Editor's Column
by
Tim Benjamin
We at Access Press would
like to think the information we provide helps you make positive
and informed decisions. We try to offer different perspectives
on many of the issues we are confronted with every day. One of
these issues is the Terri Schiavo case. We had several people voice
their thoughts on what took place in the Schiavo case. We received
a letter to the editor from Katheryn Ware that stated the facts and
her insights as well as any article I’ve read. Thank you, Katheryn.
Send your thoughts on any article or topic and we will try to publish
them. Your thoughts and insights are very important to us! It helps
us all see the big picture.
Anne Henry has written
an informative article on the state of affairs at the Capitol.
There are big differences between what the House, the Senate, and
the Governor has proposed. There is a lot at stake in this session
and we are all hoping they will come together and pass bills that
help the whole community. We certainly don’t
want to see a special session again this year.
There is a possibility,
though very slight, that if the House and Senate and Governor don’t agree on some of these issues before
the end of this session or special session, the state could close
down on July 1, 2005. Some of you may remember when that happened
a few years back and the problems it created. These are extremely
important decisions that our leaders have to make. Get involved and
call your representatives—let them know you are concerned that
they come together and make the right decisions. The cuts in MinnesotaCare
would be devastating to many people with disabilities. Voice your
concerns on this issue alone, if you’re not sure about any
of the other issues.
Before you plan your
summer vacation, you need to read Lance Hegland’s
review (on pg 7) of the guidebook “Gentle Hikes: Minnesota’s
Most Scenic North Shore Hikes Under Three Miles.” The options
and opportunities are all there for a great visit to the northeastern
part of our great state.
As you know, the National
Veterans Wheelchair Games are coming to Minneapolis this summer.
What you may not know is that the games offer a Kid’s Day
where inexperienced kids are able to question veteran athletes
on the finer points of each of the sports. (See page 13).
Jon Skaalen and Craig Dunn at the VSA arts have been sending us
information on accessible performances for years now. I want to publicly
thank everyone at VSA arts for their commitment to making Access
Press the place to go to find information about accessible performances
in the Twin Cities.
Congratulations to Ordean Rosaasen, a self-advocate from Willmar,
who was honored last month with the Irving Martin Advocacy Award
at the 2005 Minnesota Self-Advocacy Conference.
I would like to thank
the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD)
for their diligent advocacy work for people with disabilities.
There are various individuals from many different disability organizations
that have combined forces to really push for the betterment of
people with disabilities. Also, I would like to thank all of the
Consortium’s organizations for allowing
their tireless lobbyists to spend the amount of time and effort they
do at the Capitol representing us. Many of them have been representing
us for years. I am very thankful and proud to be involved with all
these brilliant, skillful people that are doing tremendous work representing
all Minnesotans with disabilities.
