April 1997 Edition - Access Press

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THINK F*. I7 SPRING!

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1 Success Sometimes

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"Politics gets what, is thewhen, science andofwhy." how - Sidney Hillman

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Access Press Change Is Up To You

by Charlie Smith, Editor. uho

bas e v e r

ith six weeks left in

high tripdenialg and gener-

at meaningful levels.

two years, and nearly a billion dollars in the bank this

due to low PCA wages and the low unemployment rate.

GovernorCarlso 130 Stab-Capitol

tance to fund these programs at levels that make sense.

pact IW legislato

learnsfrom this experience.

by Christopher Burns hen Sandra Karlins was younger, she'd visit her mother, Miriam, at the Capitol. Miriam, a longtimeadvocate for people with

with their local representatives, Rep. Betty Folliard, DFLHopkins, and State Sen. Steve Kelly, DFL-Hopkins.

Senior Options program par-

under Governor W e d d l

bily

some cases is 40% of the family income), and health care

We need to let the Governor,

If you don't know who your legislator IS,you can call the Minnesota DFL at (6 12) 293-

bling mainline transit system and apara-transitsystem with

ers in theHouse and Senate know it is vital that these programs are funded

(6 12) 222-0022. They each have the ability to find your legislator by your addres

p m a created Senior O p tions, i@ rpecial service for seniors \ ~ i the ~ Opportun nity PartnersDayTminingand Habilitation progam.

Health Care Fraud Tips To Protect Yourself nsure thpt tbey ctservi&

*Never allow anyone to reedical records ription medihout your _ ,

toured the capitol, ebserved a

living longer than ever be-

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represented to you as being

eqaipllient for yam. Never

*ALWAYS review your ex-

statements designed to get Medicare to pay.

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present themselves as being part of Medicare, the Health CareFinancing Administration, the Department' of Health and Human Services, or any branch of the Federal Government. Neitherthe federal government nor Medicare endorses the products m~ ~ f a idGldh$ d y -Beware of a provider who uses pressure or scare tactics tosell you high-pricedmedical services ' without giving you theopportunityforasecond opinion. Unless it is an emergency, there is always

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Sister Kenny Institute's 34th Annual

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April 10,1997

"Tools For

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IN BRIEF. . . .

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New Transit Service In Woodbury

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ew dial-a-ride service within the city of Woodbury is one of a number of changes in transit service that hit the streets Monday, March 24. The accessible local service will operate much

l h a d no control over their living accommodations, education or job opportunities. A disability was perceived as an inability. This is no longer true. From the isolation of state institutions to a growing choru$ of people speaking up for themselves, a growing social movement called the self-advocacy movement is taking hold. And the organization Advocating Change Together (ACT) is fueling the momentum.

like taxi servicewithin thecity. during non-peak hours, from 8:OOa.m. to4:15 p.m. on weekdays. Service is also available to Sun Ray Shopping Center where customers can catch connections to other routes.

be directed to the Transit Information Center at 373-3333.

Riders can make reservations by calling735-RIDE.Thecost is $1.50. .

Information about the restructured transit service, including route maps and schedules, will be available at Woodbury City Hall and the Transit Store in downtown St Paul. Questionsaboutservicechangescan -

St. Paul Advisory Committee

T

he St. Paul Advisory Committee advises the -.

Part of A ssion is to develop curriculum programs that Mayor and City Council on educate people about the self-advocacy movement and pro- problems, issues, and appor. mote personal empowerment. The curriculum concept was developed in response to the growing concern that individuals he Metro Paint-A-Thon with disabilities were being isolated and excluded from deciis seeking homeownerap sions regarding their lives. plicationsforthe1997project.

Y S a Approximately 350 homes of ACT meet rbm called FOR CHAEdGE, low-income seniors and

tunities facing people with disabilities. The Committee specifically focuses on issues related to employment,public

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education and accessibility.

The Committee meets on the 3rdTuesdayof the month, from 6:OO-&:00 p.m., Room 42-A,

15W. Kellogg Boulevard. For more information, contact Alberto Quintela at 2668529.

Paint-A-Thon: the housemust be occupied by a person 60 years of age or older, or by persons of any age with permanent disabil@a.

Persons

who are interested should call the Paist-A:Thon office at 721-86fi.~~~lication~eadline is May lS,lW?.

Metro Paint-A-Thon

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is a participatory and accessibl forpsople of all abilities."Self-Advocacy. for All" is the first in this series. It looks at self-advocacy as a self-determination builder and as a growing social movement.

