Access Press - May 10, 2008
Bringing News and Information to People with Disabilities Since 1990
This version of Access Press does not include graphics, photos, advertisements, Directory of Organizations, Friends of Access Press listing, hyperlinks or email links. It is laid out in the order that content appears in the print version on pages 1 through 16.
Monthly Quote:
“Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in our nation." — Mary Bono
Page 1, Article 1:
Health reform still possible?
Talks continue as session wanes
With a May 19 end-of-session deadline looming, key lawmakers and Pawlenty administration officials continue to press for a solution that would improve Minnesota’s health care system.
The House and Senate have passed different versions of what an improved health system would look like for both the commercial and public sectors. Pawlenty favors the House’s approach over the Senate’s, and in recent days has floated his own solution. As this article went to press, all parties involved in negotiations believe final passage is possible.
The current debate is a culmination of many years of task forces, advisory panels and work groups that have wrestled with how to better the system and control the cost projections that all agree are unsustainable. Health costs now consume more than 25 percent of the annual state budget.
The main sticking point in the current negotiations is how to pay for fixing the current system and expand coverage to more uninsured Minnesotans. Specifically, there is disagreement on how much should be drained from the Health Care Access Fund, which was created by the 1992 Legislature to pay for the MinnesotaCare program. Legislators say the funds should only be used to pay for health care. Pawlenty wants to use some of it to plug the current $935 million budget hole.
People with disabilities stand to gain from elements contained in all the proposals now being debated. Recognizing that our current health system is fractured, confusing, and tough to navigate, the concept of a ‘health care home’ has been proposed. This would link an individual to a particular clinic or provider who would agree to help coordinate all of a person’s health needs. In return, the service provider would receive a financial benefit for doing so. Advocates have sought to ensure that individuals with complex needs who may already have a health care home, (such as children with disabilities in the TEFRA program, or those in the Minnesota Disability Health Options program) would not have their current arrangements disrupted. Also important will be the ability to designate a mental health professional or specialist as a ‘health care home,’ not just a primary care doctor. Currently, no one is assisting many of the enrollees in the fee-for-service Medical Assistance program to ensure their health needs are being addressed and coordinated.
Additionally, the legislature wants to expand the Min-nesotaCare program, which would give more individuals and working families access to affordable health care. Many current enrollees have complex medical issues or conditions, but they may not be ‘disabled enough’ to qualify for Medical Assistance. For individuals in this situation, their pre-existing conditions may price them out of the private insurance market, so MinnesotaCare may be the only option they can afford. The governor’s most recent proposal would include no expansion of the program.
How we pay for health services—and determining what the real price is for certain services—would also be addressed in the reform package. The buzz word is ‘transparency,’ which would give the public a better understanding of what services really cost, and which providers are best at delivering those services. Ultimately, this change would lead to the development of better consumer report cards and lists that would rank providers based on cost and quality. Lawmakers and the governor also want to reward the health providers who do a good job by paying them more, and indicate more clearly to the public who isn’t performing at a level to justify higher reimbursement for services.
Making sure that we’re looking at the entire continuum of health care services—from hospital stays to PCA and other in-home services—has been a concern of disability advocates and a focus of the Bridging the Continuum workgroup of the Health Care Access Commission. Many people with disabilities and chronic conditions rely on non-medical services to live independently in the community. Many of these services (such as case management or independent living skills) are now only offered through the Medical Assistance waiver programs and are designed to save money on the acute care, or medical service, side of the state ledger. Preserving these services, and focusing on health promotion and prevention of secondary disabilities for those already living with chronic conditions or disabilities, has been an important part of the ongoing dialogue.
Whether a bill is passed and signed
by the governor or not, the issue of improving both access to services and
better defining the quality of those services utilized by individuals with
disabilities, will be a continued public policy focus. The ongoing challenge
will primarily be financial, with the budget deficit expected to grow, not
shrink, in the coming months and years.
Page 1, Article 2:
We’re number one!
Courage Center basketball team wins national championship
In March, Courage Center’s Junior Rolling Timberwolves varsity wheelchair basketball team placed first in a national tournament in Seattle. This season, the team was undefeated after 22 games, including regional tournaments and the national tournament. They outscored their opponents 1,264-735, averaging 57 points per game.
The team of nine boys and girls ages 13-18 represents communities from throughout the state of Minnesota. The national championship included 69 Junior Division teams from across the United States.
In addition to excelling in basketball, six players were also named academic all-stars. Numerous players from previous teams have also gone on to receive college scholarships, representing the USA in international competitions.
In more than 20 years of existence, Courage Center’s Junior Rolling Timberwolves have also had many
coaches selected to national teams.
This year, two Courage Center’s coaches will be traveling to Beijing,
China: Mike Bauler as Paralympic team leader for the USA men’s basketball
team, and Jeff Downes as team leader for the USA women’s team. Assistant
coach Ian Lynch is expected to be selected to the men’s basketball
team, and Coach Dan Price has been selected to lead international junior
teams in the past.
Page 2, Article 1: Editor's Column
by Tim Benjamin
Finally, it seems, we have made it through the winter. This last month has been a roller-coaster of weather. One morning, the warm bright sun would wake you by 6 a.m.; then the next day you wouldn’t even see the sun, and a wet chill would remain throughout the day. But this is Minnesota! And no one knows that better than legislators.
What are those legislators doing? John Tschida does a great job of explaining some of the goings-on at the Capitol. I sure hope that some of the health-care reforms he writes about come to pass. With health-care costs consuming 25 percent—an unsustainable amount—of the state’s overall budget, the “health care home” Tschida describes sounds like a very positive restructuring, rather than a patch-the-hole fix. Rewarding providers through financial incentives for preventive practices and for delivering the best products and services sounds like a good idea.
Maybe after the upcoming elections there will be some serious proposals to change the whole health-care system throughout our country. I think we have to think positively and get very involved as a community for our health-care coverage problems to become a thing of the past. The only way that this can work, though, is if we all start getting involved in the politics of health care for everyone. At least one way to get involved is volunteering for politicians that are like-minded. Another is getting to know the policymakers we already have. I think our leaders really do want what is best for us, but unless we tell them what that is they can only be “those politicians.” Get to know them on a first-name basis, and let them know what you need. I know I would fight much harder for someone I know than for someone I have only heard about.
Have you ever heard of Doha, Qatar? I hadn’t, until Mary Kay Kennedy from Advocating Change Together (ACT) came to our office and said that she had just been invited by the Princess of Qatar to come with one of ACT’s board members and check out their new Center for Children with Special Needs. ACT board member Roberta Blomster and Kennedy took the short trip around the world to see how the disability rights movement is expanding in the Middle East. Don’t miss the article.
There was some concern that last month Access Press was disrespectful to our police department through the choice of words used in an article title and subtitle. Policing our communities is an honorable profession, and I can’t imagine the stress, challenges, insults, assaults, danger and even chaos that police officers face every day. I thank every police officer for the respectable work that they do and I meant absolutely no disrespect. I believe that the community and the police department should show one another the utmost respect for their human—and professional—dignity at all times. In this particular situation, we were reporting a story concerning the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), where officers are trained both to prevent and de-escalate mental health crises. I did not intend for the paper’s wording to be perceived as appalling or disrespectful. We are printing the two letters we received on this topic. Maybe, like one of the letters said, the words we chose showed my ignorance on the topic, and I will work on correcting that. It’s hard to always pick the right words, but where I can correct an offense, I will.
Along with those two letters we are printing two other letters that concerned other words that have multiple meanings.
This month our history note has been expanded. Luther Granquist reports on a topic that seems both appalling and incredible in this day and age. The sterilization of people with cognitive disabilities at the hands of government and the scientific community can only be described as barbaric and criminal, yet at the time the decision makers were sure that they were doing the right thing for society. We can only hope that these kinds of horrendous acts are recognized in the future and that as a society we will be wise enough to acknowledge and admit wrongs, and apologize.
Clarence Schadegg fills us in on what National Crime Victims’ Week has brought to the disability community. Olegario D. Cantos, Special Counsel to the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S., explains a new federally granted initiative to improve public safety and broaden public awareness, civil rights training and greater crime reporting efforts. This new initiative should help in many areas, including making available more factual information on crimes against people with disabilities.
Thank you for reading and supporting
Access Press.
Page 2, Article 2:
History Note
The awful price of freedom
In May 1975 the Minnesota legislature repealed a law authorizing sterilization of “feebleminded” persons committed to the guardianship of the Commissioner of Public Welfare and a law prohibiting a marriage if one of the persons was “imbecile, feeble-minded, or insane.” The sterilization law was passed in 1925; the marriage prohibition several years before that. Both laws reflected the strong feelings of the time that mental retardation was hereditary and that “feeble-minded” persons were a threat to society as a whole.
In a speech in 1928 about Heredity as a Factor in Feeble-Mindedness, Dr. J. M. Murdoch, Superintendent of the School for the Feeble-Minded at Faribault, stated that the “lives of feeble-minded persons should be made as satisfactory and complete as our most advanced methods can make them, but we must see that they do not propagate.” He said that only those “feeble-minded” persons who had been trained at the institution so that they could get along with supervision in the “outside world” would be considered for sterilization. By the time he spoke in 1928, 155 persons had been sterilized at Faribault with the result, in his words, that “at least 155 lines of descent carrying defective gene have been cut off.”
