Access Press - June 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: "I choose not to place 'Dis' in my ability." --Robert M. Hensel

Page 1, Article 1: 2008 legislative action ends with a smile
Disability community sees gains and losses

by Anne L. Henry

Extended negotiations among legislative leaders from both parties and the governor brought the 2008 session of the Minnesota Legislature to a close on May 18. The $935 million state budget deficit was closed by spending cuts, across-the-board state agency administrative reductions and use of substantial funds from the state’s budget reserve. In addition, health care reform legislation and a number of other significant policy bills affecting persons with disabilities were adopted.

Budget cuts will limit waiver services

The biggest challenge for persons with disabilities during the session was the significant budget deficit of $935 million, because health and human services spending areas were targeted for substantial cuts to help balance the overall state budget. Governor Tim Pawlenty proposed, and the House and Senate agreed, to limit home and community-based waiver services for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to 200 persons per year. Services for those eligible for nursing facility care through the Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals (CADI) waiver will be limited to 1,500 persons per year, beginning July 1, 2008 for three years. Included in these caseload caps are limits for persons participating in the integrated managed care program known as Minnesota Disability Health Option (MnDHO).

The total funding cut for these important services for the coming three years is nearly $68 million which includes the dollar-for-dollar federal match available under Medicaid. Waiver service funding is used to pay staff, buy equipment or items and support people to live as independently as possible in the community and avoid institutional placement.

Previously, the CADI and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) waiver programs had caseload limits imposed, beginning in 2003 for four years. During that time, a waiting list developed for both programs. While persons eligible for CADI and TBI are likely eligible for Medical Assistance Home Care, such as personal care assistant (PCA) services, they will not be able to access the wider array of more flexible services which are crucial to maintaining independence and improving functioning in the community, such as home modifications, equipment, and supported employment services. Department of Human Services (DHS) projections indicate that more than 2,400 eligible persons will not be able to access home and community services due to these caseload limits over the next three years.

For those with Medical Assistance or General Assistance Medical Care, hospital payments will be cut approximately $109 million dollars, most of which would have been matched with federal Medicaid funds over a three-year period. Mental health services are exempt from this hospital payment reduction.

Additional cuts and changes

The Omnibus Tax Bill provides that counties will be released from maintenance of effort and matching fund requirements while the taxing authority of the county is limited (“levy limit”) through 2010. This problematic provision was part of a late-night, end of the session property tax negotiation between state lawmakers and the governor. Among programs which require county funding are case management services for children and adult mental health, vulnerable adult and developmental disabilities, children’s mental health residential treatment, chemical dependency services and numerous other corrections and public health programs. Key legislators have agreed with the governor to repeal this language at the beginning of the 2009 session retroactive its effective date in order to avoid any lapse in county funding and to correct what is now regarded as a mistake.

A 1.8 percent cut for all state-funded grant programs operated by the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health, except children and adult mental health services, was imposed for the next three years. Among the programs which will be cut are Semi-Independent Living Services (SILS), Disability Link Line, family support grant services, Region 10 Quality Assurance and various aging and chemical dependency services. These services are among those slated for a 2 percent cost of living increase on October 1, 2008. After the 1.8 percent cut, the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) will be effectively reduced to .2 percent, leaving staff and programs without enough funding to cover increased costs.

Changes to targeted case management, including relocation services, children and adult mental health and child welfare case management became effective in March 2008 due to federal changes. Federal legislation to stop the federal agency limitations on case management services is pending in Congress now. Because of uncertainty over federal action, legislation which is contingent on federal action was adopted so that Minnesota would be in compliance with federal law. Relocation service coordination, mental health targeted case management and vulnerable adults/developmental disabilities targeted care management will be more limited when assisting persons to move out of institutions effective July 1, 2008, unless Congress delays the federal interim rules.

All state agencies are required to reduce administrative spending by 4 percent, which means vacant staff positions will not be filled. Other activities and services will be reduced.

The 2 percent COLA increase for community service providers, which the governor proposed to eliminate, was maintained. But its implementation will be delayed for three months, until October 2008.

Cuts proposed but not adopted

Cuts were proposed by the Senate to PCA providers which had high administrative costs. Because there is no way to determine administrative costs in the PCA program, this proposal could not be implemented and was not adopted. Also, a proposal to eliminate specific medical services for persons with particular diagnostic conditions was adopted in the conference committee, but later removed and not included in the supplemental budget bill. This proposal was based on a method used in Oregon. But it was very complex, had no hearings and was strongly opposed by disability advocacy groups, especially those concerned with mental health services.

Cuts to Self-Advocacy Minnesota funding (SAM) and a proposal to require a repayment by three counties for overspending of the developmental disabilities waiver were opposed by disability advocates and not included in the final budget agreement.

New programs with funding

As part of the significant cut to CADI and TBI services, the governor proposed two modest but positive additions to funding for housing for persons with disabilities. The Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Shelter Needy Program has been expanded to include people eligible for home and community waiver services. This change will also cover persons who will use the new self-directed personal supports option passed last session and not yet implemented. This new housing option will begin July 1, 2008, and is estimated to provide nearly $2 million in housing subsidies over the next three years. Also, the new housing access grant program will be funded with $1.25 million over three years, beginning July 1, 2008. This program will provide funding for public and private agencies to assist individuals eligible for home and community-based services, including home care services, to access and maintain appropriate homes

A scaled back Health Care Reform bill, Chapter 358, was adopted after the initial bill was vetoed by the governor in early May. Health coverage will be extended to 7,000 Minnesotans due to improvements in MN CARE beginning in July of 2009. The MN CARE income limit for adults without children will be raised from 200 percent of the poverty level to 250 percent on July 1, 2009. Tax credits for private coverage for up to 5,000 persons was also included in the bill. The new legislation will establish health care homes for persons on public health care programs, including Medical Assistance. Beginning July 1, 2009, the Commissioner of Human Services shall encourage those with Medical Assistance, General Assistance Medical Care and Minne-sotaCare to choose a health care home which has been certified by the commissioner. For persons with complex conditions, care coordination payments will be made beginning July 2010.

The Health Care Reform bill also requires the Commissioner of Health to convene a work group. This group will make recommendations on the design of an essential health care benefit set with a report due to the Legislature by January 15, 2010. Also of importance to persons with disabilities is the development of a health care affordability proposal for persons under 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines ($31,213 for one person in 2008) to assist with employer-subsidized coverage. Additionally, $50 million from the Health Care Access Fund will be used to help cover the budget deficit. But it is to be repaid to the fund based on reductions in overall health care spending in the future.

Policy changes which did not require funding

Numerous policy changes were adopted which affect privacy, children’s mental health and transportation. A bill which protects individuals’ privacy in marketing of the new Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC) managed care plan for persons with disabilities on Medical Assistance was adopted. The bill prohibits DHS from providing the names and addresses of persons with disabilities to health plans for mailing of marketing materials. Instead DHS itself will mail health plan materials. Health plans will pay the cost of the mailings as they do now.

Two important bills affecting children’s mental health treatment were adopted. Aversive practices such as seclusion and restraint have been limited in children’s mental health treatment programs and facilities. Also, a bill which strengthens and clarifies the voluntary placement rights of parents and children was adopted. The new law allows parents to place children with mental health conditions or developmental disabilities in residential treatment settings without having to give up legal custody.

The statute governing the Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Development Disabilities has been clarified to include a deceased person within the term “client” and to assure that the office can obtain copies of documents needed for investigations.

The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities transportation planning bill was included in the omnibus transportation policy bill. For greater Minnesota, the bill requires the Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to plan to meet 80 percent of the unmet need for persons with disabilities for transportation by 2015 and 90 percent of unmet need by 2025.

A bill to improve election participation for persons with disabilities was adopted, Chapter 295. The new law requires candidates who receive public funding to use closed captioning for political TV advertisement and have transcripts available on websites for radio and web ads. The bill also, expands agent delivery of an absentee ballot to include those who have incapacitating health reasons and individuals with disabilities increases to seven days the time before an election during which an agent can deliver an absentee ballot and requires an agent to have a pre-existing relationship with the voter, effective for elections held on or after June 1, 2008.

For information on changes to education and special education, see Kim Kang’s article.

What’s ahead

While the $935 million budget deficit was resolved; the projections for next legislative session are dire. The state could well face a deficit of nearly $2 billion, counting projected inflation due in part to the ever-increasing costs of fuel and health care.

Disability services have already been cut substantially in six of the past seven years. Because health care, including long-term and community support services, is a significant and growing portion of the state’s budget, it is likely that even more painful cuts affecting disability services will be proposed next session.

Persons with disabilities, families and organizations have much at stake in the upcoming elections which will determine who makes the decisions about how to balance the state budget for the coming biennium. The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is working on candidate forums and other election-related activities. Information can be found at www.mnccd.org. Further information about legislation and your legislator, can be found at www.leg.state.mn.us.

