Some–but not all–of the 2011 budget cuts affecting people with disabilities were restored April 25 with the stroke of a pen as Gov. Mark Dayton signed the health and human services bill into law. It allows for the spending of about $18 million in money that Minnesota’s health care plans recently gave back to the ...
Home
HHS package signed into law- Many 2011 cuts are restored
UCPM faces uncertain future
United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota (UCPM) will shut down its office in St. Paul by June 30, unless a group of parent volunteers can turn the tide. The board of directors made the difficult decision April 18 to dissolve the organization. The organization may be the latest casualty of a changing financial climate for nonprofit ...
Biggest Disability Day rally ever!
[caption id="attachment_14571" align="aligncenter" width="575" caption="Rep. Jim Abeler engages with the crowd of disability advocates."][/caption]
Governor Mark Dayton speaks out for disability rights.
[caption id="attachment_14568" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="Legislators, organizational leaders, and self advocates all speak out in the capitol rotunda."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_14569" align="aligncenter" width="503" caption="The Lorries demonstrate their dislike for the 20% family reduction in wages."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_14570" align="aligncenter" width="575" ...
Start thinking about Charlie Smith Award nominees
It’s never too early to mark your calendar and save the date of Friday, Nov. 2 for the 10th annual Access Press Charlie Smith Award Banquet. The banquet, organized by Access Press, honors a member, group or organization in Minnesota’s disability community for outstanding service.
The banquet will again be held at the Minneapolis Airport Marriot ...
In a word: Ballot’s outcome hinges on language
“Shall the Minnesota constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?” As Minnesotans prepare to cast ballots in November on a constitutional amendment that would require voters to produce photo identification at the polling ...
Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities survey indicates shifts in attitudes, concerns
Minnesotans’ positive attitude toward people with developmental disabilities has increased markedly in the past 50 years, according to a report released in April by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities who funded and sponsored the Attitude Survey. But the survey results also indicate concerns among families, who worry about finances, services and education for their ...
Many changes are coming for those on MA-EPD
Minnesotans who rely on Medical Assistance for Employed People with Disabilities (MA-EPD)and want to keep working and protect their assets got some help in the newly adopted health and human services legislation. Agreement between Gov. Mark Dayton, the House and Senate resulted in needed changes. The new legislation allows enrollees who have worked up until age ...
Editor’s Column – May 2012
The 2012 legislative session may have ended by the time you read this. As of right now, there are still discussions about a new Vikings football stadium. I am almost to the point where I don’t even care which way it goes. Let’s just quit talking about stadiums; it’s taking up way too much legislative ...
Visual arts, writing help understanding of disabilities
As part of the Disability Disclosure class taught by Brenda Van Vugt and Linda Peterson at Robbinsdale Transition Center, students were asked to practice their reading and writing skills by producing a short statement about their disability and a book review about an individual with a disability. Students were also asked to prepare a short ...
Accessible Events and Opportunities – May 2012
Enjoy a movie tonight Several theaters around the state offer accommodations for movie-goers, such as captioning or descriptive services. www.captionfish.com lists cinemas with access (AD/CC) features. Find theaters in your area by typing in your zip code. MoPix-equipped Rear Window Captioned Films are listed at cam.wgbh.org/mopix/nowshowing.html#mn May is Mental Health Month May is Mental Health Month, recognized by ...
Radio Talking Book – May 2012
Volunteer makes a customer happy The Minnesota RTB signal is heard by others across the country via local services that rebroadcast our programming. One place that happens is Los Angeles. A short while ago, I heard from the station manager there that one of her blind volunteers had been hit by a truck, and was ...
We remember them
George C. Hall
George Hall was a leader. Hall served eight years on the MCIL Board, and was its chairperson for much of that time. He brought organizational skills, strong leadership and a personal understanding of disability to that board role. He is also remembered as a fair and thoughtful board chairman. He was an active ...
