The state of Minnesota is investigating 15 autism providers and has already completed other investigations, withheld payments due to credible fraud allegations and forwarded cases to law enforcement “when appropriate,” according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
DHS said in a statement that these investigations “follow a national trend of identifying fraud in Medicaid-funded autism services.” DHS administers Minnesota’s version of Medicaid, known here as Medical Assistance, which is a federal-state health plan for poor and disabled people.
The Reformer reported in mid-June that the FBI is investigating possible fraud in Minnesota’s autism program, which has exploded in growth since launching in mid-2015.
The number of providers — who diagnose and treat people with autism spectrum disorder — has increased 700 percent in the past five years, climbing from 41 in 2018 to 328 last year. The amount paid to providers during that time has increased 3,000 percent, from about $6 million to nearly $192 million — according to DHS data.
“DHS has systems in place to identify fraud, waste and abuse, and the agency takes swift action when we suspect or find it,” the agency said in a statement to the Reformer. “Early identification and access to services are life-changing for people with autism – especially children. That’s why it’s so important to make sure every dollar spent on services is accounted for.”
Minnesota doesn’t license autism centers, but DHS is studying the prospect. When autism providers enroll for reimbursement through Medical Assistance, DHS verifies that they have the appropriate credentials. But beyond that, DHS is not out in the field checking in on what’s happening in autism centers.
Idil Abdull is a Somali-American immigrant whose son has autism, which led her to become an advocate, open an autism therapy agency and cofound the Somali American Autism Foundation of Minnesota.
She and other Somali parents of children with autism fought for years to get the state Medicaid program to pay for intensive, one-on-one treatment called Applied Behavior Analysis for low-income children. Prior to that, the state subsidized treatment for wealthier families but denied it to low-income children in managed care plans.
ABA is a science-based approach that takes more hours of therapy, and thus higher reimbursement.
SERVICES To page 6
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Community papers are crucial to our democracy because they provide reliable and trustworthy information. At Access Press we provide a forum for news, features, opinion and dialogue that is not available through mainstream media.
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This is why we need your support. Access
Minnesota State Fair offers accessibility options
How can it be that summer is nearing an end? The 2024 Minnesota State Fair is August 22 through Labor Day, September 2. For fairgoers with disabilities, taking time to prepare for a day of fair fun can pay off with a much more enjoyable and comfortable experience. Access Press works with the Minnesota State Fair staff to prepare a disability guide and an accessible dining guide each year.
This year’s access guide is on page 8. Learn about what new features are available for fair-goers.
Our accessible dining guide appears on page 9. Lots of new foods and longtime favorites await.
One more reminder is to visit our friends at the Minnesota Council on Disability booth in the fair’s Education Building. They will have lots of free information and resources for people with disabilities, their family members, their caregivers and their allies.
Press is important in the role it plays in the lives of people with disabilities. We need to continue providing the news people need to live, work, and navigate life with a disability. But Access Press needs resources for our own transition to a new future in how we deliver the news. Help us provide the news to those who need it:
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We remember Margot Page 3-4
IDEA needs scrutiny Page 2
Closing is abrupt Page 11
Johnson is remembered Page 12
Caravan paid visit Page 6
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EDITORIAL
Disparities in special education are never, ever a good ‘IDEA’
The notebooks, backpacks and other school supplies are already filling store shelves. School bells will be ringing before we know it. This school year will be better for some students than others. The online publication Disability Scoop tells us that a majority of states are increasingly struggling to meet their obligations under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Several states have been deficient or out of compliance for several years.
The U.S. Department of Education indicated that the performance of only 20 states meets requirements for serving students with disabilities ages 3 to 21 under federal special education law. The agency labeled all other states as “needs assistance.” Most states have earned that dubious label for at least two years in a row.
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Office of Special Education Program releases determinations each year, doing so on behalf of the Secretary of Education. There is a required performance plan and annual performance report.
So why should we care? After all, Minnesota is in compliance. But let’s take a more comprehensive view after we provide a quick tutorial for those not familiar with IDEA.
IDEA is the nation’s special education law. Any family with a child, teen or young adult needing special education knows that IDEA is critical to educational success and that family member’s future.
IDEA gives legal rights and protections to students with disabilities. Parents and legal guardians have rights under the law. Schools also have rights and responsibilities.
Under IDEA schools are tasked with identifying and then evaluating students believed to have a disability or disabilities.
Educational disparities between states, especially neighboring states, affect us all. We want all students to have the best education and future possible. No one should be left behind...no one should take education anywhere for granted.
The students then need to be evaluated, at no cost to their families.
If a student is found to have a disability or disabilities, and to need special education to make progress in school, that student is covered under IDEA.
At the risk of singing the alphabet song, IDEA triggers the development of an IEP or Individualized Education Plan. Anyone who has or has had an IEP knows how critical those are to educational and lifelong success. IDEA is also the tool used to regulate how states are doing with special education. Federal education officials are required to look at how well each state does in providing special education services. Under IDEA, federal education officials must assess how well each state provides special education services annually. The
NOTE
assessments lead to states being assigned to one of four categories. The top is meets requirements, followed by needs assistance, needs intervention and needs substantial intervention.
The current list of determinations are based on reviews of the 2022-2023 school year. Minnesota meets requirements, as does Wisconsin. But our other neighboring states do not. Iowa and North Dakota have not met requirements for two or more years.
Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia received the assistance designation for two or more years. According to Disability Scoop, that is three more states than last year. Federal law triggers enforcement action against states failing to meet requirements for multiple years.
Failing to achieve the status of “meets
requirements” for multiple years is significant. Under the law, the Education Department must take enforcement action. States can be ordered to provide more education funding or use more technical assistance to improve programs.
Again, if Minnesota got good marks (to use a school term), why should we be concerned?
We live in a mobile society. Families move from place to place, including state to state. Families may follow a breadwinner’s job. Families may want to be closer to other family members. Families may want to lower their costs of living and move to places where housing is less expensive. Sometimes those moves don’t stay within state lines.
Let’s use Iowa as an example. Iowa has had “needs assistance” status for two or more years when IDEA is evaluated.
Iowa recently slashed spending for its Area Education Agencies (AEA). The AEAs have historically provided essential services to school districts. That is especially true for smaller rural school districts that don’t have comprehensive resources for special education students. The cuts have sparked statewide concern about how districts will serve students, including students with a range of disabilities.
Educational disparities between states, especially neighboring states, affect us all. We want all students to have the best education and future possible. No one should be left behind because a state doesn’t comply with IDEA. In a mobile society, no one should take education anywhere for granted. In August, federal education officials will release more detailed information about each state’s performance. We’ll be waiting.
Getting around was sometimes a challenge for MSS clients HISTORY
One challenge people with disabilities and their service providers have long faced is that of getting around. To salute the 75-year anniversary of MSS, here is a look back at the disability service organization and its transportation history. The following history includes information from the MSS website.
MSS, which began as United Cerebral Palsy of Greater St. Paul and later became Midwest Special Services, is not unique in dealing with the difficult issues of getting clients and program participants from one place to another. Its anniversary and history provide insights into what groups faced. Its start in 1949 provides a long-term view.
It was not until the 1970s that MSS could start to partner with Metro Mobility for many of its transportation needs.
From its earliest days, MSS needed ways to provide safe and reliable transportation to the people in its programs. This was much simpler in the 1950s, when the organization was
typically chauffeuring a dozen or so children to a single location. Children could be assisted into station wagons and sedans, and be on their way.
The task became increasingly complicated over the years, when factoring in hundreds of people in programs, multiple locations and job sites across the Twin Cities, and ever-progressing accessibility standards for vehicles.
MSS photos show many early examples of taxicabs, small vans, station wagons and buses. Many prominently bore the organization name and logo, as well as the name of any donor organizations.
Generous community members stepped in to help. In the 1950s, the East Park Lions donated a van to provide transportation for programs. The east metro service club had its logo on the door. But early vehicles lacked the accessibility features that are legally standard today.
Where there were no wheelchair lifts, physical strength was required of drivers and support staff. One transportation company at the time, Handicabs, claimed that its drivers would “take their wheelchair passengers up to the top floor” of the IDS Tower in Minneapolis.
There was no federal law requiring seat belts in motor vehicles until 1968.
A nearly 25-year partnership between the MSS employment program and 3M Automotive led to a generous donations of vehicles in the 1990s. Some vehicles in that fleet featured wheelchair lifts and wider, more accessible aisles.
In 1979, then-MSS President Gene O'Neil offered his predictions for the future of service as he prepared to retire. He said “I think we will move from a center-based agency to more of an agency on the move. Probably our programs will utilize Winnebago-style lift buses, boats and airplanes."
Over time his predictions became true as
MSS participants enjoyed their own canoe and took a skydiving trip. The idea of a specially modified recreational vehicles, which has been discussed at MSS for more than two decades, is now a reality with the MSS Explorer finally ready to make its debut later this year. It features a wheelchair lift, an adultsized changing table, an accessible restroom and storage systems for medications. It will provide longer, more comfortable experiences out in the community.
Read about the new vehicle and the past history, and see some fun old pictures at https://www.mssmn.org/news/75-years-on-themove
The History Note is a monthly column produced in cooperation with the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. Past History Notes and other disability history may be found at www.mnddc.org
EDITORIAL: Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Editorial material and advertising do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/publisher of Access Press.
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Pioneering Margot Imdieke Cross opened doors for countless Minnesotans
Margot Imdieke Cross was a fearless champion of civil rights and accessibility for Minnesotans with disabilities. She died July 21 after an illness. She was 68 and lived in Minneapolis with her husband Stuart.
Imdieke Cross was considered to be one of the region’s foremost experts on accessibility issues, bringing an intensity to her work that she often tempered with humor.
