Representatives of Minnesota’s numerous disability advocacy groups are already making treks to the state capitol. The Jan. 24 start of the legislative session has kicked a number of lobbying efforts into high gear. Several groups have already announced their advocacy days. Despite what has been touted as a short legislative session, disability community members will be ...

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One of the biggest battles shaping up during the Minnesota Legislature’s 2012 session centers on proposals to require voters to produce identification at the polls. For many people with disabilities, requiring ID to be shown before a vote is cast is seen as a barrier to voting. Voter identification was a flashpoint during the 2011 legislative ...

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Hockey injuries have drawn attention in Minnesota as two hockey players, Jack Jablonski from Benilde-St. Margaret and Jenna Privette from St. Croix Lutheran, have sustained serious injuries. The injuries have not only drawn attention to disabling sports injuries, they have also prompted efforts to make sports safer and to educate athletes about sports injuries. Courage Center ...

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People Incorporated Mental Health Services, the state’s largest nonprofit working exclusively in the adult mental health field, is expanding its care to children. The organization announced in January that it has acquired an array of programs supporting children’s mental health from St. Paul-based Children’s Home Society & Family Services (Children’s Home). The programs, which will ...

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The Amputee Coalition and the Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey Program, an ice hockey team of disabled American veterans, have formed a partnership to promote and expand the team. The Minnesota Warriors Hockey Recruitment Initiative, powered by a $20,000 grant from the U.S. Olympic Committee through Veterans Affairs, will be a joint effort to build recognition ...

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People with disabilities have often been invisible members of our community—in the shadows, forgotten by some, ignored by others. John was one of the individuals.John lived in a nursing home for eight months when he should have been in rehab for back surgery. He was then moved to a group home and lived there for one ...

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Shamus O’Meara and the plaintiffs in the Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) lawsuit will be the honored guests at The Arc Minnesota’s 2012 Public Policy Recognition Event. The event will be held at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 at the Midland Hills Country Club, 2001 Fulham Street in Roseville. Attorney Shamus O’Meara served as settlement class ...

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Hammer Residences, Inc. has selected John Estrem as its new chief executive officer. The appointment was announced Jan. 27. He replaces the late Tim Nelson, who passed award unexpectedly in August 2011. “Our diligent search process led us to an exciting choice in John Estrem,” said Jon Matejcek, Hammer Board President. “His business acumen and experience ...

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Advocate wins Pathfinder award A New Ulm area advocate for people with disabilities is one of the 2012 Pathfinder Award winners. The awards were given on January 16 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Wilbur Neuschwander-Frink received the Pathfinder Award, given annually to people who embody the spirit and work of Dr. King. Neuschwander-Frink ...

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Several Minnesota organizations and individuals were honored recently by Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Lucinda Jesson. Jesson gave the Commissioners’ Circle of Excellence Awards to recognize outstanding contributions to human services program clients. Eleven individuals and organizations were recipients of the awards, which were presented during a ceremony at the Elmer L. Andersen ...

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  Texting helps suicide prevention Minnesota’s suicide call center is getting as many cell-phone text messages from teens in a day as it used to get phone calls from teens in a month. That’s because Carlton County applied for and received a $1.44 million federal grant to roll out a seven-county texting hotline for suicide prevention. “We looked ...

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Minnesota Connections A number of this month’s books are written by Minnesota authors. The Long-Shining Waters (began Jan. 30 at 11 a.m.) is by Duluth resident, Danielle Sosin. Carlos Eire, author of Learning to Die in Miami (began Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.), taught at St. John’s University for a couple years. Martin Kihn, author of ...

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Free house painting Metro Paint-A-Thon helps low-income seniors and people with disabilities continue to live independently in their own homes, enriching their lives and neighborhoods. Thousands of volunteers scrape, prime and paint these homes at no cost to the homeowner. Volunteers from companies, congregations, civic groups, and schools will paint homes the weekend of Aug. 4-5. ...

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Here's the .pdf of the February 2012 issue.  Enjoy!

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Rose Hollermann, a 15-year-old wheelchair athlete, has sued the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School sophomore and Courage Center basketball star wants the right to compete alongside runners at high school athletic events. Hollermann’s attorney Justin Page, from the Minnesota Disability Law Center, filed the civil lawsuit Dec. 8 in Minnesota’s Fourth ...

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The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD) is ready for the start of the 2012 legislative session on Jan. 24. The umbrella organization of disability groups adopted its legislative agenda Dec. 14. A longer list of priorities was unveiled in November, and given to member groups to prioritize. The top items will be championed by ...

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The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD) voted Dec. 14 to reorganize. The changes will be implemented during 2012 and take effect in early 2013. The 17-year-old organization will be reorganized under a plan developed over the past year. MN-CCD will be a stand-alone nonprofit organization, with an executive director and a half-time administrative ...

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Deaf activist wins settlement Five years after he was jailed in Ramsey County, deaf community activist Douglas Bahl believes he can have a normal life again. The St. Paul man, who sued Ramsey County after a 2006 traffic stop, had his settlement approved by the Ramsey County Board Dec. 20.  Bahl, of St. Paul, will receive $57,500 ...

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Weekend Program Books Your Personal World (Saturday at 1 p.m.) is airing Passages in Caregiving, by Gail Sheehy; For the Younger Set (Sunday at 11 a.m.) is airing Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos and Across the Great Barrier, by Patricia C. Wrede; Poetic Reflections (Sunday at noon) is airing The Sky Is Great, the ...

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New Travel (TSA) toll-free helpline Are you a person with disabilities who likes to travel? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced the launch of TSA Cares today, a new helpline number designed to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions, prior to getting to the airport. Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227 ...

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Call for Justice now open Call for Justice has opened its office at 404 South 8th St., Minneapolis, in space donated by Greater Twin Cities United Way. Ellen Krug, an attorney for nearly 30 years, has been hired as the Call for Justice executive director. Call for Justice is a pilot project to provide legal information, ...

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PACER offers workshops PACER Center offers useful free and low-cost workshops for families of children with disabilities. Register in advance. All workshops are at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, unless specified. Fraser offers groups Fraser offers a wide variety of classes and programs for families dealing with disabilities. Classes, which typically cost $30 per person or $50 ...

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Here’s the .pdf of the January 2012 Issue. Enjoy!

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