April 2020 Edition - Access Press

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April 1, 2020

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More beds, safe housing among issues

MENTAL HEALTH DAY To page 3

WALLACE GROUP

Dr. Michael Osterholm

Disability Services Day at the Capitol March 10 drew many self-advocates.

COVID-19 pandemic brings emergency measures to state The COVID-19 virus has created uncertain times for Minnesotans with disabilities, especially at the state capitol.

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned early the morning of March 17, and isn’t scheduled to return until April 14. That

has not only left dozens of key bills in limbo, it also created a situation that had disability advocacy organizations scrambling until Gov. Tim Walz issued two executive orders.

EMERGENCY To page 3

Check our Directory of Organizations for the supports and services you need for daily living!

Page 5-8

Prepare, take precautions against COVID 19 Minnesotans with disabilities must be extra-vigilant during the current COVID-19 or novel coronavirus pandemic. Restrictions change daily due to the rapidly evolving situation.

According to MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm, recommendations to slow the spread of disease show that every Minnesota resident and organization has an important role to play in protecting state residents.

“We know these strategies will impact the lives of all Minnesotans, but we are hopeful we can reduce the impacts of this outbreak by working together,” Malcolm said. “All Minnesotans share the risks and the responsibilities now.”

Many events have been canceled, ranging from conferences and galas to the Minnesota State High School League’s adapted floor hockey tournament. Most states have canceled school, with many K-12 schools, colleges and universities going to online programs.

Nursing homes and hospitals around Minnesota have restricted or banned visitors. Most public places have shut down or are offering limited services. For example, most clinics have canceled or asked patients to delay non-essential visits.

Those considered to be at highest risk for contracting COVID-19 include people age 60 and over, and people with pre-existing conditions including diabetes, heart, lung or kidney diseases. Persons with asthma or other pre-existing respiratory issues should also be careful. Many people with

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Needed updates to civil commitment law, increased access to mental health treatment and beds, safe and supportive housing and other measures are priorities for the Minnesota Mental Health Network. The coalition of more than 40 organizations brought hundreds of people to the capitol March 12 for the annual Mental Health Day on the Hill. The group continues to bring forward the message that the mental health system isn’t broken, it hasn’t been built yet.

Building that system has become more challenging. With state lawmakers going into recess just a few days after the rally, the status of all legislation is up in the air. Barring a special session, legislators won’t reconvene until April 14. With the session set to end May 18, that isn’t a lot of time to act on important measures.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Minnesota Executive Director Sue Abderholden urged those at the rally to tell their stories and make sure their needs are known to state lawmakers. Legislators and Gov. Tim Walz told Minnesotans with mental illness that their priorities are also the state’s priorities, and that they’ll do what they can to get measures signed into law.

The 2020 Mental Health Legislative Network bills cover several areas.

Three bills are the adult mental health focus. A badly needed update of civil commitment law, which has been studied by a task force for almost three years, is pending. The proposed amendments don’t change the standards for commitment and don’t make substantive changes to the law governing people who are deemed mental ill and dangerous, or under the sex offender program. The proposed amendments do clean up outdated language, expand the definition of mental health officer, make changes to 72-hour hold procedures, and make it easier to get needed medication to someone in jail. The changes would also create a new “engagement services” section to intervene before commitment becomes necessary and support someone with a serious mental illness to engage in treatment voluntarily.

Another proposed bill affecting adults would suspend CADI waivers while someone is in a hospital or regional treatment facility for 30 or more days. This would eliminate the problem of people on the waivers losing services that allow them to live successfully in the community.

A third focuses on the Fergus Falls Crisis Stabilization facility, and allows individual crisis stabilization providers and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) commissioner to negotiate sustainable rates for smaller crisis centers in rural areas.

In children’s mental health, proposals include technical changes to language on psychiatric residential treatment facilities for children and youth, ways to provide “comfort calls” connecting foster and biological parents within a set time during out-of-home placements, and a ban on so-called “conversion therapy.”

Conversion therapy is a fraudulent practice when people who are LGBTQ are the target of those who think they can “cure” them of their gender.

"We're in a fight against this virus.

We don't have time for double talk. We need straight talk."

DIRECTORY of Organizations

Volume 31, Number 4

disabilities already have pre-existing conditions and/or compromised immune systems, so extra care is needed to avoid becoming ill.

Rather than be afraid, everyone must take precautions and prepare for changing times. The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread primarily by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, much like how influenza spreads. It can be spread if people are within six feet of someone with the virus. Put distance between oneself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in the community.

This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick,

especially people with disabilities.

COVID-19 can also spread when people touch contaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. It is an emerging respiratory disease, and more is learned about it every day.

If possible, self-isolate. Work from home if at all possible. Talk to medical professionals and home health care suppliers, to have an adequate supply of medications and medical supplies. Avoid unnecessary travel.

Wash hands often, for at least 20 seconds at a time, with soap and water. Wash hands before and after meals, after using the restroom and after coming home. After being in a public place, wash hands after leaving. Also wash hands after blowing one’s nose, coughing or sneezing. Throw away tissues after using them.

If soap and water aren’t available use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

People should be extra-conscious of the need to regularly wash hands, and not touch faces, eyes and mouths. Cover coughs and sneezes. Frequently clean and disinfect often-used surfaces.

Direct care staff and family members of people with disabilities should be especially vigilant to take precautions with hands-on care, as well as with proper disposal of medical wastes.

Cough, fever and difficulty breathing are symptoms of COVID-19. Emergency COVID-19 To page 4

April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

TIM’S DESK

One of the main things the government is requesting for all of us to stay at home, but it initially did not fund any supports for community-based services.

Tim Benjamin Because of our new publishing schedule, it’s only been a couple weeks since my last column. It has certainly been an incredible couple of weeks, filled with uncertainty and fear, and exponential changes in the virus numbers and in the information we receive.

The governor has declared a state of emergency and has closed down most businesses where the public gathers or where people are in close contact with service providers. The media, including Access Press, has bombarded us with recommendations on how to stay safe, so I won't go into that in this note. I do want to talk about how COVID-19 is going to affect home care, how government ought to be supporting the needs of people in the community, and how each one of us can support one another during this crisis.

On March 16, the Minnesota Legislature passed emergency funding (SF4334) of up to $150 million for hospitals and other healthcare facilities but didn't include any money for home care. The coalition known as This is Medicaid urged people to call or contact legislators to come back from recess and

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pass SF4200. A governor's order gives Department of Human Services (DHS) commissioner emergency authority to make changes in policy and procedures so that people who depend on DHS services continue to get them during this crisis.

Status updates will be posted on the This is Medicaid Minnesota Facebook page.

One of the main things the government is requesting is for all of us to stay at home, but it did not initially fund any supports for community-based services. If we get sick, most of us are probably better off staying at home rather than being in the hospital system. But for many of us to stay at home we need caregivers, and we need for them to be healthy, and we probably need assistance getting all the healthcare supplies we need in addition to food and cleaning supplies. (I’m not going to mention bathroom supplies as that’s been getting too much attention already.)

