Editor’s Column – September 2017
In early September, many of the advocacy organizations are putting together their 2018 legislative agendas, prioritizing and discussing what issues […]
Author Archives: Tim L. Benjamin
Editor’s Column – August 2017
Over the last month we have had some pretty senseless legislative plans being deliberated in Washington concerning the future of […]
Editor’s Column – July 2017
It’s been rather stressful recently for just about everybody in the disability community after the American Health Care Act (AHCA) […]
Editor’s Column – June 2017
The 2017 legislative session ended on time on May 23, only to be followed immediately by a special session. Over […]
Editor’s Column – May 2017
Ok, too much to talk about on the political front, but I can’t resist one weather-related question: When will warm […]
Editor’s Column – April 2017
Minnesota’s House of Representatives and Senate released their target budgets on March 27. The proposed numbers are devastating to both […]
Editor’s Column – March 2017
The Minnesota legislative session is in full swing and moving at a very rapid pace, with deadlines for legislation to […]
Editor’s Column – February 2017
Since the Minnesota legislative session started, there have been hundreds of new bills introduced, including two that are of interest […]
Editor’s Column – January 2017
We have celebrated the beginning of the New Year. I am glad we have 2016 behind us, but I’m also […]
Thanks to all! Help us bring you your news
Access Press, Minnesota’s disability news source, is marking 26 years of providing news and information for Minnesotans with disabilities, their […]
Editor’s Column – December 2016
As the year wraps up, I’ve got a few things I’d like to look back on and people I’d like […]
Editor’s Column – November 2016
On November 4, at the 14th annual Charlie Smith Awards banquet, we celebrated Cliff Poetz, the winner of the 2016 […]
Editor’s Column – September 2016
As I started writing this month’s editorial, I knew I wanted to avoid starting out with my continuing concerns about the critical shortage […]
Editor’s Column – August 2016
After focusing pretty hard for the last few months on home-based care and PCA reimbursement rates, it’s probably no surprise […]
Editor’s Column – July 2016
This month I have two things to talk about. One is not surprising: a livable wage for personal care attendants. The other […]
Editor’s Column – June 2016
The 2016 Minnesota legislative session was a disappointment. It does not seem like anything was voted into law that will be helpful […]
Editor’s Column – May 2016
There is a crisis in the disability community and it has been going on for years. About ten years ago, […]
Editor’s Column – April 2016
The sporadic warm temperatures over the last few weeks have been welcome. I think this is the earliest I’ve been out running […]
Editor’s Column – March 2016
What a winter. It’s March and there’s barely any snow on the ground. I don’t think I’ve had to wear my heavy […]
Editor’s Column – January 2016
This month we’re following our commentary in the December issue on physician-assisted suicide with another one, also by a knowledgeable, persuasive critical thinker […]
Editor’s Column – December 2015
We finally got some snow on the ground with just a few days left in 2015—and then it melted in our […]
Editor’s Column – November 2015
Over the last couple years we’ve had some very influential locals leave Minnesota to contribute to the disability community in a bigger […]
Editor’s Column – October 2015
As an end note to my last column, I would like to make a few clarifications. The correct terminology is […]
Editor’s Column – September 2015
As I write this, we’re still enjoying the last days of summer, but warm weather is just about over. While the kids […]
Editor’s Column – August 2015
No need to talk about the weather this month: it’s been pretty perfect. Besides, there’s just too much else going on. There […]
Editor’s column – July 2015
We at Access Press are very proud to be celebrating our 25th anniversary. It seems almost impossible that 25 years has passed. […]
Editor’s Column – June 2015
We are having what always seems to me as the normal pushing-out of a Minnesota spring: lots of rainy and humid weather […]
MN-CCD seeks qualified applicants
MN-CCD Seeks Applications for the Managing Director Position The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD) seeks qualified applicants for […]
Editor’s Column – May 2015
I’m wearing a short sleeve shirt today for the first time this season. I’m sitting in my office with the […]
Editor’s Column – April 2015
I was certainly ready for spring, and during mid-March was thinking about putting away the winter blankets, the winter clothes and […]
Editor’s column – March 2015
Here’s something exciting to offer in this last month of winter. We have a new option for reading Access Press. […]
Editor’s Column – February 2015
Governor Dayton’s budget was released earlier this month. It included some positive signs. The governor is willing to increase funding for mental […]
Editor’s Column – January 2015
At the New Year, it’s good to look backwards and forwards. Access Press had a successful 2014, publishing 12 issues that were […]
Editor’s Column – December 2014
At Access Press, as the year closes, we’re looking ahead to the January opening of the new legislative session. But […]
Editor’s Column – November 2014
This month we hosted the 12th annual Charlie Smith Award banquet and were joined by a couple hundred folks in […]
Editor’s Column – October 2014
All the signs of the upcoming winter are here: chilly nights, trees turning colors, leaves falling, school kids wearing long […]
Editor’s Column – September 2014
I hope everybody who attended the state fair had a great time. The record-breaking attendance is probably related to the […]
Editor’s Column – August 2014
Summer is more than half over, which means it’s time to look ahead to the Great Minnesota Get-Together, the State […]
Editor’s Column – July 2014
I’m enjoying the summer, in between rainstorms. This past month has been the wettest in years throughout the state, and […]
Editor’s Column – June 2014
Summer is here and like most Minnesotans, I have to complain about the weather. It got too darn hot to […]
Editor’s Column – May 2014
Access Press will be celebrating its 25th anniversary, starting with this issue. This milestone anniversary is truly a tribute to […]
Editor’s Column – April 2014
Can it be that spring is really here? Only a few days ago I was wondering if this winter would […]
Editor’s Column – March 2014
Many of us knew it was just a matter of time before the rest of the country recognized John Tschida’s […]
Editor’s Column – February 2014
January was a frigid month—I can’t remember the last winter when I took time off work because it was too […]
Editor’s Column – January 2014
As we look ahead to 2014, I want to thank everyone for your financial generosity this past year to Access […]
Editor’s Column – December 2013
Winter is here; there is no questioning that now. As I’m writing this, I’m watching the snow falling out my […]
Media Coverage of Disability Issue in Minnesota
“The Real Story“ Sponsored by UCare of Minnesota. Health care that starts with you. A link to the Access Press […]
Editor’s Column – November 2013
It has been an unbelievably exciting month. I was lucky enough to take some time to travel to a family […]
Editor’s Column – October 2013
Here it is October already, and finally we’re getting some rain and fall temperatures. Like it or not, the rain […]
Editor’s Column – September 2013
In a summer of unusually mild weather, it kind of figured that the end of August would bring a week […]