Frederick Kuhlmann, a psychologist who was Director of Research for the Minnesota State Board of Control, the predecessor of the Department of Human Services, agreed in a speech in 1927 that “reproduction is effectively prevented by segregation in an institution.” But he emphasized that simply having been sterilized was not a reason to discharge someone from guardianship or from the institution: “To sterilize an immoral moron and then turn her loose is unthinkable. To do so would aggravate an evil much greater than that of feeble-mind-edness.” We must remember, he added, “that a sterilized moron is still a moron ….”
From 1925 to 1945 more than 2200 women
and men were sterilized in Minnesota. Although the law required consent of
a spouse or next of kin, if available, the practice was to sterilize persons
before they would be discharged. Faribault’s medical and nursing staff
held regular “case conferences” to discuss possible placements
out of the institution. The minutes of these conferences in 1942 routinely
included entries like, “…recommend sterilization and concur in
the plan of the welfare board to place her in her aunt’s home.” After
World War II, the number of sterilizations decreased and, as attitudes changed,
sterilizations were rarely performed after 1960.
From 1925 until 1959 Mildred Thomson was the person who ultimately exercised
state guardianship powers. Speaking shortly after the sterilization law was
passed, she emphasized that the county social workers providing “outside
supervision” (outside the state institution) must actually be “interested
in the likes and dislikes, joys and sorrows of the ward ….” She
admonished them not to speak of “the feeble-minded” in the abstract,
but consider each person individually. But she accepted without apparent question
the need for sterilization. With sterilization, she said, “we do not
have to consider the result of a possible evasion of supervision … another
illegitimate and possible feeble-minded child ….” She concluded: “Thus
many a girl, and boy also, can be satisfactorily paroled [discharged] after
such an operation, when it could not have been so considered previously.”
Thomson was no ogre. When she retired, parent groups rightly praised her, in
part for supporting their organizations but also for her staunch support of
the interests of hundreds of persons with mental retardation. The fact remains,
however, that she also supported a law that made sterilization the price of
freedom for many of them. That law has been repealed, but a wrong had been
done to many persons by the state, and not just by Thomson or Murdoch or Kuhlmann.
Other states have apologized for similar wrongs. Minnesota has not.
The History Note is a monthly column sponsored by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, www.mnddc.org or www.mncdd.org and www.partnersinpolicymaking.com
Page 3, Article 1:
Letters to the Editor
Care not cuffs
Shocked and appalled. I am shocked and appalled. When I found out that you put out an article about CIT and the issues people with mental illness have within their community and in the criminal justice system, I immediately looked up the article [“Care, not cuffs,” April 10, 2008]. I just could not get past the words “to prevent police abuse.” I had communication with Sue Abderholden of NAMI, someone I have worked with many times in the past, and she let me know that she would never use such words. I know Sue and I believe her 100%. That leaves your staff writer and you. I had to read the article 4 times to get past those words and finally realized that it was a good article. Well written and accurate. Why the abuse? Where did that come from? Are you purposefully trying to throw gas on a flame? I work hard to train many officers in how to better respond to mental health crisis and often find many people with the same focus. Articles like this are only meant to do harm to our profession. I’m wondering if you are just trying to join the likes of some other press writes and “blame the cops”. I’m sorry; I thought more of your organization.
Sgt. Steve Wickelgren, MA
Minneapolis Police Depart.
President MN CIT Officers Association; steven.wickelgren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Sensationalizing?
I was informed that the following article was in your publication Access Press and that your staff decided to edit the title of the article, I am not sure why you did this. Was it to sensationalize the issue, due to your opinion of the police or your lack of knowledge about the issue in the article? [Care, not cuffs; Advocating mental health awareness to prevent police abuse, by Sue Abderholden.]
I am frustrated with your representation
of the police. As a retired police sergeant and a mental health professional
working in this area of how to get the best services to persons struggling
with mental illness, I and my colleagues are working hard to encourage the
police and when this type of representation comes out it sets that effort back.
Police officers have a very difficult job balancing the needs and safety of
the individual, the needs and safety of the community and their own personal
needs and safety. Most officers work very hard to handle each person they come
in contact with with dignity, respect and compassion, while controlling the
crisis incident.
I would hope that you could give the officers the dignity, respect and
compassion they also deserve.
Michael R. Peterson, MA LAMFT, Executive
Director, MN CIT Officer’s Association, 612-220-6038, executive.director@mncit.org
Consumer? How about ‘Participant'?
“Patient” has become a four-letter word! [“Don’t call me a ‘consumer’!” April 10, 2008] It is not a four-letter word just for persons with depression. I proudly disdain the word ever since I felt the disrespect and superiority that the medical profession and medical model has had for me. It is not that I have any affinity for the word “consumer” but it does sound and feel better then the word “patient”! I think we must identify ourselves as we choose.
I crushed my spinal cord and am paralyzed from the chest and arms down as a result of a car accident many years ago. As a result of that event I necessarily became dependent on the medical profession for permission to exist. A “patient” is what I was! Not because that is what I defined myself as, but because it is what I allowed others to define me as. With the word “patient” comes the concept of the term “be patient.” Over time and discussion with other cohorts, I became aware of another perspective that allowed me to identify myself differently. This new awareness helped identify “patient” as a four letter word for me and for many other people with various disabilities and illnesses because the word implies inaction, which is NOT what many persons with disabilities want to be. INACTIVE!
The word “patient” becomes a problem because “I” as a person want to “participate” in any health or medical decisions about me. Call me a “participant!”
Rick Cardenas, St. Paul
Or self-advocate?
I want to respond to LeRee Etter’s letter “Don’t call me a ‘consumer’!” [April 10, 2008]
I’ve been involved with self-advocacy from way back. I started with Advocating Change Together in St. Paul in 1989. Back then, we decided to call ourselves “consumers” because we were sick of being called “patients” and “clients.” These words boxed us in and made us feel like we were always the ones getting stuff done to us. We wanted to have more control. By calling ourselves “consumers,” we were in the driver’s seat. We were the ones controlling our services. Consumers get to decide what they want and don’t want. Patients and Clients don’t. We don’t use the word “consumer” anymore. We use the word “self-advocate.” People like this word better.
I’m surprised to hear the word again because I have not heard if for a long time. And, I’m sorry that it makes you feel bad being called a consumer. I can understand what you are saying. I think everyone should get to decide what they want to be called. If you don’t like the word consumer you are doing the right thing to speak out and make it known that you don’t like it.
As a person with developmental disabilities, I’m not sick, I’m not broken and I’m tired of people trying to fix me so that I will fit in better to society. Self-advocates say we are just fine the way we are and society needs to change, not us! For people with developmental disabilities the word “consumer” probably has a whole different meaning than for people with other kinds of disabilities.
This is what I know about the background on the word “consumer.”
Melvin Haagenson, Mpls
Depression - Wider audience
I just have to tell you that I love the article on depression (“Open letter to a friend with depression,” by Pete Feigal. March 10th, 2008). It’s one of the best I’ve seen. I’m a senior citizen; not handicapped, but retired. Yes, depression is hard.
I just happened to pick up the Access Press at one of the stores. This is a good article for everyone. Thanks.
Lorraine A. Prince, St. Paul
Page 3, Article 2:
Victimization ‘must not stand’
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week begins April 13th
A federal initiative is now in place to improve public safety for people with disabilities; grants will go for greater reporting efforts, rights training, and broader public awareness about the public safety needs of this fifteen percent of the population.
Olegario D. Cantos, Special Counsel to the Acting Assistant Attorney General, has spoken extensively on the need for a nationwide public safety initiative for people with disabilities. In a recent letter, Cantos wrote that “all too often and in silence, people with disabilities are victimized by physical, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse or are otherwise victims of neglect. In the worst of circumstances, they lose their very lives by the hands of perpetrators of crime. This state of affairs cannot and must not stand ….”
John Gillis, Director of the Office for Victims of Crime of the Office for Justice Programs, announced the $2.5 million award to address victimization of persons with disabilities.
The largest grants will go to programs designed to “increase reporting of victimization and ensure that crime victims with disabilities receive comprehensive and accessible services and are afforded fundamental rights. The awards to Disabled Persons Protection Commission (Quincy, Montana) and SafePlace (Austin, Texas), each $700,000, also include work to expand access to the criminal justice system in the aftermath of criminal victimization.
Other programs receiving significant support are those that will coordinate, develop and administer “state-of-the-art” multi-disciplinary training at a national conference. Wash-burn University of Topeka, Kansas Joint Center on Violence and Victim Studies and the National Center for Victims of Crime, NCVC, Washington, D.C. will receive $550,000 each.
National Crime
Victims’ Rights
Week, 2008
A proclamation by President Bush
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
we highlight our dedication to protecting and strengthening the rights of crime
victims and their families.
My Administration is committed to providing services and resources for
victims of crime so that they can find justice, hope, and healing in their
lives. To assist victims of domestic violence and their children, my Family
Justice Center Initiative established comprehensive support centers in
communities across the country. Through the Justice for All Act of 2004,
we expanded DNA testing and enhanced the scope and enforceability of crime
victims’ rights. In 2006, I signed into law the Adam Walsh Child
Protection and Safety Act to expand the National Sex Offender Registry,
increase Federal penalties for crimes against children, and protect our
children while on the Internet. I also support a Crime Victims’ Rights
Amendment to the Constitution. Through these and other efforts, we can
better protect our citizens and our communities.
