way to connect with performances. Sign up to connect with Audio Description Across Minnesota (http://tinyurl.com/ d34dzo2). Connect with ASL Interpreted and Captioned Performances across Minnesota on Facebook http:// tinyurl.com/FBcaption
Fergus Fall ceremony Remembering with Dignity, a program of Advocating Change Together hosts a ceremony 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sun, Sept. 7 at the Fergus Falls State Hospital Cemetery. The event will be held rain or shine. Access to Fergus Falls Cemetery is behind the Veterans Home off the campus grounds, 1821 N Park St, Fergus Falls. Honor those buried in numbered graves. FFI: Naomi Schliesman, Naomi@springboardforthearts.org; Michele Anderson, Michele@springoardforthearts.org; Halle O’Falvey, 651-641-0297, RWD@selfadvocacy.org
Courage Kenny Golf Challenge Courage Kenny Foundation has announced a new event, the Courage Kenny Golf Challenge, presented by ABRA Auto Body & Glass, starting at 11 a.m., Mon, Sept. 8 at Hazeltine National Golf Club, 1900 Hazeltine Blvd, Chaska. Register as an individual golfer or a team of 4. Individual golfer registration is $450, which includes a round of 18 holes, lunch and dinner. Sponsorship levels vary. Sponsorships are available. Tournament proceeds support Courage Kenny sports and recreation programs, which provide a wide variety of competitive and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. FFI: 612-775-2589, CKFoundation@allina.com
The Woofaroo festival benefiting Can Do Canines is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat, Sept. 13 at the facility at 9440 Science Center Dr., New Hope. Meet Meeting Katie K-9 from myTalk 107.1, enjoy music, see fun and educational exhibits and take part in the mile-long fundraising walk. The first 100 people to register online receive an admission ticket to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Every step taken, every dollar raised, helps Can Do Canines place more specially trained dogs with people who need them, free of charge. Pet dogs are welcome. FFI: 763-331-3000; www.can-do-canines.org
SMILES Block Party SMILES hosts a block party 3-7 p.m. Tue, Aug. 19 near the corner of South Front Street and Liberty, Mankato. Enjoy fun activities, food, entertainment and information about programs and services. Registration ends Aug. 15. One highlight will be making ice cream and glow-in-the-dark t-shirts. Volunteers are needed before, during and after the event, FFI: 507-345-7139, 888-676-6498
King Arthur: A Picnic Operetta Mixed Precipitation hosts performances at Twin Cities community garden spaces, with some movement required of the audience. A sighted guide is suggested for patrons with vision loss. Call ahead for suggestions on parking, access and accommodations to each venue. This edible opera adventure for the whole family plays in community gardens and urban farms throughout the Twin Cities. In this punk retelling of a 1684 English Baroque opera, King Arthur has gathered the elite Knights of the Round Table together to celebrate the expansion of their benevolent empire, Cameloteapolis. They’re cutting the ribbons to celebrate the building of a colossal sporting arena to host a “Super Joust,” but their grand vision faces a brand new threat—a bull-headed generation of young Saxon knights determined to destroy their new creation. Saddled by debt and underemployment, the Saxons have enlisted the “black magic” of the underworld. Will they use their magic to bring new prosperity or athletic success? And who will be king? ASL shows are 4 p.m. Sun, Aug. 17 at Falcon Heights Community Garden, Cleveland Ave. and Roselawn Ave. and 4 p.m. Sun, Sept. 14 at Swede Hollow Park, East Beaumont St. and Drewy St., St. Paul. AD shows are 4 p.m. Sun, Aug. 31 at Stone’s Throw Urban Farm, Mpls. and 4 p.m. Sun, Sept. 7 at Bronx Park Community Garden, 2600 Georgia Ave. S. (26th St. & Georgia) St. Louis Park. Tickets are voluntary donation of $10 to $20 collected at show’s end. Since seating is very limited, advance reservations are requested. FFI: 612-619-2112, www.mixedprecipitation.org
Guys and Dolls Bloomington Theatre and Art Center presents the classic musical of gangers, gamblers and showgirls at Bloomington Center for the Arts, Schneider Theater, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington. AD show is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. ASL show is 7:30 p.m. Fri,
Leslye Orr of Dreamland Arts was a featured performer at the 24th anniversary celebration of passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. She had the audience laughing about her teenage years. Dreamland Arts is a privately owned 40-seat theater and performing arts studio in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood of St. Paul. It opened in 2006. Call 651-645-5506 or visit www.dreamlandarts.com Photo by Jane McClure
Aug. 29. Tickets are reduced to $25 for AD/ASL (regular $32, $29 senior, $25 age 25 & under). FFI: 952-563-8575; boxoffice@btacmn.org, www.btacmn.org
Around the World in 80 Days Commonwealth Theatre Company presents the story of Phineas Fogg and his incredible journey, at Commonwealth Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro. Please make AD reservations at least one week in advance, noting if you want a tactile tour at noon. Twoweek notice requested for a Braille program. Five-week notice requested for ASL interpreting. Assistive listening devices available at the box office; special seating available for persons with mobility issues. AD show is 1:30 p.m. Sun, Aug. 31. Pre-show audio notes are at 1:10 p.m. Tickets are reduced to $15 for AD/ASL patrons (regular $30; student $15). FFI: 507-467-2525 or 800-657-7025; info@commonwealtheatre.org, or www.commonwealtheatre.org
Sign Language Saturday at Minnesota Renaissance Festival All are welcome to see exciting performances interpreted in American Sign Language. Patrons won’t want to miss the variety of comedic acts, improvisation and interacting with boisterous entertainers. At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival grounds, 12364 Chestnut Blvd. (off Hwy 169, 7 miles south of Shakopee). ASL day is 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sat, Sept. 13. Tickets are $22.95 (advance $19.95); child 5-12 $13.95 (advance $11.50); senior 65+ $20.95; under 4 free. Discount tickets available online and after Aug. 5 at participating Menards, Super America and Walgreen’s. Discount coupons available after Aug. 5 at participating Subway locations. Free parking is available. FFI: 952-445-7361, info@renaissancefest.com, www.renaissancefest.com.
