Radio Talking Book – December 2025
Season’s Greetings from Radio Talking Book As the days grow short and winter and the new calendar year are embraced, […]
December 2025
Advocating Change Together honors those who make a difference
Advocating Change Together (ACT): The Center for Disability Leadership hosted its annual Disability Justice Jamboree November 17-18, gathering disability community […]
MOHR members make nominations, give many kudos to employers
Employers who go the extra mile for workers with disabilities were honored this fall with the 2025 Outstanding Disability Employer […]
Class action filed against UCare over call readiness work
Just after UCare announced it was winding down operations, a civil lawsuit was filed against the company. The class and […]
Kay Willshire steps down from Access Press Board after many years’ service
Kay Willshire’s long, committed service to Access Press is recognized as she steps down from the news organization’s board. She […]
90 years ago, a little girl’s needs and her mother’s courage launched Fraser
In 1935, Louise Whitbeck Fraser founded a school to teach children with disabilities who would have otherwise been institutionalized. Fraser […]
Social Security increase set
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that Social Security benefits, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental […]
Sen. John Hoffman on the mend
Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) is out of the hospital after undergoing a nine-hour surgery for injuries he sustained in an […]
Accessible housing in project
The Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) this fall opened Oshki-Gakeyaa (Oh-sh- key-Gah-key-yah), meaning “New Way.” It is a 24-unit […]
Guilty pleas entered
Two leaders of Evergreen Recovery, an addiction treatment center, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after billing Medicaid for services that […]
Heating Assistance a worry
Applicants for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program have met delays due to the recent federal shutdown. Letters have […]
Disabled residents among those affected by Skyline fire
Skyline Tower, St. Paul’s largest low-income housing structure, is recovering from an October fire. The building is home to many […]
Olmstead office adds new staff, readies for state plan update
Minnesota’s Olmstead Implementation Office has announced staff changes as efforts are underway to update Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan. The plan is […]
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 […]
Pirates, Hawks kick their way to state adapted soccer titles
Minnesota’s prep adapted soccer champions were crowned November 15 at White Bear Lake Area High School. The Park Center Pirates […]
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 […]
Gerrits wins award
Longtime disability community leader Vicki Gerrits was honored this fall with the Minnesota Home Care Association (MHCA) William A. Dombi […]
Several appointees are named
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced the following appointments to state boards, commissions and committees. Tricia Brisbine, […]
NAMI Minnesota bestows many honors on its mental health heroes
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota celebrated outstanding advocates and organizations advancing mental health at its 2025 Awards […]
New federal rules are bringing ‘devastating cuts’ to housing programs
New federal rules issued in mid-November constitute the “most devastating housing cuts in modern U.S. history,” according to Minnesota organizations […]
Chronic mental health issues are cited with COVID-19, Long COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering effects have had a profound impact on public health. Mental health for those who […]
Long COVID and its impacts on chronic conditions are focus of study
Studies of Long COVID and ties to disabilities and chronic conditions continue to draw attention from the medical research community. […]
Australian study tracks ties between Long COVID, disabling conditions
When most people think of COVID now, they picture a short illness like a cold – a few days of […]
Accessible housing in project
The Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) this fall opened Oshki-Gakeyaa (Oh-sh-key-Gah-key-yah), meaning “New Way.” It is a 24-unit permanent […]
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. […]
Young married couple drew attention to need for specialized housing
Community living options for young people with disabilities were limited in the 1960s and 1970s, especially in Greater Minnesota. That […]
Take Note! for December 2025
Fetching Ball date change Can Do Canines reminds everyone that its annual Fetching Ball gala and fundraiser has been moved […]
Unintended consequences eyed with state’s Medicaid crackdown
With 14 Medicaid programs’ payments on pause and their billing scrutinized, many disability service providers are concerned that a fraud […]
Fraser Preschool and Childcare Center: Building Inclusion, One Generation at a Time
At Fraser Preschool and Childcare Center, childhood is embraced as a time of exploration, imagination, and connection — a stage […]
Significant financial losses lead to UCare’s end
It’s the end of an era as UCare winds down its operations. The longtime health care coverage provider announced November […]
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 […]
Dependable announces shutdown
Upcoming regulatory changes, increased operating costs and staffing challenges are forcing a St. Paul-based home health care company to wind […]
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 […]
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, […]
