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Monthly Quote: "The freethinking of one age is the common sense of the next." --Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)

Page 1, Article 1: Show and sell
U of M art exhibit promotes artists with developmental disabilities

Tired of the drab walls of your place of employment? Turn it into an art gallery. That's what folks did at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota . They even went one step farther-they're showing art created by people with disabilities in a year-long project titled "Changing Landscapes: The Visiting Artists with Disabilities Project." The project features rotating exhibits of work by artists from three community organizations: Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Partnership Resources, Inc., and Courage Center. In the current exhibit, the second in the series of three, the featured artists are all from Partnership Resources, Inc. (PRI). The four-month show at Pattee Hall was kicked off with a grand opening last month. Many of the artists were on hand to show-and talk about-their work. Considering the fabulous diversity of styles and powerful images, it quickly became clear to the visitor that these folks were not recipients of charity; the reality is just the opposite. They're making the world a better, more beautiful place-and making money at the same time.

Each of the artists featured receives art instruction and studio space at one of PRI's facilities around the metro area. But this art is not about therapy or staying occupied. It's serious art-and serious business. As one artist, Kirk, puts it, "I don't get paid to do the art work, but I get paid to sell the paintings."

This is art that gets out in the immediate community: coffee shops, medical facilities, U of M buildings, and online.

Artists not only sell their original work, but also get royalties from sales of prints and greeting cards. In fact, plans are already in the works for expanding to new markets, according to CEO Norm Munk. "We have cards in many retail stores. Corporate customers are also a big piece of it; lots of our business is holiday cards for corporations."

As our tour guide led us throughout the hallways, artists stood by their work, ready to answer questions or just chat. Artist Wi Wasté Wia Day ("good day woman," in Lakota) said she came to PRI about a year ago. But she's no beginner to art. "I've been drawing since I was five," she says. "Now I'm 23. I draw from my emotions. I just have to see something one time; I can draw it a half hour later, no problem. What I really love is animé-animation from Japan."

"I also draw cultural pictures," said Day. "I'm Native American-Anishinabe. Full blooded-from Mille Lacs. I like to paint on one of the four sacred colors for Native Americans as my background color: white, red, black and yellow. Black is probably my favorite."

Another artist, Mona, recalled the feeling she had when she first saw one of her paintings on a greeting card. "When they first showed me the card with my picture on it," she said, "I was really happy, and really surprised. Wow, this is my painting." She also remembered how impressed her father was when he saw the card. "I sent one to my dad when he was sick. He called me up and said, 'you did this painting?' I said 'yeah.'"

After the tour, our guide Nathan Perry directed us to a reception room, where we watched a video and heard from the artists themselves. One young man, Alex, reflected the thoughts of many of the artists, saying "This company [PRI] has been tremendously incredible."

Many of the artists spoke of the desire to give back to the community. Richard, a self-described "old hippie," said he spends about two hours a week doing art. He was quick to point out that painting is only one of the many things he likes to do. He especially likes to do fundraising for people "who are truly needy." Still, that two hours per week is enough time for Richard to create some powerful-and highly sought after-artwork. He was recently offered $600 for a painting. (He said, "No thanks.")

Munk remembers being surprised at the results when PRI first offered artist training. "Many of these folks had no opportunity," he said, "and when we did this for the first time--allowed them space and materials to create art--we were totally blown away." Munk notes that visitors to PRI have the same reaction and "are transformed" when they walk through the door.

"Transformed" would be a good way to describe the feeling a visitor gets after touring three floors of Pattee Hall that are bursting with color, creativity, and humanity.

In the stairwell was a banner that summed up this body of artwork: "Art is Genius." The same word would well describe a few other details behind this art show: the artist training and creativity program of PRI, the scheme that is spreading this joyful blooming of art in places throughout the community, and the revolving art exhibit concept that has transformed the hallways of Pattee Hall from a drab white to a vibrant, empowered "changing landscape."

"Art means that I can be expressive and free," said Dionne. "Not always trapped. And it's just an extension of me."

The PRI exhibit at the Institute on Community Integration will be on display until April, and "Changing Landscapes" runs through August 2008. Pattee Hall is located at 150 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN. For more information on the artists, or to learn more about PRI, visit www.partnershipresources.org For more information about "Changing Landscapes" visit http://ici.umn.edu/fyi/art or call Derek Nord, 612-624-0386, or Megan Dushin, 612-626-8649.

Page 1, Article 2: Redefining American concepts of beauty
Local writer Tiffiny Carlson on looks, love and dating

Tiffiny Carlson represents an old Minnesota stereotype: blond, tall, and athletic. She has all the beauty components to attract interest from modeling agencies and TV producers, except one: she uses a wheelchair. Because of that, she represents another stereotype: woman with a disability.

But Carlson is out to change stereotypes about Minnesotans, standards of beauty, and people with disabilities. She has emerged as a fresh voice for a new generation of Americans who are determined to confront mainstream society’s outmoded images of persons with disabilities and assert a more nuanced and complex view.

I met Carlson at a Minneapolis coffee shop on a cold, sunny afternoon in early February. My first impression was a blur of yellow—a bright sweater and shining hair moving fast to the ramp entrance of the coffee shop. Up close she radiated energy and passion, with the energy of a prolific writer who told me she had, “hundreds of ideas for things to write about,” and the passion of a woman out to change the world. “People with disabilities are the last minority; we have a long way to go to being treated equally.”

Carlson, 28, is a successful freelance writer living in Minneapolis, known around the world for her writing on a variety of topics, including articles for children, a blog on beauty tips, a column about dating, essays about consumer products and travel accessibility, and profiles of individuals living with spinal cord injuries.

Carlson herself lives with spinal cord injury (SCI), the result of a diving accident in 1993. She graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1997 and went on to major in communication studies at Augsburg College. There she started writing online about her disability, and her work attracted attention from Half theplanet.com, which asked her to write for their Web site. Before she graduated from Augsburg in 2001, her career as a freelance writer had already begun. Since then she has supported herself with her writing, contributing articles and columns to New Mobility and Kids on Wheels magazines, for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and to many internet sites, including Lovebyrd.com, Access Life.com, Ican.com, Disabled.gr and Disaboom.com.

BeautyAbility.com is Carlson’s own blog on beauty, fashion, sex, music, dating and consumer products. She describes the blog as her favorite writing project because, “I can say what I want to; I don’t filter.” Readers obviously enjoy reading her blogs too. A visit to the message board reveals correspondents from around the world. Carlson says her readers are mostly young men and women living with SCI, Spina Bifida or Multiple Sclerosis. Readers to the Web site also can order her self-published e-book Wheelchair Fashion 101.

In all her writing, Carlson is straightforward in her objective to shake up old stereotypes about people with disabilities. As she wrote recently on her blog, “you might even be thinking my injury should have taught me beauty-related materialistic things don’t matter in the big picture, but I’m no dummy. Looking good matters. When we like how we look, we feel better about everything in life. It’s a proven fact.”

Carlson’s fame is growing in large part due to her writing about the dating and singles scene for people with disabilities. Besides the dating forum and message board on her blog, she writes the “Tiff’s Corner” column on lovebyrd.com, dispensing advice and stories from her own dating adventures and those of her wide array of friends, acquaintances and fans. She commented about her work last year: “Over the years as a dating columnist, I’ve pretty much figured out one solid thing: The problems people with disabilities face versus the dating problems people without disabilities face are not that different. We all experience loss, jealousy and betrayal no matter how good-looking we are.”

Carlson has also taken on sex, a taboo subject for many in our society when it concerns a person with a disability. As Carlson wrote on her blog, “I don’t care how ‘blue’ your city or state is, most people—no matter how liberal—are never fully-aware of the disabled individual’s ‘Yes it’s existent!’ sexuality.” Several of her articles on this topic have generated attention for their explicit and honest depiction of the joys, struggles and possibilities for sexually active adults with disabilities. Her deeply personal essay on Nerve.com entitled “Getting Around: How I Discovered My Wheelchair wasn’t a Chastity Belt” generated discussion around the internet on sex and the single person with a disability. An article on sexual issues for men living with SCI in ThisAbled. com presented sensitive issues in a clear and straightforward manner, mixing practical advice with commentary from men around the country.

Generating discussion and encouraging readers to confront their unspoken biases about themselves and others is Carlson’s object. Through her writing she promotes a vision to the larger society of persons with disabilities having the same complicated fears, problems and desires as everyone else. She also wants readers with disabilities to break out of the labels put on them by mainstream society. And she

does not shy away from critiquing her own community, writing recently that “one of the most ridiculous things I’ve come across is the way some paras and quads polarize their para or quadness, and form little…gangs where they exalt the characteristics of their injuries….So let’s stop the gimp-on-gimp hate, OK?”

