November 2016 Edition - Access Press

Challenge course, Page 8

Volume 27, Number 11

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Jails must do more for the deaf

Charlie Smith Award winner Cliff Poetz gives call to action

by Jane McClure

2016 Access Press Charlie Smith Award winner Cliff Poetz personifies the rallying cry, “Nothing about us, without us.” The legendary self-advocate, whose work has taken him from the streets of Minneapolis to Washington, D.C., was honored November 4 at the newspaper’s annual banquet in Bloomington.

The award is named for the late Charlie Smith, Access 2016 Access Press Charlie Smith Award winner Cliff Poetz gave a Press founding editor. Newspa- speech at the newspaper’s annual banquet that was as moving as it per Board Chairperson Kristin was motivating.

Jorenby and Executive Director Photo by Greg Mellang Tim Benjamin saluted Poetz for his groundbreaking work. “We could not be and respectful language, creation of the direct more proud,” said Benjamin. support provider program and many other isPoetz’s career was highlighted by a video sues bear his imprint. made by Jerry Smith of the University of Poetz’s acceptance speech was not only a trip Minnesota Institute on Community Integradown Memory Lane of his many accomplishtion. Audience members cheered highlights ments but also a call to action for people with of Poetz’s self-advocacy career and laughed disabilities. “I think we have come a long way, at Poetz depicted on Mount Rushmore and in but we have a long way to go,” Poetz said. other humorous situations. Poetz himself Minnesota’s disability community hasn’t been roared with laughter. doing a good job of getting their message and If Minnesota had a Mount Rushmore for their needs across to policymakers. Self-advopioneering self-advocates, Poetz would be cates need to be in it for the long haul and do one of the faces on it. He has been a vocal better at civic engagement, he said. They need to and endearing presence in statewide and nadevelop relationships with policymakers. “It’s tional disabilities issues since moving from nice to go to Disability Day at the Capitol. But Watertown to Minneapolis in the 1970s. we need to call and have people get to know us.”

Deinstitutionalization, community-based emRead more about Poetz and the banquet in the ployment, working toward more inclusive December issue of Access Press. ■

Being in jail is daunting, especially for a person who is deaf. Inability to communicate with jail staff or reach out for help can mean long waits for legal counsel or family visits. Deaf inmates often go without needed medication or access to services and supports.

Four Minnesota counties will change their jail practices in response to lawsuits centering on disability and discrimination. Isanti, Rice, Stearns and Washington counties are making the policy changes, as a result of incidents in 2014 and 2015.

The counties will work to remove communications barriers by providing faster access to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, updating communication equipment and hiring or assigning staff to coordinate services for the deaf.

The seven plaintiffs received undisclosed monetary settlements. Three were held at the Stearns County Jail in St. Cloud, with two in Rice Jails must do more - p. 13

by Jane McClure

Programs relaunched

State aims to hire people with disabilities

by Access Press staff The state of Minnesota will step up its efforts to hire workers with disabilities. Gov. Mark Dayton announced October 13 the relaunch of two state programs. Connect 700 and Supported Worker programs had helped the state increase its ranks of workers with disabilities from 4 percent to 6.2 percent since 2014 when Dayton signed an executive order which called for more hiring. That order set a goal of having people with disabilities make up 7 percent of that state’s 34,000 employees by August 2018.

Gov. Mark Dayton greeted young participants in an employment program.

Courtesy photo

Connect 700 allows people with disabilities to demonstrate their skills through an on-thejob trial. The Supported Worker Program allows up to three people with disabilities to share one of 50 full-time government positions.

State agencies that sponsor the positions will integrate employees into existing teams and will provide job coaches as needed.

“That’s progress, but we are not satisfied,” Dayton said. The governor said the state needs to “lead by example” in employing and addressing the under-representation of people with disabilities in state government positions. He made the announcement during National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month. Observed each October, the month marks the contributions of workers with disabilities and highlights the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. Reflecting the significant role disability plays in workforce diversity, this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme was “#InclusionWorks.”

Dayton also admitted that one ongoing challenge to getting more people with disabilities into the workforce is that of addressing the State to step up - p. 5

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“Work hard for what you want because it won’t come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.”

— Leah LaBelle

NEWS DIGEST

Companies are honored for providing jobs.

Page 15

Debate continues over care workers’ union.

Page 3

Providing adequate pay adds up to quality care.

Page 4

Bakery wares are tail-wagging good.

Page 10

Arts grant applications are announced.

Page 11

INSIDE Enjoy!, pg 11 Events, pg 12 People & Places, pgs 7-10,15 Radio Talking Book, pg 14 Regional News, pg 6

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EDITOR’S DESK

Tim Benjamin On November 4, at the 14th annual Charlie Smith Awards banquet, we celebrated Cliff Poetz, the winner of the 2016 award. Cliff has been advocating for people with disabilities for decades. I’m proud to say that I’ve known and seen Cliff’s extraordinary advocacy skills, his ability to stay focused on a particular topic and his ways of convincing his audience that an issue needs all of their support. Many in Minnesota’s disability community have witnessed how his powerful but unassuming presence rallies support for a wide range of causes.

Last September in this column I talked about the two different Personal Care Assistant programs: PCA Choice and Traditional PCA. I’ve always used Traditional PCA since I have my own career, and I don’t want to spend any of my scarce spare time recruiting, hiring, training, scheduling and all the other stuff that running a Choice program takes. I don’t feel I’m giving up any independence by being on Traditional PCA; in fact, I think it’s much more liberating for my needs. I’m not really concerned about who does my cares as long as they are willing to work, willing to learn, are prompt, respectful of my family and property and do their job to the best of their abilities. For the most part under the Traditional plan, I’ve always been able to meet potential employees, and along with my more veteran PCAs, we’ve done the bulk of the training routines. I do have some tasks that require a Qualified Professional to sign off and guarantee that each PCA has been sufficiently trained and has the skill to perform skilled tasks correctly and effectively.

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There are, however, folks with disabilities who work full-time and use the PCA Choice program. One young person I know has a very demanding profession and has worked hard for her success. She spends much of her limited spare time in the evenings not relaxing and enjoying life but administering her PCA Choice program. She’s told me that in a good month her program only requires a few evenings a month to manage. Recently, she hasn’t had a good month and she’s spent lots of time managing and administrating her program.

There are other folks who find that all they can do is manage their PCA Choice program. Recruiting, interviewing, hiring, scheduling and securing reliable backups take up large portions of every day, and they end up having to do the same routine month after month because of the high turnover rate. I can’t believe that the cause of these discrepancies is personal.

Could it really be that one person is the cause of his own low retention rate, or that the other person is so kind and organized that there are few problems? If so, then why are so many others having problems all of a sudden with hiring and keeping reliable staff? From my point of view, both of the individuals I mentioned have about the same number of needs for assistance with daily living. And both are decent, respectful and well-educated individuals; both have strong knowledge of their specific needs. Both are strong self-advocates and are dedicated to advocating for people with disabilities.

So if it’s not the clients, is it the work and the pay?

Often, PCAs must work beyond their scheduled work plan; they burn out and feel undervalued by coworkers, agencies, and the consumer. Sometimes PCAs find themselves working shifts with tasks they are not completely familiar with. Too often this scenario causes a problem that could easily result in hospitalization and/or rehabilitation. Caregivers following

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others on shifts find essential tasks were neglected, and often don’t address the unfinished tasks, which creates a snowball effect of tasks and procedures neglected and not completed. In no time, PCAs lose their initiative and interest in finding things that need to be done and doing them. Often, too, the client is not a skillful manager of staff (I’m guilty) and doesn’t recognize an emerging problem. When problems are not quickly resolved by the client/supervisor or the agency with encouragement, support (or negative consequences, as needed), the situation often spirals downward towards the loss of a good employee and neglect of the care plan. The end result is often a serious, costly problem—recently, even death in a few cases in Minnesota’s disability community.

On the less dangerous but still debilitating side, it’s a rotten feeling when the belongings that you’ve worked hard for get routinely ruined by individuals who disrespect your home. I’ve known what it is to discover that clothes or linens, or even medical supplies, were thrown into a drawer or rolled up in a ball and thrown up high in a closet, out of sight of the person with the disability. As agencies find themselves operating on thin margins, they barely assume responsibility for a PCA team’s cohesion, which just creates more tension and worry for the consumer.

Because of the personal care employee shortage, individuals are being driven into a position to do they own scheduling and recruiting, even on “Traditional PCA” plans; they’re being forced, essentially, into a PCA Choice program. As I’ve written before, the amount of stress and anxiety that comes with not knowing who will be there to give cares can be mindboggling. Putting individual caregivers into positions where they are responsible to work multiple shifts in a row because of no-shows by relief workers is unfair and illegal. But it happens.

We have a serious crisis and unfortunately I don’t see a quick resolution. So expect to hear more from me and others this session, legislators. We need your commitment to solving this crisis.

Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving and the fun that it brings. Hope you all have a festive Turkey Day with many of your family and friends. We need to recognize how fortunate we are living in this country, being blessed with democracy and our many human and civil rights. As we go to press, it’s the middle of Election Day 2016, so I don’t know who our new president is. I’m counting on a couple things: that we don’t have a contested election (2000 was enough), and that we can all begin to come together at the end of this crazy year of campaigning. ■

November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

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Negotiations start as issues swirl around caregivers Minnesota’s caregiver crisis continues to make headlines. As the Service Employees Union International (SEIU) launched a high-profile campaign to change the state’s Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program through contract negotiations, another group continues its fight to decertify the union.

SEIU represents about 20,000 home care workers.

Those workers help 30,000 disabled and elderly Minnesotans. In early October, activists bearing banners urging state lawmakers to “Fix the Homecare Crisis” made their case at the capitol.

The center point of negotiations is for better wages and working conditions. Supporters contend that the current take-home pay of $11 to $13 must be increased, to retain home caregivers and keep them from jumping to better-paying jobs at nursing homes, hospitals, private-pay patients and or even fast food work. The pay is about $3 less on the Traditional PCA Program.

Job vacancies are nearing a 10-year high, with people who need more intensive support having trouble even hiring staff. One part of the message is that many people who need 24-hour care are going without help, sometimes for days. The lack of assistances not only means isolation and confinement to beds for entire weekends, but it can also put people at risk for serious, costly health complications.

SEIU Healthcare Minnesota is calling for a $15 wage and expanded training for home care professionals. Part of the argument for an increase is that care workers have to consider the failure to adequately provide for their own families with the needs of clients they care about.

SEIU won an election to unionize the 27,000 workers in 2014. The union has been described as an open shop because the PCAs don’t need to join or pay dues. Under the two-year contract approved in 2105, all PCAs got a base wage of $11 per hour, as well as training and paid time off.

Not everyone endorses the union. On October 20, union opponents announced that they are suing three state agencies in Ramsey County District Court. The latest move in the struggle to decertify SEIU is to accuse the state of withholding information.

Forcing a vote to decertify the union means having several thousand signatures in hand by December 1.

The union foes, led by the organization MNPCA, contend that state agencies refuse to provide the group with more up-to-date worker lists. The records are needed to find people to sign the union decertification petition.

The lawsuit seeking current lists centers on the Data Practices Act, which governs public records in Minnesota. But officials from the Minnesota Man-

Home care workers and their supporters celebrated the union vote at a press conference at the 2014 Minnesota State Fair.

File photo

agement and Budget Office contend that they cannot legally turn over the caregiver lists.

“I really did not want to be represented by the union,” said Catherine Hunter. She cares for her two children with disabilities. At the press conference, Hunter said it is “reprehensible” that SEIU takes union dues. The union has long pointed out that dues don’t come out of state Medicaid funds. But Kim Crockett of the Center of the American Experiment and others question that and say there is no transparency or accountability for the dues. ■

HISTORY NOTE

Deaf community has a home at Thompson Hall November 5, 1916, was a great day for deaf Minnesotans. It was the day that St. Paul’s Thompson Hall opened its doors. Deaf and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans have enjoyed the hall for 100 years, going there for classes, social events, and other gatherings. The centennial was celebrated this month with a banquet, trolley history tour, and other activities.

Deaf community members are fortunate that Doug Bahl did research on hall builder Charles Thompson, before Bahl’s death in 2014.

Thompson was from a well-to-do family and never had to work. His father, Horace Thompson, founded the First National Bank of St. Paul. The Thompson family was also involved in the growth and development of the railroad system.

Charles Thompson was born in 1861. Histories don’t indicate if he was deaf at birth or became deaf later.

He attended what is now the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault. His graduation present was a horse farm near Windom. But he sold the farm after a time and returned to the Twin Cities where there was a larger deaf community.

After meeting Margaret Brooks in 1896 at a Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens convention, Thompson fell in love. She had also attended the Minnesota state academy, although she finished her schooling in Colorado.

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Deaf architect Olof Hanson designed the Thompsons’ home, as a wedding present for the new bride.

Hanson and Thompson were friends since childhood.

The Thompson home soon became a gathering place for the deal community. It still stands in the Ramsey Hill neighborhood of St. Paul.

The Thompsons later moved to a home on Lincoln Avenue, with a ballroom on its second floor. The family also had cabins in the Alexandria area and homes in other parts of the United States. Thompson enjoyed entertaining and hosting his many friends from the state’s deaf community. Bahl described Thompson as being a mayor of a deaf colony. People flocked to the Thompsons for friendship.

Charles Thompson died in 1915. His widow Margaret decided to honor his memory with the construction of Thompson Hall. It was planned with ample natural light so that people could easily see one another and communicate through American Sign Language. It has a main floor dining room, an auditorium on the second floor and a bowling alley in the basement, which has now been converted into a smaller place to socialize. The hall’s trustees originally included hearing members of the Thompson and Brooks families and one deaf administrator. Deaf trustees now hold all of the seats. The building opened with a well-attended celebration.

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Margaret passed away in 1929. The Thompsons are buried at St. Paul’s Oakland Cemetery, near many other prominent St. Paul families. The Thompsons are buried next to close family friends the Merriams, including the final resting place of former Gov. William R. Merriam.

Through the generosity of Margaret Brooks Thompson, Thompson Hall was not only able to open its doors.

It has always operated as a free club, unlike other similar social organizations. It has hosted many, many events and activities over the past century and is a cherished place for its members. Deaf community members are looking forward to the next 100 years there.

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 ■

Pg 4 November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

FROM OUR COMMUNITY

Don’t make home care needs a political issue

by Jim Carlisle

Recently a lawyer for a special interest group trying to decertify the PCA union wrote a piece in Access Press about its unrealistic campaign to move the home care industry in Minnesota backward. The whole piece highlighted that working to solve the care crisis in Minnesota was not anywhere on the list of her priorities. Her work seems to start and end with destroying the union PCAs democratically voted to form in 2014. One piece she wrote about their campaign, in particular, stood out: “This will reignite one of the state’s most controversial political issues of recent years.”

How will this solve our care crisis? Is this a good thing for people with disabilities like my wife and me?

The first home care contract had bipartisan support, so it seems that making the care received by thousands of people like me across the state a political football is somehow a positive outcome for the author.

I started using home care workers in the 1970s when the program first began, and my aging mother was unable to care for me anymore. Mom was always concerned about who would take over my care after she was gone. Thus, her failing spirits were lifted when the state of Minnesota started directly subcontracting home care workers and paying them about $6 per hour.

Despite the efforts over the years of numerous parties and individuals, home care workers’ wages have only increased from $6 to $11 per hour. Compare this to a $6 purchase in 1975, which would cost nearly $27 in 2016, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In other words, the cost of living mushroomed 350 percent in the last 40-plus years while home care workers’ wages went up only 83 percent.

TO THE EDITOR Agent Orange effects eyed In regard to the “Agent Orange” clipping from the Rochester Post Bulletin, which appeared in the September issue of Access Press: This was interesting to me because my dad had gone to his 50th anniversary of serving in WWII. As he spoke with his compatriots, he learned that quite a few of them had children with a crippling disease, as do three of us, his children. The reunion group was chiefly radar men on a ship and perhaps never had contact with bio-hazards. Maybe more research should be conducted on the effects of war stress and the potential damage to DNA? Thank you for your interesting articles.

Laura Hill, Roseville

It’s not hard to see why these workers wanted to come together to form a union and why people like me who receive care supported their cause. The pay, benefits and working conditions simply were not attracting enough care workers, which has led us to the point now where Minnesota has a clear and obvious care crisis.

My wife is also disabled, and we have shared numerous care workers throughout the years. This includes the good, the bad and the excellent. Among the good, there have been office managers, computer engineers, and college students all wanting to make a difference in our lives as well as in their incomes.

Among the bad, there has been one who set us up to be robbed at gunpoint, one who picked our pockets right in front of us and one who was verbally abusive to us: all moments in our lives that made lifelong traumatic memories. And among the excellent, there have been those who traveled with us on family vacations, and the one woman who was our home care worker for 34 years. The good and the excellent ones need to be rewarded so that they stay with their clients, leaving no room for the bad ones to enter the homes and lives of vulnerable adults.

I have been a public accountant for more than 55 years. Before selling my practice in Rosemount, I assisted nearly 300 clients and employed four staff members during tax return preparation seasons. I still prepare 30 income tax returns each year. Thus, I’m well aware of how wage rates and the economy, in general, have increased compared to the much slower rise in average hourly wages of home care workers.

Our lives most definitely depend on the daily support given by caring individuals. If our caregiver doesn’t come to work in the morning, my day simply does not begin. “Sleeping in” might sound good to some people, but it’s a daily concern when you rely on one person to unlock that front door each morning. By failing to adequately fund wages and benefits for our independent-

Tuberculosis funds should not be cut What many think of as a disease from the days of “La Boheme” - tuberculosis - is today the world’s leading infectious killer. According to new data from the World Health Organization, the age-old scourge is even worse than we knew - with more people falling sick, more people dying, and more cases of dangerous drug-resistant strains than we previously thought. How is this possible when TB is both preventable and curable?

TB will only end when the world summons the energy and commitment to end it. But the White House has tried to cut TB funding for the last five years. We have to demand that our next president and Congress reverse course, making the end of TB a priority in our policies and in our investments. This is a problem we can solve, and it’s time to take action before the TB epidemic becomes even worse and more widespread.

