By the time you read this, Access Press’s annual banquet will once again have taken place, but we’ll have gone to press a couple days before. I’m very excited to share all that happened with you, but it will have to wait until next month. At last count, we were looking forward to about 200 ...
Editorials
Lawmakers must support Medicare Part D as it is
AARP recently collected more than 48 pages of signatures from Minnesotans worried that debt concerns and budget cuts will jeopardize Medicare. The petition, urging Congress “to leave Medicare and social security alone,” has now been signed by 1.6 million Americans nationwide. The signatories are right to be concerned. Consider Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, known as Part ...
Disability is missing from the debate
It has been more than 20 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act took effect, but while the law has changed some things in higher education, it hasn’t changed the way academic culture regards people with disabilities. While our current interest in diversity is laudable, colleges rarely think of disability when they tout diversity. College ...
Editor’s Column – October 2011
It’s been a very active month for us at Access Press. After 15 years in the Griggs Midway Building, Access Press has signed a lease to move to a new location. We will be occupying an office space on the 9th floor of the Kelly Inn, overlooking the Department of Transportation, the State Office Building, ...
Air travel rules are under review
Richard Devylder, keynote speaker for the Minnesota State Council on Disability awards luncheon Sept. 26, is the U.S. Department of Transportation advisor for accessible transportation. His speech here came at a time when there is an increased focus on complaints about air travel and accommodations for travelers with disabilities. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are ...
Letter to the Editor – October 2011
To the editor: I have worked to get St. Paul sidewalks shoveled in the winter to enable people with mobility problems to use the sidewalks. St. Paul Smart Trips developed a door hanger to tell property owners to shovel their sidewalks. To get a sidewalk shoveled, a disabled person just needs to call the City of St. ...
October 2011 Issue
Here's the .pdf of the October 2011 Issue. Enjoy!
Supporters speak out
Open Access Connections users were asked what the loss of voice mail would mean to them. Here are a few responses: “It’s invaluable to anyone who has a disability. It’s the only way I’ve been able to keep in touch. If this service is cut, I’ll be deeply affected.” “This voice mail has helped me dramatically. Right ...
Editor’s Column – September 2011
The Board of Directors of Access Press has selected Jeff Bangsberg as the 2011 Charlie Smith Award recipient. It’s been a real honor for me to have Jeff as a mentor and friend over the years. I look forward to Nov. 4 and the opportunity to honor Jeff and congratulate all the nominees. There were many deserving ...
Parentectomies may be needed in medical visits
Editor’s note: At a time when many parents of children with disabilities have been going through the annual round of back-to-school medical visits, this guest commentary is appropriate. It can be difficult for parents to step back as their children get older. This is especially the case if the child has a complicated medical history. As a ...
Editor’s Column – August 2011
The state shutdown was truly a catastrophe. Although disappointing, Gov. Dayton made the right decision. He did what had to be done to get the state back to work, even though he knew he was accepting a budget that will not solve any of our financial woes but only put them off for another budget ...
The August 2011 Issue
Here's the entire August 2011 Issue in .pdf format. Enjoy!
Editor’s Column – July 2011
I hope by the time you read this the state government shutdown is over. As I’m writing this, though, I’m afraid that it won’t be settled. I don’t think the House and Senate leadership are able to make any guarantees on how their own caucuses will ultimately vote on any compromise. Gov. Mark Dayton will ...
Still remaining in the shadows with their future uncertain
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have many unmet needs and inadequate opportunities to lead productive lives in their communities, according to a national survey. Sixty-two percent of caregivers surveyed reported a decrease in services for their family member with a disability. State budget proposals threaten this further. “Fifty years ago, President Kennedy called ...
Letters to the Editor – July 2011
Editor’s note: This letter was written to Gov. Mark Dayton prior to the court decision on what are and are not considered “essential services” during the state shutdown. If you have questions, please contact your personal care attendant (PCA), transportation, social services or other service providers for details. The shutdown situation is very fluid and ...
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 ...
Editor’s Column – June 2011
Summer is finally here and I’m so excited and thankful for the warmth. Although I’m a native Minnesotan (born in St. Paul), I grew up in the Southwest desert where there was summer pretty much year-round, and I hated it. Only after one winter back in Minnesota (about 40 years ago) did I start to ...
Letter to the Editor – June 2011: Spend a day with me and learn about service needs, challenges
Life should seem pretty good. Then why do I feel so upset right now. On one hand, you have the current situation at the legislature. While, by my own assessment, this won’t affect me personally, the cuts, the talk about eight-bed homes for the disabled do set a dangerous precedent. Right now, they are only talking ...
June 2011 Issue
Here's the entire June 2011 Issue in .pdf format. Enjoy!
Editor’s Column – May 2011
The big news at our state capitol is that our legislators are flinging red herrings like there’s no tomorrow. By turning their attention to single-sex marriage and stadiums, they are really trying to keep out of the mainstream news the massive cuts that will be devastating to many Minnesotans. The budgets they are proposing now ...
Dr. Cole remembered
Dr. Theodore “Ted” Cole is being remembered for his decades of work in rehabilitation and spinal cord injury, his pioneering medical work and his compassion and commitment to others. Cole died peacefully March 26 at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, surrounded in his final days by his wife, Sandra and their five children. ...
The disability community is certainly being thrown under this OmniBUS
This latest round of proposed state Health and Human Services proposed cuts are devastating, it shows that we have senators and representatives who are cowardly, irresponsible and unethical and don’t understand the realistic results of their trickledown theory. They say that raising taxes is a job killer . . . how can this be justified? More people ...
May 2011 Issue
Here's the .pdf version of our May Issue! Enjoy!
Editor’s Column – April 2011
There has been so much happening at the capitol it’s hard to keep up. It’s impossible to say what will be law and what will be vetoed at this point. Some of the budget cuts that are being proposed would take away basic needs care for many individuals with disabilities. I’m not always sure that ...
Charlie Remembered
It’s been 10 years since my friend Charlie Smith passed away. Those of us who knew Charlie know we lost a strong advocate. Without Charlie Access Press would probably not exist. Legislatively, much of what we’re fighting for today, Charlie was involved in authoring the legislation or was there fighting to improve many of those ...
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- Jane McClure is looking for folks from Greater Minnesota to interview about how the 2012 Minnesota Legislature's... http://t.co/F3NOgB1o
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