Tributes poured in after word of her death got out. Friends and colleagues note that Imdieke Cross was part of the generation that recalls all too well what life was like before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. In 1990, she attended the ADA signing event in Washington, D.C. It was an event she often spoke of.
In several interviews over the years, Imdieke Cross described how her life had changed with the ADA. In a 2020 interview with Eric Eskola for the TPT program Almanac, she recalled pre-ADA life as being “very, very different.”
Imdieke Cross grew up on a rural Minnesota farm. She sustained a spinal cord injury after being struck by a pickup truck. She was 1 ½ years old.
“I was just a really small kid. I don’t remember walking. In my dreams, I walk,” she said in a 2021 interview with Ampers Radio for the Keep Moving Forward series.
Her large family included five brothers and two sisters. “The greatest thing about my family is that there weren’t a lot of allowances made,” she said.
Her father died when she was four. Imdieke Cross recalled that her mother went to work, leaving the children to their own adventures.
“No one gave a rip that I was in a wheelchair,” she said. “If they went to the rock pile, I went to the rock pile. If they climbed into the hayloft, I went into the hayloft.”
The family moved into town when she was nine years old. After the move she recalled being dismayed when she was treated differently from other children.
After graduation from Sauk Centre High School, Imdieke Cross moved to Minneapolis in 1974 to attend the University of Minnesota. She earned degrees in women’s studies, psychology and counseling.
“It wasn’t easy,” she said of her college years. “Our transportation system was totally inaccessible. I used to take the bus but I used to have to stop a complete stranger and ask them, would you pull me up the steps? Or I would rump it up the steps and ask a complete stranger to pull my chair up.”
Buildings of all types were inaccessible. She shared memories of crossing streets and having to roll to an alley to get around the curbs. There were no curb cuts.
“Life was so different and so many of us experienced so much injustice,” she said. "Employment opportunities were virtually nonexistent,” she said. She remembered going to a telemarketing job interview, and being rejected outright. Employment is still an area the ADA needs to address, she said not long before her retirement.
Her career included work at the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), serving as ombudsman and acting director for the vocational rehabilitation
IMDIEKE CROSS To page 10
Margot Imdieke Cross made many appearances on TPT programs. Imdieke Cross, center, was part of a group that looked at Green Line light rail access more than a decade ago.
Imdieke Cross attended many events on behalf of the state council.
Memories of a tenacious disability rights champion: Honoring Margot Imdieke Cross
The celebration of life for Margot Imdieke Cross is Wednesday, August 7, 10 a.m-3 p.m. at the Banquets of Minnesota, 6310 Highway 65 NE, Fridley. Find information about the venue and access at https://banquetsofmn.com/
From Joan Willshire, former director of the Minnesota Council on Disability Margot and I worked together for nearly 30 years in various capacities, including serving on the Minneapolis Mayor’s Council for People with Disabilities and working together on the Minnesota Council on Disability. Both of our focuses were usually on accessibility. She and I spent so much of our time on reviewing venues for accessibility and literally spent the majority of time in the bathrooms.
She was the most tenacious fighter for rights for women, people with disabilities and just your average Person. People asked us why do you do this and we both responded because it’s about the fight it’s not even about winning. Margot was always up for a good fight! She was a fighter for the ADA and will be truly missed in Minnesota and in the nation!
From the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD)
Members July 24 remembered Margot as a hard working champion for people with disabilities. Longtime advocate Jeff Bangsberg noted that Margot will have a prominent place in Minnesota history for all she did to improve access and promote civil
rights for our community.
From the Minnesota Council on Disability:
Access is Margot. Undeterred, Margot was fierce, firm, wise, humorous, and kindhearted. Her talents as a change-maker grew from her lifelong experiences as a woman with a disability . . . She routinely outsmarted discrimination and beat back ableism . . .
She was at the forefront of the disability rights movement . . .
Yet, of all the accomplishments mentioned here (which only begin to scratch the surface), solving your personal access issues one person at a time brought Margot the most joy and satisfaction. She listened with
dignity, acted with expertise, and fought with and for you with vigor. And she loved every minute of it. She loved winning, ensuring people had the right to live, vote, work, and play with access and freedom –where they choose and how they choose.
Our community has lost an original trailblazer. While heartbroken, we at MCD, along with Stuart Cross, her beloved husband, vow to honor Margot’s life and legacy through our continued commitment to bringing access, justice, equity, and empowerment for all.
Read the full tribute at https://www. disability.state.mn.us/2024/07/24/mcdremembers-disability-rights-trailblazer-margotimdieke-cross/
New federal guidance is provided to help voters with disabilities
From the American Association of People with Disabilities
In time for the 2024 elections, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released new guidance clarifying the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal laws as they pertain to voting rights. The guidance covers all aspects of the voting process, from registration to casting a ballot. In this guidance, DOJ addresses several key areas where state and local governments have failed to provide equal access for disabled voters, such as the voting rights of people under guardianship, the right to voter assistance, the responsibilities of election officials regarding accessibility of polling places and election websites, and more.
“The American Association of People with Disabilities commends the Department of Justice for this expansive guidance which makes abundantly clear that in order to have a representative democracy, all aspects of the voting process must be fully accessible to the nearly 40 million eligible voters with disabilities,” said Maria Town, AAPD President and CEO.
While federal laws protecting voters with disabilities have been in place for decades, state and local election officials have in some cases failed to enforce accessibility requirements. In other instances, states and municipalities have instituted policies and practices that directly exclude disabled voters, such as passing laws that ban curbside voting. This has led to a persistent lower turnout among voters with disabilities compared to voters without disabilities: disabled voters were three times more likely to report difficulty voting in 2022 and had a 3.6% turnout gap.
The new guidance details what state and local election bodies must do under current federal election law to meet their legal obligation to provide access to voters with
Access Press welcomes letters to the editor and commentary pieces from readers, on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. Letters should be no more than 500 words, with 750 words per commentary. Ask Jane McClure, editor, if more space is needed.
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Because 2024 is an election year, we remind readers of additional guidelines. Because Access Press is a non-profit publication and must follow regulations on political partisanship, political endorsement letters are not published. That is true for candidates’ endorsements as well as for ballot questions.
Following rules of political partisanship
disabilities.
AAPD applauds federal officials for making clear that a person’s guardianship or disability status cannot disqualify a person from being eligible to vote. The guidance clarifies that states cannot hold people with disabilities to higher standards when it comes to demonstrating their capacity to vote.
The federal guidance also details the responsibilities of election officials to ensure that polling places are accessible, including: Being prepared to communicate through pen and paper, or provide American Sign Language interpreters for deaf voters
is crucial for Access Press to maintain its nonprofit status. Other nonprofit newspapers have lost their nonprofit status and had to close after violations of those regulations were called out.
A second issue we have with political endorsement letters is that they sometimes violate another of our commentary policies. Many political endorsement letters are sent out en masse. These are form letters and are not written for a specific newspaper. Access Press asks that letters and guest commentaries be specifically written for our newspaper. We typically do not publish form
Ensuring curbside voting is available and set up to provide an equal access to information as is available inside the polling place
Emphasizing the ADA requirements around accessibility of the physical space and accessible voting systems
Given that in 2016, the Government Accountability Office found that 60% of polling places have at least one aspect that makes them inaccessible, this guidance is crucial for the disability community. The guidance also covers the rights of voters living in congregate settings, such as nursing homes, the accessibility of ballot
letters until those are specifically discussed with the editor or meet other criteria. An example in the August issue is an article from a national organization, which has a specific tie to a statewide voter education campaign.
Letters and commentaries must have a focus on disability issues and ideally, a focus on those issues as they affect Minnesotans. Increasingly, people are using artificial intelligence, or AI, to assist with writing. AI is technology that enables computers and other devices to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. Please
drop box locations, and absentee ballots.
AAPD is relieved and grateful to see the Department of Justice comment directly on the right to voter assistance – reaffirming that voters have the right to receive assistance in all aspects of the voting process from the person of their choice. The guidance goes one crucial step further and prohibits state and local governments from implementing laws that might interfere with this right, such as laws that create criminal and financial penalties or limit voter assistance.
“Since 2021, 13 states have passed laws that criminalize voter assistance. Even in cases where the law provides an exception for voters with disabilities, like SB 1 in Alabama, we know that these harmful policies will create a chilling effect ultimately leading to increased difficulty for voters to find assistance voting or to outright disenfranchisement,” said Alexia Kemerling, REV UP Coalitions Coordinator at AAPD.
“Seeing the guidance from the DOJ feels like proof that disabled advocates are making an impact and that a true accessible democracy is within reach,” Kemerling said. “Across states, advocates with disabilities have conducted polling place accessibility audits, trained and served as poll workers, worked to ensure community members know their rights, served as plaintiffs in lawsuits challenging discriminatory laws, engaged in legislative advocacy, and more. And we’ll continue to do so every year and every election cycle to make sure every U.S. citizen who wants to vote can do so with ease.”
Editor’s note: The article is printed as part of Minnesota’s Rev Up! efforts. See more information on Rev UP1 elsewhere in this issue.
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Access Press wants everyone to remember two key dates. Friday, November 1 is our annual awards event and gala, to be held this year at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. Tickets are $50. Check our website for updates and ticket sales information.
But to have an awards gala, we need nominees and winners. The nomination period is open and continues through midnight, August 10. Email us at CSAnominations@ accesspress.org to receive a form. A link to the form is also on the website, www.accesspress.org
If help is needed with a form call 651-644-2133 ext. 1 for assistance or accommodations.
The award winners and finalists will be honored in the September issue of Access Press. The award event began in 2003. After a hiatus of five years, the event returned in 2023.
The awards honor different roles that an individual or group has played in outstanding service to Minnesota’s disability community.
