Access Press - November 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:
“It’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” —Barack Obama
Page 1, Article 1:
Feeling at home in Europe
ACT presents its history exhibit at the
European Council in Strasbourg
Last month I went to France to talk disability rights. The seeds for the trip were planted when Advocating Change Together (for whom I work) sold one of its Disability History Walls to the Hungarian Eotvos Larand University program on disability. The history exhibit consists of 21 poster-size depictions of issues and attitudes on disability over the last 2000-plus years. A group within the Hungarian university adapted the exhibit, adding eight new panels specific to disability issues of Hungary and Europe.
The adapted exhibit has since traveled widely in Europe, and Eotvos Larand University’s program on disability studies was invited to present the story of ACT’s history wall to the European Council in Stras-bourg, France. I was also invited to talk about the wall and about societal perceptions of disability. The presentation was in connection with opening of a conference sponsored by the Swedish government in regards to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or CRPD.
The trip to Strasbourg struck me as noteworthy for a couple reasons. One is the amount of international attention that disability rights in general—and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in particular—has been receiving. That these issues are being presented and debated all over the world I find very positive for persons with disabilities.
Other issues now being addressed worldwide are the attitudes toward, and the accessibility for, a person (like me) that uses a motorized wheelchair for their mobility. The specific issues of my travel logistics are being talked about at the Europe Council (and more and more here in the United States). Attitudes of the mind do produce physical and programmatic inaccessibility.
In my case, the question was: will the airline offer any assistance for a person to get on and off the plane in Amsterdam? In fact, Northwest Airlines/KLM did offer assistance, complete with grumbling from the captain of the flight. However, Air France would not transport my wheelchair nor offer me any assistance in transferring on and off their airplanes. So, I was back in territory all to familiar to those of us using chairs to get around: I had to get creative in making my way from Amsterdam to Strasbourg.
At least the conference offered a glimmer of hope that things are rolling in the right direction.
Rick Cardenas is co-director of Advocating Change Together and community organizer for Self-Advocates Minnesota (SAM).
Page 1, Article 2:
Rewriting history
The significance of the ADA Amendments Act
cannot be underestimated
The ADA Amendment Act (ADAAA) becomes
effective Jan. 1, 2009, bringing this important legislation back to its original
intent. The ADAA was signed into law Sept. 29, thanks in large part to the
support of more than 220 national organizations, including the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce, the American Society of Employers, disability organizations,
veterans’ groups, church organizations and the National Association
of Manufacturers. The bill passed the House on a vote of 402 to 17, and unanimously
passed the Senate.
To understand what the ADAAA means, though, it’s important to understand
why the ADA needed amending in the first place. When it was passed back in
1990, the ADA had a definition of disability that was based on the definition
used in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. An individual with a disability has
a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major
life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having
such an impairment. So Congress used that definition, which was originally
in the Rehab Act, because it had worked well.
But the intent of the ADA began to be eroded by legal decisions. In 1999
the U.S. Supreme Court started to narrow the definition of disability in
unexpected ways. In a case called Sutton v. United Air Lines, the court said
that, when you determine whether an individual has a disability under the
ADA, you have to consider the effects of mitigating measures—like corrective
lenses, medications, hearing aids, and prosthetic devices— when deciding
impairment is substantially limiting. The court did one other thing in Sutton
v. United Air Lines. It essentially overturned a previous Rehab Act case,
School Bd. of Nassau County v. Arline. In the Arline case, the definition
of disability was viewed broadly. This focused on the part of the definition
of disability that mentions having a “record of impairment.” But
the court in Sutton required a more restrictive view of that part of the
definition, which practically eliminated it.
In 2002, the Supreme Court, Toyota v. Williams focused on the word “substantially” from
the definition of disability, and said that it means “considerably” or “to
a large degree.” The court also narrowed the scope of “major
life activity,” stating that it must be something that was central
importance to most people’s daily lives.
Between Sutton v. Toyota, and other cases, the definition of disability was
narrowed to such a degree that most cases became more about whether a person
met the definition of disability, rather than focusing on access or accommodation.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission also impacted the ADA. It had
regulations that defined “substantially limits” as “significantly
restricts,” which was inconsistent with Congress’ intent when
it passed the ADA.
This is why the Congress has decided that the ADA needs to be amended.
Congress proceeds new law with findings of fact, intended to justify the
legislation. The findings:
• Congress intended the ADA to provide a clear and comprehensive national
mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities
and provide broad coverage; and
• While Congress expected that the definition of disability under the
ADA would be interpreted consistently with how courts had applied the definition
of a handicapped individual under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, that expectation
has not been fulfilled; and
• Specific statements that the Supreme Court holdings in Sutton v.
Toyota eliminated protection for many individuals that Congress intended
to protect.
Then the legislation lists the proposal of the ADAAA, which include:
• To reject the requirement, under Sutton v. Toyota, that mitigating
measures be considered when determining whether a person meets the definition
of disability; and
• To reject the Supreme Court’s reasoning, under Sutton v. Toyota,
with regard to the “record of” prong of the definition of disability,
and reinstate the Arline standard; and
• To reject the Sutton v. Toyota standard that the terms “substantially” and “major” need
to be interpreted strictly because that creates a demanding standard for
qualifying as person with a disability; and
• To express Congress’ expectation that the EEOC will revise its
definition of “substantially limits.”
The ADAAA has new rules for the definition
of disability. They include:
• The definition of disability is construed in favor of broad coverage
to the maximum extent permitted; and
• The term “substantially limits” is to be interpreted consistently
with the ADAAA; and
• An impairment that substantially limits one major life activity need
not limit other major life activities to be considered a disability; and
• An impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if
it would substantially limit a major life activity when active; and
• Mitigating measures shall not be a factor when determining whether
an impairment substantially limits a major life activity. The only mitigating
measures that can be considered are ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses
that fully correct visual acuity of eliminate refractive error.
• People who are regarded as being disabled are not entitled to reasonable
accommodations or modifications. Previously, courts had debated whether the
ADA required having to accommodate a disability that didn’t actually
exist.
The ADAAA is not some revolutionary new law. It simply attempts to bring
the law back to what Congress intended it to be when it passed the ADA in
1990.
This article is from the Independent Living
Resource Utilization Project listserv. It was put out by the ADA Disability
and Technical Assistance Center, Southwest Region, federally funded by the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the Office
of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the U.S. Department of
Education.
Page 2, Article 1: Editor's Column
by Tim Benjamin
Whether Barack Obama was your choice or not, he is our 44th president and I hope you join me in welcoming him as the first African-American president of the United States. His plan for supporting people with disabilities, as many of you probably know, is quite straightforward and comprehensive. We can only hope that he can carry it out and yet, I also think it’s wrong for us to think that anyone can make these big changes happen by themselves. We have to make it our job as well. First, and it’s a pretty simple thing, will be to help our president get the United States of America to become a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and have it ratified by the Senate.
Obama’s plan also includes education for people with disabilities. More of us in the disability community need to take advantage of educational opportunities and become lifelong learners. Obama has committed himself to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and has promised increased funding for higher education. Many in the disability community have benefited already from IDEA, but many more of us need to take advantage of the funding for higher education. With college educations, we can get better jobs, and President-Elect Obama has promised to make available more government jobs and to promote private industry to continue hiring people with disabilities. He has said, “I am proud to support the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2007,” which would give us the care we need to get out and take advantage of these other rights to people with disabilities deserve. And in return, of course, we have to become taxpayers and consumers who contribute toward paying our fair share. We have to be part of the solution to the problems that lie ahead for others with disabilities. Listen to Obama explain his positions on disability policies in a video at www.barackobama. com/issues/disabilities/
“We must build a world free of
unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination …. policies must
be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must
be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they
need and live independently as full citizens in their communities.”
— Barack Obama
Locally, we’re celebrating Access Press author, Pete Feigal, who has won the Charlie Smith award this year—and it’s well-deserved. Feigal has been transforming the views of the disability and larger communities for years. I’ve seen Feigal speak in many venues, from a seminar of 15 or 20 people, to a keynote speech for hundreds of faculty at the University of Minnesota, to a television interview on spirituality and mental health issues on PBS. And every time I’ve heard him speak, he tells a different story from a different perspective and uses a very broad array of insights and analogies to help people understand life with disabilities. As just one example of his influence, Feigal has changed the way that police perceive and respond to people with disabilities, especially people with mental health issues, in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota and the country.
Pete has written for Access Press for many years, but his words have also been printed in publications of every kind throughout the world. And while he speaks of profound things, his words have not come to him easily. He has struggled most of his adult life with his own mental health issues while dealing with the changes that multiple sclerosis have brought to his physical body. Losing his eyesight has also limited his ability to continue producing some of the most beautiful art work that I’ve ever seen. Being a motorcycle enthusiast myself as a youngster, I sympathize with Pete on losing the physical ability not only to ride a motorcycle but to enjoy the artistic experience of taking those machines apart and re-fabricating them into your own works of art.
He wouldn’t want to be called an inspiration, but I don’t think he could deny that he has inspired many people over his life. I’m very proud to call Pete Feigal my friend and to know that he considers me a friend—and a brother in the biker world. I would give him the shirt off my back, but maybe better, I’d also give him a valve cover gasket to continue his ride.
We’re starting a new section or column in Access Press spotlighting individuals and organizations that are Minnesota-based. When your organization has achieved new goals, has made outstanding achievements, or just has some good news to spread to the community, let us know. If there’s a person in your circle who has achieved a lifelong goal, or taken a step above and beyond, or has just been an inspiration to you, let us know, and when space is available, we’ll highlight these individuals and organizations in “People and Places.” Send news items to access@accesspress.org and soon you’ll be able to post these items on the new Access Press website.
Page 2, Article 2:
Boy, therapist still inspire each other
Marilyn Blom of Grass Valley, Calif.
and Richard Brown of St. Louis Park have two things in common. They both
participate in programs for artists with developmental disabilities. Blom,
a retired occupational therapist, works one day a week as an art instructor
at Neighborhood Center of the Arts in Grass Valley, www. nccn.net/~nca/index.htm.
