Protecting ADA rights is goal
Can the Minnesotans with Disabilities Act preserve federal protections of reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities? A bipartisan group of legislators and disability justice advocates hopes so.
The bill, HF 2380, was unveiled March 18. Co-authors Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL-Rochester) and Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) released the following statement:
“The disability justice movement has made our country a better place for people of all abilities. This bill reaffirms that in Minnesota, our neighbors, coworkers, classmates and family members will have the opportunities they deserve to fully participate in our schools, workplaces and communities. The Minnesotans with Disabilities Act affirms our dedication to listening to and learning from people with disabilities on our path to a just, equitable future.”
The state act is brought forward in the face of Trump administration efforts to remove an array of ADA protections through executive order. HF 2380 closely mirrors Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which offers strong protections from discrimination based on disability in programs that receive federal funding.
The Minnesotans with Disabilities Act is meant to offer the same protections at a state level.
Rep. Danny Nadeau (R - Rogers) signed on as a co-author of the House bill. “I’m proud to stand alongside and support the heroes who find the strength to persevere despite overwhelming obstacles," he said.
“We are sending a powerful message to Minnesotans with disabilities that we see each other in this space, that we believe each other in this space and that we are committed to protecting our civil rights as a state,” Hicks said.
“We know that people are scared,” said May Quade. She and other lawmakers were flanked by a large group of disability rights activists as they presented the bill.
Advocates agreed, emphasizing the measure is needed to protect the rights of the more than 13,000 Minnesotans with disabilities. David Dively, executive director of the Minnesota Council on Disability, said that at a time when actions affecting people with disabilities are cause for concern, “Minnesota is going in a different direction.”
As Access Press went to press, the bill awaited introduction in the House and Senate. It would apply to entities receiving state as well as federal funding.
The bill won approval as part of the
GOAL To page 3
Proposed state budget revisions, legislative hurdles cause angst
A growing state budget deficit and the prospect of more cuts to disability services are eyed warily by Minnesota’s disability community. Add to that some uncertainty for key bills and it could be a battle to the 2025 legislative session’s May 19 end.
Gov. Tim Walz released a revised budget March 21. The House is to release its budget targets April 1, with the Senate following April 5. State cuts on top of growing uncertainty
REVISIONS To page 9
Campers need to not pack up or bring home COVID
Summer days are ahead. For many Minnesotans, that means packing up sack lunches, swimsuits and other items needed to join the fun.
Summer camps were canceled in 2020 when the COVID pandemic shut the world down. Many day and overnight camps are only now returning to pre-pandemic levels of activities.
One of those returning day camps is operated by True Friends, which has opened registration for June and July day camp at Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie. “We are thrilled to announce that day camp is back,” said John LeBlanc, President and CEO of True Friends. “This program is perfect for kids and adults with physical and developmental disabilities who want a true Minnesota camp experience without an overnight stay.”
True Friends’ predecessor organizations have offered day and overnight camping experiences in Minnesota since 1938. The camps have served children and adults with an array of health conditions as well as physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Summer camps of all types can provide life-changing experiences. But staying safe
and healthy is important, especially in the face of COVID. Prospective campers, their parents and guardians need to take steps to bring home good memories, not illness. Bring and wear masks, which will be especially needed after a camper comes into contact with someone who has COVID. Wear a mask for 10 days if indoors, and take a COVID test five days after exposure. Before signing up for a camp, ask about local and state regulations that are followed. Ask about staff and volunteer training. Ask if there are mandatory vaccinations for staff.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urge anyone considering summer camp to stay home
when sick. COVID testing before heading to camp is encouraged. CDC guidance is intended to supplement state and local health measures with which camps must comply. The CDC has also noted that it is important for camp administrators to assess local levels of COVID and be aware of how transmission can quickly occur at a summer camp.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) licenses and inspects youth camp establishments. Other agencies with jurisdiction for youth camp licensing and inspection include local jurisdictions (city/ county) which have entered into a delegation
Personal messages stood out at Disability Services Day at the Minnesota capitol.
Going to camp is a highlight of summer.
Special education staffing shortages
Many Minnesotans benefit or have benefited from caring and dedicated special education teachers, paraprofessionals and therapists. Many parents have been thankful for those who work to make sure their children are prepared for life ahead. But we worry especially as the ranks of special education teachers, therapists and paraprofessionals decline. The education website Chalkbeat recently pointed that every year, more special education teachers quit than graduate from the nation’s teacher preparation programs. This comes as the number of students with disabilities increases. Many reasons are cited for the special education teacher shortage. There’s even debate as to how severe the staffing shortages are. But let’s set aside the dueling numbers of special education teachers’ retirements and hires, and consider the overarching issue: Federally supported special education teacher training programs and special education itself are at great risk, due to the Trump administration’s targeting of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and DEIA (access) supported education. Programs including one teacher training program at the University St. Thomas in St. Paul have had their funding eliminated. Students there have the current semester covered but after that they are on their own. We question how many will be willing or able to continue their education. That’s just one example.
We are also concerned about an intent to dismantle the federal Department of Education. If children with disabilities are to grow up with the same advantages their peers have, we need a federal Department of Education to provide leadership and support for programs covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If oversight is shifted elsewhere, as was stated during confirmation
will only become worse with
If children with disabilities are to grow up with the same advantages their peers have, we need a federal Department of Education
to provide leadership and support for programs covered by the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If oversight is shifted elsewhere, where does that oversight land? Will there be oversight at all?
hearings for federal education head Linda McMahon, where does that oversight land?
Will there be oversight at all?
Important advocates including the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network opposed McMahon’s nomination. That is a red flag.
Are special education programs perfect? No. Can they be improved? Yes.
But let’s not dismiss the efforts of the many excellent, dedicated special education teachers and paraprofessionals. We honor and appreciate all of you. We need you to have adequate resources and support from your school administrations and school boards. We need you to feel valued.
HISTORY NOTE
But we need many, many more of you as the teachers, therapists and paras of the baby boom generation continue their march into retirement. We need many more, especially as more children are found to have disabilities.
We need more people who look like the students in the classrooms today. We need more people who reflect the diversity of their school communities.
Those future classroom heroes may be among the first in their families to attend college. And without DEI and DEIA assistance, we risk losing them.
Without enough qualified teachers, paras and therapists, special education is at risk. Students cannot be successful in school and in life. Shortages can also put students and those who are educating them at risk physically if students cannot self-regulate.
Of course there is disagreement on solutions, and we are losing the one of having more federal support of professional education costs being covered.
We are also running the risk of school districts being able to provide incentives for the jobs, with retention bonuses and even higher pay.
We also are putting education around the nation at risk as the federal government moves toward returning education to the states. We know all too well than not all states’ governments are on equal footing. Attitudes differ greatly, state by state.
Some states favor charter, homeschool and faith-based schools and have already decimated their public school systems.
How will funding be allocated? How will court orders be enforced? There are just too many questions with decentralization.
States with stronger emphasis on special education might find themselves overwhelmed by students and families moving in from less desirable starts. That could become very true for border communities.
We don’t want to get back to the days of special education students having their education marginalized. We don’t want to see special education students shunted off and sent away from their home schools. We want special education students to have adequate resources, and for their professionals to have adequate support.
We have about 7.5 million special education students in this country. They need all of us. Parents who must act as advocates cannot do it alone. Teachers and paras cannot do it alone. Universities and colleges seeking to educate special education professionals also need our support.
Speak out and support special education needs. Children depend on us. It’s that important.