So many people with disabilities have “underlying health conditions,” so when we hear about how that makes us vulnerable to this coronavirus, I think we can tend to panic. We need to pay attention to all the right symptoms like dry cough,

shortness of breath and raised temperatures, and then get help and a diagnosis right away. It’s also important that we all have a plan for what we’ll do if we notice these things. But we don’t need to panic or be anxious.

How cautious do we have to be as adults with vulnerabilities? With the personal care attendant shortage pre-virus we sometimes had to accept caregivers who were not completely qualified but were willing to work and try to do the job. I know that in the past couple years I have had to hire people who were less than committed and reliable only because there was no other option. That’s such a sad statement. It’s probably sadder that with all the layoffs right now, there may be more people willing to do home care work. It might be beneficial for the healthcare industry in general that there may be more workers who could discover worthwhile careers. I hope in saying that I'm looking on the bright side and not just being selfish.

After days of worrying and getting disgusted at a lot of public (and personal) selfishness, I’ve been paying more attention lately to how many kind and helpful people there are out there. I think we have to think about solidarity. I think we have to start thinking more about others

and less about what is best for us. Maybe this virus will show us where individualism and capitalism has gotten out of control. Maybe we can start thinking more about unity and how we can help one another. Like Paul Wellstone said, “We all do better when we all do better.”

It really is the time to unite. In looking around, I realize there’s a nurse across the street and a next-door neighbor who is a paramedic. Both families have two young children, and they no doubt have many more concerns about safety and the future than we do in our senior household.

It always seems as though we don't have time, and maybe we don’t, but we must unite in solidarity to overcome what is coming our way.

Be very cautious. Have people around you wash their hands, keep the caregivers to a minimum that are coming in and out of your house, have everyone who is coming and going monitor their temperature and make sure that you are monitoring your own or having it monitored. Also work to reach out to others--online, on the phone, via video chat, and in the mail.

We all need each other like never before.

Be safe and we will talk next month.

HISTORY NOTE

From the Centers for Disease Control When many of us with disabilities have been practicing social distancing and staying in our homes in the wake of COVID-19, it may be a time to look back on the deadliest pandemic in the 20th century. The 1918 influenza pandemic was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. It spread worldwide during 1918-1919.

In the United States, it was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918.

It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus.

The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. It’s not known how many victims had pre-existing disabilities, but what we’d now consider to be primitive medical care likely contributed to deaths.

Entire families died.

The pandemic occurred as World War I was winding down, with soldiers in tight quarters in barracks and on ships. Movement and mobilization of troops placed large numbers of people in close contact and living spaces were overcrowded.

Health services were limited. Up to 30

percent of U.S. physicians were deployed to military service.

Medical technology and countermeasures at the time were limited or nonexistent. No diagnostic tests existed that could check for influenza infection.

In fact, doctors didn’t know influenza viruses existed. Many health experts at the time thought the 1918 pandemic was caused by a bacterium called “Pfeiffer’s bacillus,” which is now known as Haemophilus influenzae.

Influenza vaccines did not exist. Antibiotics had not been developed yet.

Penicillin was not discovered until 1928.

Likewise, no flu antiviral drugs were available. Critical care measures, such as intensive care support and mechanical ventilation also were not available in 1918. Without these medical countermeasures and treatment capabilities, doctors were left with few treatment options other than supportive care.

In terms of national, state and local pandemic planning, no coordinated pandemic plans existed in 1918. Some cities managed to implement community mitigation measures, such as closing schools, banning public gatherings and issuing isolation or quarantine orders, but the federal govern-

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World War I era flu pandemic was worst in the 20th century. ment had no centralized role in helping to plan or initiate these interventions during the 1918 pandemic.

When considering the potential for a modern era high severity pandemic, it is important to reflect on the considerable medical, scientific and societal advancements that have occurred since 1918, while recognizing that there are a number of ways that global preparations for the next pandemic still warrant improvement.

To better understand this deadly virus, an expert group of researchers and virus hunters set out to search for the lost 1918

virus, sequence its genome, recreate the virus in a highly safe and regulated laboratory setting at CDC, and ultimately study its secrets to better prepare for future pandemics.

Read how the origins of the 1981-1919 pandemic were found, many years later, at www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/reconstruction-1918-virus.html The History Note is a monthly column sponsored by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, www.mnddc.org and www.partnersinpolicymaking.com

CDC

World War I era flu pandemic was worst in the 20th century

April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

EMERGENCY From page 1

Walz on March 20 issued the executive orders to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) The orders are meant to provide flexibility to serve vulnerable Minnesotans during the pandemic, including people with disabilities. His decision was met with praise and relief.

As a result of the orders, DHS has emergency temporary authority to change administrative and regulatory requirements for food assistance, home care, public health care and other state programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Orders 20-11 and 20-12 will help ensure access to services and protection of health for over 1 million Minnesotans, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, young families with children and individuals with mental illness.

Go to https://mn.gov/dhs/ for updates on COVID-19 and how DHS is handling it.

Walz’s orders eliminate the need for a special session on those issues. While state lawmakers did pass measures to respond to COVID-19 before adjourning, the concern was that too many people needing help were left out. More than 200 organizations quickly joined forces to seek help, sending letters to Walz and House and Senate leadership.

The letter stated, “As a broad-based group of advocacy organizations and providers from across Minnesota we urge policymakers to reconvene to take action that will better ensure our friends, family members, and neighbors who depend on safety net supports can weather this crisis.”

“A wide range of basic critical policy areas administered

by DHS are impacted: childcare, mental health services, services for persons with disabilities and older adults, health care (Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare), economic assistance, housing support, children’s services, supports for vulnerable populations, and the direct care and treatment system.”

“Legislators should act so that: • Health coverage renewals can be delayed so that people don’t lose Medicaid; • Seniors and families do not lose food assistance; • People with chronic health issues can do assessments and other visits remotely instead of face-to-face; • People can access sufficient critical mental health treatment via telemedicine; • People with disabilities and

chronic health conditions can access supports, including shared staffing, PCA services, and paid supports from family members, that will allow them to stay healthy and stable at home; • Childcare providers have the flexibility they need to stay open and continue providing care for children of health care workers and first responders.

These are just a small fraction of the actions DHS should implement to meet the needs of Minnesotans during this crisis.”

With those issues addressed for now, attention shifts to other areas. Walz and legislators held a series of press conferences in March as they sought to address a rapidly shifting situation.

Schools closed statewide, and many communities shut down libraries, recreation centers and other public facilities. Day activity centers and centers for independent living either closed their doors or cut back hours. Many types of businesses have closed or are offering curbside services.

Support groups, including those offered by National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Minnesota and a number of groups serving people with chemical dependencies, went online.

Senate and House leaders acknowledged that they are in what is uncharted territory. Some were visibly distracted and emotional in the hours before adjourning. Committees may meet on-call. Some leaders said the remainder of the session will focus only on critical bills, including bonding.

