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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Reconciliation Act’s many consequences simply cannot be ignored
The Reconciliation Act is signed into law, and we Minnesotans with disabilities are waiting for axes to fall. Slashing more […]
Two big birthdays, many, many big issues and many questions are ahead
Both Access Press and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turn 35 this year. Both birthdays are reason to celebrate. […]
Disability issues and needs suffer when lawmakers cannot do their jobs
Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session sputtered to its mandated May 19 ending with much critical business left undone. Many Minnesotans with […]
Weakening longtime business protections under the ADA harms us all
Maybe you have looked at a store aisle, glanced at your cane or walker, and realized that passage would be […]
Special education staffing shortages will only become worse with changes
Many Minnesotans benefit or have benefited from caring and dedicated special education teachers, paraprofessionals and therapists. Many parents have been […]
Too much at stake as DEI and DEIA initiatives are attacked
If you live with a disability, DEI and DEIA are much more than a set of initials. The principles of […]
Every child, everywhere needs an accessible place to play
Remember when some of us couldn’t enjoy an average neighborhood park or school’s playground? We’d look longingly at the slides […]
Threats on the horizon as a key civil rights anniversary nears
2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as President George H. W. Bush signed […]
Group home resident relocation challenges deserve a look
When Minnesota began closing its large state institutions years ago, community residential settings were touted as being part of the […]
Prepare for changes as the 2025 legislative session draws near
At a time when we’re taking down our Halloween décor, here’s a topic that may be challenging to start thinking […]
Permanent absentee voting opens a very welcomed door for disabled voters
Years ago there was an issue at a St. Paul polling place. Someone was banging on a gymnasium door. The […]
Remember our pioneers and don’t take our rights for granted
It is a different world. Older people sometimes make that remark to younger ones. Those of us who live with […]
Disparities in special education are never, ever a good ‘IDEA’
The notebooks, backpacks and other school supplies are already filling store shelves. School bells will be ringing before we know […]
Intermittent and episodic disability protections are now in place for us
As we make our late summer plans, some might consider a trip to the Minnesota State Fair. We don’t think […]
When it comes to transportation and disabilities, we can’t get there from here
July 1 is a date the disability community will watch very closely. That is when rideshare companies including Uber and […]
Changing COVID-19 guidelines could become problematic
In March we marked the four-year anniversary of the day our lives changed. The nascent COVID-19 pandemic brought a global […]
Proposed legislation could make getting around more of a challenge
Most of us who live with disabilities don’t spend a lot of time worrying about zoning and land use issues. […]
We’re still waiting for equitable ways to participate in our communities
Hi, remember us? We’re back with a familiar plea for the 2024 Minnesota Legislature. Back in December 2021, Access Press […]
More must be done to make skyways safer, accessible to all
It’s winter in Minnesota. If you live, work or enjoy activities in a city’s downtown that has a skyway system, […]
Bonding requests tell us that the promise of access remains unfulfilled
The 2024 session of the Minnesota Legislature is drawing near. Committees are already meeting to prepare for the February 12 session’s […]
Assisted living building sales, changes a sign of worrisome trend
Assisted living facilities have long been a viable housing option for disabled people who don’t need the level of care […]
Debate over restraints in schools was a missed opportunity to educate
Let’s talk about use of restraint. This means of control used against people with disabilities has long been a flashpoint […]
Protect disabled voters from those who would block their vote
Voting is a fundamental right for us as Minnesotans and as U.S. citizens. Many of us remember the first time […]
Taking steps back on inclusion in the workplace, community
People with disabilities have been shut out of meaningful employment for decades. It’s a frustration to spend one’s career at the […]
Summertime and the living is not so easy for those of us living with disabilities
Many of us who live with disabilities have a love/hate relationship with summer. Those whose disabilities are impacted by winter’s […]
Our catastrophic staffing shortage is the cloud hanging over everything
“Fix the system, not me.” Of all of the signs displayed at a recent rally, that is the one that […]
Guardianship fight shines a bright spotlight on system’s problems
Many of us who live with disabilities spend a lot of time looking over our shoulders. We may be living […]
Consider rights of the disabled before allowing assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is one of the most contentious issues for Minnesotans with disabilities and their loved ones. We’ve had many emotional […]
Support for more accessible housing options is badly needed
Living in one’s home community, and having good housing choices, is part of the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act […]
Look at ways Minnesota can reduce barriers to higher education
Barriers to higher education and meaningful employment are a sad fact of life for too many of us with disabilities. Some […]
The time is now to make changes to the Disability Waiver Rate System
The December 6 announcement of a record-breaking, $17.8 billion state surplus means the chase is on at the state capitol. When […]
Neurodiverse accommodations at events let everyone share the fun
A magical season is upon us, with great events available to choose from. Plays and stage presentations at this time […]
On top of so many challenges, a Medicare cut would be deeply felt
Those of us who need home care have faced incredible challenges in recent years. A workforce crisis has turned catastrophic. […]
When it comes to assistive technology, government must lead and not follow
When it comes to assistive technology, government should lead and not follow. That is not always the case. We tip […]
More than 170 facilities closed. Group homes were our answer to institutions; what happens to us now?
Are we forgetting the past? Minnesota long relied on a system of state institutions, referred to as state hospitals, to […]
Hey, Minnesota lawmakers, here’s a reminder from us: You had one job…
Let’s say you have a job. You have a deadline in which you must get the work done. You hear […]
Special education needs to be funded without cross-subsidies
Unfunded mandates are a longstanding sore point for educators. Higher units of government routinely adopt laws that call for services […]
Where are the young disability community voices?
As the 2022 Minnesota Legislature enters its final days, it’s tempting to think ahead to 2023 and what that session […]
Deaf community leaders working to revitalize Thompson Hall preservation
Deaf community leaders are rolling up their sleeves for the “Save Thompson Hall” effort. A $2.9 million effort to revitalize […]
Coverage of disability is focus of journalism ethics panel
by Paula Bach News coverage of issues centered on people with disabilities needs less focus on “pity stories” and more […]
