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More News and Stories
Identity and Biotechnology
Life, Death, and Biocultural
Literacy (full article)
by Lennard J. Davis
It is a literary convention
that at the moment of death, one may finally come to know oneself.
In many of Dickens's novels, for example, you'll find a touching
deathbed scene. As the dying character fades away, he or she utters
a few summarizing words — or, in the case of Shakespeare,
a great deal of them — and those around can wipe away a tear
and find some significance in the person's demise ... read
about identity and biotechnology >
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Many thanks for Steve Serkland’s
article, “Alex Kern Scores!” in your Dec. 10, 2005 issue.
The article highlights the
importance of collaboration among family, educators and vocational
rehabilitation counselors, and other support professionals to foster
a deaf or hard-of-hearing student’s success ... read
more about the letters >
Disability Access Symbols
by Terri Ricci
People who are deaf or hard
of hearing often use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate.
But what happens when you are deaf and use ASL and the person you
are trying to communicate with does not know or understand sign language? ... read
more about the symbols >
A Doctor with MS: Lessons
Learned
by Herb Drill
Dr. Alicia Conill’s
first reaction was deep denial and depression, followed later by
a new purpose—teaching medical students how it feels to have
a debilitating illness. Dr. Conill was a vibrant, popular young
doctor when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis ... read
more about the doctor >
Medical Students Develop
Sign Language Skills
by Erick Posner
An innovative program is gaining
nationwide recognition in the medical and scientific community for
giving medical students American Sign Language (ASL) skills. Since
June 2003, the National Cancer Institute has funded a program called “American
Sign Language, Deaf Culture and Cancer Control Program for Medical
Students”...
read more about the program >
Abusive Relationships and
People Experiencing Disability
by Lance Hegland
Occasionally, we hear public
service announcements highlighting the facts, dangers, and signs
of domestic violence. But, seldom is it a topic of daily, weekly,
or even monthly discussion among family and friends unless they or
someone they know is impacted by it ... read
about abuse >
Catholic Charities Helps
Homeless
by Clarence Schadegg
Father John Estrem, Executive
Director of Catholic Charities, granted me an interview with him
on September 28, 2005. We talked about the accommodation of disabled
people who seek shelter as well as those with a disability who work
for Catholic Charities ... read
more about catholic charities >
What is Muscular Dystrophy?
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is
a group of genetic diseases that cause weakness and muscle wasting,
primarily in the skeletal or voluntary muscles. These are the muscles
we are normally able to control, such as the muscles in our arms
and legs. Most people with MD experience some degree of muscle weakness
during their lifetime ... read
more about MD >
Living with Muscular Dystrophy
Takes Determination
by Peter Tacheny
I was diagnosed with Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (MD) when I was five years old. My first memory
of that time was of the sadness that my family seemed to have in
finding out this news. I had my first surgery to help me walk better
when I was eight years old. It was from then on that everyone said
that I was a person with a lot of determination ... read
more about living with MD >
The Challenges of Emergency
Management Planning
by Danielle Engle
This is the final article
in the investigative series on Emergency Management Planning (EMP).
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), from an administrative
level, provides a very efficient and cost effective procedure guide
and resource directory for local governments. However, our investigations,
coupled with recent natural disasters, suggest that something is
amiss ... read
more about the challenges >
Individualized Empowerment
by Justin Dart
You have the power and the
responsibility to defend democracy and to create a society of individualized
empowerment for all. Society is not a magical super god that can
give or withhold quality of life. Society is nothing more than what
you do and think everyday. You are the society ... read
more about empowerment >
Smoking Can Lead to Vision
Loss or Blindness
The rate of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) among smokers is significantly
greater than that of non smokers ... read
more about the effects of smoking >
Prescription Drug Help Available
for Mental Health Consumers
Many people with mental illness
are among the 700,000 Minnesota Medicare beneficiaries who need
to consider their options now that the Medicare Part D prescription
drug benefit is available. These individuals, and family members
and friends who care for them, should take note ... read
more about the help >
Medicare Part D Rollout:
A Story of Challenges / Success
by Dave Strait
In Buffalo, Minnesota an initiative
is underway between various community organizations which may serve
as a template for many communities to ease barriers to Part D information
access and assist Medicare eligible people make an informed choice ...