Some legislators have pushed back against Walz and questioned whether all of his orders are needed. But Walz’s administration has also pushed back. The governor released a new budget and economic forecast, indicating that a nationwide recession is predicted beginning in the second quarter of this year.

“Doing the right thing to protect ourselves and one another — social distancing — is hard on our economy in

the short run, but it will ultimately be the right thing for all of us. In these times of uncertainty, my administration is working tirelessly to ensure our state is in the best position possible to weather whatever may come our way,” Walz said.

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving. For updates, go to https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/

BENDING THE CURVE — ON ANSWERS

MENTAL HEALTH DAY From page 1

Several bills focus on improved access to treatment, including development of a telemedicine platform, changes to post-partum Medical Assistance coverage, and changes to mental health rates to support community-based providers.

More teacher training on mental health issues, non-exclusionary discipline, a grant program to promote trauma-informed schools and changes to paraprofessional training are proposed for schools. One key proposal would create a comprehensive mental health services division within the Minnesota Department of Education.

This would provide many ways to support students with mental illness.

The Mental Health Network supports a $500 million Homes for All bonding request. It would create more affordable housing including $40 million for emergency shelters.

There is also a call for $25 million in bonding and $25 million in one-time funding to address the growing crisis of mentally ill homeless people.

Cr i m i na l just ice measu res winning network support additional considerations for veterans with mental illness at time of sentencing, and consideration of probation when a person receiving mental health treatment is sentenced.

The network opposes two bills.

One would allow untrained physicians assistants to practice without a physician delegation agreement.

The second bill is the DHS proposal “Families First.”

DHS wishes to make major changes to voluntary placement agreements. If approved, families voluntarily seeking residential mental health treatment for their child would have to undergo a relative search before the child could address needed mental health treatment. The proposal is seen as unfairly treating parents as if they are the problem, and blaming them for a child’s mental illness.

This issue’s legislative coverage is by Managing Editor Jane McClure.

How are state services impacted by

COVID-19 response?

Like everyone across Minnesota and the U.S., the Department of Human Services is in emergency response mode to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota. For several weeks we’ve been addressing questions about how the coronavirus response impacts our services.

To guide the people we serve and our partners who deliver care to Minnesotans, we have answered questions on many topics. In other areas, such as our fexibility with certain state and federal laws, rules and waiver requirements, we’re still seeking answers.

We thank you, the people we serve and our community partners, for your patience and understanding as we work to answer your questions.

We continue to seek these answers as we work together to deliver the best service we can during these challenging times.

As the situation unfolds in the coming days and weeks, these resources are regularly updated with the latest information pertaining to our services: Minnesota Department of Health https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/ Minnesota Department of Human Services Summary of Covid-19 topics: https://mn.gov/dhs/covid-19/ Disability Hub: 1-866-333-2466 https://disabilityhubmn.org

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April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

REGIONAL NEWS BCA hires liaison to help families As part of an initiative to reduce police shootings, a state agency has hired a liaison to work with victims and families involved in officer-involved shootings. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal ApprehenBCA Head Drew Evans sion (BCA) has hired Biiftuu Ibrahim Adam.

She started in March as the BCA’s Victim, Family and Community Relations Coordinator. Adam will be the liaison between the BCA and members of the community who are involved in officer use-of-force incidents being investigated by the bureau.

The new post is important because officer-involved shootings sometimes involve people with disabilities.

Having a liaison was one of 28 recommendations made by members of the Minnesota Working Group on Police-involved Deadly Force Encounters.

Over the past five years, there have been more than 100 deadly force encounters with law enforcement in the state, with 60 percent of them in Greater Minnesota.

Facility for children, teens opens

During her 16 years working at the adult psychiatric hospital in Anoka, Paula Marsh-Geurts often thought, “If only we could’ve got them when they were younger.”

Now there’s hope, she said, with the opening in East Bethel this month of Cambia Hills, Minnesota’s first residential psychiatric treatment facility specifically designed for children and teens.

“This is about children being saved, lives being saved,” said Marsh-Geurts, a behavior intervention specialist at Cambia Hills.

Young people between the ages of 7 and 17 with depression, anxiety, autism and other severe mental health conditions will get treatment at the $26 million 60-bed facility, designed to help fill gaps in services for youth who often cycle through emergency rooms or resort to out-of-state care.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), at the direction of the legislature, selected Cambia Hills as one of three new psychiatric facilities for youth. The Duluth-based nonprofit leading the project, the Hills Youth and Family Services, has two similar locations; Northwoods Children’s Services in Duluth is the only other psychiatric residential treatment facility in the state.

Northwoods reported a waitlist of nearly 100 in 2018, when it first opened its residential program. In 2017, more than 170 young people were served at an out-of-state residential treatment center.

According to DHS, more than 100,000 Minnesota

COVID-19

From page 1 warning signs include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain in abdomen or chest, severe or constant vomiting, sudden dizziness and confusion.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that gatherings with 50 or more people be postponed until mid-May. Gatherings of any size should only be carried out with care. There have even been calls for a 14-day national shutdown, to control the spread of the virus.

COVID 19 is present in several Minnesota counties, and more people are testing positive for the virus each day. MDH has announced community-level strategies to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The broad set of recommendations will remain in place until further notice,

Nationally, 30 to 50 percent of people who died in a police encounter were in a mental health crisis or had a disability, according to Attorney General Keith Ellison, cochair of the group, and the Autism Society of Minnesota.

“Biiftuu is a valuable addition to our team,” said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. “She will help families understand the BCA’s investigative process and keep them informed of our progress in investigating their incidents.”

Adam is a Twin Cities native who holds a master’s degree in criminology and has nearly a decade of experience working with survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, human trafficking and incarceration. She has worked in both nonprofit and government settings.

Prior to taking the BCA post, Adam served as crime victim liaison for the city of Bloomington, where she developed and implemented that city’s Crime Victim Services Program. She has also led research concerning racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

“Victims and families deserve support, guidance and communication through this process,” Adam said. “I look forward to serving the state in this new role and building community-driven, long-term solutions.”

(Source: Pioneer Press, Minnesota BCA) children need treatment for serious emotional disturbances. The Minnesota Student Survey in 2016 found that more than 14,000 students had attempted or seriously considered suicide.

DHS officials said similar facilities are in the pipeline statewide to provide more resources for high-need adolescents.

“When a kid is sent out of state, it’s really difficult to get engaged in therapy and be part of discharge planning,” said Neerja Singh, deputy director of behavioral health at DHS. “This would really enhance family engagement — a protocol that’s a must.”

(Source: Star Tribune)

Fraud-related bill moves ahead

Minnesota lawmakers are looking to crack down on renters who purchase fraudulent documents for service or emotional support animals in order to evade landlords' pet restrictions and fees.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously passed Senate File 2693, which requires tenants to provide medical documentation proving their need for a service or emotional support animal to landlords. The bill's primary author Sen. Dan Hall (R-Burnsville), said the bill is an attempt to crack down on tenants who purchase faux documentation to skirt landlords' pet rules, fees or deposits.