Page 1, Article 2: Tough year for education
Tougher times expected in 2009 session

by Kim Kang

It was a rocky road for both the education policy and budget bills during the 2008 session of the Minnesota Legislature on May 13. Governor Tim Pawlenty vetoed the E-12 Education Policy Bill. That action was followed three days later by the veto of the E-12 Omnibus Education Budget Bill. However, legislators were able to pass a handful of helpful items through the Omnibus Budget Bill. Included in the items approved was an increase of $51 of state aid per student. This will provide a measure of financial relief for schools.

In addition, the special education task force, which was created during the 2007 legislative session, had its work continued another year in order to complete its assigned duties. The purpose of this task force is to compare the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements with Minnesota laws and rules, determine which Minnesota laws exceed federal laws, and provide recommendations on which state laws to eliminate.

The special education task force is currently composed of 10 members: four parent and parent advocacy organization representatives, five school representatives, and the Minnesota Department of Education—a non-voting member. As part of its analysis during the 2007 year, the task force determined that some Minnesota laws exceeding federal laws include: transition services beginning at age 14; dispute resolution processes such as conciliation and facilitated Individual Education Programs (IEPs); and the state law which places the burden of proof on school districts to show that they complied with special education laws. While the task force was able to complete a review of state statutes and rules, its members were not able to complete a comparison of Minnesota rules that exceed federal laws.

The Legislature extended the task force’s existence for another year and requires members to submit a final report to the Legislature by Feb.15, 2009. Thanks to the work of parents, parent advocates, student advocates and key legislators such as Representatives Debra Hilstrom and Mindy Greiling, some improvements were made to the task force such as adding another representative from a parent advocacy organization so equal representation is ensured, and allowing the task force to make recommendations on how to change laws and rules. The latter is particularly important because the task force was previously restricted to recommending that a law or rule be kept or eliminated. As task force members did their work, they determined that some laws and rules could be retained with changes.

With a $1 billion total state budget deficit, it was a tough year for education. Projections for 2009 appear to be even worse and this will be even more critical because the 2009 session will determine funding for the 2010-2011 school years. Therefore, it’s important for parents of children with disabilities to continue to be active and informed advocates.

With 2008 being an election year, parents should not be afraid to ask for elected officials and candidates that will stand strong when it comes to maintaining services for children with disabilities and ensuring special education has an adequate, consistent funding stream.

The complete E-12 education bill can be found at www.leg.state.mn.us. Use the bill tracker page.

Kim Kang is the Public Policy and Early Childhood Director at PACER Center. For more info visit www.pacer.org.

Page 2, Article 1: Editor's Column

by Tim Benjamin

Since Access Press is a monthly paper, I can hope that by the time you read this issue, summer will really be here and the long, hard spring will be over. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the tornadoes that hit Hugo so severely will be the worst of our Minnesota summer weather, and that the town will recover soon from that sudden and hard disaster.

Believe it or not, the legislative session ended on time. No special session—at least so far! There was some initial stir-up with the governor’s lieutenant governor falling asleep at the wheel as the transportation commissioner and being removed from that position. The new commissioner has a background in engineering, which will be very helpful, I would think, in running that kind of agency.

I believe this year marked the first time in his stint as governor that Governor Pawlenty has lost his veto. His veto was overridden by a few Republicans voting along with the Democrats on tax issues. It seemed, though, that most our lawmakers were happy with the outcome of the session. In front of the cameras, at least, they were shaking hands and smiling at their successes. But even those who are happy this year seem concerned about what will happen in the 2009 session, since many of our debts were covered by budget reserves and those monies will not be there for what is expected to be at least a $1 billion deficit in 2009.

My district representative, Alice Hausman, was very successful in her struggles with the governor and his about-face on the financial backing of the light rail transportation system.

I wasn’t at the Capitol as much as I would have liked during this session, but it sure seemed to be kind of quiet. I’m sure some of our disability advocates would argue that it wasn’t a quiet deal at all, for they got no sleep during the late night sessions. I hope readers of Access Press will join me in acknowledging the outstanding contributions of our local disability lobbyists and the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities. Let’s thank them for all their stressful and sleepless months, informing and educating the legislators on what is most needed in the community.

Anne Henry of the Disability Law Center has written this year’s end-of-session review. Thanks Anne, as always, for your excellent contributions.

Kim Kang of Pacer Center has news that I’m not sure how to analyze. The legislature continued funding for the Special Education task force, requiring them to compare state law to federal law and to identify in which areas the state goes over and above the federal mandates. That report will be due at the next legislative session. Kang also explains the hard work of some key legislators and the true need in this election year to seek out and vote for like-minded legislators to keep special education funding at the highest levels possible. Special education is for those individuals who would truly have difficulty being successful without guaranteed educational opportunity. Thanks, Kim, for all your efforts.

Many of the Health and Human Services cuts that were expected, and that we wrote about in the April edition of Access Press, were not enacted. Health-care advocates were pleased (and some were shocked) when the two percent cost-of-living raise for PCAs was not eliminated and so many other expected cuts were avoided. As in the 2003 session, I wonder, how much the upcoming elections had to do with the postponement of some of these funding cuts. Well, we can hope that a national single-payer insurance plan will soon be put in place by our new president. Then maybe some of the cuts can be unneeded, with new national funds for what are now state health programs.

Lance Hegland and Bret Hesla have both moved on and left their positions as marketing manager and assistant editor here at Access Press. I want to thank them both for their outstanding contributions.

I will miss the camaraderie in the office that Bret brought, and all of us will miss his outstanding journalism skills in the content of the paper. Bret has taken a position coordinating a coalition of groups working to the benefit of the border lakes region of Minnesota and Ontario (which includes the Boundary Waters). He'll still be officed in Minneapolis and we can all be thankful for that. Lance's ability to see and analyze the bigger picture and drive us in those directions will also be missed. Lance wants to dedicate more of his time towards pursuing his educational goals.

I wish them both the best!

Page 2, Article 2: History Note

Sam Newlund’s storied career

by Luther Granquist

Throughout his 32-year career as a reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune, Sam Newlund, who died last month, wrote often about people with disabilities. In the Sunday paper for January 10, 1965, he described the life of the men and women at Faribault State School and Hospital. He told of one of the 104 men in Dakota Building who rocked “endlessly back and forth on a wooden chair, staring blankly at the floor” while dozens of barefoot men and boys milled about. One man was manacled to a bench, while others “with scarred heads” slumped, “dozing in rows of chairs, their knees pressed hard against their chests in the position of an unborn child.” He showed that more staff was needed if these men and other residents at Faribault were going to be taught to care for themselves, to be kept clean, to get outside, and to experience “the healing power of human affection.”

Newlund wrote other graphic articles about state institution practices. In March 1967, he exposed pernicious restraint practices at Anoka State Hospital. In April of that year, he reported that Faribault was much the same because the institution could not keep staff in the new positions the legislature authorized in 1965. But Newlund also covered in depth the legislative and administrative actions which affected persons with disabilities. Because he combined knowledge of those issues with an understanding of and respect for persons who have disabilities, the articles he wrote provide a rich and revealing history of their lives.

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 2, Article 3: Your dog can count!
First public Service Dog census launches

Make sure your dog guide, hearing dog or other service dog counts. The Service Dog Census Project is conducting a count of all service dogs in use in the United States, starting on June 9. It is the first public census of service dogs.

Eighteen years after the U.S. Department of Justice passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which ensures the rights of disabled people to access public areas with their service animals, many still have to educate the public about their rights and the need for their service dogs. Blayne Douglas, who works at a deaf counseling, advocacy and referral agency in California, often runs into acceptance problems with his hearing dog. “The lion’s share of my day is educating the public about the use of hearing dogs. I’m always surprised by the number of people who think only guide dogs for the blind count as service dogs,” said Douglas. “I’ve even experienced doubt by business owners who hesitated in providing us access because they didn’t understand.”

The Service Dog Census Project and the United States Service Dog Registry are working to change that. The Registry offers free service dog registration through a central online database. This allows service dog owners to register their animals and receive a unique ID number. A look-up feature allows others to securely verify the registration status while protecting the medical privacy of the individual.

The purpose of the Service Dog Census Project is to provide detailed statistical data about the large number of service animals currently working in the United States. The data can be used for various positive purposes including advocacy, media references, university studies and public support. “The response has been phenomenal,” said Marc Battaglia, executive director of the project. “Even during our beta-testing phase we had people registering from New York to California. We’ve received emails from people thanking us for initiating this project.”

The census is open to all service dogs and their handlers, regardless of certification or training status. Individuals using a service dog for any disability covered by the ADA qualify for this count. (Please see (www.ada.gov/animal.htm) A service dog is any canine trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Therapy dogs and other working dogs provide many great benefits but are not covered by the ADA law and therefore not eligible to be included in the census.

The United States Service Dog Registry collects the data for the Service Dog Census Project. To participate in this census please go to usservicedogregistry.org.

The Service Dog Census Project is looking for help from the news media, bloggers and other individuals to help get the word out about their efforts. There are also several affiliate membership levels available at censusproject.org/affiliate.

The Service Dog Census Project is headed by Battaglia who leads the four-person team in his spare time. Battaglia is the associate creative director for an advertising agency where he works with his German Shepherd, Indiana, by his side.