RENT The Broadway hit musical is presented by Rochester Civic Theatre at Rochester Civic Theatre; 20 Civic Center Dr. SE, Rochester; ASL show is 7 p.m. Sat, Sept. 13. Tickets are $29, senior $24, student $19. FFI: 507-282-8481, www.rochestercivictheatre.org
The Mystery of Irma Vep Jungle Theater presents a farcical mystery, at Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. AD show is 7:30 p.m. Thu, Sept. 18. Assistive Listening Devices available. Tickets are reduced to $14 (regular $25-43). FFI: 612-822-7063; boxoffice@jungletheater.com, www.jungletheater.com ■
August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7 Pg 11
UPCOMING EVENTS Advocacy State Ombudsman for Long-Term Care seeks volunteers The Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care, a service of the Minnesota Board on Aging, is seeking volunteers to help Minnesotans understand and make choices about long-term care services. Certified volunteers receive comprehensive orientation and continuing education annually to gain understanding of the long-term care system and develop skills in resolving disputes. Those interested are asked for a one-year commitment and to volunteer at least six hours per month. More information about the Office of the Ombudsman for Long-Term Care is available on the Minnesota Board on Aging website, www.mnaging.org FFI: Rhonda DeBough, 651-431-3178, Rhonda.Debough@state.mn.us
Youth and families PACER offers workshops PACER Center offers many useful free or low-cost workshops and other resources for families of children with any kind of disabilities. Workshops are at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, unless specified. Advance registration is required for all workshops. Check out PACER’s website and link to a bimonthly newsletter of workshops statewide that allows participants to pick and choose sessions catered to their needs. One upcoming free workshop is Tips for Talking with School Staff: Techniques to help parents of children with disabilities work effectively with schools, a workshop for parents of children with disabilities and for professionals, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tue, Aug. 12 at Country Inn and Suites, 1954 Broadway Ave. W., in Forest Lake. This free workshop will offer parents of special education students practical, easy-to-use tips for communicating with school staff and resolving differences in effective ways. Another upcoming workshop is Bully Prevention: Everyone’s Responsibility, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mon, Aug. 25. Learn about the dynamics of bullying (types of bullying, who is bullied, why children are bullied), how to intervene when bullying happens, and how to encourage students who witness bullying to take action. This session will also cover the roles schools play, laws and policies, and bullying prevention strategies. FFI: 952-838-9000, 800-537-2237 (toll free), www.PACER.org
Information and assistance Help with estate planning Goodwill Easter Seals, Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota, St. David’s Center and the law firm of Maser, Amundson, Boggio & Hendricks host a free meeting on estate planning at 5:30 p.m. Thu, Aug. 14 at the Gramercy Room, Gramercy Park Cooperative, 6711 Lake Shore Dr., Richfield. Free parking is available in the ramp at the back of the building and additional parking across the street at the Woodlake Centre Building. One CEU ethics credit is available for social workers. Participants must preregister by Aug. 12. RSVP via email to JSchneider@ stdavidscenter.org and put ESTATE in the subject line. Vision loss group offers activities Vision Loss Resources offers free and low-cost activities in the Twin Cities for people who are blind or visually impaired. Life skills classes for people with low vision, card games, craft classes, book clubs, walking groups, dinners out, special outings and technology classes are among the offerings. Participants need to RVSP to participate. FFI: RSVP hotline 612-843-3439; activity phone 612-253-5155, www.visionlossresources.org MCIL offers classes, more The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) offers many life skills classes as well as fun outings and activities for people with disabilities. MCIL is located at 530 N. Robert Street. St Paul and most activities are there or start there. Classes and events are listed on the website, www.mcil-mn.org Click on “Classes Groups and Sessions” for updated information or to print this calendar. Please give two weeks notice if alternative format or other accommodations are needed. Events are free, accessible and mostly scent-free. FFI: 651-603-2030 Adult support groups offered Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) offers free support groups for adults with autism spectrum disorder. Groups include those for adult family members, women with autism spectrum disorders and independent adults with autism. Groups meet monthly throughout 2014. Groups meet monthly at the AuSM offices at 2380 Wycliff St, St Paul. FFI: 651-647-1083 ext. 10, www.ausm.org
Self-advocacy training offered Become a more effective about grassroots lobbying and self-advocate through the attend a town hall forum. The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliforum allows participants a ance Citizen Advocacy Acadchance to apply what they have emy. It is a four-part series of learned and share personal trainings and advocacy stories with policymakers in events. The trainings are held their home communities. in both the Twin Cities metropolitan area and in Greater The academy is organized by the Minnesota Brain Minnesota are open to all self-advocates. Injury Alliance Public Policy Department. It is open to Trainings begin in September and continue through anyone interested in becoming an effective self-advolate November or early December. Participants can cate. FFI: 612-378-2742, 1-800-669-6442; learn to tell their stories and create political messages, jeffn@braininjurymn.org, ericas@braininjurymn.org ■ learn about the legislative process and elections, learn AGAPE study offered An AGAPE Bible study course designed for people with disabilities meets 7-8:45 p.m. Mondays starting Sept. 8 and continuing through May 2015 at Roseville Covenant Church, Hamline Avenue and County Road C2. The building is wheelchair accessible. Participants must be able to read and write. The AGAPE program is an outreach ministry of the international organization “Community Bible Study”. Preregister. FFI: Linda, 651-490-9041 UCare meetings UCare hosts informational meetings about its UCare for Seniors Medicare Advantage plan, as well as informational meetings about the UCare’s new UCare Choices and Fairview UCare Choices health plans available on MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace. Learn about the various plans, as well as key dates and penalties associated with health care reform. 