read more about the rollout >
Mold Exposure Hazardous to
Chemically Sensitive
by Mary Tellers
Deanne, a volunteer for the
Chemical Injury Resource Association (CIRA) helpline has counseled
over 300 CIRA helpline callers annually. So she was more prepared
than the average homeowner when she had to deal with a mold removal
process in her own home ... read
more about mold >
Birth Pains of Inclusion
by Nicolai Ordahl
The house I grew up in stands
five blocks from a notorious state institution in Cambridge,
Minnesota. Riding my Huffy through that place was like entering a
strange cartoon land—grand buildings forming rows into the
distance, rolling expanses of green grass, a curious stillness in
the air. Occasionally, I would see someone walking around, looking
lost ... read more about
inclusion >
The Electronic Voting System
Demonstrated
by Mai Thor
The electronic voting system,
the Accuvote TS(x) by Diebold, was used in a demonstration at ACT
on January 27, 2006. This demonstration is another attempt by the
four Minnesota counties that are currently using Diebold machines
(Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey and Washington) to find an alternative from
using the AutoMark in order to comply with the federal Help America
Vote Act ... read more
about the system >
Fibromyalgia: Alternative
Therapies / Personal Stories
by Danielle Engle
In a March 2005 publication,
the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases (NIAMS)—www.niams.nih. gov—reported that Fibromyalgia
(FM) affects 1 in 50 Americans. The disorder affects predominantly
women; however, men and children can also have FM ... read
more about fibromyalgia >
Scanlon Attending Paralympics
by Patricia Goodwin
The U.S. Paralympics, a division
of the U.S. Olympic Committee, has selected 10 student athletes,
ages 12-18, with physical disabilities to attend the International
Paralympic Academy at the 2006 Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy,
March 8-13, 2006 ... read
more about scanlon >
Sandstorm Named Executive
Director
by Sharon Rolenc
The Brain Injury Association
of Minnesota Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Ardis
Sandstrom, MS, LICSW, CRC, as its new Executive Director, ending
an extensive national search. She succeeds Thomas C. Gode who
previously held the position for eleven years. Sandstrom is the third
executive director in the Association’s 21 year history ...
read more about
sandstrom >
Dancing with Disabilities
by Hennepin County Library
Communications Staff
About 150 adults and teens,
many with mental and/or physical disabilities, enjoyed and participated
in a performance by Kairos Dance Theatre as part of the “Arts
Access at Hennepin County Library” program series on Monday,
Jan. 30, 2006 at the Brookdale Library ... read
more about arts access >
"How To’s" on
Purchasing a Ramp
by Steve Gildersleeve
Do you need a ramp? Do you
need to replace an existing ramp? Before you make that purchase,
use these tips and questions below as a backdrop in your discussions
with the different dealers and contractors ... read
more about ramps >
Bicycling, Travel and Fitness
Expo
by David Hadlich
It used to be that going
on a bike ride was only for the non-disabled. Fast forward to now,
and there are many adaptations available for everyone. The first
annual Bicycling, Travel and Fitness Expo will be held in the Minneapolis
Convention Center on Saturday, March 4, 2006 and Sunday, March
5, 2006 ... read more about the expo >
The Roller Derby is Back
by David Hadlich
In what is becoming a national
resurgence, the TC Rollers all female roller derby league is calling
Cheap Skate of Coon Rapids home. Craig Gordon, league director, states
that the most recent edition of roller derby is much less violent
and much more family friendly than what many of us remember from
the 1970s ... read more about roller
derby >
Service Dogs Available!
by Laurie Carlson
A unique situation is making
a number of highly-trained Service Dogs available immediately for
Minnesota residents with serious disabilities. You, or someone you
know, might be a perfect match for one of these special helpers if
you can act quickly ... read more
about service dogs >
ADHD and the Keys to Motivation
by Lisa Simmons
Motivation! What an abstract
concept. Most of us struggle to motivate ourselves through our own
daily “to do” list ... read
more on motivation >
My Life, My Words
by T. Alan Hurwitz
Just a few generations ago,
deaf people only dreamed of going to college. I know, because I was
one of those dreamers. But unlike many of my friends, I had an indomitable
mother who stood ready to make that dream come true ... read
more from alan hurwitz >