Margaret Keller, Minneapolis

living supports, society very likely contributes to conditions that significantly increase risks for a poor quality workforce. That is why home care workers formed their union and began turning around the industry with their first contract. Nearly two years to the date after the first negotiation session, I am proud to be one of the clients who is part of the negotiating team bargaining the second contract.

There is much work to do to improve the home care industry in Minnesota, and the problem becomes even more important every single day as more and more seniors and people with disabilities begin requiring care in their homes. It is frustrating that instead of working to fix this crisis facing Minnesota families, this small group is following the lead of an organization that wishes to “reignite” this issue as a way to try and score political points. Our lives and our care are not for scoring political points. I’m glad that home care workers have their union and am happy that they are fighting so hard to improve the home care industry for all eligible Minnesotans who need essential care. ■ James R. Carlisle is a longtime-self advocate. He and his wife Claudia live in West St. Paul.

Please write to us Access Press welcomes letters to the editor and commentary pieces from readers, on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. Letters should be around 500 words, with 750 words per commentary. Ask the editors if more space is needed.

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Let the newspaper staff know if accommodations are needed to submit a letter or commentary. ■

November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

State to step up - from p. 1

File photo

state’s significant home care worker crisis. When asked about the need for services and supports to keep people in the workforce, Dayton said he has hopes that the recently launched negotiations with personal care attendants union would lead to a needed state reimbursement increase. (See related story on page 3.)

“State government should reflect all of the people it serves. They should include Minnesotans with disabilities,” said Dayton. “These programs will provide employment opportunities for more of our citizens, and help to create a more inclusive Minnesota.”

Leaders of state agencies and offices that serve people with disabilities praised the renewed efforts and singled out the two state programs for recognition. But they also spoke of the need for adequate supports and services for workers, and for the state to do all it can to have inclusive employment. It was also noted that while the state as a whole is increasing its ranks of workers with disabilities, some state departments lag behind others in hiring.

“We believe that state government should look like all of Minnesota in terms of both its diversity and inclusion,” said Colleen Wieck, executive director of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. “We know how to support people with disabilities on the job because of technology and accommodations. “A 2005 research study of 600 Minnesota businesses showed that employees with disabilities were rated equal to or higher than employees without disabilities in similar positions in every performance attribute except for work speed. Employee attitude was the biggest driver of overall satisfaction,” she said.

Alan Parns, who worked for many years on employment issues, chaired the Commission of Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans when the 2014 executive order was negotiated. He called the two programs “a win-win” and said they would help people find work as well as support Dayton’s commitment to equity.

Darlene Zangara, executive director of the state’s Olmstead Implementation Office, said Minnesota’s push to hire more people with disabilities is “empowering and bold.” One goal of the state’s Olmstead Plan is that people with disabilities can live and work in their communities and not be segregated.

The governor said that the state needs to provide leadership in hiring, for the private sector. “We need to lead by example,” Dayton said. “We can’t expect businesses and nonprofits to be spearheading new efforts if we aren’t leading the way.”

Dayton’s administration has taken a number of steps to focus on state employment for people with disabilities. Some agencies had stopped tracking their hiring and recruiting. Others had affirmative action plans that lacked specific disability employment goals. Several years ago the ranks of workers with disabilities in state government dropped from 10 percent in 1999 to less than 4 percent in 2013.

How all of this translates into private sector employment is likely to take shape over an extended period of time. Minnesota currently has one of the nation’s lowest rates of integrated employment for people with developmental disabilities. One widespread criticism centers on the number of people in sheltered workshops, who earn a pittance.

To find out more about Connect 700 and the Supported Worker Programs visit mn.gov/careers ■

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REGIONAL NEWS

Coffee and ASL met city challenge

Visitors can come to Thompson Hall Deaf Club in St. Paul and learn American Sign Language (ASL) over coffee. But the service cannot operate as a coffee shop business, according to St. Paul city officials.

The club members put out banners and signs during the summer offering coffee and ASL. The club has a garden-level room with a service counter that serves as a space for the classes and for other meetings and events. Coffee sales were seen as a way to provide a small stream of revenue for building upkeep. Thompson Hall Deaf Club was founded 100 years ago this month with a commitment to free membership.

The club has long invited its neighbors to events such as its annual rummage sale. The hall’s space is also rented out for private events. The coffee and ASL was seen as a new model of outreach.

In August St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections asked that the coffee sales cease and that the banners and signs come down. Thompson Hall is on a residentially zoned lot, so a coffee shop cannot legally operate there.

The club can and will continue to offer ASL lessons to anyone wanting to learn the language, including students at area colleges and universities. Those who use ASL, or who want to use ASL, are considered to be club members.

Anyone interested in the Thompson Hall Deaf Club can visit http://thdeafclub.com/ ■ (Source: Access Press staff)

Many wait for services

Rochester hospital graves marked

More than 1,000 people are waiting for services from Minnesota’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. The state program is already rationing services for hundreds of clients and may have to turn away new applicants. The program is coping with new federal workforce mandates, a looming financial shortfall and pressure at the state level to hire more people with disabilities. The delays also affect the court-ordered Olmstead Plan and its goals of moving about 20,000 people into the workforce by 2020.

There are fears that the state program could reach capacity by late next year. “Our credibility is at stake,” said Kim Peck, director of vocational rehabilitation services. “Our staff didn’t sign up to put people on waiting lists.”

The program annually helps about 3,100 clients obtain jobs in the mainstream workforce while providing thousands more with on-the-job skills training, assistive technology, and other services. Its cost-effectiveness is highly regarded.

Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, a longtime advocate of greater work options for people with disabilities, said closing services for new applicants would have “devastating” consequences for young people and could damage the state’s already poor record on workforce integration of people with disabilities. Only 11 percent of Minnesotans with developmental disabilities who received state services in 2014 worked in integrated jobs alongside people without disabilities — the sixth-lowest rate in the nation. The state estimates that 15,400 Minnesotans still work in cloistered workplaces, known as sheltered workshops, and other sites that pay workers less than minimum wage. ■ (Source: Star Tribune)

The state hospital cemetery at Quarry Hill Park in Rochester has been marked with headstones, thanks to dedicated local volunteers and Advocating Change Together’s Remembering With Dignity project. More than 2,000 people are buried there.

The project has taken 10 years. Proponents said it adds to history for families and for the Rochester community. “If you go to any old cemetery, you see tombstones and gravestones that are just filled with history,” said Buff Hennessey, executive director of The Arc of Southeastern Minnesota. “And here it was kind of absent.”

State and private funding helped pay for the project. “It’s been a labor of love,” said Beth Thompson, a Rochester genealogist and volunteer who, along with her husband, John, have used state hospital records to retrieve the identities of the people buried at the cemetery. A dedication ceremony was held in October.

The Rochester State Hospital opened in 1879. It housed people living with disabilities including mental illness. It closed in 1981. Some patients ended their lives there by hanging themselves or jumping out of third-floor windows. In one case, a man jumped into a furnace.

Some patients who died at the hospital were buried there. Graves were marked at first with wooden crosses, and then with small can-shaped markers. The final piece of the project is to complete a kiosk at the cemetery entrance. It will provide a history of the cemetery as well as a directory to help those searching for a gravesite. ■ (Source: Rochester Post-Bulletin)

Starkey fraud charges head to trial Four of five executives accused of stealing more than $20 million from Starkey Hearing Technologies have pleaded not guilty to fraud charges. The complex case is slated to go to trial December 19.

The indictments continued an escalating conflict between Starkey majority owner Bill Austin and some former business associates. It has involved state and federal officials, including the FBI and the IRS. Last year the Eden Prairie-based company abruptly fired Jerry Ruzicka, who led Starkey for 17 years.

Ruzicka and two other former Starkey executives — Scott Nelson and Lawrence Miller — were indicted on multiple counts of fraud by a grand jury over schemes in which they allegedly padded their paychecks with unearned, six-figure bonuses and took steps to conceal those payments from Austin.

Ruzicka and Nelson were accused of creating shell companies to make secret deals.

Also charged are William Jeffrey Taylor, who allegedly used his position as one of Starkey’s major suppliers to earn millions of dollars in fraudulent commissions and consulting fees; and Lawrence Hagen, a former Starkey employee.

Some of those charged contend that Austin was involved, a charge he denies. ■ (Source: Star Tribune)

Family files lawsuit against city Earlier this year, Burnsville police fatally shot a man whose family said was mentally ill. Map Kong’s family has filed a lawsuit against the city of Burnsville and the Burnsville police, claiming the use of lethal force on Kong was excessive and unconstitutional.

On the morning of March 17, Burnsville Police responded to a report of suspicious activity in a McDonald’s parking lot. Five officers responded and found Kong, 38, wildly brandishing a knife while in the driver’s seat of a car.

Police body camera video shows officers break two vehicle windows and ordering Kong to drop the knife. He wouldn’t comply, and police used a Taser on him. After Kong had fled the vehicle, police shot and killed him. A Dakota County, a grand jury in June, concluded that officers involved were legally justified when they used deadly force in the shooting death of Kong. Toxicology tests for Kong tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, according to a news release from Dakota County.

