News at a Glance
Northwestern College Annual DOSS Week
Starting October 3, 2005, Northwestern
College, located at 3003 Snelling Ave., North, St. Paul, MN 55113,
will have a host of events, including Ms. Melissa Green as the
chapel speaker on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 10:30 a.m., in Maranatha
Hall. On Tuesday, October, 4, 2005 Britta Nicholson and husband Steve
Richter (both are alumni) will speak in chapel, also at 10:30 a.m.
Since 1999 Northwestern College has hosted week long events during
the month of October. The activities are designed to increase awareness
about ADA related topics and the college experience. During the week
there is a focus on campus, state and local services that enable
students with special needs to experience college at a more inclusive
level.
The goal is to highlight
resources and services that benefit students directly. DOSS (Disabilities
Office for Support Services) brings individuals on campus as speakers
or panel members who will provide insight into the everyday celebrations
that come from perseverance and a focus on success. This year’s theme is “Faith:
Interfacing the Love of Christ.”
For further information contact Dr. Yvonne RB-Banks at yrbanks@nwc.edu or call 651-631-5221.
Volunteers Needed - Capital City Education Initiative/ Hmong Mentorship
Program
Phalen Lake Elementary
is looking for volunteers to mentor and tutor new refugee students
from Wat Tham Krabok in grades K-3. The Hmong Mentorship Program
is working side by side with the Mayor of St. Paul’s Capital
City Education Initiative in trying to reduce poverty through literacy.
This is a great opportunity to network with people from all different
places, also to have great foundation on a resume, and to have
a wonderful reference into future opportunities that may come your
way. The program will begin in Fall 2005. For more information
contact: Edward Vang, Volunteer Coordinator, Capital City Education
Initiative, Phalen Lake Elementary, 651-293-8935 ext. 1052 edward.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Thanks!
The Volunteer Services
Unit of the Ramsey County Community Human Services Department wishes
to thank the citizens and employees of Ramsey County for the tremendous
support and response to the 5th Annual School Supply Drive.This
year’s drive collected 13,000
supplies for distribution to needy students. Thank you for your generosity
and caring.
Provide a Ride Volunteers Sought
Give a lift and get one too! Volunteer drivers are sought to provide
a ride on an occasional, regular or special event basis. This can
range from taking a person to an appointment, regular trips to the
grocery store or a one-time activity. The ride may be one-way or
round-trip. A pair of volunteers can serve as a driver-team and work
together, which is perfect for spouses, friends, neighbors, relatives
or co-workers. Volunteer drivers are reimbursed for mileage.
Guild Incorporated is a not-for-profit organization that provides
an array of supportive services to individuals coping with mental
illness, which includes severe depression, anxiety or schizophrenia.
Poverty, loneliness and isolation often accompany mental illness.
Volunteer drivers are needed to help individuals access necessary
places in the community where public transportation is not available.
Most of the clients live independently in Dakota and Ramsey Counties.
As you may know, one in four families has a member with mental illness.
People interested in volunteering may contact Jeanne Tramel Rasmussen,
Volunteer Coordinator, at (651) 457-2248 ext. 36 or e-mail at volunteer@guildincorporated.org.
Additional information about Guild Incorporated and its volunteer
program can be found at: www.guildincorporated.org. The Guild of
Catholic Women formed the organization in 1990.
New HealthPartners Dental
Clinic Focuses on Culturally Competent Care
The HealthPartners Dental
Group began operation of a new dental clinic in the Midway area
of St. Paul in mid-February. The clinic’s
mission is to provide same-day access to urgently needed dental care.
Also, the clinic will serve as a first point of contact for all new
HealthPartners Care members who will be enrolled in the HealthPartners
Dental Group clinics. The clinic will serve as the dental home for
those enrollees that choose, or are not able, to receive care in
a more traditional dental practice structure.
The HealthPartners Midway
Dental Clinic is designed to accomplish several objectives. One
objective is to demonstrate a model of care that HealthPartners
has developed and that has been adopted by the Minnesota Legislature’s “Dental Access Advisory Committee.” The
model emphasizes responding to the episodic user of dental services
and making better use of scarce resources.
Nearly a public assistance
program covers one in five HealthPartners Dental Group patients.