Camp Kiwanis had a special place in summertime memories for many
Many children are already looking forward to a stint at summer camp. One place that provided lasting summer camp memories for children with disabilities is Camp Kiwanis. The camp opened in 1923 near Marine-onSt. Croix in Washington County, about 10 miles north of Stillwater. It was one of many summer camps within a short bus or train ride from Minneapolis and St. Paul. A regional Kiwanis Club history tells us that the St. Paul Kiwanis Club started the camp to serve “underprivileged children.” One school of thought back then was that children from the inner city would benefit from the fresh air, sunshine and nature found at summer camps. Camp Kiwanis transitioned from tents and cots borrowed from Fort Snelling to its own buildings. The camp was used by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YMCA, the Red Cross, and the Minnesota Society for Crippled Children and Adults.
The latter group’s camp use is what made Camp Kiwanis unique. It was the only camp in
Minnesota that was accessible to children with disabilities. Newspaper accounts describe how the camp provided respite and fun for children with physical disabilities, heart health issues and speech disorders. Use of the camp was provided free of charge.
Sales of Easter Seals help cover camp costs, with more than 250 children enjoying the various camps each summer. Recreation programs for disabled adults were also held at the camp.
Annual news releases sent to Minnesota papers detailed how many children from each county attended the camps every summer. Handicrafts, horseshoes, archery and swimming in the camp pool were among activities children enjoyed.
For children and young adults with heart issues, mostly caused by rheumatic fever, the pace of camp was more relaxed. Children with speech disabilities were given brief periods of intensive training, provided by speech therapists.
“Endeavor is made to teach each camper some new skill with which to occupy himself even away from camp,” a 1947 Wells Mirror article stated.
Easter Seals also supported the Camp Kiwanis campers from Minneapolis’ Dowling School for Crippled Children, as well as a Duluth day camp and a Dowling Speech and Hearing Camp that was held at the Minnesota Academy for the Deaf.
A different theme was chosen every summer for Dowling students’ two weeks at Camp Kiwanis. A 1946 Star Tribune account described how the Dowling children enjoyed a “ranch day.” Children took stagecoach rides, saw replica tipis, met rodeo performers and heard western tales. Children in 1947 enjoyed a nautical theme.
Demand for camp spots greatly exceeded available space. 1948 news accounts indicated that almost 1,400 people had applied for the limited camp spots. A Courage Center history indicates that by 1953, 600 children had to be
Editor Jane McClure
Board of Directors Tim S. Benjamin, Catherine Hunter, Jane Larson (Chair), Brandon Miller, Lynda Milne, Manley Olson,
turned away from Camp Kiwanis summer camp sessions because the demand was so much greater than that location's capacity.
In 1955 the children’s camping program moved to the new Camp Courage, which could accommodate more youngsters.
Many of the summer camps that existed around the Twin Cities are gone now, swallowed up by suburban development. Camp Kiwanis remains, albeit in a new identity.
Camp Kiwanis is owned by the St. Paul Kiwanis Foundation. Since 1989 it has been leased by the Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts of America. It is also known as Camp Northern Star. Northern Star camp celebrates 20 years in 2025, and welcomes more than 35,000 youth from local communities.
The History Note is a monthly column produced in cooperation with the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. Past History Notes and other disability history may be found at www.mnddc.org
EDITORIAL: Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Editorial material and advertising do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/ publisher of Access Press.
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ME/CFS, ties to Long COVID are the focus of ongoing research studies
Understanding the effects of Long COVID may also mean understanding what is called ME/CFS.
ME/CFS is myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome. It is a serious illness that can keep people from doing their usual activities. It can make mental and physical exertion difficult and can last for a long time. People can have many symptoms, including extreme tiredness that isn’t relieved by rest. Thinking can be affected. ME/CFS can also vary greatly in severity.
New findings from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative suggest that infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, may be associated with an increase in the number of ME/CFS cases.
According to the study results, 4.5 percent post-COVID participants met ME/CFS diagnostic criteria, compared to 0.6 percent participants that had not been infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus.
RECOVER is NIH’s national program to understand, diagnose, prevent and treat Long COVID.
A research team from the Bateman Horne Center in Salt Lake City examined adults participating in the RECOVER adult cohort study to see how many met the clinical diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS at least six months after their infection.
Included in the analysis were 11,785 participants who had been infected by SARSCoV-2 and 1,439 participants who had not been infected by the virus
According to the study report by NIH, ME/CFS is a complex, serious, and chronic condition that often occurs following an infection. ME/CFS is characterized by newonset fatigue that has persisted for at least six
From page 1
agreement with MDH and tribal health agencies.
Minnesota has a youth camp code which includes health care provisions. MDH Is seeking comments on the code. Go to https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/ environment/recreation/lodging/rules/ youthcamprule.html
Several camping umbrella organizations offer advice for campers and their families, including the American Camp Association and the Alliance for Camp Health. So do youth
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Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) legislative agenda March 19.
While the Minnesota Human Rights Act already codifies protections covered by the ADA, the new bill would put the protection in their own disability-specific section. Advocates said it would create another layer of protection in case something happens that creates a gap with the other existing statutes. Since taking office, the Trump administration has made sweeping changes to the federal government via executive order, including the dismantling of the federal Department of Education. (See related story.)
Many of the those edicts face legal challenges.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in mid-March that it is rescinding numerous guidance documents that clarify requirements under the ADA. Guidance documents clarify and affect how agencies administer regulations and programs. Some of the documents go as far back as 1999.
The guidance removal is tied to a January memorandum issued with the intent of lowering the cost of living, called the “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Costof-Living Crisis.”
The claim is that the Justice Department is withdrawing 11 pieces of guidance to streamline ADA compliance resources for American businesses. The department is raising awareness about tax incentives for businesses related to ADA compliance.
A new release from the DOJ described what it called the regulatory demands put in place by the prior administration and called on the heads of all executive departments
months and is accompanied by a reduction in pre-illness activities; post-exertional malaise, which is a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental activity; and unrefreshing sleep plus either cognitive impairment or orthostatic intolerance, which is dizziness when standing.
People with Long COVID also experience some or all of these symptoms.
The findings provide additional evidence that infections, including those caused by SARS-CoV-2, can lead to ME/CFS.
Post-exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance, and cognitive impairment were the most reported ME/CFS symptoms among participants in the infected group.
The study comes with some caveats, Limitations of this study include reliance on self-reported symptoms, exclusion of
service organizations that operate camps.
As for True Friends, its day camps do offer financial aid and a highly trained staff.
“Our campers, and their families, tell us that camp is their favorite time of the year,” LeBlanc said. “It’s a place that creates belonging for people of all abilities. It’s a place where they can relax and be themselves – and that’s something we all deserve.”
Camp Eden Wood is in the Birch Island Woods west of I-494 in Eden Prairie.
Registration is open for the summer 2025 season at https://truefriends.org/camp-edenwood-day-camp. For any questions regarding registration, contact True Friends at 952852-0101 or registration@truefriends.org
and agencies to take appropriate actions to lower the cost of living throughout the country. “Today’s withdrawal of 11 pieces of unnecessary and outdated guidance will aid businesses in complying with the ADA by eliminating unnecessary review and focusing only on current ADA guidance. Avoiding confusion and reducing the time spent understanding compliance may allow businesses to deliver price relief to consumers,” the news release stated.
The DOJ news release also highlighted tax incentives available for businesses to help cover the costs of making access improvements for customers or employees with disabilities.