Battaglia was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1999 after suffering from it since childhood. “I don’t really like to talk about it, and that’s part of what is important about how this registry and census are being conducted. It’s private,” he said. . “You shouldn’t have to explain your medical history to everyone.”

More info: email marc@censusproject.org - www.censusproject.org, - www.usservicedogregistry.org

Page 3, Article 1: Having an impact
Learning to use disability group listservs can be a way to connect and share information

by Michael Cohn

The Internet allows people from across the world to become friends and in many cases, like new members of one’s family. For families entering the new world of living with a disability there are always unanswered questions about the disability from both the patient and his or her family members.

How does the Web influence dialogue centered on a specific disability? Many advocacy and educational organizations offer programs called “listservs,” which allow Internet users to talk to one another. Participation in a listserv can provide answers and support for persons and families coping with a disability. In most cases, all a person needs to join a listserv is an email address. Users subscribe to a listserv then when someone posts a question on an opinion, others can respond.

I belong to the NBIA Listserv, which serves families with Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation, a rare neurological disorder. Over the years I have met many families, some at the NBIA conferences and some through the NBIA Listserv.

A few weeks ago I posted some information on the NBAI listserv and Phyllis from New Jersey sent me a note asking some questions. We carried on a long-distance dialogue. When I went to the East Coast to visit my family I was able to met Phyllis and her daughter, 13-year-old Victoria. Vic-toria’s disability was diagnosed less than a year earlier.

During the weeks of corresponding I learned a lot about Phyllis’ concerns, fears and goals for her daughter. I’m sure prior to meeting the family my emails had had a positive impact on them. My concern was that their physician had not given the family some of the tools needed to raise a child with a disability. Many families have a hard time at first seeing beyond the disability and realizing that some of the issues that they are facing are part of the normal growing pains that all families face.

At age 13 any child, disabled or not, goes through difficult times. After I spent a few hours with the family, they realized they needed to make plans for Victoria to assure her independence. There was also the realization that Phyllis should not smother her daughter with care because of her own fears for her daughter. By the end of our time together Victoria was excited about the idea of getting a pink walker to help prevent her from falling and also to allow her to be more active with her friends at school and in the mall.

For me, the highlight of the visit was hearing Phyllis say to Victoria, “ I want you to be as independent as you want!”

Since coming back home, I have heard from Phyllis that both of them are talking more openly now about Victoria’s disability and her fears. The impact on this family has been very positive, both short term and long term and it’s all due to asking questions on the internet through a simple Listserv.

Editorial note: While many positive encounters can be experienced through participation in a listserv, caution should be taken by all Internet users. Listservs are an exciting and useful communications tool but they can also have pitfalls. Consider information on a listserv carefully and remember that it is not a substitute for medical or professional advice or care. If you are uncertain about information you have read, ask a professional or someone you trust to verify the information. It is best to not share too much personal information on a listserv, through emails or in text messages with persons you do not know, yet. While the face-to-face meeting in this article had a positive outcome, the Internet can pose dangers from predators or those who want to take advantage of others. Law enforcement professionals recommend that persons who correspond on the Internet not meet face-to-face unless there is every assurance that can be done safely. Consider the organization sponsoring the listserv and whether or not you consider that group to be reputable. Ask how the listserv is used. There have been situations where listserv users find themselves receiving junk mail or spam as a result of participation. Make sure sponsoring groups use listservs responsibility.

Page 3, Article 2:

Photo IDs: barriers to voting
Recent Supreme Court decision upholds controversial photo ID law in Indiana

by Mai Thor

In case you haven’t heard—it’s a big election year! Election Day is November 4th and there is no better time than the present to start getting the facts about whom you will be voting for and other important information in the election world. Access Press will help you along the way. Starting this month, and for the next six months, we will publish at least one voting article to inform you on the candidates, how to register to vote, and other related information to keep you on top of this year’s election. It is a great opportunity for people with disabilities to get involved and participate in a very important election that will affect all levels of government from federal to local. Year after year, Minnesota has proven to be a leader in voter turnout in elections. This year—let’s make Minnesota a leader for turning out people with disabilities!

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an Indiana law that requires all voters to show photo identification in order to vote. Those who support the ruling argue that it makes sense to show ID when voting to avoid voter fraud. However, voting rights advocates fear this law will create more barriers to those who already face challenges to the right to vote. The costs of obtaining a driver’s license or state ID card can be considered a barrier. Among those who may face more barriers are individuals with disabilities. Since so many people with disabilities live in poverty, the hurdles to getting photo ID can create a substantial financial burden. Many view this as the poll tax of present day America which could potentially disenfranchise thousands as it did for African Americans before the Civil Rights Act.

Unlike the presence of poll taxes in history, the presence of voter fraud is unsubstantiated. Proponents of photo IDs say it prevents voter fraud. In reality, there is no evidence that voter fraud exists nor that it has ever altered an outcome of an election.

The Indiana ruling has implications for how Minnesota elections have been conducted for years. In Minnesota voters who are registered in a precinct were not required to show a photo ID. In fact, election judges were not supposed to ask for ID for registered voters. The only circumstances in which photo IDs were required in Minnesota are when a person is registering to vote in a precinct on election day.

Why create such a burden for those who are already under-represented in order to prevent something that doesn’t exist? Minnesotans can prevent what is happening in Indiana from coming here by making sure that the people who are elected into office understand that the right to vote is not conditional. It is not the same as driving or buying alcohol where showing a photo ID should be required. Voting is a fundamental right where all people should have access to equally.

Page 4, Article 1:

Homeless and with a disability in New Orleans

by Sherry Gray

Of 118 New Orleans residents left homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a high percentage were persons with disabilities underserved by both government and private social service agencies. Many of these homeless will not go to shelters due to personal or medical limitations. Other solutions must be found which incorporate employment opportunities, physical and mental health care, chemical dependency treatment and life skills training.

A survey was carried out in February 2008 by a consortium of organizations, including UNITY of Greater New Orleans and the Common Ground Institute of New York. The survey was conducted at the Claiborne Encampment, an area beneath the Claiborne Avenue Bridge in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward. There an estimated 150 displaced persons currently live in tents or sleep on mats in the open air. A copy of the press release announcing the findings can be found on UNITY’s web page: www.unitygno.org.

Common Ground Institute reported that, “Before Hurricane Katrina, one person camped there; afterward, an entire tent city of 150 lived under that bridge. Fully 80 percent have disabilities, yet many of them work and pay taxes.”

Twenty-three of those surveyed had three or more disabling conditions. Another 20 were listed as having two disabling conditions, including substance addiction, mental illness, or a physical disability. Sixty percent of those surveyed were displaced from housing due to Katrina; another 30 percent became homeless after losing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Of those surveyed, 75 percent had no health insurance. Nineteen people surveyed were veterans, but only three of the veterans had VA benefits and another eight had VA insurance.

“The strategy for the Claiborne camp must address the fact that most of its residents have mental or physical disabilities,” said Martha J. Kegel, Executive Director of UNITY, as quoted in The Times-Picayune on February 28, 2008. “Many disabled people will not go to emergency shelter, cannot sleep with dozens of people in an enclosed room or cannot comply with shelter rules.... Most of the Claiborne residents lived in the New Orleans area before Katrina. They wanted to come home, even though they have no home. We resolve to keep working in partnership with the entire community until the most vulnerable of our neighbors again has a home.”

UNITY staff member Frances Misenheimer pointed to the Duncan Plaza Re-Housing Initiative as a hopeful example for the Claiborne Encampment. In November and December 2007, 278 people living in tents and cardboard houses in New Orleans’ Duncan Plaza were moved to short-term or permanent housing within a four-week period by a consortium that included federal, state, and city government agencies, 27 nonprofit organizations, and 69 community partners, including churches, hotels, and foundations. Currently, according to Kegel, 233 of Duncan Plaza’s former residents are living in their own homes, most receiving assistance to help them pay rent, with social service agencies cooperating to provide disability and employment services to those who qualified.

Nonetheless, the need for housing remains high. Bill Quigley, a human rights lawyer and law professor at Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans, wrote in the April 2008 issue of Coastal Post Online that, “Government reports confirm that half of the working poor, elderly and disabled that lived in New Orleans before Katrina has not returned. Because of critical shortages in low-cost housing, few now expect tens of thousands of poor and working people to ever be able to return home…. Before Katrina, there were 12,870 disabled workers receiving Social Security Disability in New Orleans, now there are 5,350 – 59 percent less.” (www.coastalpost.com/08/04/10.html)

USA Today reported that the “estimated 12,000 homeless accounts for four percent of New Orleans’ estimated population of 302,000… The New Orleans’ rate is more than four times that of most U.S. cities, which have homeless populations of less than one percent.” (Rick Jervis, “New Orleans’ Homeless Rate Swells to 1 in 25,” March 16, 2008)

The Associated Press reported that “hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed 41,000 apartments affordable to people earning less than the area’s median income, and only 43 percent will be rebuilt under federal programs. Prospects are bleakest for those earning less than $26,150….only 16 percent of housing affordable to them is scheduled for federally funded redevelopment.” (John Moreno Gonzales, “U.N. Weighs in against Demolishing Public Housing,” February 28, 2008)

In the face of this overwhelming need, New Orleans area service agencies struggle to provide housing and other services, for both the populations they are serving and their own employees. Suzanne H. Bourgeois, Program Director at Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans (VOAGNO) said, “As of present, affordable housing is a tremendous issue...Rents are still very high, in some cases tripled after Katrina.”