But even at these levels, the volume of patients seeking episodic
and urgent care at any one clinic is not high enough to make it
feasible to reserve time in providers’ schedules.This
clinic also focuses greater resources and develop greater expertise
in overcoming barriers to receiving care.
It is located in the Midway area, just east of the Target store
that is near University and Snelling, on the third floor of the Bigelow
Building.Street address is 450 Syndicate Street N., Suite 300, St.
Paul, 55104.
Triumph Technology
Triumph Technology provides assistive technology solutions for people
who are blind or have low vision. There are technology solutions
available for yourself, a family member, friend, co-worker or employee.
Training for Individuals
Triumph
technology is in the business of working with our customers to identify
the assistive technology solutions that best fit their lives and
then teaching them how to use that technology. All Triumph Technology
trainers must pass Minnesota State Services for the Blind’s
stringent proficiency exams and complete an adult education course
before they are permitted to work with clients. We believe that this
standardization of service not only maximizes the quality of training
for our clients, but also raises the bar with regard to what is expected
of training professionals in the assistive technology industry.
Training Workshops and Seminars
Triumph Technology hosts a series of workshops and seminars on a
variety of topics such as trends in the assistive technology industry,
providing access to electronic and information technology, Web
accessibility and disability awareness as it relates to assistive
technology.
Section 508 and ADA compliance
consultations
The unfortunate fact is, we
are all just a traumatic injury, hereditary predisposition or age
related condition away from acquiring a disability. When it happens
to you, what protections do you have against disability discrimination?
Under the law, what accommodations are you as an employer required
to extend qualified employees with visual impairments and why? What
recourse do people with a disability have in situations where reasonable
accommodations aren’t considered? Triumph
Technology works with companies and organizations to find technological
solutions for qualified job candidates with visual impairments
as well as long time dedicated employees who acquire a disability.
Assistive Technology Product Distribution
Triumph Technology is always adding to our inventory of assistive
technology products. Current offerings include speech and Braille
note takers, talking bar code scanners, talking cell phones, scan
and read systems, Braille embossers, talking computers and screen
magnification systems.
View the full array of technology
solutions at: www.triumphonic.com or call:651-636-5184 to discuss
your specific needs or concerns.
New Book Released: “Raising
a Sensory Smart Child, the Definitive Handbook for Helping Your
Child with Sensory Integration Issues”
Long thought to be a
disorder that affects only autistic children, and a disorder that
is often mistaken for ADHD, Sensory Integration (SI) dysfunction
is finally being recognized as a separate condition. For parents
of children with sensory integration issues, Lindsey Biel, M.A.,
OTR/L and Nancy Peske have written a ground breaking book, “Raising A Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook
for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues” (Penguin
Original), that will be an invaluable resource for parents and teachers.
In just about any classroom, there’s at least one child who
is struggling with sensory issues. These are the kids that teachers
and parents describe as “oversensitive,” “picky,” “clumsy,” “spacey,” “impulsive,” “difficult” or
even just “quirky.” Children with SI dysfunction are
those who have difficulty processing everyday sensations that most
of us take for granted. Often, they’re highly distractible
and they tune out or act out when they’re over-stimulated.
Their need for sensory input such as movement and touch can be so
overpowering that they truly can’t control their need to seek
it out. Because each child has a unique experience of this confusing
and sometimes exasperating condition, “Raising A Sensory Smart
Child” helps parents to understand what their child is going
through such as how the seven (yes, seven!) senses work, and how
to find an occupational therapist (OT) who is trained and experienced
in helping kids with SI dysfunction who can actually help retrain
the child’s nervous system to work more adaptively.
The book also addresses
everyday behaviors from dealing with clothing sensitivities, to
getting children the deep pressure against their skin and in their
joints that will calm them down, to helping their auditory-sensitive
child handle background noise, whether at home, at school, or in
the neighborhood. After reading “Raising A
Sensory Smart Child,” parents and professionals will be able
to spot and address common developmental delays. Biel and Peske provide
guidance on how to work together as a team to help kids with sensory
issues cope with the confusing sensations coming from within and
outside of their bodies.