The Charlie Smith Founders Award honors those who have founded or were innovators in an organization or movement that benefited Minnesota’s disability community. The Charlie Smith Award is named in honor of the late Charlie Smith, founding editor of Access Press He was a well-known Minnesota disability rights advocate. Smith died in 2001.
The Timothy Benjamin Sustainers Award honors those who have sustained an organization or fostered the growth of a movement benefiting Minnesota’s disability community. The late Tim Benjamin was editor and executive director of Access Press from 2001 to 2021.
The Access Press Board of Directors reviews nominations and chooses the award winner.
A diverse group of Minnesotans has been honored over the years. Benjamin was honored with the first award in his name in 2023.
Here is a list of the past Charlie Smith Award winners:
2023 – U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank
2017 – Mark Braun, Paralympian
2016 – Cliff Poetz, Institute on Community Integration
2015 – Jessalyn Akerman-Frank, Minnesota Commission for Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing
2014 – Christine Marble and Wendy Devore, Career Ventures
2013 – Cal Appleby, Augsburg College
2012 – Charles “Chuck” Van Heuvel, St. Paul School District
2011 – Jeff Bangsberg, Minnesota Department of Health
2010 – Steve Kuntz, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
2009 – Anne Henry, Minnesota Disability
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2008 – Pete Feigl, Co-Founder of Tilting at Windmills
2007 – Jim and Claudia Carlisle, People Enhancing People
2006 – John Smith, University of Minnesota ICI
2005 – Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD)
Margot Imdieke Cross, Minnesota State Council on Disability
U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank
Jessalyn Akerman-Frank
Rick Cardenas
Disability caravan's St. Paul visit a time to emphasize the need to vote
by Jane McClure
Urging more Minnesotans with disabilities to vote in upcoming elections was a key theme July 11 when the Disability Caravan for Freedom & Justice visited the Metropolitan Center for independent Living (MCIL) in St. Paul. A large crowd was on hand to hear presentations, learn about voting rights and state law changes on voting, and to see how ExpressVote ballotcasting machines work. The event also included video kiosks with testimonials on disability rights.
While the caravan had a focus on disability-specific federal legislative issues, much discussion at the center was about state initiatives and how more disability community voting can influence those.
Jesse Bethke-Gomez, executive director for MCIL, said the event was the first the center has hosted since the COVID-19 pandemic. He was pleased to welcome the caravan, with its colorful van and trailer, and to spread the word about disability voting, disability rights and helping people become their best selves.
Much of the focus July 11 was on voting and how Minnesotans with disabilities can vote, by absentee ballot, early voting or voting on election day. Gene Martinez, legislative advocacy coordinator for the Arc Minnesota and coordinator for REV UP MN, outlined ways for people with disabilities to vote.
The Minnesota chapter of REV UP, is part of a national movement to reach out to voters with disabilities. It is led by the American Association of People with Disabilities.
Martinez pointed out that while the percentage of disabled people who vote is increasing, more can be done to get ballots cast by community members.
Minnesota has been one of the highest states to turn out the disability vote in presidential elections, he said. As a state almost 80 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. The state has more than 1 million adults with disabilities who can take advantage of offerings such as same-day voter registration, curbside voting, voting with the help of an agent to pick up and deliver a ballot, and assistance at the polls. Voters also have more technical options when casting early ballots or voting on the day of an election. Various machines
Lawmakers passed legislation this year to license behavior analysts — joining 34 other states —and increase reimbursement rates 15 percent for early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention providers to address high turnover and help providers maintain financial stability.
Abdull said she opposed licensing behavior analysts but supports licensing autism centers.
“I like rules because these are vulnerable kids; they can’t speak for themselves,” Abdull said.
But, she added, DHS needs to better train and oversee all autism centers and families — fairly and equitably.
Autism division short-staffed
Meanwhile, DHS is grappling with vacancies in the autism division: Three of the division’s four employees left in recent months. The agency said other qualified staff
are available. One new machine is the ExpressVote, which is being used in Hennepin County. Officials brought the machine to the event for a demonstration. This machine includes a thermal printer, which saves time for voters.
A key message Martinez gave is that voting influences many issues important to Minnesotans with disabilities, including health care, wages, transportation, housing and an array of social services program.
Disability community leader and Maplewood City Council Member Nikki Villavicencio also spoke. Her message was that people should not just vote, but consider running for office as she did.
Several speakers gave the message that while people with disabilities make up 25 percent of the population, they are very much underrepresented on elected bodies.
MCIL was joined in sponsoring the event by the Minnesota Olmstead Implementation Office, the Minnesota Council on Disability, the University of Minnesota Disability Resource Center and the Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council, as well as REV UP MN, and the Arc Minnesota.
are helping support the division while DHS fills the vacancies.
“There have been no significant gaps to the core function and services of the program,” DHS said in a statement.
One of the people who left is Rep. Kim Hicks, DFL-Rochester, who was the policy lead for the autism program at DHS, where she began working in September 2018. Prior to that, she was a disability advocate for a decade.
Hicks said she resigned from the autism job in January and took a new role at DHS as an administrator in a grants division because she struggled with the dual roles of executive and legislative branches.
“Because I’m a legislator, it gets complicated,” she said.
Hicks, elected in 2022, said she ran in part to provide the Legislature expertise in autism services; most of her bills relate to disability services.
Hicks, who emphasized she was not speaking for DHS, said she’s concerned about autism centers and supports the Legislature’s
human services chairs, who have requested more information from DHS about the safety and quality of autism centers in light of a WCCO story about abuse in a center.
“I’m an autism mom, so it’s very near and dear to my heart,” she said. “You have to think about fraud, waste and abuse as a whole collective thing.”
Safety, oversight and supervision are intertwined, she said, so she worries about children not getting quality services.
“There are no standards for the facilities,” Hicks said. “There’s no licensing requirements for the support workers. There’s no licensing visits. There’s no licensing reports. There’s no licensing.”
Only the DHS Office of Inspector General goes out to the autism centers to investigate suspected fraud. The OIG can stop providers’ ability to bill, and fraud findings can be forwarded to the attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Unit for prosecution.
Hicks said she plans to focus on autism centers next session because of the importance of effective, early intervention.
“And it’s a really hard job,” she said, “and so I just want to make sure that the people who are doing the really hard job are doing it in a way that helps children and doesn’t cause harm.”
Deena Winter has covered local and state government in four states over the past three decades, with stints at the Bismarck Tribune in North Dakota, as a correspondent for the Denver Post, city hall reporter in Lincoln, Nebraska, and regional editor for Southwest News in the western Minneapolis suburbs.
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Minnesota Reformer stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Learn more at www.minnesotareformer.com
You are not alone.
The colorful van was parked outside of MCIL.
MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke-Gomez welcomed the group.
The Arc Minnesota and REV Up Minnesota's Gene Martinez spoke about voting rights.
Photos by Lou Michaels
Planning ahead can make a state fair visit more enjoyable
Planning ahead can make the Minnesota State Fair a more enjoyable experience for people with disabilities, their staff, family members and friends. This year’s fair is August 22 to Labor Day, September 2. Many services are offered to disabled fairgoers through Minnesota State Fair Accessibility Services. Call 651-288-4448 or check out www.mnstatefair.org/general-info/ accessibility-guide/ or email accessibility@ mnstatefair.org. The guide provides lot of useful information and is updated every year. Fairgrounds admission starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. every day except Labor Day. On Labor Day the gates close at 7 p.m.
Hours for specific buildings and services vary. Check https://www.mnstatefair.org/generalinfo/hours-of-operation/
Tickets are for sale online. Check admission prices at https://www.mnstatefair.org/tickets/ admission-tickets/ Information is also online for other tickets for fair attractions such as rides and concerts.
New in 2024
Visitors who have low vision or are blind can use the Aira Visual Assistance App this year. Aira is a mobile visual assistance app that connects people who are blind or low vision to professional visual interpreters. The app will be offered free to users once at the fairgrounds. Download the Aira app from the App Store or Google Play. FFI: https://aira.io/
The Joy Mobile is also new in 2024. Take a break from the sights and sounds of the fair in the Joy Mobile, a one-stop sensory experience designed to help children with sensory disabilities to reset and re-engage. Its calming environment provides a range of supportive sensory experiences to reset acoustic, visual, tactile and olfactory senses. It is located north of Loop Gate 9, just south of Judson Avenue, and is open daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It closes at 8 p.m. on Labor Day. FFI: https://www.joycollaborative. org/about-1
Accessible changing restrooms
2024 is the second year for accessible changing restrooms at the fair. The universally designed changing room with hoist by Momentum Refresh was welcomed by many visitors last year. Momentum Refresh is the nation’s first fully accessible, universally designed, mobile restroom equipped with a toilet, full-size adjustable changing table, an overhead ceiling hoist (sling not provided), a sink that can be adjusted for height, and other amenities. There is ample space for a user and caregiver.
Momentum Refresh reduces barriers and promotes inclusivity, equity and understanding by offering a safe and comfortable personal care space for those with mobility limitations and their caregivers. Because slings for making transfers are made for individuals, fairgoers should bring their own slings for use at this facility. Any sling with a loop attachment shall work.
A team of trained professionals is available to inform guests about the amenities and to maintain and clean the space. The trailer is located on east side of Cosgrove Street, north of Lee Avenue. It is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except on Labor Day, when the trailer closes at 8 p.m.
A new feature this year is an adult-size changing table in a restroom at Care & Assistance located south of West End Market, open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. This facility also closes at 8 p.m. on Labor Day.
Plan ahead
A spike in COVID-19 cases is being seen this summer, so monitor public health advisories as those can change rapidly. Be mindful of 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 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.