In the future Carlson aspires to write “harder news stories” while continuing to push the mainstream media—including magazines like Vanity Fair and Entertainment Weekly—to publish more and better stories for and about Americans with disabilities. But she knows she has a long way to go to break these stereotypes, writing with characteristic humor that “just when you think society as a whole is beginning to see the person and not the disability, your hopes get shot down like a fake rabbit in a carnival shooting range.” Yet with writers like Carlson continuing the cause, the promise of progress looks even more assured.

Page 1, Article 3: Checks coming, but...
Are you eligible for the ‘economic stimulus’ payment?

In a few weeks, Congress will be sending people money as a way to help jump start the dead economy. But will you be getting a check?

Approximately 130 million individuals will be receiving a federal economic stimulus payment, starting in May. There is a lot of conflicting information about who is eligible for these payments, which will range from $300 to $1,200 (or more for those with children). The IRS recently clarified that people receiving Social Security Retirement and Disability Insurance benefits, as well as people receiving some forms of veteran’s assistance, may be eligible for a stimulus payment.

Even individuals who have no tax liability may qualify for a $300 rebate if their tax return shows $3,000 or more in qualifying income. This income can include wages, self-employment income, and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Veteran’s disability compensation, pensions or survivor’s benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007 can also be considered qualifying income. Note, however, that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not qualify as income for this payment.

To receive the stimulus payment, you must file a 2007 tax return, even if you would not otherwise need to file one. The IRS has posted more information on their Web site. Go to www.irs.gov and click on “Rebate Questions.” The IRS Web site also has a sample version of IRS Form 1040A, showing the specific section of the form you need to fill out to qualify for the stimulus payment. Your 2007 benefits can be reported on Line 14a of Form 1040A or line 20a of Form 1040.

People who would not otherwise be required to file should write the words “Stimulus Payment” at the top of their tax form. Filers in this group must file a paper copy of Form 1040 or Form 1040A. The IRS will not accept these forms electronically.

Receiving an economic stimulus payment will not trigger a tax bill. It will not cause you to owe taxes next year and will not impact benefits you receive from the federal government. Since state benefit programs usually follow federal guidelines in one-time situations, we do not expect these payments to impact state benefits, either. We are continuing to seek confirmation from state government officials.

From February 5th through April 15th, scores of volunteers throughout the state are available to help people with low incomes fill out their tax forms. These volunteers can help you apply for the stimulus rebate. For the dates, times and locations of free tax-assistance, call 651-297-3724 or 1-800-657-3989. Free tax-help can be found at: www.accountability mn.org or www.taxes.state. mnus/vita/free_tax_prep.shtml.

The winter has seemed like a hard one, so hard that I looked it up. We had 18 inches of snow during the month of December alone! January and February had some warm days, or at least above freezing, but we had over 18 days of below freezing, some of them making it tough for even the hardiest Minnesotan. What makes hardy Minnesotans is the cold. The only time from 1891 to 2001 that the Twin Cities did not have a below-zero temperature in January was in 1990. But I’ll stop complaining soon. Now, finally, we are really beginning to feel the end of the winter’s cold.

Alice Oden, webmaster for Access Press, graduated earlier this winter with honors in the Master's Degree program in technical communication at Metropolitan State University. “[Alice] has always shown academic excellence, intellectual curiosity and superior research and writing skills,” said one professor. “But more than that, she has been our teacher by demonstrating that all perspectives are important.” Oden pursued this degree because she finds the profession “disability-friendly,” as it allows persons with limited physical abilities to freelance from outside locations. Congratulations, Alice! I’m very proud to be your colleague. But more than that, I’m proud to call you my friend. I’m sure that everyone who sees your work, never knowing who this “wemaster” is, congratulates you as well and thanks you for your dedication and hard work.

Many district caucuses will have happened by the time you read this. As many of you may know, Paul Wellstone’s Senate seat will be contested again this election. It’s hard to believe that Senator Norm Coleman has been in the U.S. Senate for only one full term and that Paul Wellstone has been gone since that tragic day in October 2002. When his plane crashed, so many of us lost a person we knew not just as a senator, but as our friend. Some polls say that 50 percent of Democrats consider Coleman a little iffy when it comes to their vote. Wellstone served two terms, twice as long as Coleman. Has Coleman been a good replacement for our incredibly missed Paul Wellstone?

In 2006, after hurricane Katrina and a failed Supreme Court nomination, Coleman stood up against the present administration, standing strong in his conviction that the current administration had a “tin ear” and they needed to re-organize. I have my own opinion, obviously, but of the other three candidates, which would best pursue Wellstone’s legacy? As you make your own decision about which senate candidate to support, recognize that whoever does get the nod to run against Coleman will definitely be the underdog, because Coleman has raised twice as much money as the leading Democratic candidate. The cost of getting elected is another conversation entirely, but it goes without saying that the best candidate doesn’t always have the most money.

I’d like to congratulate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer for being interested enough in disability rights to come and spend an afternoon with a few of the leaders in the disability community. He came by just to listen to the concerns and the fears regarding some of the upcoming federal legislation. I wonder how long it will be before all the candidates will recognize the size of the disability community and its voting power. Did you know that there are approximately 325,000 potential voters with disabilities in Minnesota? That’s huge! So tell your candidates what you want and then go out yourself and vote. No excuses! It’s easy to learn about the candidates and their positions, even from their flyers arriving in your mailbox. On the flyer is usually a phone number to call. If the person who answers the phone is unable to answer your questions or concerns adequately, ask the volunteer to have the candidate call you directly. You’d be surprised how many of them will make the call for just one potential vote.

Page 2, Article 2: Letters requested - Law enforcement’s
understanding of disability

What are your thoughts regarding the recent treatment of a Florida man with quadriplegia who was dumped out of his wheelchair by a cop? What about the incident last fall when a St. Paul police officer assaulted Goug Bahl, who is deaf?

Do you think law enforcement personnel sufficiently understand disability issues? What do you believe could be done to help them understand disability issues to prevent further incidents? What policies and procedures could be developed to protect individuals with disabilities, law enforcement personnel, and the general public during traffic stops, suspect searches, arrests, and detentions?

Please send your responses to Access Press, access@accesspress.org, and we’ll print them. Thanks.

Page 2, Article 3: History Note - The Welsch Case, 1972
Expert testimony spelled doom for MN institutions

Thirty-five years ago this week three national experts on habilitation of persons with mental retardation reviewed conditions at Cambridge State Hospital. Gunnar Dybwad, James Clements, and David Rosen described what they saw to Federal Judge Earl R. Larson in September 1973 in the Welsch case, a class action on behalf of persons with mental retardation in Minnesota’s state hospitals. They convinced him that all persons, regardless of the severity of their disability, could grow and develop if provided needed training in an appropriate environment. Judge Larson ordered changes to improve conditions. Later orders in that case contributed to the closing of all the state institutions in Minnesota for persons with developmental disabilities.

Gunnar Dybwad, an early leader of the National Association for Retarded Children (now the Arc), had seen institutions around the world. In Welsch and other similar cases, he taught judges the history of confining persons with mental retardation in institutions and emphasized the potential these persons had. Jim Clements, a medical doctor from Georgia, taught lawyers around the country how to try these institution cases. Dave Rosen, who helped develop community alternatives in Michigan for persons with mental retardation, provided down to earth direction on how to change a system. The legacy of their visit to Cambridge can be seen today—empty spaces where “cottages” once housed 1955 people.

Each month of 2008, Access Press will feature an important person or persons in disability history: local, regional or national.

Page 3, Article 1: Commentary - Being dumped in Florida
Thoughts on police officer’s
horrific act toward man with quadriplegia

Most Americans expect our police to represent all that is finest and best about our nation. We assume they will protect us when we cannot protect ourselves.

This is why many of us found ourselves horrified and outraged when we were confronted by the video of Hillsborough County (Florida) Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones dumping Brian Sterner from his wheelchair. We want to believe that we are good—both individually and as a nation. We want to believe that our neighbors are good. We teach children to view police officers as people that they can approach and trust. We hope against hope for the day when, at least within our borders if nowhere else, brutality will be supplanted by compassion.

For those unfamiliar with the January 29th incident, Brian Sterner, a quadriplegic man, was arrested on a traffic violation warrant. Video from the jail shows Mr. Sterner being wheeled into the booking area. There is no sound, but apparently at the deputy’s request, Mr. Sterner removed his shoes. In a later interview, Mr. Sterner stated that Ms. Marshall-Jones then instructed him to stand, to make it easier for her to search him. He explained that he could not stand and told her several times that he is quadriplegic. The video shows her stepping behind the wheel chair, grasping the handles, and dumping him like dirt from a wheelbarrow. Mr. Sterner hit the concrete floor face-first. He has no sensation from the chest down, so it was not until afterward that he discovered that two of his ribs were broken in the fall.