VOAGNO, a nonprofit faith organization that provides housing and other social services to citizens in need in 16 south Louisiana parishes (www.voagno.org), evacuated more than 125 residents and direct support professionals from supported living houses in New Orleans during Katrina. After successfully overcoming the initial evacuation challenge, the organization was confronted with the longer-term challenge of finding suitable replacement housing for their residents and staff.

Finding housing space is only the first problem New Orleans agencies like VOAGNO have in providing services for persons with disabilities. The second, according to Bourgeois is “lack of direct support workforce. We are not seeing many qualified folks that are interested in the type of dedication this work requires and needs. Weekend shifts are almost impossible to cover. I believe lots of folks can go out into industry and make more money. I also believe we have some capacity issues within our current waiver system. The state [of Louisiana] has released an increase of waiver slots, but providers are having difficulty securing staff.”

The Wage Facts page on the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council Direct Support Professionals website states that “Louisiana ranks last in the nation in direct support professional wages and benefits.” (www.la-dsp.org/dspla.php) As Suzanne Bourgeois added “I do not believe our legislators have a true picture of the important role that direct support staff has…the impact of that on services to those with disabilities.”

Readers who want to help can donate funds to nonprofit and charitable organizations working in south Louisiana, or volunteer with an organization working to alleviate these issues. Most important, though, is to increase public awareness and government attention to this critical situation. Even non-citizens of Louisiana can have a voice by writing to their Congressional representatives and letting them know that providing affordable housing, supported employment and housing initiatives for the city’s most vulnerable, and a living wage for social service employees, is critical to providing a humane environment for all citizens, those with and without disabilities, in New Orleans and around the country.

The dedication of VOAGNO’s direct service providers in New Orleans—themselves rendered homeless by Katrina—to their clients, as well as the critical shortage of housing, has been carefully documented in a 2007 report by the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) at the University of Minnesota, You Know that It’s Got to be Dedication that I am Still Here: The Experiences of Direct Support Professionals during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and Aftermath, and accompanied by an emotional and inspiring video entitled “Higher Ground,” directed by RTC’s Jerry Smith.

The RTC project was undertaken on behalf of VOAGNO and funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR).

ANCOR is distributing the video as part of its National Advocacy Campaign, “You Need to Know Me,” which highlights personal stories of dedication and heroism from direct support professionals around the country. Visit the Campaign’s web page at youneedtoknowme.org.

Readers are also reminded to be prepared for disasters. Reminding us to consider carefully the implications of the New Orleans situation for other communities, Glen W. White, Director of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas and co-author of the report, Assessing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Persons with Disabilities, www.rtcil.org, wrote recently that “the disaster that struck New Orleans is a ‘canary in the coal mine.’ We have volatility in our lives due to natural events, crumbling infrastructure and more contentious foreign relations. How a disaster impacts people with disabilities can be studied here and proactive steps taken to alleviate in other situations.”

Disaster preparation resources

Online and print resources for disaster preparation are available. The Center for Disability and Special Needs Preparedness, based in Washington, DC, has publications and information available through its website:
www.disabilitypreparedness.org

ANCOR has an emergency preparedness page on its website: www.ancor.org/

The American Red Cross has a booklet, Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities, available at: www.redcross.org/

The DRM WebWatcher lists a number of resources, including links to FEMA publications, at:
www.disabilityresources.org/

Disastersrus.org encourages everyone to “have a plan” on its website at: www.disastersrus.org/

Page 4, Article 2: DIA offers help
Immigrants with disabilities seek TC services

by Mahad Abdi

Immigrants with disabilities arrive in this country seeking a new life while burdened with physical and sometimes mental challenges. These challenges may cause immigrants to have low self-esteem and hamper their ability to succeed in their new homeland. But these immigrants also know that they are lucky in coming to this country where they can get better health and education, and can become contributing members to the community.

People with disabilities often lack access to needed services and support. For immigrants with disabilities, especially immigrants who have been victims of torture and ethnic cleansing, and who struggle with negative biases within their own culture toward disability, it is a courageous act to step forward and ask for help. Many of their disabilities are either birth or war-related. Some of these disabilities are physical including amputees, those born without limbs, the blind and the deaf. The rest of the disabilities are mental including treatable emotional ailments such as depression and culture shock. Many of these immigrants have language barriers as well and do not speak English.

African immigrants, as a whole, have many social and cultural barriers to quality health and health care. Mental illness, especially depression, is almost never diagnosed or treated since there is no understanding what it is. There is also major stigma associated with immigrants who have symptoms of mental illness.

At a recent Somali town hall meeting on health issues, depression, STD, tuberculosis, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and interpersonal violence were most often cited as problems that need addressing in a culturally sensitive manner within the community. In the discussion, Somali doctors also cited health education as a barrier to better health and treatment. Proper use of medication, for instance, was cited as a problem for many immigrants. Once diagnosed and given medication, rarely is there appropriate communication or understanding about the pharmaceutical treatment modes such as taking one pill daily at the same time for 10 days or taking one pill in the morning and one pill in the evening for a week.

In addition to the numerous reasons why disabled immigrants do not receive or have access to proper health education and care is the issue of what health professionals in the Twin Cities metropolitan area know and understand about disabled immigrants. We know that Ramsey and Hennepin County Public Health Departments have Somali-born or Somali-speaking health education staff, but we are unsure of staff availability for the other five metropolitan area counties. We believe that if the major health plans, hospitals and clinics that serve disabled immigrants or that may serve them knew about the Disabled Immigrant Association (DIA) then our participants would get better access and a higher quality of care.

By utilizing our collective cultural knowledge and partnerships with local healthcare organizations, DIA will work to reduce health disparities among the disabled immigrant community by providing much needed information and education. For more information (612) 824-7075 or link to www.dialink.org

Page 5, Article 1: When a dog guide dies:
The legacy of Frisco, a dedicated and special dog guide and friend to the end

by Clarence Schadegg

Since the death of Frisco, my first dog guide, on the 7th of May 2008, I learned something of particular importance. Even in old age, Frisco was not a pet but he lived, retired and died as a dog guide.

I was often told by instructors who taught me how to work with my dog guide as well as by fellow dog guide users that a helper dog like Frisco was an extension of the person it guides. We became a team, a partnership and a synchronized unit. The ability for the dog to work effectively with a master took time, approximately two years. Once the dog and master truly connected and our interaction became fluid and spontaneous, it was clear a deep connection took hold between us. I put my trust in the dog to get us safely to wherever we went. Frisco trusted me to give clear and consistent communication, to feed him well, to play with him and to allow him equal time off-duty to that of work. Routine yearly veterinarian care was an important part of this process.

I had no idea when I got him in 1995 that Frisco would work for more than nine years, or live for almost 15 years. He was ready for retirement at 10½ years, but he had several more years to live as a dog guide in retirement.

As I reflect on what Frisco did over the more then nine years of his exceptional guiding, I realized how special he was.

Some dogs become traumatized when attacked by large aggressive dogs that roam loose. Not Frisco. He fought off five such attacks in eight years. He wasn’t hurt in any of these attacks and his ability to continue to work was an example of his character, stamina, endurance and determination.

In 2004, several of us who use dog guides testified before the Minnesota Senate, a session that was videotaped. We requested stronger law enforcement and protection for dog guide users from unprovoked, unleashed and unsupervised aggressive dog attacks. The legislation was passed.

My dog guide guided me exceptionally well to and from work on hot summer nights and cold winter days.

For many years Frisco led me safely around open construction sites, barriers across sidewalks, parked cars, moving vehicles, on and off planes and buses and boats and cars.

He guided me to speaking engagements with my students in schools with children and young adults, church groups, among my students in university classes, college-level classes for people in prisons, committee meetings, and therapy sessions for people in recovery. He guided me on our vacations, to movies, state fairs, theatrical performances, and plays.

Frisco’s size and demeanor was enough to thwart the decision of a fellow who attempted to rob us as he followed my wife and me to our home. He asked the question when he saw the dog, does your dog bite?

As a team we often educated taxi cab drivers who denied me a ride only because I used a dog guide.

Frisco got sick sometimes from the food people fed him, something that posed a lethal danger to the dog’s life. On my way to work one morning, a concerned person told me my dog guide had discharged blood three times. I rushed him to the veterinarian who told me he was a very sick dog. My employer allowed me a week off of work to nurse Frisco back to health, forcing fluids in him, giving him antibiotics and other medications. It took Frisco a week to finally recover. This near-death experience of my dog guide taught me a valuable lesson, I’d do whatever I could to keep my dog guide healthy and safe, whether my dog guide was working or retired. I was vigilant about the food my dog ate. I often requested people to please not feed my dog as dog guides are oriented to one kind of food, only the food fed to the dog by its master.