Leanna Stefaniak of St. Paul-based apartment company At Home Apartments, told legislators that she and a colleague are responsible for sorting through renters' service animal requests. She estimated that one in four of and touch on many aspects of society, including families, faith-based organizations, employers, assisted living facilities, schools and health care settings. Each strategy is designed to make person-to-person transmission less likely by reducing the close-contact interactions that tend to result in passing along the illness.

A close-contact interaction is considered to be one where people are within six feet of each other, for 10 minutes or more.

"For everyone, the responsibility first and foremost is to stay home when you are sick,” Malcolm said. “I want to make it clear that this applies to everyone – no exceptions during a serious outbreak like this. For communities and organizations, the responsibility means making temporary adjustments to events, operations and activities to help make person-to-person transmission less likely.”

Many resources are available to help people affected

the documents they receive are produced by "boutique" online companies producing fraudulent certificates.

From her perspective, such fake documents are an "affront" to those tenants who legitimately do need the help of a service animal. If passed, a tenant found to provide false documents to their landlord under SF 2693 would be liable to a fine up to $1,000 and eviction. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, landlords under the bill must not require documentations from tenants whose disabilities are “readily apparent or already known.”

SF 2693 has the support of the Minnesota Disability Law Center and Minnesota Housing Authority. Stefaniak said 15 other states have similar laws on the books.

(Source: Rochester Post-Bulletin)

Shock devices officially banned

Federal officials have banned electrical shock devices used to discourage aggressive, self-harming behavior in people living with disabilities. The announcement from the Food and Drug Administration follows years of pressure from patient groups and mental health experts who have called the treatment outdated, ineffective and unethical. The agency first announced its intent to ban the devices in 2016.

For years, the shock devices have been used by only one place in the U.S. That remaining location was the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center of Canton, Massachusetts, a residential school for people with autism and other psychiatric, developmental or mental disabilities. Use in Minnesota ended years ago.

Administrators at the Massachusetts center have called the shock treatments a last resort to prevent dangerous behaviors, such as head-banging, throwing furniture or attacking teachers or classmates.

Electric shocks and other cruel treatments known as “aversive conditioning” were more widely accepted decades ago. But mainstream psychiatry now relies on behavioral modification, prescription drugs and other therapies that have proven more effective.

“Through advancements in medical science, there are now more treatment options available to reduce or stop selfinjurious or aggressive behavior," said Dr. William Maisel, a director in the FDA's device center, in a statement.

The FDA said patients should instead receive treatments that focus on eliminating factors that trigger the behaviors or teaching patients coping skills to deal with them. Doctors also routinely prescribe medications to help with mood, impulsiveness and other behavioral issues.

The FDA has only banned two other products in more than 40 years of regulating medical devices -- powdered surgical gloves, which can cause allergic reactions, and fake hair implants, which caused infections and didn’t work.

Typically, the FDA addresses safety issues by adding new warning labels or modifying instructions for devices. But the agency concluded that the problems with the shock devices could only be addressed by banning them (Source: KSTP-TV)

by COVID-19. United Way 211 can help with resources and referrals for help with food, living situations and transportation. So can county human services offices.

More COVID-19 information can be found on the MDH COVID-19 website, at www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/ coronavirus/index.html.

MDH has set up a COVID-19 public hotline that is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The hotline number is 651-201-3920.

Other websites with useful information include: *The CDC website has several pages devoted to COVID-19. Go to www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ index.html *The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has many useful tips, at www.cms.gov/outreach-education/ partner-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-partner-toolkit *Another good resources is the Administration for Community Living website, at https://acl.gov/COVID-19

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April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

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DIRECTORY of Organizations ADVOCACY Advocating Change Together (ACT)

V-651-641-0297

The Arc of Minnesota

V-651-523-0823 x115 F-651-523-0829

www.thearcofminnesota.org

Association of Residential Resources in MN

V-651-291-1086

www.arrm.org

Cow Tipping Press

V-507-521-2278

MCIL

V-651-646-8342

F-651-603-2066

www.mcil-mn.org

MN Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

V-952-818-8718

F-952-818-8719

www.mnccd.org

PACER Center, Inc.

V-952-838-9000

TTY-952-838-0190

www.pacer.org

SEIU Healthcare Minnesota

TF-855-282-3769

www.UnitedCareWorkersMN.org

United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota

V-651-265-7361

www.ucpmn.org

TF-800-641-0059 TTY-800-551-2211

www.selfadvocacy.org

www.cowtippingpress.org

ASSISTED LIVING Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)

V-651-645-7271

TTY-800-466-7722

www.accessiblespace.org

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

F-952-930-4279

www.opportunities.org

V-612-789-1236

F-612-706-5555

www.actg.org

Mary T. Inc. Supportive Living Programs

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

F-952-930-4279

www.opportunities.org

V-612-224-9101

aburke@cipmn.org

www.cipmn.org

Avivo

V-612-752-8111

F-612-752-8101

www.avivomn.org

Vinland National Center

V/TTY-763-4793555

F-763-479-2605

www.vinlandcenter.org

DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM)

V-612-362-8454

TTY-612-362-8422

www.dbsmllc.org

Living Well Disability Services

V-651-688-8808

F-651-688-8892

www.livingwell.org

LSS Host Homes

V-651-255-2363

hosthomes@lssmn. org

www.lssmn.org/hosthomes

LSS Specialized Community Supports

V-651-504-6974

scs@lssmn.org

www.lssmn.org/scs

Mary T. Inc. Supportive Living Programs

V-763-754-2505

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

MCIL

V-651-646-8342

F-651-603-2066

www.mcil-mn.org

Metro Work Center, Inc

V/TTY-612-729-7381

F-612-729-7382

www.metroworkcenter.org

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

F-952-930-4279

www.opportunities.org

Reach for Resources

V-952-200-3030

F-952-229-4468

www.reachforresources.org

AUTISM SERVICES A Chance to Grow

BRAIN INJURY

Residential and outpatient substance use treatment for adults with TBI,

cognitive deficits or multiple disabilities.

763.479.3555 | VinlandCenter.org

CASE MANAGEMENT Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

CHEMICAL HEALTH

COMMUNITY LIVING

CONSUMER-DIRECTED COMMUNITY SUPPORTS Where experiences & adventures are open to individuals of all abilities True Friends provides life-changing experiences to children and adults with disabilities through a variety of programs at five Minnesota locations.

Camp

Accra

V-952-935-3515

TF-866-935-3515

www.accracare.org

GT Independence

V-651-247-7107

TF-877-659-4500

www.gtindependence.com

Lifeworks Services, Inc.