Five of the items targeted are tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, and center on issues including service animal access to businesses, mask requirements, hospital/ medical visitor access and outdoor businesses.
While DOJ officials promote the measures as providing cost savings for businesses, advocates see the changes as the camel’s nose under the tent to further undermine the ADA.
Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, told the news website Disability Scoop that revoking the guidance does not mean that requirements under the ADA have changed, but it could make it harder for people to know what the rules are and how they apply.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act guidance removed by the Department of Justice is both necessary and incredibly timely,” she said. “Although the Americans with Disabilities Act is close to 35 years old, disabled people frequently experience barriers in retail, lodging, and hospitals. Individuals, employers and other entities still need this guidance and still benefit from it.”
RECOVER participants who had been hospitalized, and the sporadic nature of ME/ CFS symptoms.
NIH has indicated that more research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms of why some people are more likely to develop ME/CFS following infection than others. Advancing knowledge of how the SARS-CoV-2 virus can result in ME/CFS may help uncover potential treatments for a range of infection-associated chronic conditions.
In a recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) presentation on Long COVID, one suggested way to think about ME/CFS is to use what is called the “spoon theory.”
Developed in 2003 by someone living with lupus, the spoon theory outlines how disability, chronic illness and pain can affect
Here are other COVID camp-related resources: https://www.acacamps.org/resources/covid19-resource-center-camps https://allianceforcamphealth.org/educationand-resources/covid-19-considerations-for-camp/
someone’s life.
People living with disability, chronic illness or chronic pain have a limited amount of energy to spend on completing tasks on a given day. That means making difficult choices as to how to expend one’s limited energy.
The energy is represented by spoons. How many spoons it takes for a person to complete a given task can vary considerably from day to day. An example is if a person has seven spoons for a day, and two spoons are spent getting dressed, what tasks can be completed with the remaining spoons?
Another term used in the MDH presentation is “crash.” A crash is a colloquial term for post-exertion malaise (PEM). It happens when people with ME/CFS use up more energy than they have. That includes physical, cognitive and emotional energy, as well as environmental amd sensory stress.
Read the NIH study at https://recovercovid. org/news/nih-funded-study-finds-cases-mecfsincrease-following-covid-19
NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. Access Press provides coverage of COVID issues with support from the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL). Learn more about MCIL at https://mcil-mn.org/ This activity is made possible by a grant from the Long COVID Program of the Minnesota Department of Health.
Access Press provides coverage of COVID issues with support from the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL). Learn more about MCIL at https://mcil-mn.org/ This activity is made possible through the COVID-19 Community Coordinator Program of
Roundtables underway
Proposed cuts could cost Minnesota $1.6 billion annually, jeopardizing health coverage
State officials, doctors, patients and advocates kicked off a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. The first event was March 22 at Children’s Minnesota Hospital in St. Paul.
Changes proposed in Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts to health care programing benefiting 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.
“The proposed $880 billion target is not just an abstract figure. It represents a direct threat to the health and well-being of countless Minnesotans and the stability of our health care system,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “This significant number underscores the potential harm facing our state, and the truly challenging choices that will have to be made if these cuts are enacted.”
Many Minnesotans could lose their coverage and access to lifesaving health care and preventive medicine if Medicaid is cut. Without comprehensive health care coverage,
people are likely to skip early and preventive care, leading to worse outcomes and more expensive treatments later.
Significant service cuts could be required for the people who remain on Medicaid. These reductions would severely limit coverage, forcing vulnerable populations – particularly older adults and people with disabilities – to make difficult choices about their care, including long-term care options. Older adults and people with disabilities make up approximately 15 percent of Medicaid enrollees and account for roughly 60 percent of total spending, highlighting the disproportionate impact of these cuts on those who rely on long-term care.
“In my day-to-day life Medicaid is a vital lifeline,” said Sumukha Terakanambi, a Lakeville resident with a progressive neuromuscular disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. “Medicaid covers prescription drugs to maintain my health, personal care assistance to assist with acts of daily living, transportation to get to work and out in the community, durable medical equipment to help with personal cares, home modifications to make my home more accessible, and assistive technology to support my employment.”
Medicaid is a foundational component of
Minnesota’s health care system, injecting billions of dollars into communities across the state and helping hospitals remain operational.
“Medicaid plays a crucial role in ensuring that every child has access to the quality healthcare they need,” said Dr. Marc Gorelick, president and CEO of Children's Minnesota. “At Children's Minnesota, we see firsthand the profound impact of Medicaid. Nearly half of the patients we serve rely on Medicaid, which helps set up kids for a lifetime of success by providing access to essential preventative care, such as check-ups and vaccines, and effective treatment for chronic conditions. This proactive approach prevents more serious health issues that ultimately cost society more in the long run. Cutting Medicaid threatens access to these essential services for the kids and families we serve. An investment in Medicaid is an investment in our children, and ultimately an investment in a healthier future for all.”
In addition, the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes to the individual market and MinnesotaCare will result in higher health costs for Minnesotans, causing many to lose coverage.
“Without congressional action to extend current tax credits, over 19,000 Minnesotans
will lose access to the financial help that makes their health insurance affordable, and nearly 90,000 will see their monthly premium bill increase next year,” said MNsure Chief Executive Libby Caulum. “On average, these consumers will pay over 50 percent more every month for the health coverage they depend on. Minnesotans recognize the importance of having health insurance, but many families will face tough choices if faced with this type of price hike.”
Between draconian cuts to Medicaid and loss of funding for enhanced advanced premium tax credits, Minnesota’s historically low uninsured rate of 3.8 percent will likely increase significantly. This will cause many Minnesotans to forego care or be pushed into emergency rooms where uncompensated costs will be picked up by many people purchasing private coverage.
The Saturday event in St. Paul is the first in a series of roundtables state officials will be holding on the proposed federal health care cuts. More roundtables are planned in Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and other locations.
Find more information about the impact of Minnesota’s Medicaid program at mn.gov/ dhs/medicaid-matters.
Comments sought on dismantling of federal education department
Federal actions continue to adversely affect the lives of Minnesotans with disabilities, including edicts on the education and housing fronts.
Actions impacting special education are being met with strong objections from people with disabilities and their allies.
President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education has prompted an uproar among parents of special needs students, educators and advocacy groups.
Trump has made no secret of his desire to get rid of the department, signing an executive order to do so March 20. Media reports indicate that while the federal department wouldn’t be shut down right
away, changes are already being felt.
The Minnesota Department of Education is asking community members to share how dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education impacts them.
A portal was set up after the executive order was signed, as MDE is asking Minnesota parents, students, teachers and community members to “submit detailed accounts of the ways recent executive orders and abrupt federal education cuts are impacting schools and children across our state.”
MDE Commissioner Willie Jett said, “Instability and uncertainty are not strategies, but collaboration is. In Minnesota, we know strong public
education relies on policy decisions that are based on the real experiences of students, families, and educators. In the face of unpredictable federal action, MDE will amplify Minnesotans’ stories as we continue to advocate for the stability, resources, and policies schools need to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.”
MDE sought information in February on
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Access Press welcomes letters to the editor and commentary pieces from readers, on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. Letters should be no more than 500 words, with 750 words per commentary. Ask the editors if more space is needed. Letters and guest commentaries must be signed by the authors or authors. Unsigned letters won’t be published.
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Pell grants’ oversight.