This sort of incident is incredibly frightening. If Brian Sterner had been attacked and dumped from his wheelchair in a park, a mall, or on a neighborhood street, he could have cried for help and dozens of people would have responded immediately. They would have restrained his attackers, helped him back into his chair, gathered his belongings that were strewn about, and called the police. But he was in a police station. Who can you call when this happens in a police station? The video shows multiple officers, some of them supervisors, either observing the event and doing nothing to prevent it, or stepping around Mr. Sterner as he lay on the floor.

The attackers–and those who did nothing to prevent the attack–were not criminals or thugs who might be expected to do such a thing, but officers who have sworn to uphold the law, to protect and to serve. As such, they should be held to a higher standard than the street punk who has never earned nor sought our trust. They should be exemplary among all the other “good” people of our great nation. Instead, they have sullied us. All the individuals who were within earshot of this occurrence not only violated Brian Sterner’s rights, they also violated the trust that we placed in them–all of us who believe that the reason that we have police at all is to protect us from brutality like this.

In Florida we have a death penalty. Those who take a life can expect to pay with their own. These officers did not cause this man’s paralysis, but they did break two of his ribs. Whatever other punishment they have earned, they should feel fortunate that Florida law does not allow us to break their ribs in repayment for their brutality. But they certainly deserve it, along with enough years of confinement to a wheelchair that they will gain a full understanding of the importance we must give to protecting those among us who cannot protect themselves. Our greatness depends on it.

Editor’s note: Ben Waggoner, born in central Texas, was diagnosed with MS seven days before his 25th birthday over 21 years ago. He now resides in Florida, where he was able to continue working as an IT manager of a small manufacturing firm until mid-2005. Waggoner’s interests are reading, writing, surfing (web), and photography – all of them “amateur.” To hear Waggoner’s eloquent speech on the Brian Sterner incident, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSIw7gM4sIY.

It’s pretty clear that in many disability organizations the D-word is thumbs up and the R-word is the opposite. In other words, the Democratic Party is held up with esteem and the Republican Party receives little in the way of respect, contributions or the hope for effective governance.

After reading the articles, “Down syndrome organization has concerns about new parental testing policy” and “Baghdad atrocities on people with disabilities condemned,” along with other political commentary in the February edition of Access Press, it seems to be an appropriate time for people with disabilities and their advocates to consider what exactly the GOP is fighting for in this year’s political standoff.

One of the issues the GOP fights for is RESPECT for LIFE from conception to natural death. That is, most in the party seek to let pre-born people live and protect vulnerable, born people from euthanized death.

It’s often thought that the Democratic Party values life by promoting government-funded programs for people who are disabled. That’s why so many disability organizations support Democratic candidates. The problem with this argument is: you must first be BORN to get their support, and many Democrats support a women’s right to choose, which opens up the option of abortion.

Across the aisle, isn’t the Republican Party the party that will truly support the National Down Syndrome Congress’ position that “individuals with Down syndrome have innate worth and should be treated with dignity and respect”? Yes, it is.

The sorry fact is that by 2006, 80% of babies diagnosed in utero with Down syndrome were aborted. With that one simple appalling statistic, we begin see the plight of fetuses with Down syndrome and other pre-born human beings that don’t quite meet many in our society’s perception of a life worth living.

Like so many people with disabilities throughout history, fetuses identified as being defective through prenatal testing are targets for extermination. That’s nothing new. In ancient Greek and Roman societies, babies were birthed, but then those with disabilities were abandoned and left to die.

As far back as Plato and Aristotle, discourse about humans with deformities had already begun. Aristotle, 380-327 B.C., contemplated the concept of a perfect body and an imperfect one. He described the imperfect body as being deformed, mutilated, monstrous, and deviant; in modern terms, disabled.

Exterminating people, one way or another, simply because they are perceived as imperfect, and thus worthless, has been around for a long time. Sadly, the exploitation of the individuals with Down syndrome used as human drones in Iraq is a deplorable, current-day example of it.

But deplorable too, in my opinion, is the termination of pre-born human life; an extermination made possible because technology has given ill-informed or misguided individuals an easy opportunity to quietly rid the world of “their problem.”

So as this political season heats up, don’t take a narrow perspective. Think outside your own disability box. Please consider all the issues relevant to people with disabilities. Look across the aisle and consider what both political parties are doing for the well-being of ALL people with disabilities.

Below is the National Down Syndrome Congress’ response to comments made by Professor Albert Harris, as reported by several media outlets.

According to a Raleigh News and Observer report, biology professor Albert Harris of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has stated, “In my opinion, the moral thing for older mothers to do is to have amniocentesis, as soon during pregnancy as is safe for the fetus, test whether placental cells have a third chromosome #21, and abort the fetus if it does.”

While Professor Harris qualified his statement as his “opinion,” the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) finds the professor has violated basic academic standards by expressing an opinion based on personal, anecdotal experience in a classroom setting.

Reports suggest that Harris did so to spark discussion and debate. The NDSC would welcome that; however, we find Harris adds nothing to a debate which has been ongoing for sometime. He cites the fact that his opinion is based on the experience of one acquaintance whose life was, according to him, “ruined” by a child with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome impacts people across an extremely wide range; however, it is rare for it to be, in fact, ruinous by any definition. The contrary is more often the case. Far from ruining lives, our families consistently report that their sons, daughters or siblings with Down syndrome enhance their lives and bring them great joy.

We therefore ask Professor Harris to retract his statement. In doing so, we also request that the professor make an appropriate apology to his students, explain clearly that his statement was a personal opinion and has no scientific basis and make every effort to convey to them current, accurate facts regarding Down syndrome.

Page 4, Article 1: This Month’s Issue Sponsor - UCare
UCare Connect serves people with disabilities

Adults in Greater Minnesota who have physical or developmental disabilities, and/or mental illness, now have a health plan designed just for them: UCare Connect.

UCare Connect is a new, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan that debuted January 1, 2008. UCare created it with input from UCare’s Disability Advisory Committee members, disability community advocates and health care providers, among others. UCare also drew on experience gained through its two Minnesota Disability Health Options (MnDHO) plans for people with disabilities: UCare Complete for people with physical disabilities, and Partners Choice Network for adults with developmental disabilities.

“UCare Connect offers choices to a population that has not had the opportunity to choose many aspects of their health care,” said UCare’s Archie Eliason, who enrolls and guides new members through this voluntary plan and the two MnDHO offerings. “With UCare Connect, we are extending our expertise and coverage to people who have historically gone without timely medical care that addresses all their health needs.

“This plan places members at the center of their care,” Eliason continued. “It treats every member as a whole person. Its coordinated care approach helps adults with physical, developmental, and/or mental health disabilities take control of their health and improve their quality of life. Because it connects community resources with health care providers, members will get needed care and support.”

As a nonprofit, independent health plan, UCare is committed to developing innovative ways to help underserved populations receive quality health care. UCare Connect follows that edict – and Eliason said several principles guided its development.

“UCare Connect is a very intentional plan,” he explained. “We believe people with disabilities should have access to the same medical and dental treatments as people without disabilities. So we developed the plan to promote, nurture, and honor relationships that support members’ health.”

The plan strives to involve members in decisions about their own care. It offers care coordination, member involvement in health decisions, and clear information to ensure that members can evaluate services. “It also offers tremendous flexibility, values culturally relevant communication, and provides appropriate health and safety protections for members,” Eliason said.

Members of this plan enjoy:

• Dedicated providers who understand and know how to treat unique needs. Members can receive care from the same comprehensive, statewide network of physicians, clinics, care systems and specialists that serves UCare’s UCare for Seniors Medicare Advantage plan.

• Round-the-clock access to Health Connection nurses

• Dental care. Members can take advantage of UCare’s unique See-A-Dentist Guarantee to schedule appointments. They receive a routine dental appointment within 30 days, or UCare sends them a dental care kit at no cost. And UCare continues to work with members to schedule their dental session, which can be held aboard UCare Tooth Care, UCare’s mobile dental unit, when it’s nearby.

• Focused health services to address prevention, disease management and chronic care needs

• No co-pays for office visits

• Prescription drug coverage. Members with Medicare receive Medicare prescription drug coverage (known as Medicare Part D). Members without Medicare also receive prescription drug coverage through UCare Connect.

• Coordinated care that helps members stay connected with community resources and health care providers who help them get needed care and support.

UCare Connect is available to Minnesotans who have a certified disability or developmental disability; are eligible for Medical Assistance without Medicare, or with both Medicare Parts A and B; and are at least 18 years old and under age 65. These individuals also must reside in the 34-county UCare Connect service area in Greater Minnesota.*

For more info, visit www.ucare.org/ Archie Eliason can be reached at aeliason@ucare.org or by calling 612-676-3542.

*Counties in the UCare service area: Benton, Blue Earth, Carlton, Chippewa, Chisago, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Houston, Isanti, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Mille Lacs, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Pine, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Sherburne, Stearns, St. Louis, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, or Yellow Medicine counties.