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, www.ucare.org Journey of Hope “Journey of Hope for People Affected by Chronic Condition” is an alternative Christian/Interfaith church that focuses on spiritual growth rather than specific beliefs or doctrine. The congregation is currently meeting one or two Thursday afternoons a month at J. Arthur’s Coffee, 2441 Rice St., Roseville for a time of worship followed by a time for support. The congregation is looking for people to join in this ministry by, and for, people affected by chronic conditions of any kind, and the people who love and support them. People with a heart for seeking out people who have become isolated because of their health issues, and welcoming them into the community, are needed to join. Journey of Hope is open to all. The congregation is looking for a technical volunteer who is familiar with Google Hangouts, who can set up the equipment before the meeting and run the Hangout on Air. Also sought are one or two musicians who can serve as substitutes for the primary musician. FFI: Susan, 651-689-3374; http://journeymn.org Mental health support offered NAMI Minnesota offers free support groups for fami-
lies who have a relative with a mental illness. NAMI has about two dozen family support groups, more than 20 support groups for people living with a mental illness, anxiety support groups, groups for veterans and other groups. Led by trained facilitators, groups provide help and support. FFI: 651-645-2948. A full calendar of all events is offered online. Partners and Spouses support group meets 6:45 p.m. the first Tue of each month at Falcon Heights United Church of Christ, 1795 Holton St. FFI: Lois, 651-788-1920, or Donna, 651-645-2948 ext. 101. Open Door Anxiety and Panic support, meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thu at Woodland Hills Church, 1740 Van Dyke St., St. Paul and 6:30-6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thu at Goodwill-Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave. N., St. Paul. FFI: 651-645-2948 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.
Volunteer, Donate Share a smile Brighten the day of a senior citizen in north or southwest Minneapolis and have fun. Visit an elder and do things together: movies, games, crafts or just friendly conversation. Hang out with an elder on a regular basis and do things that you both enjoy, like watching a movie, building stuff, playing games or friendly conversation. One-time or ongoing opportunities through the NIP Senior Program. FFI: Jeanne, 612-746-8549, srvolunteer@neigh borhoodinvolve.org, or www.neighborhoodinvolve.org Open the Door to Education Help adults reach their educational goals and earn their GED. Tutor, teach or assist in a classroom with the Minnesota Literacy Council. Give just 2-3 hours a week and help people expand their opportunities and change their lives through education. The literacy council provides training and support and accommodations for volunteers with disabilities. FFI: Allison, 651-251-9110, volunteer@mnliteracy.org, www.mnliteracy.org/ volunteers/opportunities/adults ■
Pg 12 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
ACCESSIBLE MOVIES Movie access to expand for people with visual, hearing disabilities The United States Department of Justice has announced changes that will affect the movie-going experience for persons with hearing and visual disabilities. In late July Attorney General Eric Holder signed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the Title III regulation for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Holder’s action requires movie theaters to provide closed movie captioning and audio description in order to give persons with hearing and vision disabilities access to movies. “This proposed rule will allow all Americans, including those with disabilities, to fully participate in the moviegoing experience. With this proposal, the Justice Department is taking an important step to ensure consistent access for people with vision and hearing disabilities,” said Holder. “Twenty-four years after its passage, the Americans with Disabilities Act remains a critical tool for extending the promise of opportunity and inclusion for everyone in this country.” “As we celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act, we are reminded that people with disabilities still do not have full access to all aspects of American cultural life,” said Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “Although some movie theaters are making strides towards meeting their ADA obligations, there is a good deal of inconsistency among theaters across the United States. This proposed rule is intended to ensure that, regardless of where a person with a hearing or vision disability lives, that person will be able to attend movies with their friends and family and fully enjoy this important social and cultural activity.” Closed movie captioning refers to captions that are delivered to the patron’s seat and are visible only to that patron. Audio description enables individuals who are blind or have low vision to enjoy movies by providing a spoken narration of key visual elements of a movie, such as actions, settings, facial expressions, costumes and scene changes. Audio description is transmitted to a user’s wireless headset. The department is proposing to provide a consistent nationwide standard for movie theaters to exhibit movies that are available with closed movie captioning and audio description for all showings. The department is also proposing to require theaters to provide a specific number of closed captioning and audio description devices.