Masks aren’t required at the fair but anyone who would feel more comfortable wearing one should do so, especially in crowded buildings. Before heading to the fair, consider what items are needed are needed and what can stay home. Last year our editor was challenged because she had a fidget spinner in her bag. Security guards didn’t know what it was. Walk-through metal detectors are all entry gates. Bags, purses, coolers and packages are subject to searches. Prohibited items include weapons, fireworks, alcoholic beverages, drones and bikes/skateboards/skates/hover boards. Other items may be banned at the
discretion of fair management or police. Leave home pocket knives, scissors or similar small items that could be viewed as potentially dangerous.
Fidgets and noise-canceling headphones, medications, sunscreen, hats, rain ponchos, a cooling towel and any needed medical devices can be brought in. Be ready to answer questions about those.
Make sure phones, chairs and other devices are fully charged before arriving at the fairgrounds.
Service animals
Service dogs are permitted on the fairgrounds. Service dogs have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Consider what a service dog needs for the time it would be at the fairgrounds and plan accordingly.
Pets are not allowed on the fairgrounds, with the exception of animals approved as part of an exhibition.
Drive or use transit?
Accessible parking spaces at the fair Camel, Robin and West and East Como lots on the State Fairgrounds are available on a first-come basis. Vehicles must have a valid disability parking certificate. The lots fill up early each day. There is no guarantee that space will be available. The cost is $20 per day, cash or credit. FFI: https:// www.mnstatefair.org/parking/vehicle/
A free park-ride lot with free wheelchairaccessible bus service is offered for people with disabilities and their companions. The lot, open to those with a disability certificate or license plate, is on the north side of the Oscar Johnson Arena at 1039 De Courcy Circle. It is southeast of the fairgrounds near Snelling Avenue and Energy Park Drive. Buses run continuously to the fair from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (7 p.m. on Labor Day). Return trips from the fair to the parking lot are available 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. on Labor Day).
Passengers are dropped off and picked up at the Loop Gate 9 on Como Avenue on the south end of the fairgrounds. https://www.mnstatefair. org/get-here/vehicle/ Find accessible park and ride spots with the parking lot schedule at https://www. metrotransit.org/ or https://www.mnstatefair.org/ transportation/metro-transit/ Keep in mind that lot locations may change year to year and may not be available every day during the fair.
Updated information also can be found at https://www.mnstatefair.org/get-here/
Anyone using the free Park & Ride service can do so starting at 8 a.m. at the 31 lots located near the grounds. This year, the I-35W and County Road C located on Iona Lane in Roseville will now be available during the fair’s entirety, instead of only five days.
Southwest Transit has expanded service from three stations — previously in Chanhassen, Chaska and Eden Prairie — to four, now including Carver. In addition, bus service will be available from all lots every day except Labor Day.
Metro Transit’s State Fair Express Bus Service also increased service this year, up from four Park & Rides to six. The two new locations are
in Maplewood and Maple Grove, with all but the Maple Grove lot operating all 12 days of the fair. The Maple Grove location will be available on weekends and Labor Day.
Another bus service expansion is the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), offering three routes that will run every 15-20 minutes all days of the fair. Those will start at the Burnsville Transit Station, Eagan Transit Station and Shakopee’s Southbridge Crossing Park and Ride, and end at the Transit Hub.
Check with individual providers on accessible buses before heading out.
Metro Mobility drops off and picks up passengers at two locations on the fairgrounds, at the Loop Gate 9 on Como Avenue; and at the North Gate 2. Plan ahead as is done for other Metro Mobility trips.
Rideshare service drop-off and pick-up locations are expanded and reconfigured to meet demand. The designated drop-off and pick-up locations for app-based ride services
are at the north and south ends of the grounds, which is geofenced to guide those using apps. Taxis drop off and pick up passengers at the Loop Gate 9 on Como Avenue.
On-site accommodations
HomeTown Mobility rents wheelchairs and electric scooters from five sites within the main entrance gates to the State Fairgrounds. Advance rental reservations are accepted by contacting HomeTown Mobility directly. Reserve before a visit as mobility devices are spoken for quickly. FFI: https://www.mnstatefair. org/general-info/accessibility-guide/ Bariatric chairs and seating are designed to be wider than the standard waiting room or medical office chair. The chairs are capable of supporting up to 500 pounds of evenly distributed weight. Such chairs are built to provide increased postural support and comfort to patients with a bariatric condition.
Bariatric chairs may be available upon request with at least 24 hours’ advance notice at some seating areas throughout the fairgrounds (including the Grandstand), based on availability. FFI: accessibility@mnstatefair.org or 651-288-4448.
Other accommodations
The online accessibility guide provides detailed information for children and adults with disabilities who want to ride the Midway and Kidway rides.
Large-print daily schedules and fairgrounds maps are available at any information booth. Check the access guide to see which shows and special events have accommodations. Open captioning is offered for guests who are deaf or have difficulty hearing, at select free performances. A monitor displaying the captioning will be positioned near the stage.
Audio description (AD) services are offered for guests who are blind or have low vision will be offered at these free shows. Headsets for audio description can be picked up from the audio describer, who will be located near the stage prior to the show.
Open captioning and AD services don’t require preregistration.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services are offered daily. Some shows and
American Sign Language interpretation is offered at the fair. But what are they spelling?
Accessible venues provide a great way to enjoy favorite fair foods
New foods and longtime tasty favorites are part of the Minnesota State Fair, so Access Press works with fair staff each year on an accessible dining guide.
What makes a venue accessible?
The listed food and beverage concessions offer seating areas accessible by curb cuts; hard and sturdy floor surfaces; tables a guest can pull up to in a wheelchair or scooter, or where a chair can be moved to make room for a wheelchair or scooter.
Scooter users should consider if a venue has limited space and ask what options are best. Don’t forget to bring a supply of hand sanitizer and wet wipes. Those can come in handy to keep hands and faces clean.
One good way to deal with food and beverage spills is to have little clothing treatment items, such as Shout Wipes or a Tide pen, to treat any food spills and stains on clothing.
Venues offering a new food item have an asterisk after the address.
• Andy’s Grille: South side of Carnes Avenue between Chambers and Nelson streets
• Ball Park Cafe: East side of Underwood Street between Dan Patch and Carnes 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 Avenue and Chambers Street *
• Butcher Boys London Broil: North side of Dan Patch Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
• Cafe Caribe: South side of Carnes Avenue between Chambers and Nelson streets
• Charcoal Hut: East side of Judson Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets, next to the International Bazaar
• Chicago Dogs: In The Garden on the southeast corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
• Coasters: Southeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Liggett Street
• Danielson’s & Daughters Onion Rings: Between Underwood and Cooper streets, outside the south side of the Food Building (shares seating with the vendors located in this plaza area between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building)
• Dino’s Gyros: North side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets *
• El Sol Mexican Foods: East side of Underwood Street, outside the southwest corner of the Food Building (shares seating with the vendors located in this plaza area between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building)
• Food Building – inside: Route 66 Roadhouse Chicken; Mario’s; Sonny’s Fair Food; Granny’s Caramel Apple Sundaes; Peters Hot Dogs; Fish & Chips Seafood Shoppe; Sara’s Tipsy Pies; Minnekabob,
Mouth Trap Cheese Curds (these vendors are near shared indoor tables by the northwest entrance to the Food Building on the east side of Underwood Street)
• French Creperie: North side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
• French Meadow Bakery & Cafe: North side of Carnes between Nelson and Underwood streets *
• Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade, Fruit Smoothies, Orange & Strawberry Treet: Between Underwood and Cooper streets, outside the south side of the Food Building (shares seating with the vendors located in this plaza area between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building)
• Frontier Bar: South side of Carnes between Liggett and Chambers streets
• Gass Station Grill: West side of Cooper Street, outside the southeast corner of the Food Building (shares seating with the vendors located in this plaza area between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building)
• Giggles’ Campfire Grill: Southeast corner of Lee Avenue and Cooper Street at The North Woods
• Hamline Church Dining Hall: North side of Dan Patch Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets. *The church has had a dining hall for more than 125 years and is the oldest food establishment at the fair. When arriving with a diner using a wheelchair or scooter, ask to have a seat saved.
• The Hangar: Northeast corner of Murphy Avenue and Underwood Street
• Isabel Burke’s Olde Tyme Taffy: Between Cooper and Underwood streets, outside the southeast corner of the Food Building (shares seating with the vendors located in this plaza area between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building)
• Italian Junction: South side of Dan Patch Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
• JJ Vescio’s: East side of Chambers Street and south of the Grandstand
• Key Lime Pie Bar: West side of Cooper Street, between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building (shares seating with the vendors located in this plaza area between the Food Building and the Agriculture Horticulture Building)
• Lancer locations in the Coliseum (Aldo’s, *Sabino’s Pizza Pies, Snack House, Swine & Spuds): Nearby seating inside the Coliseum seating area. Coliseum is located on the south side of Judson Avenue between Liggett and Clough streets.
• 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 Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
• Mexican Hat: East of Chambers Street, south of the Grandstand
IN-PERSON MEETINGS
Hazel Park
Recreation Center
Tuesday, July 30
5–7 p.m.
945 Hazel St N, St. Paul, MN 55119
VIRTUAL MEETING
Microsoft Teams Meeting
Wednesday, August 14
12 – 1:30 p.m.
Visit the website for the meeting link.
Visit
Your feedback will inform the selection of the best route for the Purple Line
Try a shepherd's pie at O'Gara's.
Celebrate the Salem Dining Hall anniversary with a new dessert. Loon Lake Iced Tea has new drinks.