In May, 2004, it was obvious to me Frisco was ready to retire. My wife and I decided to adopt Frisco. I got another dog guide from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Both dogs had four years together to play and socialize.

The decision to put Frisco down was one of the toughest decisions I ever made. I realized, however, his pain was far too serious and it was not fair to him to continue to suffer. The question I asked myself during the final months, weeks and days of his life was: am I keeping him alive for my benefit or for his? I had to accept the fact that Frisco’s quality of life had deteriorated so much that he was in pain more often then not.. The Labrador Retrievers breed of dog will hide serious pain until the pain is too unbearable whereby the dog can no longer hide it. For Frisco to show his pain meant he was really hurting. My decision to put him to sleep was a decision I made for Frisco’s benefit, though I was truly saddened to lose a partner, a companion and a special dog.

Frisco died on the front lawn of our home, an area where he loved to roam and lay. He left this world on a beautiful warm spring day amidst all of the smells and sounds and sights as he breathed his last on the soft green grass. After it was obvious he had died, I picked up his body and carried Frisco across our front lawn, his last walk across his favorite place of our home.

My wife and I felt Frisco was part of our family. He watched out for both of us. He would often seek us out to keep an eye on both of us.

My current dog guide went around the house in search of Frisco soon after his death. We’re all adjusting to the change, the empty space in our house. Perhaps an important legacy to Frisco is how this dog touched the lives of so many people and creatures in so many positive ways. Trained at six weeks of age, Frisco was always a dog guide, even at the time of his death.

 

Page 5, Article 2: Make tracks to travel
Learn about GPS device and other tools

by Terry Moakley, Susan Olsson and Lydia Peterson

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, an older woman who has a spinal cord injury and who uses a power wheelchair wants to visit a friend across town. But she doesn’t have the skills to take public transportation. With the help of a travel trainer at the local independent living center, she learns to make the trip.

In Tacoma, Washington, a young man with a cognitive disability receives travel training services from his local transit agency to learn how to use fixed-route buses safely and on his own. As a result, he is able to commute daily across town to his new job at the YMCA.

In New York City, a young woman with cerebral palsy and a speech impairment approaches high school graduation with the promise of a job but with no way to get there. After an assessment by professional travel trainers, this young woman receives intensive training to use a primary and an alternate subway route independently to her work site.

Success stories like these occur each day in communities across the nation. Individuals with a variety of physical and developmental disabilities, as well as seniors, learn to use fixed-route public transportation safely and independently from travel instructors and travel trainers who are members of the Association of Travel Instruction (ATI).

At ATI’s August 15-17, Minneapolis conference, travel instructors and travel trainers and other attendees will hear presentations on developments in their profession. One session will focus on the polytraumatic injuries being sustained by many Iraq and Afghanistan conflict veterans, and their need for appropriate travel training services.

Individuals with disabilities and seniors learn travel skills while following a specific route, typically to a school, job, or recreation site. Travel training professionals must be able to determine how different disabilities affect a person’s ability to travel. These professionals must develop appropriate methods to teach travel skills dependent upon individual needs.

Other presentation topics include the development of a GPS device to enhance successful travel for persons with developmental disabilities; the impact of certain medications on disabled persons’ ability to use public transportation safely; tools for growing a high school-based travel training program; progress in the development of a factory-built wheelchair accessible taxi/ADA paratransit vehicle; a round table discussion on “stranger/danger” issues facing travelers with varying disabilities; and, a second round-table session about providing travel training services in real/perceived high crime areas.

ATI also includes a networking social event—a forum in which travel instructors and travel trainers informally share best practices with one another—and a Saturday evening closing banquet complete with entertainment. ATI conference registration information is available at www.travelinstruction.org

ATI is an inclusive association, with membership open to anyone interested in the accessible transportation field.

Page 6: News at a Glance

150 Years of Minneapolis Health Care shown at exhibit

The Hennepin County Medical Center History Museum and Metropolitan Medical Center Historical Library have opened an exhibit to celebrate Minnesota’s 150th birthday. The exhibit, “Hospital Stories: 150 Years of Minneapolis Health Care,” began running in May and will go until the end of June at four locations around the hospital. The exhibit is a look at the past 150 years of health care in Minneapolis, focusing on Hennepin County Medical Center and Metropolitan Medical Center but also encompassing changes in hospital care across the city. The exhibit was made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission.

Hennepin County Medical Center is a nationally recognized Level 1 Trauma Center with the largest emergency department in Minnesota. The comprehensive academic medical center and public teaching hospital includes a 424-bed acute care hospital and primary care and specialty clinics located in downtown Minneapolis, and four primary care clinics in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County.

Improvements announced for Ticket to Work Program

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently issued final rules designed to improve the Ticket to Work program, improving the program’s effectiveness in assisting beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work. The new Ticket to Work program rules include: more beneficiaries under the program, with eligible individuals expanded to include beneficiaries who are expected to medically improve; increased incentive payments for Employment Networks (ENs); an increase in the value of the ticket, with rules to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to take advantage of a combination of services; and synergized efforts overall, promoting better alignment of the Ticket to Work Program, the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program, the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security Program, and other SSA work incentive initiatives.

“Thus far, the results of the Ticket to Work Program have been less than everyone expected and clearly less than Congress intended,” Commissioner Michael Astrue said. “We need to monitor the results of today’s regulation closely, but it is highly likely that Congress will need to revisit the statute in the next few years in order to achieve the goals that Congress intended.”

In preparation, SSA is attempting to increase the number of organizations functioning as ENs, as well as initiating targeted outreach to promote the Program to more beneficiaries and to encourage their participation. In addition, SSA is presenting at national and state conferences and bringing beneficiaries and ENs together at local Work Incentives Seminars (WISE events) throughout the country. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 established the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program. Its purpose is to expand the universe of service providers available to beneficiaries with disabilities who are seeking vocational rehabilitation, employment and related support services. These service providers are available to assist beneficiaries in obtaining, regaining and maintaining self-supporting employment. The final rule can be accessed through the Federal Register online at www.regulations.gov 

Source: www.socialsecurity.gov/work

Prison program with service dogs a success

Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota (HSDM) and the Minnesota Correctional Facility- Faribault are celebrating their three-year partnership this spring. During 2005, a dog-training program was initiated at the prison. The program began by placing shelter dogs at the facility and having teams of two teach the dogs skills required to become a Hearing or Service Dog. Since then, more than 30 dogs have been trained at the facility. The program participants enjoy teaching the dogs new skills—and they say the dogs have taught them a few things as well. “What surprised me most is how much I’ve gotten out of working with the dogs,” said Brent, who’s working with a dog in the program. “When I’m with the dog, I’m more aware of my tone of voice and what I say. The dogs have taught me to work better with people. It’s really helped me a lot.” HSDM and the correctional facility at Faribault will continue their partnership in training and providing dogs for people who have disabilities. “It feels good, knowing that a little bit of difference on our end can make all the difference to someone in need,” said one of the inmates.

Source: Tails from Minnesota, a newsletter of the Hearing and Service Dogs of MN

Court says money discriminates against blind people

The U.S. discriminates against blind people by printing paper money that makes it impossible for them to distinguish among the bills’ varying values, a federal appeals court ruled in May. The ruling could force the Treasury Department to redesign its money. Suggested changes have ranged from making bills different sizes to printing them with raised markings. The American Council for the Blind sued for such changes but the Treasury Department has been fighting the case for about six years.

The U.S. acknowledges the design hinders blind people but it argued that blind people have adapted. Some relied on store clerks to help them, some used credit cards and others folded certain corners to help distinguish between bills. The court ruled 2-1 that such adaptations were insufficient. The government might as well argue that, since handicapped people can crawl on all fours or ask for help from strangers, there’s no need to make buildings wheelchair accessible, the court said. The Treasury Department has redesigned its currency several times in recent years, and adding features to aid the blind would come at a relatively small cost, the court found.

Not all blind people agreed the money needed to be changed. The National Federation of the Blind sided with the government and told the appeals court that no changes were needed. Charlie Richardson, the legally blind manager of Charlie’s Express Stop inside the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., said he doesn’t oppose changing the money but disagrees with the ruling.

“To actually be discriminated against is to have something denied to you,” Richardson said. “We’re not denied the use of money.”

Source: news.yahoo.com

Page 7, Article 1: Upcoming Events

Tour Art at UMN

June 12

Courage Center is displaying artwork by individuals with disabilities at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, from June through August. Come tour Pattee Hall and meet some of the artists as they talk about their work on June 12 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. More information about the program can be found at http://ici.umn.edu/news/art. Lunch provided. Registration required.

FFI: Megan, 612-626-8649, or dushi001@umn.edu

MS Youth Camp

June 15 - 20

Youth Camp is for youth who have a parent, grandparent or other close relative with MS in their family. Participants must have completed third grade to attend Youth Camp and the program is open to youth up to age 18. The week long camp will be held at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, 6282 Cranberry Road, Finland, MN.

