Cuts to medical assistance reimbursement rates, made behind closed doors during the 2011 Minnesota Legislature’s July special session are at the center of a lawsuit against the State of Minnesota. The lawsuit was filed Oct. 25 in Ramsey County District Court on behalf of eight home health care agencies, employees and their clients with various ...

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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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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, ...

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The arts in Minnesota are more accessible to people with disabilities today—thanks in part to three individuals and one organization that value the arts. The 14th annual Arts Access Awards are nominated by the public and presented by VSA Minnesota, to recognize outstanding accomplishments by artists, arts organizations, advocates and educators that help create a ...

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Caregivers stage protests Caregivers from Dellwood Place and Bethesda Care Center, two Cerenity nursing homes slated for closure in November, rallied Oct. 12 at Dellwood Place with community supporters from across the Twin Cities to stand up for seniors, the disabled, and long-term care workers. During a week that the Congressional “Super Committee” was expected to discuss ...

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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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Many must change health plans This fall more than 70,000 Twin Cities residents enrolled in state health insurance programs must choose new plans. This is because a new program at the Minnesota Department of Human Services is being implemented. By putting managed care contracts out for competitive bids, state officials hope to save money in the ...

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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 ...

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

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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Obama wants to help veterans During a speech at the national American Legion convention in Minneapolis Aug. 30, President Barak Obama vowed to ensure that returning soldiers have the job skills they need to succeed. He pledged to create a job training “boot camp” for veterans who are struggling to find employment in the private sector, a ...

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It’s the best party of the year for Minnesota’s disability community. And you and your friends can make it better. Access Press hosts the Charlie Smith Award Banquet Friday, Nov. 4 at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott, Bloomington. Attendees enjoy music, a delicious meal and the presentation of the Charlie Smith Award, which is given annually ...

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The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens for Disabilities (MN CCD) hosts a series of town hall forums this fall to explain the various state budget impacts, and to gather information from the public. Policymakers will be on hand to listen to concerns. Weeks after the 2011 special session of the Minnesota Legislature, advocates that serve people with ...

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

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For organizations that serve Minnesotans with disabilities, the historic state shutdown and its aftermath have created a flurry of activities that for some, are far from over. For agencies that had to shut down and then start up, the complications have been many and varied. A few of the complications were unintentionally humorous. One agency that ...

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It’s the best party of the year for Minnesota’s disability community. And you and your friends can make it better. Access Press hosts the Charlie Smith Award Banquet Friday, Nov. 4 at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott, Bloomington. Attendees enjoy music, a delicious meal and the presentation of the Charlie Smith Award, which is given annually ...

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Firefighters’ calendar is for a good cause Six St. Paul firefighters are appearing in a 2012 calendar that will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Voting for the picture that will be on the calendar cover was conducted on Facebook, ending Aug. 3. This is the third years the firefighters had doffed their shirts and posed for ...

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

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Families whose developmentally disabled loved ones were restrained at the Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) facility will share in a $3 million settlement. U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank signed an order June 23 approving the comprehensive class action settlement agreement. The settlement finalizes a tentative agreement reached last fall that bars the state from ...

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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 ...

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In the natural cycle of life and the inevitable sons and daughters bury their parents. And while their grief is profound, it is tempered by a life lived long. Sadly, life does not flow evenly, for when Kevin Sullivan suddenly passed away on June 14, the circle was broken and family and friends were shocked ...

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There’s an app for that Let’s say you aren’t sure how to start a conversation. Or give a compliment. Or get through a first date. For kids with Asperger’s syndrome, these can be big challenges. But now there’s an app for that. Fraser, a child development center in Minneapolis, has created QuickCues to help guide autistic teens ...

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

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