August 2021 Edition - Access Press

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TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 4766

Volume 32, Number 8

August 2021

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Lawmakers still haven’t finished up

- Cal Appleby

MINNESOTA STATE FAIR

NEWS DIGEST

It's fun to meet new friends at the fair.

After one year’s pandemic hiatus, it’s back to Minnesota State Fair

by Jane McClure Visiting the 2021 Minnesota State Fair?

After the 2020 fair was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people are eager to visit. With some preplanning, a day at the fair can be an enjoyable experience for people with disabilities.

Tickets are on sale now. Go to www. mnstatefair.org/tickets/admission-tickets/ Minnesota State Fair Accessibility Services offers many services for fairgoers with disabilities. Go to www.mnstatefair. org/general-info/accessibility-guide/ or

email accessibility@mnstatefair.org; 651288-4448 One go-to spot is Care & Assistance, which provides a number of accessibility services. Care & Assistance is located at 1338 Dan Patch Ave., across from West End Market. Hours are 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

She ‘Rises’ to the occasion Page 6 Looking at 1946 fair Page 2 Appleby was award winner Page 4 ADA celebration a success Page 5

New sensory break spot opens For visitors with sensory processing disabilities, the fair can be too much.

One welcomed new feature is the Fraser Sensory building. The new take-a-break STATE FAIR To page 3

Check out fair foods Page 7

Get to know the two new hires on board at Access Press

by Jan Willms Access Press, Minnesota’s disability community news source, is pleased to announce that Holly Anderson has been appointed as the organization’s new executive director. She joins newly hired Advertising Manager Staci Reay and longtime Managing Editor Jane McClure.

“Holly will be a great addition to the Access Press team,” said Joel Ulland, president of the Access Press board of directors. “Her experience with the disability community will be extremely valuable as we expand the reach of Access Press into the future.”

Anderson said it is an honor at being selected to “fill one of Tim Benjamin’s shoes.” Benjamin retired as executive director in 2020, and is still a columnist for the paper.

“I have respected him and his excellent work for many years,” Anderson said. “I promise to do everything I can to try to meet and maybe exceed his expectations.”

Anderson comes to Access Press with more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience. She began her career in

THANK YOU

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While celebrating many gains for the disability community in the 2021 special legislative session, some eyes are on the calendar.

The Minnesota Legislature will gavel back into session in September. The main topic on the agenda is to make decisions on bonus pay for essential workers who toiled on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers in June passed a measure to pay $250 million to potentially thousands of front-line essential workers. That could include nurses, long-term care workers, grocery store workers, small business owners and many others. A nine-member committee is to decide how the money will be allocated. Three members will be appointed by Gov. Tim Walz, three by the Republicancontrolled Senate and three by the DFLcontrolled House. A seven-member majority vote is needed to allocate the money. Their recommendations are due

by September 6, when lawmakers will meet again in a special session.

Action on bonding is also possible in September.

The 2021 special session, which extended into July, was highlighted by a compromise on the state budget.

Disability advocates and their organizations saw many gains, especially on the personal care attendant compensation front.

Federal assistance and higher-thananticipated tax revenues made many gains possible. Here’s a look at other highlights of the 2021 session and links to additional information.

In recent weeks groups have been posting legislative updates on their web pages. Self-advocates should check the web pages of the groups they are involved with.

One of the most detailed legislative wrap-ups is provided by the Minnesota Council on Disability. https://www. disability.state.mn.us/public-policy/ legislative-update/#7-7-21 The council is also sending out updates on individual bills.

Many gains were made in mental health, and have been outlined by National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Minnesota. One big step is to expand the mental health workforce, increase its diversity and have it be more culturally informed. Gains include a funding increase for loan forgiveness programs and expanding it to licensed alcohol and drug counselors, cultural and regional diversity standards for licensing boards, including cultural competency in continuing education standards for mental health professionals, paying for BIPOC mental health professionals to become supervisors, creating a culturally informed and culturally responsive mental health task force, and other key items. Wilder Foundation also worked closely on this effort.

LAWMAKERS To page 4

If we just start with great love for everyone, we will understand them to their very core.

Holly Anderson Washington, DC, working on marketing and public awareness campaigns for the National Consumer League. In 2002, she and her husband moved to Minnesota. She became vice president of the Minnesota Chapter of the MS Society, and in 2009 became president of the chapter.

“Advocating for people with disabilities is a passion of mine,” Anderson said. “I

Access Press thanks this month's issue sponsor!

look forward to working with the amazing nonprofits in Minnesota that are advocating for disability rights.”

Anderson’s office at the MS Society was a drop-off point for Access Press. “The paper is such an important source of news in Minnesota. There isn’t another news source covering people with disabilities in this way.”

Reflecting on the past year and a half in Minneapolis, Anderson said that as an extrovert, not working or seeing people was difficult. “I get my energy from people, and I also live with depression and struggled to do anything. I also live with fibromyalgia, which flared often during COVID. It’s the irony of the disorder and of depression that moving helps and yet moving is the last thing you feel you can do.” Anderson was also devastated by the loss of two pets during this time.

She kept active with anti-racist and diversity work. “I got involved with antiracist learning in 2016,” Anderson said. “I took 80-plus hours of training through the Unitarian Church.” She also completed classes at Cornell University to earn her NEW HIRES To page 4

August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

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The [PCA] increase will go into effect on October 1, 2021 or when the federal government approves it, whichever comes latest. The talk is that the federal government will approve it before October 1.

Well, as you know, it's been a long hot month. The one blessing is the humidity has been staying low, which makes it much more tolerable. I do enjoy the heat.

It's easier for me to cool down in the summer than warm up in the winter.

We had a bonanza at the legislature this year. The disability community came away from the session with more positive legislation than I've seen in 20 years. A special thanks goes out to Sen. Jim Abeler (R - Anoka), Sen. Michelle Benson (R - Ham Lake), Sen, John Hoffman (DFL - Champlain), Rep. Tina Schultz (DFL - Duluth) and Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL - Rochester) for all the hard work and dedication to the disability community and their constituents throughout the state of Minnesota. You’ll read about the legislation in this issue and over the coming months. Be sure to follow it because it’s good news.

On the critical issue of personal care

attendant (PCA) reimbursement rates, the new legislation includes a 10.10 percent PCA wage increase. Yes, 10.10 percent. In terms of precedent, it’s unbelievable and makes up for a lot of years when it was 0.0 percent. It’s the largest single increase I've ever seen in the PCA program.

The increase will go into effect on October 1, 2021 or when the federal government approves it, whichever comes latest. The talk is that the federal government will approve it before October 1. Skilled nursing also got a 5 percent increase which will help them recruit more home care nurses, and make the wage available for skilled nursing more competitive.

Abeler shepherded along language to expand the qualifications for the PCA Enhanced Pay Rate, and it will now be available for persons who require ten hours of PCA support a day instead of

12 hours. That means that PCAs who work for clients who require services for 10 hours or more per day will be able to apply for the wage rate that is 7.5 percent higher than standard— and this is on top of the 10.10 percent increase in the standard rate. It is estimated that the expansion from 12 hours to 10 hours will cost about $1.3 million per year and will affect several thousands of PCAs. It won't go into effect until January 1 2022.

From the beginning of the enhanced rate debate, Abeler has been a proponent for the 10 hours and over criteria. He conceded a couple years ago to the 12 hour threshold, but kept fighting for a more reasonable eligibility measure.

One other item in the Health and Human Services omnibus bill was a small but important piece that veteran activist Jeff Bangsberg has been working on. It ensures that PCAs are permitted to drive and accompany their clients, in whatever

form of transportation they choose, as an independent activity of daily living.

This action will also go into effect January 1, 2022. The legislature provided approximately $5 to $6 million for this change. I don't quite understand what the related costs will be, when those PCAs would be on the clock anyway if the client stayed home. There should be no extra cost, I would think.

Access Press has hired a new executive director, Holly Anderson. She has great credentials with previous experience at the MS Society. She brings a dedication to our community. Her email address is holly@accesspress.org. An article about her and new Advertising Manager Staci Reay is in this issue. Welcome them, as I do, to continue the good work of Access Press.

If you’re looking for me, I’m here at Tim’s Desk. My new email at Access Press is Tim.Benjamin@accesspress.org

HISTORY NOTE

The Minnesota State Fair has been canceled six times during its long history, twice due to disabling or deadly illnesses.

The 2020 fair was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1946 fair was canceled due to a polio outbreak.

The 1945 fair was canceled during the final months of World War II, when fuel rationing was important to the war effort. Part of the fairgrounds was still being used for the war effort.

People had gone one year without strolling the Midway, riding rides or walking through the livestock barns.

Minnesotans eagerly looked forward to the 1946 state fair.

News accounts from papers across Minnesota described the upcoming festivities. The Hennepin County superintendent of schools quizzed sixth, seventh and eighth graders at that county’s fair. The winners of the current events quiz would go to the state fair.

4-Hers worked on their projects, sewing clothes and grooming livestock.

Midway attractions were described.

Those entering canning and food preservation contests read up on entry details. Some pre-fair contests had already taken place.

