Jennifer Mundl was 17 when a 1982 gymnastics accident resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. She was paralyzed from the neck down and was left a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. Despite a lengthy hospitalization and recovery, Mundl completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She went on to help develop the assistive technology practice at Courage Center. Although ...

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Johnson named to MS Society post Daniel S. Johnson has joined the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter as Vice President of Public Policy and Mission Advancement. In this role, he leads advocacy and political engagement, client programs and services, and professional outreach and education. The chapter represents more than 17,000 people living with MS ...

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Do you prefer to read the .pdf on your computer or e-reader?  Here's the .pdf copy of the November 2011 issue. Enjoy!

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People with disabilities face high unemployment rates as well as assumptions that they cannot work. A creative new retail training program, offered by Opportunity Partners and Arc Greater Twin Cities in cooperation with Dunwoody College of Technology, will provide training to get more people into the work force. The program should boost job opportunities and eventually ...

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Kugler to lead The Arc Minnesota Larry Kugler of Eden Prairie has been appointed President of The Arc Minnesota. Kugler succeeds President Tim Nelson, who died this summer. Kugler said, “I am committed to continuing the priorities that Tim promoted as President. He worked tirelessly for a strong presence of The Arc across the State of Minnesota ...

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Here's the .pdf of the October 2011 Issue.  Enjoy!

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Brown is winner of award Nick Brown, owner of Brown’s Lawn Service in Shakopee, is the winner of the 2011 Judd Jacobson Memorial Award. The award will be presented Oct. 5 at a ceremony at Courage Center in Golden Valley. Brown is an enterprising 18-year-old who has been mowing lawns since age 12. That wouldn’t be unusual ...

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The sudden death of Tim Nelson, chief executive officer of Hammer Residences, Inc, and board chairman of The Arc Minnesota, has stunned and saddened those who worked with him.  Nelson, 58, died Aug. 16 while hiking with his wife, Jean, in Colorado. His life’s work in helping people with developmental disabilities began early. Nelson’s youngest brother Doug ...

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Here's the .pdf version of the September 2011 Issue.  Enjoy!

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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 ...

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Planning to attend the Great Minnesota Get-Together, the 2011 Minnesota State Fair? Many accessibility options are available but planning ahead is essential. The fair is Aug. 25 – Sept. 6 in St. Paul. Accessibility information is available on the fair website, at www.mnstatefair.org or call 651-288-4448. The website includes an online accessibility guide. The Minnesota State Fair ...

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Hewitt Named New Director of University of Minnesota RTC Amy Hewitt, PhD, has been selected as the new Director of the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration. She will assume the new role effective August 15 , succeeding Dr. Charlie Lakin, who has been ...

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Here's the entire August 2011 Issue in .pdf format.  Enjoy!

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Here's the .pdf of our July 2011 Issue.  Enjoy!

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With this issue Access Press unveils a redesigned arts and events calendar. It appears on page 10 (of the print edition) of this issue. Accessible Fun is a change from Accessible Performances, our longtime calendar feature produced by VSA Minnesota. While the newspaper and online editions will continue to use VSA Minnesota items, the redesigned ...

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 When Tristan Radtke was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a mild form of autism, he was 13 years old. He is now 21. Asperger’s is a neurological disorder on the autism spectrum which is named after Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger. Individuals (sometimes shortened to “aspies”) have severely impaired communication and social skills. They also engage in ...

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Changemakers Honored The Arc Greater Twin Cities presented its Changemaker Awards to 12 individuals for making a difference for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The volunteers were honored at The Arc’s Annual Meeting and Volunteer Celebration on May 14 at the Minneapolis Ramada Plaza. The “Changing Attitudes” award category recognizes those who ...

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Here's the entire June 2011 Issue in .pdf format.  Enjoy!

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Minnehaha Falls Park to get universal access playground   Falls 4 All, a volunteer group, is raising money to enhance accessibility of planned playground improvements at Wabun Picnic Area in Minnehaha Park. Falls 4 All has teamed up with People for Parks, to raise money. The goal is to build the first universally accessible playground facility in ...

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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. ...

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Here's the .pdf version of our May Issue! Enjoy!

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Here's the .pdf of the April 2011 issue.  Enjoy!

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Granquist honored for advocacy  Luther Granquist, attorney for the Minnesota Disability Law Center (MLDC) for 36 years and a regular contributor to Access Press, was honored by The Arc Minnesota for his decades-long commitment to protecting and upholding the rights of people with developmental disabilities. “Few people have impacted the lives of as many Minnesotans with developmental ...

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Freezin’ for a reason: Polar Bear plunge for Special Olympics Brave Minnesotans around the state are jumping into frozen water to raise funds for Special Olympics Minnesota as part of the Polar Bear Plunge. As of March 1, more than 6,500 Plungers had already taken the icy dip, together raising more than $1.2 million. An additional ...

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Vinland’s Second Winter Walkabout was a huge success as $8,458 was raised in pledges donations and raffle ticket sales. The event Feb. 19 at Vinland National Center in Loretto drew a crowd of more than 150 outdoor enthusiasts. Inside a heated tent, attendees listened to live music performed by the Scandinavian ensemble Skålmusik, enjoyed a ...

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