But federal actions are having a huge ripple effect on other facets of special education. Recently the University St. Thomas in St. Paul and University of Minnesota lost needed funding meant to address a shortage of special education teachers. Federal education officials terminated funding tied to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives. Students at St. Thomas have their tuition covered for spring semester by the university. After that they
The $6.8 million Supporting Effective
COMMENTS
PEOPLE AND PLACES
Brainerd, New Prague cap undefeated adapted hockey seasons with titles
Two undefeated teams took home championship trophies at the 2025 Minnesota State High School League adapted hockey tournaments. The tournaments were held March 7-8 at Coon Rapids High School.
New Prague/TCU/LSH/Belle Plaine/ Jordan won the CI title, defeating Stillwater/ Mahtomedi 11-8, for an undefeated 11-0 season.
The CI division is for athletes with cognitive disabilities.
The championship is the Trojans’ third. The team finished second in 2024. Its other state titles were in 2022 and 2014. School districts represented on the 2025 team are New Prague, Tri-City United of Montgomery, LeSueur-Henderson, Belle Plain and Jordan.
The Trojans started the title game’s second period with four consecutive goals and never looked back. Trystan Seger, Logan Bermel, Elliot Soukup and Lorelai Hamre all scored goals, a reflection of the team’s depth. Bermel scored a team-high four goals in the final. Soukup also had a hat trick.
Mason Mora-Clark scored a title gamehigh five goals for Stillwater/Mahtomedi. He tallied six in the Ponies' 9-5 semifinal win over Mankato. Mora-Clark holds a tournament record with 11 goals in a 2024
quarterfinal win last season.
Seger and Bermel produced clutch plays earlier March 8, delivering the tying and go-ahead goals in the Trojans' 13-11 semifinal win over South Washington County.
The South Washington County Thunderbolts defeated the Mankato Knights 10-9 in the third place game. Jordan Nde scored an overtime goal for the victors.
South Suburban Jets defeated the Dakota United Hawks, 9-6, in the consolation final. Other tournament teams were Maple Grove Crimson and Buffalo-Monticello-St. Michael Albertville Coyotes, with the Coyotes making their first-ever tournament appearance.
All-tournament team members are Bernel, Seger and Soukup, New Prague/ TCU/LSH/Belle Plaine/Jordan; Mora-Clark, Alexander Hansen and Chase McCann, Stillwater/Mahtomedi; Logan Curtis and Logan Yannarelly, South Washington; Davais Woods and Kellen Brtiz, Mankato; Easton Anderson, South Suburban and Henry Eisele, Dakota United.
The Brainerd Warriors capped a perfect season with the PI state title, defeating the Dakota United Hawks, 3-2 in overtime. It was a defensive battle, with eighth-grader Eric Fordyce clearing the puck from his own
goal line. Fordyce launched it the full length of the court and into the net.
It's the seventh state championship for Brainerd (12-0) and fifth in the last seven tournaments, including 2023, 2019, 2018 and 2017. Dakota United beat Brainerd by a goal in last year's semifinals. The Warriors have won 13 straight games since then. The teams met twice in the 2024-2025 regular season, resulting in 3-2 and 5-1 Brainerd wins.
Brainerd advanced to the title game by scoring five first-period goals — including a Josh Pence hat trick — in a 7-0 victory over Rochester earlier March 8.
The Rochester Raiders won third place honors by defeating Maple Grove Crimson, 4-3. This was the Raiders’ first time advancing beyond the first round of tournament play.
The consolation final was an all-South affair. The Tigers of Minneapolis South shut out the South Suburban Flyers 7-0 in the
Appointments are announced for several state groups
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan have announced appointments to several state boards, commissions and committees related to disability and aging. Three people were reappointed to the Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities. Petronellah Bensen, Andover; Jennifer Olson, Golden Valley and Patricia Siebert, Minneapolis, were reappointed. Nicole Touroutoutoudis, Prior Lake, is a new appointee, replacing Immaculata Anyanwu.
The Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities advises and assists the ombudsman in developing policies, plans and programs to benefit persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, chemical dependence and emotional disturbance.
Sherrie Pugh, St. Paul, was reappointed
to the Governor's Council on Age-Friendly Minnesota. Pugh is the council chair. The Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota was established to coordinate work across sectors, including state government, nonprofits, communities, businesses, and others to ensure Minnesota is an age-friendly state.
Michelle Zhao, St. Paul, was reappointed to the Board of Psychology as a public member. The Board of Psychology establishes qualifications for licensing psychologists, examines and licenses qualified individuals, establishes fees for issuance and renewal of licenses and other services, establishes rules of conduct and takes appropriate action against licensees who do not meet and maintain those ethical requirements, establishes or approves programs that qualify for professional
psychology continuing education credit, educates the public about licensure requirements and the rules of conduct, and facilitates consumers in the filing of complaints against licensees who may have violated the Psychology Practice Act.
Amy Dols, Minneapolis, and Dean Gilbertson, Mankato, were reappointed to the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. Both fill seats for licensed counselors. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy regulates the practices of alcohol and drug counseling, professional counseling, and professional clinical counseling in the State of Minnesota.
Two new members were appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction. Janice Mehle, Chisholm, replaces Farhia Budul.
Khou Vang, St. Paul, replaces Beth Elstad. The Governor’s Advisory Council
consolation final, to improve on last year's sixth-place finish. South Suburban teams are a cooperative of students from Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie and Bloomington Kennedy and Jefferson high schools.
Other tournament teams were the AnokaHennepin Mustangs and the Robins of Robbinsdale / Hopkins / Mound-Westonka.
The PI Division is for athletes with physical disabilities.
All-tournament team members are Aiden Olsen, Caleb Keran and Andrew Kargel, Brainerd; Cayden Needham, William Warder and Tommy Juberian, Dakota United; Andrew Westerman and Cooper Morrissey, Rochester; Bryan Lopez and Lincoln Searcy, Maple Grove; Eliseo Sanchez Piedra, Minneapolis South and Rayan Gangani, South Suburban.
TruStone Financial is the all-tournament teams’ sponsor.
on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction identifies opportunities for, and barriers to, the development and effective implementation of policies and strategies to expand access to services for people in Minnesota suffering from addiction. The council promotes equity by examining what services and supports are needed in communities that are disproportionally impacted by the opioid epidemic.
State leaders are seeking qualified and diverse individuals who are passionate about using their knowledge, skills, and lived experiences to serve the state of Minnesota. A list of boards and commissions, including open positions, can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/.
Brainerd and Dakota United athletes battle for position.
A Trojans goalie watches the net.
ADVOCACY
Advocating Change Together
ACCESS PRESS DIRECTORY
V-651-641-0297 act@selfadvocacy.org
www.selfadvocacy.org
Guthrie Bayard - People with Disabilities
V-612-554-3666 guthrie.bayard@minneapolismn.gov www.minneapolismn.gov/ncr Cow Tipping
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https://cowtippingpress.org
Mayor's Advisory Council for People with Disabilities
V-651-266-8902 michele.severson@ci.stpaul.mn.us
https://bit.ly/stpadvisory MCIL
V-651-646-8342 info@mcil-mn.org www.mcil-mn.org
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid - MN Disability Law Center
V-612-334-5970 mndlc@mylegalaid.org mylegalaid.org/our-work/disability MN Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
www.mnccd.org
mn.gov/mnddc
ACCESS PRESS DIRECTORY
BrightPath
Opportunity Partners
V-651-462-2380 services@brightpath-mn.com www.brightpath-mn.com
V-952-938-5511 info@opportunities.org www.opportunities.org SERVICE ANIMALS
Can Do Canines
Helping Paws
Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)
V-763-331-3000 info@candocanines.org www.candocanines.org
V - 952-988-9359 info@helpingpaws.org www.helpingpaws.org
V-612-643-5671 info@pawpads.org www.PawPADS.org SOCIAL
MSS
V-651-778-1000 info@mssmn.org www.mssmn.org SUPPORTS - OTHER TYPES
V-651-462-2380
BrightPath
Cuts, changes to vocational rehabilitation have adverse effect
Minnesota’s Vocational Rehabilitation program, which provides employment services for people with disabilities, has had recent changes. Clients contend the changes have led to less support as they seek jobs or seek to maintain work.