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we recognize the advocates,
counselors, and others who assist victims in their time of need, and the
law enforcement personnel who work to bring offenders to justice. To learn
more about victims’ rights, Americans can visit www.crime victims.gov.
By working together, we can help protect crime
victims and build a society that respects the life and value of every person.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of
the United States, do hereby proclaim April 13 through April 19, 2008,
as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. I encourage all Americans
to promote awareness of victims’ rights and advance this important
cause.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of April,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
To learn more about programs protecting the rights of people with disabilities, visit the following Web sites:
• www.ovw.usdoj.gov/: “Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities”
• www.ojp.usdoj.gov/: “2008 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Award Recipients”
• www.ojp.usdoj.gov/: “Office for Victims of Crime: Putting Victims First”
• www.ojp.usdoj.gov/: “Department of Justice Recognizes Service to Crime Victims.”
• www.ada.gov/: “Communicating with People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: ADA Guide for Law Enforcement Officers.”
• www.ada.gov/: “Model
Policy for Law Enforcement on Communicating with People who are Deaf
or Hard of Hearing.”
Page 4, Article 1:
This Month’s Issue Sponsor
AXIS Healthcare
Putting you at the center
AXIS Healthcare provides comprehensive disability care coordination to more then 1,000 Minnesotans with disabilities. Our mission is to provide the right care, at the right time in the right place so that people with disabilities live healthy lives as they choose.
What does AXIS Care Coordination do?
• Coordinates comprehensive physical,
mental-health and social services including everything from acute to community-based
care.
• Refers members for appropriate services from experienced providers
• Partners with the members Primary care doctor to ensure preventive
and effective care
• Provides access to care coordinator 24/7
• Uses specific clinical initiatives that focus on the unique needs
of people with disabilities
• Engages members in all their decisions, so they are able to be responsible
for their own health status
AXIS Healthcare’s approach to disability care has led to better health outcomes for our members, including shorter hospital and nursing home stays, decreased emergency room visits and more efficient processing of medical supplies and equipment. We work to ensure effective communication between our members, their families and care-givers, and providers.
You can receive care coordination from AXIS in three different ways.
1. Minnesota Disability Health Options
(MnDHO) MnDHO is a partnership between the MN Department of Human Services, UCare and AXIS and is available at no cost to people who are on Medical Assistance, have a physical disability, live in the 7-county metro area, and are age 18-65.
2. AccessAbility
AccessAbility is a partnership between Medica and AXIS and is available at no cost to people who are on Medical Assistance, have a physical or developmental disability, live in the 11-county metro area, and are age 18-65. AccessAbility does not include waiver services; those must still be accessed through the county
3. Private Pay
We bill the member or family directly for our services based on a contract that we develop jointly.
Specific information about the benefits and eligibility criteria for these programs can be found on our Web site.
AXIS Healthcare is an innovative model of disability care coordination because it puts you, the person with disabilities, at the center of everything—rather than the insurance provider, health care provider, or equipment supplier.
“Before I joined AXIS, I
felt like I was a number in the system. When I call AXIS, they know my name.”
—AXIS member
For more information about AXIS Healthcare and our services, please visit www.axishealth.com or call 651-556-0887, 651-556-0872 (TTY).
Page 4, Article 2:
FAQ@DLL
Economic stimulus payments
Will the economic stimulus payments I receive affect my medical, cash or food benefits?
Starting May of 2008 people will begin receiving economic stimulus payments. The payment you receive will not be counted as income the month you receive it and the following two months when determining benefits. So Payments received in May will not be seen as income in May, June or July, but come August if you still have the money it will be seen as income.
What do I have to do to receive a payment?
To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, at least $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return.
I didn’t file a tax return in 2007. Does that mean I will not get the rebate?
The only way to get this rebate is to file a federal tax return for 2007. Even if you don’t usually file a tax return because you don’t earn enough, you will still need to file a 2007 tax return in order to receive the economic stimulus check. This includes people who are low income and receive Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and certain Railroad Retirement benefits. If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not receive this tax return by October 15, 2008, no economic stimulus payment can be made. Once the tax return has been filed, the IRS will calculate the amount of the economic stimulus payment due and issue the payment by check or direct deposit.
Can I still get help filing my taxes?
Yes. Even though April 15th
has passed, there is still time for people who do not normally do so to
file their taxes to qualify for the payment. The IRS has set up a free
service to help. You can find companies who have agreed to help you file
at no cost by going online at www.IRS.gov and click on Free File. If you
do not have internet access, feel free to call Disability Linkage Line
(DLL) at 1-866-333-2466 and they will help you find free help.
If you have additional questions about community resources, please call DLL at 1-866-333-2466. DLL provides free, disability-related information and assistance for Minnesotans. DLL does not endorse any particular Web site or provider. They assume no responsibility for transactions between the readers of this article and listed orgs.
Page 5, Article 1:
One size does not fit all
Medicare competitive bidding should not
include complex rehab needs
Five Minnesotans joined almost 200 other rehabilitation professionals from across the nation to go to Washington and advocate for people with complex rehab needs. They met with elected officials to present concerns about exempting the complex rehab durable medical equipment needs from the Medicare competitive bidding process. The concern is that limiting options for those with complex medical needs (spinal cord injuries, MS, MD, ALS, CP, etc) would greatly limit function, mobility and access to technology.
Here’s the issue. Medicare is requiring competitive bidding on equipment needed for rehab. While this may seem like a good cost-saving policy, it will be a disaster for people with complex medical equipment needs such as specialized wheelchairs, seating, and alternative drive controls, etc. Here’s why. For this group of people, rehab and assistive technology products are highly individualized and must be assembled, fitted, and programmed to accommodate each person’s individual medical needs and requirements. Moreover, there is a need for ongoing service, adjustments and monitoring of these products to ensure that they continue to meet the medical needs of the person. Competitive bidding does not work in situations like this. The person will be limited to choices and access to current technology, leaving her or him less independent, and at high risk for medical complications (such as pressure ulcers and contractures).
The Minnesota delegation met with the legislative aids for Rep. Bachmann, Rep. Ellison, Rep. Peterson, Rep. Ramstad, Sen. Klobuchar, and Sen. Coleman. The group was seeking support on House Bill HR 2231 that was introduced in the House of Representatives last year by Reps. Tom Allen (D-ME) and Ron Lewis (R-KY). Rep. Peterson has signed onto the bill already. Rep. Ramstad has been verbally very supportive but has not yet signed on. The advocates called for a companion bill in the Senate and have met with both MN Senate offices concerning this. According to Sen. Klobuchar’s health legislative aide, this was a relatively new topic to them, but they were supportive of the issues. Sen. Coleman’s legislative aide is very knowledgeable on the topic and expressed verbal support.
Following the advocates visit, on
April 29, a bipartisan companion bill was introduced in the Senate, S 2931
to HR 2231, these bills both exempt complex rehab from national competitive
bidding. The National Coalition for Assis-tive and Rehab Technology (NCART)
is encouraging everyone to contact their Senators and Representatives and
urge them to cosponsor S. 2931 and HR. 2231.
Page 5, Article 2:
Why pay more?
Foundation launches free online screen-reader for blind
Many in the disability community are working to increase computer accessibility. For blind and visually impaired users, that goal recently got a big boost. The Accessibility Is a Right (AIR) foundation has launched a new program, called System Access To Go (SATOGO). Free and online, it is a newly developed screen- reader program for people who are blind and visually impaired.
Formerly Freedom Box, System Access (SA) was designed and used for the past seven years. The brainchild of Michael Calvo, founder and CEO of Serotek Corporation, SA will give blind and visually impaired people around the world free access to the SATOGO screen reader. Access to SATAGO is as easy as visiting their web site www.satogo.com with an open Web browser.
Art Schreiber, Executive Director of the AIR Foundation, recently explained some of the details of the new system. The two major benefits to SATAGO for users are that it is free to all, anytime they want to use it, and, it is available anywhere, with few restrictions (it currently it only works with Windows XP and Vista products). Serotek also provides technical answers free of charge. In addition, SATOGO offers nine voices—four male and five female. Voices from Naturally Speaking and others are not available with this product, mainly because SATOGO is free and cannot offer product where the vendor requires a payment. However, a full range of voices is available from Serotek with its System Access Mobile product line.
About the Director
Mr. Schreiber, Executive Director of the AIR Foundation, credits the National Federation of the Blind for helping him to change his life. He has an impressive and extensive set of professional experiences, including spending more than fifty years in broadcasting as a reporter, news director, radio and television anchor and bureau chief, as well as founding Commuter Computer, a ride-sharing organization, in Los Angeles in 1972 and being its president from 1977 to 1980.