But In the weeks leading up to the 1946 state fair, theaters, swimming pools and community gathering places across Minnesota closed. County fairs were

CDC

Disease control is not always 'fair' as 1946 and 2020 show us

The people are standing against a mirror, which shows their reflections. canceled. Schools announced delays in the start of classes.

The 1940s were a different time.

People traveled less, which affected how polio spread as compared to COVID-19.

Yet there weren’t the sanitation measures that are routine today.

Lakes, ponds and swimming pools provided relief from summer heat. But they also were prime places for polio to proliferate. Public gatherings also allowed polio to keep moving through the state.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is caused by the polio virus. The virus spreads from person to person. It can infect the spinal cord, causing varying levels of paralysis.

Infection can spread to the brain as well.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, between 2 and 10 out of 100 persons infected will die of polio.

Polio rates were rising as the fair neared. In 1946, there would be more than 3,000 polio cases in Minnesota and 226 deaths. Many were children and young people.

The state fair’s cancellation was ordered

by Dr. QA.J. Chesley, secretary of the Minnesota Department of Health. The fair board estimated it lost more than $100,000 in canceled contracts. But the potential for disease, disability and the loss of life was a much more serious concern.

The cancellation was met with disappointment. The St. Cloud Times took aim at Minneapolis, trying to tie the recent Minneapolis Aquatennial to the disease’s spread. noting that the Aquatennial festival had taken place earlier in the summer. The Times said the epidemic had started in Minneapolis.

The effects of that lost summer and

polio epidemics were long-lasting. News reports from years ago showed people encased in iron lungs. The large devices allowed polio patients to breathe. Others wound up using wheelchairs, crutches or braces for mobility.

Many affected by the polio epidemic were children. Children who recovered could develop post-polio syndrome decades later, with renewed muscle pain, weakness or paralysis.

While it’s easy to draw some parallels between the 1946 fair and the pandemicrelated cancellation of 2020, it’s important to note some key differences.

Polio was first identified in 1908, although outbreaks occurred in the 19th century.

Future President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was stricken with polio in 1921. But mass vaccinations weren’t available for polio until 1954.

Contrast that to COVID-19, which was identified in late 2019. Mass vaccines were rolled out in spring 2021. Advances in science have made a big difference in how disease causes disability, and in how we work and play.

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.

Website: accesspress.org email: access@accesspress.org phone: 651-644-2133 Executive Director.......................................................................................................................................Holly Anderson, 612-384-6433 Managing Editor...................................................................................................................................................................... Jane McClure Advertising Sales..............................................................................................................................................Staci Reay, 218-779-1534 Board of Directors.............Mohamed Alfash, John Clark, Shannah Mulvihill, Walt Seibert, Joel Ulland, Kay Willshire Columnist/Staff Writer................................... Tim Benjamin Production............................................................ In-Fin Tuan

Cartoonist........................................................Scott Adams

Co-Founder/Publisher Wm. A. Smith, Jr. (1990-96) Co-Founder/Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief Charles F. Smith (1990-2001) Editor-in-Chief/Executive Director Tim Benjamin (2001-2020)

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ABOUT ACCESS PRESS: A monthly newspaper published for persons with disabilities by Access Press, Ltd. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Access Press, PO Box 40006, Industrial Station, St. Paul, MN 55104-8006.

INQUIRIES AND ADDRESS CHANGES should be directed to: Access Press, PO Box 40006, Industrial Station, St. Paul, MN 55104-8006; 651-644-2133; email: access@accesspress.org Website: accesspress.org

August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8 From page 1

oasis is specially created for fair guests of all ages with sensory-processing challenges who may find the sights, sounds, smells and crowds of the fair overwhelming.

Fraser is Minnesota’s largest provider of autism and early childhood mental health services. The Fraser Sensory Building is on Cosgrove Street, between Dan Patch Avenue and Wright Avenue, adjacent to the wheelchair rentals and Home Improvement Building. Fairgoers can visit Fraser from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., August 26 to September 6, closing at 8 p.m. on Labor Day. The sensory space will be staffed

by Fraser-trained sensory support volunteers, who can help individuals regulate with tools and techniques including weighted blankets and shoulder wraps, calming music, floor cushions, an exercise ball and fidget toys. Anyone who is experiencing sensory overload is welcome to take a break in the space.

The Fraser Sensory Building will also feature games, giveaways, educational resources, special guests and information about employment opportunities.

“The fair is a great place for Minnesotans to gather,” said Fraser Sensory Inclusion Specialist and Occupational Therapist Gina Gibson.

“However, given the crowds and the stimulation, it can feel overwhelming to some. Those who feel overwhelmed now have a place to get some support and make the fair a positive experience.”.

American Sign Language is offered daily at several shows.

Mental Health Day at the Fair An all-ages day to promote mental health resources and wellness through games and health awareness is 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, August 30 activities as well as stage acts including music, youth at Dan Patch Park, presented by the Minnesota State performances, yoga, and more. Featured guests and Advisory Council on Mental Health, Subcommittee entertainment will be offered. Learn more at www. on Children’s Mental Health, National Alliance on namimn.org or www.mentalhealthmn.org. Or call 651Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota and many other 645-2948. organizations.

Check the fair schedule online for other disability Learn about far-reaching mental health and wellness group events and exhibits. The schedule was changing as topics that affect all Minnesotans. Learn about mental fair time draws near.

Minnesota Council on Disability booth is back Several disability service organizations have their own booths in the Education Building. The Minnesota Council on Disability will have a booth there, too. Many organizations partner with the council at the booth and provide free information on disability groups and services The council’s booth theme this year is “resilience,” acknowledging the always-resilient disability community and its challenges during the pandemic.

A schedule will be posted, of when fairgoers can meet representatives from partner disability organizations including Access Press, state commissioners, elected officials, guest entertainment and an accommodations schedule. Contact the council about accommodations to visit the booth at www.disability. state.mn.us/ Health comes first In 2021, health and safety of everyone is a top priority. Fair officials continue to follow and monitor current guidance from federal and state health officials.

Restrictions regarding large gatherings have recently eased, so at this time, no attendance limits are anticipated.

Masks will not be required for fair guests but are strongly encouraged for those not fully vaccinated. People may feel comfortable wearing masks even if they have been vaccinated.

Proof of vaccination will not be required for guests, staff or vendors.

Cleaning and sanitization measures will adhere to federal and state guidelines. Hand sanitizer will be provided at locations throughout the fairgrounds.

But people need to be mindful of their symptoms.

Anyone testing positive or presumptively positive within the 14 days of attending the fair should stay home.

Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who has STATE FAIR To page 9 MINNESOTA STATE FAIR

STATE FAIR

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August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

From page 1 certification in diversity and inclusion.

“All of this training, reading and discussions led me to get active after the murder of George Floyd.”

Anderson works with Show Up for Racial Justice (SURJ-TC) and Residents Organizing Against Racism (ROAR).

Anderson said volunteering at SURJ and the Upper Midwest Great Dane Rescue gave her something to get out of bed for during the pandemic, as did her family and family pets.

Optimistic about the future for people with disabilities, Anderson said Minnesota is moving in a positive Staci Reay direction for all people. “I saw some positives in the budget for the state, and I know there is still much to do.”

“I look forward to working with Jane, who is a great managing editor, and Staci to put out an amazing paper, raise the funds to ensure the paper’s legacy and to build relationships across the disability community,” Anderson said.

To reach Holly Anderson, contact holly@accesspress.org

Reay takes advertising reins

Staci Reay is the new advertising manager at Access Press. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a

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NEW HIRES

cope.”

In her spare time, Reay said she enjoys reading fiction and non-fiction. “I live on 40 acres with five cats, chickens, turkeys, peafowl and visiting waterfowl,” she said. “I enjoy spending time with family and friends and traveling when I can.”

As to her role with the paper, Reay said “I bring commitment and dedication to the Access Press team in support of their mission to be a resource to Minnesotans with disabilities.”

To reach Staci Reay, contact staci@accesspress.org

∏∏f Hilgendorf championed many causes

Blindness caused by an accident didn’t stop Ralph Hilgendorf, who spent much of his career in state government.

He and his family also were involved in an array of social justice issues. Hilgendorf, 88, died in June. He was 88 and lived in St. Paul’s Midway area.

His early years were spent on the family farm near Welcome, Ralph Hilgendorf in southwestern Minnesota.

He got his pilot’s license as a teenager and purchased a Piper Cub J-3 airplane. At age 17, he lost his vision in a plane crash.

Hilgendorf moved to Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota. The move helped him adjust to being blind. He received his B.A. degree from the U of M and then went on to earn an M.S. in vocational rehabilitation counseling at what is now Minnesota State Mankato.

He worked for a few years in West Virginia and Mankato before moving to St. Paul. Hilgendorf spent decades serving as assistant director for what is now State Services for the Blind of Minnesota. He retired from state government in 1991.

He was a valued mentor and advisor to many people who were adapting to life without sight. “He would advise them in terms of what kind of resources were available, but he also was empathetic -- because, of course, he'd already been through the same thing," said Hilgendorf's daughter Cherry Flowers.

The family housed deaf foster children, a Salvadoran refugee in need of sanctuary, college students and activists. More than 50 people lived with the family over the years.