Theaters need not comply with the proposed rule if doing so would cause an undue burden or fundamental alteration. The department is not proposing to require movie theaters to add captions or audio description to movies that are not already produced and distributed with these features. The department is proposing a six-month compliance date for movie theaters’ digital movie screens and is seeking public comment on whether it should adopt a four-year compliance date for movie theaters’ analog movie screens or should defer rulemaking on analog screens until a later date. ■
Theaters and technology offerings What’s more fun than a trip to the movies, especially on a hot summer day? Several technologies are available to make movies accessible for people with vision or hearing loss. Minnesota theaters offer a variety of services. Contact the theater before attending as options may change. Rear Window Captioning displays reversed captions on a light-emitting diode (LED) text display which is mounted in the rear of a theater. Patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing use transparent acrylic panels attached to their seats to reflect the captions so they appear superimposed on the movie screen. The reflective panels are portable and adjustable, enabling the caption user to sit anywhere in the theater without bothering patrons in surrounding seats. The LED display is easy to read. DVS Theatrical presents concise descriptive narration of visual cues, including actions, settings, scene changes, facial expressions and silent movement, through an FM or infrared system, making movies more meaningful to people with vision loss. The moviegoer hears the narration on a headset without disturbing other audience members and at no extra cost. The Media Access Group at WGBH in Boston developed Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical. Films equipped with MoPix or motion picture access) technology can be found by calling 617-300-3400 or TTY: 617-300-2489. The website is http://tinyurl.com/ showingnow Or e-mail: access@wgbh.org Some cinemas use other variations of open captioning, which is a text display of words and sounds heard during a performance, film, video, speech or dialogue. The display is “open” for anyone to see in a particular seating area. The website www.captionfish.com lists cinemas with these access features. Put in your zip code and the site will give current listings of nearby movies with open or closed captioning, an audio description track, or English subtitles in foreign films. Through Sept. 1, Science Museum of Minnesota Omnitheater, 120 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, is offering Dinosaurs Alive, a global adventure of science and discovery featuring the earliest dinosaurs of the Triassic Period to the monsters of the Cretaceous. These creatures are “reincarnated” life-sized for the giant IMAX ® screen. Audiences will journey with some of the world’s preeminent paleontologists as they uncover evidence
that the descendants of dinosaurs still walk (or fly) among us. From the exotic, trackless expanses and sand dunes of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert to the dramatic sandstone buttes of New Mexico, the film explores some of the greatest dinosaur finds in history. Through the magic of scientifically accurate computer-generated animation, these newly discovered creatures, and some familiar favorites, will come alive in a big way. Access features include Captioning (CC), Audio Description, Amplification, Spanish Alternate Language (headset) and Large Print Script. Omnitheater tickets are $8 adults, $7 senior/child (first film, subsequent shows get 15% discount), additional cost to tour museum; members free. Online ordering add $3 service fee.. Omnitheater tickets are $8 adults, $7 senior/child, additional cost to tour museum; members free. See more than one film and get a discount for subsequent shows. Online ordering add $3 service fee. To request accommodations for exhibits, call at least 72 hours in advance, at 651-221-9406. The museum is open Tue-Wed 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thu-Sat 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mon. Phone is 651-221-9444 or 800-221-9444, option 2 for Omnitheater film times, reservations or questions; TTY is 651-221-4585. For accessibility information, visit www.smm.org/accessibility; the main website is www.smm.org Landmark Theatres offer CaptiView Closed Caption Viewing Systems, which allow people to read movie dialogue from the comfort of their seat anywhere in the auditorium, and Fidelio, a wireless audio system that delivers descriptive narration for people with vision loss and amplified sound for people with hearing loss. Patrons can get a compact audio receiver with a plug-in headset at the box office or bring their own headsets. Descriptive Narration and closed captioning availability is subject to the content made available from distributors. All films are available with amplified sound through Assisted Listening Devices. The theaters are Edina Cinema, 3911 W. 50th St., Edina, phone 952-920-8796; Uptown Theatre, 2906 Hennepin Ave., Mpls, phone 612-823-3005; and Lagoon Cinema:,1320 Lagoon Ave., Mpls, phone 612-823-3020. Website for the theaters is www.LandmarkTheatres.com or http://tinyurl.com/ capsviewing
AMC Theatres offer accessible films. Eden Prairie Mall 18 Theatres, Auditorium 7, Eden Prairie Shopping Center, 8251 Flying Cloud Drive Suite 4000, Eden Prairie; phone is 952-656-0010. Park in upper level lot between Sears and Kohl’s. AMC Rosedale 14 Theatres, Auditorium 14, 850 Rosedale Center, Roseville; phone is 651-604-9347. AMC Showplace Inver Grove 16, 5567 Bishop Ave., Inver Grove Heights, offers open captioned films generally Wed-Thu; phone is 651-453-1916. General information for all AMC Theatres is 1-888-262-4386. Website is www.amcentertainment.com Regal Theatres offers films with open captioning or descriptive video. Regal Brooklyn Center 20, 6420 Camden Ave N, Minneapolis; phone is 763-560-6300. Regal Eagan 16, 2055 Cliff Road, Eagan; phone is 651-452-8329. Website is www.fandango.com/ 55122_movietheatershowtimes Marcus Theatres in the Twin Cities, St. Cloud and Duluth now offer accessible CaptiView technology for deaf and hard of hearing guests at its digital cinemas. This closed captioning system is available for most movies and