From page 3
ombudsman project, and being self-advocacy program director for Advocating Change Together. In 1984 she went to what is now the Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD). She worked for the state council for more than 30 years, sharing her expertise on access issues. She was a certified accessibility specialist. She provided technical assistance and training on state and federal access requirements and best practices, civil rights issues and disability awareness. Imdieke Cross provided technical assistance on a range of notable construction and renovation projects, including Green Line and Blue Line light rail, Senate Office Building, state capitol, Target Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, CHS Field, Allianz Field and Target Center. She worked with countless project designers, architects and people with disabilities on access issues. Her work was very hands-on, traveling to sites to check out conditions.
Another important focus of her work was with federal Homeland Security officials on emergency preparedness.
While being very direct about access needs and problems that needed solving, Imdieke Cross also helped many people find access solutions that didn’t break the bank. She was described as relentless in her pursuit of access, but also praised for being reasonable.
Her longtime friend Greg Lais described Imdieke Cross as someone who was not afraid to mince words, and to rock the boat. He and others organized a 1977 Boundary Waters trip for people with disabilities. He recalled, “I’ll
SERVICES
From page 8
events have ASL staff available. Other requests for interpreter services will be scheduled depending on availability and should be directed to accessibility@mnstatefair. org, 651-288-4448 or the Guest Relations office at Visitors Plaza.
Take a sensory break
For visitors with sensory processing disabilities, the Fraser Sensory building is specially created for fair guests who be overwhelmed. It is located on the west side of Cosgrove Street, south of the Home Improvement Building. It is open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., closing at 8 p.m. on Labor Day.
The sensory space is staffed by Fraser-trained sensory support volunteers, who can help individuals regulate with tools and techniques such as weighted blankets and shoulder wraps, calming music, floor cushions, an exercise ball and fidget toys.
Tips for visiting the fair with sensory sensitivities – including when to visit, things to do, what to bring and a social narrative – can be found in the accessibility guide at https://www. mnstatefair.org/general-info/accessibility-guide/.
Minnesota Council on Disability booth
Several disability service organizations have their own booths, many in the Education Building. The Minnesota Council on Disability
FOODS
From page 9
• Midway Men’s Club: East side of Underwood Street between Wright and Dan Patch avenues
Mighty Midway food concessions: Near shared seating area – Leimon’s Pizzeria; Sugar Shack; The Donut Family; Westmoreland Concessions
• Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop: North side of Dan Patch Avenue between Cooper and Cosgrove streets *
• Minnesota Wine Country: West side of Underwood Street between Carnes and Judson avenues
• O’Gara’s at the Fair: Southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street *
• The Peg: Outside on the southeast side of the Agriculture Horticulture Building
• Patio Grill: East side of Nelson Street between Carnes and Judson avenues, next to KARE TV
• Pickle Barrel Sirloin Tips: Northeast corner of Judson Avenue and Nelson Street
• RC’s BBQ: North side of West Dan Patch Avenue between Liggett and Chambers streets
• Ragin Cajun: In The Garden on the southeast corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
• Salem Lutheran Church: North side of
Cross testified at countless hearings.
never forget watching Margot Imdieke crawl across a portage trail dragging her wheelchair to prove to herself that she could do it. It blew me away, and put my issues and worries in perspective. I learned then to keep an open mind and never say never!”
Wilderness Inquiry was formally incorporated in 1978. Imdieke Cross was on the founding board. She had a lifelong love of the outdoors.
Longtime disability rights advocate Claudia Fuglie described Imdieke Cross as a mentor who could be outspoken, yet professional. She sees her as a role model. “We have lost a real pioneer in getting equal rights and access for all,” said Fugle. “She will be missed and I hope
we have folks that will be advocates for folks with disabilities. We have a lost a lot of our real pioneers in the fight for justice and equality.”
The late Tim Benjamin, longtime executive director/editor of Access Press, singled out Imdieke Cross for praise when he retired. She was someone he could contact with a question and quickly get an answer.
In 2003 Imdieke Cross was the first winner of the Access Press Charlie Smith Award for outstanding community service for Minnesotans with disabilities. She won many other awards during her long career, including the American Physical Therapy Association Friends of Association award and the Minnesota Department of Human Services
Odyssey Award.
Imdieke Cross was very active in Minneapolis city government. She served on the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights for more than a decade and served on the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities for more than two decades. She also served on the boards of MCIL, Access Press, League of Minnesota Disabled Voters and Minnesota Women with Disabilities. She served on dozens of task forces and committees over the years and testified at many public hearings.
Services information and more tributes are on page 4. She is survived by her husband and many other family members.
will have one of the larger booths there. Many organizations partner with the council at the booth and provide free information on disability groups and services.
Randall Avenue south of the Progress Center. Salem is celebrating 75 years in 2024. *
Shanghai Henri’s: At the International Bazaar, north wall
• Tejas Express: In the garden on the corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
A schedule will be posted, of when fairgoers can meet representatives from partner disability organizations, state commissioners, elected officials, guest entertainment and an
Contact the council about accommodations to visit the booth at www.disability.state.mn.us/
Fairgoers can enjoy plenty of places to relax.
Service provider shuts down abruptly, raising questions and concerns
A Minneapolis nonprofit that provided mental health and substance abuse support for thousands of clients shut suddenly July 18.
The closing of Rainbow Health shocked clients and healthcare services workers, who are demanding answers and scrambling for other resources.
Minneapolis-based Rainbow Health has served clients who are LGBTQ+ and who are living with HIV.
SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa represents many workers involved. Contract language for the approximately 60 unionized workers requires a 30-day notice of layoff. But SEIU said the workers were told the news just hours before Rainbow Health closed its doors.
“We are shocked, saddened and angered by this news, both as staff dedicated to Rainbow Health's mission and even more so for our clients and community,” the Rainbow Health Workers Coordinating Committee said in a statement.
Workers said they were not given an explanation of what happened or what will come next for the workers, clients or community.
Rainbow Health made a Facebook post,
Court ruling is troublesome
Organizations working to end homelessness in Minnesota say a U.S. Supreme Court ruling will make it harder to move people living on the streets into permanent housing.
The high court recently ruled that fining or jailing people for breaking anti-camping ordinances when there is no shelter available does not violate the Constitution. The decision gives local governments across the country the green light to cite and possibly arrest people in homeless encampments or other public spaces.
Many people who are unsheltered live with one or more disabilities.
“We know that this population in particular, with higher rates of significant mental health conditions, higher rates of substance use disorders, are facing a lot of barriers already,” said Stephanie NelsonDusek, a research scientist behind the Wilder Foundation's Minnesota Homeless Study, conducted every three years. “Piling on more barriers is not a solution to ending homelessness.”
The court's ruling was on City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which the National Homelessness Law Center called the most significant case on homelessness to be reviewed by the Supreme Court in 40 years. When advocates for the poor in Grants Pass, Ore., accused the city of using anti-camping laws to effectively banish its homeless population to other communities, Grants Pass petitioned the Supreme Court to defend its ability to close encampments and issue citations of nearly $300 that could escalate to larger fines of $1,250, a month in jail and a ban from city property if not paid on time. Wilder's most recent study, released in October, found that one-third of homeless adults in Minnesota had been turned away from a shelter in the previous three months, with two-thirds sleeping in a car, vacant building or on public transit as a result. Nearly half of homeless adults were on a waiting list for public housing, and another 10 percent couldn't get on the waiting list because it was closed to new applicants.
The state of Minnesota filed a brief opposing the city of Grants Pass, asking the court to uphold homeless people's right to sleep in public in lieu of shelter. Attorney General Keith Ellison's office argued that was a "narrow" protection given that local governments would still be able to limit the size and location of encampments, and punish associated criminal conduct such as littering, public drug use and defecation.
In its 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the Oregon city, overturning a 2018 decision out of Idaho that limited western cities' ability to sweep camps in lieu of providing adequate shelter. Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch said fines and jail time were not "cruel and unusual" methods of punishment, regardless of the conduct being punished. For the minority, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the court had abdicated its role to safeguard the most vulnerable Americans.
blaming the closure on “insurmountable financial challenges.”
The nonprofit’s website statement said,
“With a heavy heart, we, the Board of Directors of Rainbow Health, announced the closure of our organization effective July 19, 2024. Despite our best efforts to navigate the financial challenges that have confronted us, we have reached a point where continuing operations is no longer sustainable.
For decades, Rainbow Health has been a cornerstone in providing essential services to the LGBTQ+ community, individuals living with HIV, and those facing barriers to equitable healthcare. Our dedicated staff, volunteers, and partners have worked
Hennepin County is working with a national organization, Communities Solutions, to achieve functional zero chronic homelessness — the state in which more people are helped into housing than losing it — by 2025. The goal is complicated by cities' need to close encampments when they become too large and problematic for neighborhoods and demand for shelter beds outpacing supply.
Regardless of the many practical difficulties, fining and arresting people for trespassing on public land makes those challenges worse, Communities Solutions' Chief Program Officer Beth Sandor said. (Source: Sahan Journal)
Federal grant is lauded
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has received a federal grant to prepare low-income youth and young adults ages 16-24 who have disabilities to complete post-secondary education and successfully transition into the workforce. Minnesota is one of four states to receive this grant.
DEED's $12 million Equitable Transitions Models (ETM) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy will support a five-year program of intensive case management services, including career pathways programming that begins with career exploration activities and advances to credentials attainment, skills acquisition, work-based learning, paid work experiences and, ultimately, jobs in the adult labor force.
DEED's program will include targeted outreach to young people participating in the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work program. Available to people ages 18 and up who receive Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits, the Ticket to Work program helps ensure participants continue to receive essential benefits and services as they explore opportunities toward financial independence and self-sufficiency.
"With near-record low unemployment, Minnesota employers are looking for new ways to find workers who can fill positions in high-growth industries," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "Preparing young people with disabilities to thrive in the labor force is part of DEED's mission to empower the growth of Minnesota's economy, for everyone."