The Hilgendorf family frequently took part in protests on social justice issues. He marched on the Lake Street Bridge every week for years to demonstrate his opposition

LAWMAKERS

From page 1 Another positive measure is in alternate pathway to children’s residential treatment. Legislation from NAMI Minnesota and Aspire Minnesota was passed, that develops an alternative pathway for children voluntarily accessing residential mental health treatment without entering the child protection system.

Legislation was also passed that expands eligibility for Youth ACT services for children as young as eight and adults up to age 25. This will ensure that more children can obtain needed intensive mental health supports.

Another win centered on the CADI (Community Access for Disability Inclusion) waiver: NAMI’s bill to suspend, not terminate, the CADI waiver when someone is hospitalized or in residential treatment passed.

Read more about mental health measures and next steps at https://namimn.org/ Another emphasis during the session was to support programs for the homeless and programs to prevent more people from becoming homeless. Minnesota will be transitioning out of the eviction moratorium this summer.

The state’s housing crisis has had a huge impact of people with disabilities.

Education also saw a lot of disability-related changes, including funding for suicide prevention training, and

minor in advertising.

“I have more than 25 years’ experience in marketing communications and have worked in both an agency and corporate environment,” Reay said. “I also have five years of experience working for a domestic/sexual violence nonprofit shelter in northwest Minnesota.”

Reay understands the importance of bringing together community voices to discuss critical issues, advocate and provide resources for Minnesotans with disabilities.

Considering the past long months of the pandemic, Reay said the isolation and being separated from family and friends were the most difficult things for her. “I was grateful to have technology to help me stay connected.” She added that she is an avid reader, and “reading always helps me

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Here’s how to work with Access Press

Under the new staff structure, Anderson will focus on organization management, development and fundraising, and community relations and outreach. Reay will focus on advertising including new print and online advertising products for the paper.

McClure will have responsibility for news, both in print and online under the new staff structure. That’s a change from the previous Access Press management structure, where the executive director also acted as an editor.

“Tim Benjamin and I worked collaboratively in editing Access Press for many years, and the board recognized that we weren’t likely to find that kind of strong working partnership again,” said McClure.

“I’m very pleased with the new hires and the organizational changes. This allows Holly and Staci to work on areas Access Press needs to focus on,” McClure said. “Bringing in new staff allows me to focus on our news content, in print and online.”

McClure thanked the newspaper’s board and Bethany Gladhill, management consultant from Gladhill Rhone, for their work during the last several months. Gladhill and current and former board members Kay Willshire and Jane Larson handled day-to-day tasks as interim management. “I can’t say enough about all of the time they have put in over the past several months, especially Bethany and Kay,” she said.

To reach Jane McClure about news items, contact jane@accesspress.org

In Memoriam f∏∏

to war and violence and participated for many years in the annual protests at the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia. In 2006, he and Kay received the Honorary Award of the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation for Peace and Justice in recognition of their lifelong involvement in peace and social justice causes.

Hilgendorf was a longtime member of the Society of Friends meetings and became a leader in the Quaker community. He served on boards for the North American Water Office, Friends for a Nonviolent World, Scattergood Friends School, Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and the Minnesota State Rehabilitation Association. He served on committees for Twin Cities Friends Meeting. He served as director of FNVW People Camp for at least one year, was on the camp planning committee and may still be the record-holder for number of years in attendance. He co-founded Whole Grain Milling Company.

Ralph and Kay Hilgendorf were named volunteers of the year at Friends School.

Hilgendorf is survived by his wife Kay, five children and their families including grandchildren and one greatgrandchild, and four brothers and their families. Services have been held. Memorials preferred to Scattergood School, Friends School of Minnesota, Friends for a Nonviolent World, or Twin Cities Friends Meeting.

Appleby was award winner

Calvin “Cal” Appleby believed that everyone had the potential to be and do good. He reached out to those often marginalized by society, including people with disabilities.

Appleby died earlier this summer. He was 87 and lived in Minneapolis.

Calvin "Cal" Appleby He won the Access Press Charlie Smith Award in 2013 for service to Minnesota’s disability community. At the time, Appleby said, “My increased funding for school-linked mental health. State lawmakers are putting $1.2 billion more into the state’s classrooms over the next four years, the largest increase in more than a decade. Special education and individualized education plans or IEPs also got needed attention.

Health care was also a big focus. The state’s reinsurance plan will continue through at least 2022. The program gets deserved credit for keeping premiums low, and for serving as a financial backstop for insurers who encounter enrollees with costly health conditions. The program, which has been a boon to many people with disabilities, has often gotten caught in the crosshairs over single-payer health care for Minnesotans.

Another focus was telehealth, which became even more of a lifeline for many people during the pandemic. A big change was to remove the weekly visits cap that public health programs struggled under. Minnesotans can access telehealth services by phone or audio-only means through July 1, 2023. Telehealth services are reimbursed at the same rate as in person treatment.

The July issue of Access Press extensively covered the changes to the personal care attendant program, as well as public safety and other changes. Read more at www. accesspress.org This information was compiled by Managing Editor Jane McClure.

life’s purpose has been to work with people who may be marginalized by the rest of society.”

If people were willing to come forward and take part in his classes and groups, Appleby said he was willing to help them better themselves. He saw himself as a catalyst in the lives of others Appleby grew up in Ohio, in a small town on Lake Erie. he developed a devotion to New Age thought and meditative practices.

After graduating from Ohio State University, Appleby moved to the Twin Cities to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota with the goal of becoming a psychology or sociology professor. He taught at the U of M and Augsburg College for many years, but also taught in prisons, nursing homes and in facilities for people with mental illness.

He worked extensively with students with disabilities at Augsburg, led disability awareness classes and advocated for issues including the need for the Augsburg campus to be wheelchair-accessible.

He also worked for years with people with chemical dependency issues, serving as a counselor at recovery centers and implementing yoga and meditation into that work.

Appleby also brought volunteers to teach prison inmates, earning him the Virginia McKnight Binger Award in human services.

He is survived by his life partner Laurie Savran, son Kevin Appleby, Savran’s children Jessica and Deborah, and grandchildren. Services have been held.

Grateful to our community!

TWIN CITIES MANKATO handimedical.com

August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

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JEFF PEABODY

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 31st Anniversary: Celebrating Resilience! focused on how Minnesotans with disabilities got through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what steps they will take going forward. This year’s July 26 celebration was held virtually.

Pandemic impacts were discussed by self-advocates, who were introduced

by Cara Ruff, executive director of central Minnesota’s Independent Lifestyles, Inc. “Resiliency is about a mind-set of bouncing back, adaptability of being positive and proactive and creative,” she said. “And I think all those things describe people with disabilities in their fight for justice and equality and inclusion.”

Self-advocates said it has not been an easy time, and they look forward BOLD-choice Theatre Company to resuming normal life instead of many virtual meetings and activities. “It’s like everything stopped at March,” said Donald J. Curry. He expressed sadness at not being able to be out in the community, and fear about those who aren’t vaccinated. But Curry is also looking forward to fall bowling, Special Olympics and his job.

Kate Moen described the change from being out and about, to being confined to home. She participated in BOLD-choice Theatre, did craft projects, rode her bike and played soccer with socially distant rules. “I’m feeling good because I can get out more and more now.

A large crowd watched the virtual celebration. Viewers enjoyed speakers as well as performances by acclaimed jazz guitarist and recording artist Sam Miltich and Duluthbased BOLD-choice Theatre Company.

Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed July 26, 2021 as the 31st Anniversary of the ADA. Meredith Kujala of Arc Northland served as emcee, and Duluth Mayor Emily Larson gave the welcome. Larson pointed out recent access improvements in Duluth, including efforts to widen and improve the popular Lake Walk.

One theme throughout the presentations was that of adaptation and how changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic have become or could become permanent. Another theme was the many hardships

BOLD-CHOICE

Minnesotans celebrate ADA anniversary, their own resiliency

Sam Miltich people with disabilities faced, and continue to face, as a result of the pandemic.

Mai Thor of the Minnesota Department of Health outlined how efforts were made to make sure people with disabilities and their caregivers were vaccinated in a timely manner, and had access to testing. Having a coordinated response to serve people with disabilities was and continues to be crucial, Thor said.

Sue Abderholden, executive director, NAMI Minnesota, discussed the mental health impacts that pandemic has had. Impacts are varied and widespread for people with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. The impacts included how isolation affected mental health, job loss and loss of income, threats to housing, stress for students and families involved in distance learning, and the loss of community activities.

“The last thing I want to mention is that while we've all been in the same ocean, we have not been in the same boat,” Abderholden said. BIPOC community members have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. They caught COVID at a much higher rate because many were essential workers. They also were hospitalized at a higher rate and died at a higher rate.

Add to that the trauma layered on after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, and the attacks of Asian-Americans who

were unfairly blamed for the pandemic.

“And so as we kind of look to the future and how we're going to address these issues, we just have to remember that not everyone was impacted equally,” she said.