Brown is an accomplished artist at Partnership Resources in St. Louis Park.
Both of them also once lived at Faribault State Hospital, where Brown was a
resident from 1951 to 1970. Blom was an occupational therapist there from 1959
to 1962 and lived in the employees’ building. They shared
memories of those days late this summer when Blom visited with Brown at Partnership
By September 1959, Richard Brown, a 13-year-old-boy with cerebral palsy,
had spent the last eight years of his life lying in a crib or crawling on
the floor in Pine Building at Faribault. People had a very difficult time
understanding his speech, but the nurses, one in particular, found him to
be an engaging youngster who interacted with them with sounds and arm and
head movements. Blom came to work at Faribault in August 1959 to fulfill
a condition of the stipend program which supported her in the occupational
therapy program at the University of Minnesota. She outlined for the Faribault
staff the work that she could do for residents there. The nurses in Pine
recommended that she include Dickie, as they called Brown. Blom started to
work with him and seven other Faribault residents on October 5, 1959.
The nurses used a reclining wheelchair to bring Brown to see
Blom in the visitors’ room in Pine. Blom tried to position him upright, but he
could not maintain a sitting position. Blom’s training had included
nothing about working with persons with cerebral palsy, but she devised a
seating harness to support Brown so he could sit up. Even with the harness,
he could only initially sit up for five or ten minutes before he tired. After
she worked with him several times a week for three months, Brown could sit
for half an hour, after six months for an hour. By October 1960, he could
sit for two hours with little or no fatigue.
Brown’s life had changed. Starting in January 1961 he got the “working
boys diet” instead of the “infirmary diet”—food he
had to chew and not just swallow. He attended recreational and church services
when his building was not on quarantine for hepatitis, as it was from December
1960 until March 1961. Blom and her colleague, Orville Berg, an occupational
therapist who joined the Faribault staff in April 1961, saw
how quickly he learned. They made him a mouth stick and set up an old manual
typewriter so he could practice typing and learn where the letters were.
Early in 1962, James Geary, the director of the Division of Special Education
in the Minnesota Department of Education learned about Blom’s work
with Brown. Geary prompted the Department of Public Welfare and Faribault
staff to investigate whether he could attend the newly opened Worthington
Crippled Child-ren’s School.
Faribault had a school program at that time for about 200 of the 3,200 residents.
In order to support a possible application to the Worthington school, the
teacher for deaf students at Faribault worked on sign language with him for
11 half-hour sessions in the spring of 1962. Brown learned to recognize
more than 30 signs, but could not physically make them. Another teacher,
who worked with him on reading readiness for five half-hour sessions, concluded
that Brown could learn to read with intensive, individual instruction. Nevertheless,
Brown’s “home” school district, the Minneapolis Public
Schools, refused to pay for the Worth-ington program because there was a
similar program at Dowling School. Inexplicably, in July 1962, a state hospital
psychologist recommended that Brown’s school program be discontinued.
Blom wanted to move to California after she graduated from the
University of Minnesota. She moved there in 1962 to work in a
school for children with disabilities. She had shown that Brown
could sit up with appropriate support. She also showed that Brown
could learn. After she left, Brown sent her his picture, but
he was lying down on a wheelchair outside one of the Faribault
buildings. In 1965, the school department at Faribault scheduled him to receive “home-bound” instruction
for half an hour two or three times a week in Linden Building, where he lived
at that time. In February 1966 the “homebound” teacher moved
out of state and Brown’s educational program at Faribault ended. Brown
was discharged to Trevilla of Robbinsdale in August 1970. He came there lying
down in a wheelchair.
Blom did not forget Richard Brown. She visited him at Trevilla
shortly after he was discharged from Faribault. Some years later,
after Brown moved from Trevilla to a waiver services site, he
had one of his staff persons call her to report that he had met
a mutual friend from Faribault in Arizona. Blom said that Brown’s call brightened one of those days that had not
been going well at all. This past summer, Blom brightened Brown’s day
when he learned she would be visiting him. She was, he said, someone who
had listened to him and talked with him at Faribault. Blom said that her
early experiences with Brown were what kept her working in the field.
On the morning they met at Partnership Resources, Brown, who has been up
and about every day for years using a power wheelchair, used his augmentative
communication device to thank Blom for what she did for him. He showed her
pictures he had painted. Blom mentioned again how much of an impression Brown
had made on her at the beginning of her career. Art is one interest they
have long shared. Their mutual respect, admiration and love of humanity is
more they have in common.
Page 2, Article 3:
History Note
Innovative positioning
In the early 1960s, Marilyn Blom, the
first occupational therapist employed at Faribault State Hospital, fabricated
a seating harness for a 13-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. With that support,
this young boy sat up for the first time in his life. Blom had no training
in seating or positioning or orthotics, but she knew that this boy must be
positioned properly to function optimally.
There were no seating and positioning clinics for children then and would not
be for a decade and more. In 1974, U.S. District Judge Earl Larson ordered
that each Cambridge resident who required a wheelchair must be provided one
adapted to his size and personal positioning needs by July 1, 1975. He found,
based on the evidence he heard in the Welsch case, that “such wheelchairs
are helpful in preventing muscular contractures and assuring proper posture
and positioning in order to enable the resident to relate to and received stimulation
from his immediate surroundings.” By then, the habilitation technologies
laboratory at Gillette Hospital had developed seating and positioning systems
that served these important purposes.
The order that Larson gave in 1974 had to be repeated in the Welsch Consent
Decree in 1980 and a negotiated settlement in 1987. The state’s volume
purchase contracts for standard wheelchairs proved to be an impediment to providing
appropriately adapted wheelchairs. Inadequate reimbursement rates under both
Medicare and Medical Assistance prevented many persons from receiving the type
of wheelchairs and seating and positioning systems they needed.
Many of these barriers to provision of appropriately adapted wheelchairs have
been removed, but the current financial crises will likely prompt insurance
companies and government agencies to try to reinstate them. To counter such
efforts we must portray the harm done in the past and stress the harm that
will happen in the future if people cannot sit safely to observe and to learn
from the world around them.
The History Note is a monthly column sponsored by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, www.mnddc.org or www.mncdd.org and www.partnersinpolicymaking.com
Page 3, Article 1:
Pete Feigal is 2008 Charlie Smith Award winner
Access Press is please to announce that long time columnist and nationally recognized speaker Pete Feigal is the 2008 Charlie Smith Award winner. The annual award is presented for outstanding contributions to the disability community.
Feigal’s life story is remarkable. At age 12 he was diagnosed with major depression. At age 15 he spent a year locked in a mental institution. The pity and shame he was met with upon returning home drove him to leave family for almost 20 years.
He has suffered through the wild highs and lows of bipolar disorder or manic depression, as well as motorcycle accidents and the ravages of multiple sclerosis. Years of struggle led Feigal to see his life in a whole new way, as “a gift to be opened – not a problem to be solved.” Hardships are his teachers and he is able to share his insight and wisdom in many ways.
Tim Benjamin said, “Pete Fiegal is a true friend of mine and I know he was a true friend of Charlie’s—without you knowing it, he is a true friend of yours! I do know that Charlie would be very proud to have been the one to presenting this award to Pete. Pete is one of those people who it is always able to point out the bright side of a bad situation. He is definitely a glass half full kind of biker guys. Pete has the talent that is unmatched for bringing a positive twist to most everything in life, in its writing and in his speaking.
This thoughtful and insightful man has spoken around the nation more than 1,600 times and has been featured in television public service announcements for Peace of Mind, an anti-stigma group. His co-star in those announcements was noted actor Martin Sheen.
Feigal has been a very active police trainer, organizing mental health workshops for numerous law enforcement agencies around the county.
He is also co-founder of the consumer-organized and run theater and arts program Tilting at Windmills.
His community involvement is wide-ranging, including work with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), speaking and artistic work for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and service on many community boards. He has served as president of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Hennepin County affiliate and served on NAMI-MN’s state board. His involvements also include the Minnesota Mental Health Education Network, Mental Health Resources Board of Directors, Crisis Connection Advisory Council, People Inc. Advisory Council and Mount Olivet Lutheran Church’s Mental Health Task Force.
He has won many awards for community advocacy for his work in the areas of mental illness, multiple sclerosis and the arts. Read more about this talented man at www.pete feigal.com
The Charlie Smith Award is named in honor of the late Charlie Smith, founding editor of Access Press. The awards ceremony was held after this issue of Access Press went to press. Read more about the celebration and this year’s honoree in the December issue.
Page 3, Article 2:
A crime of bias against a vulnerable adult
Attack on Justin Hamilton has provoked outrage, as well as community support
Lakeville resident Juttin Hamilton’s life has been forever changed by a vicious attack, which was instigated by a person he considered a friend. The attack on Hamilton, who is developmentally disabled, occurred over the period of two days, Oct. 10-11. It is a crime that has shocked and angered many people.
Hamilton, 24, was kidnapped and taken to a secluded area near Northfield, then kicked, beaten with branches and a baton, burned and robbed by a group of five people. The brutality and torture he went through lasted several hours on each day he was held in captivity. On the second day, he was tied to a tree with a belt. His neck was burned with a lighter and his stomach with a heated credit card. Is it any wonder that this young man will suffer from these scars, internal and external, for years to come?
Hamilton was eventually released to find his way home in the dark. He managed to find his way to a road at around 2 a.m. Oct. 12. An unidentified Good Samaritan took him to the Northfield Police station where a complaint was filed against the people who assaulted him. He then was taken to the Northfield Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which included broken ribs, cuts, bruises and burns.
The Dakota County Attorney’s office is pursing multiple charges against the five people involved in the assault on Hamilton. “The people who victimized Justin did not release him and take him to the hospital; they left him to find his way home at 2 a.m. and in a seriously weakened state. I’ll go for a lengthy prison term if we attain a conviction,” said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.
Carolyn Hamilton is Justin Hamilton’s mother. Access Press received an update on Justin Hamilton before going to press. “I have been out of town with Justin for a little over a week,” his mother wrote. “I took him to a place where we have gone on vacation all of his life. It was very comforting to him. He was able to relax in a hot tub, which eased his physical pain.”
Carolyn Hamilton stated. “We are unsure at this time of what the lasting effects of these injuries will be.” Justin was kicked repeatedly in the spine and kidneys. Fractured ribs make it difficult for him to sleep and he is still medicated to deal with constant pain. His internal bleeding has stopped and his cuts and lacerations are healing, although he is likely to have permanent skin damage. He may need plastic surgery due to some external injuries and he still has swelling in his face, eye, head and neck areas, his vision is returning to normal. We have been informed that bruising to the extent Justin is bruised will often remain discolored for life.”
Carolyn Hamilton said her son continues to be terrified, waking up screaming and begging his father to go everywhere with him. “He is being treated for a variety of issues stemming from being tortured. He is very uneasy and afraid that they will find him again. It is difficult to see Justin now, fearful of everyone. It is this part we are working on the hardest,” she said.
The family has been encouraged by the support they have received from the community. Offers of events tickets, the chance to meet professional athletes, cards, letters, emails and gifts to replace items stolen from Hamilton have poured in. “He received a handmade picture from a six-year-old disabled boy with a big smiley face and a get well message. He asked that I tape it to his wall.” Carolyn Hamilton said that kind of encouragement and support has been very helpful to the entire Hamilton family.
Anyone wanting to help the family defray medical costs can contribute to Wells Fargo Bank (For the benefit of Justin Charles Hamilton), 16817 Duluth Ave. SE, Prior Lake, MN 55372. The family also has set up a Web site, at www. justinhamiltonfund.com
Backstrom has outlined the many charges against those involved in the attack. The men each face multiple felony charges including kidnapping, robbery, assault and false imprisonment. “I’ll try to get them to pay the maximum penalty for this serious crime carried out against a vulnerable adult,” said Backstrom.
The crimes against Justin Hamilton have been shocking for many reasons. What has outraged people is that two of the men charged were Minnesota National Guard members, Jonathan Michael Diepold and John Maxwell Maniglia. They kicked Hamilton with military boots and beat his legs with a police-style baton. Two other men charged in the attack are Timothy John Ketterling and Glen Richard Ries. Reis’ involvement is upsetting to many in the disability community because he has worked with vulnerable adults in the past.
Hamilton’s attackers will also be charged with a crime of bias. Backstrom was asked if a crime motivated by bias is the same as a crime motivated by hate.
“There’s not a separate charge” in Minnesota law between a crime of bias and a crime of hate, the county attorney explained. “The first time offense of a crime of bias is a gross misdemeanor, and a repeated offense of a bias crime is a felony.” The conviction on motivation based on bias can be used as a factor to enhance sentences of other crimes upon conviction.
Backstrom was also asked if Hamilton or his family will seek restitution. That will be the case. “Treatment and counseling doesn’t stop with the healing of wounds. Hamilton may need ongoing counseling,” he said.
Charges have also been filed against Natasha Dahn, 16, of Lakeville. Dahn, who had recently befriended Hamilton, allegedly encouraged the attackers and told Maniglia that Hamilton had assaulted her. Dahn and Maniglia are dating; Dahn admitted to police she made up the story about Hamilton. Dahn has been petitioned into juvenile court but could be tried as an adult.
Page 4, Article 1:
People and places
News about those who are involved in our community
Minnesota State Council on Disability
The Minnesota State Council on Disability
honored several groups and individuals at its 2008 Awards Luncheon Nov. 6
in St. Paul. The luncheon, held in conjunction with National Disability Employment
Awareness Month, honors those who have served the community. This year’s
keynote speaker was Andrew Imparato, president and chief executive officer
of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). AAPD is the
nation’s largest cross-disability membership group.
The 2008 winners are:
• Above and Beyond Veterans
Employment: Les Goodwin
• Access Award: Kingsley Commons
• Chair’s Award: Jean Martin
• Community Living Award: Audra Quant & Heather Marx
• Distinguished Volunteer Award: Melissa Arnold
• Small Employer of the Year: Handy Tech North America
• Leading by Example: Shelly Hoyt
• Legislative Appreciation
Award: Senator Mary Olson
• Media Award: Mark Rosen
• Minnesota Award: Joyce Scanlon
• Outstanding Entrepreneur: Aaron Peterson
• Sports Innovation Award: Riddell National Refuge
• Technology Award: Herbed Sing Communication Device Program
• Transition to Work: North Branch High School
• Youth Award: Danielle Libel
• Outstate Access Award: Thief River Falls Government Joint Use Facility
• Community Access Award: St. James Super 8 Motel
The luncheon and awards ceremony was hosted by the Minnesota State Council on Disability in collaboration with Pathways to Employment and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Department of Human Services. The event occurred as the November issue of Access Press went to press. More details will be available in our December issue.
Karl Kassulke
Popular Minnesota Viking football player Karl Kassulke, 67, died of a heart attack Oct. 27 at his Eagan home. Kassulke played for the Vikings from 1963 until 1972. The hard-hitting safety played in the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl and won many accolades for his play. His career was ended in 1973 when he was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. After his accident Kassulke was known for visiting hospitals and schools and inspiring others. He was a sought-after public speaker. He is survived by his wife Sue, three sons and three grandchildren.
Brain Injury Association
The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota was one of the finalists for the 2008 MAP for Nonprofits-Minnesota Council on Nonprofits 2008 Minnesota Nonprofits Awards. The association was a finalist for the advocacy award, which was won by Transit Partners. Transit Partners worked to get the gas tax passed by the 2008 Minnesota Legislature.
Constance Gabler
Constance Gabler, Ms. Minneapolis, was crowned Ms. Senior Minnesota last month at Grand Casino Mille Laces. She was crowned during the annual Seniors Expo, organized by Mid-America Events and Expos. Windex High-Definition Hearing is pageant sponsor.
Jim Lovold
Jim Lovold, known to his friends as Wheels, nominated his PCA Kara Whalen for the MCIL Outstanding PCA of the Year Award. Whalen says she loves working with Wheels, because he is positive and likes doing different things. For example, Wheels serves on the Minnesota Spina Bifida Association Board of Directors. Whalen has been his PCA for 10 months. She says the best part is how well they get along. She works for Wheels seven days each week for six hours each day. Whalen won the Outstanding PCA Award on Oct. 22 at the MCIL Annual Dinner.
“People and Places” is an Access Press column that spotlights organizations and individuals in the community. Items will be published on a space-available basis. Send news items to access@access press.org
Page 4, Article 2:
Disabled member finally moves into a home of his own
Care coordination reaches much farther than medical needs
Imagine suffering from muscular dystrophy and experiencing increasingly deteriorating mobility as the disease progresses. Now imagine living in a single, upstairs room of a house without access to a kitchen. The only laundry facilities available are two flights of stairs away in the basement.
An AXIS Healthcare member has moved out of a single-room and into a home of his own for the first time in his life. Randy*, a strongly independent 47-year-old man with muscular dystrophy, lived in a single room for more than two decades before his AXIS Healthcare Core Team helped him find a home of his own. Now renting in an accessible apartment in St. Paul, Randy no longer needs to climb up and down stairs to reach his home or to go out into the community.
In addition to finding housing, Randy has also received assistance with dental care and his mobility concerns. “My bedroom alone is bigger than my last place and I also have a kitchen, bathroom, living room and closets.”
His meals and nutrition are also improving, “I used to eat cold food out of the can at my old place,” he said. “Now I have a kitchen and can make dinners, spaghetti or anything I want.”
Randy is continuing to coordinate his medical and housing needs with his core team. Now settled into his home, he continues to work part-time at a local restaurant and enjoys his involvement in the community. Randy is an excellent example of an AXIS Healthcare member whose needs were met effectively while also retaining his independence. 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.
More information about AXIS Healthcare and the services available to individuals with disabilities can be found at www.axishealth.com or by calling 651-556-9342.
*Randy is a pseudonym and not the member’s real name.
Page 5:
She has the title to prove she can do it
No one knew pageant competition could be a form of speech and physical therapy
Alexandra Schmitt is proof that girls and young women with special needs and challenges can achieve their goals. The 20-year-old New Brighton resident is Ms. You Can Do It—2008. The honors have meant a busy schedule for Schmitt as she has par-ticipated in the St. Anthony, New Brighton and Mounds View parades. At the 2008 Minnesota State Fair she participated in a parade and helped cut and serve Minnesota’s birthday cake celebrating 150 years of statehood. Schmitt attended the Abilities Expo in September and planned to attend the United Cerebral Palsy Celebrity Waiter dinner in October. On Dec. 8th, Schmitt will be a guest on “Disabilities Viewpoint” with Mark Hughes on CTV.
Schmitt is the fifth young woman to hold the title, which she won at a com-petition in Illinois this summer. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age two. Cerebral palsy, also referred to as CP, is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. Even though the odds were against Sch-mitt, her determined spirit refused to give up on life. That same spirit continues to push her through seemingly impossible tasks like college math, learning to drive a car, and walking in heels onstage and in a formal gown.
During the pageant she was filmed by a documentary crew and told them it didn’t matter if the judges gave her the crown or not—she had already accomplished just about everything she wasn’t supposed to. She wasn’t supposed to live, let alone breathe on her own. She wasn’t supposed to walk, let alone dance. In short, Alex is Ms. You Can Do It—with or without the crown and the national title.
Schmitt learned of the pageant through a friend and entered because she wanted to challenge herself. She also wanted the opportunity to be in an environment that embraced and supported her special needs. In the Ms. You Can Do It Pageant, girls com-pete by age group in private interviews, casual wear, evening gown and on-stage question. Photogenic and congeniality awards are also given. She walked taller, spoke more clearly and improved her balance while preparing for the pageant. Who knew that preparing for a pageant was such good speech and physical therapy?
As a result, Schmitt is now a strong advocate for the lasting benefits to all who participate in the Ms. You Can Do It Pageant. She invites all girls and young women with special needs and challenges to join in. The pageant was founded by Abbey Curran, Iowa’s 2008 Miss USA titleholder. Curran has been challenged by cerebral palsy since birth. She is working to get national recognition for the pageant, which is for young women ages 5 to 25 with special needs and challenges. Curran was recently featured in People magazine and on Ellen, Ellen deGeneres’ talk show.
FFI. Abbey Curran, The Ms. You Can Do It Pageant, 6563 East 2480th Street, Kewanee, IL 61443; missyoucandoit @yahoo.com or Alexandra Schmitt,alex@2008msyou candoit.org, www.2008ms youcandoit.org
Page 6:
Open Doors Open Hearts:
Effort to improve circumstances for people
with disabilities after prison and treatment
Mental illness is a common struggle for many people who’ve been released from prison. How communities of faith can develop and continue relationship to help inmates and former inmates with mental health issues was one of the many topics addressed at Open Doors Open Hearts, a conference held Oct. 11 at the Recovery Church in Minneapolis
About 90 people including former prison inmates, people in treatment and recovery, volunteers and employees of faith and community-based programs attended the conference. Participants looked at many issues that included what support is in the community for people released from prison and in treatment who live with mental illness or physical disability, or both. Transportation, housing and employment were among the topics, but much of the focus was on spirituality.
Many conference participants believe that if somebody isn’t spiritually focused and centered, then other important issues like employment and housing don’t fall into place. The spiritual belief and connectedness is one piece in keeping people from returning to crime and ultimately back to prison.
Once released from prison, what happens to former inmates who continue to struggle with mental illness? Conference participants asked, are we doing all we can to truly support people who need our help, to stay in decent housing, supported by a community of faith and not to wind up back in prison?
How welcoming are faith communities,
really? Does it mean that faith communities that care about the issue of
full inclusion really practice what is preached? Do these communities, faith-based,
really walk the talk? Open Door participants agree that communities of faith
are an essential part of ongoing spiritual growth of people released from
prison, in treatment and in recovery.
Conference participant and Buddhism student Richard Carlson said
the most meaningful part of the conference was “the caring
and warm-hearted people, discovering each other. I felt overwhelmed
and there were other people working on similar issues. It offered
me encouragement.”
“I currently volunteer every Sunday afternoon at Lino Lakes Correctional Facility,” said conference participant Mary Upson. “My pastor says Mass there every Sunday. Another choir member and I lead the music. I have to say it is the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my life. These men are hungry for spiritual uplifting. I’ve seen God change them right in front of my eyes.”
National studies indicate that as many as one-fourth of people in county jails waiting to be tried, cases to be processed, have some form of mental illness. “More people with mental illness wind up in the criminal justice system. And this is a situation faced more so by homeless people, especially those who live in rural areas. Jails, workhouses and prisons do not work for people who have mental health issues. Mental illness court is an alternative program to the more traditional ones like those cited above,” said Hennepin County Judge Richard Hopper, founder of Mental Illness Court.
Vern Bloom, retired Augsburg College professor, was one of the conference co-organizers. “I was very much impressed with such widespread interest and depth of concern for more inclusiveness in our spiritual communities for those returning from prison and/or treatment. My great hope is that these folks will now, through their institutions—both individually and collectively—begin to move us all more in that direction!”
Bloom added, “I also became very aware of the widespread concern that the Minnesota Department of Corrections has been discouraging such community follow-up with its policies (meant to keep inmates from contacting spiritual program providers including volunteers and prison staff after release). That seems to say that if one has contact with inmates in the prison setting—you are not to continue such after they return.” Conference attendees signed a petition asking for this policy to change. Following the conference, state corrections officials said it is possible to continue these relationships.
Though the Open Doors conference was a success, the work has really just begun. The next step is to select conveners to lead ongoing sessions to continue, develop and establish a grassroots effort to build community support for conveners to meet on a regular basis, work with and mentor former prison inmates and people in recovery. These groups are the core that will build a faith-based community support effort.
What came out of Open Door’s participant-led sessions was a set of 26 workshops for ongoing networking, spiritual growth and connection and knowledge for inclusive faith communities. Many enthusiastic people joined groups to shape policies, practices and attitude with compassion, spiritual strength and perseverance. More information about the workshops and how to get involved is on the Access Press Web site.
One workshop attendee said, “I’m not a stranger to incarceration myself. For a long time the spirit, if you will, was speaking to me that you might be good in this area. So when the opportunity arose, I finally answered the call. This is part of my journey.”
Page 7:
Journal Entry #3
Something unexpected
Five months along and pink is not an option
for the nursery
For the last five months now, I have envisioned a pink nursery with cute pink toys and tiny pink baby clothes. I thought about how I would fix my baby girl’s hair when she got older and the bows that I’d put in her pigtails. Imagine my surprise three weeks ago when we found out—the baby is a boy!
Why did I think it was a girl? Maybe it was the fact that there are a lot more boys than girls in both our families and that everyone around us wanted to have a girl. I was wrong. And really, it doesn’t even matter. He is healthy. The ultrasound technician did a great job at pointing out all of his features—especially the one that determined it was a boy.
Technology is just great, isn’t it? At the time of the ultrasound, he weighed 15 oz. and measured 16 cm. That’s just little heavier than a can of Coke and about the size of a large banana. His heart was pumping at 150 per minute, he had 5 fingers and 5 toes, his spine looked good and his head was nice and round. And, man, was he kicking! I didn’t feel it at the time, but I definitely saw those legs moving around! Of course, now I feel him everyday. I think he must have big feet like his father because he sure likes to use them against my stomach. I wonder what he is thinking everyday. Maybe it’s “Get out of my way stupid pancreas, I’m trying to stretch!” or “I’m bored, maybe I’ll suck my thumb.”
So Charles, that’s my baby's daddy, and I are going to have a boy (I had to mention him by name this time because he got all upset that I didn’t do it in the last journal). I am now at 22 weeks and pain has become a permanent fixture in my daily life.
Many of us with disabilities are no stranger to living with pain. I’ve had my own experience all my life with pain, but let’s just say the pain I’m experiencing now is in a category all its own. My back really hurts, especially my tail bone. Imagine if someone took a hammer to your tailbone—that’s how bad it feels some days. I also have metal fused to my spine, which makes it even more uncomfortable since I cannot bend or flex.
The worst, though, is having acid reflux and heartburn. It’s just not a nice feeling when food is coming back up my throat and leaves behind a trail of fire inside my esophagus. And the heartburn makes it hard to sleep at night since it makes my stomach feel like a boiling pot of gas and acid. My friends who have children laugh at me when I tell them this. You’re just at the beginning they say. It gets much worse. Great, what next, my head will explode?
I had another visit today with my doctor. Things are good, but I did ask her about delivery. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, the thought of pushing a baby through any orifice of mine absolutely scared the hell out of me. Since then, I’ve seen a few DVDs and downloaded some footage off the internet on childbirth. Seeing them only confirmed my feelings.
But what did my doctor tell me today? The one person who is supposed to be on my side through this whole ordeal? She said, oh, there shouldn’t be any problem at all. Everything looks fine. The muscles needed to control my bladder and bowels are intact, so there’s no need to worry about having a normal vaginal delivery. I wanted to say, ex-squeeze me (no pun intended)? Vaginal delivery?
All this time I thought my pelvis wouldn’t be able to handle a regular delivery and that I would schedule a cesarean (c-section), get nice and drugged up and they would just cut the baby out of me. Again, I am proven wrong. Here I thought my disability would somehow make it easier, so to say, when it came time for delivery. I guess it’s not like customers in wheelchairs getting in free at the movie theatre. There comes the time when a baby will need to come out of its mother and nature and medicine only allow so many options, despite whether the mother is disabled or not. Besides, having a c-section is a pretty big deal. In fact, my doctor told me that because I am sitting all the time, it’s possible my incision would be aggravated more which would require a longer time to heal. I suppose I’ll just leave c-sections to the women who really medically need them. I’ll deal with the pain of labor and pushing and all that wonderful stuff when the time comes.
Stay tuned readers. Next time, I’ll explore baby equipment and put them to the test on how accessible they are.
Page 8, Article 1:
Are playgrounds in your community accessible?
Contact local officials and get the fun started
Does your community need new play equipment that is accessible to children and young adults with disabilities? The story of the two Red Wing women who led the effort for the new Covill Park playground may inspire you and your neighbors to act.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that play equipment be accessible. Check playgrounds in your community and it may become obvious that not all are in the same condition or have the same level of access. Some communities are still replacing wooden play equipment installed in the 1970s. Others have equipment that is even older. This equipment was not designed for children with disabilities or for the adults who accompany them to playgrounds. Some playground features that may have been considered safe and accessible several years ago wouldn’t meet standards today.
Many companies provide accessible play equipment, which is a benefit for playground planners. The choices in equipment including swings, sand diggers, riding toys and other large toys are much greater than ever. But in a time of very tight city, county and school district budgets, it is not as easy to get a playground built. There are public and private resources available to communities wanting accessible play equipment but planners need to be strategic and thoughtful in how they get a playground built.
Contacting local officials is the way to get a project started. Any playground equipment put on public property requires approval from the city, county or school district that owns the property. Private property owners have the say in where they place play equipment. Some places of worship and apartment complexes allow the surrounding communities to use their play equipment and might welcome help to pay for new play facilities.
If a public playground is wanted find out whether there is public funding for a play project and how that process works. Some cities, counties and school districts plan and select capital improvement projects through a community ranking process. This may be done as part of a local government budget process or as a separate process. Some have even ranked play areas in order of age and condition of equipment, and to determine which should be replaced first. Ask how your community does such planning for play facilities. Also ask if there are processes in place for a city, county or school district to accept privately raised donations and how those donations are handled.
Be aware that obtaining public funding can take more than one try. A project may have to be submitted for more than one round of funding before it is approved. Some public dollars, such as Neighborhood Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) grants in the city of St. Paul, require a one-to-one match of funds, materials, design skills or sweat equity.
Additional resources are also available for playgrounds. Some cities or neighborhoods have foundations in place for community projects. Check to see if your community has such a group in place. There are also national organizations that promote playgrounds. One organization that helps communities build playgrounds, including accessible playgrounds, is KaBOOM! This non-profit group has been involved in a number of projects around the region. Last month KaBOOM! volunteers helped build a new playground at Polynesian Village Apartments in New Brighton. This playground will benefit 250 children. Home Depot, Opportunity Neighborhood Development Corporation, Minnesota Viking Chad Greenway and community volunteers helped with the project. View the new playground at 1417 100th St. NW in New Brighton.
KaBOOM! has a web site with several sections, including information on the need for play areas to be accessible for children as well as for the adults who accompany them there. The site also includes a very long list of possible fund-raising ideas and an evaluation of the potential success of each idea. This information could be very helpful for volunteers with limited time and resources. Visit the site at www.kaboom.org to learn more.
Another good Web site for planning a community playground project is www.playlsi. com, the site for the Delano-based firm Landscape Structures Inc. This company, which has focus on accessible equipment, also has a planning guide for community playgrounds. Download the guide from the Web site.
Regional and national home improvement retailers may also provide help with playground projects. Check Web sites for these retailers to see what they would do in terms of donated materials, equipment, and labor or design services. Locally-based hardware stores and lumber yards also may want to get involved. See if there is a construction company in your community that gets involved in playground projects.
For information on what is considered legally accessible for a playground, check www.ada.gov The ADA home page has a document on the left hand side about parks and recreation issues.
Page 8, Article 2:
Let’s play!
Universal playground provides access for all who visit Red Wing’s Colvill Park
Last year two local women began spear heading an effort to bring a universal playground to Red Wing. And in the past 11 months their efforts have snowballed.
Their proposal—for a playground that is accessible to children of all ability levels—gained wide public support. Local governments, businesses and charities pitched in to the fundraising efforts—and raised more than $500,000.
On Oct. 3 Red Wing residents cut the ribbon on the universal playground at Colvill Park.
“It really demonstrates that our community believes everyone counts,” said Audra Quandt, who along with Heather Marx initiated the playground project.
“There really is something there for everyone,” she said.
For a playground to be considered universal 70 percent of the equipment must be accessible to a person with a disability, Quandt said.
The new playground is certainly universal, from top to bottom.
Semi-soft rubber tiles lie underneath all of the play-ground’s equipment. They are firm enough to drive a wheel chair across yet cushioned enough to absorb a child’s fall.
As well the equipment is ramped all the way to its highest level, allowing for wheel chair access.
These features are just two of the numerous features that help make the universal playground accessible.
In fact, there are many features that make the playground accessible to all. Here are some of them:
Swings: A pair of swings at the playground includes a full seat and straps that can secure a child who may not have the ability to balance in a simple swing.
Teeter-totter: The play-ground’s four-child teeter-totter features two seats that have backrests and straps that allow children with limited muscle control to teeter-totter without fear of falling.
Play panels: Throughout the playground are play panels designed for children that have varying sensory needs.
One panel features Braille, making it accessible to blind children. Other panels have pictorials that allow non-verbal children to communicate via images.
Pods and bongo drums: The playground’s bongo drums are a good fit for the playground because most all children love music. Music however can be especially helpful to autistic children. According to the National Autistic Society “music can stimulate and develop more meaningful and playful communication in people with autism.”
Autistic children can at times become overwhelmed when playing with others. That’s why the playgrounds pods can be especially beneficial to them. When an autistic child needs some alone time they can climb inside the pod for a time-out.
Big slides: The playground has many slides. Three of them are larger so that a parent may slide down them with their child on their lap.
Stainless steel slide: When a child slides down a plastic slide it causes static electricity. That electricity can fry the inner workings of cochlear implants —a small electronic device that can help hearing-impaired persons hear.
That’s why the playground features a metal slide, which doesn’t create static electricity.
The Republican-Eagle is the daily newspaper serving the Red Wing area.
Page 9:
All Play First Fridays
A time for families and children to learn and play in a welcoming, accessible environment
Children with disabilities and their families have a new place for fun as the Minnesota Children’s Museum has introduced a new accessible play program this fall. The program gives families an opportunity to explore adaptive tools and other resources that the museum offers to the community. The museum fittingly named the program All Play First Fridays, because it is all about playing, and is open to all visitors. It presented on the first Friday evening of each month, 6-8 p.m.
Families can investigate the museum, which is located in downtown St. Paul, during All Play First Fridays. Kids have a blast discovering new and exciting concepts through fun, learning-focused play. The seven galleries are designed to provide a hands-on environment for children ages six months to 10 years old. In the galleries and exhibits, kids encounter an engrossing world that arouses their curiosity, increases their understanding and encourages the joy of learning.
”The All Play First Fridays
program grew out of our desire to provide an enjoyable family learning
experience that meets the needs of all family members whether or not they
have a disability. We want families with a child with a disability to know
that they are welcome here and that we have made our exhibits and programs
accessible for their child,” said Ann Boekhoff, the museum’s
director of education and exhibit development. We selected the first Friday
evening of the month because it is a quieter time in the Museum, so all
families can participate more easily in the playful experiences we offer
The museum has taken great care to provide a comfortable environment for
children with disabilities, especially during All Play First Fridays. They
limit announcements on the loudspeakers, so children aren’t startled.
A quiet room is set up in the Discovery Center where kids can go to relax
on comfy pillows and play with soft blocks. Kids revel in fun activities
including watching the live animal show, especially seeing and touching
the
snake. The children enjoy listening during story time too. These programs
provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Families are also
invited to explore a variety of books with Braille type.
Kids especially love to get their hands dirty at the art program, Exploration Station. The multi-sensory activities encourage kids to explore and create their own art work. The children’s imaginations are sparked by messy projects like painting with colored ice cubes. The museum provides easy-to-grip paint brushes and other adaptive tools. At All Play First Fridays families can also learn about community organizations that provide services to children with disabilities. Upstream Arts provides short, interactive programs to showcase their unique approach of using the arts to develop social skills. Families have the opportunity to participate in small group theatrical interactions led by professional artists. The mission of Upstream Arts is to enhance the lives of youth and adults with disabilities by fostering creative communication and social independence through the power of arts education. For more information about Upstream Arts, check www.up streamarts.org,
The Minnesota Children’s Museum won the 2008 Universal Design for Learning Award * for its Accessible Play Initiative, a community partnership between the museum and organizations that serve kids with disabilities and their families in the metro area. All Play First Fridays is one program in the Accessible Play Initiative.
The museum is committed to continuing All Play First Fridays as an ongoing program each first Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The Minnesota Children’s Museum is located at 10 West Seventh Street, 55102. For more information about All Play First Fridays at the Minnesota Children’s Museum, including entrance fees: www.mcm.org or call 651-225-6000.
To read reviews of the museum: www.yelp.com/biz/min nesota-childrens-museum-saint-paul; www.tripadvisor. com/Attraction_Review-g43501-d134896-Reviews-Minnesota_Children_s_Museum-Saint_Paul_Minnesota.html
Page 10:
Advocates defeat change making ramps less safe
Residential ramps will not change in steepness, thanks to a concerted lobbying effort against a proposed modification to building codes. Activists and building officials teamed up to block the proposed change at the International Code Council (ICC) conference earlier this fall. The council voted Sept. 21 to reject the proposed code change and continue the requirement that ramps shall be no steeper that 1 unit vertical to 12 units horizontal.
Many people from around the country, including a number of Twin Cities advocates, helped in the effort to keep a safe slope standard in the building code. Changing the slope would make ramps less safe and harder for people with disabilities to use, ICC members were told.
The change was proposed by Rick Davidson, a building official from Maple Grove. He was the only person to testify in favor of changing the code from 1 to 12 to 1 to 8. Although he repeatedly said that “This is a not an accessibility issue,” the proposal drew a strong response from disability advocates and building officials who disagreed.
Opponents of the ramp change used a multi-faceted education campaign to make their case. An educational video produced by Jim Williams of Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) and Bob Zimmerman of the Minnesota Workforce Center Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Program was seen by hundreds of building officials who visited the ramp education booth during the conference’s expo. The video itself was produced with numerous volunteers from the Twin Cities disability community.
MCIL handed out free copies of the “How to Build Ramps” DVD that illustrates how to make reusable ramps that meet code requirements. Many code officials from around the world agreed to take the DVD to use in their home communities.
Davidson was the only person to speak for a change. David-son said there is no justification that a 1 to 8 slope is unsafe, and said that other parts of the residential building code, as well as other codes, govern accessibility.
A dozen people testified against the change. Many discussed ramp-building efforts in their communities and explained the need to have properly sloped ramps. Building officials and advocates from Minnesota, Utah, Florida, Arizona and Virginia argued against the proposed change.
“Safety is the primary issue we need to deal with,” said John Schatzlein of the Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center said. “1 to 12 is safe. 1 to 8 is not safe.”
Margo Imdieke-Cross of the Minnesota Council on Disability said she found the proposed change “to be unacceptable, unsafe and a potential barrier to any home environment.”
“We all strongly oppose this proposed regulation,” said John Tschida, speaking on behalf of the Courage Center and the Minnesota Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities. “We want standards that work for people; we want to encourage increased access, increased safety for those of us with mobility impairments.”
Zimmerman quoted the motto of the ICC in his testimony, “People helping people build a safer world.” He asked the voting members to live up to that motto and vote against the proposed change.
Officials from other states joined in, explaining the difficulties a change in slopes would cause. A Utah building official, who was the first to speak, began her comments by saying “Mr. Davidson just said this is not an accessibility issue. Come on, let’s get real, permits are almost always pulled for accessibility.” Building officials from Virginia, Florida, and Arizona also made comments about how difficult 1 to 8 slopes are to use. Another comment made was, “People go to the code for guidance, they assume if it is in the code it will work. 1 to 8 does not work.”
At the end of the comments, a show of hands vote was taken. One person, in addition to Davidson raised his hand to vote to approve the change. Hundreds of hands were raised to disapprove changing the code to 1 to 8. That effectively blocked a change.
According to Zimmerman, the educational effort resulted in two important outcomes: maintaining the code requirement for safe slopes for ramps at homes and educating building officials from across the U.S. and Canada about safe wheelchair ramp design.
The code changes that were made at the conference will be published in 2010, as changes are published every three years. A number of other code changes that affect people with disabilities were also reviewed and made at the conference. Some changes are meant to improve safety in elevators and stairwells, and to improve rescue operations and two-way communications. This should make it more obvious where areas of refuge and areas for assisted rescue are located.
Another change deals with companion seating, clarifying that one companion seat is needed for each wheelchair space. Other changes center on accessibility for bathrooms and for the provision of roll-in showers and motels and hotels.
To learn more about building code changes and the recent conference, visit www.iccsafe.org and click on the conference wrap-up tab.
Page 11, Article 1: News
at a Glance
Home’s residents were improperly restrained
Residents of the state’s home for the developmentally disabled in Cambridge were improperly handcuffed as punishment and as a form of behavior control, according to state investigators. The Minnesota Extended Treatment Program or METO is a short-term residential treatment facility with 48 beds. Handcuffs and ankle restraints were used at the facility for minor behavior problems and not for safety reasons as required by law. The abuse, which occurred over a two-year period, is detailed in a report made public in September by the state’s Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. State officials admitted to the violations but also said the practice was halted last spring. Roberta Opheim, state mental health ombudsman, said she took the unusual step of publicly chastising the facility so that the abuse wouldn’t happen again. In the report experts said the Cambridge staff could have used other measures to work with the residents, rather than the restraints. One patient sustained a broken arm and others were anxious and terrified as a result of the practice. The practice was revealed to state officials by family members of some of the residents.
Source: Star Tribune
Social Security announces 5.8 Percent benefit hike
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 55 million Americans will increase 5.8 percent in 2009, the Social Security Administration has announced. The 5.8 percent increase is the largest since 1982. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits increase automatically each year based on the rise in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), from the third quarter of the prior year to the corresponding period of the current year. This year’s increase in the CPI-W was 5.8 percent. The 5.8 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 50 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2009.
While the pending Social Security increase is welcomed, it is expected to provide little relief for persons on Social Security programs. “The Social Security COLA is tied to the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index, which takes into account the rate of inflation for the goods and services people buy. The 5.8 percent COLA increase simply reflects that the costs of these items have increased by that amount,” said Paul Gada, Allsup’s personal financial planning director. Allsup is a national Social Security Disability insurance representation company. “The Social Security cost of living adjustment isn’t about getting ahead. At best, it’s about keeping up. Even that is going to be tough, as people have already experienced higher living expenses this year with no sign of that letting up near-term,” said Gada. He does note there are steps persons relying on SSDI can take to control escalating costs such as getting a handle on credit card debt, refinancing or seeking mortgage help and scrutinizing health care costs and programs.
Source: Allsup, Social Security Administration
Grants for Artists with Disabilities
Minnesota artists with disabilities have until Nov. 21 to apply for a Career Advancement Grant of $1,250 from VSA arts of Minnesota. Seven grants will be awarded to visual writers, artists, performers or artists of any medium. Artists must propose a project for which they need funding, as well as submit work samples, an artist resume and artist statement. The grant program, which is in its 13th year, is funded by the Jerome Program. This year’s focus is on rewarding upcoming arts projects. The program is open to any Minnesota resident whose disability meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition. Artwork prepared for educational credit is not eligible. For an application or more info, go to www.vsa artsmn.org, call 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883, voice/TTY, or email jon@vsaartsmn.org. Please specify if you need a format other than print or e-mail (PC diskette, audiotape, Braille or large print).
Source: VSA arts
Movie prompts community protests
Another movie has sparked protests from the disability community. Blindness, which stars Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo, focuses on a mysterious illness that strikes a city. The community’s residents are left blind and are quarantined by the government in an old asylum for the mentally ill. Chaos ensues as the residents victimize each other. The movie was protested in Rochester by the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. “This is the kind of movie that’s going to make my life harder,” said Jennifer Dunnam, president of NFB Minnesota. “The people in this movie just seem to lose all capacity for creativity and for taking care of themselves, and it’s a problem when real people already think that about blind people.” Protests were planned around the country. The movie by Miramax Films has been marketed as a parable about the triumph of the human spirit when civilization breaks down but that marketing tool has also raised objections among blind activists.
Source: MinnPost, Rochester Post-Bulletin
Heroes in van rescue feted
The New Brighton City Council recognized police and fire personnel and private citizens Oct. 14, for their role in saving five adults with disabilities from an August mini-bus fire. The van, owned by Phoenix Alternatives, burst into flames near Interstate 494 and Silver Lake Road. Four of the five passengers rescued were in wheelchairs but the drive, Good Samaritans and public safety personnel were able to rescue everyone. “Is there a pattern here, and is there something that can create a safe environment?” asked Terry Higgs, director of administrative services at Phoenix Alternatives. “That’s what I’m hoping the insurance investigation should show us.” Fire investigators have been unable to pinpoint the cause of the fire, leaving open questions about the make and model of the vehicle commonly used to transport the country’s most vulnerable citizens. The Ford E450, which uses diesel fuel, has been linked to at least three other fires around the United States in the past few years. One of the fires, in Pennsylvania in 2003, caused the death of a man with cerebral palsy.
Source: Pioneer Press, AARP Bulletin
Administrator announced for Minneapolis Veterans Home
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has selected Judy Kurki-Coleman
as the new administrator for the Minneapolis Veterans Home. She will begin
her new duties last month. Kurki-Coleman has more than 18 years of experience
as a nursing home administrator. Her background includes work as a unit supervisor
for the Minnesota Department of Health and as director of quality with Pathway
Health Services. Most recently Kurki-Coleman was the campus administrator at
Maranatha Care Center in Brooklyn Center. “Ms. Kurki-Coleman’s
experience and background, as well as her passion for helping veterans, make
her a great match for the Minneapolis Veterans Home,” said Gil Acevedo,
deputy commissioner of Veterans Health Care for the Minnesota Department of
Veterans Affairs. “Our goal is to make the Minnesota Veterans Homes a
place of honor for our nation’s heroes. Ms. Kurki-Coleman will help us
in our ongoing efforts to achieve this goal.” Kurki-Coleman holds
a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Scholastica in Health Services
Management and Gerontology and is a Certified Laboratory Assistant with the
American Society of Clinical Pathologists. She also holds memberships with
the National Association for Healthcare Quality, the Minnesota Health & Housing
Alliance Regulatory Subcommittee and the Minnesota Department of Labor Worker’s
Compensation Subcommittee. She will succeed Pam Barrows, who has served as
the interim administrator since July, 2008. Barrows is the senior director
of Veterans Health Care for MDVA.
Page 11, Article 2:
Ramp helps elders access culture and
history
150-year-old dream of a Lakota Chief will
continue
It looks just like any other wheelchair ramp. But this ramp is special. It opens the door to thousands of years of history and culture of the Lakota Indians in South Dakota and fulfills a long ago dream of one of their leaders.
Nearly 150 years ago, Chief Big Foot traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Chester Alan Arthur to discuss, among other things, the establishment of a school for the Lakota children to learn the long and rich history and ways of the Lakota culture.
The Lakota have a beautiful, spiritual-based
language that is disappearing slowly as their elders pass to the next life.
The younger generations are curious and eager to learn more about their culture
and history, but this transition has been difficult. No school on this or
any of the six reservations has been able to produce a fluent speaker. The
Lakota Village Immersion School was created to use the Lakota language as
a tool, rather than an object, to produce fluent speakers and future leaders
who will become knowledgeable in both the Lakota language and culture and
the world. With a better understanding of their own identity, the losses
through assimilation will be stabilized. Revitalization of their culture,
and language as taught by their elders of what is important and necessary
to live a quality life in two worlds.
Big Foot’s dream became a reality through the extraordinary efforts
of Kathleen Price and her Youngstown, Ohio-based Mission of Love and John
Wright, owner of an American Ramp Systems franchise in nearby Cleveland.
The Mission of Love volunteers worked to build the school earlier this year. The elders are the Lakota language language-speaking teachers who will be instructing the children. The elders are eager to pass their knowledge on, but are frail and weakened by age. It is difficult for them to climb even the few steps to the classrooms.
John Wright was able to offer an effective solution to help the Lakota elders with accessibility to the school by installing a modular ramp. The ramp was donated by a daughter whose parents originally used the ramp. Since her parents’ passing, their daughter wanted to donate the ramp to a needy cause. John knew right away that Kathy Price would put the ramp to good use.
While each of his ramp installations has increased someone’s quality of life, this is the first time one of John’s American Ramps will help to fulfill the 150-year-old dream of a Lakota Chief to continue the tradition of “Lakota Thinking.”
Today in 2008, the Lakota Village Circle is completing Chief Big Foot’s dream.
American Ramp Systems, Inc. is a national manufacturer of modular accessibility ramps based in South Boston, MA, with 38 franchise operations across the country. For more information, please call 800-649-5215 or visit www.americanramp.com
Page 12: Upcoming Events
Visit Courage Cards stores
Nov. 1 - Dec. 23
Courage Cards, part of Courage Center, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with cards designed by dozens of artists. Buy cards and an array of specialty gift items including ornaments, jewelry and artwork. Help Courage Center, which receives all sale proceeds. Visit Courage Cards & Gifts Shop at Courage Center, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Nov. 1 – Dec. 23, M-F, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Visit Courage St. Croix, 1460 Curve Crest Blvd., Stillwater, Nov. 10 – Dec. 13, Tue-Thu 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - noon. Cards are also sold at Bachman’s, Byerly’s, Gerten’s and Lunds. Or buy items online.
FFI: www.couragecards.org, 651-439-8283 (Golden Valley) 763-520-0270 (Stillwater)
NAMI conference
Nov. 15
Pathways to Hope, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Minnesota conference is Saturday, Nov. 15 at Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. Speakers include Major Sam Cochran on a community approach to crisis intervention and writer Marya Hornbacher on bipolar disorder. Registration closed Nov. 7 but anyone interested can check if space is available.
FFI: www.namihelps.org, 651-644-2948
Ho, ho, ho for Legal Aid
Dec. 6
Sign up now for the annual Santa Run to Benefit Legal Aid, at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 in downtown Minneapolis’ Nicollet Mall. Roll, run, stroll or walk in a Santa suit or homemade Dreidel costume to raise money for Legal Aid’s free civil legal services for low-income people. Dogs on leash are welcome. Participate on your own or form teams with friends, family or co-workers. Compete for prizes! $15 entry fee and minimum $100 pledge required. Also bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
FFI: www.midmnlegal.org
Submit poetry and prose
Dec. 6
Art St. Croix, a non-profit whose mission is to provide arts opportunities for adults with disabilities in the St. Croix Valley, announces the fifth edition of In Your Words or Theirs, readings of poetry and short prose, 1-3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6, at Boutwells Landing, Oak Park Heights. Submission deadline Nov. 22. Submit original written work—poems, essays, self-accompanied songs, memoirs, whatever (or someone else’s published work). The theme is seasonal: Solstice, Winter, Winter Carnival, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Year, Home for the Holidays, etc. Submit up to five pieces on paper or by e-mail (plain text preferred), but must include the writer’s name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, and a brief auto-biographical comment (two or three sentences). Illustrations or photographs relevant to the written pieces may be included, to be used for the title slides in the open captioning. No entry fee, but donations welcome. Submissions to Art St. Croix at 102225.1412@compuserve.com or to PO Box 623, Stillwater, MN 55082-0623
MCIL activities
Many activities are offered by the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, 1660 University Av., St. Paul, including classes, peer mentoring, technology labs and more. Ongoing activities are also offered. Bring games to Game Day, 1-3 p.m. last Mon of each month. Social nights are 4-6 p.m. Tues; next are Nov. 16 and Dec. 16. Ongoing support groups are offered for persons with traumatic brain injury, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender and chemical dependency and disabilities.
FFI: www.mcil-mn.org 651-646-8342, events line 651-603-2007
Help others manage finances
Volunteers of America of Minnesota and AARP Foundation need volunteers with good budgeting and organizational skills to help manage finances of older or disabled low-income individuals. Have a few hours a month to volunteer this fall? Money Management Program staff will train and match you with someone in the community.
FFI: Money Management Program Coordinator, 612-617-7821
Moving Self-Advocacy Forward
Apr. 17 - 18
Save dates of April 17-18, 2009 for the 2009 Minnesota Self-Advocacy Conference, Moving Self-Advocacy Forward, at Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel, 11 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. Advocating Change Together, Arc Greater Twin Cities, Dakota Communities, Hammer Residences, Lifeworks, Mains’l Services, Merrick Inc., Metro Center for Independent Living and People First Minnesota are sponsors.
FFI: Kathy Sanders, ACT, 651-641-0297, act@selfadvocacy.org
Be a literacy volunteer
Last year, Minnesota Literacy Council volunteers helped more than 24,000 adults achieve their learning goals. Tutor immigrants, refugees and life-long Minnesotans in reading, writing and English. Tutor one-to-one, in a small group or as a classroom assistant. Training, ongoing support provided. Opportunities available throughout Minnesota.
FFI: Allison at volunteer@theMLC.org or 651-645-2277, Ext 219
Page 13, Article 1:
Advertorial, paid for by Qwest Corporation
Qwest listens, customers benefit
“Qwest has been actively involving consumers with special needs in their decision-making for more than two decades,” according to Qwest’s Consumer Advisory Panel’s co-chair Rich Diedrichsen. In fact, for 25 years, leaders in Minnesota’s senior and disability community have served as consumer advisors to Qwest, formerly known as US WEST and Northwestern Bell.
General Access
As a provider of telecommunications, Qwest offers products and services to all customers including those with mobility, vision, speech and hearing disabilities. As a service, Qwest has a specialized Center for Customers with Disabilities (CCD) accessible via a link at the bottom of Qwest’s home page, www. Qwest.com, titled Customers with Disabilities. Consumer Advisory Panel members continually work with Qwest to ensure that the CCD website is up-to-date and accessible to all consumers.
Qwest’s stores and kiosks, which are located in shopping malls across the state, are designed with advice from the Panel to give special attention to accessibility. Advisory Panel members have also helped Qwest create CCD brochures which describe Qwest’s products and services for people with disabilities; CCD brochures are available at all Qwest retail locations.
Product Access
Qwest consistently seeks feedback from consumers to develop products that are universally accessible. For instance, the Advisory Panel worked with Qwest employees to develop an audible Caller ID which is available for sale to Minnesota customers for $19.95 plus shipping and handling. Call the CCD, 1-800-223-3131, if interested.
Directory Assistance Billing Exemption is a program Qwest and other carriers provide individuals who because of their disability cannot use a directory. Customers who are eligible for the Directory Assistance Billing Exemption must complete an application and provide the CCD with certification of their disability. Qualifying customers are not charged for obtaining telephone numbers from Directory Assistance agents.
Qwest Employee Education on Disability Etiquette
Advisory Panel members recently met face to face with Qwest kiosk managers across Minnesota to share disability etiquette and everyday disability scenarios to enhance communication with customers with disabilities. Employee education on disability etiquette has since been incorporated into web-based training that is used across Qwest’s service area.
Interested in learning more?
While Qwest funds the Consumer Advisory Panel, the Panel is an independent advisory board and elects its own members.
If you have an issue that you would
like Qwest’s Consumer Advisory Panel to address, or if you would like
to be considered for a future seat on the Advisory Panel, please contact
one of the following Panel members:
Co-Chair Rich Diedrichsen: rich.diedrichsen@state.mn.us, 320.654.9864 (TTY)
Co-Chair Adrienne Mason: ladyamason@aol.com, 651-695-0199
George Failes, gdfailes@usfamily.net, 651-699-2436
Sharie Hawkins, sharie. hawkins@state.mn.us, 651-731-2070
Walter Hinz, wkhinz@visi.com, 952-927-6581
Gil Kiekenapp, gkiekenapp@mnseniors.org,
651-281-0340
Rebecca Kragnes, rebeccaK@tcq.net, 612-827-2132
Alice Oden, emailus@odensville.com, 651-482-1994
Jerry Pouliot, jpouliot@qwest.net, 651.602.9007 (TTY)
Nancy Sopkowiak, NancyLifeCoach@msn.com, 320-963-5976
Page 13, Article 2: Radio Taking Book
Sampling of Radio Talking Book
*Abbreviations: V- violence, L- offensive language, S- sexual situations
Radio Talking Book (RTB) is a closed-circuit reading network broadcasting twenty-four hours daily to more than 7,500 handicapped persons (with a potential of 35,000) in Minnesota and South Dakota. Through satellite distribution, thousands of listeners nation-wide receive RTB broadcasts via their local radio reading services. Receivers are available on loan without charge to those who are eligible and who want to keep up to date with the latest word in newspapers, magazines and best-sellers.
FFI: www.mnssb.org/allages/commcenter/rtb
• 4
a.m. Chautauqua – Adult education and culture for the whole community.
The Blue Zone, Nonfiction by Dan Buettner, 2008. A Blue Zone is a place where
high percentages of people live very long lives. The secret to their longevity
seems to be found in the foods they eat, the company they keep, and their
perspectives on life. Read by Charlie Boone. Eight broadcasts. Began Nov.
6.
• 9 a.m. Past is Prologue – Readings of historical nonfiction.
• 11 a.m. Bookworm – Novels and nonfiction books for daytime reading.
This month: The Ungarnished Truth, Nonfiction by Ellie Mathews, 2008. Ellie Mathews
began entering food competitions for the fun and novelty of it. That she sometimes
won was an unexpected bonus. When she entered the Pillsbury Bake-Off, she never
imagined she’d win the grand prize, one million dollars. Read by Eleanor
Berg. Nine broadcasts. Begins November 19.
• 2 p.m. Potpourri – A wide variety of books, both fiction and nonfiction,
for afternoon reading
• 4 p.m. Choice Reading – Critically acclaimed books on a wide variety
of subjects
• 5 p.m. Commentary – The latest issues of national news magazines
• 6 p.m. Evening Newspapers – Live broadcast of the New York Times
• 7:55 p.m. Radio Talking Book schedule for the rest of the broadcast day
• 8 p.m. PM Report – Books exploring critical, contemporary and controversial
issues This month: The Shock Doctrine, Nonfiction by Naomi Klein, 2008. Disaster
capitalism is the rapid-fire corporate reengineering of societies reeling from
shock. It has become a standard technique of our government and corporations
around the world. Read by Marylyn Burridge. 24 broadcasts. Begins November 17.
• 9 p.m. Night Journey – Books of intrigue and suspense
• 10 p.m. Off the Shelf – Mostly best sellers
• 12 a.m. Good Night Owl – A wide-ranging assortment of books. Homecoming,
Fiction by Bernhard Schlink, 2008. Peter grew up with only dim memories of his
father, who disappeared during World War II. Now Peter searches for the truth.
L - Read by John Ward. 10 broadcasts. Began October 28.