can be used at any showing for movies that are captioned using this technology. When purchasing a ticket, a guest requests the CaptiView device (about the size of a large smartphone with a screen to display the captions). Its flexible support arm is designed to fit into the cup holder of the guest’s seat and the viewing angle can be adjusted. Patrons can also request assistive listening devices at the box office at all film showings. The wireless headphones have adjustable volume. Guests with vision loss can use these headphones as descriptive audio devices when a movie offers a descriptive audio option. Not all films are produced this way, but the number of available films is increasing. Marcus Theatres are Oakdale Ultrascreen Cinemas, 5677 Hadley Ave. N., Oakdale, 651-770-4992; Marcus Lakes Cinema, 4351 Stebner Rd., Hermantown, and Marcus Duluth Theatre, 300 Harbor Drive, Duluth, 218-729-0335. Website is www.marcustheatres.com ShowPlace ICON at West End offers listening devices. The theater is at 1625 West End Blvd., St. Louis Park, 763-515-1177, www.showplaceicon.com/ showtimes.aspx ■
August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7 Pg 13
REGIONAL NEWS Service vehicles’ lack of access is questioned Minneapolis’ decision to change its transportation ordinance and allow services like Lyft and UberX to transport passengers has drawn fire from disability advocates. The Minneapolis City Council approved the changes July 18. In a letter to City Council members, the Minnesota State Council on Disability and the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities two disability groups asked for the vote to be delayed. They sought the delay after learning that one cab company was no longer planning to participate in a new wheelchairaccessible incentive program. The groups object to a planned voluntary incentive program to provide accessible cab service. They also objected to elimination of a requirement that cabs companies provide a set percentage of wheelchair-accessible cabs. The percentage requirement has never been fully complied with. The city instead called for a surcharge to fund a fleet of accessible cabs. “We recommend that you establish a face to face summit with all the key stakeholders so that an agreement can be negotiated in a public forum,” the groups said in a letter. The state council is asking that people contact them if they are denied access to Minneapolis taxis and ride services. UberX and Lyft are services that operate with people driving their personal vehicles to transport passengers. Not only have there been concerns about accessibility, there are also worries about lack of driver background checks and lack of insurance. Advocates of the services contend that they provide more transportation choices and should be allowed. (Source: Star Tribune) ■
Improved background checks set The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has started a new system to improve the criminal background study process for employees, employers and the people they care for, Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson announced. Currently DHS conducts about 1,200 background checks a day or more than 275,000 a year. The new system is expected to reduce that number by twothirds with more accurate and timely results. The system is used for background checks on new workers caring for children, people with disabilities and the elderly who receive care at home or in other health care settings. Jesson announced the pilot, which began July 28, with a group of five nursing facilities, during an event at the Carondelet Village care facility in St. Paul. The pilot will help DHS prepare for a new system using fingerprints to obtain state criminal information and photos to verify identities. Under the new system, employees generally will no longer need to undergo a background check each time they change jobs and employers will be able to more quickly hire employees who have already passed a fingerprint study. DHS will automatically receive updates of criminal information from the Minnesota Court Information System. The 2014 law requires DHS to collect fingerprints and a photograph and implement software changes to improve the accuracy and completeness of background studies. It includes data privacy protections for retaining fingerprints and photographs. Later this fall the test will expand to other providers with full implementation expected to begin in 2015. The five nursing facilities that will take part in the pilot study are Park River Estates Care Center, Coon Rapids; Eldercare- Fitzgerald Rehabilitation, Eveleth; Eldercare of Minnesota- Little Falls; Good Shepherd Lutheran Home, Sauk Rapids and Benedictine Health Systems-Cerenity Senior Care, White Bear Lake (Source: Minnesota DHS) ■
Innovation projects receive funding from the state Numerous providers of services to people with disabilities and older Minnesotans will receive funding this summer to implement innovative projects designed to improve service quality. The Minnesota Department of Human Services announced $3.5 million in performance-improvement funding to 27 projects in 39 Minnesota counties. “Home and community-based service providers are key to helping people with disabilities and older adults live independently, which is what most people prefer,” Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson said. “We have found that initiatives like this promote greater, lasting quality and efficiency and a better overall experience for people being served.” Jesson visited recipient Knute Nelon’s Grand Arbor senior housing facility in Alexandria in July to announce the program and see a demonstration of the