One focus was employment, with Peter Berg of the Great Lakes ADA Center. Berg is project coordinator of technical assistance for the center, which is part of the federally funded ADA National Network. the center covers the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

One big question centers on working remotely, Berg said. While some employees with disabilities may prefer to continue to work remotely, if there isn't a disabilityrelated need for the employer to work remotely, the employer doesn't have to provide that option. One of the benefits of the pandemic is that it has provided a great demonstration that work in general can be performed remotely. And that for employees with disabilities who need remote work as an accommodation, those individuals can perform essential job functions remotely.

While technology has changed since the ADA was passed 31 years ago, Berg said there has to be a disability-related need for that reasonable accommodation, for an individual to work remotely.

“It cannot simply be based on a preference,” he said.

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BOLD-choice Theatre Company

Treat People Like People is highlighted On the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is important to remember the ADA's goals of equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic selfsufficiency for all people with disabilities. These goals cannot be achieved unless people with disabilities live free from abuse and neglect.

The Minnesota Governor’s Council on People with Developmental Disabilities (MNCDD) puts a spotlight on the Treat People Like People campaign. The campaign has been updated to include more diverse voices.

Listen and learn dynamic, multi-cultural stories from Kate, Christy, Sen. Fong Hawj (DFL – St. Paul), Bonnie Jean, Abdi and Linda. Learn about the negative impacts abuse including emotional abuse has on people with disabilities. Find resources on how to report abuse, the Supervised Living Facilities bill of rights project, Minnesota's Olmstead Plan, training resources, and culturally specific information. Download beautifully designed posters with powerful messages: “I Just Want

to be Treated with Respect” and “Abuse Stops with Us.” The campaign was designed by, for, and with people with disabilities.

Read more about the campaign at https://mn.gov/ mnddc/ or https://treatpeoplelikepeople.org/

August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

Pg 6

PEOPLE & PLACES Ogren retires after long career

It’s truly the end of an era as Sally Ogren, director of ProAct in Red Wing, retired on July 1. Ogren logged a remarkable 47 years’ working with people with disabilities with ProAct and its predecessors.

Ogren was with Interstate Sally Ogren Rehabilitation Center (IRC) before its merger with Owobopte in Eagan.

Owobopte was founded as a small organization providing training and work opportunities for people at what was then the Hastings State Hospital. It grew into a sizeable day training and habilitation center in Eagan.

IRC, located in Red Wing, provides services on both sides of the Mississippi River to Minnesota and Wisconsin clients.

The two service providers joined forces to form the larger ProAct organization in 2002.

Prior to joining IRC, Ogren worked for the State of Minnesota in what was then the Rehabilitation Services Division. She came to IRC with a great knowledge of the field. Over the years she was instrumental in developing community living opportunities, Dial-A Ride services and new educational programming and employment opportunities at the Red Wing facility.

Part of her director duties involved the oversight of the ProAct site in Zumbrota, It was the first to use the ProAct name after it opened in 1994. The Zumbrota facility was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and the decision was made to sell the building in 2021.

Ogren was a longtime surveyor for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

She has brought a level of commitment and dedication to ProAct in her years of employment. Ogren leaves as part of a group that shares notable longevity with ProAct, each with more than 30 years of service. ProAct’s Board of Directors, staff, participants, families and community members thanked her for her decades of service.

In retirement Ogren plans to spend more time with her husband, their sons and their families.

New board members at Wilderness Inquiry

Wilderness Inquiry has welcomed four new board members to its leadership team.

New board members are Mikisha Nation, executive director of Teach for America; Laura Forero, CEO of 1204 Consulting, LLC.; Jaime Stilson, partner at Dorsey & Whitney, and Dotun Obadina, partner at Jones Day. Wilderness Inquiry provides opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to experience the great outdoors.

State appointments are announced

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan have announced appointment to several aging and disabilityfocused boards, commissions and committees.

Rachel Dame, Minneapolis, was appointed to the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, replacing Jesse Winkler in a public member seat. The board regulates the practices of alcohol and drug counseling, professional counseling and professional clinical counseling in Minnesota. The board carries out its mission through effective licensure and enforcement of statutes and rules that ensure a standard of competent and ethical practice.

Katie McDermott, St. Paul, was appointed to the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (MNCDD) as a consumer member.

McDermott replaces Stacey Nelson.

Two new parent or guardian representatives were PEOPLE AND PLACES To page 9

Robinson is honored for leadership of nurses Rise Nurse Care Coordinator Kelly Robinson has been a leader in efforts to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was recently presented with the DAISY Team Award by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

In January 2020 Robinson founded the Minnesota chapter of Black Nurses Rock, Inc., a national organization established in 2014 focused on supporting Black nurses.

When the pandemic began, Robinson knew that Black Nurses Rock’s mission to inspire, empower, and educate the community was more essential than ever. She and her team of nurses worked with Kelly Robinson the city of Minneapolis to pass out 4,000 masks and 500 bottles of hand sanitizer at community events. Events often occurred with little notice, but Black Nurses Rock was ready to meet the need.

Black Nurses Rock shifted its work from distributing masks and hand sanitizer to doing temperature checks at summer events. That work helped reduce the spread of COVID-19. In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Robinson and her team of nurses were the official “temperature takers” at the funeral.

Black Nurses Rock in the fall transitioned to assisting with the launch of community COVID-19 testing sites in partnership with state departments and community groups.

Always a champion for her community, Robinson connected with the state COVID-19 testing work group and advocated for more nurses of color to carry out the testing.

Doing so was seen as a way to increase comfort and trust among community members coming out to get tested for COVID-19.

From August through December 2020, Black Nurses Rock and MHealth were the official COVID-19 testers for community testing events hosted

by Stairstep Foundation, a trusted organization in the African American community. These events had a broad reach in the African American community.

Those efforts earned Robinson the DAISY Award. The award, created by The DAISY Foundation, a group that celebrates extraordinary nursing. The foundation applauds Robinson and her colleagues’ compassion and skills.

DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The DAISY Foundation was formed in November 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The nursing care Barnes received when hospitalized profoundly touched his family.

Rise is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which supports people who have disabilities and other barriers.

Its programs are intended to assist the people in finding employment opportunities that fit their career objectives and skills. Rise also offers life enrichment programs and mental health support services, as well as programs assisting people in finding safe, affordable housing in some Central Minnesota counties.

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August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

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Whet your appetite for new Minnesota State Fair foods, accessible venues Trying new foods is a highlight for Minnesota State Fair visitors. For people with disabilities, it can be a challenge to find adequate seating, a table that accommodates a wheelchair or scooter or space for a personal care attendant to sit and help at mealtime.

Working with fair staff, Access Press prepares an annual Minnesota State Fair dining guide. The following food and beverage concessions offer seating areas accessible by curb cuts; hard and sturdy floor surfaces and wheelchair/scooter seating. That seating is considered to be tables a guest can pull up to in a wheelchair or scooter. Or a chair can be moved to make room for a wheelchair or scooter.

Be aware that the Food Building has outdoor plazas and inside seating for its vendors.

• Andy’s Grille: South side of Carnes Avenue between Chambers and Nelson streets • Ball Park Cafe: East side of Underwood Street between Carnes and Dan Patch avenues • Blue Barn: At West End Market, south of the History & Heritage Center (limited general seating picnic tables) • Blue Moon Dine-In Theater: Northeast corner of Carnes and Chambers • Butcher Boys London Broil: North side of Dan Patch between Nelson and Underwood • Cafe Caribe: South side of Carnes between Chambers and Nelson • Charcoal Hut: East side of Judson Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets, next to the International Bazaar • Chicago Dogs: In The garden on the corner of Dan Patch and Underwood • Coasters: On the southeast corner of Carnes and Liggett streets • Danielson’s & Daughters Onion Rings: Between Underwood and Cooper, outside the south side of the Food Building, shares seating in a plaza area • Dino’s Gyros: On the north side of Carnes between Nelson and Underwood • El Sol Mexican Foods: East side of Underwood, outside the southwest corner of the Food Building, shares seating in a plaza area • Farmers Union Coffee Shop: On the north side of Dan Patch between Cooper and Cosgrove streets • Food Building: Route 66 Roadhouse Chicken; Mario’s; Sonny’s Fair Food; Granny’s Caramel Apple Sundaes; Peters Hot Dogs; Fish & Chips Seafood Shoppe. The vendors are near shared indoor tables by the northwest entrance to the Food Building.

• French Creperie: North side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood • French Meadow Bakery & Café: North side of Carnes between Nelson and Underwood • Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade, Fruit Smoothies, Orange Treet: Between Underwood and Cooper, outside the south side of the Food Building, shares seating in a plaza area • Frontier Bar: South side of Carnes between Liggett and Chambers • Gass Station Grill: West side of Cooper, outside the southeast corner of the Food Building, shares seating in a plaza area • Giggles’ Campfire Grill: Southeast corner of Cooper and Lee streets at the North Woods • Hamline Church Dining Hall: North side of Dan Patch between Underwood and Cooper. When arriving, ask for seating to be saved for diners in wheelchairs.

Sausage Sister & Me's Bahn Minn Bun and Bahn Minn Bowl

Fluffy's Hand Cut Donuts' Jumbo Donut Sundae

• The Hangar: Northeast corner of Murphy Avenue and Underwood.