Nearly 14,000 Minnesotans with disabilities — such as autism, serious mental illness, traumatic brain injuries and intellectual disabilities — received services last year through the programs that help people find jobs and get the training and accommodations they need to participate and advance in the workforce.
But as demand for the services is growing, Minnesota is cutting back.
The Department of Employment and Economic Development is looking at voluntary layoffs and early retirement incentives for employees who provide Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS). Staff will take on more work in-house instead of using outside providers.
People who work in the field say clients aren’t getting the same quality of services they previously did as fewer people are taking on higher caseloads. They expect many people seeking help will end up on waitlists.
“We’re going to see some people going backwards,” said Laura Johnson, executive director of Hubbard County Developmental Achievement Center (DAC), which provides contract services through the program. The DAC has seen the number of clients referred to them plummet.
She and other disability service providers
Medicaid backlog eyed
Ramsey County will hire 80 full-time employees to tackle significant backlogs that are seen as affecting access to Medicaidfunded services.
Currently, county residents requesting initial MnCHOICES assessments with the county’s Aging and Disability Services and MnCHOICES Division, which determine eligibility for home and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, can expect wait times of up to nearly eight months, according to the county.
The need for such assessments and services has increased, with state Department of Human Services changes put in place in 2024 also increasing workloads, according to county officials. State statute requires that a consultation must be completed within 20 working days of the request, with reassessments required annually.
As of March 4, 1,947 residents were awaiting an initial assessment.
The county board March 18 unanimously approved hiring additional employees.
From 2017 to 2023, the county saw a 49 percent increase in the number of reassessments and a 29 percent increase in initial assessments needed by residents for such services, with the department completing more than 17,300 initial assessments and reassessments in 2023.
In that same time frame, there has been an 8 percent increase in the number of county residents aged 65 and older and an 18.7 percent increase in the number of residents under the age of 65 with a disability. From 2017 to 2024, case management went from 8,422 people to approximately 12,644 in 2024.
Meanwhile, the division has lost 28 full-time MnCHOICES employees since 2018 due to state cost shifts and budgetary constraints. And state changes on reassessments add to the workload.
“All of this combined together has pushed us into a state of crisis. Current need for services in our area far exceeds staffing capacity, and this has resulted in wait times for residents,” said Katy Molinare, who leads the Aging & Disability Services and MnCHOICES Division, during a presentation to the board.
The total cost of an additional 80 employees will come to around $6 million for 2025, though the county expects revenue from state and federal sources to offset around 82 percent of that. One-time startup costs of around $1 million for onboarding of those employees would not be eligible for that revenue, but are expected to be funded through the County Manager’s Office and the Health and Wellness Service Team’s 2025 budget.
Ongoing costs will be included in the 202627 operating budget, according to officials. Need for these services isn’t only
fear Minnesota could backslide on the goal of getting more people into competitive, integrated employment.
The Vocational Rehabilitation program got more than $67 million in state and federal funds last fiscal year, with the bulk of the money coming from the U.S. Department of Education.
State dollars for the program have remained flat in recent years while more people are entering the program and some of their case services are getting more expensive, DEED Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe said. Then there’s the federal budget uncertainty.
“All those pieces taken together has meant that we’ve needed to work to manage the budget to get it to a sustainable path,” he said. “It’s not like a budget mistake or anything like that.”
But people who worked with the program — both inside state government and outside providers — questioned why the spending concerns weren’t addressed earlier and said the abrupt steps DEED has been taking to cut costs are hurting Minnesotans with disabilities.
The agency started taking action last summer to rein in expenses, Rowe said, including implementing a hiring freeze and being more cautious about authorizing spending on services. But costs continued to go up headed into 2025. Now they are looking at additional measures, like voluntary layoffs among the roughly 430 staff members.
(Source: Star Tribune)
increasing in Ramsey County, but statewide as well, officials said. Hennepin, Dakota and Anoka counties have all added employees to meet demand.
(Source: Pioneer Press)
NUWAY clients at risk
Minnesota’s largest addiction treatment provider told clients they’ll lose treatment and housing support in 60 days after a Medicaid funding cut.
With a “heavy heart” NUWAY told people in its outpatient recovery program it will be ending their treatment and housing payments at the end of April, according to an email obtained by KARE 11.
The decision leaves an estimated 1,000 clients in recovery statewide at risk. NUWAY also informed the state of mass layoffs impacting 174 employees.
The announcement from Minnesota's largest outpatient treatment provider comes just days after a funding freeze by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). The state cites credible allegations of fraud and ongoing state and federal investigations as the reason for the payment suspension. Records show NUWAY had been receiving roughly $2.8 million per month in Medicaid payments for its outpatient treatment program.
Sam Woolery, NUWAY's Recovery Residence Resource Director, wrote in an email, "NUWAY has exhausted our options to reverse the DHS payment suspension implemented against our nonresidential treatment programs." Woolery called the funding cut "devastating and unjust."
Meanwhile, clients could be left homeless.
Plus, the owner of a sober home that houses NUWAY clients tells KARE 11 that the decision – and recent government actions – threatens the financial viability of sober homes statewide.
Woolery, in his email, says, “It is now time to focus on a plan designed to best support the clients in our care to safely navigate the wind-down of NUWAY’s nonresidential services over the coming months.”
DHS has said it believes other existing addiction recovery programs can absorb NUWAY's clients. But sober house managers and owners said otherwise, citing the limited number of spots in other homes.
NUWAY previously made attempts to prevent state officials from freezing payment, requesting a temporary restraining order in federal court against the state. Despite NUWAY's pleas, federal court Judge John Tunheim recently gave DHS the go-ahead to suspend payments to the provider.
In court on February 20, NUWAY claimed DHS was giving them an unconstitutional death penalty without a proper hearing and
without specifying the details of the “fraud” it claims to have found. NUWAY attorney Manda Sertich warned that a funding cut could lead to relapses, overdoses and even deaths.
NUWAY also predicted a potential shutdown, arguing the loss of government funding would result in “the swift demise of NUWAY’s award-winning and highly effective outpatient treatment program.”
Despite his ruling, Judge Tunheim wrote he is, “deeply concerned with the plight of NUWAY’s patients.”
(Source: KARE 11)
Airport offers social worker
As many as 100,000 people move through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport each day and a growing number of them are struggling with mental health challenges. Victoria Romberg is at MSP to help.
She's the first social worker to respond alongside airport police to help travelers, workers and others dealing with everything from homelessness and substance abuse to the stress and anxiety traveling can bring.
Her new post is the result of a recent partnership between Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Airports Commission to bring the embedded social worker program to MSP. It's now one of the few airports in the U.S. to pair mental health experts with law enforcement to improve how officers respond to people who are struggling, in a place where security is paramount.