TF-866-454-2732

TTY-866-454-2732

www.lifeworks.org

MRCI-Client Directed Services

V-507-386-5704

TF-800-829-7110

www.mrcicds.org

Partners in Community Supports

V-651-967-5060

info@picsmn.org

www.picsmn.org

SMILES Center for Independent Living

V/TTY-507-345-7139 TF-888-676-6498

www.smilescil.org

Programs

Travel

Horse Therapy

Team Building

Respite

Retreat Centers

Locations

Camp Courage Maple Lake, MN

Camp Eden Wood Eden Prairie, MN

Camp Friendship Camp Courage North Annandale, MN

Lake George, MN

Plymouth Office Plymouth, MN

www.truefriends.org | 952.852.0101 | info@truefriends.org

SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 1 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: Haben Girma, the first DeafBlind graduate from Harvard Law School

2115 Summit AvenueSt. Paul, MN, 55105

Other performers include: NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Winner and violinist, Gaelynn Lea, and playwright and storyteller, Kevin Kling

Woulfe Alumni Hall at the University of St. Thomas Anderson Student Center

This event is free and open to the public. Audio description, ASL and CART will be available during this event.

For more information, or to request an accommodation, contact Cindy Tarshish at cindyt@mcil-mn.org.

Visit us at https://ada30mn.com

Follow us on Facebook at @ada30mn

This event would not be possible without the contributions of the 30th Anniversary of the ADA Celebration Planning Committee.

April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

Pg 6

DIRECTORY of Organizations EDUCATION Avivo Institute of Career & Tech Education

V-612-752-8100

Children's Theatre Company

V-612-879-2680

Upstream Arts

V-612-331-4584

F-612-353-6638

www.upstreamarts.org

Avivo

V-612-752-8100

F-612-752-8101

www.resource-mn.org

Chrestomathy, Inc.

V-952-974-0339

F-952-974-0307

www.chrestomathyinc.org

Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-353-4595

V-952-854-9411

www.cipmn.org

Courage Kenny Rehabilition Institute

V-612-775-2569

www.allinahealth.org/couragekenny

Fraser Transition Services

V-612-767-5180

Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota

V-651-379-5800

Kaposia Inc.

V/TTY-651-224-6974 F-651-224-7249

www.kaposia.com

Lifeworks Services, Inc.

TF-866-454-2732

TTY-651-365-3736

www.lifeworks.org

LSS Employment First Services

V-651-642-5990

pss@lssmn.org

www.lssmn.org/ employmentfirst

Merrick, Inc.

V-651-789-6231

F-651-789-9960

www.merrickinc.org

Metro Work Center, Inc.

V/TTY-612-729-7381

F-612-729-7382

www.metroworkcenter.org

MSS, Inc.

V-651-778-1000

F-612-772-4352

www.mwsservices.org

Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI)

V-651-999-8200

F-651-999-8242

www.mdi.org

MOHR

V-651-489-2595

F-651-489-0410

www.MOHRMN.org

MRCI Worksource

V-612-386-5600

F-507-345-5991

www.mrciworksource.org

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

F-952-930-4279

www.opportunities.org

Partnership Resources, Inc.

V-952-925-1404

F-952-925-6055

www.partnershipresources.org

Partnership Resources, Inc. - Minneapolis

V-612-331-2075

F-612-752-8101

www.resource-mn.org www.childrenstheatre.org

EMPLOYMENT/VOCATION

www.fraser.org F-651-379-5803

www.goodwilleasterseals.org

F-612-331-2887

www.partnershipresources.org

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

F-952-746-6209

www.partnershipresources.org

ProAct Inc.

V-651-686-0405

F-651-686-0312

www.proactinc.org

Reach for Resources

V-952-200-3030

F-952-229-4468

www.reachforresources.org

Rise, Inc.

V/TTY-763-786-8334 F-763-786-0008

www.rise.org

TSE, Inc.

V-651-489-2595

F-651-489-0410

www.tse-inc.org

WACOSA

V-320-257-5191

F-320-259-4670

www.WACOSA.org

Work Incentives Connection

V-651-632-5113

TF-800-976-6728

www.mnworkincentives.com

EMPLOYMENT/VOCATION

GOVERNMENT Minnesota Council on Disability

V/TTY-651-361-7800 TTY-800-945-8913

www.disability.state.mn.us

MN Gov. Council on Developmental Disabilities

V-651-296-4018

TF-800-627-3529

www.mncdd.org

V-800-707-1711

TTY-800-688-2534

www.ucare.org

HEALTH CARE PLANS UCare

HEARING IMPAIRMENT Hearing Loss Association of America-TC Chapter

V-763-447-1711

www.hlaatc.org

HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES A Chance to Grow

V-612-789-1236

V-612-706-5555

www.actg.org

Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-362-4434

V-612-362-4452

www.cipmn.org

In Home Personal Care

V-763-546-1000

F-763-546-1018

www.inhomepersonalcare.com

Mary T. Inc. Home Health Care

V-763-862-5426

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

Data from the census impacts many programs and services that our communities receive including access to resources that support advocacy and civil rights protections. The 2020 Census is accessible for everyone, including individuals with a wide range of disabilities.

The following options are available to assist individuals in completing the form including: • Telephone devices for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.

• Video guides to the questionnaire in American Sign Language • Videos or webcasts with open or closed captioning • Census guides in braille or large print • The option to request census takers who are fluent in American Sign Language

Complete the 2020 Census to ensure that everyone has access to the resources that are required to meet their needs. For more information visit the U.S. Census Bureau website at 2020Census.gov

April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

Kent’s Accounting Kent Service, LLC Fordyce Certified ProAdvisor 2017 2005-2016 6371 Bartlett Blvd Mound, MN 55364

612-889-2959

fordyce6@aol.com • 952-472-1458 Fax

Pg 7

DIRECTORY of Organizations HOSPICE CARE Mary T. Inc. Hospice Care

V-763-772-9963

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com/hospice_ care.php

HOUSING-CONSTRUCTION/REMODELING Ability Solutions & TwinCity Stairlifts

V-952-808-3646

F-952-808-2647

www.twincitystairlifts.com

AccessAbility Options, Inc.

V-763-571-6789

F-800-632-0798

www.accessoptionsmn.com

Accessibility Design

V-952-925-0301

F-952-926-7712

www.accessibilitydesign.com

Accessible Homes, LLC.

V-612-978-1054

F-651-554-3085

www.accessiblehomesllc.net

Lifeway Mobility

V-651-323-1190

TF-800-561-2333

www.lifewaymobility.com

Custom Railworks Otis Ironworks LLC

V-507-884-1023

www.facebook.com/ otisironworks

HOUSING-RENTAL Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)

V-651-645-7271

TTY-800-466-7722 www.accessiblespace.org

Ebenezer Park Apartments

V-612-879-2233

TTY-612-879-8889

www.fairviewebenezer.org

LSS Host Homes

V-651-255-2363

hosthomes@lssmn. org

www.lssmn.org/hosthomes

National Handicap Housing Institute, Inc

V-651-639-9799

F-651-639-9699

www.nhhiaccessiblehousing.com

Rental Housing by Mary T. Inc.

V-763-862-5432

TF-888-255-6400

www.marytinc.com

TF-888-630-9793

www.adaminnesota.org

INFORMATION/REFERRAL RESOURCES ADA Minnesota; a program within MCIL

V-651-603-2015

Minnesota Council on Disability

V/TTY-651-361-7800 TTY-800-945-8913

www.disability.state.mn.us

PACER Center, Inc.