• Isabel Burke’s Olde Tyme Taffy: Between Cooper and Underwood, outside the southeast corner of the Food Building, shares seating in a plaza area • Italian Junction: South side of Dan Patch between Nelson and Underwood • JJ Vescio’s: East side of Chambers and south of the Grandstand • Key Lime Pie Bar: West side of Cooper, between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building, shares seating in a plaza area • LuLu’s Public House: At West End Market, south of the Schilling Amphitheater (Most accessible seating is on the second level, via elevator) • Mancini’s al Fresco: North side of Carnes between Nelson and Underwood • Mighty Midway food concessions Leimon’s Pizzeria; Sugar Shack; Pat’s Place; The Donut Family; Westmoreland Concessions share a seating area

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• Mexican Hat: East of Chambers Street, south of the Grandstand • Minnesota Wine Country: West side of Underwood between Carnes and Judson • O’Gara’s at the Fair: Southwest corner of Dan Patch and Cosgrove • The Peg: Outside on the southeast side of the Agriculture Horticulture Building • Patio Grill: East side of Nelson between Carnes and Judson, next to KARE 11 • RC’s BBQ: North side of West Dan Patch between Liggett and Chambers • Ragin Cajun: In the garden on the corner of Dan Patch and Underwood • Salem Lutheran Church: North side of Randall Avenue south of the Progress Center • Shanghaied Henri’s: At International Bazaar, north wall • Tejas Express: In the Garden on the corner of Dan Patch and Underwood

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August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

Pg 8

REGIONAL NEWS Wage change brings mixed response in state More than 8,000 Minnesotans who have jobs at sheltered workshops will no longer be paid a “subminimum” wage, as a result of a law change this summer. Federal workforce data shows that Minnesota has the highest number of sheltered workshop employees in the U.S. Despite recent efforts to expand work opportunities, Minnesota still has one of the lowest rates of integrated employment in the nation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A 2020 state survey found that only 57 percent of adults with developmental disabilities report having a job with income -- largely unchanged from a decade ago. Only 17 percent of Minnesotans with developmental disabilities believed their employment prospects would improve in the next two years, the survey found.

Subminimum wages will be phased out by August 2025. Legislation also provides $14.1 million in grants to help employers change their business models.

Paying subminimum wages dates from the Great Depression. The practice is now seen as discriminatory, exploitative and a violation of civil rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. “The world is moving in this direction,” said Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), chairman of the Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee. “Everyone deserves a chance to be as independent as possible -- and they shouldn't be trapped in a subminimum wage job when they could work at a market wage.”

A Star Tribune investigation in 2015 found that many in Minnesota's workshops spend years toiling in poverty and isolation with little hope for advancement.

Phasing out subminimum wages would force dramatic changes at centers that provide a wide range of support services for people with disabilities. Finding staff and supports as clients transition into the regular workforce is a worry.

Some parents of adult children with disabilities support the alternative wage system, partly due to fears

City Council approves settlement

St. Paul City Council in July settled a pending legal claim filed by a former mayoral aide. Hope Hoffman, who said she was discriminated against due to disability, received $76,000. Of that amount about $23,000 will cover lost wages, $23,000 will cover emotional distress, and $30,000 will be paid to her legal counsel.

The city makes no admission of culpability as part of the settlement.

Hoffman is the daughter of Sen John Hoffman (DFL Champlain). She recently served on the Young Women’s Cabinet of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. She was born with spina bifida and walks with a prosthetic leg as a result of medical amputation. In June 2019 she began working for Mayor Melvin Carter as a policy associate.

Some of her city duties included attending public events. She told a legislative committee in 2020 that her work changed over time. She was assigned duties that are physically difficult if not impossible. Then when she didn’t perform her duties to the satisfaction of supervisors, they justified sitting in on all of her meetings to see if she was able to do the work.

Hoffman filed a complaint with the city’s human resources department but was told to take her concerns to the city’s Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator. He asked that she put in a formal request for accommodations. Her complaint against a program manager was investigated and closed without disciplinary action, according to the mayor’s office.

Hoffman also filed a claim with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which she later withdrew.

Sorting items is a task at many workshops that their children will have nowhere to go if workshops close. In small towns the workshops or day activity centers are a lifeline for people with disabilities, providing transportation, social activities and more.

Jim Clapper, co-chairman of a grassroots coalition of Minnesota families with loved ones with disabilities, is an outspoken supporter of subminimum wage employment.

The system gave his son, Bob, who has Down syndrome, the opportunity to become accustomed to a structured work environment and build social skills. After three years in a workshop, Bob gained enough confidence to transition to a mainstream job at a supermarket in St. Paul.

Yet others said they considered sheltered workshops to be dehumanizing, Alex Jaffe, 33, who has Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, recalled the tedium of spending his days packing zip ties into plastic bags at a workshop. Jaffe, who is now employed as a security guard at $19 an hour, said no one ever asked him about his career ambitions or told him he was capable of working in the community at a higher wage.

(Source: Star Tribune) She left city employment in October 2019.

In a written statement at the time of Hoffman’s testimony, Carter’s office indicated they worked with Hoffman to accommodate her disability, going so far as to allow her to park in the deputy mayor’s parking spot, which is closer to the City Hall entrances than typical street parking. She was issued a lightweight, portable computer tablet and given the flexibility to perform some of her duties from home.

In the statement, Carter said, “I’m disheartened our efforts to ensure Ms. Hoffman’s success were not enough to make her feel supported. I am working with city leadership and staff to learn from and prevent this experience from recurring in the future.”

(Source: Pioneer Press)

Senator reveals ALS diagnosis

Sen. David Tomassoni (I Chisholm) has revealed that he has been diagnosed with ALS. He announced the diagnosis in a letter in the Mesabi Tribune.

ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a progressive, neurodegenerative illness that affects muscle control.

Those with the disease may eventually lose the ability to even speak or breathe. There is currently no known cure.

Sen. David Tomassoni

Tomassoni, 68, has served in the Minnesota Legislature since 1992, representing a district on the Iron Range. He was initially elected to the House, where he served four terms. He was first elected to the Senate.

He plans to continue to serve to the best of his abilities but acknowl3edged the challenges ahead. “There is no sugar coating it — this is a tough disease, and I will feel the effects of it in my speech, my movement, and my life,” he said.

"I give you my word that my brain and my body will continue to represent you with the same passion and vigor I’ve tried to give in the past," he said.

Tomassoni for years was affiliated with the DFL. But after the 2020 election, he and Sen. Tom Bakk announced that they were leaving the DFL caucus to become independents. Both consider themselves to be political moderates.

Prior to joining the state legislature, he had a prolific hockey career in Italy, playing 16 seasons over there and joining the country's Olympic team in 1984.

Said Tomassoni in his letter: "I have been fortunate and blessed in my life, my career, in sports, and with friends and a great family. This is the next challenge.’

(Source: Mesabi Tribune, Bring Me the News)

Police look at new models

Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center officials are involved in new civilian crisis response teams to handle mental health emergencies without police.

The Minneapolis pilot program, operated by Richfieldbased Canopy Mental Health & Consulting, features mental health professionals in two-person teams who will always be on call. This summer the Minneapolis City Council approved a two-year, $6 million contract with Canopy, which beat out three other providers.

Officers will still respond to some mental health-related emergencies, for instance those involving a weapon, but the new mobile response teams will be dispatched to many behavioral health calls.

The change fulfills a key demand among many activists, who since George Floyd's murder have taken aim at the city's reliance on police for emergencies that don't necessarily require an armed response.

In December 2020, the City Council voted to redirect nearly $8 million from the Minneapolis Police Department's budget to fund its vision of crime prevention, which prioritizes mental health care and drug treatment to address the cycles of trauma that can lead to violence in poor communities.

MPD and other departments across the country have for years trained officers in crisis intervention, but often officers who encounter someone in the throes of a mental health crisis have had few options. Critics say that sending an armed officer to try to defuse a situation involving a mentally ill person could have the opposite effect.

The Brooklyn Center City Council is looking at ways to implement public safety-related changes in the wake of the deaths of Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler.

A number of organizational and policy changes to Brooklyn Center's public safety apparatus are in the works, including the introduction of an unarmed traffic enforcement division and rerouting some emergency calls to trained medical and mental health professionals instead of the police.

Mayor Mike Elliott said that some changes could be made right away and others would take more time. “Statistically, if we don't get to work right now, we're going to have another killing before this all gets implemented.”

Calls pertaining to medical, mental health, disabilityrelated or behavior or social needs would be handled by a community response department consisting of medical and mental health professionals, social workers and other volunteers.

(Source: Star Tribune, KSTP-TV) REGIONAL NEWS To page 11

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August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

Sara's Tipsy Pies' Blue Raspberry Blitzed

RC's BBQ's The Naughty Biscuit

STATE FAIR

From page 3 been in direct contact with or in the immediate vicinity of any person who is confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19 should stay home.

Be safe and have fun Before leaving home, make sure phones, wheelchairs and power chairs are fully charged. Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.

Don’t forget to bring needed items, including water and any medications needed during the day. Bring a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun’s rays. A cooling towel worn around the neck can bring welcome relief from heat. Make sure to bring identification and identification for emergency contacts.

