Editor's Column
by
Tim Benjamin
Special Note: We don't know
at this point how many people were killed by Hurricane Katrina or
in its awful aftermath. Meanwhile, I'm sure most of us are deeply
affected by the trauma faced by all survivors, and especially by
people with disabilities. The National Council on Disabilities reports
that about 25% of the population in the affected areas are people
with disabilities. You can find news and offer help at Web sites
like www.napas.org,
www.disabilityinfo.gov, and www.dredf.org.
The Arc of Minnesota's website at www.TheArcOfMinnesota.org has
links to these sites, plus stories of those impacted by this unprecedented
disaster.
This month we’re highlighting
sickle cell disease. Far too many of us don’t know what sickle
cell disease really is. The article, What
is Sickle Cell Disease? will clarify many of the facts about this disease and how it affects
the lives of so many people. Also, we have a short personal story
on the effects of sickle cell anemia. Please read them both and thank
you, Sonia M. Alvarez-Robinson, for sharing your personal story.
Alice Oden, the Access
Press Webmaster, has written an article called, Superior
September: Northshore Get-a-way -- a personal story
that might just compel you to take a road trip. Of course, after
reading the article you might also want to get Minnesota’s
travel guide for people with disabilities or check it out on the
Web at www.accessminnesota.org.
One other place you might want to check before you plan your fall
getaway is www.exploreminnesota.com. Both web sites are jam-packed
with good information for travelers with disabilities.
Jane Hampton has offered
to be the answer person for a question-and-answer column on accessible
design, or as it’s also called, universal
design. Ms. Hampton has an extensive background in this field and
has some very interesting ideas on making things more convenient
and accessible for all kinds of building projects. This month there
will be tips on design for persons with low vision. The real key
to this column in issues to come will be your questions. Please send
your questions, or tips from your home improvement accomplishments,
to access@accesspress.org.
The Department of Human
Services’ PCA program is making changes!
Hopefully, the changes won’t have any direct negative impact
on you. I personally am concerned that they may affect us in a roundabout
way, but DHS is trying very hard to work out and implement these
new plans. There are two new steps for an individual to take in becoming
a PCA: 1) An individual cannot start working as a PCA without a complete
background check unless supervised by another person who has a completed
background check; and 2) each PCA will be required to have his/her
own provider number; this will allow DHS to track each PCA’s
hours more closely so no one over bills or bills for two clients
at the same time.
If all of us who are recipients
of the program were more diligent about ensuring that PCAs report
time accurately on their time cards, and if agencies more closely
watched their billing, much of the problem would be solved. One bad
apple can spoil the basket! Be sure to read the article by Lance
Hegland, PCA Program Changes, in order to more clearly understand
the background check requirements. They went into effect on July
1, 2005. We will keep you posted on the PCA provider-number plan;
it is going into effect on January 1, 2006.
Health Partners is opening
a new dental clinic in the Midway area of St. Paul, which will
serve people with disabilities. If you haven’t
seen a dentist recently this may just be the place for you. So, make
an appointment and get your teeth checked.
Last month we printed
two articles in “News at a Glance” that
dealt with medications for mental illness. One concerned a recent
FDA advisory regarding antidepressant medications and the other discussed
recent legislation that prohibits schools from requiring parents
to medicate their children. Sue Abderholden, executive director of
NAMI Minnesota, has written a Letter
to the Editor that we are printing
this month. Along with Abderholden’s letter we have collected
and printed more facts, Access
Press Responds, on this controversial
issue. The mission of Access Press is to disseminate accurate news
to disability community and to give voice to everyone in the disability
community. So if there is something printed that you do not agree
with, we would like to hear from you by phone or in the form of a
letter to the editor.