V-952-838-9000

www.pacer.org

United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota

V-651-265-7361

TTY-952-838-0190

www.ucpmn.org

INSURANCE AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC

V-651-294-0710

TF-800-886-7201

F-651-644-9137

V-612-334-5970

TF-800-292-4150

www.mndlc.org

LEGAL Minnesota Disability Law Center

MEDICAL SUPPLIES/EQUIPMENT Handi Medical Supply

V-651-644-9770

F-651-644-0602

www.handimedical.com

Phoenix Medical Services Inc.

V-651-636-0848

F-651-636-5746

www.PhoenixMedical.org

Avivo

V-612-752-8074

F-612-752-8001

www.avivomn.org

Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-362-4434

V-612-362-4452

www.cipmn.org

Fraser

V-612-861-1688

F-612-861-6050

www.fraser.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness of MN

V-651-645-2948

TF-888-NAMI-Helps www.namihelps.org

Reach for Resources

V-952-200-3030

F-952-229-4468

Vinland National Center

V/TTY-763-479-3555 F-763-479-2605

www.vinlandcenter.org

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

V-651-290-8707

www.gillettechildrens.org

Wound Healing Center

V-715-268-0175

MENTAL HEALTH

www.reachforresources.org

PHYSICIANS TTY-715-268-0177

www.AmeryMedicalCenter.org

RECREATION-ADAPTIVE HOBBY/EXERCISE/SPORTS/ARTS Courage Kenny Rehabilition Institute

V-612-775-2277

Drama Interaction, 501(c)3

V-952-220-1676

218-726-4762

www.allinahealth.org/ couragekenny www.cokartscenter.com/ dramainteraction501c3.html

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April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

Pg 8

DIRECTORY of Organizations RECREATION-ADAPTIVE HOBBY/EXERCISE/SPORTS/ARTS Highland Friendship Club

V-651-698-4096

Mind Body Solutions

V-952-473-3700

Reach for Resources

V-952-200-3030

F-952-229-4468

www.reachforresources.org

Simply Jane and Artable

V-952-938-5511

F-952-930-4279

www.opportunities.org

Upstream Arts

V-612-354-3961

www.highlandfriendshipclub. org www.mindbodysolutions.org

www.simplyjanestudio.com

RECREATION-DINING/BARS/CLUBS Highland Friendship Club

V-651-698-4096

www.highlandfriendshipclub. org

RECREATION-MOVIES/PERFORMING ARTS/SPECTATOR SPORTS/MUSEUM Children's Theatre Company

V-612-874-0400

www.childrenstheatre.org

Highland Friendship Club

V-651-698-4096

www.highlandfriendshipclub. org

RECREATION-TRAVEL/CAMPING Hammer Travel

V-952-277-2458

TF-877-345-8599

www.hammertravel.com

True Friends

V-952-852-0101

TF-800-450-8376

www.truefriends.org

Ventures Travel

V-952-852-0107

TF-866-692-7400

www.venturestravel.org

Wilderness Inquiry

V-612-676-9400

TF-800-728-0719

www.wildernessinquiry.org

REHABILITATION (PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH, AUDIOLOGY THERAPISTS) A Chance to Grow

V-612-789-1236

V-612-706-5555

www.actg.org

Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute

V-763-588-0811

V-612-262-7979

www.allinahealth.org/ couragekenny

DeafBlind Services of Minnesota (DBSM)

V-612-362-8454

TTY-612-362-8422

www.dbsmllc.org

Fraser

V-612-767-5180

F-612-861-6050

www.fraser.org

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

V-651-291-2848

TF-800-719-4040

www.gillettechildrens.org

In Home Personal Care

V-763-546-1000

F-763-546-1018

www.inhomepersonalcare. com

RESIDENTIAL/GROUP HOME PROGRAMS Community Involvement Programs (CIP)

V-612-362-4403

F-612-362-4417

www.cipmn.org

Fraser

V-612-861-1688

F-612-861-6050

www.fraser.org

Hammer Residences

V-952-473-1261

F-952-473-8629

www.Hammer.org

Living Well Disability Services

V-651-688-8808

F-651-688-8892

www.livingwell.org

LSS Host Homes

V-651-255-2363

hosthomes@lssmn. org

www.lssmn.org/hosthomes

LSS Specialized Community Supports

V-651-504-6974

scs@lssmn.org

www.lssmn.org/scs

LSS Supported Living Services

V-651-642-5990

pss@lssmn.org

www.lssmn.org/sls

Opportunity Partners

V-952-938-5511

F-952-930-4279

www.opportunities.org

Phoenix Residence

V-651-227-7655

F-651-227-6847

www.phoenixresidence.org

REM Minnesota

V-952-945-4952

F-952-922-6885

www.remminnesota.org

Restart, Inc.

V-952-767-3350

F-952-767-3351

www.restartincmn.org

Wingspan Life Resources

V-651-6442665x100

V-651-646-3846

ww.wingspanlife.org

Can Do Canines

V-763-331-3000

F-763-331-3009

www.can-do-canines.org

Helping Paws, Inc.

V-952-988-9359

F-952-988-9296

www.helpingpaws.org

Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)

V-612-643-5671

SERVICE ANIMALS www.PawPADS.org

SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES Ebenezer Care Center

V-612-879-2262

TTY-612-879-8889

www.fairviewebenezer.org

V-952-767-3350

F-952-767-3351

www.restartincmn.org

V-651-967-6050

info@picsmn.org

www.picsmn.org

SOCIAL SERVICES Restart, Inc.

SUPPORTS - OTHER TYPES Partners in Community Supports

TECHNOLOGY Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

V-651-290-8707

PACER Center, Inc.

V-952-838-9000

TTY-952-838-0190

www.pacer.org

SMILES Center for Independent Living

V/TTY-507-3457139

TF-888-676-6498

www.smilescil.org

www.gillettechildrens.org

TRANSPORTATION RENTAL/SALES/MODIFICATION IMED Mobility

V-651-635-0655

TF-800-788-7479

www.imedmobility.com

Vision Loss Resources

V-612-843-3400

F-612-872-0189

www.visionlossresources.org

Volunteer Braille Services

V-763-544-2880

F-763-544-3612

www.vbsmn.org

VISION IMPAIRMENT

DATE: _____________________________________________

WAIVER CASE MANAGEMENT

AMT. ENCLOSED $ _____________________________________

Fraser

V-612-861-1688

F-612-861-6050

www.fraser.org

Reach for Resources

V-952-200-3030

F-952-229-4468

www.reachforresources.org

NAME _____________________________________________ ADDRESS ___________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP ___________________________ PHONE ________________________

EMAIL ________________________

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April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

Pg 9

PEOPLE & PLACES Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press opens a chapter Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare has launched its first book on its new publishing platform, Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press. The inaugural book is authored

by Lily Collison, a Gillette patient mother, who details her family’s journey and the treatments and therapies of her son Tommy. Tommy is a longtime Gillette patient who has cerebral palsy. The book launch coincided with March as Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

Lily Collison’s book will be the first book to be published on Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press, the first pediatric

∏∏f

health care press in the state of Minnesota. Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press will publish more educational books from the experts and advocates at Gillette in the coming months and years. Books will be available for purchase at www.gilettechildrenshealthcarepress.org Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of childhoodonset, lifelong physical disability. Approximately one-third of those with cerebral palsy, or about six million people worldwide, have the subtype spastic diplegia, including Tommy Collison.

