More events information VSA Minnesota is here. The website has a large calendar at in the upper right hand corner of its home page. For information on galleries and theater performances around the state join the Access to Performing Arts email list at access@vsamn.org or call VSA Minnesota, 612-332-3888 or statewide 800-801-3883 (voice/TTY). To hear a weekly listing of accessible performances, call 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883. Another web events listing is http://c2net.org (c2: caption coalition, inc.), which does most of the captioned shows across the country. Facebook is another way to connect with performances. Sign up to connect with Audio Description Across Minnesota. Connect with ASL Interpreted and Captioned Performances across Minnesota on Facebook.

 

Walk and Roll 3K
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare hosts its first-ever Walk and Roll 3K Family Fun Walk event at 8:30 a.m. Sat, June 18 at Como Park. The group gets on the move at 10 a.m. Walk or roll the paths with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers or strollers. Cost is $10 for participants age 13 and younger, or $25 for those 14 years old and older. No charge for Gillette patients. Family rate for up to two adults and their dependents is $75. Form a team, take pledges or just participate as an individual. Those unable to participate can make a donation for children’s programs at Gillette. FFI: gillettechildrens.org/WalkRoll

ADA Celebration
Minnesota will celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 3-5 p.m. Tue, July 26 at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul. Theme of the ADA Celebration is Celebrate Diversity in the Disability Community. Keynote speaker is Ken Rodgers. Enjoy a panel discussion, refreshments, dance instruction by Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota 2015 Angelique Lele, Young Dance company’s All Abilities Program, and classic rock and roll by the band Tamarak. Band leader, Curt Jones, who is blind, is a past KARE 11 “Eleven Who Care” honoree. Free.

AuSM Golf Classic
The Autism Society of Minnesota Golf Classic is Mon, Aug. 1 at Troy Burne Golf Club, Hudson, WI Play in the AuSM Golf Classic and support programs and services AuSM provides to individuals and their families affected by autism in Minnesota. Golfers enjoy a cart, lunch, awards banquet, and contests and opportunities to win great prizes. Save $100 per foursome when registering by June 30. Or get a company or organization’s message in front of the Minnesota autism community by becoming an AuSM Golf Classic 2016 sponsor. FFI: www.ausm.org

Open the Door to Education
Help adults reach their educational goals and earn their GED. Tutor, teach or assist in a classroom with the Minnesota Literacy Council. Give just 2-3 hours a week and help people expand their opportunities and change their lives through education. The literacy council provides training and support and accommodations for volunteers with disabilities. FFI: Allison, 651-251-9110, volunteer@mnliteracy.org, http://tinyurl.com/adult-opportunities 

Volunteer with Ramsey County
Ramsey County offers many volunteer opportunities, and can find accommodations for volunteers with disabilities. One new opportunity allows volunteers to assist Ramsey County Detoxification Center clients through peer support and informational services to help recovery efforts. FFI: Ramsey County Community Human Services—Volunteer Services, 651-266-4090, HumanServicesVolunteer@co.ramsey.mn.us

Share a smile
Brighten the day of a senior citizen and have some fun. Spend time with an elder individual on an ongoing basis and do fun things in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County. Small groups and families welcome. Youth volunteers must be age 12 or older and supervised by an adult. This volunteer program through Senior Community Services now includes the seniors program formerly served by the Neighborhood Involvement Program. Many volunteer options available. FFI: Jeanne, 952-767-7894, scsvolunteer@seniorcommunity.org

Gloria Steinbring memorial is June 14
Disability rights advocate Gloria Steinbring will be remembered at an informal memorial gathering 5-7 p.m. Tue, June 14 at the Education Sciences Building, University of Minnesota, 56 E. River Road, Mpls.

A charismatic and fiery leader of Minnesota’s disability rights movement for four decades, Steinbring died January 11, in Minneapolis at age 71. Her brash wit, youthful spirit and clarion voice became familiar to many in Minnesota’s disability rights movement. She co-founded Advocating Change Together and served as a regional representative of the national organization Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered. To locate the service, go here. Metered parking is available on East River Road across from the Education Sciences Building. Anyone with photos of Gloria to share for the service may send electronic copies to Jerry Smith at smith495@umn.edu

Vision loss group offers activities
Vision Loss Resources provides free and low-cost activities in the Twin Cities for people who are blind or visually impaired. Life skills classes for those with low vision; card games, craft classes, book clubs, walking groups, dinners out, special outings and technology classes are among the offerings. Participants need to RVSP to participate. FFI: RSVP hotline 612-843-3439; activity phone 612-253-5155, www.visionlossresources.org

Adult support groups offered
AuSM offers free support groups for adults with autism spectrum disorder. Groups include those for adult family members, women with autism spectrum disorders and independent
adults with autism. Check the website for upcoming groups. Groups meet at the AuSM offices at 2380 Wycliff St. FFI: 651-647-1083 ext. 10, www.ausm.org

Tony Attwood to present
Autism Society of Minnesota hosts Tony Attwood and his presentation An Aspie’s Guide to Life’s Challenges Fri, October 19 at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, 1000 Lasalle Ave., Mpls. This is Attwood’s first presentation in Minnesota in several years. He will speak on topics including teens with Asperger’s Syndrome, affective-cognitive training and managing feelings. Tickets are $85 for Autism Society of Minnesota members, $115 for non-members, $75 for students and $65 for individuals with ASD. Ask about group rates. The talk will sell out quickly so call soon. Sponsorships available FFI: 651-647-1084, www.ausm.org

Disability awareness service
Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 County Rd C2 W, Roseville, hosts a disability awareness service Sun, July 24. A disability awareness service at 9:30 a.m. is followed by an 11 a.m. panel discussion with nationally recognized clergy and laypeople and lunch. Workshops will also be offered. Learn ways to make a church more accessible, how music and bands can be more inclusive and other ways to make a facility and programs more accessible. The service is in conjunction with the United Methodist DisAbility Ministries Committee Annual Meeting. RSVP for lunch. All churches interested in being more welcoming, or serving people with disabilities, are welcome. Check the church website for schedule updates. FFI: Debby Newman, 651-491-2121, www.CentennialUMC.org, DebbyAndEve@Gmail.com

Monkey Mind Pirates on the road
Puppets Rosenschnoz will bring the award-winning Monkey Mind Pirates performances and workshops to four Minnesota libraries this summer, with an emphasis on welcoming youth of all abilities into the “Quest for Calm”. The free events take place at three Dakota County Libraries – Pleasant Hill in Hastings, Burnhaven in Burnsville and Wentworth in West St. Paul – and Rice County’s Buckham Memorial Library in Faribault from June to August.

Monkey Mind Pirates has been sailing the waters of Minnesota, mixing playfulness with mindfulness since July 2010. This musical tale of a sea captain searching for the Island of Calm has won praise from national magazines such as Creative Play and Creative Child. Fox News declared it a “swashbuckling good time” and author of best-selling memoir Monkey Mind: A Memoir Anxiety as “ingenious and irresistible way” to approach stress relief.

Playful mindfulness workshops and Monkey Mind Pirates Family Yoga Party performances are FREE to the public and are fully handicap accessible. ASL interpretation is available upon request by contacting Kathleen at kathleen@zpuppets.org or 612-724-1435x 6. Registration for Dakota County library locations is required, visit here to register. For the Faribault library dates and times, visit www.faribault.org/248/Library Epic Enterprise is involved with the tour. For more than 38 years, Epic Enterprise has provided support to adults with disabilities throughout Rice County and the surrounding area. Epic integrates the arts into its daily programs to serve clients’ occupational, educational, social and recreational needs. FFI: www.epicenterpriseinc.org