organization’s GrandCare technology. Knute Nelson Home Care is receiving $350,613 under the program to improve efficiency of services for people with chronic diseases living at home, including implementing GrandCare, an interactive touchscreen used as a communication portal between the client and family caregivers. Since 2012, Knute Nelson has used GrandCare to promote aging in place for older adults with support from a DHS Community Services/Services Development grant. Projects being funded: • ACR Homes, $74,988 to transition from paper to cloud-based documentation to increase effectiveness in its services for people with disabilities in Anoka, Ramsey, Dakota and Washington counties. • Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, $103,597 to improve health care selfadvocacy and housing stability for people with disabilities who are moving or recently moved into the community in Anoka, Hennepin, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Washington and Ramsey counties. • Ecumen, $265,352 to decrease use of psychotropic medication and increase consumer engagement in dementia programs at its assisted living programs in Dakota, Steele, Blue Earth, LeSeuer, Waseca, McLeod, Nicollet, Lake, Clay, Hennepin and Mower counties. • Ecumen at Home, $17,746 to implement in-home wound care to improve healing rates and lower the cost of care in its home care services in Anoka, Hennepin, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Washington and Ramsey counties. • ElderCare of Minnesota, $249,869 to redesign staff training using person-centered care processes in its assisted living and home care programs in Morrison, Nobles, Beltrami, Clay, Becker, Crow Wing, Stearns, Martin, Wadena and Faribault counties. • Home Front First/Rosewood Specialty Care, $76,242 to improve the quality of care for people with dementia and their caregivers in Chippewa County through staff training and community education • Independent Lifestyles, Inc., $254,686 to implement a parenting program for people with disabilities in Benton County to reduce out-of-home placement of their children. • Knute Nelson Home Care, $350,613 to incorporate GrandCare technology, an interactive touchscreen used as a communication portal between the older person and family caregivers, for people with chronic diseases living at home in Douglas, Grant, Stevens, Traverse, Big Stone and 20 other neighboring counties. • Lakes Home and Program Development, Inc., $149,449 to increase active participation of people with disabilities in local communities through individualized goals and staff training in Becker, Mahnomen and Otter Tail counties. • Lakewood Manor, Lakewood Health System, $64,853 to implement evidencebased health and wellness programs to help Todd and Wadena County residents manage chronic health conditions. • Legacy Endeavors, $161,659 to increase community participation of people with disabilities in Ramsey and Washington counties through dance class and staff training. • Living Well Disability Services, $150,404 to increase choice and self-determination of consumers living in care facilities for people with developmental disabilities in Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Pine, Ramsey, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties. • Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, $82,268 to expand service access to rural caregivers in Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, Cass, Crow Wing, Todd, Mahnomen and Wadena counties through iPad technology. Inovated projects receive funding - p. 15
Pg 14 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7
August Sampling
Radio Talking Book 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 1-800-722-0550, 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 events go to the Facebook site at http://tinyurl.com/RadioTalkBook Audio information about the daily book listings is also on NFB Newslines. Register for NFB Newslines by calling 651-539-1424. Access Press is one of the publications featured at 9 p.m. Sundays on the program It Makes a Difference. Weekend Program Books Your Personal World (Saturday at 1 p.m.) is airing Talk Like TED, by Carmine Gallo; For the Younger Set (Sunday at 11 a.m.) is airing Sometimes never, sometimes always, by Elissa Janine Hoole; Poetic Reflections (Sunday at noon) is airing Aimless Love, by Billy Collins; The U.S. and Us (Sunday at 4 p.m.) is airing Vikings Across the Atlantic, by Daron W. Olson. Chautauqua • Tuesday – Saturday 4 a.m. The Parthenon Enigma, Nonfiction by Joan Breton Connelly, 2014. 18 broadcasts. Begins Aug.14. Built in the fifth century B.C., the Parthenon has been venerated for two millennia as the ultimate paragon of beauty and proportion. But how much do the values of those who built the Parthenon truly correspond with our own? Read by Arlan Dohrenburg.
CLASSIFIEDS
Bookworm • Monday – Friday 11 a.m. The Deepest Secret, Fiction by Carla Buckley, 2014. 12 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 21. Eve Lattimore’s family seems very normal, but life revolves around keeping her son Tyler safe. He has a rare medical condition that makes him fatally sensitive to light, so he never leaves the house except at night. And then one night. . . . L - Read by Mary Hall. The Writer’s Voice • Monday – Friday 2 p.m. The Idealist, Nonfiction by Nina Munk, 2013. Eight broadcasts. Begins Aug. 27. Matthew 26:11 says “The poor you will always have with you,” but economist Jeffrey Sachs disagrees. In his view, poverty is a problem that can be solved and he has attempted to put his theories into practice in Africa. Read by John Hagman. Choice Reading • Monday – Friday 4 p.m. The Book of Jonah, Fiction by Joshua Max Feldman, 2014. 15 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 19. Jonah is a successful young lawyer with everything going for him— healthy and handsome, with two beautiful women ready to spend their lives with him. He’s celebrating a deal that will make him a partner at his firm when he has a bizarre vision at a party. It is only the first one, and before long his life is unrecognizable. L - Read by John Holden. PM Report • Monday – Friday 8 p.m. My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, Nonfiction by Keith Ellison, 2014. 10 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 11. Keith Ellison was the first Muslim elected to Congress and, in fact, the first nonwhite that Minnesota elected to Congress. But he ran because he wanted to make a difference, to contribute to the future of his children, his community and his country. In his own family, he sees an illustration of what makes America great, going in three generations from slavery to professionals, including people of different ancestries and religions. Read by Tom Price. However Long the Night, Nonfiction by Aimee Molloy, 2013. Eight broadcasts. Begins Aug. 25. Molly Melching founded Tostan, an organization dedicated to empowering African communities by using democracy and human-rights based education. She forever changed her life and the lives of those touched by Tostan. Read by June Prange.