Airport police have jurisdiction not just in and around the terminals, but throughout the public transit stations, hotels and other structures that make up MSP. That means Romberg could respond to anything from people seeking refuge on a light rail train because they're homeless to an employee
struggling with anxiety or a traveler acting erratically because of stress.
People may not realize right away that their mental health is causing some underlying issues, such as substance abuse, homelessness or job loss, Romberg said.
The partnership came together after officers from MSP shadowed members of a crisis intervention team at the Los Angeles International Airport to see how social workers can improve interactions with the public.
The goal is to reduce arrests and incidents when force is needed and make it easier to connect struggling people with social support services. Airport police Lt. Frank Coburn hopes his colleagues will learn new skills from working with Romberg and, if the partnership is successful, it may expand.
“We are always looking for things we can do better to keep people out of the criminal justice system,” Coburn said. “There's a real need here.”
Hennepin County launched its program in 2019 with six cities. It has grown into partnerships with 31 police departments and 45 municipalities. Last year, embedded social workers interacted with 7,500 residents and connected 5,000 with community services, according to county officials.
The embedded social worker program Romberg is part of costs $4.1 million a year and it continues to grow with strong support from the County Board.
(Source: Star Tribune)
High-demand employment gets boost
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced $11.2 million for job
From page 1
at the federal level are very worrisome for the disability community. At top of mind for many is the Trump administration’s work to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, and how that affect special education.
Another worry is sweeping cuts to Medicaid. (See related story on page 4.)
Walz said in a statement, “This budget is fiscally responsible and prioritizes the programs that will set Minnesotans up for success for generations to come. By addressing the budget challenges we face today, we're setting Minnesota up for longterm success and protecting the resources necessary to make Minnesota the best state to live, work, and raise a family.”
But the budget cuts are cause for concern for people with disabilities, their allies and their service organizations. Walz’s January budget raised flags for people with disabilities as it made cuts to disability waiver services and special education transportation. The governor unveiled further budget revisions of about $409 million over the next four years, in light of a gloomy state budget forecast.
The revised budget proposal for 2026-2027 is at about $66 billion, with $2.3 billion in surplus for 2026-27. The 2028-2029 surplus would be $342 million.
The new budget proposal includes an additional $162 million in 2026-27 cuts and an additional $247 million in cuts for 202829. The latest round of 2026-2027 cuts include $21 million for special education charter adjustments.
Among the $247 million in proposed 2028-29 cuts, $26 million came from special education charter adjustments.
The revised budget also contains cuts the governor originally unveiled in January, including the controversial $1.3 billion to disability waiver costs over four years. It also retains the 5 percent cut in spending for special education transportation reimbursement.
Spending in health and human services
COMMENTS
From page 4
Educator Development grant at UST is joined by other rescinded grants. Another is a Teacher Quality Partnership grant to train special education teachers in rural, urban and suburban districts. The lost grants, which total almost $12 million, would have helped train hundreds of teachers, many in special education.
Housing a concern
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, which has taken on landlords who discriminated against renters, sexually harassed tenants and evicted rather than provided accommodations required by law for people with disabilities, has lost a key grant.. In the current year, Legal Aid relied on a $425,000 grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department to do this work. But on February 27, the nonprofit law firm was notified that the grant — awarded to Legal Aid 30 years running to help thousands of Minnesotans
and in education is targeted for key cuts. The February forecast indicated that anticipated expenses for education are at $24 billion and at $26 billion for health and human services.
The dwindling state surplus is to blame for anticipated cuts. Disability advocacy groups are being warned by their leaders to not make spending asks and to focus more on protecting funds and services.
Key bills are meeting mixed fates. One frustration is the changing membership ranks in the House and Senate, with special elections and a resignation in the Senate causing shifts in numbers. Advocates see those changes and subsequent changes in sharing power in the House as distractions to getting work done.
As the session continues, bills face make or break deadlines including efforts on subminimum wage and accessibility for transportation network companies. Those are especially disheartening for advocates who have spent years on the issue and now fear hearing that they must wait until next year.
Bills including efforts to change aspects of Waiver Reimagine, school suspensions for young students with disabilities and other issues are sparking strong debate.
Disability advocacy groups are involved in about 300 of the 4,459 bills introduced in 2025.
Calls to action
Rallies and forums continue, with Disability Advocacy Day held after this issue of Access Press went to press.
The bi-annual Minnesota Council on Disability 2025 Legislative Forum March 14 was a return to a live, in-person format for the first time since the COVID pandemic. This year's event featured a new, extended format that differed significantly from previous sessions. It includes several segments and featured a drop-in format.
Throughout the day, attendees experienced a combination of panel discussions, speakers and prerecorded statements from advocates. Those who stayed for the full, non-partisan program described the experience as energizing,
navigate “Fair Housing” laws — was canceled.
“We are committed to this work and we will continue doing it,” said Executive Director Milo Mumgaard. “The stakes for clients living on margins are just too high not to, but the loss of $425,000 is a hit no matter how we look at it.”
As an example of the stakes, Litigation Director Luke Grundman cited the landmark “Pfeiffer” case. “In 2019, our team of lawyers with the Department of Justice went after landlord Pfeiffer under the Fair Housing Act.”
Accused of sexually harassing 23 Minneapolis tenants, the landlord in the end was ordered
leaving them motivated and inspired.
Several hundred participants attended the event, both in person and online.
State lawmakers and activists participated in the panel discussions, include one focused on accessible on-demand transportation.
More than a dozen advocates also shared their personal stories, lived experiences, and special tributes through prerecorded statements. Advocates shared critical issues such as Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD), Medicaid and transportation challenges.
Speeches by Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon were also highlights.
An array of service groups, led by the umbrella organizations ARRM and MOHR, drew more than 1,000 people to Disability Services Day March 18. They listened to state leaders and visited their district legislators to give a message opposing budget and service cuts.
During his speech in the capitol rotunda, Ellison told the crowd that that disability
to pay $736,000 to victims and a $14,000 civil penalty to the United States.”
Assistant Supervising Attorney and HUD Grant Project Manager Courtney Arthur said, “Cases like these are not outliers. They happen often and the scope includes people discriminated against because of their Section 8 housing status, their religion, sexual orientation or because they have a disability. The law is on their side, but without Legal Aid to tell them that, many might otherwise be homeless and many are.”
rights are human rights. He condemned the federal government’s freezing of payments on grants and other financial supports that disproportionately affect people with disabilities.
Ellison, along with 20 other attorneys general, took legal action against the administration. He assured attendees he would continue fighting until every dollar promised by Congress was delivered.
“These are your dollars, taxpayer dollars,” he said. Ellison also highlighted attacks on federal programs meant to promote equity. He said, that “Donald Trump is trying his best to convince everyone that diversity, equity, and inclusion are illegal. DEI is not illegal!”
He urged advocates to keep pushing for their rights while pledging his office’s ongoing support.
Read more about the council forum and rallies at www.accesspress.org
AND PLACES To page 11
Free monthly emails of events with: ASL Interpreting Captioning
Audio Description
Sensory-Friendly Adaptations
Artists with Disabilities Events Disability Topics
Ask for the service you need or get the entire list! info@mnaccess.org
https://calendar.mnaccess.org
Watch for upcoming workshops on improving accessibility to the arts
Minnesota Access Alliance
A huge crowd spilled out of the rotunda and filled upper levels at Disability Services Day March 18
Attorney General Keith Ellison addressed the crowd at the Council on Disability forum.