Using archival footage of self-advocates, disability-rights activists, and civil and human rights struggles, this r video shows thegoals and beliefsaf self-advocacy while documenting its history as a social &mge movement. The second module, "Shaking OYT Stereotypes," allows participants to see and e x p e rience the value of high self-esteem.

people with disabilities living in the seven county metro area will be painted by 10,000volunteers over the weekend of August 9th. To qualify for the

MAMI Benefit Banquet it1s4thannualbenefitbanquet per person and includes din- Perfect Host in Bandana 11b and silent auction on Friday, ner.Social hourandsilentauc- Square. For reservations call April 25,1997. Costis$2S.00 tion begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Alliance at 612-645-2948.

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The Nation's Leader

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TOOLS FORCHANGEp&p_ahigh valueon the participants' lifeexperiencesas&idmpomntsource of knowledge: It is a knowledge bawdtat is often overlooked by our society and consi&md mim-

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to hk down, grab the &dng wheel, and go.

88'9Now h m k other self-advocacy groups. For more 1-800-641-0059.

wdabdandthefull-sizevanhamgone.handandW fornmlytwentyyears.O u r p l u s h ~ ~ ~ e y e & h ' . 7 - 1 . -: ing exteriors coupled with state of the art equipment new program has beg& b Gncdurage a brOder particiption in live theatre by Deaf Ca" OW for bt.1mobility for driver or passenger. Our lowered individuals and by pea* who are blind. Ace- floors raked certified roafs give ample head room and to Theatre is a jaim prajd o w Spc@&Ax&, Minnesota (VSAMN), D.E.A.F., the ~ n h & ;

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Association for Community Theatres and the Guthrie Theatre. The project provides reduced price tickets for individuals who are Deaf or Blind 1997's at 132,900.00 for selected performances at participating the- w b w e r Windows Power Lod<s Cruise atres. Contact VSAMN at 332-3888. .

Anti-Lod< Brakes Tilt Column AM/FM Casette Stereo w V-8 Engines Qmpped floors or R a i i .

A-~*c W+ b= b r 9 ~ m GREENWAY HOUSIN$

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114 - SFHSTREET SOUTHEAST 1 &2*mRM.-. 'r.

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Section 8 Rental Apts.

All :units fully accessible & quipped for.): .

-,w6ss at physically handicapped persons. Occupants pay 30% of their income as rent. Now accept1995's at 3 .&g applications for the waiting list. .?* - 9199qs'at 3 ' 5:- ,

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Call 378-0331 G ,Monday - Thursday (5 between loam - l pm

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$27,900 1991's & 123,900 at $ 2 0 , ~ 199Ws 1989s 4

$15,900 $13,900 $10,900

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April 10,1997

Access Press

Reliaion & Disabilitv

The Invitation Is The Key

1 Life Goes On

Cloning - Good Or Bad?

by Katie 0 ' ~ r k n

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t is a crisp, white Sunday ficult. There are no answers, Could we provide opportuni-

morning. I am sitting at my desk gazing out at my winter garden. For the last few years, I have been coping with a chronic illness that has drastically changed my life. This change has become a time of deep learning. While my body is not cooperating; my spirit is still lively. My winter hibernation is the time to be still and hear my new message. I feel like my winter garden buried under piles afiihow. l I do have faith that buried beneath that snow is my new garden. It is resting quietly withthepromise of the buds of spring, the glories of summer and the autumn harvest.

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by LeAnne Dahl only living the questions.

Many in our lives are uncomfortablewith ourreality. There are some in the health care professions who are at peace with the idea that we will not be cured. Our best health is living within our limitations.

Some friends and family are able to be comfortable with the day-to-day ups and downs of our new reality. Some volunteers are comfortable workihg dthssmeone who will not make progress, but can find joy in coping with their life.

Some faiths have a tradition of reaching out in welcoming fellowship, but some do not.

Congregations vary in their view of outreach. Personswith . chronic illness vary in their ability to reach out for understanding. .Some thought provoking questions are:

My spiritual life has flourished. But at times like this I yearn for a welcoming community of worship. I want to plant seeds for recognition of a growing community of people who must live with the *Could we have a service that uncertainty of chronic illness. tells the stow of veovle in faithcommunitieswhodo not ~ e a f i n gwith a chronic illness have the physical or emocan be adaily struggle. Living tional strength to come to withnunseendisabilities is difz worship?

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he cloning of an adult sheep in Australia will be the topic of conversation in many circles for years tocome.