For more information, contact the
AIR Foundation at info@accessibilityisaright.org
Page 5, Article 3:
Building bridges
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
receives grant for advocacy and systems change efforts
On April 21, 2008, the Minneapolis Foundation announced that it had awarded the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) a one-time grant of $150,000 from the B.C. Gamble and P.W. Skogmo Fund. The grant will support CCD’s The Bridge to Independence proposal. Bridge to Independence is a coordinated campaign to improve the lives of all Minnesota adults and children with disabilities through effective grassroots community organizing, policy advocacy, civic engagement and systems change.
CCD is a statewide, cross-disability coalition of 112 disability advocacy and provider organizations that has worked for the past twelve years to ensure that state programs and services positively impact the lives of Minnesotans with disabilities.
The grant period is from May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009. Grant activities will start immediately, and with the support of the grant, a Consortium Coordinator will be hired to manage the grant work plan. A job description for this position is being developed; individuals interested in getting more information should contact Steve Larson, CCD Co-Chair, at SteveL@arcmn.org
The Minneapolis Foundation
is the oldest foundation in Minnesota and one of the nation’s largest
community foundations. It distributes an average of $40 million in grants
each year, shares its philanthropic expertise with other foundations, and
sponsors public information campaigns and conferences on critical social
issues. The foundation administers more than 850 charitable funds and partners
with a variety of communities and institutions to improve the quality of
life in our region. For more information, visit www.MinneapolisFoundation.org
Page 6: News at a Glance
News at a Glance
Lawsuit alleges poor treatment of passengers with disabliities
According to a lawsuit filed recently, Detroit Metro Airport and Northwest Airlines (NWA) dropped disabled passengers to the floor, denied them accessible parking, damaged wheelchairs by tossing them in baggage storage and failed to provide an area for guide dogs to relieve themselves. The suit seeks no monetary damages, but asks the court to require the airport and Northwest to follow federal disability and transportation laws.
“What’s good for the disabled is good for everyone, and by improving air travel for the disabled, it will make things better for everybody,” said Farmington Hills lawyer Richard Bernstein, who filed the suit on behalf of five passengers. Bernstein is blind and travels weekly out of Metro.
The suit alleges NWA and the Wayne County
Airport Authority, which runs Metro, discriminate against people with disabilities
by denying them equal access to air travel as well as the terminals, parking
and van shuttle service, also alleging that they have forced people with disabilities
who cannot stand or walk for long periods of time to wait in long lines and
have provided improper boarding assistance, among other charges.
Source: Detroit Free Press, www.freep.com
Web site improved for deaf, deafblind users
New Web pages, with enhanced features for deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind users, have been launched at www.dhhsd.org, part of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Web site.
The new design features more links with visual qualities that make it easier for users to find information. Photographs, for example, contain links to information about the subject of the photographs.
“We believe the new design will make these pages a more useful tool for those who are deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind,” said Bruce Hodek, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division director. “We are grateful for the help and suggestions from our consumers, advisory committee members and other agencies and individuals who contributed to the content, design and layout of the Web pages.”
Hodek asks that users review the Web pages and share their impressions in the following survey: http://survey.dhs.state.mn.us/
Source: MN Department of Human Services
New guide for emergency situations
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) is pleased to announce the release of a new online publication: “Emergency Management Research and People With Disabilities: A Resource Guide.” This resource is the culmination of cooperative efforts by NIDRR, the Department of Education, and other government committees. The guide provides a listing and description of research projects funded by the federal government and nonfederal entities, research recommendations that have come out of conferences on emergency management and disability, and a bibliography of relevant research publications.
The authors hope that this guide will facilitate a nationwide research agenda on emergency management and people with disabilities, so that a strong evidence base about the best ways to ensure the safety and security of people with disabilities in emergency and disaster situations can be developed.
This report is available on the U.S.
Department of Education’s Web site at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs
Source: www.adagreatlakes.org
U of M disabled student center honored
The University of Minnesota Disabled Student Cultural Center (DSCC) has received the Tony Diggs Excellence Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Registered Student Organization of the Year 2007.
The award recognizes student groups for innovation, philanthropic efforts, outstanding events and overall achievements.
Students with disabilities often report they feel isolated on campus and find it difficult to meet other students who have disabilities and share similar issues. As a result, the DSCC strives to help students overcome this barrier by ensuring traditional student programs, activities, and campus structures are accessible and welcoming to students with disabilities.
DSCC’s goals include fostering the culture of individuals with disabilities; providing learning opportunities for all students; ensuring a completely accessible campus; and increasing the level of disability awareness on campus.
DSCC sponsors a monthly lunch-and-learn
event to discuss disability issues. Its members also speak to new students
at orientation as a way of welcoming the students to campus. DSCC also hosts
many annual events, such as the wheelchair basketball exhibition last November
at Williams Arena.
Source: DSCC
Local author looks at caregiver burnout
Grant Watkins of Golden Valley has written a book to help a growing number of people who find themselves in the role of caregiver, entitled “CPR for Caregivers.” It is a resources guide to help caregivers achieve life balance and reduce stress.
Watkins says the book is a guide for
caregivers who need to care for themselves while caring for a loved one. The
title is an acronym that stands for, “Connect, Project and Reflect.” He
says the book explores topics for mind, body and spirit. Watkins began his
twenty plus year career helping people after his father became legally blind;
Watkins was seventeen at the time. He says he learned to have powerful moments
of experiencing love and living a full life in the midst of caregiver fatigue.
He now works for a nonprofit organization promoting independent living and
providing low-income housing. He will be giving speeches related to care giving
around the area this spring.
Source: www.grantwatkins.com
Who should get Low Income Housing Tax Credits?
Progress is slow but steady in ensuring that Federal Housing Tax Credits are being used by the people who can use them most effectively. In recent years, the Low Income Housing Tax Credits were typically not being targeted to people with the lowest incomes, even though the 2006 data shows some small progress. Once again, there are tremendous discrepancies among the states.
As background, every year each State’s Housing Finance Agency receives a per capita amount of housing tax credits from the IRS that a state can award. Then, each state must publish a “Qualified Allocation Plan” in which “points” are awarded to developers of rental properties who bid to receive the Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
Please remember that the “demand” for LIHTCs exceeds the supply, by as much as three to one. Therefore, each state could (if they wanted to) award “points” for projects that “target” units to persons whose incomes are either at the social security income (SSI) level (Pennsylvania, for example, does that), or at less than 30% of their average median income (AMI). Clearly, developers seek out these LIHTC, and are so competitive that they will agree to target to the lowest income people only if the State Housing Finance Agency provides an incentive to target the lowest income people. (Keeping in mind that SSI is at about 18% of the AMI, it is clear that we really need to target at the SSI level first.)
Advocates: whether a State Housing Finance Agency awards points depends on your advocacy skills! If your State’s QAP does not award extra points to developers who agree to target a percentage of the units to the lowest income (and agree to make those units fully accessible), then developers will not do it.
Currently, data from the 2006 NCSHA
Annual Survey Results shows that 30% of the units targeted in Minnesota were
at levels lower than 30% of the AMI. This is higher than all states except
Vermont and New Jersey, but there is still plenty of work to do.
Source: Housing & Disability Issues e-newsletter
Environmental consequences of medical treatments considered among professionals and patients
Medical professionals and patients must understand that the choices they make for treating illness have lasting consequences for our environment and take responsibility, according to Dr. Joel Kreisberg, DC, MA, founder and executive director of the Teleosis Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable medicine and a healthy environment.
Kreisberg recently announced the results of the Teleosis Institute’s Green Pharmacy program for 2007. Data on returned medicines was recorded at 12 “take-back” sites, which operate in partnership between Teleosis Institute and area pharmacies, health care offices, public and private associations and local communities. To date, Teleosis has diverted over 1000 pounds of unused medicines from waterways.
Data from the program shows that, on average, 40-50% of a prescription goes unused. Based on this finding, Kreisberg believes physicians should consider prescribing smaller volumes initially to see if a medication is tolerated and successful before prescribing larger volumes for long-term use.
More sustainable medical practices include placing a greater emphasis on stress reduction, wellness and disease prevention, and using alternative medicines and methods where practical or in combination with conventional treatments.
“Because nearly 25% of preventable illnesses are environmentally related, as estimated by the World Health Organization, improving the environment is one of the most important sustainable medicine practices we can advocate,” Kreisberg said. “We cannot afford to wait until we see devastating consequence to human health before we act. If we’re going to create a sustainable culture, we’ll need the medical industry to join the general “greening” of our world.”
Historically, patients have been advised
to flush medications down toilets or wash down the sink to prevent accidental
poisonings or overdoses. These disposal methods result in millions of
pounds of drugs being emptied, full strength, into the water supply each year. Trash
disposal also represents a threat, since drugs end up in landfills and eventually
leech into the ground water.
Source: www.teleosis.org/
Two bills make progress in congress; further support needed
Two bills in Congress could significantly improve the future of children and adults with Down syndrome in the United States. They are the Prenatally Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act, and the Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities (FSAID) Act. The former bill increases the amount of scientifically sound information and support services to patients receiving a positive test diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally and postnatally diagnosed conditions. In addition, the bill would fund grants, contracts and cooperative agreements to collect, synthesize, and disseminate current scientific information, as well as coordinating and providing access to supportive services for patients.
