Last month, we held our first-ever Access Press community forum. It was fantastic to receive feedback and ideas from dozens of community members and leaders. In fact, most of what you are reading in this issue is the direct result of comments we received during that gathering.

Access Press exists to be the voice of the disability community, and the only way we can achieve that honestly and effectively is to hear from our readers as often as possible. Thanks to the success of last month’s discussion, we are holding another community forum on October 8 at 4 p.m. CT.

What we will focus on in October

Our next forum will have two primary areas of focus, though as always, it remains open to any discussion, banter, or feedback related to disability in Minnesota.

• Our upcoming coverage: What should we cover over the next month, both online and in our print paper? Let us know what is happening in your corner of the community. We want to cover the topics that matter most to you — and even give you the opportunity to write and report on issues yourself.
• How you consume your news: We are looking to branch out into other media and formats, including more photos, video, and social channels. We want to know what matters most to you and where you turn for news today.

Staying connected and informed

There is a lot going on in the world right now, and keeping track of everything can feel overwhelming. We hope Access Press can serve as a dependable guide to help you navigate and organize news related to disability.

The best way to receive our reporting is online through our weekly email newsletter and on Facebook. To sign up for the forum, simply scan the QR code below, and please be sure to share it with your friends and family.

I look forward to seeing you at our next community forum!