Collison wrote Spastic Diplegia—Bilateral Cerebral Palsy to educate and empower patients and the parents of children who have cerebral palsy who are seeking more information on how to best manage the condition.

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare is internationallyrenowned for its expertise in cerebral palsy and is a treatment destination for patients with this condition.

Gillette sees more than 4,100 patients who have cerebral palsy each year and in 2019 treated children from 41 states and 15 countries.

In Memoriam f∏∏

Corbett Marie Ku'u Aloha Laubignat was a dedicated disability rights activist, with involvement with several disability services organization. Laubignat died suddenly in March. She was 40 and lived in Minneapolis.

Born in Hawaii, Laubignat received her master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2006. She was certified as a rehabilitation counselor, and had recently branched out into work as an inclusion and diversity consultant.

She dedicated her career and volunteer time to helping others. Laubignat was on the front lines in the fight against ableism. Her volunteer activities included service on the board of Helping Paws Minnesota.

Laubignat most recently worked for the University of Minnesota in the Disability Resource Center as a senior access consultant. She previously was the disability services coordinator for the McNally Smith College of Music, and was an independent living specialist and peer mentor coordinator at the Metropolitan Center for

Independent Living (MCIL), both in St. Paul.

Corbett touched the lives of many throughout her career by helping them embrace their disabilities and encouraged them to become advocates for themselves.

She and her wife Ashely Groshek were strong advocates for the LBGTQ+ community. They were together for 19 years.

Laubignat is survived by her wife Ashley and Ashley’s family, her mother, her brother and his family, along with many friends. Corbett is also survived by her beloved companion and service dog, Jerry and her and Ashley's family dog Jenga. She was preceded in death by her father Paul and Rocky, her first service dog, Rocky.

Services were to be held after this issue of Access Press went to press. Memorials should be sent to the Corbett Laubignat Legacy Fund at Helping Paws Minnesota.

Helpingpaws.org/donate

Ellwood a leader in parenting work

divorced in 1990.

Ellwood worked at the Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association before launching MELD. It operated for many years but has been replaced by other organizations.

She retired in 1995 and received various accolades and awards over the years, including the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award from the University of Minnesota in 2005.

Ellwood is survived by three adult children and their families. Instead of a service, her family has created an online memorial at ForeverMissed.com.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Laubignat was rehabilitation counselor, volunteer

Corbett Laubignat

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Ann Ellwood was a leader in family support services, with a focus on peer-topeer parenting work.

Ellwood, who founded Minnesota Early Learning Design or MELD in the 1970s, died in February.

She was 92 and most recently lived in Massachusetts.

MELD became a national model and was even replicated in some counties.

Ellwood was MELD’s Ann Ellwood executive director for several years. She interviewed experts and came up with parenting groups, at a time when most programs focused solely on children.

“She got a national movement going and I think she made a real difference in America,” former Vice President Walter Mondale told the Star Tribune. During his days in the U.S. Senate, Mondale reached out to Ellwood and encouraged her to work on ideas for children and youth.

“Our philosophy is simple,” she once said in an interview. “We believe that if you can empower parents to deal with their own problems, you can change the whole family.” Some of the MELD groups focused on families with a disabled child.

Ellwood was born in Pennsylvania. Her family later moved to California, where she earned a degree from University of California-Berkeley. She taught kindergarten in San Francisco before moving to Minneapolis with then-husband Dr. Paul Ellwood. They

Henze a rehabilitation pioneer

Dr. Richard Henze is remembered as a pioneer in Minnesota’s rehabilitation community. Henze, 86, died in March after a series of health issues.

Born in Delano, Henze received BA, MA and PhD degrees in psychology from the University of Minnesota. He devoted his life to working with people

with disabilities, initially as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

In the late 1960s he was asked by an organization of local school districts to develop a program for severely mentally and physically handicapped students. After obtaining a grant from the federal government, he founded the Cooperative Student Rehabilitation Center at Glen Lake. Under his direction, the public school program grew to serve more than 300 students annually.

It provided training in basic living skills as well as vocational training and placement in community jobs He retired at age 55 but later went into private practice as a psychologist, helping others obtain Social Security disability benefits. He and his family enjoyed a wide range of activities together.

Henze is survived by his wife of 64 years, Diane; three children and their families. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

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UPDATES & INFORMATION Dear Readers, Due to COVID 19 or Coronavirus, all of the groups that have listings in the Access Press Enjoy! and Opportunities pages have suspended activities or are offering limited services until end of March or early April.

Please check with a venue or organization before heading out. Many offices are operating remotely, or with limited staff and hours.

Gov. Tim Walz ordered a wide range of places to close until March 27. Some places are staying closed until April 5.

Places ordered closed include live indoor and outdoor performance venues, cinemas, museums, amusement parks, gymnasiums, recreation centers, fitness centers, indoor sports and exercise facilities, arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, skating rinks, trampoline parks and other entertainment venues/ Theaters including the Guthrie, Children’s Theater Company, Steppingstone, Penumbra, Jungle, Ordway, Mixed Blood, Park Square, History Theatre, the theaters of Hennepin Theater Trust and others have shut down.

Contact theaters to see when shows will be rescheduled and if tickets will be honored.

With museums, check to see when or if interpreted and sensory activities will continue. Some sensory activities are only offered during the school year.

Special events, including the PACER Gala featuring Smokey Robinson, the Fraser Walk for Autism and the Autism Society of Minnesota Conference and Gala, have been postponed. Courage Kenny has canceled all sports and recreation activities, as well as its Discover Abilities event.

Many places including PACER Center have cancelled classes and events.

Most places that schedule appointments are still honoring appointments, but check to see before going to an appointment.

NAMI Minnesota has gone online. The help line will continue to operate but please know that people will need to leave a message and it may take longer to return calls.

Many support groups and classes are moving to an online format. Support groups will be virtual with a choice

of two different systems – Zoom or Support Group Central.

Information on how to access the online support groups will be on the NAMI Minnesota website. Most in-person classes are cancelled, but please check the website to see if they are being offered online.

National Alliance for the Mentally ill (NAMI) Minnesota staff are very concerned about the mental health of the people served and the greater community. Call the warm line at 651-288-0400 or text “Support” to 85511 or call 844-739-6369 Call the local crisis team at **CRISIS or check the NAMI website for the county numbers.

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800273-TALK (8255).

Use the Crisis Lifeline by texting MN to 741741.

Call the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800985-5990

RADIO TALKING BOOK COVID-19 Update At State Services for the Blind, the safety and health of customers, volunteers, and staff are top priorities.