The latter act, in tandem with its companion bill (Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2008 [S 2743]) would establish tax-exempt financial security accounts for individuals with intellectual disabilities and not jeopardize benefits. Funds in the accounts will pay for important expenses such as education, medical care and transportation. The purpose of these accounts is to establish a savings instrument for individuals with disabilities and their families to provide them with the same flexibility, portability, and tax advantages that are available to all other Americans and their families. The legislation is built on the premise that persons with disabilities should be encouraged and supported in their efforts to save in order to create an independent and meaningful life just as other Americans strive to do.
If these bills are something you’d
like to see, contact your Representatives and Senators today. Ask them
to cosponsor H.R. 3112 and S. 1810, as well as H.R. 2370 and S. 2743.
Source: National Down Syndrome Society
Page 7: Upcoming Events
International Art Show
Through May 16
Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute is hosting the 45th annual International Art Show by Artists with Disabilities. The show runs through May 16.
Details: Sister Kenny Rehab Institute,
Second floor, Sister Kenny Building, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, 800 E. 28th
Street, Minneapolis. Free. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
FFI: 612-863-4872, or www.sisterkennyinstitute.com
Artful Live art exhibit
May - December
A new exhibit organized by Partnership Resources Inc. (PRI) entitled “Artful Lives” features art by people with developmental disabilities. PRI hopes the artwork will be used to educate the community about the abilities of artists with disabilities, as well as promote self expression in breaking down stereotypes and myths, create business opportunities and add beauty to the world.
Details: Family Justice Center, 110 S. Fourth Street, Minneapolis.
Fitness and MS
May 15
Fitness and MS is a program for people with MS to learn about the importance of physical and emotional fitness. Sponsored by the National MS Society, Minnesota Chapter.
Details: Marshall, MN.
FFI: Timothy Holtz, 612-335-7930, 800-582-5296 or tholtz@mssociety.org
WISE benefits and working conference
May 21
The Work Incentives Connection is hosting a day of two unique activities. In the morning, a Social Security Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE training) will occur. It will address how working affects disability benefits and more. In the afternoon there will be an Employment Support Resources Fair, featuring a wide range of employment resources for people with disabilities.
Details: 10 a.m.-noon, 1-3 p.m. Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Pkwy N, St. Paul. Free. Registration required for WISE training: 877-743-8237 (voice or TTY) or www.socialsecurity.gov/work/wise.html
FFI: Kris, 651-632-5119, or 800-976-6728 ext. 5119, or TTY 651-632-5110.
Advanced Imaging Center open house
May 21
Gillette’s new Advanced Imaging Center on their St. Paul campus will begin welcoming patients later this spring. The new center is designed to meet the complex medical needs of Gillette’s various patients. For example, by using special sound, video and lighting to create a soothing environment, our positive-distraction technology will help patients relax. You are invited to experience the Advanced Imaging Center firsthand at an open house.
Details: 5-8 p.m.
FFI: www.gillettechildrens.org
Legal planning workshop
May 22
PACER Center is offering “Life Planning for Persons with Disabilities,” a free workshop for people with disabilities and their families. Topics will include health care power of attorney, health care living wills, long-term-care issues, probate, revocable living trusts, supplemental needs trusts, and wills. Each family that attends is invited to receive a free, two-hour consultation from Life Planning for Persons with Disabilities to discuss how a comprehensive life plan could work in their situation. Advance registration requested.
Details: 7-9 p.m., PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington.
FFI: 952-838-9000 or 952-838-0190 (TTY), or www.PACER.org
Northside Neighborhood Link-Up
May 31
The One Stop Family Support Center, serving families and individuals with developmental disabilities, and the Jordan neighborhood of Minneapolis are having a fun-filled info fair together. Bring the kids, have fun and get information about their various programs, services and activities. Free refreshments and activities.
Details: 2-5 p.m., 1922 25th Ave N. (corner of 26th & Newton Ave N), Minneapolis.
FFI: Cynthia Fernandez, 612-522-0942.
Par Excellence golf tournament
June 2
Rise, Inc. is proud to sponsor this fundraising golf tournament, which features a pre-tournament clinic, a great lunch, and shot-gun tournament play. In addition, there will be silent and live auctions, social hour, tournament mementos, and an awards dinner.
Details: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Mpls Golf Club, 2001 Flag Avenue North, Golden Valley.
FFI: Trudi Meloche, 763-792-2415, 763-786-8334 or tmeloche@rise.org, or www.rise.org/golf_frm.php
Bike MS: Larkin Hoffman MS 150 Ride
June 6 - 8
This is a two-day, 150-mile ride from Proctor to the Twin Cities with an overnight at Grand Casino Hinckley. This is the best-supported weekend ride in Minnesota, attracting more than 3,000 riders and 800 volunteers each year. The Minnesota Chapter of the MS Society coordinates three bike tours for riders of all levels and ages. Each tour offers stocked rest stops, bicycle mechanics, rider assistance along the route, a t-shirt and a finish line meal.
FFI: Voice: 612-335-7900 or 800-582-5296.
Family and friends CPR course
June 17
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare is offering a free cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course St. Paul campus. The class provides training in basic CPR skills and information about relieving choking.
Details: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
FFI: John Wulfing, 651-229-3958(x.2028), or jwulfing@gillettechildrens.com
Changing the Look of Autism conference
June 26
Fraser presents a full-day conference for professionals and parents of early childhood and school-age children with autism spectrum disorders. This conference will help to build a knowledge base and skills related to autism spectrum disorders. There will be a variety of conference sessions covering: education techniques and strategies, assessment information, intervention strategies and much more.
Details: 8-8:30 a.m. registration; 8:30-9:45 a.m. opening session; 9:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. workshop sessions. Holiday Inn Select, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, 3 Appletree Square (I-494 & 34th Ave. So.) Bloomington.
FFI: Mary Trierweiler, 612-798-8349 or maryt@fraser.org
Disability courses at U of M
Summer 2008
Two summer courses on disability will be offered by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration and Department of Educational Policy and Administration. Disability Policy & Services (3 credits) is offered June 9-20, 8–noon, and will examine current policy, research, and practices related to services that support individuals with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities and their families across the lifespan. Person-Centered Thinking and Planning for Persons with Disabilities (3 credits) is offered July 7-18, 8–noon. It will provide an overview of person-centered thinking, and in-depth examination of contemporary applications.
FFI: Marijo McBride, ICI, 612-624-6830 or mcbri001@umn.edu, or visit www.cehd.umn.edu
Page 7, Article 2
Poem
Watery Dwelling
storm subsides leaving
traces of electrical activity
and distant rolling booms.tall legged black and white
egret strides watery shallows
trekking homeward bound.water laps against shore
beaver drags felled timber
back to submerged lair.loon calling mate
under star gazed night
moon overhead serenading.mottled osprey nestles young
staring down at sheer heights
atop abandoned wooded pylon.dawn arrives percolating
perchance rainbow appears
sun rears head with splendor.Page 8, Article 1:
‘Small world after all’
Roberta Blomster and Mary Kay Kennedy of St. Paul-based Advocating Change Together (ACT) joined 250 leaders from around the world in Doha, Qatar to attend the Third Annual International Forum on Disability. The forum was sponsored by the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs. “We met people from India, Africa, Lebanon, Russia, and more,” says Blomster.
“The Qatari people I met are very proud of their newly established Center for Children with Special Needs. It’s a school for kids with disabilities and the first of its kind in the region,” says Kennedy. “The model for the school was medical all the way: the teachers even wore lab coats.”
Kennedy reflects that while the segregated, medical-model services are not in line with what most disability rights actives would want, the Center still represents a positive change. The director of the Center, Dr. Saif al-Hajri is quoted as saying, “People in Qatar are finally starting to behave right, the family attitude is changing. Now they take the handicapped child to public malls and parks. This was not happening six or seven years ago.”
Shafallah International Forums (this being the third) are helping Doha put itself of the disability map. “They definitely have a strong interest in being leaders in disability and in playing a central role in bringing people together to address global issues,” says Kennedy. The focus of the conference changes from year to year; each annual gathering focuses on one aspect of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s focus was on Article 30 which talks about participation in sports, culture and recreational activities for all.
ACT members were invited to
participate in the forum by a Shafalla representative that they met at
the United Nations last December. “One thing leads to the next,” says
Kennedy. “This experience in Doha has opened ACT up to even more
opportunities to be part of a global network of human rights workers.
I guess it really is a small world after all.”
Page 8, Article 2:
Global self-advocacy efforts
Zambian delegation visits MN disability orgs
A delegation of nine government officials, missionaries, educators, and advocates from Zambia in southern Africa was in the Twin Cities from March 28 to April 13 for an advanced disability leadership learning program sponsored by five local disability organizations. Arc Greater Twin Cities, the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, Fraser, St. David’s Child Development and Family Services, and Opportunity Partners are collaborating on a project titled “Twin Cities and Zambia Disability Connection,” which began with the two-week intensive learning residency and will continue this summer when trainers from the Twin Cities travel to Zambia.
The goal of this partnership is to support the Zambian delegation to be change agents in further improving supports and services to meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families in Zambia. The delegation includes Grace Banda from the Zambia Ministry of Education; Mikala Mukongolw from the Bauleni Street Kids project; Alice Kaunda, a parent advocate; Sister Joyce Phiri, a Missionary Sister of St. Francis of Assisi; Sister Agnes Daka, a Little Sister of St. Francis; Sister Namangolw Liamunga, a Sister of Charity; and friars Joseph Ntumbila, Patrick Chisanga and Deodatus Mbebe, all from The Zambia Province of Franciscan Con-ventuals.