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Night Journey • Monday – Friday 9 p.m. Critical Mass, Fiction by Sara Paretsky, 2013. 17 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 18. V.I. Warshawksi’s friend, Lotty Herschel, escaped Nazi Austria on the Kindertransport with her childhood playmate Kitty. When Kitty’s daughter finds her life is in danger, she calls Lotty, who calls V.I. for help. L - Read by Bonita Sindelir. Off the Shelf • Monday – Friday 10 p.m. The Mountain of Light, Fiction by Indu Sundaresan, 2013. 14 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 12. The diamond, Mountain of Light, was left to Prince Dalip Singh, a 6-year-old child. During that time, the colonization of India was taking root and the diamond was secreted out of India. As a 16-year-old, Prince Dalip realized all that Britain gave him could not make up for the loss of his lands and the diamond. Read by Kristi Sullivan. Potpourri • Monday – Friday 11 p.m. One Summer, Nonfiction by Bill Bryson, 2014. 18 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 18. The summer of 1927 began with Charles Lindbergh becoming the first man to cross the Atlantic by plane nonstop. But the summer also saw Babe Ruth climbing to the home run record, Al Jolson recording the first talking picture, and Al Capone releasing a reign of terror to control the illegal booze business. Read by Diane Ladenson. Good Night Owl • Monday – Friday midnight Z: A novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, Fiction by Therese Anne Fowler, 2013. 14 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 26. When southern belle Zelda Sayre met F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1918, she was 17 and he was a young army lieutenant. She fell for him and when he sold his first novel, she boarded a train to New York, to marry him and take the rest as it comes. L - Read by Alletta Jervey. After Midnight • Tuesday – Saturday 1 a.m. Burn, Fiction by Julianna Baggott, 2013. 15 broadcasts. Begins Aug. 13. As Pures battle Wretches, Partridge has taken his father’s place as leader of the Pures. His intent was to bring down the Dome from the inside; but now, things don’t seem quite as clear. Perhaps his father was right, that the world needs the Dome and Partridge to rule it. L - Read by Mitzi Lewellen. ■ Abbreviations: V - violence, L – offensive language, S - sexual situations
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August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7 Pg 15
A more accessible State Fair - from p. 1 Other new attractions include the new University of Minnesota Driven to Discover building, an expanded Eco Experience, the Extreme Canines stunt dogs show, and a Military Appreciation Day with a salute to service members’ children. Getting to the fair will be easier, with accessible express buses to the new transit center. People who use Metro Mobility to get to the Great Minnesota GetTogether will also notice changes this year. Metro Mobility users will be able to use Loop Gate 9 off of Como Avenue as well as Gate 2 off of Hoyt Avenue. The Hoyt Avenue gate is the new addition. The Como Gate is the suggested gate to drop off fair visitors who have physical disabilities. Metro Transit provides numerous wheelchair accessible options to the Minnesota State Fair through regular route buses. Call 6122-373-3333 or visit www.metrotransit.org American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are available to assist guests from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Inquire about this free service by call 651-288-4448 or stop at the Administration building located on Cosgrove Street. ASL interpretation is provided daily at the Timberjacks Lumberjack Show at noon at the North Woods Exhibit on Cooper Street between Randall and Lee avenues, and the Sean Emery Show on the Family Fair Stage in Baldwin Park. Wheelchair battery recharging is available at the Care and Assistance Center at 1883 Dan Patch Ave. Outlets to plug in scooters are also available on the south wall of the Grandstand Building. An Attraction Access Guide is available to assist fairgoers in making choices about which rides are appropriate for them, at all ticket outlets on the Mighty Midway and Kidway. While entertainment venues have accessible seating, it is available on a first-come basis. Wheelchair/scooter rentals are also available.
PEOPLE & PLACES Radio Talking Book mixes its media Radio Talking Book and the Communication Center took a foray into the world of television this summer, with a visit by television host Rana Kamal and staff from CW23. The program and center were filmed for a segment on their program Our Issues Twin Cities. The program aired June 22 and August 3. CW23 was interested in learning of the breadth of what is offered to people at State Services for the Blind, including helping people with vision loss to learn adaptation techniques and to look for employment. CW23 filmed some of the program clients who had received assistance. To learn more about the show, go to http://tinyurl.com/OurIssuesTwinCities ■
Dental clinic moves to a new location A Faribault dental clinic that helps people with developmental disabilities has moved to better serve more clients. Southern Cities Clinic held an open house Wednesday at its new location, 400 Fourth St. NW, Faribault. “I am excited to see that Southern Cities Clinic has a new, improved space, and is able to continue providing essential services to people with disabilities,” Anne Barry, deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services said at the grand opening open house. “Many of our patients rely on the clinic, and would not be able to see a dentist otherwise.” The clinic has been in the Faribault community since 1990, and today provides dental services to more than 1,000 individuals. Faced with a growing number of patients, the clinic relocated to have the capacity to meet needs of the people it serves. Southern Cities Clinic is one of five dental clinics operated by the Department of Human Services to serve individuals with developmental disabilities, severe mental illness, and traumatic brain injury who are unable to obtain care from other providers. The clinic also provides outpatient psychiatric services. ■
HomeTown Mobility, an independent concession, provides manual wheelchairs and electric scooters for rent at four locations on the fairgrounds. If rented onsite, all equipment is available on a first-come basis with no guarantee of availability. HomeTown Mobility is now accepting reservations for wheelchairs or electric scooters. Reservations will only be accepted for full day rental. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance. Cancellation must be made 48 hours in advance to receive a full refund, less a $5 cancellation fee per rental unit. At the Fairgrounds concessions hours are 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily. The deposit of a driver’s license or state ID is required. Costs range from $15 per day for a wheelchair to $55 per day for an electric scooter, cash, credit cards and debit cards are accepted. The HomeTown Mobility’s office is 877-928-5388, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, on weekends during the fair. The fair provides a free park and ride lot with free wheelchair-accessible bus service for people with disabilities and their companions. The lot is located on the north side, backside of the Oscar Johnson Arena, 1039 De Courcy Circle, south of the fairgrounds. Exit from Snelling Avenue at Energy Park Drive and travel east to the first left past Snelling Avenue. Go east of Merrill Corporation offices to the north side of the ice area. Ride nonstop to the fair and get dropped off at the Como Loop Gate. Buses run continuously, approximately every 20 minutes, from 8 a.m. to midnight daily. Some outlying park and ride lots have limited wheelchair accessible buses. Check the state fair website for details. Want to park at the fairgrounds? Parking spaces designated for vehicles with a valid disabled persons’ parking identification placard are available in many fair lots on a first-come basis. Cost is $13. Be aware that there are no guarantees that spaces will be available. Vehicles with trailers are charged $26.