RADIO TALKING BOOK
Enjoy Radio Talking Book
For April, 22 new books will premiere. Radio Talking Book is not just for listeners with visual disabilities. Anyone with difficulty reading or turning pages can enjoy the service.
Radio Talking Book schedules can be emailed. Sign up at tinyurl.com/ RTBemail. If email is preferred over other formats, sign up and also contact Ronnie Washington at 651-539-1424 or SSB. Equipment@state.mn.us to let him know what version is desired.
The sampling published monthly in Access Press doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Listen to RTB’s live or archived programs online at www.mnssb. org/rtb, and learn more about programs.
Hear programming on a hand-held mobile device, for either iOS or Android. Visit the Apple App Store for iOS, or Google Play for Android, and download the Minnesota Radio Talking Book app. Missed a book broadcast? Access it for one week following its original broadcast in the online weekly program archive.
For help accessing the archive, contact Ronnie Washington at 651-539-1424 or SSB.Equipment@state.mn.us.
If the book’s broadcast is no longer available in the archive, contact staff librarian Molly McGilp at 651.539.1422 or Molly.McGilp@state.mn.us
Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available for loan dthrough the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. The catalog is at www.mnbtbl.org. Call 800722-0550, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CST. Updates are on the Facebook site Minnesota Radio Talking Book.
Audio information about the daily book listings is on the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newsline. Register for NFB Newsline by calling 651-539-1424. The NFBNEWSLINE service provides access to more than 500 magazines and newspapers. To learn more, visit www.nfb.org/programsservices/nfb-newsline; 612-562-7803
Staff welcomes any feedback or suggestions. Contact Joseph Papke at 651539-2316 or joseph.papke@state.mn.us. Contact Tom Conry at 651-642-0880 or thomas.conry@state.mn.us with comments about periodicals and newspapers programming.
Chautauqua*
Monday – Friday 6 a.m.
Psychonauts, nonfiction by Mike Jay, 2022. A report detailing how industrial farming is ruining our soils but also showing how we can adapt to restore the planet for a nature-friendly future. Read by Jim Tarbox. 15 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 8.
Sixty Harvests Left, nonfiction by Philip Lymbery, 2023. A provocative and original history of the scientists and writers, artists and philosophers who took drugs to explore the hidden regions of the mind. Read by Jim Gregorich. 12 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 29.
Past is Prologue*
Monday – Friday 11 a.m.
The Achilles Trap, nonfiction by Steve Coll, 2023. The definitive story of the decadeslong relationship between the United States and Saddam Hussein, and an investigation into how human error, cultural miscommunication and hubris led to one of the costliest geopolitical conflicts of our time. Read by Mary Beth Redmond. 20 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 29.
Bookworm*
Monday – Friday 12 p.m.
Sipsworth, fiction by Simon Van Booy, 2024. The story of a deep friendship forged between two lonely creatures and the reverberations of goodness that ripple out from that unique bond. Read by John Schmidt. Five broadcasts; begins Mon, April 7.
Pony Confidential, fiction by Christina Lynch, 2024. A one-of-a-kind mystery where a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit. Read by Stuart Holland. 13 broadcasts; begins Mon, April 14.
The Writer’s Voice*
Monday – Friday 1 p.m.
Squatter, nonfiction by Yolanda DeLoach, 2024. The story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her spirit by hiking Wisconsin's historic Ice Age Trail. Read by Carol McPherson. 10 broadcasts; begins Wed, April 2.
The Essential Dear Dara, nonfiction by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, 2023. A portrait of a place and its people through the writings and musings of one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved and prolific writers. Read by Andrea Bell. 13 broadcasts; begins Wed, April 16.
Choice Reading*
Monday – Friday 2 p.m.
Not a River, fiction by Selva Almada, 2024. A story of loss and resilience about a fishing trip and the ghosts it conjures. Read by Mary Beth Redmond. Three broadcasts; begins Wed, April 16. – L, S, V
Wolf at the Table, fiction by Adam Rapp, 2024. A harrowing multigenerational saga about a family harboring a serial killer in their midst. Read by William Heisley. 16 broadcasts; begins Mon, April 21. – L
Afternoon Report*
Monday – Friday 4 p.m.
The Alternative, nonfiction by Nick Romeo, 2024. A provocative debunking of accepted wisdom, providing the pathway to a sustainable, survivable economy. Read by Stevie Ray. 13 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 29.
Night Journey*
Monday –Friday 7 p.m.
A Killing on the Hill, fiction by Robert Dugoni, 2024. The Great Depression –high-level corruption – and a murder that’s about to become Seattle’s hottest mystery. It’s the kind of story that can make a reporter’s career. If he lives to write about it. Read by Jim Gregorich. 11 broadcasts; begins Mon, April 14.
The Princess of Las Vegas, fiction by Chris Bohjalian, 2024. A Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of money and murder in this twisting tale of organized crime, cryptocurrency and family secrets on the Las Vegas strip. Read by Rick Seime. 13 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 29. – L
Off the Shelf*
Monday – Friday 8 p.m.
All Our Yesterdays, fiction by Joel H. Morris, 2024. A propulsive and piercing debut, set ten years before the events of Shakespeare’s historic play, about the ambition, power, and fate that define one of literature’s most notorious figures: Lady Macbeth. Read by Carol McPherson. 12 broadcasts; begins Thu, April 3. – L
Caledonian Road, fiction by Andrew O’Hagan, 2024. A biting portrait of British class, politics and money told through five interconnected families and their rising― and declining―fortunes. Read by Stuart Holland. 26 broadcasts; begins Mon, April 21. – L
Potpurri
Monday – Friday 9 p.m.
Reading Genesis, nonfiction by Marilynne Robinson, 2024. One of our greatest novelists and thinkers presents a radiant, thrilling interpretation of the book of Genesis. Read by Nancy Johnson. Nine broadcasts; begins Wed, April 2.
What This Comedian Said Will Shock You, nonfiction by Bill Maher, 2024. A brilliantly astute and acerbically funny vivisection of American life, politics and culture, from controversial host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. Read by Stevie Ray. 15 broadcasts; begins Tue, April 15. – L
Good Night Owl
Monday – Friday 10 p.m.
Horror Movie, fiction by Paul Tremblay,
All times listed are Central Standard Time.
Abbreviations
V – violent content
R – racial epithets
L – strong language
S – sexual situation
G – gory descriptions
2024. When an unreleased cult movie is rebooted, the surviving member of the original film’s crew grapples with psychic whiplash. Read by Holland Richner. Nine broadcasts; begins Mon, April 7. – L, G Nightwatching, fiction by Tracy Sierra, 2024. A fiercely feminist and viscerally terrifying tale of a woman and her young children trying to elude a home invader. Read by Jodi Lindskog. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, April 21. – L
RTB After Hours*
Monday – Friday 11 p.m.
The Other Side of Disappearing, fiction by Kate Clayborn, 2024. A pitch-perfect, radiantly transporting love story about an unexpected road trip, true crime obsessions and hard won vulnerability. Read by Pat Muir. 13 broadcasts; begins Wed, April 16. – L, SFunny Story, fiction by Emily Henry, 2024. A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common. Read by Eileen Barratt. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, March 31 Weekend Program Books
Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents Living For Pleasure by Emily A. Austin, read by Lannois Neely.
For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents Roof Over Our Heads by Nicole Kronzer, read by Stuart Holland.
Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents Daywork by Jessica Fisher, read by Mary Knatterud; followed by Solutions for the Problem of Bodies in Space by Catherine Barnett, read by Mary Knatterud. – L, S
The Great North. 4 p.m. Sun, presents Turnout by Joan Anderson Growe, read by Michelle Juntunen.