Listeners may notice that Radio Talking Book is airing several “re-runs” of previous books, and unexpected programming at different times of the broadcast day.

There’s a reason for this: out of an abundance of caution during the COVID-19 epidemic, RTB has reduced the number of volunteers and employees on site in St. Paul.

Staff appreciate listeners’ understanding, and intend to be back to regular programming as soon as possible.

Also, before volunteers head to the Communication Center for any reason, please call or contact your primary staff person. Your health and safety are a top priority.

Thanks!

Books Available Through Faribault Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Call 1-800-722-0550, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon through Fri. The catalog is online at www.mnbtbl.org, click on the link Search the Library Catalog. Persons living outside of Minnesota may obtain copies of books via 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 program from the last week, on the Internet at www.mnssb.org/rtb. The sampling published monthly in Access Press doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Many more programs and books are available.

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, Minnesota Radio Talking Book.

Audio information about the daily book listings is also on the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newsline.

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

Access Press is featured on It Makes a Difference, 9 p.m. Sun. Donate to the State Services for the Blind at mn.gov/ deed/ssbdonate Chautauqua Monday – Friday 6 a.m.

Broad Band, nonfiction by Claire L. Evans, 2018. Women have become proficient at technology from the start. This is the story of the women who developed the Internet. Read

by Parichay Rudina. 13 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 14.

Past is Prologue Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

Code Girls, nonfiction by Liza Mundy, 2017. The untold story of the more than 10,000 young American women who cracked key Axis codes, securing Allied victory and revolutionizing the field of cryptanalysis. Read by Holly Sylvester. 15 broadcasts; begins Tuesday, April 14.

Bookworm Monday – Friday noon When the Men Were Gone, fiction by Marjorie Herrera Lewis, 2018. In the fall of 1944 the men of Brownsville, Texas are off to war. Could this mean a season with no high school football coach? Read by Michele Potts. Six broadcasts; begins Mon, April 6.

Late in the Day, fiction by Tessa Hadley, 2019. The 30-year bond between two couples comes apart when one of the friends dies unexpectedly. Read by Judy Woodward. Nine broadcasts; begins Tue, April 14.

A Time of Love and Tartan, fiction by Alexander McCall Smith, 2017. The lives of tenants interconnect at an Edinburgh apartment. Read by Myrna Smith. Nine broadcasts; begins Thu, May 17.

The Writer’s Voice Monday – Friday 1 p.m.

The Florist’s Daughter, nonfiction by Patricia Hampl, 2007.

Minnesota author Patricia Hampl tells of growing up in St. Paul, and later as an adult taking care of aging parents.

Read by Therese Murray. Seven broadcasts; begins Tue, April 21.

Barnum, nonfiction by Robert Wilson, 2019. Before becoming a circus impresario, Phineas Taylor Barnum was already one of the most famous men in America. Read by Diane Ladenson. 12 broadcasts; begins Thu, April 30.

Choice Reading Monday – Friday 2 p.m.

At the Wolf’s Table, fiction by Rosella Postorino, 2019. Ten women report to Hitler’s secret headquarters, The Wolf’s Lair, to sample his meals and risk their lives each day for his. Read by Don Lee. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, April 20.

Afternoon Report Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

The Best People, nonfiction by Alexander Nazaryan, 2019.

Reporter Alexander Nazaryan spotlights how President Donald Trump selected and recruited his cabinet. Read by Holly Sylvester. 10 broadcasts; begins Thu, April 9.

The Guarded Gate, nonfiction by Daniel Okrent, 2018.

As the 20th century began, American leaders fanned the flames of anti-immigration prejudice. Read by Judy Woodward. 17 broadcasts; begins Thu, April 23.

Jodi Lindskog. 10 broadcasts; begins Wed, April 8. – L, S The Other Mrs. Miller, fiction by Alison Dickson, 2019.

Phoebe Miller inherited a fortune from her philandering father. Soon she is surveilled around the clock by a shadowy figure – and no one can tell her why. Read by Andrea Bell. 11 broadcasts; begins Wed, April 22. – L, S Weekend Program Books Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents Renia’s Diary: A Holocaust Journal by Renia Spiegel and Elizabeth Bellak, read by Beverly Burchett. - L. Rated R, 11 p.m. Sat, presents What We Did in Bed by Brian Fagan and Nadia Durrani, read by Scott McKinney - L, S For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian, read by Connie Jamison.

Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents Little Glass Planet by Dobby Gibson, read by Cintra Godfrey; followed

by Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver, read by Myrna Smith.

The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents In Winter’s Kitchen

by Beth Dooley, read by Michelle Juntunen.

All listings are US Central Daylight Time Abbreviations: V – Violent content, R – Racial epithets, L – Strong language, S – Sexual situations, G – Gory descriptions

Night Journey Monday – Friday 7 p.m.

Hope Never Dies, fiction by Andrew Shaffer, 2018. Vice President Joe Biden comes out of retirement to solve the murder of a longtime friend, and is assisted by President Barack Obama. Read by Neil Bright. Nine broadcasts; began Wed, April 1. – V, L When Father and Son Conspire, nonfiction by Joseph Amoto, 1988. Historian Joseph Amoto tells the story of two small-town bankers in southwestern Minnesota in 1983 who are murdered by a father and son. Read by Stevie Ray. 10 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 14. – V, L, G The Memory Swindlers, fiction by Michael Giorgio, 2016.

When scam artists descend on a Wisconsin town after World War II, the local police chief works to stop them.

Read by Neil Bright. 12 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 28.

Off the Shelf Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

The Rationing, fiction by Charles Wheelan, 2019. When an epidemic sweeps the US, the government’s supply of the cure is destroyed in a fire. Read by Michele Potts. 15 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 14. - L Potpourri Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

Don’t Believe a Word, nonfiction by David Shariamadari, 2019. Linguistics expert David Shariatmadari sets out to debunk our prevailing beliefs about language. Read by Pat Muir. 11 broadcasts; begins Thu, April 23.

Good Night Owl Monday – Friday 10 p.m.

We Were the Lucky Ones, fiction by Georgia Hunter, 2017.

The Kurcs, a Jewish family in Poland, are spread across the globe during World War II with historic and emotional consequences. Read by Jodi Lindskog. 17 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 14.

RTB After Hours Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

Daisy Jones and the Six, fiction by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 2019. An iconic rock band fronted by a stimulating, provocative lead singer dominated the music scene in the 1970s. So what made them suddenly part ways? Read by

Emma

April 11 – May 31

by KATE HAMILL based on the novel by JANE AUSTEN directed by MEREDITH McDONOUGH 612.377.2224 • accessibility@guthrietheater.org www.guthrietheater.org/access

April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

Pg 11

WALLACE GROUP

Disability Services Day drew a crowd

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Classified ads prepaid. Mail to: Access Press, Capitol Ridge Inn Offices; 161 St. Anthony Ave; #910; St. Paul, MN 55103; Phone: 651644-2133; Fax 651-644-2136; Email: access@accesspress.org

April 1, 2020 Volume 31, Number 4

Pg 12

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