FFI: Nancy Dawn Van Beest, 612-335-7900, 800-582-5296, or ndvanbeest@mssociety.org

Summer adult art workshop

June 18 - 20

Designed for aspiring artists ages 14 to adult, this three-day workshop will allow participants to explore a number of different mediums and forms of expression. Work side by side with professional artists from the Twin Cities to develop theater, visual arts, poetry and creative writing skills in this exciting workshop facilitated by Upstream Arts and the Courage Center. Details: Courage Center, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley.

Register at: http://upstreamarts.org/registration.html FFI: 612-331-4584.

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. S.) Bloomington.

FFI: Mary Trierweiler, 612-798-8349 or maryt@fraser.org

Moving Forward MS meeting

June 28

Ask questions, meet others affected by multiple sclerosis and learn everything you need to know after an MS diagnosis. Sponsored by the National MS Society, Minnesota Chapter. Details: Brainerd, MN.

FFI: contact Timothy Holtz at 612-335-7930, 800-582-5296 or tholtz@mssociety.org

WonderWorld art exhibit

June - July

Fantastic creatures, gods and devils, natural phenomena and striking meteorological events inhabit the mystical terrain of WorderWorld. This is an expanded exhibition of the newest work’s by Interact Center’s artists, and launches their new partnership with The Colonial Warehouse public gallery. Join us to celebrate art, artists and the creative spirit. Details: Open by appointment. 212- 3rd Ave. North, Minneapolis.

FFI: 612-339-5145 or www.interactcenter.com

Aging with intellectual disabilities symposium

July 8

The Institute on Community Integration and the School of Social Work at the U of M offer this event designed to improve the lives of older adults with intellectual disabilities. The event will identify challenges faced by older adults with intellectual disabilities and discuss creative opportunities to improve their lives in the community. Participants will learn about current policies and practices and how to effect change in the disability and aging service systems. All community members interested in learning more about how to effectively support people with disabilities in the community are welcome. Details: Free, but registration required. 8 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Johnson Great Room, Mc-Namara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota.

FFI: www.alumnicenter.umn.edu, Jill Beaudette at 612-624-4243 or jbeaudet@umn.edu

Bright Gardens for Fraser tour

July 19

The third annual Bright Gardens for Fraser Tour will feature eight breathtaking Twin Cities gardens and benefits children and adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. The tour includes an opportunity to learn from Hennepin County master gardeners who will be on hand at each garden. Informal gardening classes will also be offered at select locations.  The tour will also feature the work of local artists at some of the gardens. Details: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20.

FFI: Rose, 612-789-8343, or roser@fraser.org. Web: www.fraser.org/calendar

Bike MS: Star Tribune TRAM

July 20

The Ride Across Minnesota (TRAM) is the ultimate Minnesota road trip: small town hospitality, Midwest cooking and the five best days of cycling the Iron Range and North Shore have to offer. Enjoy more than 250 miles from Grand Rapids to Chisholm, Biwabik, and Two Harbors, with a finish in Duluth.

FFI: 612-335-7900 or 800-582-5296.

UCP-MN Golf Tournament

July 21

This is a golf tournament with hole-in-one opportunities. In addition to the tournament, there will be a silent auction. Sponsorships are available, and individual golfers are also encouraged to participate. Details: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm, Oak Marsh Golf Course, 526 Inwood Avenue North, Oakdale, MN.

FFI: Jo Ann Erbes, 651-646-7588, or ucpmn@cpinternet.com

Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act

July 25

Save the date and honor the legislation that provides us with access to pretty much every place we go. Celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Details: St Paul- Midway Area.

FFI: ADA Minnesota, 651-603-2015(v) or 651-603-2001(tty).

Page 7, Article 2: A matter of life and death
From paper to digital: revolutionizing health records

It seems intuitive in this day and age that we have electronic health records. Most of us assume our medical records are digitized to save us time down the road and help our doctors track our medical history. Americans would probably be surprised that a mere 14 percent of doctors in the United States use electronic medical records.

Jennifer and Randy Queen are all too familiar with the issues of both types of recording-keeping. In 1997 they welcomed their daughter Courtney into the world. Courtney was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, a rare disease caused by a large deletion from chromosome 22. Evident at birth, DiGeorge causes medical problems with the cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine, and immune systems. Courtney spent the first six months of her life in the hospital. At 10 years old, she had been hospitalized approximately 24 times and had undergone more than 400 medical procedures.

For the first years of Courtney’s treatments at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the hospital relied on the typical paper medical records. The Queens maintained their own medical notes for Courtney and constantly transported them to various medical facilities. With no easy way to provide her medical history in the case of an emergency, they would have to explain Courtney’s situation all over again. This made the family reluctant to travel.

Even at Vanderbilt, the Queens constantly completed new forms and repeated information. The problems with this record-keeping system were never more evident than when a procedure was delayed for more than four hours while doctors and nurses waited for Courtney’s lengthy file to arrive from another hospital floor. Finally, the records arrived thanks to an aide transporting the soaring stack of papers and manila folders on a wheelchair.

In 2005 Vanderbilt moved into new facilities featuring an advanced health IT infrastructure. The buildings and medical departments are now connected through a single computerized electronic medical record system. “Now, as long as we stay in the Vandy-zone, all of our information is available at the click of a button,” Jennifer Queen said.

Unlike Vanderbilt, most facilities systems’ are still paper-based and force doctors to waste thousands of hours and billions of dollars every year on redundant tests and duplicative history-taking. Digitized health records could catch doctors up with even their newest patients in a matter of minutes and guide them toward more efficient, useful, and cost-effective time management.

Health IT does more than just speed the check-in process for a patient. The information available through Vanderbilt’s health IT system contains Courtney Queen’s medications and test results. It also contains specific details about the type of care she requires, down to the level of difficulty she has with IV sticks, which is recalled instantly. Today, the Queens’ know the medical personnel in every department understand Courtney needs a special IV and no longer worry if the doctor or nurse has the information they require to effectively help Courtney.

The value of digitized health records, like Vanderbilt’s, is not lost on health care policy makers. Legislation has been introduced in Congress and momentum appears to be building for the federal government to take a leadership role in the transition from paper medical records to health IT, which would allow more health facilities to convert to health IT.

Due to the multitude of digitizing programs available, American doctors have been reluctant to make the switch to digitalized records – as opposed to 90 percent of doctors in Sweden and 60 percent in the United Kingdom. The key concern about health It is that of patient privacy and fears that unauthorized computer hackers would be able to access and see personal health information. To that, advocates of health IT note that there is often nothing stopping unauthorized persons from looking at paper medical records.

Another challenge is that of health care providers, even those with online records, having systems that can communicate from provider to provider. That seems to be a bigger challenge, as different health care providers don’t always have compatible technology.

Federal leadership can establish interoperable standards and create the incentives necessary for doctors, hospitals and insurance companies to move toward electronic records, and integrate health IT into government health programs. This would allow every family to feel the same ease in any medical facility that the Queens feel at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “We’ve seen firsthand what an amazing difference electronic medical records can make to a family’s life. These technologies should be available to everyone,” Jennifer Queen said. It is time for Washington to take a cue and place health IT at the top of our national agenda.

Source: Health IT Now! Coalition

Editor’s note: Although many Minnesota health care providers still do not provide online records and customer accessibility to their own records online, there are a number of options available for those seeking the convenience of having personal health records online. Some web site providers offer clients the option of downloading personal medical files. Others require that information be keyboarded in.

The digitized records can include everything from one’s complete medical history to daily medication schedules. These provide an invaluable service to the disability community, their family members and medical service providers. Both Google and MSN have launched password-protected sites where users can post or download their own medical information. MSN’s HealthVault service, www.healthvault.com launched in fall 2007, Google Health launched a few months later at www.google.com. Other sites to check out include www.healthrecordsonline.com and www.ihealthrecord.org

Page 8, Article 1: Home sweet home
AXIS member a proud owner of a new Habitat dwelling

by Jon Bauer

AXIS Healthcare member Ron Thomas, a quadriplegic, didn’t know what to expect when he attended a Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) meeting about accessible housing for people with disabilities. “I saw an article in Access Press that Habitat for Humanity was planning to build accessible housing in Plymouth and that people interested could attend a meeting for more information,” Thomas said.

Although Thomas and his girlfriend, Tari Ricci were the only people who attended the meeting, TCHFH encouraged them to apply for consideration. “Unfortunately we were the only two people to attend the meeting,” Thomas said. “We only attended the meeting to show support for the need for accessible housing, but they encouraged us to apply and I’m glad we did.”

Thomas and Ricci were selected as future homeowners and will soon be moving into a new one-level, two-bedroom, accessible townhome in Plymouth. Construction on the home began in August, 2007 and the TCHFH homebuilding process generally takes 10 months to complete. “We will probably be moving in at the end of June or early July,” Thomas said.

Thomas and Ricci were required to finish 300 hours of sweat equity before they could move into their home. Habitat for Humanity requires that all new homeowners put in a set amount of time. “100 hours can be proxied out to other people,” Thomas said. “I completed most of my hours by visiting the construction site, taking photos of the progress and sending the pictures into Habitat for Humanity. They were very accommodating about how we could complete our sweat equity hours. Ricci and I even worked at the Habitat for Humanity office for part of our hours.” Ricci also worked at the site throughout the winter.