Page 4, Article 2: 10 things to keep in mind
Healthy intimate relationships for people with developmental disabilities

1. Just like everyone else, people with developmental disabilities are sexual beings

2. Not all people with or without developmental disabilities express themselves sexually. Some do. Some do not.

3. Sometimes simply having “someone special” in one’s life is enough. Relationships may or may not be sexual in nature.

4. It is not all about being sexual with others. People with and without developmental disabilities sometimes seek to explore their own bodies.

5. When it comes to romance, people with and without developmental disabilities are capable of making good or poor choices.

6. It is too often assumed that people with developmental disabilities cannot parent well, due to their disability. Some have trouble parenting, even with support. Others make excellent parents.

7. The service system has ways of denying people with disabilities their sexuality. Many service providers unnecessarily impose rules on people to curb their sexuality or reduce opportunity for them to develop meaningful, even intimate, romantic relationships.

8. People with developmental disabilities are vulnerable to sexual abuse and too often fall victim to such abuse. Sometimes people do not report abuse because they are afraid that the privileges they have will be taken away “for their own safety.”

9. People with developmental disabilities can be sexually abusive of themselves or others. Some may act inappropriately simply because they do not know how to act.

10. Parents, staff, and other disability advocates often feel awkward talking about sex and intimacy. So they often shy away from providing the mentoring and supports people with developmental disabilities need to grow into strong men and women capable of having healthy intimate relationships.

John M. Agosta, Ph. D. is a vice president at the Human Services Research Institute (www.hsri.org). He helped found The Riot!, a national e-newsletter for self-advocates (www.theriotrocks.org), and is involved with several pro-jects to explore application issues related to self-directed supports. Reprinted with permission from Oregon Perspectives, Winter 2008, Issue 3.

I got a message that you were struggling and I wanted to let you know that I’m holding you in my thoughts and prayers. Like so many others, I have also struggled with terrible depression. And I’m still here to tell the tale! Not only have I survived, but my depression has turned out to be, strange as it sounds, one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Sounds crazy, but I’ll try to explain.

I got hit as a young teenager, back in ’71, and almost overnight my grades went from A’s to F’s, I stopped going to football practice, I broke up with my girlfriend, I couldn’t sleep, night after night, couldn’t eat, the food tasted like ash and iron in my mouth. I couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t retain any info from my textbooks. Didn’t want to see my friends, felt like I was jumping out of my skin, felt guilty, useless, worthless, felt like getting in a fight but wasn’t angry, a constant lump in my throat, ache in my chest, pain in my stomach. I ended up not even being able to go to school.

I believed that I didn’t belong anywhere. Not with my friends or teammates, not with my girlfriend or family, not even at church or with God. I cried what millions of people with these illnesses cry: “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” It was the start of a ten-year chronic battle with depression. I wasn’t able to finish high school, missed juvenile detention by a fraction, ended up being hospitalized numerous times, day treatment centers, halfway houses. I even went about a year living out of a knapsack. I couldn’t tell day from night, or winter from summer.

I physically hurt so bad I couldn’t hear music. I think we hear music with our hearts not our ears. You can crank a stereo up so loud that your eardrums bleed, but if your heart is in that much pain you can’t hear anything but some meaningless sounds. I couldn’t see color. You see color with your heart not your eyes. I couldn’t hold a job, couldn’t make a friend, couldn’t date a girl, couldn’t feel the presence of a higher power in my life, and even if I did I wouldn’t have felt worthy of it.

When you truly believe that you don’t belong with your family, friends, even God, no one can stand that kind of loneliness. It’s no wonder to me why kids turn to gangs, or booze or drugs or sex or anything to distract them from their pain. When you feel you don’t belong, you will grab ANYTHING that’s offered, even if it makes you more lost.

The question that defined my life was “why?” Why did this happen? Why me? I wanted somebody to blame, somebody to strike at in retribution. But I couldn’t find anyone to blame so I blamed myself, and saw myself as a broken, loser kid.

And with this pain and loneliness comes fear. I think that if grief is the response to pain in the past, then maybe fear is the response to pain in the future. With depression you don’t want to be awake, you don’t want to be in the present. Your ‘now’ is so full of pain and loneliness and feelings of worthlessness that it feels like death. You don’t want to be in “the now.” You want to be in the past or the future, or in a fantasy world. You want to be zapped out on drugs or booze or sex or anything to distract you from the pain you feel.

But all we have is “the now.” We don’t have next week or next year or even two minutes from now. I was actually doing pretty well with “the now,” even with my depression, but I didn’t stay there. I was always looking to the future, to when the bell rang and I had to walk in the hall with the rest of the kids, or eat alone in the lunchroom. I thought, “Man, if this is what I have now, I won’t be able to handle what I’ll be given in the future when I’m a grownup, because that’s surely going to be worse.”

So what I did was I consciously, on purpose, hardened my heart and soul so that I was as hard as a rock. Peter the Rock. And you didn’t look at me sideways. But it wasn’t because I was tough; those kids aren’t tough, they’re hurt. Their tender hearts have been slashed so many times they pull back inside themselves; they build a fortress to protect their injured hearts. The problem is that if you stay in that fortress too long, it starts to turn into a prison that’s hard to get out of. And that’s what happened to me. And I spent many years in that damned dirty prison.

What turned things around for me was a combination of many things. I had been feeling physically poorly for some time, and good ‘ol German/Norwegian/Lutheran that I am, I said, “I’m not gonna see the doctor until I’m bleeding from an artery!” Then came the day when I thought I had the flu and told my family I was going to lie down for a while. It wasn’t the flu; it was multiple sclerosis. I was on the couch or in bed for the next 18 months. I went to the doctor and asked him the question that was my life: why? I’ve been battling depression for years, so why did I get MS too? I didn’t feel like I needed another character builder. And the doctor answered my question: he said I didn’t do anything wrong. I just got MS. And that simple but profound answer turned my life around. If I didn’t do anything wrong to get the MS, and with what I was hearing every night on the TV that mental illnesses like depression are really biochemical, hereditary diseases, then maybe that poor teenager didn’t do anything wrong either. He just simply got the disease of depression.

I started to forgive myself for having it, and in that doctor’s office, getting the diagnosis of MS was one of the best days of my life. Because that was the day that my heart started to soften, and break open and begin to heal and forgive.

I worked with a psychiatrist to find the right medication for me, something that actually took quite a while because of my terrible sensitivity to drugs. But we did find it, and it made a huge difference. I started doing cognitive therapy to learn how to use those terrible times as a stepping stone of knowledge, wisdom and experience. I started to see myself not as a helpless victim but as a soldier, actively working for my recovery. I began to see that the work with the doctors was only one piece of the puzzle. Human dignity, I believe, is based on there being some significance for our lives. You can have all the doctors, pills and therapy groups in the world but if you don’t have a reason to get up in the morning, you won’t. I didn’t. I needed to focus my life not on my illnesses, but on what I loved. That’s how I got my sense of dignity back, where I stopped feeling that I was broken, toxic, damaged goods. I lost my shame of having the illness, and started to understand that simply living through it was a tremendous thing. I found I had insights into depression that the doctors don’t have, a ‘street credibility’ that could potentially help others. I learned that if you can come through these illnesses without your heart being hardened like mine was, you’ve got a map through Hell that you can’t learn in any medical textbook, a map that may help others through their Hell. Who better than me to help others with this illness? Who better than my family, who also suffered, to comfort other suffering families?

I found that my creativity was enhanced and my writing and drawing were tools to help express and speak about something so terrible it often doesn’t have words. I discovered my spirituality was enhanced. There are many things in my control as I fight these illnesses, but there are also many things not in my control. That’s where my spirituality came in. Volunteering became important because it’s easy to isolate in depression. Easy to feel that you don’t have enough of anything just for yourself. But I learned that helping others actually replenished my own inner resources.

I learned that to come through these tough times (and nothing you ever do will be harder), you need to get your team together: friends, family, spiritual advisors, doctors, therapists, mentors, a whole team to help you get through the long tough recovery period that you face. I will never be the same as I was before I got the depression, but I truly believe that I’m better for it. I’ve learned so much, and my wisdom has come at a terrible price. But I know what’s important to me and what isn’t, I see money and appearance for what they are; empty. I know that I am incredibly powerful: everything I do and say has the power to make someone else’s life a little bit better or a little bit worse. I’ve learned to count my blessings and see how lucky I am, and how blessed. Even the MS and the depression were gifts—teachers and meditations, wanted or not—and I believe I’m a better friend and a better man because of it.

It takes a leap of faith to believe that anything good can come from such terrible pain and loneliness. But it can and does. When you get closest to what breaks you down, that’s where you get closest to what breaks you open, revealing your true gifts.

Friend, you’re going through the Hell of the illness right now. Your job is to heal, to take time for yourself, to be kind to yourself, to ask for help, to show mercy to your wounded body and spirit. I would be honored if you’d let me be one of your team, someone to share ideas and thoughts with, even share the darkness with.

