Persons With Disabilities Effective May 1990, a pew monthly publication assumes an advocacy role for tens of thousands of previously under-represented Minnesotans-those with physical or mental disabilities. Access Press' premier edition features a circulation of 10,000, distributed initially throughout the greater metropolitan Twin Cities area approximately 100 drop points including rehabilitation, education, training and medical centers.
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Edited by Charles Smith, an activist whose 23 years in a wheelchair have limited neither his vision nor his ability to redress untenable circumstances. the tabloid will Dro-
vide information regarding both sources and resources to state residents for whom the tasks of daily living have been rendered somewhat more challenging. Access Press will contain information of interest to the sight- and hearing-impaired, the MR community, those challenged by CP, MD, MS and other neurological disorders, the physically disabled and others. A broad-based editorial board is being formed to ensure that the interests of all challenged communities are editorially addressed to the extent possible.
The paper's editorial mission will be two-fold, according to Smith: to serve as a source of enlightenment for the disabled community, and to serve the general public as a source of enlightenment about the disabled community. Suggestions for editorial coverage, distribution points, or editorial board membership are welcomed. Subscriptions will be available for those whose access to distribution points is limited.
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Volume 1, Number 1
I zest to a Mexican vacation, a s -venture In Puerto Vallarta. Add ma d to be souaht for the
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Chemical Dependency: TheAvoided Issue For many persons with disability adjustment, lead to less,fkagk, pi-, and sick. disabilities, chemical increased medical complica- "Physical disabilfty" is comdependency imposes far tions of thedisability, and in- monly equated with "illness", greater limitations than their terfere with independent fostering the ideas that perphysical impairment. Until living. sons with physical disabilities recently, the need for are incapable of assuming Chemical dependency treatreqonsibility for themselves, Amment and the benefits of The mostsignificarrtfactor require repeatedhospitalizarecovery for persons with perpetuating the high rate of tions, and must depend on disabilities have not been chemical dependency for per- some type of mood-altering acknowledged by society, the sonswithdkbiljtiessecmsto medication in order to funcmedical community, fami- be the negativeattitudescom- tion. Family,friends,and the lies, and friends. Failure to monly held toward both medical community often adequately address chemical disability and chemical questions the value for perdependency as a primary dependency. Persons with sons with disabilities of health m e issue will prevent physicaldisabili~areoften achieving a chemically-free successful rehabilitation and considered hopeless, help lifestyle, as the chemicalsare
seen as justified means of masking reality. It is assumed that without these chemicals persons with disabilities could not cope with what is perceived as a miserable existence. Enabling by the medical community, family, and friends, appears to be an effort to protect the disabled person from the reality of hisher disability. In other words, chemical use may be seem as a way to "ease their
If first impressions, and the record, count, Lee Greenfield is hardly a representative Representative. The six-term DFL legislator fromMinneapolis' District 61A loves his work, strings together 14-to-20-hour days during the session, spends his spare time upgrading his storehouseof issue-relatedintelligence, and for the past two years has batted .714 at the legislative plate, with 25 of the 35 bills he introduced becoming la*. What began with a personal iischion with %hat is -how it all fits together" has carried the former New Yorker through a period of scientific obj&viG -physicist for RCA, math instructor at the "U"-into what is arguably the least scientific profession in society. Close perusal- o f his o i i i d l y - * d gnad crampacked, Biographical Sketch confirms the finding-Lee Greenfield is a people person. From his status as Foundmg Member of the Minnesotacommitteeto Endthewar in Vieanam to positions today on councils and boards ranging from the DFL Feminist Caucus to the Minnesota Mental Health Association, Oreenfield the private citizen reflects Greenfield the public servant, adopting and s u p porting causes that improve the quality of life for those whose lives could stand a little improvement. After paying his political dues, including two as Administrative Assistant td 22-year Hexmepin County
Commissioner Richard 0. Hanson and Commissionel
Americans Disabilities Act Vote Nears. See Page 8
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of Representatives, Greenfield the public servant has achieved a status sufficient to provide someimpact on local quality-of-life issues, and provide he has. He chairs the He& and Human Services Division of the House Appropriations Committee (the one that d e cities where themoney goes), awl&tsontheHe;lithd~~SenricesPolicycommitteeandtheJuMmyCam&tee. He's &ir of the Joint Legislative Commission on
GREENFIELD to page 3