“In Zambia, there is need for people with disabilities together with their parents to collaborate with other organizations to find means to help people with disabilities achieve independence and learn special skills to sustain themselves,” observes Brother Joseph. “The church, the medical personnel, and other non-governmental organizations need to come together in that work,” he adds. Mrs. Kaunda notes, “The most difficult part of having a child with special needs is the lack of general information and advice on the best way to help my child achieve her full potential despite her disabilities. I came here looking forward to learning all we possibly can about advocacy with disabilities and special needs populations.”
The delegation’s intensive two-week experience in the Twin Cities focused on best practices in advocacy, policies, and services. They spent mornings in classroom sessions at Arc Greater Twin Cities addressing topics such as the history of services and supports to people with disabilities in Western countries, person-centered planning, early intervention, family support, faith-based initiatives, special education, residential services, special health care needs, and employment of persons with disabilities. In the afternoons and evenings, they visited a variety of community agencies and programs including Opportunity Partners’ vocational training programs, St. David’s early childhood and family support programs, Fraser’s group home and autism program, Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Wilderness Inquiry, Fraser, Gillette Lifetime Specialty HealthCare, Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, and more.
“Services in Zambia are certainly not as widespread or complex as those in the United States,” says Amy Hewitt, Training Director at the Institute on Community Integration, which designed the training based on the University’s Certificate in Disability Policy and Services. “Issues of poverty, nutrition, malaria and HIV/AIDS are daily considerations for most Zambians. Yet there is great interest, enthusiasm and emerging expertise in relation to people with disabilities in Zambia. The time is right for a social justice agenda to bring greater attention to people with disabilities and their rights.”
Sandy Beddor, an advocate and Arc member whose family is supportive of many Twin Cities organizations serving people with disabilities, has long-standing contacts with religious organizations in Zambia and helped initiate the project, along with Amy Hewitt. Reflecting on the visit and the work ahead, she observes, “I hope we can open more possibilities for people with special needs and disabilities in Zambia, and demonstrate how just a few people with passion and heart can change long-standing attitudes of shame and blame.” She adds, “Experiencing a different approach that is empowering, and concentrating on what people can accomplish rather than on what they cannot accomplish, changes life for people with disabilities.” Father Deo has the hope that as he returns to Zambia he can help “to change the attitude of our parishioners towards people with special needs, especially to eliminate the mentality the people have which states ‘people with disabilities are the way they are because of bad omens.’” And Father Patrick adds that he hopes to “use the pulpit to advocate for a more Christ-like attitude toward people with special needs and disabilities.”
For
more information about the Twin Cities and Zambia Disability Connection
visit the project's
blog, or contact Arc Greater Twin Cities, 952-920-0855.
Page 9, Article 1:
‘Nonstop party cruise’
A floating—and accessible—music festival
Want to know what I did in January? Imagine a Caribbean cruise sailing from Miami to Jamaica. Now add twenty to thirty rock bands, countless hours of live music, and a boat full of people having the time of their lives. This cruise actually exists. It is called The Rock Boat (TRB), and is billed as “The World’s Greatest Floating Music Festival.”
I learned of TRB five years ago and it sounded like my dream vacation. At the time, however, traveling was impossible for me due to breathing difficulties associated with muscular dystrophy. That changed three years ago when I had a tracheotomy and began using a ventilator full time. For the first time in over a decade, traveling was possible. So, last year I decided to try and make my dream vacation a reality.
There were some initial hesitations. Would it be logistically possible to travel with all my medical equipment? Would we be able to find accessible transportation in Miami? Would I get seasick? Most importantly, could my body handle the lack of sleep on this nonstop party cruise?
First I had to find an accessible cabin. I was shocked at how few accessible rooms cruise ships have. Our ship had only twenty-four modified cabins out of roughly 1060 rooms. By the time I asked, there was only one left. Luckily, I got it.
After securing a cabin, I went into full research mode. The key for anyone planning a trip, especially those with a disability, is to be as organized as possible. I became a list-making machine: things to do, people to contact, things that needed to confirmed (and reconfirmed). This process proved to be necessary when dealing with Northwest Airlines (NWA). Flying with a ventilator requires additional planning. Oftentimes, medical equipment needs “approval” from the airline in order to be used in-flight. Three days before we were set to leave, we contacted NWA to make sure the vent was on my passenger record. It was not. This led to a tedious hour-and-a-half phone call, during which the vent was finally approved.
As things started to fall into place, most of my fears were eased. We were going to ship some of my heavier supplies to the hotel beforehand. Getting around Miami was going to be fairly simple, since many cab companies offered accessible taxis. My list of things to do was dwindling. With the logistics worked out, I was now focusing on The Rock Boat itself. My biggest goal was to stay healthy, so I was preparing myself to miss a lot of great shows so that I could get at least a little sleep. With bands playing from the afternoon until the wee hours of the morning, this was going to be my biggest challenge. I took the concert schedule, noted what I definitely didn’t want to miss, and decided to play the rest by ear.
Finally, after eleven months of preparation, this January I left on my dream vacation. The worst part of any vacation is getting there. I’ll spare you the details, and only say that I did, in fact, make it to the Miami dock on time.
Although I was a little nervous, getting on the boat turned out to be quite easy. The TRB staff brought us through the VIP area, avoiding the maze of lines. Once onboard the ship, our stateroom was small but I could maneuver around pretty easily; the bathroom was tiny but workable. There were a few areas of the ship that were inaccessible, but all in all, it was easy to get around.
With the hardest part of the trip over, I was ready to experience The Rock Boat. Happily, the artists onboard do not hide away in their cabins; they roam the ship like regular passengers. It is not uncommon to run into your favorite singer while getting ice cream (as I did), or to play blackjack in the casino with the band you saw onstage the night before. This level of artist/fan interaction is what really makes TRB unique and is what lead to my most memorable moment of the trip – my favorite musician (singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson) coming to our cabin to sing a song just for me. Matt’s presence on the boat was a big reason why I finally took the leap to go on this crazy adventure in the first place. I could not have imagined a more perfect moment.
People warned me ahead of time
that cruises, especially The Rock Boat, were addictive; after experiencing
my first one, I know what they meant. I am hoping that my first Rock
Boat will not be my last.
Page 9, Article 2:
New specialty clinic in Maple Grove
Northwest suburbs gets new Gillette facility
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare welcomed visitors to its Maple Grove Clinic last Thursday with a fun, family-friendly open house. Turnout was high despite the return of winter weather. Kids and families gathered ‘round a makeshift campfire in the waiting area and lined up for freshly-made s’mores in the assistive-technology lab.
Assistive technology specialists were on hand to demonstrate the clinic’s equipment and services, including orthotic, prosthetic and seating capabilities. The clinic’s nature theme was reflected in colorful leaves, flowers and artwork throughout waiting areas, patient rooms and hallways.
The clinic, which opened in January
2008, is Gillette’s first in the Northwest metro. “The Maple
Grove Clinic is a tremendous resource to Gillette patients and families
in the northwest suburbs,” says Kristine Nolin, a prosthetist and
orthotist at the clinic. “We’re excited to spread the word
about the clinic to this rapidly-expanding area.”
The author is public relations specialist for Gillette.
Page 10, Article 1:
News and comment
Ellison seeks disability action
On April 25th US Congressmen Keith Ellison held an informal meeting at his campaign office, seeking input and involvement from the disability community in his 2008 re-election campaign. There were fifteen members of the Twin Cities disability community in attendance. Ellison expressed a vision of inclusion and diversity in his campaign, seeking to focus on all community members to step up and take action to the best of their abilities.
“I would like to see folks in wheelchairs, with white canes, and with a wide range of disabilities helping out as volunteers on this campaign,” said Ellison. “I am also hoping to hire someone from the disability community on to the campaign staff to reach out to the community.”
It was not the usual political “tell us what we can do for you?” brand of rhetoric, where one by one you hear problem after problem, followed by mostly empty promises from the candidates. Ellison’s approach is refreshing because he is inviting all people with disabilities to make changes to better the lives of all people with disabilities, by coming aboard and becoming active members of the process. Not just for this upcoming election, but for ongoing involvement to make a permanent change for the better.
The gathering was positive and
filled with a commitment from Ellison to stand solid on all human rights
issues; believing in the politics of generosity and inclusion—that
no one should be “cut out of the American dream: not [people with
disabilities], not immigrants, not gays, not poor people, not even a
Muslim committed to [serving] this nation.” This gathering was
not about “us” complaining to “them”—it
was the grass roots of a beautiful plan for our future. It brings to
mind a quote from JFK: “Ask not what your country can do for you;
ask what you can do for your country.” It has been too long that
people with disabilities have waited for the change to come. We must
make change happen for the community and for ourselves. Overall, the
message from Ellison was that the size of your contribution to positive
change is relatively unimportant. What matters the most is that you contribute
in the first place.
To contact the Ellison campaign, go to www.keithellison.org, or call 612-522-4416.