Your job is to focus on you and to:

• Work with your medical professionals and explore medication and cognitive therapy.

• To grab with both hands the things you used to love to do, even if you don’t feel like doing them right now. They will be life savers.

• To get your team together, friends, mentors, family, professionals, spiritual advisors, teachers. It’s too hard and lonely doing this on your own

• To not isolate. Find a place to share your talents, even if it feels empty. Volunteer even a few hours a month. Keep a list, and everyday do something kind and healing for someone else, and something for yourself, no matter how small it seems.

• Be kind to everyone you meet. There is a “kindness high,” just like a runner’s high.

• Journal, keep a diary, paint, draw, scrapbook, do something creative. It brings order to disordered thoughts. And give away any little things you do.

• Practice positive affirmations, or prayers. It seems silly at first, but it truly works to feel better.

Take care, my friend. Let’s be in contact—both for you, but also for me, as I still fight my own moments of Hell.

As delegates prepare to gather at Senate district conventions, at least one candidate is making disability issues a priority. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, DFL candidate for US Senate, reached out to the local disability community last month by requesting and attending a listening session on disability issues. The meeting was a chance for community members to inform Nelson-Pallmeyer on difficulties they face in their lives and work, and how federal policy affects them, for good or ill.

“You are my teachers,” said Nelson-Pallmeyer, a professor of peace and justice studies at the University of St. Thomas. “I’m here to learn how, as a U.S. Senator, I can work to make policies that make your lives better.” In true student fashion, Nelson-Pallmeyer took several pages of notes as those gathered took turns telling him how their lives, or lives of people they work with, are constrained by health-care red tape, low-payed and under-trained for PCAs, poorly funded special education, income limits to qualify for federal programs, and a host of other issues. “The cost of providing health insurance for our employees is out of control, said one leader of a small nonprofit.” Said one parent of two children with disabilities, “I have to keep taking pay cuts to stay eligible for Minnesota Care.”

Nelson-Pallmeyer is locked in a tight race for the DFL endorsement, along with Mike Ciresi and Al Franken. In the next six weeks, delegates to the party’s senate district conventions will be meeting to evaluate the three candidates and caucus for one of the three. Having a candidate who reaches out to the disability community is a good sign that “our” issues are being taken seriously. Hats off to Nelson-Pallmeyer.

The elderly and people who are disabled may be eligible for waiver programs, which fund community-based services for people who would otherwise receive care in hospitals or nursing facilities. Four waiver programs will be explained at a free event hosted by Hennepin County called “Long-Term Care Waiver Overview.” Details: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Linden Hills Library, 2900 W. 43rd Street, Minneapolis.

When disabled children become adults, their parents or legal representatives may want to consider filing a petition for guardianship or limited guardianship. Guardianship is a legal process used when a person can not make or communicate safe or sound decisions about his or her person or property. Details: Free. 1-3 p.m., Linden Hills Library, 2900 W. 43rd St, Minneapolis.

Be social, have fun, meet new people. Host MCIL provides games such as Cribbage, Trivial Pursuit, Uno, social skills games and more. Bring your favorites! Details: Last Monday of the month, 1 to 3 p.m. at MCIL, 1600 University Ave W, Suite 16, St. Paul.

NAMI-MN will hold an educational program featuring author Laura Flynn reading from her book Swallow the Ocean, a true story of what it’s like to experience a parent’s schizophrenia through the lens of a child who has no language for mental illness. Panel discussion to follow. Details: 5:30 p.m., Sheraton Four Points, 1330 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis.

People with disabilities, their families, advocates, and allies will gather in St Paul to learn about policies and legislation affecting them in 2008 and to meet with their state legislators. Presentations in the morning; legislative visits in the afternoon. Attendees pay a fee for lunch and event expenses. Details: 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., MN History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul.

Come learn the basics of estate planning and its advantages for people with MS. Topics will include: powers of attorney, health care directives, wills, special needs/pooled trusts. Featured speakers Frances Long & Laurie Hanson of Long, Reher and Hanson, P.A. Details: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Four Points by Sheraton, 1330 Industrial Blvd, Minneapolis.

The 17th Annual Greater Midway Home & Garden Show features workshops on eco-friendly gardens, reducing your carbon footprint, container gardening, and more. Exhibits on local home improvement, garden/landscaping experts, senior resources, and “green” re-modeling. Free children’s bird feeder building project. Sponsored by Sparc, a nonprofit community development corporation. Details: Crossroads Elementary, 543 Front Ave. (Front and Dale), St. Paul. Workshops: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

Art St. Croix announces the third annual “Living Creatively” show, featuring creative work by visual artists, writers, music composers and performers. Open Wednesday through Sunday— fully wheelchair-accessible. Details: Free. Lake Elmo Regional Art Center, 3585 Laverne Ave. N., Lake Elmo, MN

The Miracle League of Blaine, Minnesota provides opportunities for children between the ages of 3-19 with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of ability. Opening ceremonies are May 3rd with the games to begin on May 5th.

To register for summer 2008 baseball, go to www.miracleleaguemn.com and select the Blaine site.

This group helps people recently diagnosed with MS navigate their new, sometimes frightening surroundings. Details: 6:30-8 p.m., National MS Society, MN Chapter, Woodbury, MN

North Memorial Medical Center invites you to find support, encouragement, educational and community resources at this group. Open to anyone who has a spinal cord injury, their family, caregivers, and interested professionals. No fee. Details: 7-8:30 p.m., Courage Center-Education Center #1, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN

United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota invites you to raise money by exercising with friends. Teams of ten people each ride a bike mounted on a trainer for 25 minutes. Each person is encouraged to raise a minimum of $100. In addition, people who use wheelchairs or adapted bikes are encouraged to ride around a track created for them. Each rider receives a t-shirt. Details: 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m., Saint Paul RiverCentre, 175 West Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul.

All are welcome to join in on this special evening dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of Rise program participants and honor community supporters. Rise, Inc. is committed to inclusion, employment, housing, and self-sufficiency for people who have significant disabilities and other barriers to employment. The event includes a social hour, a terrific dinner and an awards program. Visit www.rise.org/celebrateRise.php to register. Details: 4-7 p.m., Earle Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, MN

Arc of Minnesota’s Annual Rose Sale is back! From February 25 through April 11, you can buy beautiful long-stemmed roses for just $17 a dozen and support the work of Arc, serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Check out locations throughout the Twin Cities at www.rosesale.org

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants from the community to fill vacancies on the Hennepin County Adult Mental Health Advisory Council advisor board. The 32-member council advises the County Board and monitors, studies and comments on mental health issues at federal, state and local levels. Members serve three-year terms and meet monthly on the third Thursday of the month from 2 -4:30 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown Minneapolis. There is one vacancy in the category of consumer. For more information about this open appointment or to receive an application or information booklet, contact Yolanda McCrary by phone at 612-348-3257 or get an application via the Internet at www.hennepin.us under the Web page title, “Your county government/ Commissioners/Advisory boards.”

The Library of Congress has become one of the first federal agencies to implement an agency-wide “videophone” system that enables its deaf staff members who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with both hearing and deaf individuals. Using the videophones, deaf staff members can place Video Relay Service (VRS) calls, which are “relayed” through an ASL interpreter at a call center, to hearing individuals. Likewise, using the videophones, deaf individuals can place point-to-point calls with other deaf people who use ASL. Video relay calls are placed over a high-speed Internet connection through a videophone connected to a television or computer monitor with RCA inputs. The deaf user connects to an ASL interpreter and, over the videophone and visual display, signs to the interpreter, who then contacts the hearing user via a standard phone line and relays the conversation in ASL and English between the two parties.

Doug Meick, program manager in Information Technology Services for the Library’s Assistive Technology Demonstration Center, said, “This technology greatly improves the ability of our deaf colleagues to conduct their daily business and underscores the Library of Congress’ commitment to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We hope other agencies will see our partnership with private industry, follow our example and take advantage of this federally funded service.”

Direct support professionals (DSPs) working in Minnesota are invited to participate in a survey being conducted by Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota (DSPAM). DSPs include personal care assistants, personal care providers, individual service staff, home health aides, residential assistants, community living specialists, habilitation training specialists, certified/registered nursing assistants, and others providing support services for consumers experiencing effects of disability. DSPAM’s recently appointed board of directors is conducting the survey to gather input from DSPs to help set the direction and purpose of the organization. For example, the survey provides an opportunity for DSPs across the state to discuss the type of work they perform, training they received, wages and benefits offered, characteristics of the job they enjoy, concerns or frustrations they may have, and more. DSPAM hopes to take the results and begin working to improve training, compensation, and perception of the profession. Your participation is crucial! Surveys must be returned no later than April 1, 2008. Please visit www.nadsp.org/dspam for an electronic copy of the survey. For hardcopy or alternate versions of the survey or for more information, please contact Bridget at 612-272-0281 or Kelly at 507-696-8442.