Getting to the fair It’s easier to park-off-site. The Minnesota State Fair provides a free park and ride lot, with free wheelchairaccessible bus service exclusively for people with disabilities and their companions. The lot, open to those with a disability certificate or license plate, is located on the north side of the Oscar Johnson Arena, 1039 De Courcy Circle, south of the fairgrounds near Snelling Avenue and Energy Park Drive.

Buses run continuously from 8 a.m. to midnight daily (11 p.m. on Labor Day). Passengers are dropped off at the Loop Gate #9 on Como Avenue on the south end of the fairgrounds.

Metro Mobility drops off and picks up passengers at two locations on the fairgrounds: Loop Gate 9 on Como Avenue, and at the North Gate #2.

Rideshare services Uber and Lyft drop off and pick up passengers at two locations on the fairgrounds: Loop Gate 9 on Como Avenue, and at the North Gate #2.

Metro Transit has several bus routes that go to the fairgrounds. Go to www.mnstatefair.org/transportation/ metro-transit/.

Park and ride lots will be scattered throughout the Twin Cities region but be aware that most don’t offer accessible buses, for people who use chairs or scooters, or who cannot climb steps. Those that do offer accessible buses don’t always have them available. The park and ride schedule can be found at www.mnstatefair.org/transportation/ Roseville High School will not be available for park and ride this year.

PEOPLE AND PLACES

From page 6 appointed to MNCDD. Jennifer Santema, Milaca, was appointed, replacing Bonnie Jean Smith. Jenny Arndt, Waseca, replaces Sen. John Hoffman (DFL - Champlain).

MNCDD works to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the necessary supports and services to achieve increased independence, productivity, self-determination, integration and inclusion in their community.

Commissioner Mandy Meisner, Anoka County, was appointed to the State Advisory Council on Mental Health as a county commissioner representative. She replaces Commissioner Jim McDonough, Ramsey County.

Eren Sutherland, Minneapolis. was also appointed to the council as representative of the Minnesota Disability Law Center. Sutherland replaces Patricia Siebert. The council is charged with making recommendations to the governor, legislature and state departments on mental health policies, programs and services.

Addyson Moore, Red Wing, was appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council as disability advocacy group representative. Moore replaces Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman.

Delawoe Bahtuoh, Brooklyn Park, was reappointed as a current or former applicant for or recipient of VR Services.

Lindsey Horowitz, Roseville, was appointed as Department of Education representative, replacing Susan Benolken.

Jillian Nelson, St. Paul, was reappointed as a disability advocacy group representative.

The council’s duties include guiding decisions about Minnesota’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS), coordinating between VRS and centers for independent living and other state councils with interest in issues pertaining to disability and employment. The council also reports to the governor and the U.S. Department of Education on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs.

Jessica Eggert, Eagan, was appointed to the Board of the Minnesota State Academies as a blind community member.

Eggert replaces Jan Bailey. The board governs the state academies for the deaf and blind. It promotes academic standards based on high expectation and an assessment system to measure academic performance toward the achievement of those standards.

Judy Moe, Richfield, was appointed to the Council on

Scenic 61 by New Scenic Café's Sashimi Tuna Tacos

For taxi and rideshare information, go to www. mnstatefair.org/transportation/ On the fairgrounds, a small number of parking spaces designated for vehicles with a valid disability certificate available on a first-come basis. Please note that accessible parking often fills up early each day. The cost is $16. View website page for a map and more information about how to access on-site parking. Go to www.mnstatefair.org/ parking/vehicle/

At the gates Security changes have been made so be ready. The Minnesota State Fair’s security program includes walkthrough metal detectors at all entry gates. Bags, purses, coolers and packages will be subject to search at each of the State Fair’s entrances. Prohibited items include weapons, fireworks, alcoholic beverages, drones and bikes/ skateboards/skates/hover boards. Other items may be refused at the discretion of fair management or police.

Leave home any pocket knives, embroidery scissors or similar small items. Downsize what is carried as much as possible.

Assistive listening devices Assistive listening devices are available free for use during Grandstand shows. Receivers and headsets are available from the guest services desk on the east side of the Grandstand Plaza. A valid driver's license or state ID and a credit card are required for deposit.

Large print maps and daily schedules Large print maps and daily schedules will be available at information booths upon request.

Rental wheelchairs and scooters HomeTown Mobility rents wheelchairs and electric scooters from five sites within the main entrance gates to the fairgrounds. Wagons and strollers can also be rented.

Advance rental reservations are now being accepted by contacting HomeTown Mobility directly. For pricing and contact information, go to https://www.mnstatefair.org/ general-info/accessibility-guide/ ASL interpreting services Through a partnership with the CATIE Center at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, the state fair offers daily ASL interpreting services provided by teams of certified, novice and student interpreters.

Interpreters are scheduled between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Disability. Moe replaces Belo Cipriani. Saido Abdirashid, Minneapolis, was also appointed, replacing Muzamil Ibrahim. The council provides leadership to empower and strengthen the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities.

The council collaborates with public and private sectors as a policy and technical resource advisor. The council also advises and aids the governor, state agencies, and the public on policy and the administration of programs and services for people with disabilities in Minnesota.

The Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports has new and returning appointees. Jane Pederson, Woodbury, was reappointed as a member engaged in the practice of medicine. Frederick Dawes, Minneapolis, replaces Marilyn Reierson as a public member. The board works to protect the public by regulating the practice of nursing home administrators and assisted living directors and investigating and resolving complaints against administrators, health services executives and assisted living directors.

Corbbmacc O'Connor, Minneapolis, was appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind as the business, industry and labor representative, O’Connor replaces Yivien Wing Man Yip. The council’s duties include advising the Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development about programs of State Services for the Blind (SSB), coordinating between SSB and centers for independent living, and advising the governor on vocational rehabilitation programs.

Harmony Kuller, Minneapolis, was reappointed to the Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council.

The Minnesota STAR Program’s mission is to help all Minnesotans with disabilities gain access to and acquire the assistive technology they need to live, learn, work and play. The council provides the STAR program with consumer-responsive, consumer-driven advice for planning, implementing, and evaluating assistive technology activities.

The State Rehabilitation Council’s duties include guiding decisions about Minnesota’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS), coordinating between VRS and centers for independent living and other state councils with interest in issues pertaining to disability and employment, and reporting to the governor and the U.S. Department of Education on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs.

Lance Fang, Woodbury, was appointed to the Minnesota

Pg 9

Farmers Union Coffee Shop's Cucumber Jalapeno Limeade

August 26 – September 6. Special requests for interpreter services will be scheduled depending on availability and should be directed to 651-288-4448 or the Admin Too Building on Cosgrove Street.

ASL interpreting is also available for concerts at the Grandstand and Leinie Lodge Bandshell upon request.

Requests should be made at least 14 days prior to the concert. A separate concert ticket is required for Grandstand shows. Shows at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell are free.

Each day, interpretation is offered at six scheduled shows throughout the fairgrounds. Be aware that performances and demonstrations are subject to change.

One change longtime fairgoers will notice is that entertainer Sean Emery, who offered intrepeted shows, has retired. Emery was the longest-tenured entertainer, performing each day at the fair since 1991.

MNHS Presents History On-A-Schtick at Schell's Stage at Schilling Amphitheater, 10 a.m. daily. Go to www. mnstatefair.org/schedule/mnhs-presents-history-on-a-schtick/ Raptor Displays and Flying Demonstration at DNR Garden Stage, 11 a.m. every day except Wednesday, September 1. The Raptor Center at DNR Volunteer Outdoor Stage, 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 1. Go to www.mnstatefair.org/location/dnr-building-and-park/ Thank A Farmer at Christensen Farms Stage, 1 p.m. daily. Go to www.mnstatefair.org/schedule/thank-a-farmermagic-show/ All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash at the North Woods Stage, 2 p.m. daily. Go to www.mnstatefair.org/schedule/all-starstunt-dogs-splash/ Timberworks Lumberjack Show at the North Woods Stage, 3 p.m. Go to www.mnstatefair.org/schedule/ timberworks-lumberjack-show/ Looking Inside the Hive at the Agriculture Horticulture Building, 4:30 p.m. daily. Go to www.mnstatefair.org/ schedule/looking-inside-the-hive/ It is hoped that interpretation can be offered for Hmong Minnesota Day at Dan Patch Park on Labor Day, September 6. This hadn’t been confirmed as of Access Press print deadline.

Some 2021 changes are due to the pandemic or operational issues. 3rd Lair SkatePark, EquiMania, Festival of Nations Demonstration Stage, Giant Sing Along, Go Karts, the Great Big Sandbox, Laser Encore’s Laser Hitz Show and the River Raft Ride will not be at the 2021 fair.

Board on Aging, replacing Meghan Coleman. Jane Pederson, Woodbury, replaces Sonja Hayden Berg. Khadija Zeig, Cottage Grove, replaces Peg Lonnquist. Stephanie Klinzing, Elk River, was reappointed.

The board is the designated state agency on aging for Minnesota and administers federal and state funds to deliver a range of in-home and supportive services to older adults and their caregivers. Its two direct service programs are the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care and the Senior LinkAge Line. In addition, the board promotes state and local policies and programs to support older adults to age well and live well.