"For young people with disabilities in Minnesota, education and employment outcomes lag behind their counterparts who do not have disabilities. This is especially true for youth with disabilities from communities of color and Indigenous communities," said Marc Majors, DEED Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development. "Post-secondary credentials are a gateway to economic stability, so innovative strategies are needed to support these young people in attaining equivalent outcomes."
For implementation, DEED is partnering with PACER Center in the Twin Cities metro area and four Greater Minnesota
tirelessly to uphold our mission of promoting health, wellness, and equality for all. This decision was not made lightly. We are collaborating with HIV and LGBTQ+ community partners to identify and implement viable transfer service options whenever possible.”
“We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for understanding during this challenging time. Your health and well-being remain our top priority,” a spokesperson for Rainbow Health said. “We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff. Their unwavering commitment and compassion have made a significant difference in the lives of so many individuals.”
workforce development organizations–Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Programs, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council and South Central Workforce Council – as the service providers. These five partners cover 53 Minnesota counties.
The program is projected to serve 237 casemanaged youth in Greater Minnesota and 310 parents and families through PACER Center.
(Source: Minnesota DEED) Accessible range is planned Toward the end of his life, Chuck Evancevich began feeling like a burden on society. Brenda Evancevich saw her husband's struggles due to primary progressive multiple sclerosis and neurologic Lyme disease. Once a great athlete recruited by professional sports teams, the military veteran eventually had to deal with a life of limits that meant some of his favorite pastimes — like range shooting — became inaccessible.
"He always felt like he was kind of a burden on society," Brenda Evancevich sad. "And he always felt like he was just watching life pass him by."
Chuck died in 2020, but his legacy lives on at Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat.
His story is one of the backbones of a new accessible outdoor shooting range, campground, veterans center and community center in McGregor. Still in the construction phase, Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat plans to help disabled veterans and others take part in activities that might not otherwise be feasible. It's also a way to ensure those who dedicated their lives to serving their country are not forgotten.
Bret Sample, an Army veteran and close friend of the Evanceviches, made it his mission to create such a place for veterans and disabled outdoor enthusiasts alike. Sample is now the executive director/president of Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, while Brenda Evancevich serves as operations director, vice president and secretary.
The land on which the range and retreat is to be constructed was once an illegal dump.
The nonprofit said it is working with local organizations to ensure its patients continue to receive necessary care.
The company’s CEO resigned after a unanimous vote of no confidence by the Rainbow Health Workers Union days prior to the closure, according to SEIU.
Several organizations have mobilized to help the clients in the wake of the closure. Numerous resources and services available through Outfront Minnesota, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota and Twin Cities Pride. Anyone in emotional distress can get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.
In addition, help is available from the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text "HelpLine" to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates across the country, many of which offer free support and education programs.
(Source: WCCO-TV News)
When cleaning up the property, volunteers removed 250 appliances, 15.5 tons of scrap metal and 12 dumpsters worth of garbage. They racked up more than 13,000 volunteer hours, a fact Sample got choked up about during his speech, thinking about all the help he's received along the way.
Dan Guida is the construction director on the project and a senior master sergeant with the 934th Airlift Wing, the only Air Force Reserve unit in Minnesota. Known in the military community as the "Global Vikings," Guida's unit has been involved in the construction on the property thus far, using the area for training purposes. The military's Innovative Readiness Training program provides real-world training opportunities for service members, preparing them for war-time missions while helping out communities that wouldn't otherwise have the resources to complete projects on their own.
Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat is a perfect example, and its proximity to the unit's base at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport is a big perk.
The timeline for completion of Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat is unknown at this point, dependent on funding, as the group is a nonprofit. Once built, there will be a veterans center open to area veterans, alongside a community center open to all. A campground will feature paths, ponds and a fire pit area for campers. Rifle, pistol and archery ranges will cap it all off. Everything will be completely accessible and free to use for not only disabled veterans but any disabled individuals along with their caretakers, families, law enforcement and first responders. Planners worked with wheelchair users to determine the type of amenities needed for their comfort and accessibility.
More information on Forgotten Heroes is available at forgottenheroesmn.org
(Source: Pine River Journal)
ProAct celebrates opening of new autism center as part of Eagan facilities
ProAct Inc. has opened a new autism center in Eagan. The center is accessible and designed to accommodate the needs and wants of individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory needs.
An open house and celebration was held earlier this summer. Community members were invited to meet with staff, participants, family members, and fellow advocates for people with disabilities. They were able to see the facility and learn about the services it offers.
ProAct officials said there is a great need for autism services.
“When we were first discussing expanding specialized services, 66 percent of our referrals were coming from individuals diagnosed somewhere on the autism spectrum, and we knew that number was going to increase as we learn more and more about autism.” said Stephanie Osman, senior program manager of day support services at ProAct’s Eagan and Hudson sites.
“The biggest strength of the center is there are so many choices available with all different sensory needs being met like tactile, sight, sound, and even smell,” said Osman. “There is that choice so you can customize to
what each participant needs.”
For more than 50 years, ProAct has served people with disabilities. Leaders have looked for new and innovative ways to
Longtime University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration (ICI) leader David Johnson is remembered for his work to improve the educational system that serves students with disabilities.
Johnson died in July. He led ICI from1997 to 2018, serving as its longest-tenured director.
Working with University of Minnesota President Emeritus Robert Bruininks and Charlie Lakin, former director of the Research and Training Center on Community Living, Johnson helped develop the foundational roots of ICI in the 1980s as a center of excellence dedicated to moving people with intellectual and/ or developmental disabilities (IDD) out of institutions and into full lives in their communities of choice. He also served for several years, from 2006 to 2014, as the associate dean of research and policy at the College of Education and Human Development.
“We are saddened by the death of our colleague and friend,” ICI Director Amy Hewitt said. “David was one of the most respected leading experts in the nation for his work related to the transition from school to adult life. His work was used by policymakers and educators across the country to shape opportunities for children and youth with disabilities.”
Driven in his work by his experiences supporting and advocating for his brother, who lived with developmental disabilities, Johnson spent his career conducting research to change policy and practice so that children, youth, and adults with disabilities and their families could thrive in their communities of choice.
“What I saw in him, and in the other early founders of ICI, was this deep commitment to create new ideas and strategies,” said Robert Bruininks, ICI’s first director, who later served as president of the University of Minnesota. “He was a great scholar and hard worker, and even though he had a quiet
demeanor, he had a burning desire to create a better world for people with disabilities and to improve schools for students with, and without, disabilities.”
Johnson at the time of his death was an Emma Birkmaier Professor of Educational Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development. His faculty appointment was in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development where he taught courses and advised graduate students in evaluation studies and research methods. He also continued his research at ICI.
Johnson’s widely published research and evaluation results have been used by U.S. Congressional committees, state
legislatures, education agencies, and others to hold schools accountable for providing students with disabilities an appropriate education that will prepare them for adult life. In 2018, he received the George S. Jesien Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of University Centers of Disability and the Education Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Overseeing the research team that created Check & Connect, Johnson helped guide ICI’s highly successful intervention model for at-risk students that has been adopted throughout the United States and in many other regions of the world.
He published more than 130 book chapters,
provide accessible recreation and enrichment opportunities for participants. During discussions on ways to expand available services, ProAct wanted to ensure they were meeting the needs of the growing number of participants and referrals who are on the autism spectrum or have specialized sensory needs. To meet this growing demand, ProAct teamed up with the Autism Society to design a location and activities. Staff also received advanced training.
The autism center has been on the drawing boards for several years. It has been the focus of fundraising including efforts on GiveMN. The project also faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ProAct has three Minnesota locations in Eagan, Red Wing and Shakopee. A fourth location is in Hudson, Wisconsin. The four locations provide day support services, employment services, production services and individualized home support services to help participants with a wide variety of disabilities and their families.
For more information about ProAct Inc., its services and programs, visit www.proactinc.org.
journal articles, research monographs, technical reports, and products on topics concerning the secondary education of and transition of youth with disabilities, special education policy, interagency collaboration, and other themes related to his research. His devotion to research and developing strategies that help students with disabilities transition, or move from school to adult life, made significant contributions to the field, as well as to the students themselves.
Among numerous other awards and appointments throughout his career, Johnson received the President’s Outstanding Service Award in 2008 from the University of Minnesota, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1973 and his doctorate in special education administration in 1987. In 2020, the Council for Exceptional Children awarded him the Patricia L. Sitlington Research in Transition Award.
In a 2015 video marking ICI’s 30th anniversary, Johnson reflected on the success of his longtime career home.
“Keeping clear on a mission over 30 years has probably been as instrumental as anything to furthering the work we do,” he said. “There is not a person at ICI that is not clear on what this place is about.”
Despite his devotion to the work, he always found joy in family and in working on his farm caring for his many horses and dogs, Hewitt said. His family includes his wife, Sharon Hill, two adult sons and two grandchildren.
A celebration to honor Johnson’s life and career is planned for the fall.
Three dogs, three-plus decades of service for this Can Do Canines client
A Can Do Canines client is celebrating 32 years with service dogs, which is believed to be a record for the nonprofit.
As Stephanie opens up her assistance dog scrapbook, the year written on page 1 is 1993. That’s when Stephanie first began her relationship with Can Do Canines - an organization she says, “is very close to my heart.” She was about 40 years old, struggling with degenerative hearing loss. Her audiologist suggested what was then called the Hearing Dog Program of Minnesota (Can Do Canines’ original name and purpose).
“I think the application was just a few lines on the back of a brochure,” she said. The application fee was $10.