TAKE NOTE!
Steps for Autism
Steps for Autism is 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, May 18. Be part of a day of community, connection, and celebration at the Recreation Outdoor Center at the St. Louis Park Rec Center. Participants can tale the self-led walk through the park and enjoy an array of activities and an autism resource fair. It’s a time to step up for inclusion and earn prizes. The event, organized by AuSM, is a fundraiser ensuring that AuSM can continue
REGIONAL NEWS
From page 8
skills training, work readiness, internships, work experience, on-the-job training and job placement for Minnesotans.
Through DEED’s Transformative Career Pathways program, the agency partners with training providers across the state to help members of underserved communities prepare for and find family-sustaining employment. Providers expect to serve more than 2,000 Minnesotans through the grants announced today.
“Helping people gain the skills they need to find employment with the possibility for wage growth is life changing,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “The grants announced today will serve Minnesotans with multiple barriers to employment – a key part of our mission to empower the growth of Minnesota’s economy, for everyone.”
The Transformative Career Pathways program focuses on skills training and support services to bring populations of workers who have been historically overlooked and often face multiple barriers to employment – particularly people of color and people from low-income communities – into the workforce at familysustaining wages. This is the program’s second grant round.
The Immigrant Development Center in Moorhead received a $700,000 Transformative Career Pathways grant last year. Part of its program is certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program.
is successfully creating pathways for career advancement in health care.”
Transformative Career Pathways Workforce Training Grantees include some disability service providers. Others will train people for health care careers. They are:
• AccessAbility, Inc., Twin Cities - $400,000
• African Career Education and Resources, Twin Cities - $350,000
• African Economic Development Solutions, Twin Cities -$750,000
• Asian Media Access, Twin Cities - $500,000
• Avivo, Twin Cities - $300,000
• CAIRO MN, St. Cloud area - $330,000
• CAPI USA, Twin Cities - $330,000
• Community Action Duluth, Duluth area$250,000
• Dunwoody College, Twin Cities - $350,000
• Emerge Community Development, Twin Cities - $750,000
• Global Fatherhood Foundation, Twin Cities
- $200,000
• Goodwill Easter Seals of Minnesota (GESMN), Twin Cities - $350,000
• Green New Deal Housing, northeastern
offering essential programs, summer camps, counseling services, training and advocacy. Every dollar raised stays local, making Minnesota a more welcoming place for autistic individuals and their families. FFI: www.ausm.org
Online
include
free events calendar. Ways to post an event can be found at www.accesspress.org, under the listings tab. The event must be disabledfocused,
Minnesota - $200,000
• International Institute of Minnesota, Twin Cities - $261,518
• Isuroon, Twin Cities - $300,000
• Karen Organization of Minnesota, Twin Cities - $400,000
• Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, Twin Cities - $562,382
• Milestone Community Development, Twin Cities - $250,000
• Minnesota Training Partnership, Twin Cities - $505,000
• Minnesota Valley Action Council, southern Minnesota - $500,000
• Neighbors, Inc., Twin Cities - $450,000
• New Vision Foundation, Twin Cities$500,000
• Project for Pride in Living, Twin Cities$750,000
• Smart North, Minnesota - $55,000
• Twin Cities R!SE, Twin Cities - $375,000
• True North Goodwill, northern Minnesota
- $350,000
• YWCA Minneapolis, Twin Cities - $165,000
• YWCA St. Paul, Twin Cities - $748,600
DEED also awarded $1.2 million in
Transformative Career Pathways Capacity
Building grants to help organizations build their capacity to serve individuals from highunemployment, low-educational attainment or low-income communities.
Transformative Career Pathways Capacity Building Grantees:
• AccessAbility, Inc., Twin Cities - $49,000
• Advocating Change Together, Twin Cities
- $49,000
• African Economic Development Solutions, Twin Cities, - $49,000
• American Indian OIC, Twin Cities$49,000
• Asian Media Access, Twin Cities - $49,000
• Avivo, Twin Cities - $49,000
can contact Editor Jane McClure at jane@ accesspress.org or 651-644-2133 ext. 1 Another option is to consider an online or print ad to get the word out. A third, ongoing option for an interested business or disability service organization is to sponsor our online calendar. Being a sponsor is a great way to support Minnesota’s disability community and its events. Information can be obtained by emailing ads@accesspress.org
• CAIRO MN, St. Cloud - $49,000
• CAPI USA, Twin Cities - $49,000
• Community Action Center of Northfield, Northfield - $49,000
• Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County, Twin Cities - $48,998
• Elpis Enterprises, Twin Cities - $37,800
• Fahan Organization, St. Cloud area$49,000
• Family Rise Together, Duluth area$49,000
• Green New Deal Housing, northeastern Minnesota - $49,000
• Health Commons Minnesota State University Mankato Foundation, Twin Cities - $49,000
• Higher Works Collaborative, St. Cloud area - $49,000
• Hmong American Partnership, Twin Cities - $49,000
• Minnesota Tech for Success, Twin Cities$49,000
• NAMI Minnesota, Twin Cities - $29,000
• Pan Asian Arts Alliance, Twin Cities$49,000
• South Sudanese Foundation, Moorhead$49,000
• Start Diversity, Twin Cities - $49,000
• Twin Cities R!SE, Twin Cities - $49,000
• Ultimate Success Insight, St. Cloud$49,000
• Wallin Education Partners, Twin Cities$49,000
Affordable Senior Apartments
For adults with qualifying disabilities. Over 50 barrier-free apartment communities & homes throughout the Metropolitan Area, Greater Minnesota & throughout the Midwest. Locations also available in many other states. Income
For qualifying senior households age 62 or better. Metro & Greater MN locations available. Accessible apts, available for seniors in these locations. Income limits apply.
&
Affordable Senior Apartments
Immediate openings in Worthington and Albert Lea, Minnesota
Housing with Care*
For qualifying senior households age 62 or better. Metro & Greater MN locations available. Accessible apts, available for seniors in these locations. Income limits apply.
Everyone is welcome! This free event, hosted by Handi Medical, is designed to be inclusive, with accommodations and support to ensure all attendees can participate comfortably.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
* 24-hour Assisted Living Services * Adult Foster Care
* Independent Living Services
Immediate openings in Worthington and Albert Lea, Minnesota
* Eligibility for or selection of ASI services is not requred to qualify for housing. ASI services are not available in all locations.
Housing with Care*
CORPORATE ADULT LICENSE FOSTER WITH ASLEEP
* 24-hour Assisted Living Services * Adult Foster Care
* Independent Living Services
AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY IN METRO AREA Call
* Eligibility for or selection of ASI services is not requred to qualify for housing. ASI services are not available in all locations.
• Hands-On Technology & Equipment Demonstrations – Come and see the latest advancements in home medical supplies, equipment, and assistive technology. Consult with Handi Medical staff and industry experts in our vast exhibit hall.
• Discover Community Resources – Network with local organizations that positively impact individuals with disabilities, families, and their care team.
• Learn in Interactive Breakout Sessions – Participate in several educational sessions led by healthcare providers, highlighting the latest in managing chronic conditions, navigating progressive diagnoses, and supporting individuals with disabilities.
Handi Medical is proud to host this annual event! Invite your friends, family, and anyone interested in exploring the latest in health and wellness. Join us in a warm and supportive environment—we can’t wait to see you there!
Partner Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute showcasing adaptive sports and recreation
