NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 4766
Volume 32, Number 11
November 2021
WWW.ACCESSPRESS.ORG
Plan for end-of-year giving
In the spirit of diversity, equity and inclusion, the Access Press Board of Directors seeks to expand its membership by three additional directors. Please indicate your interest to be considered for board membership by contacting Access Press at access@ accesspress.org Access Press is a 501 c 3 nonprofit. Board members are volunteers, with varying time commitments. The board holds one regular meeting each month, with other strategic planning and committee meetings as needed. Newspaper expertise is not required to be a board member. A commitment to and interest in Minnesota’s disability community are welcomed. Board members can bring lived experience with disability, for themselves or a family member or friend. Experiences with disability service organizations, BOARD MEMBERS To page 3
NEWS DIGEST We're here for you Page 2
National Guard members were vaccinated earlier this year. Now they are helping with rapid testing stations and are ready to help at long-term care facilities.
As COVID-19 pandemic goes on, National Guard is stepping in The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to greatly affect Minnesotans with disabilities, although some bright spots are appearing. There is hope that a summer-fall wave of cases is cresting. The news that children ages 5-11 can get vaccinated as soon as November is also welcomed, especially for families whose children with disabilities are immunecompromised. But the strains on the health care and long-term care systems continue to be concerning. At a news conference outside North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Gov. Tim Walz announced in mid-
October that members of the Minnesota National Guard would be put on alert to help in long-term care facilities. Guard members would help during an ongoing surge of COVID-19 patients. By mid-October there were more than 400 patients being treated at Minnesota hospitals who were ready to be discharged. But some of the long-term and transitional care facilities they would typically go to were lacking staff and unable to admit new residents. Transitional care facilities not only help
His story continues Page 4 PCA wage increase set Page 5 Kudos to care providers Page 7 Tune into Radio Talking Book Page 10
COVID-19 To page 9
Registering at the polls is convenient but takes planning Throughout Minnesota, voters go to the polls November 2. While many people appreciate the convenience of early voting, others like the experience of going to the polls, seeing neighbors and casting a ballot. For voters with disabilities, voting the day of the election is also a good chance to check out polling places and make sure they are accessible. Reporting polling place access issues can be a great service to other voters. (See related story.) Several steps should be taken to make sure the voting experience goes smoothly for voters with disabilities. Busy presidential or state elections can mean taking along water to drink or any needed medications as waits to vote can be long. Having a phone or device fully charged is also a good plan. The long waits may not be the case this year in most communities this year, although polls in St. Paul and Minneapolis may be busy with mayoral elections and ballot questions. There are other ways to prepare to vote, especially if there is a need to register at the polls. Minnesota offers the benefit of same-day
THANK YOU
RAMSEY COUNTY
New board members sought
- Lynne Megan, MOHR
NATIONAL GUARD
Planning your end of year charitable giving? Support quality, disability-focused journalism by making a gift to Access Press from your IRA without paying tax on the distribution. Here's how: The IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allow individuals ages 70 1/2 or older to make an outright gift of as much as $100,000 annually to Access Press from a traditional IRA. The withdrawal amount may count toward the annual required minimum distribution (RMD). Although the RMD is not required until age 72, the QCD can be beneficial for donors who do not itemize and instead file the standard deduction. A QCD is an otherwise taxable distribution from an IRA owned by an individual who is 70 1/2 or older that is paid directly from the IRA to a qualified charity. Access Press is a qualified charity. The transfer must be directly from the IRA to Access Press. You do not receive a tax deduction for a QCD from a regular IRA. However, the transfer amount is not recognized as taxable income. It is a tax free transfer. The withdrawal may not exceed $100,000 per individual annually. A married couple with individual IRAs may each transfer as much as $100,000 annually. How to initiate a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QDC): 1. Contact your IRA administrator to initiate the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution. 2. Alert Access Press to expect the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution. For more information, contact Access Press Executive Director Holly Anderson at 651-644-2133 or holly@accesspress.org
DSPs are the lifeline to services and supports for people with disabilities.
Election judges will be ready to see voters November 2. registration for voters. Voters can register if accompanied to the polling place by someone who is already registered in the precinct. This process is called vouching. But not everyone knows their neighbors. Being able to register to vote at the polls is a great convenience. Having the
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correct documentation makes the process go smoothly. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office has a helpful information sheet that can be downloaded and used for reference, at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/ POLLS To page 5