Added security in her life that was progressively becoming more quiet and frightening meant that a 25-pound Cocker Spaniel-Lab mix named Sadie was just the ticket. Sadie was rescued from an abusive situation in Northeastern Minnesota. Upon certification, Stephanie and Sadie became team #40 for the organization in 1995. Alerting Stephanie to the doorbell, phone, alarm clock, and smoke alarm were some of Sadie’s main work tasks. She loved to play, too, by chasing balls and chewing on Nylabones. At only 7 years old, Sadie passed away from lymphoma. Stephanie took a few months to grieve. “I realized I needed another pair of ears,” she said.
In 2001, working with was then Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota, she became team #92 with Jeff, a rescued Sheltie.
As the organization evolved into Can Do
Canines, more staff was added to help the teams with training and testing. Jeff was Stephanie’s first dog to wear the organization’s distinctive cape.
Jeff added snow-plow awareness to his repertoire. He took delight in making sure Stephanie knew when the street was being cleared. She suspected he was actually more interested in the flashing lights since one of his favorite games was chasing a flashlight’s beam. Jeff was diagnosed with bladder cancer
in 2011. Stephanie then began application number three with Can Do Canines. This time, Stephanie was paired with Stevie, a Terrier mix from Secondhand Hounds. Weighing in at 12 pounds, Stevie was “just a little peanut.” They became Team #377.
Stephanie dubbed her new dog “Stevie the Little Wonder Dog.” Though he has slowed down a bit now at age 14, he is still happy to work for Stephanie.
Stevie came with the additional skills
of “Go mat” “Park,” and “Under,” and also initiated alerts for the oven timer and the washing machine buzzer.
Stephanie retired in 2014 from a career as a special education teacher in the Hopkins District, so Stevie has retired his skill of alerting to an alarm clock. The pair has also moved to Moorhead. Stevie has won over her neighbors and other residents. “He has the capacity to walk into people’s hearts,” Stephanie shares.
Stevie is the only one of Stephanie’s three Can Do Canines that will live to retirement age, so Stephanie is considering her future options. She is debating getting cochlear implants and is already using Live Transcribe on her phone. She is unsure right now whether or not a fourth assistance dog is in her plans.
She knows that her life wouldn’t have been the same without her Can Do Canines dogs. She credits each of her dogs for bringing her a special “gift.” Sadie helped her to become more social. With Jeff, she branched out to enjoy more activities together with him. And Stevie has kept her connected to the outside world.
Stephanie has been equally loyal to Can Do Canines. She spoke at the organization’s 25th anniversary Fetching Ball Gala and other events/presentations, attended many Can Do Woofaroos and its predecessor events, and has taken several online classes to stay engaged.
Of her 32-year connection to our organization, she said, “I think Can Do Canines saved my life. I don’t think I’d still be living independently otherwise.”
Minnesotans celebrate as three new veterans homes are dedicated
This summer Minnesota officials have formally dedicated new homes for veterans. The three homes, which opened earlier this year, provide living space for almost 200 veterans.
The homes are in Preston, Montevideo and Bemidji. All three were built after more than a decade of advocacy at the capitol. Construction was approved in 2018, with groundbreakings held after that. Each took about two years to build.
“Our residents deserve the very best,” said Brad Lindsay, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), after the Preston home was dedicated. “The facility is absolutely beautiful, and we were thrilled to collaborate with our veterans and the community to make this happen . . . It’s the embodiment of our mission to serve Minnesota veterans and their families with the benefits they’ve earned.”
The three new homes will allow
almost more veterans needing skilled nursing care. Many residents live with disabilities. Gov. Tim Walz hailed the new facilities.
Minnesota sends a large delegation to Paralympics
Returning athletes and newcomers are among the Minnesota delegation members traveling to the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France. The games start August 28 and end September 8. The upcoming games mark the first time Paris will host the Paralympics and the second time that France will host the Paralympic Games. Tignes and Albertville jointly hosted the 1992 Winter Paralympics.
As part of a formal agreement between the International Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee dating from 2001, the winner of the bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics must also host the 2024 Summer Paralympics. Four athletes have Paralympics experiences
dating back to 2012. Minneapolis resident Chuck Aoki returns as a member of the men’s wheelchair rugby team. He was a team member in 2012, 2016 and 2020. He has two silver medals and one bronze medal from past competitions.
Aaron Pike of Park Rapids brings both summer and winter Paralympics experiences to the team. Pike’s past team experiences were in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022. He competes in track and field in summer games and Nordic skiing in the winter games.
Two teams, wheelchair basketball and swimming, have veteran leaders from Minnesota as well as newcomers. Rose Hollerman of Elysian was on the 2012, 2016 and 2020 wheelchair basketball
teams, and is back this summer. Hollerman has one gold and one bronze medal from past Paralympics. She’s joined on the team by Josie Aslakson of Jordan and Abby Bauleke of Savage. Aslakson and Bauleke each have bronze medals as members of the 2020 team.
The swim team group from Minnesota is led by Mallory Weggemann, who was on the 2012, 2016 and 2020 teams. The Eagan resident’s medial count is three goal, one silver and one bronze. Her teammates include Stillwater’s Summer Schmit and Edina’s Natalie Sims. Sims was on the 2016 and 2020
“We have an obligation to meet the needs of our veterans,” said Walz, adding that the homes are a reflection of the state’s commitment to fulfill its obligations.
“Together with MDVA, we are providing necessary support and resources to ensure the wellbeing of veterans across Minnesota. I extend my gratitude to everyone who has worked around the clock to make Minnesota the first state in the nation to build and open three veterans homes simultaneously.”
According to MDVA, Minnesota is the only state in the nation to ever build and open three veterans homes at one time.
Wold Architects and Engineers, a St. Paul-based architectural and engineering firm with health care and senior living design expertise, led the designs. The homes center on a residential skilled care model and embodies the principles of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs small house design guide.
teams; Schmit was on the 2020 team. The three had their qualifying competition at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Another returnee is Ian Seidenfeld, Lakeville. He competes in table tennis and was on the 2020 team.
Newcomer Skylar Dahl, Minneapolis, is on the rowing team.
Follow the team at https://www.paralympic. org/paris-2024 or https://olympics.com/en/ paris-2024/paralympic-games
Stephanie looked at her memory scrapbook, which is full of stories and pictures of her service dogs.
Minnesota to serve
The Preston veterans' home is one of three that recently opened.
Malllory Weggemann
Aaron Pike
RADIO TALKING BOOK
Look for website updates
For August, 26 new books will premiere. The sampling published monthly in Access Press doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Listen to RTB’s live or archived programs online at www. mnssb.org/rtb, and learn more about programs.
Radio Talking Book is not just for listeners with visual disabilities. Anyone with difficulty reading or turning pages can enjoy the service.
Hear programming on a hand-held mobile device, for either iOS or Android. Visit the Apple App Store for iOS, or Google Play for Android, and download the Minnesota Radio Talking Book app. Missed a book broadcast? Access it for one week following its original broadcast in the online weekly program archive. For help accessing the archive, contact Ronnie Washington at 651-539-1424 or SSB.Equipment@state.mn.us.
If the book’s broadcast is no longer available in the archive, contact staff librarian Molly McGilp at 651-539-1422 or Molly.McGilp@state.mn.us
Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available for loan through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. The catalog is at www.mnbtbl.org. Call 800722-0550, Mon-Fri, 9 am - 4 pm CST. For updates, go to the Facebook site Minnesota Radio Talking Book.
Audio information about the daily book listings is on the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newsline. Register for NFB Newsline by calling 651-539-1424. The NFB-NEWSLINE service provides access to more than 500 magazines and newspapers. To learn more, visit www.nfb. org/programs-services/nfb-newsline or 612-562-7803
Staff welcomes any feedback or suggestions. Contact Joseph Papke at 651-539-2316 or joseph.papke@state. mn.us
Chautauqua*
Monday – Friday 6 a.m.
All the Knowledge in the World, nonfiction by Simon Garfield, 2023. The wild and fascinating story of the encyclopedia, from
Ancient Greece to the present day. Read by Roger Sheldon. 16 broadcasts; begins Wed, Aug. 7.
Henry at Work, nonfiction by John Kaag & Jonathan Van Belle, 2023. What Thoreau can teach us about working―why we do it, what it does to us, and how we can make it more meaningful. Read by Phil Rosenbaum. Seven broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 29. – L
Past is Prologue*
Monday – Friday 11 a.m.
Blood Memory, nonfiction by Dayton Duncan & Ken Burns, 2023. The epic story of the buffalo in America, from prehistoric times to today—a moving and beautifully illustrated work of natural history inspired by the PBS series American Buffalo. Read by Greg Olson. Eight broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 8.
We Don’t Know Ourselves, nonfiction by Fintan O’Toole, 2022. A magisterial, brilliantly insightful chronicle of the wrenching transformations that dragged Ireland into the modern world. Read by Glenn Miller. 27 broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug. 20.
Bookworm*
Monday – Friday 12 p.m.
The Last Russian Doll, fiction by Kristen Loesch, 2023. A haunting, epic novel about betrayal, revenge, and redemption that follows three generations of Russian women, from the 1917 revolution to the last days of the Soviet Union, and the enduring love story at the center. Read by Stuart Holland. 13 broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug.
27
The Writer’s Voice*
Monday – Friday 1 p.m.
Unruly, nonfiction by David Mitchell, 2023. A rollicking history of England’s kings and queens from Arthur to Elizabeth I, a tale of power, glory, and excessive beheadings by an award-winning British actor and comedian. Read by Yelva Lynfield. 20 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 5.
Choice Reading*
Monday – Friday 2 p.m.