The National Council on Disability (NCD) recently released a report on the unique challenges older youth with disabilities face as they negotiate the foster care system.

NCD Chairperson John R. Vaughn notes that “foster care is … both a child welfare issue and a disability issue. This is due to the alarmingly high numbers of foster youth with mental, developmental, emotional, learning, and physical disabilities.” He hopes the report sheds light on “the prevalence of disability among foster youth,” and the question of “who should be held accountable for this uniquely challenged and often underserved population,”

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, recently announced that the agency has begun making offers to 144 of the 175 new Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) it will hire this fiscal year. Due to litigation and budget cuts, the agency has about 10% fewer ALJs than it did a decade ago. During that same time, the number of cases waiting for a hearing decision has more than doubled.

“The hiring of these new ALJs is a critical step in our plan to reduce the backlog of disability cases,” Commissioner Astrue said. “They represent one of the largest investments in ALJs this agency has ever made. When these ALJs are fully-trained, and combined with the other steps we are taking, we will be able for the first time in this decade to reduce the number of cases waiting for a disability hearing. I can hardly wait for them to start.”

Hiring of additional ALJs is only one component of the plan the agency has put in place to reduce the backlog of disability cases. The agency is also claiming to make progress in many other areas, including opening the National Hearing Center, completing the nationwide roll-out of the Quick Disability Determination process, attempting to implement compassionate allowances and eliminating aged cases.

Source: Social Security Administration, www.socialsecurity.gov/disability under the heading What’s New.

Studying to be a nurse and supporting herself as a PCA, Mary Benhardus was frustrated. She was spending way too much time calling different medical supply vendors to get the things her clients needed. She was also uncomfortable with vendors’ lack of knowledge, which translated into poor customer service. Benhardus saw a need for a ‘one-stop’ vendor that would carry most everything a person with medical needs would require for day-to-day living — run by informed, friendly staff.

So, Benhardus started a business. Her grandfather, a successful entrepreneur in his own right, lent her the money to get going. In 1988, Benhardus quit school and opened Handi Medical Supply. Its first location was in a Golden Valley strip mall.

The young entrepreneur’s goal was always to be a customer- and employee-driven business. Benhardus’s dedication to the customer is famous. In the late 1990s, reimbursement for ostomy supplies was slashed by Medicare. When most of the other home medical suppliers and equipment companies exited the ostomy business, Handi and Benhardus stayed with it. Benhardus believed that her customers (who she considers her friends) deserved an organization that would do its best to take care of each of them. She intended to be there for her customer friends, many of whom have been with her from the beginning.

She knows how to build worker loyalty. “Mary lets me take work time to attend my continuing education functions,” said one employee. “She is very supportive of people’s professional responsibilities.” There are several employees who have been with the company for fifteen years, at which point they are given an all expenses paid trip for themselves and their families.

When asked if Handi Medical will continue to grow, Benhardus put its size in perspective. She says that if customer service suffers, “then that is too big.” If they lose sight of why they are in the business, “then that is too big” as well.

Handi just hosted its 11th annual conference. The event provides educational seminars for health-care professionals who want to gain further knowledge on the medical supply industry. The happy hour — complete with a chocolate fountain fondue — might also be part of the draw. This year’s event was the largest yet.

For twenty-four years, the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota has worked to enhance the lives of those living with the effects of brain injury through advocacy, support and empowerment. When the brain is injured, an individual can undergo a seemingly infinite variety of changes: physical, cognitive, emotional and functional. Each brain injury is unique to the person living with it and affects not only the person who sustained the injury but everyone that person comes in contact with throughout their daily life. Whether family, friends, employees, customers or professionals, brain injury touches everyone.

Because of this, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has proclaimed March as Brain Injury Awareness Month. Understanding the causes and effects of brain injury helps build bridges of awareness between the estimated 100,000 Minnesotans living with brain injury and the community at large. This awareness allows for smoother transitioning of people with a brain injury back into public life.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when an outside force results in a disruption of the brain’s normal functioning. This can be the result of a sudden starting or stopping, as in whiplash, the head being struck, as in a fall, or an object piercing the brain. Today, falls are the leading cause of brain injury in Minnesota, with motor vehicle accidents taking a close second.

Brain injury can result in a wide variety of physical and cognitive changes including reduced memory skills, an alteration of self-perception and a decrease in judgment. Hearing, vision or speech may be impaired. Fatigue may also increase, as well as anxiety, an inability to suppress impulses, decreased self-esteem and difficulty relating to others.

Because the results of a brain injury can be so widespread, a support network is a must for all people affected. The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota exists to help build that support network. The Association reaches out to individuals as soon as they leave the hospital, providing them and their loved ones with one-on-one support through resource facilitation and educational opportunities, and helps them develop the skills to become self-advocates.

The brain, unlike a bone or a muscle, cannot grow new cells to replace damaged tissue. In some cases, however, it can be rehabilitated or taught to relearn functions lost from the injury. The Association works to cultivate a world where people with brain injury are able to realize their full potential.

For more info, please contact the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota at 800-669-6442 or online at info@braininjurymn.org

“It was dark and I was reaching for the light at the top of the stairs,” she says, “and as I reached out, I just kept on going. Head first.”

Zera is one of the 11 million seniors who fall every year and one of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota’s many senior consumers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, only 1.6 million of those seniors will go to the emergency room. Almost 13,000 will die.

Zera had hit her head above her right eyebrow on one of the wooden posts of her stairwell, but because she wasn’t showing any outward signs of impairment, brain injury wasn’t considered. It wasn’t until a couple of months later that she developed head pains that impaired her functioning.

“I would get up, maybe brush my teeth, maybe have a meal and have to go lie back down. It was just severe pain.”

Zera’s son, a surgeon at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), encouraged her to make an appointment at HCMC’s Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic. There, she met with Dr. Sarah Rockswold and was given the proper tests to determine the extent and severity of her injury.

“They asked me questions that any [ordinary person] should know. But, I didn’t know them. And that is how they discover what part of your brain is injured. But, I didn’t know that then. I was too ashamed to go back for more tests ….”

It is this reluctance for treatment, coupled with the embarrassment of potentially displaying vulnerability that Zera credits for many people in her generation not seeking proper medical care.

“In my generation, you had to be half dead to call an ambulance or go to the emergency room,” she says, “We are more aware of injuries now than we were, but not as much as older people need to be.”

HCMC referred Zera to the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota’s Resource Facilitation service in April of 2005. According to Zera, contact with her facilitator has been very positive. “It was nice to get a call every now and then to [be asked] how I was doing and if I needed anything. It was very personal to me,” she says. Zera counts herself lucky to have a large family surrounding her, with professional knowledge and ready support. She notes that many people don’t have those family resources and that is where the Resource Facilitation service is so important.

Zera now lives with a noticeable short-term memory loss, frequent headaches and hand tremors. The tremors have kept Zera from pursuing one of her greatest passions: painting.

For the past thirty years, Zera has studied acrylic, oil and watercolor painting. The fruits of her efforts are on display throughout her home. Beautifully vibrant flowers, painted in extreme close-up, adorn the walls of the living room.

Her hand tremor went away for a while but it has recently returned, making painting difficult. “If I ever get back to painting, I’m never going to move!” she says.

Zera uses several techniques to counter the effects of her short-term memory loss. She writes everything down and makes sure to read something several times over, until the information sinks in. “I can remember the words to every song I grew up with, but I can’t remember what I ate last night.”

Today, Zera is very conscious of the possibility of further accidents. “You have to turn the lights on. Even if you think you know what’s in a room, you have to turn the lights on and see what’s in your path. I turn on three lights on the way up and down the steps now.”

She also implores seniors to seek immediate medical attention for falls, even if they don’t immediately think something is wrong, and to not be embarrassed if it turns out nothing is wrong.

CDC studies indicate that seniors who receive medical attention in the first hour after a fall have a ninety percent chance of returning home, while those who do not receive help in the first six hours have a ninety percent chance of entering a nursing home.

“We ought to be educated on what to do. Don’t be ashamed to ask somebody to help you,” Zera pleads, “even if you’re not sure what you’ve done to yourself. [Brain injury is] dangerous. It’s fatal sometimes. It lasts an awfully long time. I’m going on my fourth year and I don’t feel that I’m really finished with it. If I dwelt on it I’d be miserable. I try to get along with what I’ve got left to use.”

Page 11, Article 1: Perseverance pays off
Marshall High grads set up U of M scholarship endowment for students with disabilities

Harvey Johnson is a man of many virtues, the least of which is perseverance. It is because of the perseverance of Johnson and his fellow Marshall High graduates that a scholarship program for students with disabilities has been recently endowed at the University of Minnesota-after almost 20 years of hard work. The Marshall Access and Education Fund is expected to award its first scholarships to U of M students this fall.

