What does disability pride mean to me?
This July (Disability Pride Month), I personally spent a lot of time thinking about what disability pride means to me. […]
Commentary
Join the Access Press team for happy hour
Join us for a fun and relaxed happy hour on August 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Surly Brewing […]
Meet John: Powered by lived experience, journalism expertise, and undying hometown fandom
John Kuziej: New Assistant Editor at Access Press I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 2, which has shaped […]
Meet Randall: Powered by big ideas, authentic connections, and peanut butter crackers
Randall Oldenburg: New Ad Sales Representative at Access Press Disabled from birth, I am an enthusiastic thinker. Those I work […]
Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens are paying the price for government failures
Minnesota’s disability service providers support thousands of our state’s most vulnerable citizens every day. We provide homes, stability, and services […]
Welcome to the June issue of Access Press
Dear Access Press Readers, As you read through the pages this month, you will find coverage of several significant political […]
The ADA Title II deadline extension should not slow accessibility momentum
When I first saw that the Department of Justice extended the ADA Title II web and mobile app accessibility compliance […]
Accessible housing leader slams state leadership over $300M Human Services cuts
In a scathing rebuke of recent legislative decisions, Josh Berg is publicly condemning state leadership for what he describes as […]
Waiver Reimagine puts Minnesota on shaky legal ground
Minnesota has long prided itself on being a national leader in supporting people with disabilities to live, work, and thrive […]
Foster homes closing around state: The hidden crisis uprooting Minnesota’s vulnerable adults
Minnesota is on the verge of losing something it cannot easily replace: small, family-based foster care homes that have quietly […]
Singalongs and slices: Access Press hosts happy hour
On Thursday, April 23, Access Press readers, sponsors, board members, and staff gathered for a casual happy hour at King […]
Join us! Access Press launches a new community membership model
After serving Minnesota’s disability community for 36 years, we are launching a brand-new community membership program. Our hope is to […]
Quick look at what’s making waves at the Capitol and in our community
Dear Access Press Readers, To say a lot is happening right now for the Minnesota disability community would be the […]
The urgent need for rural transit funding
“Lisa, hier musst du nur auf Englisch sprechen, sonst verstehen sie dich gar nicht.” In December 1992—exactly three months after […]
1 in 4: Why the disability community must build a united front
It seems like people with disabilities are under fire from a different angle every day. We hear about slashes to […]
Uniquely educated: Why school choice is critical for special education students
The headlines seem endless: “Public schools are failing,” “Charter schools skim resources,” “Achievement gaps persist.” But amidst this noise, we […]
My autism diagnosis didn’t change my life
My experience with autism is a story shaped by the myth of endless resilience. I was diagnosed at thirty-two, after […]
The power and the duty of advocacy
In 1986, I began my work in advocacy. It had probably started before then, but that was the first time […]
The impact of Operation Metro Surge on Minnesota’s autism community
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Operation Metro Surge has had far-reaching effects across Minnesota communities. The federal government has stated […]
Growing up gaming – a review of the PlayStation Access Controller
I’ve been a gamer since I was a kid. I’ve played everything from Atari, NES, Super NES, and SEGA Genesis […]
The spectrum of experience – navigating the everyday
Mary is the Business and Advertising Operations Manager at Access Press. She also lives with a disability. Below, she shares […]
35 Years after the ADA, “accessible” hotels still need improvement
I am currently writing this from the road. My family and I are in the middle of a long drive […]
Share your story!
Access Press is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Minnesota’s disability community, but we can’t do it without you. We […]
Buried deaf child coming home
A personal story When I was seven years old, I experienced something I did not have the language to explain. […]
The dignity of work: How to improve Minnesota MA-EPD
At seventeen, I knew the rules and rewards of capitalism: work hard, earn more, buy cool stuff. I held three […]
Editor looks back, is glad for role in changing disability news coverage
This is my last issue as Access Press editor. I’ve had various editing roles here since 2008, so it is […]
Help us help others navigate their disability journeys as I was helped
The air was cool and the sky overcast on September 9, 1993, when I ran out my back door for […]
The cost of being the airline’s afterthought, or travel while disabled
A trip from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. was one of a few thousand miles and an entire economy of […]
Living with disabling Lyme disease and effects? She is offering her support
I want to put some feelers out to see if there’s a need or interest in starting a Lyme Disease […]
Accessible restroom runaround a frustration
I use my manual wheelchair on Sundays so I can use a cab that will pick me up at the […]
Your letters and commentary are welcomed: Guidelines
Access Press welcomes letters to the editor and commentary pieces from readers, on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. […]
Access Press Board of Directors seeks candidates
Want to be involved with Minnesota’s disability community and its premier news source? Access Press has an opening on our […]
Meet Heidi Holste, an advocate for inclusion, accessibility
New Executive Director at Access Press For nearly three decades, I have devoted my career to advocating for inclusion, accessibility, […]
Meet Joey Carlson: From speedskates to the editor’s desk
New Managing Editor at Access Press Growing up, Access Press was always in my house. My dad, who managed a […]
Our already unsustainable health care system could become much, much worse
Our nation’s healthcare system is simply not sustainable. High costs to clients and a system that is woefully inefficient at […]
Readers tell us ‘Why I support Access Press.’ How about you?
There’s no shortage of places to turn to for dire news or funding shortages. We don’t need to tell you […]
Veterans and their allies championed the barrier-free movement
People with disabilities celebrated 35 years of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this past summer. The ADA is […]
ICI celebrates 40 years worth of accomplishments while looking ahead
The University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration is celebrating four decades of service to Minnesotans with disabilities. In a […]
Community Challenge grants given
Communities throughout Minnesota will receive 2025 Community Challenge grants from AARP. The grants are part of AARP’s $4.2 million commitment […]
Alzheimer’s disease, dementia are focus of seven grant projects
Seven Minnesota organizations will use state grant funds to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, promote early diagnosis […]
Take Note! for November 2025
Speaker panel offered: Disability and faith A Disability and Faith Speaker Panel is scheduled for 2:00-3:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 8, […]
HCBS Providers: Join the Call
Minnesota has long been recognized as a national leader in supporting individuals with disabilities through home and community-based services (HCBS). […]
Addressing fraud is most effective when everyone is heard
Many people are very worried because of budget cuts at the state and national level. It’s time that we all […]
Intentionally or not, life with disabilities can be all about politics
Being disabled means my life is political whether I want it to be or not. My wheelchair is political. My […]
When Dylan can vote is an unanswered question for his family members
Dylan is 20 years old. Dylan has a disability. Dylan is nonverbal. Dylan can vote . . . or can […]
Speak up for our rights as Minnesota voters with disabilities
Election day, November 4, is just around the corner. And in another year, we will vote for key state offices […]
Medicaid-related fraud cases raise red flags for program participants
Medicaid-related fraud cases have dominated Minnesota headlines in recent months, especially in services for people with disabilities. While the abuse […]
Handing off education to states, weakening federal oversight deserves an F
Back-to-school time is much more than store aisles filled with crayons, notebooks and backpacks. Back-to-school time for some students with […]
Take Note! for September 2025
Can Do Canines open house The annual Can Do Canines Woofaroo is 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Sat, Sept. 13 at Can […]
Your letters and commentary are welcomed: Guidelines
Access Press welcomes letters to the editor and commentary pieces from readers, on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. […]
