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 ...
Posts Tagged ‘Courage Center’
People and Places – February 2012
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 ...
Awards recognize contributions to human services clients
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 ...
Accessible Events (see our online calendar too)
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 ...
Courage Center’s Mundl is honored for achievements
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 ...
State government shutdown/special session: The end of the end
Here is an overview from Courage Center of the 2011 Minnesota Legislature special session. The end of the longest shutdown in state history and the conclusion to the 2011 legislative session brings some relief. At Courage Center it’s not a return to business as usual. The agency has difficult work ahead to provide clients with the ...
State shutdown impacts are still unknown
If the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton cannot reach agreement on a state budget by July 1, parts of state government would shut down. That’s because the state’s fiscal year ends June 30. What a shutdown could mean is still being sorted out. But the impacts for Minnesotans with disabilities could be very serious. Not ...
Regional News in Review – June 2011
Procedure changes life After Rob Summers was struck by a hit-and-run driver in 2006 and left paralyzed from the chest down, he faced the prospect of spending the rest of his life using a wheelchair. And despite three years of intensive therapy, he showed no signs of improving. But after becoming the first patient to undergo ...
Get involved, be a self-advocate at the state capitol
Speak for yourself, others at advocacy events Wanting to speak out about proposed state budget cuts? Many opportunities are available for self-advocates, their families and friends during the 2011 legislative session. Here is a sampling of upcoming days at the capitol, meetings and rallies. More information can be found at www.mnccd.org Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities ...
Concerns raised reflect harsh realities for nonprofits
Thank goodness for the Billy Golfuses of the world. They serve as our canaries in the mine shaft, taking great risks to tell us when things are becoming difficult, unfair or untenable. Golfus’ commentary reflects the harshest realities of today’s torn social safety net and failing medical system which for folks who are living in ...
Costs are a barrier to Courage Center program
Courage Center is forcing me out of the sailing program by their insistence on charging a man who has already been legislated into poverty. You may say that this is about fun and sailing but it is also political (as much as I hate that aspect). My graduate school advisor said politics dictates who controls ...
Access Press Charlie Smith Award banquet an evening of fun & fellowship for the disability community
“I learned so much from the 10 years that I worked at Courage Center about peoples’ disabilities and it really reframed the way I look at the world and how I am going to make a difference. . .”
-2010 Charlie Smith Award winner, Steve Kuntz
[showtime]
2010 Charlie Smith Award winner Steve Kuntz and Access Press founding ...
People and Places – September 2010
Team gets a real field The Courage Center Rolling Twins youth softball team will soon have a new paved softball field. The field will become reality thanks to the Minnesota Twins and a $200,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant. The Minnesota Twins competed with other Major League baseball teams for the grant, which was won through online voting. Twins ...
People and Places – August 2010
A reporter is honored The late Darcy Pohland is one of the new members of the Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The 2010 members were announced last month, after a vote of their peers. Pohland died earlier this year. Injured in a diving accident during her college days, Pohland used a wheelchair. She worked at various ...
Good sports in our community
Thanks to a group of charitable teens and generous local organizations, the West Metro Miracle League unveiled a new Daktronics digital display scoreboard at Bennett Family Park in Minnetonka May 23. This is the only one of its kind installed at a Minnesota Little League park.
Since 2008, the West Metro Miracle League non-profit has provided ...
The Story of Us: 20 years of MN disability news coverage remembered, as covered by Access Press – Pt. 2
Minnesota, as told through the pages of Access Press, is one of victories and defeats, activism and accolades. Come with us on a trip back through the past two decades. This installment covers the second five years of newspaper coverage. May 1995 Debate continued at the capitol over programs for people with disabilities, with most attention focused ...
The Story of Us: 20 years of MN disability news coverage remembered, as covered by Access Press – Pt. 3
Minnesota, as told through the pages of Access Press, is one of victories and defeats, activism and accolades. Come with us on a trip back through the past two decades. This installment covers the third five years of newspaper coverage. May 2000 A demonstration at the state capitol was one of many held around the United ...
The Story of Us: 20 years of MN disability news coverage remembered, as covered by Access Press – Pt. 4
Minnesota, as told through the pages of Access Press, is one of victories and defeats, activism and accolades. Come with us on a trip back through the past two decades. This installment covers the fourth five years of newspaper coverage. May 2005 Major differences were seen in the Minnesota House and Senate’s proposed health and human services legislation. ...
People and Places – April 2009
The Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves and the Rolling Rowdies, two wheelchair basketball teams from Courage Center, won national titles in March at the National Wheelchair Basketball Championships. The tournament was held in Lakewood, Colorado and featured more than 1,000 athletes playing in six divisions. The Rolling Timberwolves team won its second straight national title in the ...
Congressman Ramstad receives 2008
National Courage Award Four others receive Jay and Rose Phillips Awards Courage Center presented U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad with its National Courage Award at its annual Medtronic Celebration of Courage Gala at The Depot in Minneapolis on September 13. The national award recognizes an individual’s contributions to the health, welfare and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. “Issues ...
Good Rehabilitation Not Enough
Courage Center Models Holistic Rehabilitation In a recent interview with Access Press, Jan Malcolm reflects on her first year as Courage Center’s Chief Executive Officer. How would you describe your first-year experience as the CEO of Courage Center? “It’s been a year of learning. Courage is a complex organization with many parts, so I’d say I’m still climbing ...
Finding the Right Spot Can Make a Difference
Linda Baune recently won the 2006 Judd Jacobson Memorial Award. I had a chance to have lunch with her last month to talk about her life and achievements. Linda walked into Perkins with enthusiasm, smiled warmly and introduced herself. She seemed to bring the September sunshine inside with her. After politely ordering her chicken quesadillas, ...
Paul Camitsch Inducted
Paul Camitsch, a Courage Center volunteer with the Sports & Recreation Program, was inducted into The Boys’ Club of New York (BCNY) All Sports Hall of Fame. Camitsch, of Maple Grove, MN, is one of 15 honorees/inductees who was honored at the BCNY Hall of Fame Dinner in New York City on November 2, 2005. Along ...
Paraplegic Yoga Teacher Receives Judd Jacobson Award
In October, Orono resident and Minnetonka non-profit business owner, Matthew Sanford, received the Judd Jacobson Memorial Award for his work with yoga and disabilities at a recognition luncheon at the Golden Valley Golf and Country Club. The award is given annually through the Courage Center in Golden Valley, a leading rehabilitation and resource center for ...
Twins’ Fan Re-discovers Passion for Baseball
This summer I re-discovered my passion for baseball in general and the Minnesota Twins in particular. Although it was a disappointment that the hometown team did not make it to the playoffs for the fourth straight year, the season was a dream come true for this diehard Twins fan. My employer, Courage Center, and our vehicle ...
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Twitter Feed
- We're taking nominations for the 2012 Charlie Smith Award. Deadline is 8/10/12. Make sure to include a photo(s)... http://t.co/uN8aBmjT
- Have you heard about the Adaptive Sailing lessons at Wayzata Sailing Center? http://t.co/jBgK1Uap
- We received our first donation for the 2012 Silent Auction fundraiser last month. And it's from the fun and... http://t.co/qMbG2rJ5
- Looks like there's a live chat on http://t.co/gBvOga3Z about Nursing shortage myths and misperceptions right now. http://t.co/LaH6H5mR