Johnson was in the fifth grade at Minneapolis’ Tuttle Elementary School when he suffered his first seizure. He remembers that he was playing ball with his friend Bill Anderson when the seizure struck.

As a result of his disability, Johnson was not able to participate in athletics or extra curricular activities when he attended Marshall High. Nevertheless the 1939 Marshall graduate has many fond memories of his years at the Dinky-town school. In its day, Marshall High was a school that serviced a large percentage of metro students with disabilities. The school has since been closed and the building is now an office building.

In 1959, Johnson chaired the Class of 1939’s reunion committee and he has chaired the committee every five years since. In 1989, Johnson and his classmates celebrated their 50th anniversary.

The event was a big success. More than 100 people turned out. When the dust settled the reunion committee met and discovered that they had nearly $300 left over. They discussed what to do with the money. Johnson suggested that they start a scholarship fund for students with disabilities. The committee agreed and the Marshall Alumni Endowment Fund (MAEF) was born.

Led by Johnson, the alumni solicited funds through the mail and by word of mouth. Over the next 10 years, the fund grew to nearly $9,000.

Ruth Stone Stewart, a member of the 1989 reunion committee, was instrumental in bringing together MAEF and the U of M Office of Disability Service in January 2003. Johnson, Stone Stewart and the committee turned over the MAEF money to the U. MAEF was renamed the Marshall Access and Education Fund.

Since 2003 the fund has grown more rapidly. In May 2007, the fund reached $22,000, just $3,000 shy of the $25,000 mark at which it will become an endowed scholarship fund. At that point scholarships may be awarded from the interest generated by investing the money in the fund.

Great news arrived in June 2007 when MAEF reached $25,000. In addition, the U of M Foundation matches MAEF’s $25,000, bringing the fund’s total to $50,000.

At age 88, Johnson is an extraordinary person, with a keen mind and sharp wit. He is very happy to see the efforts of the Marshall alumni come to fruition. His concern for students with disabilities and his perseverance will provide benefits for many years to come.

Minnesotans with disabilities can now use a new online matching service called Roommates Minnesota. Roommates Minnesota matches people with disabilities to other people with disabilities who are either: seeking one or more roommates interested in getting together to buy or to rent an apartment or house, or to share a house or apartment a person already has.

Launched at the beginning of this year, Roommates Minnesota is provided through The ArcLink Incorporated, with funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, along with other supports through DHS and The Arc of Minnesota.

If you are looking for one or more roommates to partner with in renting an apartment or buying a house, then this service can help in two ways:

You must be registered to use Roommates. To sign up, go to http://roommates.thearclink.org/

Information and training is available for Roommates users through online bi-weekly Webinars. To sign up, go to http://roommates.thearclink.org/webinars/

Roommates strives to provide a safe method to find others seeking a housing solution. No identifying information is shared online and only pre-approved individuals can use this service. Only after people have expressed an interest in learning more is contact information shared. It is then up to the interested parties to connect with each other. It is highly recommended when meeting anyone for the first time that you set up your meeting in a safe public space and bring a friend or relative with you.

If you have additional questions about community resources, please call DLL at 1-866-333-2466. DLL provides free, disability-related information and assistance for Minnesotans. DLL does not endorse any particular Web site or provider. They assume no responsibility for transactions between the readers of this article and listed organizations.

Page 12, Article 1: Web sightings - Sports and leisure
Five Web favorites from the editor

Aaron Fotheringham, a young extreme sports athlete shows off the purported first ever backflip performed by a person in a wheelchair (as well as the many gaffes he suffered through to get to such heights).

Despite some shaky camera work (weak-stomached audience members beware), this clip effectively exhibits a novel way in which some folks combine a love of motion with their available ‘tools.’ With the gentleman in the wheelchair acting as the motor (and cruising at a rapid speed himself), his two companions swerve in and out of his ‘wake,’ pulled on a rope down a wide residential street. A fun variation on the game “follow the leader”!

If you’ve never heard of wheelchair ballroom dancing, here’s a great introduction. Enjoy the choreography and glitz as wheelchair users dance with able-bodied partners, with each other, and solo, rivaling their able-bodied peers in both grace and skill.

Check out this footage from a tournament held in the Czech Republic recently and you’ll see why electric wheelchair hockey is joining the ranks of such popular sports as wheelchair basketball and rugby. Watch the exciting kinetic action and camaraderie on display here, and try not to be more than a little jealous.

This clip chronicles a British paraplegic canoeist as he finishes an unsupported expedition, canoeing down the Mississippi River with two able bodied friends. Featuring both footage of the trek itself as well as some news coverage devoted to the formidable feat, it will leave you impressed and in-spired.

Page 12, Article 2:
Theater Review: From the front row - Peer Gynt
Guthrie Theater; Seen February 15th

Editor’s note: Access Press is pleased to welcome author and playwright Raymond Luczak as our new theater reviewer. Mr. Luczak www.raymondluczak.com will be reviewing an ASL-interpreted play each month under the heading “From the front row.” Reviews will be posted first to access press.org, and printed the following month. Coming next: Peer Gynt (reviewed Feb 17th)

Of the many plays in Henrik Ibsen's canon, Peer Gynt is an odd creature. Ibsen had originally written it as a novel in 1867, exploring various Norwegian fairy tales as a way to poke fun at the then-novel idea of returning to nature and simplicity. He never thought of it as a performable work, but when the book became a huge success, he eventually adapted it for the stage in 1876. The problem was that Ibsen didn't trim a whole lot from the book in his adaptation. Ever since then many directors and producers have wrestled with the play's very long running time of over five hours, and there have been numerous translations and adaptations over the years.

Robert Bly, the unofficial poet laureate of Minnesota, has created a three-hour translation and adaptation, a lot of which is in rhymed verse, that makes the title character quite joyful and yet far more selfish on his journey to find his "true self." The play begins with a quick jolt of exposition: We are at Peer Gynt's surprise 50th birthday party, and we are asked to practice our "surprise!" for the moment when Peer arrives. The party soon segues into a flashback that explores how Peer began his journey away from his homeland, escaping because he had run off with someone else's bride, a crime punishable by death. He constantly reinvents himself to suit the occasion, and along the way he appears to have developed no sense of responsibility whatsoever. In that sense, he is a true antihero who, on paper, sounds rather repulsive and unworthy of our time in the theater. But with his insouciant bearing and light feet, Mark Rylance manages to infuse Peer Gynt with a likeable, satyr-like glee. The fluidity of his performance, and Tim Carroll's nimble direction, manage to leaven a story that at times still feels a bit lugubrious.

There are some standout moments: When Peer and Solveig, played by the lovely Miriam Silverman, dance together for the first time, everyone around them slowly freezes as these two lock arms and eyes; the lighting design by Stan Pressner is most keenly felt here, framed by the barn evoked by Laura Hopkins's set and costume design. In a play that's essentially a one-man show with many supporting characters, Solveig as a major character has very few lines; but she proves herself to be an active listener. She isn't just listening; she is truly listening with her subtle facial reactions. And she acquits herself beautifully when she sings with her tender voice. The other standout performance is Isabell Monk O'Connor, who plays Peer's mother. After a number of years, Peer returns home and reveals just how much of a Peter Pan he is in the most poignant scene in the entire play, in which his mother dies.

So what's so "modernist" about Peer Gynt, and why should we care? While I'm not intimately familiar with the works of all the major late-nineteenth-century playwrights, as a character, Peer Gynt must be the first modernist slacker. He doesn't really have evil aspirations, he just wants everything handed to him on a silver platter without having to earn it. If Peer were online right now, he'd be considered a get-rich-quick "game player." While of course Ibsen could have had no knowledge of modern technology, if nothing else, he was remarkably prescient about the human condition.

If there is anything in this play that is relevant to the disability community, the way Peer's unconventional behavior affects his social standing parallels our feelings as outsiders. We simply do not accommodate what the larger able-bodied society expects of us. But the story of finding one's true self-whatever that may turn out to be-is a never-ending tale for many of us in the disability community. It is so difficult to feel true to oneself while enduring the many societal pressures to conform. We know deep down that it is usually next to impossible to be accepted in the same way that able-bodied people accept each other. Still, the huge difference between Peer Gynt and ourselves is that he had a choice to change his behavior every step of the way. He just didn't care.

The Guthrie Theater has long prided itself on providing top-notch ASL interpretation, and this production was no exception. The company provided a lovely ASL-interpreted show program that included photographs of the performers, descriptions of their name signs, and which of the two interpreters would be signing for which character, as well as brief bios about the interpreters. A concise two-paragraph summary is also included to help Deaf audience members follow this sprawling story of one man's journey and the multitude of characters he meets along the way, which can be particularly confusing if there are only two interpreters handling the entire cast.

