Board openings

Get Up Stand Up seeks members

Get Up Stand Up to Cure Paralysis Foundation is a Minnesota nonprofit organization in working to unite, educate and support those dealing with spinal cord injuries and to advocate for research and the restoration of function. The group is seeking new members for its board. Open board positions are for a Minnesota disability law professional, a treasurer/accountant and a secretary. Positions are volunteer and unpaid. Detailed information is available about each position, FFI:  kirk.ing[email protected] or [email protected], www.gusu2cure.org

Conferences

MOHR announces conference

MOHR plans an in-person conference Sept. 16-17 in Duluth. MOHR, the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation, is comprised of about 100 adult day, day training and habilitation, extended employment and supported employment service provider members serving in excess of 26,000 Minnesotans with disabilities. Cost is $160 and space is limited. Full program, hotel and registration information are available online. FFI: www.mohrmn.org

Children and families

PACER workshops sampling

PACER Center offers many useful free or low-cost workshops and other resources for families of children with any disabilities. Workshops are online and livestreamed at this time. Advance registration is required for all workshops. At least 48 hours’ notice is needed for interpretation. Check out PACER’s website and link to the newsletter of statewide workshops that allows participants to pick and choose sessions designed for their needs.

Planning for Transition: Promising Practices is 6:30-8 p.m. Tue, Aug. 17. The workshop will include viewing short videos demonstrating effective transition practices and a discussion of how to incorporate similar strategies when planning for a youth’s future.

Tech for Teens Club : LEGO Stop-Motion Videos is 10-11:30 a.m. Sat, Aug. 21. Using just a mobile phone and LEGO brand toys, learn how to create stop-motion style videos to share with family and friends. Learn the techniques to create smooth animation using the Stop Motion Studio app (iPhone & Android). Then create stories and bring characters to life.

Back to School 2021: A Conversation on How to Get Ready is noon-1 p.m. Wed, Aug. 25. An innovative new webinar guided by parents’ burning questions. When registering, parents should tell PACER about concerns for their child or youth with a disability returning to in-person instruction after the pandemic. FFI: PACER, 952-838-9000, 800-537-2237, www.pacer.org

Info & Assistance

Call the help desk

The Arc Minnesota Help Desk offers a direct link to information and assistance. Call and an Arc Minnesota staff member will answer. Callers can discuss a personal situation goals, options, and a way forward. If staff is unable to help with a situation directly, callers will be connected with a partner agency.
If no one can take a call, leave a message for a call back.

The help desk is presented as a way to be helpful and equitable. The public can still use the website’s Ask an Advocate form or use the Frequently Asked Questions to quickly find resources. FFI: 952-920-1480, www.arcminnesota.org

Centers for independent living statewide

Minnesota centers for independent living statewide have gone to more in-person operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically centers offer an array of classes, training programs and other services tied to independent living. Centers that proving PCA, homemaker and other staffing for clients continue to do that in person.. Check with a local center for open hours. FFI: www.macil.org

Vision loss group back in-person

Vision Loss Resources is starting to bring back some in-person activities in July at the Minneapolis office.  Some of these activities will be both available in-person, as well as remotely on Zoom. Anyone planning to attend an in-person activity must RSVP by calling the RSVP Hotline at 612-843-3439 or emailing [email protected]. RSVP two working days prior to the activity. Due to space limitations, all in-person classes will have a 10-participant maximum. A wait list will be kept after classes reach capacity so that people can be contacted if there are openings. At this time, masks are required to be worn at all in-person activities. Participants should bring beverages and snacks.

Vision Loss Resources has a new audio activities line. To listen to the audio version of the calendar, call 612-235-3654.

The calendar is also available on the website. Ask about support groups, events, distance learning and no-contact grocery shopping and reading support. FFI: 612-843-3439, 612-871-2222, [email protected]

Online mental health support

NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online peer support groups for adults and young adults living with a mental illness, their families, friends, spouses/partners, as well as parents of children and teens. Led by trained peer facilitators, the support groups help individuals and families learn coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences. The groups are specifically for those individuals suggested by the group’s title. For example, Family Support Group is only for family members and NAMI Connection is only for those who live with a mental illness and are over 18 years old, etc.
Three new groups are offered:

BIPOC Connections Support Group: A peer-led support group for people in BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) communities who live with mental illness. Meets 10-11:30 a.m. 2nd and 4th Sat.

Young Adult Family Support Group: A young adult peer-led support group for families and friends of a person living with a mental illness. Meets 5-6:30 p.m. the 4th Wed.

BIPOC Family Support Group: A peer led support group in BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) communities for families and friends of a person living with a mental illness. Meets 5-6:30 p.m. 1st and 3rd Sat.

Find a complete list of NAMI Minnesota support groups, meetings and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Support Groups”. FFI: https://namimn.org/support/nami-minnesota-support-groups/.

Classes offered online

NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has set up a wide variety of free online mental health classes. Choices include Hope for Recovery, Transitions, Ending the Silence, Understanding Early Episode Psychosis for Families, In Our Own Voice, Family to Family, Positive Psychology, Creating Caring Communities, a suicide prevention class called QPR – Question, Persuade and Refer, a special QPR class for Agricultural Communities and many more.

The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living with a mental illness, service providers, and also the general public. Find a complete listing of these classes and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Classes” or go straight to https://namimn.org/education-public-awareness/classes/scheduled/