Mohamed Mohamed, East Grand Forks, was appointed as an advocate member of the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind. Mohamed replaces Krista Bahnsen.

The council’s duties include advising the commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development about programs of State Services for the Blind (SSB), coordinating between SSB and centers for independent living, and advising the governor on vocational rehabilitation programs.

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August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

RADIO TALKING BOOK Welcome back, volunteers After fourteen months’ COVID-19 absence, State Services for the Blind is happy to welcome back our RTB volunteers. Starting Mon, Aug. 2, listeners will once again hear the familiar voices of the talented and dedicated volunteers – presenting the morning newscasts, special programming, and books.

Use an app instead of a receiver Radio Talking Book is not just for listeners with visual disabilities. It can be an asset for people whose disabilities limit hand movements, making it difficult to read a book. The sampling published monthly in Access Press doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Many more programs and books are available.

The service has phased out its longtime receivers. Enjoy programming anytime and anywhere on a hand-held mobile device, for either iOS or Android. Just visit the Apple App Store for iOS, or Google Play for Android, and download the Minnesota Radio Talking Book app. It’s quick, it’s easy, and provides a convenient way to tune in.

Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available for loan through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. The catalog is at www.mnbtbl.org, click on the link Search the Library Catalog. Call the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library at 800-722-0550, Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm CST for details. 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.

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.

The NFB-NEWSLINE service provides access to more than 500 magazines and newspapers, plus information on COVID-19 in the “Breaking News” section. To learn more, visit www.nfb.org/programs-services/ nfb-newsline.

Donate to the State Services for the Blind at mn.gov/deed/ssbdonate Listen to RTB’s live or archived programs online at www.mnssb.org/rtb Chautauqua*

Monday – Friday 6 a.m.

Ten Drugs, nonfiction by Thomas Hager, 2019. A history of ten significant medications, their evolution, and the impact they have on us all. Read by Yelva Lynfield. 13 broadcasts; begin Mon, Aug. 9.

A Brief History of Earth, nonfiction by Andrew H. Knoll, 2021. Natural history professor Andrew H. Knoll begins the story when the Earth coalesced from the dust and rocks circling the sun. He then takes us on a 4.6-billion-year tale, revealing the origins of our solar system. Read by Carol McPherson.

Seven broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 26.

Past is Prologue* Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

Ike and McCarthy, nonfiction by David A. Nichols, 2017. President Dwight Eisenhower worked behind the scenes to bring down the reign of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Read by Robb Empson. 12 broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 26.

Bookworm* Monday – Friday noon Late in the Day, fiction by Tessa Hadley, 2019.

The thirty-year bond between two couples comes apart when one of the friends dies unexpectedly. Read by Judy Woodward. Nine broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug. 3.

Jelly Jars, fiction by S.J. Varengo, 2020. Peggy and Bradley meet in a cowboy bar over expensive champagne, served in his brandnew jelly jars. What follows is a wonderful romance between two damaged, lonely people; Read by Pat Muir. Eight broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 16.

She Would Be King, fiction by Wayetu Moore, 2018. The dramatic story of Liberia’s early years, as seen by three characters who share an uncommon bond. Read by Brenda Powell.

12 broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 26.

Choice Reading* Monday – Friday 2 p.m.

All That Man Is, fiction by David Szalay, 2016.

Stories are told of nine men’s lives, as each finds his identity in a world of change. Read

by Stephen Smith. 12 broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 12.

Rewrite, fiction by Gregory Benford, 2018.

A professor dies in a car accident, then is reincarnated as his 16-year-old self. He sees a chance to change history but fears he’s not equal to the task. Read by David Zierott. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 30.

Afternoon Report* Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

Fit for the Presidency?, Nonfiction by Seymour Morris, Jr., 2018. If Americans were to apply the standards used by executive recruiters, would a Presidential candidate even make it past the front door? Read by Marylyn Burridge. 15 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 9.

The Land Between Two Rivers, nonfiction

by Tom Sleigh, 2018. Journalist Tom Sleigh recounts his tours in Africa and the Middle East. Read by Don Lee. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 30. – L Night Journey* Monday – Friday 7 p.m.

Lightning Strike, fiction by William Kent Krueger, 2021. Twelve-year-old Cork O'Connor lives in rural Minnesota where his father, Liam, is the sheriff. When Cork and a friend discover a body on Native American land, Liam must walk a narrow line between peacemaking and impartiality.

Read by Tom Speich. 11 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 2. - L Three Minutes to Doomsday, nonfiction by Joe Navarro, 2017. What began as a typical interview with an enemy informant turns into an all-encompassing breach of American national security. Read by John Potts. 11 broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug. 17. - L Off the Shelf* Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

Funny Thing About Minnesota, nonfiction by Patrick Strait, 2021. In the 1970s, before the Twin Cities became a hotbed for comedy, the local stand-up scene involved five guys in a basement bar doing their best to make each other laugh. Read by Greg Olson. Seven broadcasts; begins Wed, Aug. 4. – L The Sandman, fiction by Lars Keplar, 2014. A man was thought to have been murdered by a notorious serial killer. Years later, though, he is found alive. Read by Robb Empson. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 16. – V Potpourri* Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

The War on Science, nonfiction by Shawn Otto, 2016. Minnesota author Shawn Otto describes a decades-old attack on science, threatening societies around the world. Read

by Jack Rossmann. Twenty-two broadcasts; begins Wed, Aug. 4.

Good Night Owl*

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All times listed are Central Standard Time.

Abbreviations V – violent content R – racial epithets L – strong language S – sexual situation G – gory descriptions Monday – Friday 10 p.m.

Saratoga Payback, fiction by Stephen Dobyns, 2017. Retired detective Charlie Bradshaw wakes up one morning to find a corpse on his doorstep, and then must toe the line between private citizen and reluctant sleuth. Read by Holly Sylvester. 10 broadcasts, begins Mon, Aug. 16.

Peace Like a River, fiction by Leif Enger, 2001.

A family is on a cross-country quest to find their son and brother, who has been charged with murder. Read by Peter Danbury. 13 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 30.

RTB After Hours* Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

Winter Sisters, fiction by Robin Oliveira, 2018.

During the Civil War, two young girls are found and have suffered an unspeakable trauma.

Military doctor Mary Sutter provides healing and seeks justice. Read by Michele Potts. 13 broadcasts; begins Wed, Aug. 4. – L, G The Weight of This World, fiction by David Joy, 2017. Three people in a small town find their lives blown apart when a drug dealer dies and leaves them with drugs, weapons, and money. Read by Jim Tarbox. Eight broadcasts, begins Mon, Aug. 23. – L, S Weekend Program Books Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents The Handbook for Bad Days by Eveline Helmink (L), read by Beverly Burchett.

Rated R, 11 p.m. Sat, presents American Gospel by Lin Enger (L); followed by Cheaters Always Win by J.M. Fenster (L); both read by Scott McKinney.

For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents Expelled by James Patterson and Emily Raymond, read by John Mandeville; followed

by Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz, read by Michelle Juntunen.

Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents The Half-Finished Heaven by Tomas Transtromer, read by Jess Banks; followed by Oculus by Sally Wen Mao, read by Holly Sylvester.

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Enjoy!

Art to change the world Art to Change the World has opened the Coaching Project for a Better World candidate applications. The nine-month paid fellowship program supports relationship building, collective learning and project production on topics of social change led by Twin Cities youth. Project teams will create action oriented, creative projects that address social justice issues at the nexus of art and science. The projects provide individual stipends and $3,000 for project budgets.

Spots are available for youth and adult artist and scientist coaches. Application deadline is Aug. 15. FFI: www.arttochangetheworld.org/ coaching-project-for-a-better-world/ Self-advocacy classes Upstream Arts offers virtual self-advocacy classes through Sept. 20. Artists aged 18 and older are welcome to attend one of three weekly times at 10-11 a.m. Mon, 1-2 p.m.

Wed, or 4-5 p.m. Thu. Classes are online and pay-what-one-can. All classes have ASL interpretation and close captioning.

In-person classes are coming in the fall. FFI: 612-331-4584, upstreamarts.org Booty Body at Interact Interact Gallery presents an exhibition about patterns, the body and the power of repeated marks and gestures over time, at Interact Gallery, 755 Prior Ave. N., Suite #002D, St. Paul. It is the first exhibit at the Prior Avenue space and the first in-person Interact exhibit since 2019. Twenty visual artists with disabilities are presenting their work. Artists in the exhibition include Garret Anderson, Katie Bretzman, Katie Brinkman, Bill Crane, Vance Diamond, Janice Essick,

August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

Devra Goldstein, Peder Hagen, Kramer Hegenbarth, HML, Andie Kiley, Krystal Lewis, Lucy Picasso, Philip Price, Dan Schlag, Andrew Seymour, Briana Shelstad, Victor Van, Loni Joy Watts, and BDG Wolfe.

