New ASL feature offered at the Minnesota State Fair
Summer draws to an end in August, but not before 12 days of fun. This year’s Minnesota State Fair is […]
August 2025
A day that should have been happy and exciting
NAMI National and NAMI Minnesota, the national and state offices of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, are deeply saddened […]
They’re popping at the fair
Our Access Press Minnesota State Fair print edition hit the streets in early August. That means we have to work […]
Farewell to Upstream Arts
For 20 years, Upstream Arts has activated and amplified the voice and choice of individuals with disabilities. The organization is […]
Learn more about Together We Play, state council and more at the fair
Various Minnesota disability-focused organizations and groups will be at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. One place to find community members […]
Ulta settles lawsuit
The national cosmetic store chain Ulta has settled a lawsuit with the widower of a 29-year-old woman who died by […]
Accessibility Guest Services at the State Fair
A cherished end-of-summer tradition, the Great Minnesota Get-Together welcomes more than 1.9 million guests annually. A world-class showcase of agriculture, […]
Housing programs targeted
FBI agents have raided five Twin Cities businesses and two homes as part of an investigation into Medicaid housing assistance […]
Sober homes face dilemma
Some operators of sober housing in Saint Paul are facing a dilemma. To qualify for state funding, many must seek […]
Fraud alleged at autism centers
Dozens of autism treatment centers registered in Minnesota are now under investigation by the state amid a new crackdown to […]
Senator Hoffman gives update in first interview since shooting
Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) is on the mend from a June assassination attempt. He granted his first post-shooting interview July […]
Disability-focused camps are celebrating anniversaries
Two of Minnesota’s longest-tenured summer camps are celebrating anniversaries in 2025. What was founded as Camp Courage opened in 1955. […]
Treacherous tunnel to be rebuilt
As disability community members continue to sort through 2025 legislative actions, one measure to celebrate is called out. A bonding […]
Take a survey for DHS
Direct support professionals! The State of Minnesota wants to hear your voice. Minnesota is conducting a short, voluntary survey to […]
Unified Work grant awarded
MDI has received a $10,000 grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation to support its Unified Work program, which provides free, […]
McCrary retires after 38 years
Kelly McCrary, orientation and mobility instructor, has completed a remarkable career at Vision Loss Resources. McCray is stepping down this […]
Merrick’s Barker ends long career; Greenbaum takes helm
It’s a changing of the guard at Merrick, Inc., a Vadnais Heights-based disability services provider. Longtime leader John Wayne Barker […]
New food and beverages await at accessible fair dining venues
Many people who attend the Minnesota State Fair make a point of trying new foods or enjoying longtime favorites. For […]
Despite Medicaid cuts, we can still uphold disability inclusion’s promise
July marked the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the historic legislation prohibiting discrimination against people with […]
Investing in inclusion means we move forward together as a community
My brother-in-law Nathan lives on his own, has held many jobs, and is a valued member of his community. But […]
Family’s home was not just a place to live, but a place they built to live
Editor’s note: The Villavicencio-Paulsen family recently lost a legal fight to retain their Maplewood apartment, which included disability accommodations. The […]
Legislative win protects funding for Long COVID research and more
Despite recent threats from some state legislators, funding for Minnesota’s leading Long COVID program remains in place. The Minnesota Department […]
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 […]
Radio Talking Book – August 2025
Weigh in with survey Radio Talking Book staff want to hear from listeners. Please take a moment to provide feedback […]
Conference room is dedicated
The Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD) celebrated one of its own with the dedication of its fully accessible conference room […]
Take Note! and Consider Sponsorship
Access Press is listing fewer calendar items in print and encouraging more to be posted online. The change allows organizations […]
Want more regional news?
Access Press began publishing regional news years ago thanks to a Bremer Foundation grant. A wide variety of news items […]
Appointments are announced for several state groups
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan have made several recent appointments to boards, commission and committee involved with […]
More funding support
Six state legislators worked to secure more than $8.3 million in funding for Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services. The […]
Health care coverage is in question with federal and UCare cuts ahead
Many Minnesotans, including people with disabilities, are worried about whether they will have health care coverage in the future and […]
STAY COOL MN campaign is timely
I’m passing along some good information from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), just in time for our heat wave […]