Volunteers from a number of different organizations helped out with the building of the home. “I’m really grateful for all the help from my friends, family and the volunteers at AXIS Healthcare and other companies.” Thomas said. In addition to AXIS Healthcare, volunteers from Wells Fargo, Boston Scientific, General Mills and other companies and individuals worked on completion of the home.

“At the start of building, I was out at the site just about every day,” Thomas said. “I enjoyed meeting all the volunteers and I know it was important for them to see the person who would be living in the home. Now, Tari and I try to make it out to the site weekly to document the progress of our new home and to meet the people working on it.”

Volunteers from AXIS Healthcare helped out at the construction site on March 29th. “It was so much fun doing something outside of work with all of my work friends,” said AXIS Healthcare Member Services Coordinator Missy Bottila. “It just goes to show you what wonderful people I work with. I was very proud! I would love to organize a future project with people here at AXIS to do another Habitat for Humanity project.”

AXIS Healthcare is a disability care coordination organization founded in 1997 by Courage Center and Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute as an innovative model of care for people with disabilities. AXIS staff has extensive experience working with people with physical disabilities and use this expertise, and community relationships, to ensure that members get the right care, at the right time, in the right place. More information about AXIS Healthcare and the services available to individuals with disabilities can be found at www.axishealth.com

Page 8, Article 2: Gillette and Courage offer test drives
Children with disabilities ride bikes, play sports at event

Children with disabilities rode bicycles and enjoyed other adaptive sports at the seventh annual adapted Bike Expo and Sports Jam on May 3 at Courage Center. Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and Courage Center organized the event so that children, parents, teachers, therapists and others could see and try out the latest adaptive sports equipment available. Handcycles, bicycles and tricycles were among the items available.

“It’s important for all children, especially children with disabilities, to be active and engaged,” said Tammy Larson, therapeutic recreation specialist at Gillette. “By partnering with Courage Center, we can offer a number of life-enhancing activities for children and adults.”

Children and parents also took part in the used bike swap sale, trading models they may have outgrown for a new one, or made a first-time purchase. Information was available for adaptive sports programs in the summer and throughout the year.

 

Page 9: Starry Night Prom
Dancing the night away at the popular DeLaSalle spring event

by Nancy Sopkowiak

Do you remember the excitement of attending your high school prom? Did you skip the experience due to disability concerns? Or did you feel uncomfortable attending because of the lack of inclusion and accessibility. Never again! On May 3rd, DeLaSalle High School hosted the memorable Starry Night Prom for persons living with disabilities.

DeLaSalle Vice-President Peg Hodapp chairs the complimentary Starry Night Prom. She fondly recalls the first Starry Night Prom back in 2001 which hosted 70 party revelers. Starry Night Prom enthusiasm has spread throughout the disability community, mostly by word of mouth. This year 1015 people attended, which included family and helpers for the guests. Ms. Hodapp estimates about 750 party attendees were guests with disabilities. Guests of all ages came with a date, in a group, or stag and reveled in the festivities, refreshments, and dancing.

One hundred seventy-five DeLaSalle students volunteered their time and enthusiasm to Starry Night Prom this year. The 9th - 12th graders from the DeLaSalle Diversity Committee spent months planning the event, including attendance at sensitivity training. A training highlight involved someone with a disability talking about life’s ups and downs. On May 3rd the kids put up decorations, directed parking, manned registration tables, served treats, and danced with the guests.

The Grand March, held in the dance hall, opened the evening with much zest. As each couple or group came under the sparkling Grand March Arch, the crowd cheered. Some guests loved the march so much, they went through twice.

The dancing broke out after the Grand March. Groups, individuals, couples, and line dancers grooved to the resounding music. In an adjoining room, some guests sampled snacks and drinks in café atmosphere. Another large room held the photography studio, where guests could have pictures taken. Other folks relaxed in the quieter hallways.

Many areas bustled with activity. Due to the amazing growth of the prom, the Diversity Committee will continue discussing ideas to maneuver the crowds for more fabulous fun in years to come.

Ever After Gowns, a local non-profit company, provided beautiful formal gowns for those in need. Ladies were invited to a complimentary Boutique to pick out their dress and accessories. “It’s not just about the dress,” said Maggie Harris, president and co-founder of Ever After Gowns. “It’s about the experience we feel every girl deserves to have.

Monika Dizer, a prom attendee, enjoyed her special day of pampering at the Ever After Gowns Boutique in April. When Monika arrived, she felt flattered when they presented her a special flower with her name. Soon a personal shopper brought Monika back to the boutique. Held in a school cafeteria, the room looked like a beautiful upscale shop with racks and racks of dresses. Assisted by the staff, Monika chose a stunning black gown. Next her shopper guided Monika around the room to find accessories: shoes, shawls, jewelry, nail polish, make-up, and a black silk purse. The staff even photographed Monika in her finery.

Monika attended Starry Night Prom with her fiance Angelo Garcia, as they have for several years. They both appreciated the classy evening. Angelo enjoyed his ice cream treat and the fun crowd. Monika loved dancing and having pictures taken.

The students seemed to have as much fun as the guests. “By the end of the night, it’s like we are best friends. I like being a part of that,” a student said. As each guest departed, a committee member gave them a “Starry Night 2008” ceramic star as a memento of the evening.

If you are interested in attending Starry Night Prom next year, visit: www.delasalle.com. For more information about Ever After Gowns, look up: www.everaftergowns.org

Page 10, Article 1: ADAPT rolls into capital
The group that defined grassroots disability activism is turning 25 years old

by Dave Reynolds

It’s always a big week in the nation’s capital when ADAPT rolls into town. But the organization’s conference this spring was really, really big.

When it was formed in 1983, ADAPT was the acronym for the Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit. Organizers at that time linked up to protest accessibility problems with the transportation system in Denver, Colorado. Largely because of their acts of civil disobedience, both city and long-distance buses across the country are now required to be accessible to riders with disabilities.

Since then, ADAPT’s non-violent, civil actions have been instrumental in passing the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Money Follows the Person legislation, and several other projects and measures designed to help people better access their communities, and to live as independently as possible outside nursing homes and other institutions.

For more than a decade, ADAPT and other disability rights groups have been pushing for changes in Medicaid policies that currently favor nursing homes for long-term care.

April 27 - May 1, 2008, about 500 ADAPT activists were in Washington, DC, not only to celebrate the group’s 25th anniversary, but also to continue the push for Congress to pass the Community Choice Act.

They also participated in a Fun Run (& Roll) at Upper Senate Park to raise money to help members with low and fixed incomes to attend local and national actions in the future. The national honorary runner for the fundraiser was Marca Bristo, President and CEO of Access Living in Chicago, who helped found the National Council on Independent Living. Bristo was appointed by President Bill Clinton as Chairperson of the National Council on Disability.

For about six hours during one day of the conference, ADAPT members shut down the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, which is headquarters for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and demanded to meet with HHS Secretary Michael Levitt.

Levitt eventually agreed to set a time to meet with ADAPT members to discuss the policy barriers that force seniors and people with disabilities into nursing homes and other facilities.

“We’re hoping that after today HHS will work with us to reverse the current trend, and assure older and disabled Americans can live full lives in their community,” said national ADAPT organizer Bob Kafka.

Those interested in supporting the ADAPT can do so through www.adapt.org.

Source: Inclusion Daily Express

Page 10, Article 2: Dating, relationships, romance and sexuality
Opportunity for discussion and exploration

by Lance H. Hegland

Members of the disability and aging communities are often so focused on issues surrounding health care, transportation, and employment that some of the basic human needs—forming friendships, dating, developing long-term romantic relationships and exploring sexuality—remain relatively untouched. I’m guessing the very personal, private and sensitive nature of these topics contribute to the lack of dialogue. However, discussion-oriented workshops in June may spark new conversation surrounding these topics. Participation in these discussions are free and open to anyone—individuals experiencing various effects of disability/aging, family, friends, past/present partners, colleagues, professionals and the general public.

The discussions are a part of the 5th annual Sexy Spring Skill-Share. Sexy Spring is a free, radical, sex- and body-positive gathering geared toward addressing the many ways in which sex, gender, relationships, our bodies and our choices impact our lives. The variety of events includes guided discussions, workshops and demonstrations. Sexy Spring is organized by the Sexy Spring Collective, a local consensus-based collective of volunteers dedicated to improving access to sexuality education and helping all people, regardless of income, gender, body type or race, create connections and intimacy in their daily lives.

Sexy Spring is June 13-15, 2008 at Blegen Hall, 269 - 19th Ave South, which is located on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis Campus.

The first discussion is “Mingling Disability and/or Aging with Dating, Romance, Relationships, and Sexuality”. The informal and open conversation will provide everyone with an opportunity to pose questions, portray experiences, share knowledge, describe opinions/beliefs, and comment on dating, romance, relationships, and sexuality in light of disability and/or aging. This workshop will offer an excellent opportunity for individuals who do not experience or have little familiarity with the effects of disability/aging as well as potential future dates, lovers, and partners to share their curiosities, questions or concerns. Potential topics may include but are not limited to common effects, challenges, myths, stereotypes, prejudices, solutions, resources, strategies, techniques and assistive technology.