Page 10, Article 2:
Peer mentoring: win-win
MCIL’s peer mentoring program is on
the go
Have you heard about the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) Peer Mentoring Program? MCIL matches a mentee with a disability to a mentor with a disability. Pairs are chosen based on the mentee’s goals. For example, if a mentee wants to start riding the Metro Transit buses, they could be matched with a mentor who is familiar with the local transit system. Matching prospects can be time consuming, but definitely worth the effort.
Corbett Laubignat, Peer Mentoring Coordinator, describes the mentor-mentee relationship as generally a win-win situation. Mentors enjoy giving back to their community, and mentees reach their dreams. Peer mentoring has helped MCIL mentees to enjoy social functions, improve computer skills, communicate clearly, and attain more independence.
Both mentees and mentors receive training about Peer Mentoring. The last mentor training was on April 8th, held at a Minnesota State Council on Disability Town Hall Meeting. Ms. Laubignat testified about her experiences with Minnesota transport systems. The mentors learned about self-advocacy by watching the testimonies of Ms. Laubignat and others. The next mentee training will be held in May.
Many mentees work on social goals.
MCIL provides social activities to help create a strong network, and anyone
is welcome to attend. The next MCIL Social Night will be on Tuesday, May
27th. Party goers can pick from activities like watching a movie, eating
pizza, or playing on a computer. Attending an event could be a great way
to discover more about MCIL.
The Peer Mentoring Program has room for new mentees and mentors. For more information about the program, go to www.mcil-mn.org or contact Corbett Laubignat: corbettl@mcil-mn.org
Page 11, Article 1:
Choosing a group home
How to find information on service providers
“Someday my son with Down syndrome will leave home. How do I find out about the various group home providers and assess which is the best for him?”
That’s a good question—and one that a lot of us have. Like the father quoted above, consumers and family members seeking waiver or intermediate care facility (ICF/MR) group home placements need accurate, quality of care information about service providers. Many who have already chosen a group home complain that their only source of information about their current house came from “asking around” or “word-of-mouth” recommendations. Others based their decision solely on location or availability.
But getting back to the question, how can consumers evaluate and compare one house with another? Or get accurate, unbiased information about a provider’s staff turnover and accident rates, health violations, and the resources available for recreation, social, education and fitness programs?
The MN Department of Human Services (DHS) is in the process of doing quality assessments. In 2007 the DHS convened a Quality Assurance Stakeholder Advisory Group to help develop a “quality management, assurance and improvement system designed to meet the federal requirements under home and community-based services waiver programs for persons with disabilities.” The Advisory Group plans to “field test” an annual survey that will be used to evaluate Minnesota waiver services. According to Jason Flint, DHS Disability Services Division, a random sample of five to ten per cent of all Minnesotans participating in the waiver program will be surveyed annually. Information would then be available to the public.
Since these official assessments are not yet available, what follows are suggestions for where consumers can look as they make their own assessments.
DHS information on medical facilities. Information on nursing homes, hospitals, Medicare-certified home health care agencies, health plans and other medical facilities is available through the Minnesota Department of Human Services DHS, www.health.state.mn.us/nhreportcard, or the US Department of Human Services, www.medicare.gov/default.asp.
Nonprofit service providers. GuideStar, www.guidestar.org, provides information about nonprofit organizations. A free “GuideStar Basic” search will generate an organization’s IRS Form 990, showing their year-end financial situation. Note: a provider whose expenditures match government payments will not have funds to support extra staff development or client activities. Conversely, an organization successful at fundraising will be better able to afford quality programs.
Intermediate care facilities. All ICF/MRs are licensed and inspected annually by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Consumers can call MDH (651-201-4101) for inspection results.
Consumers can also call MDH about complaint investigations done on specific group homes. MDH’s Office of Health Facility Complaints Web site, www.health.state.mn.us/, keeps a list of complaint investigations, which be searched by county, city or service provider.
Supported living services. Waiver group homes and other supported living services are licensed by the DHS, whose Licensing Division (651-296-3971) can provide information from licensing reviews (held on average every two years) and any violation correction orders. A DHS representative cautioned that it might “take a couple of days” to compile the information, as staff members are “often in the field doing reviews.” The Division hopes to have current data (from January 1, 2008) available online “within the next couple of months.”
Southeastern Minnesota resources. Consumers who live in Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted and Winona counties of Region 10 Quality Assurance (QA) can contact LeAnn Bieber, QA Manager, for the licensing recommendations for ICF/MR, employment and day training, and supported living providers. These recommendations “focus on quality outcomes of support providers.” Visit the QA Web page: www.mn-voice.org. Contact Bieber at 507-328-6607 or bieber.lean@co.olmsted.mn.us.
U of M consumer guide. Knowing what to ask can help consumers organize their search. The University of Minnesota has a free publication, Through Asking the Right Questions You Can Reach Your Destination: Questions to Ask Providers When Making Decisions about Residential Supports for Family Members with Disabilities, available at www.rtc.umn.edu/questions.
Provider professional associations. Consumers should ask whether a provider or its staff are members of a professional association. These associations help providers and their employees improve service quality by making available training, advocacy and networking opportunities and materials and promoting service standards.
Recognized associations include ARRM, an association of more than 150 Minnesota ICF/MR and waiver housing providers, and the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), a national association based in Washington, DC, which represents “private providers who provide supports and services to people with disabilities.”
For employees, professional associations include the National Association of QMRPs (NAQ), which provides resources and networking for Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals (and case managers), the Minneapolis-based National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the Washington DC-based American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).
More information. PHI National Clearinghouse on the Direct Care Workforce at www.directcareclearinghouse.org lists service providers who follow “best practices” in personnel management.
Care Providers of Minnesota is a trade association based in Bloomington that hosts CareLinkUSA, a useful provider search engine, at www.carelinkusa.com/Psearch.asp Use “Facility Detail Search” option to sort services and amenities for Minnesota providers.
Send your suggestions. If you have found a strategy for evaluating housing service providers, Access Press would like to hear from you.
Page 11, Article 2:
Web Sightings
Five Web favorites from ICI's Jerry Smith
What
are your favorite video clips about disability? Each month, we showcase handful
of disability-related
Web sites, video clips or news items, as picked by someone in the community.
May’s
picks were sent in by Jerry Smith, a media producer at the U of M’s Institute
on Community Integration. Enjoy the surfing! Ps. Join in. Send your top five
(with comments) to access@accesspress.org.
“Disability means possibility”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhKMouRaWcY
Jerry commented that, “you gotta love Radiohead!” especially as part of this well-shot public service announcement from Scope. It reminds us all that the initial differences we notice about other people may not be so severe after all—we’re all human.
Forward to: the music fan in your life
“No body’s perfect”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkM8ICaJioM
Check out this PSA on school inclusion, featuring a bunch of cute kids doing artwork, and see how creative expression can lead to greater understanding and interaction between people of all abilities.
Forward to: anyone involved with children
“In my language”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnylM1hI2jc
Brilliance can poke its head out of some pretty unconventional places. As a statement about what gets considered thought, intelligence, personhood, language, and communication, and more importantly, what does not, this video’s worth a viewing. It could even spark your own expression.
Forward to: artists, public speakers, or any one else interested in the various ways we communicate
“Interact Center”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_40z0Sxrag
This is a profile of the Interact Center’s Matt Dahlstrom, who Jerry says is “a comic genius.” See for yourself!
Forward to: a fan of the theater or show tunes
“Higher ground”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_aXprAHxD8
From a documentary about direct support professionals and those they helped during Hurricane Katrina, this clip shows how assisting others can be even more valuable in times of crisis.
Forward to: those in need of inspiration or hope
Page 12: Theater Review
From the front row
Tokounou all-abilities dance/music
ensemble
Hopkins High School Auditorium: seen May 3, 2008
How’s this for a recipe for exuberance?
Imagine a concert where there are no computerized light-works and a dance production where the dancers are not synchronized. Then toss in some amazing West African musicians to spice up the salad. Sprinkle with the charisma of Sidiki Conde, a brilliant drummer and vocalist who happens to be disabled. That was quite a meal.
At first the bare stage (save for a row of African drums and xylophones) didn’t seem all that appetizing, but soon the musicians, decked out in their eye-dazzling native garb, took command with their instruments, which included a 21-string traditional West African harp. The ensemble of five men played a traditional drum call, which made it abundantly clear that drums could be used to create a melody of sorts beyond its obvious function of rhythm.
From this point on, the first half of the show was turned over to students, both disabled and not, who had only five hours of training over a two-week period to learn more about West African music and experience some choreography. The three groups of students came from Transition Plus (Hopkins), Marion W. Savage Elementary School (Savage), and Folwell Middle School (Minneapolis). Each group had studied their dance movements. Given the fact that they had only five hours to learn, one couldn’t expect them to be professional but their genuine attempts to follow the choreography lent a heartwarming exuberance to the show, particularly near the end of the first half. The Folwell students were clearly in love with the music surging around them, and it was a thrill to watch them match their movements to the intensity and rhythms emanating from behind them. At times, as with most first-time efforts, the students’ performance felt truly anarchic, bringing to mind the best Marx Brothers, who were always about controlled anarchy in their films; here, onstage, their anarchy equaled joy. The musicians simply kept the show moving forward with their propulsions.
Behind all this was Sidiki Conde. Having lost the mobility of his legs due to polio at the age of fourteen in Guinea, West Africa, Sidiki had to learn how to get around on his hands. He became so adept that he traveled to Guinea’s capital city and recruited an orchestra of artists with disabilities from the city’s streets. From there he’s become an international phenomenon, even more so when he’s onstage. When he danced on his hands and moved around, he truly challenged the notion of dance being confined to the ability of feet moving. Of course, many outside the disability community are disabled in their way of viewing dancers as limited to their feet’s ability to move to music. But Conde easily demonstrated that there were other ways of dancing as powerful, if not more, as traditional able-bodied dancing. He seemed like a whirling dervish, joyous and pleading at the same time, particularly when he sang “Dounougna,” which was about how “disabled people are truly fine,” and “N’na,” a tribute to his mother who carried him twice—first as a baby and then when he couldn’t walk. Gretchen Toay ably interpreted the spoken English portions of the show into ASL.
Finally, the fact that the musicians
onstage were constantly watching each other while playing made their rapport
warm and inviting. It was not about how cool they looked but how much fun
they were having together. That is what made this particular event a joyous
family meal, a true dance of life.
Editor’s note: Access Press is pleased to welcome author and playwright Raymond Luczak as our new theater reviewer. Mr. Luczak www.raymondluczak.com will be reviewing an ASL-interpreted plays the heading “From the front row.”
Page 13, Article 1: Accessible Performances
The following performances will be Audio Described (AD) for people who are blind or have low vision, or interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Selected performances offer reduced admission prices for the patron and one companion. When calling a box office, confirm the service (ASL or AD), date, time, ticket price and anything else needed, e.g. length of performance, etc. If you attend a show, please share your feedback with the performing organization, interpreter, and VSA arts of Minnesota. Accessible performance information is compiled by VSA arts of Minnesota, Phone: 612-332-3888 or Web: www.vsaartsmn.org/ Also see Accessible Movie Theaters at bottom of page.
After a Hundred Years
June 7 - 29
Guthrie Theater, Dowling Studio, 818 - 2nd St. S., Mpls. ASL and AD: Sat., June 28, 1:00 pm; sensory tour at 10:30 am, Tix: Reduced to $18 (reg. $27-$57), Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: 612-377-6626, Web: www.guthrietheater.org/visit/the_building/access_services
The American Pilot
May 2 - 24
Walking Shadow Theatre at Mpls. Theatre Garage, 711 W. Franklin Ave. AD: Friday, May 16, 7:30 pm, ASL: Sat., May 17, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to $7 (reg. $14-16), Phone: 612-375-0300, Web: www.walkingshadowcompany.org/
Anansi, The Trickster Spider
May 9 - June 1
SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria St. N., St. Paul. AD: Fri., May 16, 7:00 pm, ASL: Sun., May 18, 2:00 pm, Tix: $11, student/senior $9, Phone: 651-225-9265, Web: www.steppingstonetheatre.org
Arts of Japan: The John C. Weber Collection
Feb. 24 - May 25
Mpls. Institute of Arts, 2400 Third Ave. S., Mpls. ASL: Sun., Mar. 2, 1:00 pm; free tour begins by the Information Desk in the museum lobby, Tix: special exhibition admission charged, Phone: 612-870-3131, TTY: 612-870-3132, E-mail: dhegstrom@artsmia.org Web: www.artsmia.org
Blues in the Night
Mar. 11 - May 18
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts McKnight Theatre, 345 Washington, St. Paul. ASL: Wed., Apr. 2, 8:00 pm AD: Sat., Apr. 5, 8:00 pm, Tix/Phone: 651-224-4222, TTY: 651-282-3100, Web: www.ordway.org/services/access.asp
Cabaret
May 6 - 18
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington, St. Paul. ASL: Wed., May 14, 8:00 pm, AD: Sat., May 17, 8:00 pm, Tix/ Phone: 651-224-4222, TTY: 651-282-3100, Web: www.ordway.org/services/access.asp
Finding Claire
May 2 - 24
Rochester Repertory Theatre, 103 - 7th St. NE, Rochester 55906. ASL: Sat., May 17, 8:00 pm, Tix: $18; student/senior discount, Phone: 507-289-1737, E-mail: BoxOffice@RochesterRep.org Web: www.RochesterRep.org
Flint Hills International Children's Festival
May 31 - June 1
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington, St. Paul. Sat., May 31. Jason and the Argonauts – ASL: 10:00 am, Drake Room; Drum! (from Nova Scotia) – ASL: 11:00 am AD: 2:00 pm, McKnight Theatre; The Circus (puppet theatre) – ASL: 2:30 pm, McKnight Theatre; Tokounou (West African All-Abilities Dance and Music Ensemble) – AD: Noon, McKnight Theatre; Andes Manta (music of the Andes) – AD: 4:30 pm, Drake Room; World Stage – ASL: morning and afternoon Sunday, June 1; Andes Manta – ASL: 10:30 am, Drake Room; Tokounou – ASL: 2:30 pm, McKnight Theatre; The Circus – AD: 12:30 pm, McKnight Theatre; Jason and the Argonauts – AD: 4:30 pm, Drake Room; World Stage – ASL: morning and afternoon (ArtMoves Parade 1:00) Tix: $5 (World Stage outdoors free); 651-224-4222, TTY: 651-282-3100, Web: www.ordway.org
Four Stand Up Dads
June 15
Dan St. Paul, Kelly McDonald, Tim Bedore and Milt Abel at Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, Saint John’s University, Collegeville. ASL: Sun., June 15, 5:00 pm, Tix: $22; senior/youth $19; Phone: 320-363-5700 or 5777, E-mail: DWolford@csbsju.edu Web: www.csbsju.edu/finearts
French Twist
May 8 - 17
Joe Chvala’s Flying Foot Forum at the Guthrie Theater, Dowling Studio, 818 - 2nd St. S., Mpls. ASL and AD: Sat., May 17, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to $18 (reg. $30), Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: 612-377-6626, Web: www.guthrietheater.org/visit/the_building/access_services
Gem of the Ocean
Apr. 22 - May 18
Penumbra Theatre at the Guthrie Theater, 818 - 2nd St. S., Mpls. AD: Sat., May 10, 1:00 pm; sensory tour at 10:30 pm, ASL and Captioning: TBA, Tix: Reduced to $18 (reg. $24-69), Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: 612-377-6626, 877-44-STAGE, Web: www.penumbratheatre.org or www.guthrietheater.org
The Gin Game
May 30 - June 29
Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. AD: Thurs., June 19, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to $10 (reg. $26-36), Phone: 612-822-7063, E-mail: boxoffice@jungletheater.com Web: www.jungletheater.com
The Girls in 509
June 6 - 22
Bloomington Art Center Gallery Theater Co. at Bloomington Civic Plaza Black Box Theater, 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd. AD and ASL: Sun., June 22, 2:00 pm, Tix: $17, $14 senior/student, Phone: 952-563-8575, Web: www.bloomingtonartcenter.com
Go for Baroque: Arts of 17th and 18th Century Europe
June 1
Mpls. Institute of Arts, 2400 Third Ave. S. ASL: Sun., June 1, 1:00 pm tour beginning by the Information Desk in the museum lobby. Tix/ Phone: 612-870-3131, TTY: 612-870-3132, E-mail: dhegstrom@artsmia.org Web: www.artsmia.org
Harvey
May 30 - June 29
Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave., Mpls. AD: Sun., June 29, 2:00 pm. Tix: $20, senior/student discount, Phone: 612-333-3010, Web: www.theatreintheround.org
Harvey
May 31 - Oct. 25
Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro. ASL: Sun., June 29, 1:30 pm. Tix: Half price (reg. $25, student $12), Phone: 507-467-2525, 800-657-7025, E-mail: tickets@commonwealtheatre.org Web: www.commonwealtheatre.org
The Hollow
May 9 - June 1
Starting Gate Productions at Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Road, St. Paul. AD: Sun., May 25, 2:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $10 (reg. $18, $16 student/senior), Phone: 651-645-3503, Web: www.startinggate.org
Honk!
Apr. 30 - May 18
Youth Performance Co. at Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, 1900 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. AD and ASL: Sat., May 17, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to half-price (reg. $10, student/senior $8); advance reservation required for AD, Phone: 612-623-9080, Web: www.youthperformanceco.com
Laughing Stock
June 6 - 15
Rochester Civic Theatre, 20 Civic Center Drive SE. ASL: Sat., June 14, 8:00 pm, Tix: $17, $14 senior, $12 student, Phone: 507-282-8481, Web: www.rochestercivictheatre.org
Les Miserables
Opens June 15, 2007
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W 78th Street, Chanhassen. AD and ASL: Sat., July 21, curtain 1:00 pm, lunch seating begins at 11:00 am Specify the accommodation needed at time of ticket purchase to assure proper seating, Tix: Vision Loss Resources group $37 includes lunch: contact Stacy Shamblott, VLR, 612-871-2222; other tix (reg. $40-52), Phone: 952-934-1525 or 800-362-3515,E-mail: information@chanhassendt.com Web: www.chanhassentheatres.com
A Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Apr. 25 - May 18
Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave., Mpls. AD: Sun., May 11, 2:00 pm, Tix: $20, P