More News and Stories
MA-EPD: A Valued
Work Incentive
by Mary Alice Mowry, Manager – Disability Services
A recent article published
in Access Press brought to light the fact that more education and
information are needed in the community regarding Minnesota’s
Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD)
program. It is important for people to have the facts before making
a decision about whether MA-EPD is the right program for them ... read
more about MA-EPD >
Letters
to the Editor…
Dear Editor:
The July article, “Is
Expressing Anger Normal for People with Disabilities?” just
plain annoyed me. No, I wasn’t angry. I was simply annoyed
that a question like this was even posed. Have you ever heard the
question, “Is Expressing Anger Normal for Able-bodied People?” Of
course not! Anger is a human, emotional response—not a characteristic
of disability ... read
more of the letters >
State Funding Promises Brighter
Future for Transit
by Peter Bell
The last few months have been
a difficult period for transit advocates, customers and employees,
as well as for the Metropolitan Council. No one likes the idea of
raising transit fares or cutting service. We know that’s a
sure-fire formula for reducing transit ridership, just the opposite
of what most of us would like to see ... read
more about future transit >
One Man’s Story
by Daniel J. Vance
“Gordon” is the
president of a financially successful, publicly traded corporation
based in the Midwest. He agreed to be interviewed under the condition
his true identity wouldn’t be revealed ... read
more about this story >
More Homeless Youth Struggle
with Mental Illness: What Can We Do?
by Clarence Schadegg
In a July 5, 2005 interview
with Monica Nilsson, Community Development Director for the Bridge
for Runaway Youth, she stated, “It appears that the number
of homeless youth, especially youth with some form of disability,
is on the increase.” ... read
more about homeless youth >
Murderball: A Movie
Review
by Rick Cardenas
I saw Murderball at the Uptown
Theater with a couple of friends, one of whom told me that I “…just
need to see this show.” ... read
Rick's review >
Medicare Prescription Drug
Costs -- An Update
by Jim Czechowicz
Beginning in January 2006,
Medicare will offer prescription drug plans to beneficiaries. But
now is the time to see if you qualify for some extra financial
help in paying for your monthly premiums, annual deductibles and
prescription co-payments under the new program ... read
more of the update >
Walker Art Center Opens
Amid Accessibility Concerns
by Lance Hegland
Two visitors report a malfunctioning
elevator was not the only concern raised during the first few
weeks after the Walker Art Center’s grand re-opening ... read
more about the center >
New Tactical Tours are Launched
by Kaylen Whitmore
The Minneapolis Institute
of Arts recently joined a select group of American museums offering
tactile-map art tours to visitors who are blind or have low vision.
Now visitors can feel a raised physical “map” of Vincent
van Gogh’s Olive Trees, and Cadzi Cody’s Elk Hide with
Scenes of Plains Indian Life while a specially trained docent verbally
describes the artwork in vivid detail ... read
more about the tours >
Twin Cities Hosted
Two National Organizations’ Conferences
by David Hadlich
The last week of June
was a busy one as Minneapolis played host to both the 25th
National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and the Spina Bifida Association
of America’s 32nd Annual Conference ... read
more about the conferences >
Benefit Concert to Feature
Blind St. Paul Teenager
by Craig Dunn
An evening of marvelous music
is approaching for Twin Cities audience members. VSA arts of Minnesota
and Young Audiences of Minnesota will present two little known but
highly talented disabled individuals in a concert at Hopkins High
School on Saturday evening, September 17 at 7:00 p.m ... read
more about the concert >
U of M Hosts Disability
Issues Conference Series
by Bob Sans
Dr. Robert Kane and many
of his colleagues at the University of Minnesota have been pushing
for the establishment of a disability studies program for sometime.
After a recent conference on disability held at the U, they are
hoping that they have generated momentum and support towards that
goal ... read
more about this series >
UCP Golf Tournament
On Monday, July 18, 2005, 59 golfers
participated in a golf tournament to benefit United Cerebral
Palsy of Minnesota at the Oak Marsh golf course in Oakdale ... read
more about the tournament >
What Makes a Disability
Advocate?
by Terri Ricci
Some say that you have to
have a disability to understand what people with disabilities endure
on a daily basis. This can be said to be true of Mark Hughes, the
co-producer of “Disability Viewpoints” which airs on
CTV-15 every Monday at 7:30 p.m ... read
more advocates >
Camp Courage 50th
Anniversary Honeymoon Cabin
by Gail Shore
The Honeymoon cabin is a
very small guest cottage that was moved to the campgrounds in
its earliest years and housed Courage’s founder, Wilco Schoenbohm
and his wife, Virginia in the first year of their marriage. This
11x15 cabin was dubbed the Honeymoon cabin and kept that name
until it was taken out of use about 8 years ago ... read
more about the cabin >
Courage Academy for Youth
Leadership
by Pat Goodwin
Courage Center has
selected nine youth ages 14 to 16 for its new “Courage
Academy for Youth Leadership” which is designed to develop
the next generation of leaders in the disability community ... read
more about the academy >
Increased Access To Public
Lands
July 26, 2005 marked the 15th
anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
which provided broad non-discrimination protection in employment,
public services, transportation, telecommunications, and other services.
On that day, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) joined the Minnesota-based
Wilderness Inquiry along with federal land management agencies in
the signing of an agreement to help increase access for people with
disabilities to public lands ... read
more about access >
Rockaway Takes in Their Own
by Allison Bedard
Rockaway Peninsula, population
100,000, is perhaps one of New York City’s best-kept secrets.
It is tucked away in a beachside corner of Queens that overlooks
the city skyline. Rockaway’s name is derived from the Indian ‘Reckouwacky,’ a
tribe of the Canarsies on Rockaway Neck. It means “Place of
Our Own People.” ... read more
about rockaway >
15th Anniversary Celebration
of ADA
Assistant Secretary Roy Grizzard, head of the Labor Depart- ment’s Office
of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), participated today in a celebration
of the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The event
featured workshops focusing on various disability issues ... read
more about the celebration >
Americans With Disabilities
Act: 15 Years of Progress
by Senator Tom Harkin
This month, our nation is
celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities
Act—the landmark civil rights law securing the rights of people
with disabilities. As chief author of the law, I remember the day
it was signed into law—June 26, 1990—as one of the proudest
in my entire legislative career ... read
more about the ADA >
Sec. Chertoff Reports
Progress on Disability Issues
by Tanya Cantrell
Speaking at a national conference
marking the 15th anniversary of passage of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), Secretary Chertoff said that the department will continue
its proactive policy of hiring people with disabilities as well as
leading the government-wide effort to address the needs of people
with disabilities in emergency preparedness plans ... read
more about the progress >
Trisha Meili to Receive
Courage Center’s 2005 National Courage Award
by Karen Quammen
Central Park Jogger
shares her story of hope, healing and possibility.
Since 1980, Courage Center
has presented its National Courage Award to individuals who have
made a significant contribution to the health, welfare and rehabilitation
of people with disabilities ... read
more about the award >
Metro Mobility Experiences
Phone Problems
Metro Mobility transportation service for people with disabilities is asking
some of its customers to call a different number to make their transportation
arrangements. The service is experiencing some temporary phone problems and
working on the fix ... read
more about the problems >
Wilderness Inquiry Trips
By Greg Lais
Wilderness Inquiry has the
following openings for their summer/fall events ... read
more about the trips >