The second discussion, entitled “A Look at the Experiences and Perceptions of Relationships: What Happens When Disability Is Thrown into the Mix?”, will be an engaging open conversation discussing the challenges, perceptions and stigmas related to entering and sustaining an intimate relationship when one person has a disability and the other does not.

Both discussions aim to cover both heterosexual and homosexual relationships as well as perspectives from people with and without disabilities. In addition, both discussions highly encourage the attendance of couples and individuals who have first-hand experience with any of these topics to assist provide resources, knowledge and mentorship.

Participants are welcome to simply listen and are equally welcome to participate depending on comfort. Participants who don’t feel comfortable posing questions or sharing information with the group are welcome to provide questions and information prior to the discussion via email to lhhegland@precisainc.com or put the questions in writing to the facilitator immediately before the discussion begins.

For more information, including full workshop schedules, see the web site www.sexy spring.org or contact the Sexy Spring Collective by email at info@sexyspring.org or by telephone 612-435-5490.

Page 11, Article 1: Theater Review - From the front row

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Gutherie Theater, Minneapolis, MN: seen May 16th, 2008

by Raymond Luczak

Of the most performed plays in Shakespeare’s canon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is high on the list. It’s all about unrequited love and its many disguises. According to Wiki-pedia, it appears that Shake-speare may have been writing this play as a light-hearted anecdote while working on the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. To simplify its overcomplicated story, involving ever-changing alliances and desires, for those who’ve never read or seen the play at least once in its many adaptations: Four days before the wedding of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta (otherwise known as Queen of the Amazons), two couples run away from their parents to a forest led by the fairy king and queen Oberon and Titania. The two couples fall for the other couple’s half thanks to Puck, by far the play’s most memorable character and certainly one of Shakespeare’s most Dionysusian characters. He easily causes such havoc by rubbing a powerful love potion onto the sleeper’s eyes which causes the sleeper, upon awakening, to fall in love with the first living thing he or she sees. This provides for a particularly comic moment when Titania awakens to see the vainglorious bad actor Bottom, played by Stephen Pelinski, transformed as an ugly ass for the first time, and even funnier when she begs to kiss his face. Yet, one has to wonder how the audience would feel if the ass was not a donkey but a disabled person, say, with cerebral palsy; as we all know, not all disabled people can fit into most able-bodied people’s definitions of beauty, whatever they may be.

Of all the Guthrie productions that I’ve seen by Joe Dowling, Dream truly works on many levels. Yes, it’s gleefully over-the-top and filled with all sorts of pop cultural references, but in the world of fairies, literally anything goes. The fairy costumes designed by Paul Tazwell were pure eye candy, and the Rorschach blob-inspired set by Frank Hallinan Flood allowed for a fluid sense of staging, an easier shift from reality into the fantastic world of fairies. The huge cauldron-like ball that opened up like a clam to reveal a lavish boudoir was truly extravagant, a boudoir fitting for the queen, played with aplomb by Emily Swallow. There were moments when the fairies decked out in their full splendor prancing about made me feel as if I was watching Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music-free version of Cats on acid.

The production had a few standout performances: Erin Cherry as the First Fairy was amazing to watch in the few moments when she made her presence felt; Valeri Mudek was delightful and funny as Helena, torn between two men who’ve fallen in love with her (thanks to Puck’s sly mischievous potion), and the one she wants; and Randy Reyes as Frank Flute nearly stole the show in the play-within-the-play in which he and a group of truly bad actors, featuring the pompously overacting Bottom, present an amateurish playlet in honor of the Duke and Hippolyta’s wedding. Randy Reyes is a fine comic actor.

Most of the performers in this production were graduates of the University of Minnesota Guthrie’s BFA Program and Guthrie’s summer program, as well as those who had been in the theater’s 1997 production. I have not seen such a show that brimmed with so much vitality as this one, and the mix of experienced actors and young upstarts surely helped that energy.

Due to the complexity and cast size of this show, three American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters were used: Patty Gordon, Tammy A. Hansen, and Nancy Niggley. They all wore jackets or dresses that were more festive than usual; this worked very well with the exception of Ms. Hansen, who wore an orange-flavored dress that provided insufficient contrast against her skin. While the ASL translation was superb overall, the richness of Ms. Gordon and Ms. Niggley’s character work showed how much more Ms. Hansen can improve, in terms of varying her rhythm and facial expressions, especially when she interpreted Puck. However, I do applaud the Guthrie for including an interpreter of color, as we truly need to see more minorities involved in theater. And once again, the ASL Interpreted Show Program is exemplary; it provided a face picture for each of the actors playing important characters and indicated which interpreters would translate which characters. This helped keep track of who’s who on stage.

On a separate note, I discon-certedly learned from a wheelchair patron that while the theater does provide an accessible bathroom, it had taken her more than 15 minutes to visit the facilities and get back to her seat, which is longer than most intermissions. I was rather surprised and very disappointed because the theater is very new. No one seemed to have thought about the logistics of time for such wheelchair patrons, particularly if the show is longer than three hours. It is my hope that the Guthrie can find a way to streamline the amount of time required. For instance, the elevator next to the area set aside for wheelchair users shouldn’t necessitate looking around for someone with a card to operate it during intermission.

That said, if you haven’t seen this production, go see the fairies and laugh. You’ll come out of the theater with buoyant smiles plastered across your face.

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 11, Article 2: Web Sightings

What are your favorite video clips? June’s picks were submitted by Britta Beeck, a Maple Grove resident who has worked on web accessibility issues in Minnesota since 2002. Believing that the World Wide Web’s technology should be creatively exploited to learn about new possibilities for promoting diversity and advancing our understanding of cultural, physical and other differences, she is hopeful that someday the web will truly be universal. Britta has built web sites for groups including VSA arts of Minnesota, the Minnesota STAR Program and other organizations and companies. She holds degrees as an attorney and in accessible web design. See samples of her work at www.brittabeeck.info. Happy surfing!

Ps. Join in. Send your top five (with comments) to access@accesspress.org

“The Job”

www.youtube.com/

Are you struggling to find the right job? This movie about white-collar and immigrant workers has a clever and funny twist! Britta especially liked the appropriate music, acting and camera angles.

Forward to: anyone considering a career change

“Kids Start Early”

www.youtube.com/

Yoga is something many people have tried or would like to try. There are many very easy ways to enjoy this form of exercise. These kids start early. Watch KindaYoga (part 1).

Forward to: anyone who likes cute kids and yoga

“Dogs”

www.youtube.com/

Wonder what a service dog is capable of? Check out this well-trained super service dog. The dog cleans up and even puts his buddy to bed.

Forward to: your favorite dog guide and its partner

“British Humor”

www.youtube.com/

If you enjoy a British sense of humor, Britta recommends this clip. Here is Mr. Bean in the hospital’s waiting room.

Forward to: anyone who must visit a doctor

“Elektrokardiogramm”

www.youtube.com/

Can medical devices be included in art? Yes, it’s possible, according to the German band Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk’s “Elektrokardiogramm” shows that medical technology can be presented in pleasing and fun ways. “This gives me a new cool attitude towards electrocardiograms and other medical devices,” Britta said. “Maybe I could also create something cool like Kraftwerk and change what is downbeat into something upbeat.”

Forward to: anyone who needs a jump-start for their day

“Evolution of Dance”

www.youtube.com/

Love to dance? Here is a fun video showing various dance styles, by one of the most un-self-conscious people ever.

Forward to: dancers or those who enjoyed watching “Dancing With The Stars” on television

Page 12: Articles fund on page 1.

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/

The Boy Friend

July 11 - 27

Lyric Arts Company of Anoka at Main Street Stage, 420 E. Main St., Anoka. ASL: Sat., July 12, 7:30 pm (IF a request is made at least one week in advance), Tix: $15, $13 student/senior, $17 box seats, Phone: 763-422-1838, Web: www.lyricarts.org

The Count of Monte Cristo

June 13 - Aug. 23

University of Minnesota Centennial Showboat Players at Harriet Island Regional Park - East Gate entrance to Showboat Landing, St. Paul. ASL and AD: Sat., August 2, 2:30 pm, Tix: $20; E-mail: showboat@umn.edu, Padelford Packet Boat Co. Phone: 651-227-1100, Web: www.riverrides.com or www.Showboat.umn.edu

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

July 11 - 27

Mounds View Community Theatre at Irondale High School, 2425 Long Lake Road, New Brighton. ASL: Sat., July 19, 2:00 pm upon request at least two weeks in advance, Tix: Reduced to $9 (reg. $16, $12 senior, student, $8 child), Phone: 651-638-2139, E-mail: goseemvct@aol.com Web: www.mvct.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

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

The Government Inspector

July 5 - August 24

Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls.  AD: Sat., July 26, 1:00 pm; sensory tour at 10:30 am; Fri., August 1, 7:30 pm, ASL: Fri., August 8, 7:30 pm; Thurs., August 14, 7:30 pm, Captioning: Sat., August 16, 1:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $18 (reg. $24-69); captioning users half-off, Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: