Thirty-five years ago, a remarkable era of education ended on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. Christ Child School for Exceptional Children, which operated in a low-slung, brick building at the southwest corner of Summit and Cleveland avenues, closed its doors. The school was torn down in 2005 to make way for the University of St. ...
Author Archive
Richard Owen – He went from polio patient to pioneering physician
The recent death of Dr. Richard R. Owen reminds us of how polio treatment and the perceptions of those with polio have changed. Owen, an Eden Prairie resident, died Dec. 11 at age 83.
He was a polio survivor who founded the Post-Polio Clinic at Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis. He practiced in many area hospitals ...
2011 Year in Review
The year began with concern about a large state budget deficit. The deficit was punctuated by a state government shutdown and legislative special session. It ended with community leaders still trying to get a handle on changes made during the July legislative special session. We also saw changes in federal legislation, as well as changes ...
Legislative priorities are being chosen
When the 2012 Minnesota Legislature gavels into session Jan. 24, the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD) will have its legislative agenda set. Despite cautious optimism about a recently announced $876 million state surplus, members expect a difficult legislative session.
Member organizations’ representative will meet Dec. 14 to set the agenda and choose the organization’s ...
Sidewalk access ordinance is celebrated
With one outdoor dining season on the books and new penalties in place for any violations, an ordinance meant to keep sidewalks accessible was celebrated Oct. 19 in St. Paul. The St. Paul City Council declared the date to be Full Mobility Day in St. Paul.
Ward Two Council Member Dave Thune, who authored the ordinance, ...
Thompson Hall seeks national status
Supporters of Thompson Hall, the nation’s oldest and largest social hall for the deaf, have taken a key step in getting their building named to the National Register of Historic Places. The St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) unanimously voted Sept. 15 to support the nomination. A letter of support for designation will go to ...
James S. Krause, Ph.D: Award winner’s story is about the people in his life
2011 Medtronic National Courage Award winner James S. Krause, Ph.D., has long and distinguished resume of academic accomplishments. Kraus is a professor and associate dean for Research in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. He is a leading national expert and researcher who specializes in health ...
Pink Deafies provide support during cancer battles
Fresh off of its showing at the Twin Cities Film Festival, Signing On: Stories of Deaf Breast Cancer Survivors, Their Families and the Deaf Community will be shown on Twin Cities Public Television this month. Director Barbara Allen’s documentary shares the store of a group of deaf breast cancer survivors who are known as the ...
Free voice mail service is threatened by grant cut
Open Access Connections, which provides free voice mail for people with disabilities, low income people and the homeless, has been forced to lay off staff and scale back services in the wake of a state funding cut.
The nonprofit agency, which is based in St. Paul, laid off its staff Aug. 12. Two full-time and three ...
Access a challenge during light rail construction season
Construction of the Central Corridor light rail project is more than 20 percent complete, according to project staff. Parts of University Avenue, including the stretch from Emerald to Hampden, are complete on the south side. That means switching the work and the worst impacts on businesses, to the north side.
For people with disabilities who must ...
Skyway linkage issues continue to affect downtown St. Paul
Ongoing Central Corridor light rail construction in downtown St. Paul continues to create problems in terms of skyway access. The project is also raising questions about the need for an elevator connection near the planned Fourth and Cedar station is being debated. While many skyway users see an elevator as a basic need for skyway ...
Metro Transit bus/rail service dodged a bullet, avoid deeper cuts
Twin Cities bus and rail transit are among the state-supported services that dodged a bullet during the 2011 special session of the Minnesota Legislature. That’s crucial to people with disabilities that rely on regular Metro Transit route service. The fate of Twin Cities transit service had been up in the air for months. At one point ...
State Shuts Down
Minnesotans with disabilities and many of the services they rely faced an uncertain future when state government shut down July 1. While some key state agencies and functions continued, others were closed or suspended pending appeals.
The situation has been very fluid. State leaders are expected to meet as Access Press went to press right after ...
Legislative uncertainty continues
All eyes are on the state capitol as Gov. Mark Dayton and state lawmakers decide how to handle Minnesota’s plus-$5 billion budget deficit. As Access Press went to press, state leaders were still divided on the state’s budget woes. Unless a special legislative session is held in June, state government will largely shut down July ...
State shutdown impacts are still unknown
If the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton cannot reach agreement on a state budget by July 1, parts of state government would shut down. That’s because the state’s fiscal year ends June 30. What a shutdown could mean is still being sorted out. But the impacts for Minnesotans with disabilities could be very serious. Not ...
Minnesotan invented life-saving catheter
A medical device which has made life easier for countless people with disabilities and illness has ties to Minnesota. The Foley catheter was invented by St. Cloud native Frederic Foley.
A Foley catheter is a flexible tube that is passed through the urethra and into the bladder. The tube has two separated lumens. One lumen is ...
Ramsey County program provides help to residents in emergencies
Ramsey County residents with disabilities and their loved ones will get extra help in emergencies through a new program. An emergency response form is now available for people with disabilities. This form, which can be completed online, will help the Ramsey County Communications Center, law enforcement and medical personnel provide accessible and adapted emergency services. ...
Kriesel brings unique experience to disability, veterans’ issues: First-termer Republican is from Cottage Grove
State Rep. John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove) is proud to be working with the Amputee Coalition on a bill that would ensure fairness in medical coverage for those who have lost limbs. That’s because he knows first-hand what limb loss is like.
In 2006, Staff Sergeant Kriesel was near Fallujah leading a group of soldier on ...
Goal: fair orthotic, prosthetic coverage
Cost caps and other restrictions make it difficult for many Minnesotans to obtain needed orthotic and prosthetic equipment. Rep. John Kriesel (R- Cottage Grove), an amputee who lost both legs in the war in Iraq, wants to change that. He is working with the Amputee Coalition and other advocates to pass H.F. 847. The bill ...
Advocates want cuts to be restored
With so much still in play during the 2011 legislative session, Minnesotans with disabilities should not be treated like hockey pucks. Disappointment over Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed budget and its $775 million in health and human services cuts has given way to calls to reduce the cuts to service.
The challenge of protecting essential services ...
Central Corridor construction makes getting around challenging
Planning a trip to the state capitol for Tuesdays at the Capitol or a rally organized by an advocacy group? Or do you travel University Avenue or use the Washington Avenue Bridge to get to and from home, work, shopping or school? Getting around parts of St. Paul and Minneapolis got trickier due to Central ...
Proposed health cuts denounced
Prudent budget-cutting measures or irresponsible attack on the lives of people with disabilities? A report on proposed health care spending cuts is sparking intense debate throughout Minnesota, as sweeping changes are proposed to state programs. The report, “Minnesota’s Healthcare Imperative,” contains specific proposals for potential cost savings from within Minnesota’s current public health care system ...
Teen with autism beaten, robbed and shot in face
A horrifying attack on a teenager with disabilities is a reminder that family members, friends and guardians must make extra efforts to keep young people safe. Charges were filed last month in Ramsey County District Court against three adults and two teenagers who took part in an attack on the 16-year-old young man. Charges include felony ...
St. Paul passes new sidewalk café ordinance
Months of work ended as St. Paul’s much-debated new regulations on sidewalk cafes and other retail uses of sidewalks were unanimously adopted by the City Council Janury19. The council adopted the regulations after three public hearings. Ward Two Council Member Dave Thune, who authored the ordinance, said although the process was difficult, the city is now ...
Sidewalk cafe regulations continue to cause debate
St. Paul’s proposed changes to sidewalk café and store display regulations will not take effect until late February or March at the earliest, if the St. Paul City Council sticks to the agreed-on schedule. The continuing delays in proposed ordinance changes meant to ensure sidewalk accessibility are beginning to frustrate some members of the city’s ...
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