A History of Present Illness, fiction by Anna DeForest, 2022. A boldly honest
meditation on the body, the hope of healing in the face of total loss, and what it means to be alive. Read by Diane Dahm. Four broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug. 6. How to Build a Boat, fiction by Elaine Feeney, 2023. Two teachers and a teenage boy in western Ireland go through painful changes and, yes, learn to build a boat. Read by Brenda Powell. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 12. – L, S Confidence, fiction by Rafael Frumkin, 2023. Best friends (and occasional lovers) Ezra and Orson are teetering on top of the world after founding a company that promises instant enlightenment in this novel about scams, schemes, and the absurdity of the American Dream. Read by Dan Sadoff. 13 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 26. – L, S
Afternoon Report*
Monday – Friday 4 p.m.
Where Have All the Democrats Gone?, nonfiction by John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira, 2023. A much-needed wake-up call for the Democrats, which reveals how the party has lost sight of its core principles and endangered its political future. Read by Jim Gregorich. 10 broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug. 6.
The Canceling of the American Mind, nonfiction by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott, 2023. A galvanizing deep dive into cancel culture and its dangers to all Americans. Read by John Potts. 11 broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug. 20.
Night Journey*
Monday – Friday 7 p.m.
Distant Sons, fiction by Tim Johnston, 2023. The paths of two young men collide and spark unexpected violence in a Wisconsin town where three boys went missing in the 1970s in this intricate, haunting novel. Read by Mike Tierney. 14 broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 15. – L
Off the Shelf*
Monday – Friday 8 p.m.
Weyward, fiction by Emilia Hart, 2023. An enthralling historical fiction that weaves together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries. Read by Carol McPherson. 13 broadcasts; begins
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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
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The Centre, fiction by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, 2023. A London-based Pakistani translator furthers her stalled career by attending a mysterious language school that boasts near-instant fluency―but at a secret, sinister cost. Read by Pat Muir. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 26. – L Potpourri*
Monday – Friday 9 p.m.
100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet, nonfiction by Pamela Paul, 2021. A nostalgic tour of the pre-Internet age, offering powerful insights into both the profound and the seemingly trivial things we've lost. Read by Jim Ahrens. Six broadcasts; begins Thu, Aug. 15. On Community, nonfiction by Casey Plett, 2023. A book-length personal essay that delves into the different ways we imagine our communities and the people who form them. Read by Dan Sadoff. Five broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 26. – L Good Night Owl*
Monday – Friday 10 p.m.
A Haunting on the Hill, fiction by Elizabeth Hand, 2023. This scary and beautifully written story of isolation and longing is the first-ever novel authorized to return to the world of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. Read by Laura Young. 11 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 5. Our Share of Night, fiction by Mariana Enriquez, 2023. A woman’s mysterious death puts her husband and son on a collision course with her demonic family. Read by Jan Anderson. 25 broadcasts; begins Tue, Aug. 20. – L, S, V, G RTB After Hours*
Monday – Friday 11 p.m.
Time to Shine, fiction by Rachel Reid, 2023. A merry and bright hockey romance about finding your place, finding your people,
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Resources to Enjoy!
The Enjoy listings are for arts events as well as banquets, fundraisers, walks and other fun events by and for disability services organizations. Schedules may be subject to change, so check with a venue or organization before making plans. Arrange for disability accommodations well in advance at any event.
The Minnesota Access Alliance (MNAA) provides an Accessible Arts & Culture Calendar for arts patrons who use accessibility accommodations such as audio description, captioning, ASL interpreting and sensory-friendly accommodations. Link to more details at https://calendar.mnaccess.org. Be sure to check the listing or venue to find out any COVID-19 protocols and if an advance reservation is needed for an accessibility service.
Accessible events can be submitted to the MNAA Calendar (and MinnesotaPlaylist.com)
To receive a free monthly events calendar, email mactfactor@icloud.com and/or info@ mnaccess.org. Ask for the entire events list or specific lists for ASL interpreting, captioning, audio description, sensory-friendly accommodations or disability-related topics. For other accessibility resources or upcoming webinars presented by MNAA, sign up for emails at https://mnaccess.org
Volunteer
Watch for changes in September
Access Press is moving more event and opportunity listings online, so look for changes in September. Enjoy! and Opportunities will become Take Note! For online posts, there is a word limit and we require that those posting information include event costs as well as accommodations. Are ASL and AD offered? Is there companion seating? A quiet room? Fidgets? COVID-19 protocols? Accommodations are much more than a ramp for many of us. That kind of information can help someone decide whether or not to attend an event.
To post an event, go to www. accesspress.org, click the resources tab at top right, and go to the post an event line. This is for Minnesota-focused, disability community events. it is not for business advertising for events that aren’t sponsored by a disability group or organization or that do not have a disability focused.
Consider that a small web or print ad can also generate interest in an upcoming event. For questions about ads, email ads@accesspress.org
Access Press reserves the right to reject events if they do not meet our guidelines. Call the editor at 651-644-2133 ext. one or email jane@accesspress.org with events questions.
OPPORTUNITIES
Council members sought
People with a disability who are interested in enhancing the quality of life for themselves and their peers, parents, guardians, or professionals enthusiastic about working with people with disabilities and the independent living philosophy are needed. Apply to serve on the Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council (MNSILC). This council seeks to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by promoting the idea that they have the right to live independently and be fully integrated into their community. Legally, at least 51 percent of MNSILC members must be people with disabilities who do not work for a Center for Independent Living or a state agency, but any citizen in Minnesota is eligible to apply. In January there will be eight vacancies on the MNSILC, including one representative of a Center for Independent Living and seven public members. The council is specifically asking for individuals with disabilities, parents, or guardians of people with disabilities, business owners, advocates, and educators to apply to serve as public members.
Upon completing an application to serve on the MNSILC, candidates will be interviewed to further determine their qualifications for service, and qualified
RADIO TALKING BOOK
From page 14
and finding your way back to the one you love the most. Read by Julia Brown. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, Aug. 5. – L, S
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal, fiction by Adriana Herrera, 2023. A lesbian artist wants to make the most of her summer in Paris in this belle epoque romance. Read by Mary Knatterud. 12 broadcasts; begins Wed, Aug. 21. – L, S
Weekend Program Books
individuals will be referred to the office of the governor for final consideration. Appointment terms are three years, and members can serve for up to two consecutive terms.
The MNSILC meets by-monthly on the second Thursday of every odd numbered month from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Meetings are hybrid, held in-person at the Minnesota State Services for the Blind, 2200 University Ave. W, St. Paul or are available via Zoom. Members of the MNSILC serve as volunteers. Apply at: https:// commissionsandappointments.sos.state. mn.us/Agency/Details/152
Any questions should be directed to Jo Erbes at: Mnsilc1215@gmail.com
Children and families
PACER workshops sampling PACER Center offers many useful free or low-cost workshops and other resources for families of children with any disabilities. Some in-person workshops are offered at PACER Center, at Greater Minnesota locations and also offered online. Other workshops are online and livestreamed at this time. Advance registration is required for all workshops. At least 48 hours’ notice is needed for interpretation. Check out PACER’s website and link to the newsletter of statewide workshops that allows participants to pick and choose sessions
Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat , presents Life in Light by Mary Pipher, read by Bev Burchett, followed by The Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff, read by Yelva Lynfield.
For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents First-Year Orientation, edited by Lauren Gibaldi and Eric Smith, read by MaryBeth Redmond. – L; ; followed by This Boy by Ilene Cooper, read by Eileen Barratt.
Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents Raised by Wolves: Fifty Poets on Fifty Poems, a Graywolf Anthology, read by Jim Ahrens; followed by Ice by David Keplinger, read by Jim Ahrens.
Calling all
Competition
September 28 to at Mall of America, or virtually on Zoom. Register now to reserve a spot and enjoy testing those puzzle skills in three divisions. Each division has its own 500-piece puzzle. Divisions and costs are two-person: 8:3010:30 a.m. ($40 per team), four-person, beginner amd advanced: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ($60 per team)
designed for their needs. FFI: PACER, 952838-9000, 800-537-2237, www.pacer.org
Info & Assistance
Many classes available NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has set up a wide variety of free and in-person 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, smoking cessation, a suicide prevention class called QPR – Question, Persuade and Refer, a special QPR class for
The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents The Lincoln Dell Cookbook by Wendi Zelkin Rosenstein and Kit Naylor, read by Jill Wolf.
The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents The Lincoln Dell Cookbook by Wendi
CLASSIFIEDS
Free-For-All (one to four-person): 1:30-3:30 p.m. ($60 per team). Puzzlers in any bracket can choose to add on a VIP registration: for a $20 donation to AuSM, receive a $25 gift card to Games by James. The event includes an autism resources fair in MOA's Huntington Bank Rotunda and an exciting live audience to cheer on our puzzling teams! FFI: https://ausm.org/ausm-puzzle-competitionregistration/
Agricultural Communities and many more.
The classes and online support groups 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” FFI: namimn.org
The classes and online support groups 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” FFI: namimn.org
Zelkin Rosenstein and Kit Naylor, read by Jill Wolf; ; followed by Closing Time by Bill Lindeke and Andy Sturdevant, read by Rick Seime.
Sell print and online advertising for Access Press, Minnesota's disability news source. Part-time, training provided. Flexible hours. Learn more at accesspress.org
Call Jane Larson at 651-644-2133 ext. 3 or email jlarson@accesspress.org
puzzlers, AuSM’s Jigsaw Puzzle
returns
Affordable Senior Apartments
For qualifying senior households age 62 or better. Metro & Greater MN locations available. Accessible apts, available for seniors in these locations. Income limits apply. Immediate openings in Worthington and Albert Lea,
Housing with Care*
* 24-hour Assisted Living Services * Adult Foster Care
* Independent Living Services
* Eligibility for or selection of ASI services is not requred to qualify for housing. ASI services are not available in all