• 1 a.m. After Midnight – Adventures of the heart and body
RTB Books Available Through Faribault
All books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Their phone is 800-722-0550 and hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Their catalog is also online, and you can access it at www.klas.com/mnbph
Page 14, Article 1: Accessible Performances
70, Girls, 7
Oct. 24 - Nov. 23
Lakeshore Players, 4820 Stewart Ave., White Bear Lake. ASL: Sun., Nov. 2, 2:00 pm, Tix: $10 half-price for ASL patron and companion; reg. $20, $18 student/senior, Phone: 651-429-5674, Web: www.lakeshoreplayers.com/
1001
Oct. 30 - Nov. 23
Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S. 4th St., Mpls. AD, ASL, Captioning: Thurs., Nov. 13, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to $12 access rate (reg. $22, $18 student/senior, $14 group), season access pass $50, Phone: 612-338-6131, Web: www.mixedblood.com
All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Dec. 7
Theater Latte Da and Cantus at College of Saint Benedict, Petters Auditorium, St. Joseph. ASL and AD: Sun., Dec. 7, 7:30 pm, Tix: $28, senior/youth and aid rates available on request, Phone: 320-363-5777, E-mail: dwolford@csbsju.edu Web: www.csbsju.edu/finearts
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
Dec. 5 - 23
SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development, 55 Victoria St. N., St. Paul. AD: Fri., Dec. 12, 7:00 pm, ASL: Sun., Dec. 14, 2:00 pm, Tix: $7-11, Phone: 651-225-9265, Web: www.steppingstonetheatre.org
Blackbird
Nov. 6 - 30
Pillsbury House Theatre at the Guthrie Theater, 818 - 2nd St. S., Mpls. AD and ASL: Sat., Nov. 29, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to $20; reg. $18-34, Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: 612-377-6626, Web: www.pillsburyhousetheatre.org or www.guthrietheater.org/accessibility
Chaim’s Love Song
Oct. 25 - Nov. 16
Minnesota Jewish Theatre Co. at Hillcrest Center Theater, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul. AD: Sun., Nov. 2, 2:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $15 (reg. $22), Phone: 651-647-4315, Web: www.mnjewishtheatre.org
A Christmas Carol
Dec. 4 - 21
Bloomington Art Center's Gallery Theater at Bloomington Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road. AD and ASL: Sun., Dec. 14, 2:00 pm, Tix: $17, senior/student $15, Phone: 952-563-8575, Web: www.bloomingtonartcenter.com
A Christmas Carol
Nov. 18 - Dec. 31
Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 - 2nd St. S., Mpls. AD and ASL: Sat., Dec. 13, 1:00 pm; Sensory Tour 10:30 am; Tues., Dec. 16, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to $20, $25 for captioning (reg. $18-34), Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: 612-377-6626, Web: www.guthrietheater.org/accessibility
Crimes of the Heart
Nov. 6 - 23
Tin Roof Theatre Co. at Main Avenue Theatre, 716 Main Ave., Fargo. AD: Sat., Nov. 8, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to $8 (reg. $15, student/senior $10), Phone: 701-306-5843, Web: http://tinrooftheatre.homestead.com/
The Diviners
Nov. 19 - 22
Normandale Community College Department of Theatre, Fine Arts Building, 9700 France Ave. S., Bloomington. ASL: Thurs., Nov. 20, 7:30 pm, Tix: $5-8, Phone: 952-487-7462, Web: http://faculty.normandale.edu/~theatre/Season.htm
The Elves and the Shoemaker
Dec. 6 - 19
Lyric Arts Company of Anoka and the Falcon Sign Singers at Main Street Stage, 420 E. Main St., Anoka. ASL: Sat., Dec. 6, 11:00 am (make request at least one week in advance), Tix: Reduced to $8 (reg. $10, $12 box seats), Phone: 763-422-1838, Web: www.lyricarts.org
Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!)
Dec. 4 - 7
Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, 333 Fourth St. S., Fargo. AD: Thurs., Dec. 4, 7:30 pm, ASL: upon request in advance, Tix: Half-price (reg. $15, senior $12, student $9), Phone: 701-235-6778, 877-687-7469, Web: www.fmct.org
Fiddler on the Roof
Nov. 7 - 22
Morris Park Players at Folwell Middle School, 3611 - 20th Ave S., Mpls. AD: Sun., Nov. 16, 2:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $12 (reg. $15), Phone: 612-724-8373, Web: www.morrisparkplayers.org
Fiorello!
Oct. 24 - Nov. 16
Bloomington Civic Theatre at Bloomington Center for the Arts Schneider Theater, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd. ASL: Thurs., Nov. 6, 7:30 pm, AD: Fri., Nov. 7, 7:30 pm (Request at least one week in advance), Tix: Reduced to $18 (reg. $25, senior $22, student $19), Phone: 952-563-8575, Web: www.bloomingtoncivictheatre.org
Five Fingers of Funk
Oct. 21 - Nov. 16
Children’s Theatre Co., Cargill Theatre, 2400 - 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. AD and ASL: Fri., Nov. 14, 7:30 pm, Tix: Mention VSA Offer for $14 tickets, reg. $14-27, Phone: 612-874-0400, Web: www.childrenstheatre.org
George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’
Oct. 31 - Nov. 16
Jon Ferguson Theater and Ktron at Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. AD and ASL: Sun., Nov. 9, 7:00 pm; must reserve access service by Nov. 3, Tix: Reduced to $15, reg. $22, Phone: 612-340-1725, Web: www.southerntheater.org
The Hanging of Greens
Dec. 4 - 14
Lakeshore Players, 4820 Stewart Ave., White Bear Lake. ASL: Sun., Dec. 14, 2:00 pm, Tix: Half-price (reg. $12, $10 student/senior), Phone: 651-429-5674, Web: www.lakeshoreplayers.com/
Hay Fever / Present Laughter
Nov. 13 - 22
University of Minnesota Theater - BFA Senior Company at Rarig Center's Stoll Thrust Theatre, 330 21st Ave. S, Mpls. ASL and AD: Hay Fever - Fri., Nov. 14, 8:00 pm; Present Laughter - Sat., Nov. 15, 8:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $10 (use code ASLAD; reg. $15 advance/$17 door), Phone: 612-625-4001, Web: http://theatre.umn.edu/utheatredance/mainstageshows/TwoCowards.php
Holiday Traditions
Nov. 28 - Jan. 11
Mpls. Institute of Arts, 2400 Third Ave. S. ASL: Sun., Dec. 7, 1:00 pm Period Rooms tour begins on third floor; 2:30 pm Purcell-Cutts House tour (shuttle bus available); Thurs., Dec. 11, 7:00 pm -- Period Rooms tour, third floor, Tix: admission charged for Purcell-Cutts House, Phone: 612-870-3131, TTY: 612-870-3132, E-mail: dhegstrom@artsmia.org Web: www.artsmia.org
Honk!
Nov. 21 - 30
Rochester Civic Theatre, 20 Civic Center Drive SE. ASL: Sat., Nov. 22, 7:00 pm, Tix: $22, senior $19, student $12, Phone: 507-282-8481, Web: www.rochestercivictheatre.org
In Your Words or Theirs
Dec. 6
Art St. Croix performers at Boutwell’s Landing, 5600 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights (behind Wal-Mart, south of Hwy 36). ASL, Open Captioning, AD: Sat., Dec. 6, 1:00 pm, Tix: free -- donations welcome, Phone: Judy 651-251-5109 or Nancy 651-351-3125, E-mail: ArtStCroix@usfamily.net
Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Dec. 2 - Jan. 3
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington, St. Paul. ASL and AD: Sat., Dec. 20, 2:00 pm, Tix/Phone: 651-224-4222, TTY: 651-282-3100, Web: www.ordway.org/services/access.asp
It's a Wonderful Life
Nov. 28 - Dec. 7
Applause Community Theatre at Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville. ASL: Fri., Dec. 5, 7:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $9 (reg. $13; senior/student $11), Phone: 952-895-1234, E-mail: tickets@applausecommunitytheatre.com Web: www.applausecommunitytheatre.com
Les Miserables
Opened June 15, 2007
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W 78th Street, Chanhassen. AD and ASL: Sat., July 21, curtain 1:00 pm, lunch seating begins at 11:00 am Specify the accommodation needed at time of ticket purchase to assure proper seating, Tix: Vision Loss Resources group $37 includes lunch: contact Stacy Shamblott, VLR, 612-871-2222; other tix (reg. $40-52), Phone: 952-934-1525 or 800-362-3515,E-mail: information@chanhassendt.com Web: www.chanhassentheatres.com
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Nov. 11 - Jan. 3
Children’s Theatre Co., United Health Group Stage, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. AD and ASL: Fri., Dec. 12, 7:30 pm, Tix: Mention VSA Offer for $14 tickets (reg. $14-27), Phone: 612-874-0400, Web: www.childrenstheatre.org
Many Lives, One Song: Hope for a World Beyond AIDS
December 5 - 6
One Voice Mixed Chorus and Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra at Hopkins High School Auditorium, 2400 Lindbergh Dr., Hopkins. AD and ASL: Fri., Dec. 5, 7:30 pm, Tix: $30-42, Phone: 651-298-1954, Web: www.ovmc.org
Miracle on 34th Street
Dec. 12 - 21
Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, 333 Fourth St. S., Fargo. AD: Sat., Dec. 13, 7:30 pm, ASL: upon request in advance, Tix: Half-price (reg. $15, senior $12, student $9), Phone: 701-235-6778, 877-687-7469, Web: www.fmct.org
The Mousetrap
Oct. 30 - Nov. 16
Applause Community Theatre at Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville (in Rosemount Nov. 14-16). ASL: Fri., Nov. 7, 7:30 pm, Tix: $13; senior/student $11, Phone: 952-895-1234, E-mail: tickets@applausecommunitytheatre.com Web: www.applausecommunitytheatre.com
Nov. Nights: Ice Maidens
Nov. 1 - 16
Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro. ASL: Sun., Nov. 2, 1:30 pm, Tix: Half price (reg. $25, student $12), Phone: 507-467-2525, 800-657-7025, E-mail: tickets@commonwealtheatre.org Web: www.commonwealtheatre.org
Peace
December 12 - 14
Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus at Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 4th St. S., Mpls