State law outlines when deadly force by an officer is justified. But Kong’s family contends that police were negligent and deliberately indifferent to Kong’s medical needs as he swung a knife in his car in mental distress. They also claim the city of Burnsville was negligent and indifferent in failing to train officers to respond to a mental health crisis. His family is seeking more than $1 million in damages. ■ (Source: WCCO-TV)

— Find more Regional News on page 13 —

BDC Management Co. may be accepting applications for our accessible waiting lists at the following affordable communities Albright Townhomes Minneapolis (612) 824-6665 Buffalo Court Apartments Buffalo (763) 684-1907 Elliot Park Apartments Minneapolis (612) 338-3106 Evergreen Apartments Hutchinson 1-800-661-2501 Franklin Lane Apartments Anoka (763) 427-7650 Hanover Townhomes St. Paul (651) 292-8497 Lincoln Place Apartments Mahtomedi (651) 653-0640 Olson Towne Homes Minneapolis (612) 377-9015 Prairie Meadows Eden Prairie (952) 941-5544 Raspberry Ridge Hopkins (952) 933-3260 Slater Square Apartments Minneapolis (612) 340-1264 Talmage Green Minneapolis (612) 623-0247 Trinity Apartments Minneapolis (612) 721-2252 Unity Place Brooklyn Center (763) 560-7563 Vadnais Highlands Vadnais Heights (651) 653-0640 Willow Apartments Little Falls (320) 632-0980 Woodland Court Apartments Park Rapids 1-888-332-9312 We may be accepting applications for our large number of mobility impaired accessible units.

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November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

PEOPLE & PLACES

Seventeen teams graduate from Can Do Canines

Sophie and Rylee, her assistance dog, were among the fall Can Do Canine program graduates Photo courtesy of Can Do Canines

Seventeen teams from Minnesota graduated from the Can Do Canines assistance dog program October 22 at the program’s facility in New Hope. Various breeds of assistance dogs helping people with a variety of disabilities such as diabetes, seizure response, hearing loss, mobility and autism.

Part of one team earning its diploma is 11-year-old Sophia of Blaine, who lives with Fragile X syndrome and autism. She is a selective mute, meaning that frustration can lead to name-calling, hiding, and other behaviors. Her aggression and inability to calm herself down can require family intervention.

Can Do Canines partnered Sophia with a black Labrador retriever named Rylee. Rylee acts as a calming influence and helps Sophia have more confidence in school and in her relationships with others.

Sophie’s mother Michelle said, “We did not know what Sophia’s future was going to be. The doctors didn’t necessarily see that there was going to be a future.

I can now say that Sophia will have an opportunity to

McCain joins staff of Fraser Elif McCain recently joined Fraser, Minnesota’s largest and most experienced provider of autism services, as clinical operations director. McCain’s responsibilities include being a partner to clinical leaders and leading improvements and changes in Fraser clinics to better serve clients and families.

McCain brings a vast amount of experience to the position. She started her healthcare career at Mayo Clinic where she trained in Lean and Six Sigma. Before joining Fraser, McCain was with HealthEast where she held a variety of leadership roles overseeing ACO programs and shared services such as RN triage, clinical messaging and scheduling. She also served as an internal consultant to executive leadership and project manager for strategic initiatives.

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Pg 7

“We are thrilled with the clinical operations expertise that Elif brings, partnering with our clinical leaders to address system improvements to keep the children, adults and families we serve at the center of our work,” said Jan Luker, Fraser executive vice president, chief Elif McCain operating officer.

Fraser also provides services for mental health and other developmental disabilities for children and adults through healthcare, education and housing. ■

be productive and to work. I’m seeing a completely different child who has the ability to learn new skills and be a productive member of society and help others, too.”

Graduation marks the culmination of a long journey for the assistance dogs and their partners. Puppy raisers, either in volunteers’ homes or at one of four Minnesota prisons, raise the dogs or teach them basic obedience and first assistance dog skills. After 18 months, the young dogs return to Can Do Canines for final training and to begin their new life with a person in need. Dogs are provided free of charge. ■

Pg 8 November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

PEOPLE & PLACES Challenge Course is open for fun The Challenge Course at Camp Courage allows all True Friends campers to partake in activities and experiences including a giant swing, zip line and ropes circuit. A ribbon-cutting was held October 16 at the camp in Maple Lake. The traversing course includes harnesses for campers with full body motion and for campers who use wheelchairs. A continuous belay system connects the camper to an anchor point at all times.

Once campers complete the circuit, they have the option to zip line down a 600-foot drop to the bottom. The course was custom-designed and built by Universal Ropes Course Builders, Inc. and Director of Team Quest Jason Colvin. Construction of the course began in March and was completed in July.

Courtesy photos

November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

PEOPLE & PLACES Inspector General Jerry Kerber retires After more than 38 years of state service, Inspector General Jerry Kerber, the first to fill that role for the Department of Human Services, retired October 18.

“I am proud to have been part of so many efforts over the years to help people get the services they need,” said Kerber. “I am so fortunate to have worked closely with so many people who, day in and day out, put the needs of others ahead of their own because it’s the right thing to do.”

Kerber began his state career in 1978 working with children experiencing emotional disturbance in what was then the Brainerd State Hospital. He later worked in mental health treatment programs in the Stillwater Prison, the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center and the former Oak Terrace Nursing Home in Minnetonka. In 1988 he moved to the DHS Licensing Division where he held a variety of regulatory positions including director for 16 years.

Five years ago, Kerber was appointed as the first inspector general for DHS when the Office of Inspector General (OIG) was created, combining several regulatory functions and putting greater emphasis on this work. With an annual budget of $18 billion and serv-

Assistive technology group forms PACER Center and its technology staff have launched a new Facebook group to help people buy, sell and give away assistive technology items.

Bridget Gilormini, director of PACER’s Simon Technology Center, said the center is hoping to leverage the power of social media and connect folks who need with folks who have what they are looking for.

Gilormini is encouraging others to like and share the group on social media, to expand its outreach.

The group is called MN Special Needs Equipment for Sale and can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/863267887136492/ ■

ing more than one million Minnesotans – many of them vulnerable – it is critical for the agency to have a strong oversight arm, said Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper.

“Minnesotans rely on us to make sure the services they receive are safe and that the considerable investment of tax- Jerry Kerber payer dollars we make is well spent,” Piper said. “Over the years, Jerry was a respected and knowledgeable advisor to legislators and commissioners as we shaped public policy. Key to Jerry’s success is that he never lost sight of the client – something we can all learn from and apply to our work. He’s also been a wonderful colleague who we are all going to miss.”

Since its creation in August 2011, the OIG has established collaborative working relationships with multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as with counties and other state and federal administrative agencies.

Major accomplishments during the OIG’s first five years under Kerber’s leadership include reducing infant deaths in family child care through licensing oversight and training for providers, including a safe sleep initiative, and reforming licensing for homeand community-based services, which expanded regulation over services delivered by more than 1,600 providers in residential settings Kerber also provided leadership in enhancing the criminal background studies process for employees, employers and the people they care for in health and human services using fingerprint and photos, and automatically receiving updates of criminal information from the courts. He is also credited with expanding program integrity efforts, including recovering a total of $69 million in improper Medicaid payments and establishing a child care fraud investigation unit, which has already resulted in a number of criminal prosecutions. ■

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Pg 10 November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

PEOPLE & PLACES A new business in Chaska could send the unemployment rate for people with disabilities straight to the dogs. The baking, bagging and distributing all natural dog treats online and at events by Finley’s Barkery helps young adults with autism and other disabilities find employment, the use their talents and, often needed growth of socially skills.

Finley’s Barkery co-founders Angie Gamades and Kyle Gallus created their business model because they believe in investing in human potential. “We want to make the community aware of the incredible capabilities of our employees,” Gamades said.

Since launching in March 2016, Finley’s Barkery has grown from two to seven employees, moved into a larger commercial kitchen, and has had a presence at events including the Animal Humane Society’s Walk for Animals 2016, The Minnesota Pet Expo, Fast and the Furry 5k and All About Dogs Day. Finley’s Barkery employees roll, cut, and place biscuits onto the baking sheets, bag biscuits, package, staff trade events, and distribute samples to prospective clients.

It began as a functional job skills class at Chaska High School in 2010. In a class called “Pride Biscuits,” Gamades taught special education students business basics while they baked and delivered biscuits to staff at the school.

“I witnessed firsthand the growth my students made in learning practical skills for work and life,” Gamades

Dog treat bakery fetches jobs in Chaska

One of the Finley’s Barkery workers pasted on package labels at his home

The biscuit baking crew took a break for a photo.

said. “When a student asked after graduation if he could bake dog biscuits again, we jumped at the chance.”

Finley’s Barkery, named after Gamades’ 30-pound mini-German Shepard, was started. The business, in a rented commercial kitchen, encourages adults with autism and other disabilities to use their talents to grow both professionally and personally.

According to the Autism Society of America, only 16.8 percent of people with disabilities are employed.

That statistic that highlights the difficulties those with autism and other disabilities face as they move through transition and into adulthood.

Jonah Weinberg, executive director of the Autism Society of Minnesota, said that despite the overall decrease in unemployment rates, nearly 80 percent of people with autism and similar disabilities remain unemployed. “This is not because most people with disabilities cannot work,” he said. “This is because people with disabilities often struggle to get through the interview process or are placed in jobs for which they are not the right fit.”

Gamades and Gallus want to change that. “So often, we see these amazing individuals working janitorial or warehouse jobs where they are not engaging with others or learning the social skills needed for life long independence,” said Gamades. “We want to provide a work experience where our employees are working on life skills, communication, and social skills, all in a fun and exciting environment. We want them to be visible in the community so that people can see the amazing things they are capabilities.”

Gamades and Gallus work with each employee to find the best positions to fit personality and interests.

That could mean allowing someone to sticker biscuit bags in a sensory-controlled environment at home, or unlocking the inner salesperson of someone who struggles with socialization. The personalized touch has created amazing results.

Kim Weispfenning said that her daughter Kirsten is happy and excited when she goes to work at Finley’s Barkery. “It means a lot to our family to have Kirsten working with Angie and Kyle and the rest of the team,” Weispfenning said. “Kirsten is a hard worker and is able to keep on task with what’s required of her. She thrives in an environment with repetition and routine, and Kyle and Angie guide and instruct her every step of the way.”

Finley’s Barkery employee Jake Brasch likes being with his co-workers. “My favorite part of work is having a good time together, joking around, and just getting along,” Jake said.

Jake’s mother, Dawn Brasch, said the sense of responsibility and pride Jake takes away from his work is invaluable. “There is pride there that I have not seen before,” she said. “Angie and Kyle are accepting of Jake’s strengths and challenges. He feels welcome, included, and accepted, but most of all he has fun doing something that he truly enjoys.”

“Our team amazes us every time we enter the kitchen or work an event,” Gallus said. “They have overcome fears, improved communication skills, increased their independence, and work so hard every time they come to work. Their work ethic is amazing, and they deserve so much credit for what they accomplish.”

Gamades and Gallus are hoping that larger corporations will take note, and bring the same optimistic attitude into programs that hire and train individuals with disabilities.

Weispfenning hopes that Finley’s Barkery will continue to grow. “Angie and Kyle believe in the abilities of all of their employees and have a fantastic product, too,” she said. “My hope is that they can continue to develop their business and employ other young adults who will benefit from the experience like Kirsten has.”

For more information about Finley’s Barkery or to order their dog treats, visit www.finleysbarkery.com ■

Courtesy photos

November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10 Pg 11

ENJOY! Raise a glass to PACER Support PACER Center and its program by raising a glass at the upcoming fundraiser, 6 p.m. Wed, Nov. 30 at Surly Brewing Company, 520 Malcolm Ave SE, Mpls.

Ticket prices ranges from $15 to $35, with different offerings for each ticket level. Attendees must be age 21 and older. Buy tickets at the door. FFI: 952-838-9000, www.PACER.org

Interact Center’s 20th Anniversary Interact Center for Visual & Performing Arts hosts its 20th anniversary celebration 5:30-10 p.m. Wed, Nov. 30 at LAB Theater, 700 N. 1st St., Mpls. 55401. Contact Interact to request AD or ASL. Tickets are $100. Enjoy food, performances, live and silent auction, art sale, champagne toast and more. FFI 612-209-3575; beth@interactcenter.com

Grant opportunities for Minnesota artists with disabilities Deadlines are drawing near for two arts programs.

Grants to help Minnesota emerging artists with disabilities to create new work are now available from VSA Minnesota and the Jerome Foundation. Six grants of $2,000 each will be awarded in early 2017 to writers, performers, composers, visual or multi-media artists. Grant money can be used for whatever will help the artist create new work – art supplies, a class, mentor, computer, camera, time to do research, festival entry fees, etc.

Jan. 17, 2017 is the application deadline. Guidelines are available at www.vsamn.org or can be requested in several formats at 612-332-3888, 800-801-3883, or emerginggrant@vsamn.org Metropolitan nonprofit arts organizations have two funding opportunities between now and mid-2017 to help make arts facilities, programming and activities more accessible to people with disabilities.

ADA Access Improvement Grants of up to $15,000 are available in the seven-county Twin Cities area. The grants are intended to make significant or long-term improvements with potential to involve more people with disabilities as participants or patrons in arts programs.

Shorter-term projects may also be funded, with a maximum $7,500 grant.

The grants are administered by VSA Minnesota for the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC), with funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Application deadlines are Dec. 9, 2016 and May 1, 2017. $155,000 is available to be awarded. Several information meetings and workshops on accessibility subjects will be offered, or groups can direct questions to or make an appointment with VSA Minnesota at 612-3323888 or access@vsamn.org. Grant guidelines can be downloaded at www.vsamn.org ■

Orange Mixed Blood Theatre Company presents the story of Leela, a young woman on the autism spectrum, and a joyride through Orange County, at Mixed Blood Theatre, Alan Page Auditorium, 1501 S. 4th St., Mpls. Open Captioning offered at all performances through Dec. 2 with supertitles.

AD and ASL offered 8 p.m. Sat, Nov, 12 with 7 p.m. tactile tour. Mixed Blood’s Access Pass provides complimentary guaranteed admission for shows to patrons with disabilities and companions, as well as free transportation to.

Regular advanced reservations available online or by phone for $25. Or Radical Hospitality admission is free on a first come/first served basis starting two hours before every show. FFI: 612-338-6131; www.mixedblood.com

The Oldest Boy Jungle Theater presents an exploration of love and letting go, at Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. AD offered 7:30 p.m. Thu, Nov. 17. Assistive listening devices available. Contact the theatre about a possible ASL-interpreted show. Tickets reduced to $14 (regular $28-48. phone: 612-822-7063; email: boxoffice@jungletheater.com

Pianist Kevin Kern: A Little Night Music Back home in the Twin Cities after his Asia tour, Steinway pianist and composer Kevin Kern will perform an evening of music and stories around the piano, with Greg Byers on cello and Josh Misner on violin. Legally blind since birth, Kern is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut release, In the Enchanted Garden. At Schmitt Music, Southdale Square, 2606 W. 66th Street, Edina. Tickets in advance $20, student $10; at the door $25/$15). FFI: Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-3006, http://tinyurl.com/jpvoo6q

A Christmas Story Lyric Arts Company of Anoka presents the humorous tale of a 1940s Christmas, at Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, 420 E. Main St., Anoka. ASL offered 2 p.m. Sun, Nov. 20. Tickets $18-32; $5 discount for ASL seats.

ASL interpreters are provided at the first Sunday performance of each regular season production. A limited number of seats near interpreters are held in reserve for ASL patrons until three weeks prior to performance.

ASL seats left unreserved are released to the general public. If no ASL seating has been reserved three weeks before the show, interpretation is canceled.

When ordering tickets, please indicate the need for seating in this section. Lyric Arts reserves Rows H and I for parties including persons using wheelchairs or with limited mobility. FFI: 763-422-1838; www.lyricarts.org

A Gone Fishin’ Christmas Yellow Tree Theatre presents a comical Minnesota holiday tale, at Yellow Tree Theatre, 320 5th Ave. SE, Osseo. ASL offered 2 p.m. Sun, Nov. 30. Request by Nov. 13. Ask about an AD show. Large print playbill and advance script available with two weeks’ notice. Assisted listening units available. Tickets $23, ASL is pay what one can. FFI: 763-493-8733, boxoffice@yellowtreetheatre.com

A Christmas Carol Guthrie Theater presents the Charles Dickens classic for the 42nd year, at Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls. AD and ASL offered 1 p.m.

Sat, Nov. 26 and 7:30 p.m. Wed, Nov. 30. Open captioning offered 7 p.m. Sun, Dec. 4. Tickets reduced to $20 for AD/ASL, $25 for captioning. FFI: 612-377-2224. www.guthrietheater.org/visit/access_services

The Lion in Winter Guthrie Theater presents a royal drama, at Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls.

Captioning offered 1 p.m. Sat, Dec. 3 and Wed, Dec. 28.

AD, ASL and captioning offered 7:30 p.m. Fri, Dec. 16.

Cartoonist Adrean Clark is a past winner of a VSA Minnesota grant for artists.

Ad and ASL offered 1 p.m. Sat, Dec. 17, with 10:30 a.m. sensory tour. Tickets reduced to $20 for AD and ASL, $25 for captioning. FFI: 612-377-2224, www.guthrietheater.org/visit/access_services

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical Stages Theater Company presents a Christmas tale, at Hopkins Center for the Arts, Mainstage, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins. AD and ASL offered 4 p.m. Sun, Dec. 4. Sun, Dec. 4. Sensory friendly offered 10 a.m.

Sat, Dec. 10, at $10 per tickets. These cannot be purchased online. Tickets reduced to $11, child/seniors $9.

FFI: 952-979-1111, opt. 4, www.stagestheatre.org

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever SteppingStone Theatre presents the tale of the Herdman children and how they turned a pageant upside down, at SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development, 55 Victoria St. N., St. Paul. AD offered 2 p.m.

Sat, Dec, 10. ASL offered 2 p.m. Sun, December 11.

Tickets $16; youth/senior 55 and older $12; FFI: 651225-9265; info@steppingstonetheatre.org

More events information VSA Minnesota VSA Minnesota is a statewide nonprofit organization that works to create a community where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in and access the

arts, at http://vsamn.org. The website has a comprehensive calendar at the upper right-hand corner of its home page. For information on galleries and theater performances around the state join the Access to Performing Arts email list at access@vsamn.org or call VSA Minnesota, 612-332-3888 or statewide 800-801-3883 (voice/ TTY). To hear a weekly listing of accessible performances, call 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883.

Access Press only publishes performance dates when accommodations are offered. Contact the venue to find out the entire run of a particular production.

Additional resources 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 Another resource is Minnesota Playlist, with a recently updated website calendar with all the ASL-interpreted, audiodescribed, captioned, pay-what-you-can shows and other features. Go to http://minnesotaplaylist.com/calendar Arts festivals are held throughout the state. Check www.exploreminnesota.com/index.aspx, http:// festivalnet.com/state/minnesota/mn.html, www.fairsandfestivals.net/states/MN/ ■

Pg 12 November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10 The Arc Minnesota honors heroes

UPCOMING EVENTS Advocacy Join public policy network The Arc Minnesota’s Public Policy Network provides legislative updates and helps Minnesotans get involved with issues at the state and federal levels. It provides information about upcoming hearings, action alerts, what proposed laws and policies mean, and when gatherings are help. The 2017 Minnesota Legislature convenes in January and preparations are well underway. Sign up by visiting the organization’s website, at www.arcmn.org/stayinformed FFI: Mike Gude, 651-604-8066, mikeg@arcmn.org

Assistance Independent living technology Senior Community Services, a statewide nonprofit that helps older adults and caregivers live independently for as long as possible, hosts an independent living technology conference on new advancements in assistive-technology to enhance life for the state’s growing population of older adults. The conference is 1-5 p.m. Fri, Oct. 14 at Minne-tonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.

Caregivers, seniors, city officials, health professionals and others will gather to discover the latest advancements in assistive- technology to help older adults remain independent at home. The keynote address, about innovations in senior housing, will be presented by John Louiselle, CEO of NextDoor Housing. NextDoor has developed a new, portable senior housing option. See innovative products and websites. FFI: 952-541-1019, www.seniorcommunity.org

Children and families Social safety workshop in St. Cloud Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) hosts a workshop on social and emotional safety Sat, Nov. 19 at Calvary Community Church in St. Cloud. Social Safety: Strategies for Navigating Online and Offline will give parents, educators, caregivers, and providers tools to help pre-teens and teens navigate social situations. Presenter is Sara Pahl, a therapist who has worked with individuals with ASD for nearly 20 years. She specializes in working with systems, such as families and schools struggling with behavioral issues, as well as working with adolescents and young adults with ASD. Registration is $35 for AuSM members; $40 for non-members; and $10 for individuals with autism. FFI: www.ausm.org Successfully advocating for your child NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a free class called How to Successfully Advocate for Your Child. Parents of a child living with the mental illness and/or disabilities will learn how to effectively advocate for their child with providers regarding treatment plans and challenging behaviors, and with family, friends and caregivers on how best to meet the child’s needs. It is 6:30-8 p.m. Wed, Nov. 30 at Wentworth Library, 199 Wentworth Ave. E., West St. Paul. Preregister. FFI: 651-645-2948, namihelps.org PACER offers workshops PACER Center offers many useful free or low-cost workshops and other resources for families of children with any disabilities. Workshops are at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, unless specified. Workshops are offered throughout the state. Advance registration is required for all workshops. Hot Tips on the Individualized Education Program: Is Your Child’s IEP Individualized and Appropriate? is 6:30-8:30 pm. Tue, Nov. 29 at PACER Center.

The Arc Minnesota is been active since 1993.

Pam honoring its heroes for Mains’l Services, Inc. is a naGonnella excellence in advocacy. tional company offering serHeidi This year’s celebration is vices to people and families Myhre 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Fri, who need assistance to live Dec. 2 at Midland Hills full and purpose-filled lives Country Club, 2001 Fulin their home communities. ham St., Roseville. Four The minimum suggested will be honored. The Arc contribution is $40 per person or $60 per Minnesota Board Member Tim Allen is couple. Contribution will help defray costs chief financial officer and seof the event, provide lunch for those who nior vice president of Dohave limited resources, and support the Tim Allen minium Development. Pam organization’s work. Those attending need Gonnella is one of most dedito let organizers know by mid-November about any cated public policy advocates needed accessibility accommodations or dietary reand has held many leadership strictions. RSVP by Nov. 25. FFI: Wendy Gerlach, positions. Heidi Myhre is a self-advocate who has 651-604-8070, wendyg@arcmn.org ■ Participants in this hands-on workshop will learn how to use the valuable information in their child’s special education evaluation report to determine how well the Individualized Education Program (IEP) addresses the child’s unique needs. Parents should bring a copy of their child’s most recent school special education evaluation report and current IEP to the workshop. Check out PACER’s website and link to the newsletter of statewide workshops that allows participants to pick and choose sessions catered to their needs.

FFI: PACER, 952-838-9000, 800-537-2237, www.pacer.org Helping students succeed workshop Helping Students Succeed is a free two-hour workshop that provides information to parents of school-age children about special education services, the evaluation process, Individualized Education Programs (IEP), 504 plans, accommodations and modifications. The workshop, sponsored by NAMI Minnesota is 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tue, Nov. 22 at the Shoreview Library, 4570 N. Victoria St. FFI: 651-645-2948, namihelps.org Understanding early episode psychosis NAMI Minnesota offers a free class to help young people who have experienced psychosis and/or their family members and loved ones understand symptoms, causes and treatments of psychosis. Participants who have experienced psychosis will learn how to self-advocate and get back to work or school and achieve recovery. Loved ones and family members will learn how to help and support a young person through recovery. The class is 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Tue, Nov. 15 at St. Andrew’s Church, 800 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, and Tue, Nov. 22 at Roseville Library, 2180 Hamline Ave. N., Roseville. Preregistration required for each class. FFI: 651-645-2948, namihelps.org

Information and assistance Find workplace success Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) offers an AuSM Skillshop, Working With Autism: Four Helpful Hacks and One Golden Ticket, 7-9 p.m. Tue, Nov. 15 at Minnesota Life College, 7501 Logan Ave. S. #2a, Richfield.

Draw on the trial-and-error experiences of a recently retired man with autism, Mitch Potter, who developed strategies to manage his behaviors in the workplace and to use his unique abilities to be a valuable employee. Potter worked as a high school teacher, newspaper reporter and editor, human resource consultant, and web director for a global consulting firm. When diagnosed with autism in his late 40s, Potter already had developed strategies to manage his behaviors in the workplace and to use his unique abilities to be a valuable employee. Preregister. FFI: www.ausm.org Mental health support offered NAMI of Minnesota offers more than 300 free educational classes statewide each year, along with help in navigating the mental health system. NAMI also has more than 60 free support groups living with a mental illness and their families.

In the Twin Cities 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. Parent resource groups are facilitated by a parent who has a child with a mental illness and who has been trained to lead support groups. A group meets 6:30-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday at Eagle Brook Church, 2401 East Buffalo St., White Bear Lake. FFI: Jody Lyons 651-645-2948 x109.

Family support groups help families who have a relative with a mental illness. A group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wed at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 Co. Rd. C-2 West, Roseville.

FFI: Anne Mae. 651-484-0599.

Open Door Anxiety and Panic support groups help people cope with anxiety disorders. One group meets 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. the second and fourth Thu in Room 104, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul. The group used to meet at Goodwill/Easter Seals.

Another group meets 6:30-8 p.m. the first and third Thu at Woodland Hills Church, 1740 Van Dyke St., St. Paul.

Young Adult NAMI Connection is a free support group for persons ages 16-20. A group meets 7-8:30 the first and third Thu at Friends Meeting House, 1725 Grand Ave., St. Paul. The group is facilitated by young adults who live with mental illnesses and are doing well in recovery. A full calendar of all events is offered online.

FFI: 651-645-2948, www.namihelps.org Vision loss group offers activities Vision Loss Resources provides free and low-cost activities in the Twin Cities for people who are blind or visually impaired. Life skills classes for those 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 and activities The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living provides many life skills classes as well as fun outings and events for people with disabilities. MCIL is 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 their calendar.

Please give two weeks’ notice if the alternative format or other accommodations are needed. Events are free, accessible and mostly scent-free. FFI: 651-603-2030 Adult support groups offered 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. Check the website for upcoming groups. Groups meet at the AuSM offices at 2380 Wycliff St. FFI: 651-647-1083 ext. 10, www.ausm.org ■

November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10 Pg 13

REGIONAL NEWS

More news on p. 6

Universal playground project set Willmar children of all abilities will someday enjoy a fully accessible, destination playground at Robbins Island. “The playground is going to happen, it is a definite thing,” said Dave Baker, fundraising chairman for Willmar’s Destination Playground steering committee.