Some of the key topics covered in the book are:
• Where to find an occupational therapist and how to get the best
professional help
• The importance of the “just right” challenge
• “Sensory diet” activities that can be done every
day to help
• Practical solutions for everyday problems, from brushing hair
to getting dressed or being in public
• Why “sensory smarts” can be a huge help for children
with learning and attention problems
• Ways to advocate for your child at school, and ways to make
schools more “sensory smart”
• How to empower your child and teen in the world
• Complementary therapies, recommended resources, and helpful
Web sites
For more information, please
contact Ann M. Day, publicist, at 212-366-2078 or fax 212-366-2952
or email: ann.day@us.penguingroup.com or
visit the author's Web site at www.sensorysmarts.com
MCIL Recruiting Board Members
The Metropolitan Center for
Independent Living is actively recruiting Board Members. We need
professional, knowledgeable individuals who are interested in the
issues faced by people with disabilities. Board members, as a group,
share their knowledge and expertise regarding the duties, and responsibilities
relative to the management and operation of the Center. Members are
elected at our Annual meeting on Wednesday, October 26, 2005, to
be held at the St. Paul-Travelers (Jackson Room, 375 Washington Street,
St. Paul, MN). This is a three-year term and board members attend
meetings on the fourth Wednesday of November, December, January,
March, May, June, August, September and Annual Meeting in October.
Those interested please call 651-646-8342 for an application. The
deadline is September 15, 2005.
HealthPartners Hires Karen
Dobbins as Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Karen Dobbins has joined
HealthPartners as senior director of diversity and inclusion. In
her new role, she continues to support HealthPartners’ commitment
to effectively serve people from all walks of life and helps foster
a diverse and well-rounded working environment.
Before joining HealthPartners, Dobbins worked in both mid and large-size
organizations including US Bank Corporation and Fortis Financial
Group where she has served in a variety of senior level positions.
She has vast experience in organizational design and development,
coaching, consulting and management.
Dobbins holds a degree in
organizational development and communication from Concordia College.
She is a member of several professional organizations including the
International Coaching Federation, Society for Human Resource Management
and the Minnesota Coaches Association.
Courageous Mother
Inspires Independent Living Resource
With the Twin Cities senior citizen population expected to increase
more than 115 percent in the next 25 years, Housecalls Network is
now one of the most innovative resources available to elderly and
disabled people and their care givers. The website features a directory
of informational resources, shopping and home services, and charities
to assist this growing population. Many of the shopping and home
services offered, such as errand running and chore services, also
can help busy, working families, many of whom are called upon to
take care of an aging parent. Schmidkte focused mainly on the Minneapolis/St.
Paul area to ensure that the resources listed on the Web site were
convenient and personalized.
Housecalls Network recently added a secure, user-friendly e-commerce
site full of aids for daily living and adaptive clothing that enables
people with all levels of disabilities to live safely and conveniently.
Housecalls Network provides
a directory of informational resources, shopping and home services
and charities through its website. Housecalls Network
also buys and sells new and used aids for daily living and adaptive
clothing through its Web site, catalog phone orders and home presentations.
For more information visit www.housecalls-network.com or
contact Housecalls Network Lisa Schmidtke, President, email: lisa@housecalls-network.com,
phone: 952-221-0722.
Senior Housing Guide
Now available, “The
Senior Housing Guide,” is a comprehensive
reference book providing information on housing options for older
adults. You can pick one up for free at libraries and senior centers.
There is no charge for information. Speakers are also available on
a variety of topics; reverse mortgages, making your home accessible,
community based services, downsizing, how to have a great move, and
housing options. Counties included in the Guide are Anoka, Carver,
Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, and
Wright. The Guide covers “Resources,” “Staying
In Your Home,” “Moving,” and “Comprehensive
Housing Listings.” The Resource section includes information
on resources and subsidies to help pay for services, whether you
are in a house or an apartment. The section “Staying Put” has
information on reverse mortgages and making your home accessible,
as well as a checklist of community based services. The section, “Moving
On,” helps people think about moving; where to start, and how
to de-clutter and downsize. Lastly, the “Housing Listings” are
a comprehensive list of condominiums and cooperatives, market rate
and subsidized rental apartments, housing with assisted living services
and memory care residences. Costs, pet policy, parking information,
are given as well as information on services: meal programs, housekeeping,
laundry services, personal care, respite care, and transportation.
Phone numbers, addresses and Web sites of housing providers are listed
to make investigation of housing options easy. To have one sent directly
to you send $5 to cover postage and handling. Send to: Housing GUIDE,
1474 Sargent Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105. If you would like more info
or further explanation about housing options call 651-690-3141.