It boggles my mind to think that such a thing has actually taken place. Yet I recall hearing the term "cloning" during my youth and wondering if it could ever really happen. The obvious question is, "Can a human being be cloned?"

President Clinton has already put a stop to any federal funding related b cioding.

ties for occasional smaller services that celebrate the positive? They would include physicaYemotiorial support and the music and words of shared worship. *Could we find ways to educate people about the needs of many who do not seem to be ill? It would be mutually satisfying to know how to help a person with a chmffir: illness'be a vital part of a community.

It is an issue of inclusion.

How do people of faith reach out to those of us not in the mainstream? A recently published letter by an Episcopalian priest touched me deeply.

"If each church reached out to all the excluded in our cornm ~ n i t ~ , 'and ~ a lesbians, ~s divorced, singles, people of color, the disabled, the eccentrics our biggest problem would be where to seat evervone. IntherthinkJesus would prefer that God do thejudging and we do the inviting."

imagine what might happen if a couple had a child that was perfect in every way, according to their standards, they might want to duplicate i t If enough people chose to do this in the future, eventually there would be only perfect people, allowing them to live longer than ever.

nothing to really work for because everything would be done right the first time it was tried.

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Differences are good, imperfections are good. I maintain that despite all the problems the different cultures have in getting along, we do a pretty fair job of managing to live together. As for those of us with disabilities, I've always felt wedo have purpose. Each of us ad& a dimension to our comer of ttte world that no one else can fill. Whether it be banding together as a unified group to fight for the rights of the disabled, or striving to create better understanding of disabilities among our own family members, we serve a meaningful and useful function. Don't let anyone ever destroy your sense of being.

Where does disability fit into all of this? With my limited lcnowladgeaf the science a d bioiogy, f can't heIphtwmder if future generations will choose to eliminate people with disabilities altogether.

Understandably, this process would take many years, and we may never see it in our lifetime. Yet this is a scary thought. -

I was glad to see the President take this step so quickly. If he hadn't, this. latest scientific experiment could lead to all 1 kinds of experiments. While1 won't pretend to understand how cloning can take place, I : have a feeling that this could have disastrous effects for so- Can y-imagine a society of ciety in general, and for people .dl ~'jmrfecthuman beings?" with.disabilities. . ,- P i e ~ 1 1 yI. think life would be pretty dull.. While it would LIFE WILL GO ON until the In my way of thi*, 1can be peaceful, there would be end of time.

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Katie OaBrienis afree lance

rlrase patronize your Access Press Advertisers -and tell them where you '.. - 1 heard about them. medically orfunctionallyequal ing SSI cash benefits will re- 1Odays of the termination no- . u+the limitationsof the listing of tain ~ e d i c a lAssistance or tice.

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1 They bring you your impairments. The new stan- be$omeeligible for Minnesota -*-=. .

struggles people face on a daily basis. It can be a useful training tool for organizations and people who want to learn self gdvocacy skills.

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+ds are expected to elimi- Care, between three and four te children with mental . hundredchildrenareexpected to lose health coyerageas wen PUBLIC NOTICE as SSI cash assistance. The Minnesota Legislature will This serve as notice that are now consider a safety net health being at 21O0 care program in the Departfor all qualified Section 8 appliicants. Eligibility merit of Human Services' based.on handicapped andlor disabled status plus OmnibusBudgetforthesechil-

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The cost is $29.95 for organizations and $14.95 for individuals.

Call Brionna at 988-4177 Order your copy today!

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meeting Section 8 and selection criteria require- dren. menu. Applications accepted between 9:00 a.m.- The SocialSecurityAdminis4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday at 2 100 tration has begun reviewing Bloomington S. Minneapolis, MN 55404. children whose SSI eligibility

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Anne Henry isanattomey with the Disability Law Center.

dedicated to serving our community with an emphasis on helping people with disabilities. Our three principle goals are Fellowship, Knowledge and Service to others.

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Wg invite you to join us the 2nd and 4th qgrsdays pf ,each month at Tracks restaurant in the Midway Motor Lodge (Prior & University). Meeting times are 6: 15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. You will be our dinner guest your first visit!

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For further information, contact Patty Jo Weseloh @ 426- 1188 or A Pierson @ 649- 1406.

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Partners. "Senior Options staff strive to create choices for seniors so they can look forwsrd to each day as a new bpportunity to learn and $grow."

4 i pati" of @e. dlscussion about services for senion developmental disabi~ ,ties, the Oppomnity Pa& aers group asked legislatou p u p - ph .cat-of-1ivi;ing w j a $&'the,sta&

AS1 also provides shared personal care services on a 24 hour basis at most locations for adults with a physical disability 'and/or traumatic brain injury who qualify fbr Medical Assistance.

For m e idormation regarding services call Leigh or for apartment rental inform&ion call Dora at (612)645-727.1 or (800)466-7722.

I Accessible Space, Inc.

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Apartments are fully wheelchair accessible, and each has a central laundry room, large community room, secured entry, onsite caretaker.

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with phone calls or letters to your W a ~ h i ~ ~ t ~ ~ . r e p r e s e n t a tives and the state leadership: GovernorCarlson,Sen.Roger Moe, and Rep. Phil Carruthers.

Accessible Space, Inc. (AS1)offers subsidized one and two bedroom apartments for individuals with physical disabilities. We have apartment buildings in a variety of locations in Twin Cities Metropolitan area plus Mankato, St Cloud, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Austin and Marshall. New apartment buildings are under construction in Willmar and Duluth.,

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1 The St. Paul Civitan Club is a volunteer

1 organization

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b u r s S ~ d t ~for m sewid

April 10, 1997

Access

3REi

Success Sometimes Forgotten The Movie "Shine" ISA Must Se

by Deborah Leuchovius

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While change is hard to see on

"Shine" is b

ago, when my son was two- acknowledge, celebrate, a d

life and&mre. If you cousider that "Benny and Joon" The closestdiagnosisDavid's d on the true had some of these elements, doctorshave been able to make

With such a dearth of positive

24 HOUR ON CALL SERVICE

Deborah Leuchoviy is apare ac- ent a d kdvocate for people

Personal Care Assistants Home Health Aides

well-being of people with disabilities remain,as well as the need to continue working for

with disabilities is reflected.

Seeing someone with a disability on the television at all was anovelty ten years ago. In

and the removal of workdisincentives, we must not loose sight of all that has been accomplished. As one of my

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April 10,1997

Dear Editor: What is a Center for Independent Living(CIL)? What purpose does it serve? How is it different from other service organizations? What connection does it have to the disability community? These are all important questions that need to beconsidered in light of the severe and potentially devastatingchangescurrently being implemented at the CIL in St. Paul.

It recently came to the attention of several individuals in the disability community that theMetropolitan CIL was laying-off longtime disabled employees, while retaining newer, less experienced nondisabled employees; and cutting critical programs without any input from the disability community. The housing program -gone! Theusedequipmentreferralprogram-gone!

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These programs were two of the most frequently used programs at the CIL. The loss of these programs will reduce the impact and contact the Center has within the community and negatively affect the lives of hundreds of individuals with disabilities. It is our understanding that these cuts were made under the cover of fiscal responsibility. Who will assumetheresponsibilityforproviding these services? Why were these changes implementedwithoutanypublicdiscussion or debate?

Why didtheboardofdirectors approveof thesechangeswithout seeking input from the community or giving serious thought on how thesechanges would affect the community?

It is our understanding that a CIL, is a grassroots organization that represents the issues and concerns of its constitu-

Access;Press

RADIO SHOW

ents. We believe that currently theconstituentsare being misled with tales of financia1 woe, misinformation, or receiving noinformation at all.

,questions. Ultimately each board member is responsible to the community that he or she serves. Board members have an obligation not to be exclusive but to be inclusive It was the dream of Ed Rob- and not to abuse their power erts, founder of the indepen- but to use it wisely.

Hugh Galager & Diane Coleman dent living movement, that a CIL should be a model for To beamemberofaCIL board how disability andnon-disabil- is to represent the heart and ity related organizations soul of the disability commushould treat people with dis- nity. I think we should start to 14129 Personal Story of Depression abilities in all aspects of life. question who is representing RoseTillemans,aSister at St.Joseph ofCarondelet The mission of the Metro- us and in whose best interest politan CIL is "To awaken are they serving? people to the possibilities"; community, staff, and board This letter is intended not to alike. But if these groups are damage the reputation of the not aware of what the possi- Metropolitan CIL. It is bebilities are, how can they re- cause of the importanceof the spond appropriately? The CIL to thedisability comm-uBoard has a responsibility to nity that these questions must represent its constituents, all be asked. of the board! Each individual board member had a responsi- Sincerely, Audio Described ASL Interpreted Performances Performances bility to question, to debate Mary Swanson and Frank Pascal the issues, and to demand full 41 13, Sat 2 pm, "All My Sons" 419, Wed 8:00 pm "The King and complete answers to their St. Paul, MN Theatre in the Round Players, and I" Orpheum Theatre,Mpls

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