The playground committee presented its plans to the City Council this fall. The nearly 20,000-foot playground is scheduled to be built May 18 through May 26. Hundreds of community volunteers will be needed. In addition to actual construction jobs, volunteers will also be needed for child care, food and maintaining the tool trailer.

Work will start as soon as late November. Local contractors will be moving dirt, moving utility lines and creating drainage. The final design of the playground is nearing completion as well. Many of the playground pieces will be accessible for children with disabilities.

The playground will be built with composite materials, making it safer and longerlasting than wood or metal. It will also be under 24/7 security camera surveillance.

One of the largest costs will be the specially designed ground cover, a poured rubber product, which will be much gentler on kids’ bodies and make it easier for those with disabilities to take part in the fun. Baker said the ground covering is almost a third of the entire cost. Since fundraising began earlier this year, the committee has already raised over $675,000 out of the $800,000 estimated to build the park. The fundraising success is in great part due to a $500,000 donation from Jennie-O Turkey Store.

There will be a volunteer task for everybody, according to organizers. Those interested in the project can visit www.willmarplayground.com ■ (Source: West Central Tribune) Jails must do more - from p. 1 County and one each in Washington and Isanti counties. The Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust worked on the settlements and is supportive of the corrective measures.

The settlements were announced October 18 at Thompson Hall in St. Paul, a center for the deaf community. Three people who had been jailed described their experiences, as did attorneys Rick Macpherson of the Minnesota Disability Law Center and Heather Gilbert of Gilbert Law Office, Roseville. Gilbert is a certified court interpreter. The Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens was also involved and is helping to spread the word that deaf Minnesotans not be unfairly isolated when they are jailed.

“Jail is already a hard experience, but for people who are deaf or hearing impaired, it’s more so,” said Gilbert.

Choua Yang spent four extra days in the Washington County Jail after he couldn’t reach his probation officer. “I ended up missing Christmas with my family, which was incredibly upsetting. I felt so isolated.”

Others spoke of misunderstandings that led to them being jailed for longer than needed, and of missed supports such as AA meetings and church. One person missed parenting class, which resulted in a loss of child custody.

Although other counties have already updated their staff training and accommodations, advocates admit that continuing to make changes has been a jail-by-jail process. Some counties still use outdated teletypewriter or TTY devices instead of modern videoconference phones. One man who was jailed said he had to repair the jail’s broken TTY device before he could use it.

Some jail staff will simply hand a deaf person a piece of paper and a pen. But writing notes back and forth is not only slow and cumbersome, it also can result in misunderstandings. ASL has its own syntax and grammar, and doesn’t mirror English, said Macpherson.

None of the four jails involved in the settlement had ASL interpretation or videophones available at the time the plaintiffs were arrested. Gilbert criticized the use of TTYs, calling the machines “an archaic device.” Most people no longer have TTYs in their homes to make or accept calls. One of the plaintiffs had to fix a jail’s TTY to get it to work.

Relay services don’t work if the person answering a call is hearing impaired or deaf. “For more than 16 years the videophone has been the predominant form of communication,” Gilbert said. Yet too many jails resist installing the devices, which are inexpensive.

Not providing accommodations is a violation of state and federal laws, said Gilbert. “Hearing people can interact with staff as soon as they get to jail.” But people who are deaf or hearing impaired struggle to communicate. The inmates cannot hear public address system announcements and miss out on information such as when meals are served, when recreation time is offered or when a jail goes into lockdown.

One of the keys to better service is making sure all jails have someone designated to coordinate services for the deaf, instead of leaving the issue to whomever is on duty when a deaf inmate comes in. Another is using technology and training to provide adequate communications.

Macpherson said the issues of inadequate jail communications aren’t new. Even though there have been high-profile cases and legal settlements in Ramsey, Dakota and Itasca counties, the communication issues don’t receive high priority.

Yet the cost involved in providing needed communication services is relatively small and is much less than what can be spent on a legal dispute.

It is hoped that the agreements reached will serve as models for other jails, said Macpherson. While many of the accommodation issues are already outlined in state law, bills that would bring further improvements have languished during recent legislative sessions. ■

Affordable housing is saved St. Paul’s Como by the Lake apartment complex has long provided housing for elders and people with disabilities. That housing was almost lost when the property went up for sale. But its Section 8 status was maintained thanks to its purchase by nonprofit housing provider Aeon. Maintaining affordable housing there and throughout the state was celebrated in October when Gov. Mark Dayton announced $80 million in funding for affordable housing projects this year. The financing, in part from the Metropolitan Council, will support 57 developments totaling 1,831 housing units across the state.

Minnesota Housing Commissioner Mary Tingerthal said that Minnesota doesn’t have adequate housing for its poor, disabled and elderly, but that the funding is a step in the right direction.

This year’s amount is less than the $92 million that was handed out last year.

And in 2014, with the help of housing infrastructure bonding, the state distributed $161.6 million. Dayton lamented the lack of a biannual bonding bill this year, which would have led to additional funding. $2.96 million in tax credits for the Como by the Lake project itself, which is estimated to cost roughly $15 million in total. The project is headed by Minneapolisbased Aeon. Aeon’s ownership allows the building’s tenants to stay. ■ (Source: Pioneer Press)

Companion animal sparks lawsuit A New Brighton apartment complex owner faces a civil rights lawsuit, after a former resident with disabilities was told she couldn’t have a Shih Tzu companion dog. The lawsuit was filed this fall in U.S. District Court. The U.S. Attorney contends that Jane Poeschel was treated unlawfully and that federal fair housing laws were violated, while she lived at Garden Grove apartments. The apartments are owned by Oak Grove Realty Services Inc. Poeschel lived at the apartment complex for two years and during that time was bullied and threatened with eviction by property managers. She also alleges that there was a refusal to accommodate her dog.

Poeschel has lived with multiple disabilities for more than 30 years. She began renting at Garden Grove, which allows dogs and cats, in June 2013. But when she tried to add a dog in March 2014, property management suggested she get a cat instead, citing potential disruption of neighbors. Even with a doctor’s letter property management pushed back and refused to renew her lease.

The suit says that the apartment managers retaliated against Poeschel after she had filed a complaint with U.S. Housing and Urban Development in August 2014 and that the resulting stress led her to move out of the complex.

Poeschel hasn’t been able to find another affordable home and has been living in a camper, according to the lawsuit. ■ (Source: Star Tribune)

Pg 14 November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10

Radio Talking Book

November Sampling

BooksAvailable Through Faribault Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Call 1-800722-0550, 9 a.m. to 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 our books via an 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 last 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/ facebookMTBN Audio information about the daily book listings is also on the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newline.

Register for the NFB Newline by calling 651-539-1424.

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

Donate to the State Services for the Blind at mn.gov/ deed/ssbdonate.

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

Battling the Gods, Nonfiction by Tim Whitmarsh, 2015. 15 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 11. Although adherents and opponents of atheism present it as an invention of the European Enlightenment, disbelief in the gods, originated in a far more remote past. Read by Esmé Evans.

Bookworm • Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Fiction by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, 2016. Seven broadcasts. Begins Nov. 22. Harry Potter, now an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, is also a husband and a father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his son, Albus, struggles with the family legacy.

Read by Joe Sadowski.

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

Unbroken Brain, Nonfiction by Maia Szalavitz, 2016.

16 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 14. Author Szalavitz believes addictions are caused by a sort of learning disorder. This explains why they are so varied, why addiction can seem more like a choice than an illness, why it typically strikes young people and why some people outgrow it. L - Read by Pat Muir.

Choice Reading • Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

The Other Joseph, Fiction by Skip Horack, 2015.

Eight broadcasts. Begins Nov. 21. Haunted by family tragedy and a felony conviction, Roy Joseph has labored in exile. When he is contacted by a teenage girl claiming to be his lost brother’s biological daughter, Roy embarks on a journey across America, yearning for connection and the prospect of family. Read by John Gunter.

PM Report • Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars, Nonfiction by Stephen Prothero, 2016. 11 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 14. Author Stephen Prothero says that “culture wars” are not a modern invention. They have been the mechanism by which our nation continually wrestles with, and expands on, what it means to be American. Read by John Demma.

The Health Gap, Nonfiction by Michael Marmot, 2015.

14 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 29. Dramatic differences in health are not a simple matter of rich and poor; poverty alone doesn’t drive ill health, but inequality does. Empowerment is the key to reducing health inequality and improving the health of everyone. Read by Jan Anderson.

Night Journey • Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

The Kiskadee of Death, Fiction by Jan Dunlap, 2015.

Six broadcasts. Begins Nov. 14. Birder Bob White finds a famous Winter Texan dead in one of the Rio Grande Valley’s World Birding Centers during his January escape from Minnesota’s deep-freeze. The murder investigation uncovers illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

Read by Laura Young.

Pegasus Down, Fiction by Philip Donlay, 2016. 11 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 22. A CIA-operated jet on a clandestine mission disappears in Eastern Europe. On board are an American scientist being extracted from Slovakia and his liberator, Dr. Lauren McKenna, code name Pegasus. Lauren is Donovan Nash’s wife and he will use his millions and his connections to save her. V, L - Read by Neil Bright.

Potpourri • Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

The Making of the American Essay, Nonfiction edited

by John D’Agata, 2016. 36 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 14.

John D’Agata, professor of creative writing at the University of Iowa, has long been a defender and anthologist of essays. His passion for the form has led him to search for and discover a treasure trove of what the genre is capable of – essays from before our country was a nation, up to the present day. L - Read by Carol McPherson.

Good Night Owl • Monday – Friday midnight Luckiest Girl Alive, Fiction by Jessica Knoll, 2015. 13 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 17. Ani FaNelli is close to living the life she’s worked hard to achieve. But a secret in her past threatens to destroy everything. L - Read by Nan Felknor.

After Midnight • Tuesday – Saturday 1 a.m.

The Sellout, Fiction by Paul Beatty, 2015. 11 broadcasts. Begins Nov. 17. The town is being removed from the map. To restore his town to public attention, the narrator tries to reinstitute slavery and segregate the local school. V, L, S, RE – Read by Dan Kuechenmeister.

Weekend Program Books Your Personal World (Saturday at 1 p.m.) is airing The Quarter-Life Break-Through by Adam Smiley Poswolsky and The Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness by Amit Sood, MD. For the Younger Set (Sunday at 11 a.m.) is airing Alistair Grim’s Odditorium, by Gregory Funaro. Poetic Reflections (Sunday at noon) is airing 99 Poems by Dana Gioia. The Great North (Sunday at 4 p.m.) is airing In Winter’s Kitchen by Beth Dooley, and A Good Time for the Truth edited by Sun Yung Shin.

Abbreviations: V – violence, L – offensive language, S - sexual situations, RE – racial epithets

Disability Viewpoints

Around the Dial Disabled and Proud Disabled and Proud is aired on KFAI Radio, 6:30-7 p.m.

Thursday. Host Sam Jasmine and her guests explore a wide range of topics that are important to people with disabilities. KFAI is at 90.3 FM in Minneapolis and 106.7FM in St. Paul. Listeners outside of the Twin Cities, or those looking for a past show, will find the show’s archives online at www.kfai.org/disabledandproud To be added to the show’s email list, contact disabledandproud@tcq.net.

Disability Viewpoints is a public access television show by and for people with disabilities. Mark Hughes and his team of co-hosts feature current news, interesting people and groups, and events in Minnesota’s disability community. The show is produced by volunteers at CTV North Suburbs in the Twin Cities. The show has a Facebook page, and a web page at www.ctv15.org/ programs/local/dv ■ Access Press would be interested in listing other regularly scheduled broadcast, cablecast or podcast programs by and for people with disabilities. Anyone with questions can contact jane@accesspress.org

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November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10 Pg 15

PEOPLE & PLACES ProAct’s 2016 Employer of the Year awards honor Minnesota businesses that have helped the Eaganbased organization better the lives of people with disabilities. Honored at an annual recognition banquet in Oakdale were A-MAZE-N Products of Eagan, Popco of Minnetonka, Lofton Label of Inver Grove Heights and the YMCA Kids Stuff program in Hastings.

Those companies work with ProAct’s main operation in Eagan.

Also honored this fall for working with ProAct’s Red Wing facility is Commercial Water Distributing of Zumbrota. All of the honorees work with ProAct to provide meaningful work experiences for people with disabilities.

“The value of what these companies do in bringing jobs and job experiences to the individuals with disabilities we serve cannot be overstated,” said ProAct President and CEO Steven Ditschler. “These partnerships are of mutual benefit and we are so pleased to recognize the 2016 award winners.”

Winners honored in Oakdale were chosen for four categories: Community Employer of the Year, Business Partner, Supported Employer of the Year and Vocational Partner. The designations align with several of ProAct’s services for clients.

The Community Employer honoree, A-MAZE-N Products, is a small business in Eagan led by owners Todd and Rhonda Johnson. Two individuals and a supervisor are there each day to package products for shipping. “Todd has set a standard at his business that everyone is treated like family,” said ProAct Employment Manager Heather Deutschlaender. Most of the products are used to add smoked flavor to grilled meats and the business holds weekly employee barbecue lunches to share food and flavors.

Receiving Business Partner recognition is Popco, a Minnetonka company that makes and distributes retail display components. Individuals work at ProAct in Eagan, attaching wire hooks or plastic clips to suction cups. They work with adhesives and plastic buttons, said ProAct Sales Manager Greg Pechman.

“Popco is great to work with because of the type of work provided,” he said, noting that it can be performed by many individuals.

The Supported Employer of the Year winner is Lofton Label, an Inver Grove Heights company offering printed labels, flexible film, packaging and equipment. ProAct has enjoyed a 10-year relationship with the company. One individual from ProAct has been with the company for two years. He has been welcomed to the team, and had celebrations for major life events, said Deutschlaender. “Lofton Label truly creates an environment that is naturally supportive.”

Vocational Partner winner is the Hastings YMCA and its “Kids Stuff” program. The Y hosted work assessments or tryouts for ProAct individuals, embracing ProAct’s “person-centered” approach that focuses on quality of life, Deutschlaender said. “They are directly involved in each individual’s assessment process and treat everyone as if they are an employee of their organization.” Work experiences prepare people for future jobs. “The level of care and support from the YMCA has been outstanding.”

Commercial Water Distributing was named ProAct Employer of the Year by the nonprofit’s Red Wing facility, which supports a group of individuals with disabilities who work on weekdays at the filter distribution company.

The firm specializes in drinking water filters and products that use reverse osmosis. Refrigerator filters

ProAct honors companies for providing employment

Minnetonka-based Popco was honored as Business Partner Employer of the Year.

The Hastings YWCA and its Kids Stuff Program won the Vocational Partner Award.

A-MAZE-N Products, led by Todd and Rhonda Johnson, was honored as Community Employer.

Commercial Water Distributing sent a large crew to collect its Red Wing Employer of the Year award.

Photos courtesy of ProAct

and chemical water purification are additional specialties, as are water filters for refrigerators and coffee makers.

Workers from ProAct sort and repackage the products, apply bar code labels and ready them for shipment. Maintaining quality is the primary concern, crewmembers explained. Most of the crewmembers had worked previously at ProAct’s facility in Red Wing, but these job opportunities have allowed them to work more hours and more days per week because the trip to Red Wing and back is no longer necessary.

Crews are working full days, four to five days a week.

“ProAct has been an integral partner as we continue to build our business,” said Commercial Water Distributing CEO Javin Arvig. “They connect us with amazing people who help us accomplish our goals so we can provide value to our customers and the world.”

ProAct Vocational Services Specialist Sam Kapala said staff members at ProAct have been impressed with how the company includes the ProAct crew in

recognition events and company meals. It does a good job of making sure the people have sufficient training and adequate work space. The jobs there have also been a great opportunity for people with disabilities who live in Zumbrota and nearby communities to work each day with a minimal commute.

The two organizations are also exploring options to bring overflow work to ProAct’s substantial packaging and assembly operation in Red Wing. Commercial Water Distributing was recently recognized for its rapid growth. It has received awards from the Better Business Bureau and Bizrate.

“However, the awards that mean the most to us are the ones that say we are a ‘Best Place to Work.’ We spend a lot of time and energy trying to make sure we have a strong culture and a great place for people to build their careers,” said Arvig.

ProAct has headquarters in Eagan, and a major operation in Red Wing. Additional locations are in Zumbrota and in Hudson, Wis. Its mission is to serve individuals experiencing barriers to employment and self-sufficiency due to intellectual disabilities. ■

State council gets Emmy nominations The Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) was nominated for two Upper Midwest Emmy Awards for the council’s partnership with Twin Cities Public Television to produce The ADA at 25: Disability Rights in Minnesota. The documentary detailed the history of the landmark civil rights legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act. To even be nominated was an honor, as more than 1,100 entries were received. The documentary was nominated in the categories of interviews/discussion and historical.

The awards banquet was held October 29 at the Radisson Blu Hotel at the Mall of America in Bloomington.

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Find your new home with At Home Apartments. Call 651-224-1234 or visit AtHomeApartments.com for an apartment or town home. Equal Opportunity Housing.

The documentary outlined the powerful and complex history of the ADA. From its earliest flicker shortly after the passage of the Civil Rights Act to the point where it finally ignited almost thirty years later, the story of the ADA is amply documented. Through the alliances and dedicated engagement of the disability community and its advocates, policies and laws continue to be introduced (and passed) that make life in the United States more equitable for all Americans.

The documentary was released last year as part of a 25th anniversary celebration. Learn more at www.disability.state.mn.us/ada/ ■

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STAFF ATTORNEY Central Minnesota Legal Services seeks 2 full-time attorneys for its Minneapolis office. Fam. Law; with some work in housing/govt benes. Licensed in MN pref’d. Post-law school pov. law exper., fam. law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus. Salary $47,000+D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to Lynelle Wells, CMLS, 430 First Ave. No., #359, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or email to: cmls@centralmnlegal.org Appl. deadline: 11/14/16 or until filled. EOE. CONSUMER ADVOCATE Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. For details go to www.mylegalaid.org/jobs

Pg 16 November 10, 2016 Volume 27, Number 10