Cathy Mosher ably interpreted all the characters except Peer Gynt, which Carrie Wilbert handled with a lot of gusto, not always matching the tempo of Mark Rylance's work onstage. It is my belief that ASL interpreters shouldn't "overact" or monopolize attention away from the actors, but instead they should provide just enough information to enable Deaf audience members to absorb both the information from the interpreter and the action onstage, rather than pay full attention only to the interpreters. That said, both Mosher and Wilbert's ASL translations were very fine. A peculiar but telling detail about the difficulty of theatrical interpreting came to my attention: Because the floor in front of the stage had no carpeting, the interpreters stood on a pair of soft mats to help ease the strain of standing in one place.

In spite of Bly's wonderful writing, Peer Gynt would have benefited from even more streamlining in a way that would still honor Ibsen's original vision, in the same way that many productions of Shakespeare's plays use condensed versions of his work for greater clarity onstage. Still, Mark Rylance is the main reason to see this production; he is Peer Gynt himself.

Gutherie Theater is located at: 818 South Second Street, Minneapolis

The following performances will be Audio Described (AD) for people who are blind or have low vision, or interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Selected performances offer reduced admission prices for the patron and one companion. When calling a box office, confirm the service (ASL or AD), date, time, ticket price and anything else needed, e.g. length of performance, etc. If you attend a show, please share your feedback with the performing organization, interpreter, and VSA arts of Minnesota. Accessible performance information is compiled by VSA arts of Minnesota, Phone: 612-332-3888 or Web: www.vsaartsmn.org/ Also see Accessible Movie Theaters at bottom of page.

Guthrie Theater, Dowling Studio, 818 - 2nd St. S., Mpls. ASL and AD: Sat., Mar. 22, 1:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $18 (reg. up to $34), Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: 612-377-6626, We: www.guthrietheater.org/

Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, 333 Fourth St. S., Fargo. AD: Sat., Apr. 12, 7:30 pm, ASL: upon request in advance. Tix: Reduced to $12.50, $10 senior 65+, $7.50 student (reg. $15, $12, $9), Phone: 701-235-6778, 877-687-7469, Web: www.fmct.org

Mpls. Institute of Arts, 2400 Third Ave. S., Mpls. ASL: Sun., Mar. 2, 1:00 pm; free tour begins by the Information Desk in the museum lobby, Tix: special exhibition admission charged, Phone: 612-870-3131, TTY: 612-870-3132, E-mail: dhegstrom@artsmia.org Web: www.artsmia.org

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts McKnight Theatre, 345 Washington, St. Paul. ASL: Wed., Apr. 2 , 8:00 pm AD: Sat., Apr. 5 , 8:00 pm, Tix/ Phone: 651-224-4222, TTY: 651-282-3100, Web: www.ordway.org/services/access.asp

Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, 333 Fourth St. S., Fargo. AD: Sat., Mar. 8, 7:30 pm; pre-show description at 7:10 pm, ASL: upon request in advance, Tix: Reduced to $12.50, $10 senior 65+, $7.50 student (reg. $15, $12, $9), Phone: 701-235-6778, 877-687-7469, Web: www.fmct.org

Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts at Old Arizona Studio, 2821 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. ASL: Thurs., April 10, 7:30 pm (pay what you can) and Sat., April 26, 7:30 pmAD: Fri., April 25, 7:30 pm and Sat., April 26, 3:00 pm, Captioning: on request, Tix: Reduced to $10 (reg. $16), Phone: 612-339-5145, Web: www.interactcenter.com

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Main Hall, 345 Washington, St. Paul. ASL: Wed., Mar. 26, 8:00 pm, AD: Sat., Mar. 29, 8:00 pm, Tix/ Phone: 651-224-4222, TTY: 651-282-3100, Web: www.ordway.org/services/access.asp

26th annual PACER Benefit at Mpls. Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S. ASL: Sat., Apr. 26, Silent Auction 6:00 pm; Show 8:00 pm; To request Audio Description, call PACER, Tix: start at $55, Phone: 952-838-9000, Web: www.pacer.org

Mixed Blood Theatre at SteppingStone Theatre, 55 No. Victoria St., St. Paul. AD, ASL and Captioning: Thurs., Apr. 24, 7:30 pm, Tix: Access tickets $12, Phone: 612-338-6131, E-mail: boxoffice@mixedblood.com Web: www.mixedblood.com

Theatre de la Jeune Lune, 105 N. First St., Mpls. AD and ASL: Thurs., Mar. 13, 8:00 pm, Tix: Reduced to $ 13; reg. $20, $15 senior; $9 age 25 or under; other nights up to $30, Phone: TicketWorks: 612-333-6200 or 612-332-3968 x100, Web: www.jeunelune.org

Bridge Productions at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. AD and ASL: Sat., Mar. 22 and Fri., Mar. 28, 8:00 pm (reservation required 3 days before show for ASL or AD services), Tix: Reduced to $12 AD/ASL patron, student, senior, preview, Fringe button (reg. $15, $10 groups, theater industry), Phone: 651-501-9273, E-mail: tickets@bridgeproductions.info Web: www.bridgeproductions.info or www.intermediaarts.org

Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus at Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 - 4th St. S., Mpls. ASL: Sun., Mar. 30, 2 :00 pm, Tix: $23-43 (includes fees), child half-price, Phone: 612-624-2345, Web: www.tcgmc.org or www.northrop.umn.edu

Park Square Theatre, 408 Saint Peter St. (20 W. 7th Place) St. Paul. AD and ASL: Sat., Mar. 22, 7:30 pm, Tix: Reduced to half-price, Phone: 651-291-7005, Web: www.parksquaretheatre.org

Rochester Civic Theatre, 20 Civic Center Drive SE. ASL: Sun., Apr. 20, 2:00 pm, Tix: $22, senior $17, student $12, Phone: 507-282-8481, Web: www.rochestercivictheatre.org

Stages Theatre Co. at Hopkins Center for the Arts Mainstage, 1111 Mainstreet. ASL: Wed., Mar. 12, 12:30 pm, Wed., Mar. 19, 9:30 am, and Sun., Mar. 30, 2:00 pm, Tix: $15, $11 child (age 2-17) and senior (age 60+) plus $1.50 fee per ticket for phone/web orders, Phone: 952-979-1111 (AD available upon request), Web: www.stagestheatre.org

SteppingStone Theatre, 55 Victoria St. N., St. Paul. ASL: Sun., Mar. 16, 2:00 pm, AD: Fri., Mar. 21, 7:00 pm, Tix: $11, student/senior $9, Phone: 651-225-9265, Web: www.steppingstonetheatre.org

Stages Theatre Co. at Hopkins Center for the Arts Jaycee Studio, 1111 Mainstreet. ASL: Sun., Mar. 2, 2:00 pm, and Wed., Mar. 5, 10:00 am (Audio Description available upon request), Tix: $15, $11 child (age 2-17) and senior (age 60+) plus $1.50 fee per ticket for phone/web orders, Phone: 952-979-1111, Web: www.stagestheatre.org

Children's Theatre Co., Mainstage, 2400 - 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. AD and ASL: Fri., Mar. 28, 7:30 pm, Tix: Mention VSA Offer for $13 tickets; regular discount is $20, Phone: 612-874-0400, Web: www.childrenstheatre.org

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre in collaboration with the Tomales Bay Institute at the Avalon Theater, 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls. AD: Sun., Mar. 16, 2:00 pm; tactile tour available at 1:30 pm (register with the theatre); school performance Fri., Mar. 14, 10:30 am, ASL: Call the theatre, Tix: $17, $12 for child, student, senior or group; weekday matinees $5 for groups and $10 for individuals, Phone: 612-721-2535, E-mail: info@hobt.org Web: www.hobt.org

Lyric Arts Company, Lyric Arts Main St. Stage, 420 E. Main St., Anoka. ASL: Sat., Apr. 19, 11:00 am (request at least one week in advance), Tix: $12, $10 student/senior, Phone: 763-422-1838, Web: www.lyricarts.org

Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 - 2nd St. S., Mpls. ASL: Fri., Mar. 28, 7:30 pm, AD: Sat., Mar. 29, 1:00 pm; tactile tour at 10:30 am, Tix: Reduced to $18 for AD/ASL (reg. $27-$57), Phone: 612-377-2224, TTY: 612-377-6626, Web: www.guthrietheater.org/

Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. ASL: Sun., Mar. 30, 1:00 pm, Tix: $28.50 - 133.50; AD offered if requested in advance, Phone: 612-373-5639 or 5609, Hotline: 612-373-5650, TTY: 612-373-5655, E-mail: accessible@orpheum.com Web: www.hennepintheatredistrict.org/

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen. ASL: Tues., Dec. 11, 8:00 pm curtain, dinner seating 6:00; Fri., Dec. 28, 1:00 pm curtain, lunch seating 11:00 am, Tix: 12/11: $49 for dinner + show ($15 discount); 12/28: $40 for lunch + show, Specify accommodation needed to assure proper seating, Phone: 952-934-1525 or 800-362-3515, E-mail: information@chanhassendt.com Web: www.chanhassentheatres.com/