New human services center opens Hennepin County is celebrating the grand opening of its third regional human service center, at 1001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis. A ribbon-cutting celebration was held August 7. Hennepin County human services staff members have been working at the site since late June, adjusting to a new address and a new way of business that allows clients to complete a broader needs assessment, apply for assistance and get referrals to other services, including those of local community agencies and faith groups. The new, transit-friendly site is only one part of a larger plan to expand human services access from a concentration of offices in downtown Minneapolis, to six sites, spread across the county and closer to where residents live, work and attend school. Rather than taking time from work and school to make the trip downtown, Hennepin County clients can integrate needed visits with their financial workers and other county staff into their everyday routines. Two other human services offices already are in operation in Brooklyn Center and Bloomington. A west suburban office in Hopkins will open in the fall. Two more locations, serving central and northeast Minneapolis and south Minneapolis, are planned for 2015 and 2016. “It’s all about making our services accessible to people in their community,” said Rex Holzemer, assistant county administrator for human services. “It’s about intervening earlier to get people back to self-sufficiency and working closely with community partners to provide a full range of services people can benefit from.” As part of the planning process for the human services offices last year, the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council and Hennepin County invited residents to weigh in on their wishes for the selected site through a series of engagement meetings. A community benefits agreement between the council, the county and the building’s owner, Minneapolis-based Ackerberg Group, was developed during this time also. One of the results of the community engagement process was the addition of weekly Hennepin County service center hours, when residents can apply for a variety of licenses and permits, on the North Hub site. ■
Vistors can enjoy hundreds of things to see and do at the fair. Photo courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Access to fairgrounds parking is available off Larpenteur Avenue at Underwood Street and at Snelling Ave. at Hoyt Ave. Additional accessible parking is available in the lot south of Como Avenue. Please check www.mnstatefair.org to download an accessibility guide, and find links of the many accommodations. Anyone with questions about State Fair accessibility can call 651-288-4448 or e-mail accessibility@mnstatefair.org ■ Inovated projects receive funding - from p. 13 • Madison Lutheran Home, $16,942 to increase socialization through a volunteer dog therapy program in Lac Qui Parle County. • New Challenges, $99,998 to increase person-centered care and planning through a collaborative multi-agency staff training initiative in Dakota and Ramsey counties. • Northwoods Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers Program, $55,035 to increase culturally competent outreach and in-home support services to American Indians in Beltrami County. • Central Towers Assisted Living, $100,000 for peer mentorship and wellness programs to improve the health of consumers in assisted living in Ramsey County. • REM River Bluffs, $123,381 to improve health of people with disabilities in its residential services programs in Olmsted and Winona counties through a smoking cessation and activities program designed with the Mayo Clinic. • Residential Services of Northeastern Minnesota, $108,635 to develop staff mentorship and supports to expand person-centered care and positive behavioral supports through all of its residential services for people with disabilities in St. Louis, Pine, Kanabec, Isanti, Mille Lacs and Chisago counties. • Rise Inc., $162,582 to offer person-centered sensory vocational assessments and supported employment services for adults with disabilities who are deaf and hard of hearing in its day training and habilitation programs in Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties. • St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, $140,788 to improve the health of people with disabilities using in-home and residential services through an individualized program that focuses on active lifestyle and nutrition in Hennepin County. • St. William’s Foster Homes, $20,415 to implement individualized health and wellness programs to decease falls and obesity and to improve consumers’ mobility in its residential services for older adults in Otter Tail County. • Tealwood Senior Living, $169,230 to develop and implement dementia care culture change in its assisted living facilities in Anoka, Stearns, Lyon, Morrison, Otter Tail, Benton, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Winona, Wright and Hennepin counties. • The Lutheran Home Association, $251,380 to decrease staff turnover in its in-home services in Scott, Carver, LeSeuer, Nicollet, Sibley, Blue Earth and Brown counties. • TSE, $130,992 to develop internships and improve supported employment services for participants in its employment services in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. • Wadena County DAC, $49,997 to develop job coaching training and incorporate principles that support competitive employment for people with disabilities. • Wingspan Life Resources, $74,837 to implement an inclusive multigenerational music, dance and visual arts therapy program for people with disabilities in its residential services program in Ramsey County. ■
Pg 16 August 10, 2014 Volume 25, Number 7