The gallery is open by appointment 9 a.m.5 p.m. Mon-Wed. View online at gallery. interactcenter.org/booty-body. The show ends Aug. 18. FFI: https://interactcenter.org/ Open Flow Forum The Artists with Disabilities Alliance meets via Zoom 7-9 p.m. the first Thu of the month.

Upcoming dates Aug. 5, Sept. 2 and Oct. 8. Virtually join artists with disabilities and supporters to share visual art, writing, music, theater and artistic efforts or disability concerns. Facilitators are Tara Innmon, Kip Shane and Springboard for the Arts. Anyone needing special accommodations should contact Andy Sturdevant at Springboard for the Arts. Funding is available for access needs. FFI: 651-294-0907, resources@ springboardforthearts.org Less to Enjoy!

Restrictions have eased in the entertainment world, so look for changes. Some of the museums, arts and theater groups that typically have listings in the Access Press Enjoy! calendar have moved to online services or are offering in-person services with social distancing and safety measures.

Others are offering their art in-person.

Please check with a venue or organization before making plans. Check to see what classes and performances are offered online.

See what is available through the Minnesota Access Alliance and its calendar, at https:// mnaccess.org/

Opportunities Board Openings

Get Up Stand Up Foundation seeks members A Minnesota nonprofit organization in working to unite, educate and support those dealing with spinal cord injuries and to advocate for research and the restoration of function. The group is seeking new members for its board. Open board positions are for a Minnesota disability law professional, a treasurer/accountant and a secretary.

Positions are volunteer and unpaid. Detailed information is available about each position, FFI: kirk.ingram@gusu2cure.org or joe. dailey@gusu2cure.org, www.gusu2cure.org

MOHR conference

MOHR announces in-person conference Sept. 16-17 in Duluth. MOHR, the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation, is comprised of about 100 adult day, day training and habilitation, extended employment and supported employment service provider members serving in excess of 26,000 Minnesotans with disabilities. Cost is $160 and space is limited. Full program, hotel and registration information are available online. FFI: www. mohrmn.org

Children & Families

PACER offers workshops Many useful free or low-cost workshops and resources for families of children with any disabilities are online. Advance registration is required for all workshops. At least 48 hours’ notice is needed for interpretation. Workshops are live-streamed. Check out PACER’s website and link to the newsletter of statewide workshops that allows participants to pick and choose sessions designed for their needs.

Planning for Transition: Promising Practices is 6:30-8 p.m. Tue, Aug. 17. The workshop will include viewing short videos demonstrating effective transition practices and a discussion

REGIONAL NEWS From page 7

Campers return to favorite spots

After a silent summer on the spacious grounds of Camp Knutson, staff at the Crosslake camp that hosts people with disabilities eagerly anticipated the return of campers.

“That’s what you miss most - you miss hearing the laughter of the kids,” said Jared Griffin, Camp Knutson senior director. “So it’ll be good to have some of that laughter back on the grounds this summer.”

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

of how to incorporate similar strategies when planning for a youth’s future.

Tech for Teens Club : LEGO Stop-Motion Videos is 10-11:30 a.m. Sat, Aug. 21. Using just a mobile phone and LEGO brand toys, learn how to create stop-motion style videos to share with family and friends. Learn the techniques to create smooth animation using the Stop Motion Studio app (iPhone & Android). Then create stories and bring characters to life.

Back to School 2021: A Conversation on How to Get Ready is noon-1 p.m. Wed, Aug. 25. An innovative new webinar guided by parents’ burning questions. When registering, parents should tell PACER about concerns for their child or youth with a disability returning to in-person instruction. FFI: PACER, 952-8389000, 800-537-2237, www.pacer.org

Info & Assistance

Call the Arc Minnesota Help Desk A direct link to information and assistance.

Call and an Arc Minnesota staff member will answer. Callers can discuss a personal situation goals, options, and a way forward. If staff is unable to help directly, callers will be connected with a partner agency.

If no one can take a call, leave a message for a call back.

The public can still use the website’s Ask an Advocate form or use the Frequently Asked Questions to quickly find resources. FFI: 952920-1480, www.arcminnesota.org Centers for independent living statewide Minnesota centers statewide have gone to more in-person operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically centers offer an array of classes, training programs and services tied to independent living. Centers that provide PCA, homemaker and other staffing for clients continue to do that in person. FFI: www.macil.org/ Vision Loss Resources back in-person Some activities will be both available incamp on Lower Whitefish and Big Trout lakes to in-person campers last year.

Virtual programs took place. Volunteers and staff wrote postcards to campers and offered fun activities online and through social media.

But it wasn’t the same as having inperson camp. Careful planning allowed the camp to reopen this season. Steps taken include locating hand sanitizing stations throughout camp, installing a touchless drinking fountain, adding more picnic tables for outdoor meals and changing cleaning procedures.

Campers must have a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before arriving

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Art for All returns The University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration’s Art for All: The Stephanie Evelo Program for Art Inclusion offers its largest exhibit to date through Sat, Aug 28. at Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE, 3rd floor gallery, Mpls. Featured artists will be introduced at a reception from 4-8 p.m. Thu, Aug. 5, with formal remarks at 6 p.m. The exhibit marks the first in-person Art for All show in 18 months. It can be seen every week 3-7 p.m. Thu and noon-4 p.m. Sat. Free.

Featured are Katharine Fitzgerald, whose work includes drawings of fantasy creatures; Dan Stallsworth, an abstract painter who works on canvas; Donna Ray, a ceramic artist; Geordy Levin, whose paintings often include nature scenes; Jessica Williams, who often creates digital art; Lindsey Moreland, who often draws the character Betty Boop or the artist Frida Kahlo; Nicole Noblet, a visual artist whose work includes fiber art; and Lydia Sponslier, who often paints abstract work. Masks are not required in the Northrup King Building if guests are fully vaccinated. Those who are not fully vaccinated are asked to wear a mask. FFI: https://art.ici.umn.edu

person, as well as remotely on Zoom. Anyone planning to attend an in-person activity must call RSVP Hotline at 612-843-3439 or email rsvp@vlrw.org. RSVP two working days prior to the activity. All in-person classes will have a 10-participant maximum. A wait list will be kept after classes reach capacity so that people can be contacted if there are openings. Masks are required to be worn at all in-person activities.

Participants should bring beverages and snacks.

Vision Loss Resources has a new audio activities line. To listen to the audio version of the calendar, call 612-235-3654.

The calendar is also available on the website.

Ask about support groups, events, distance learning and no-contact grocery shopping and reading support. FFI: 612-843-3439, 612-8712222, info@visionlossresources.org Online mental health support NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online peer support groups for adults and young adults living with a mental illness, their families, friends, spouses/partners, as well as parents of children and teens. Led by trained peer facilitators, the support groups help individuals and families learn coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences. The groups are specifically for those individuals suggested by the group’s title. For example, Family Support Group is only for family members and NAMI Connection is only for those who live with a mental illness and are over 18 years old, etc.

people of color) communities for families and friends of a person living with a mental illness. Meets 5-6:30 p.m. 1st and 3rd Sat. Find a complete list of NAMI Minnesota support groups, meetings and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Support Groups”. FFI: https://namimn.org/ support/nami-minnesota-support-groups/.

Classes offered online NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has set up a wide variety of free online mental health classes. Choices include Hope for Recovery, Transitions, Ending the Silence, Understanding Early Episode Psychosis for Families, In Our Own Voice, Family to Family, Positive Psychology, Creating Caring Communities, a suicide prevention class called QPR – Question, Persuade and Refer, a special QPR class for Agricultural Communities and many more.

The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living with a mental illness, service providers, and also the general public. Find a complete listing of these classes and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Classes” or go straight to https://namimn.org/educationpublic-awareness/classes/scheduled/

CLASSIFIEDS

Three new groups are offered: BIPOC Connections Support Group: A peer-led support group for people in BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) communities who live with mental illness.

Meets 10-11:30 a.m. 2nd and 4th Sat. Young Adult Family Support Group: A young adult peer-led support group for families and friends of a person living with a mental illness. Meets 5-6:30 p.m. the 4th Wed. BIPOC Family Support Group: A peer led support group in BIPOC (Black, indigenous,

For Rent

at camp or proof of vaccination. They will have to answer COVID-19 screening questions, have their temperatures checked and undergo other daily health checks. A cabin is set aside for those who become unwell and may need to quarantine.

Camp Knutson has also limited numbers of campers at any one time, Virtual camp is also offered.

Not every Minnesota camp for children with disabilities has opened its doors this summer. Some camps have had to cancel sessions due to lack of staff.

(Source: Brainerd Dispatch)

Income and rent restrictions apply Metes & Bounds is an equal housing opportunity housing company

Metes & Bounds Management Company manages the following Section 8 properties in Minnesota: Greenwood Wadena 218-631-2575 Mission Oaks Plymouth 763-559-5770 Rustic Creek Two Harbors 218-595-1018 Todd 27 Long Prairie 320-732-6154 Town Square East Grand Forks 218-773-3631 Boardwalk Wayzata 952-473-0502 Dewey Place/The Pines Foley 320-968-7791 Highwood Homes Prior Lake 952-447-6961

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

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Email classified to access@accesspress.org We will email total cost of classified ad.

August 2021 Volume 32, Number 8

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