It’s never too early to plan for the start of school
Parents throughout Minnesota are visiting school open houses, scheduling classroom visits, setting up physicals and immunizations and making plans for their child’s schooling in the fall. Families of children who have disabilities face planning for new classes and the individualized education program (IEP). Students who have disabilities are likely to need accommodations in certain academic ...
Regional News in Review – May 2012
Metro Transit Central Corridor transit eyed When the Central Corridor or Green Line light rail service begins in 2014, many Twin Cities bus routes will change to better serve riders. Metro Transit is reviewing and potentially altering up to 23 bus routes that travel through the Central Corridor area in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The intent of ...
People and Places – May 2012
The Arc of Mower County is 60 years old
Prior to 1950 there were only a few local associations for developmentally disabled children and no state or national Arc’s existed. Arc at the time stood for “Association of Retarded Citizens,” before the “R” word was used as a negative term.
In 1950, there were nine local Arc ...
May 2012 Issue
Here's a .pdf of the May 2012 Issue. Enjoy!
Martinez draws on life experiences in federal role
The Obama administration’s lead advisor on employment of people with disabilities was in the Twin Cities March 20 to praise Twin Cities area agencies that boost employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
“You really are nice people!” said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary for disability employment policy at the U.S. Department of Labor. Martinez was effusive with ...
MA-EPD struggles continue, no resolution yet
Typically, Minnesotans work well beyond 65 years of age. Efforts to allow the state’s disability community to do the same continue at the state capitol. The story of Charles “Chuck” Van Heuveln and the looming threat to his lifestyle has sparked the latest push for a bill to expand the age limit for Medical Assistance ...
PCAs’ pay plight is still in play this session
About 6,600 Minnesotans who provide care to family members with disabilities will continue to be paid less than others who provide care. Unless state lawmakers have a change of heart, the attempt to have equal pay for personal care attendant (PCA) services will have to wait for either a legal appeal or the 2012 legislative ...
Editor’s Column – April 2012
What’s with the Minnesota weather? Could it be a nicer spring? It’s the beginning of April and we’ve already had temperatures well into the 70s: unbelievable. Speaking of weather, I think our legislators are getting serious spring fever also and trying to finish up early. Being the cynic I am, I wonder if they are trying ...
Changes removed barrier to community integration
The Minnesota Department of Human Services agreed in 2011 to develop a comprehensive plan to provide services for persons with disabilities in the “most integrated setting.” This plan, called an “Olmstead plan” in reference to a United States Supreme Court case that supported moving persons with disabilities out of institutions, was part of the settlement ...
Kriesel to step down; Westrom seeks Senate seat
Two high-profile Minnesota legislators with disabilities are looking at changing roles. Rep. John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove), a military veteran who worked on legislative issues important to Minnesota’s disability community, has decided to not seek a second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Rep. Torrey Westrom, (R-Elbow Lake), the state’s first blind state legislator, has ...
April 2012 Radio Talking Book
New Employees in Audio Services Two new employees are answering phones in the Audio Services section at the Communication Center. Customer Service Representative Chris Schmiesser retired last summer. The new voice you will hear is that of Michelle Thomas. Michelle has been a State employee for over three years, coming here from South Minneapolis Vocational Rehab ...
Legislation affecting Minnesotans with disabilities
Disability community advocates, who have spent many hours at the state capitol tracking the House and Senate omnibus health and human services (HHS) bills, continue to follow a number of proposals as the session moves into its final weeks. A rapidly changing landscape during the 2012 session of the Minnesota Legislature means many proposals important ...
Featured Organizations
Twitter Feed
- Jane McClure is looking for folks from Greater Minnesota to interview about how the 2012 Minnesota Legislature's... http://t.co/F3NOgB1o
- Today is Accessibility Day at Target Field - sponsored by UCare and partnered by the Courage Center. If... http://t.co/jwDILaZn
- Posts from Access Press for 05/10/2012 - http://t.co/uBSoBOVc
- Just posted: HHS package signed into law- Many 2011 cuts are restored http://t.co/U96YVhqG