www.accesspress.org History Note
Inside
“The freethinking of one age is the common sense of the next.”
■ Allies on the right?—p.3 ■ Feigal on depression—p.5 ■ Theater review—p.12
— Matthew Arnold (1822 - 1888) Page 2 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mpls. MN Permit No. 4766
Volume 19, Number 3
Minnesota’s Disability
Community Newspaper
March 10, 2008
Show and sell U of M art exhibit promotes artists with developmental disabilities by Bret Hesla, staff writer
T
ired of the drab walls at your place of employment? Turn it into an art gallery. That’s what folks did at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. They even went one step farther—they’re showing art created by people with developmental disabilities, the population they’re also working to empower in their academic pursuits. Nymeh, an artist from Partnership Resources, shows off some of his paintings. His work is part of a vibrant new exhibit in Pattee Hall on the U of M Minneapolis campus.
The four-month show at Pattee Hall was kicked off with a grand opening last month. Many of the artists were on hand to show—and talk about—their work. Considering the fabulous diversity of styles and powerful images, it quickly became clear to the visitor that these folks were not recipients of charity; the reality is just the opposite. They’re making the world a better, more beautiful place— In this spring’s exhibit, the fea- and making money at the same tured artists are all from Part- time. nership Resources, Inc. (PRI).
Each of the artists featured receives art instruction and studio space at one of PRI’s facilities around the metro area. But this art is not about therapy or staying occupied. It’s serious art—and serious business. As one artist, Kirk, puts it, “I don’t get paid to do the art work, but I get paid to sell the paintings.”
Artists not only sell their original work, but also get royalties from sales of prints and greeting cards. In fact, plans are already in the works for expanding to new markets, according to CEO Norm Munk. “We have cards in many retail stores. Corporate customers are also a big piece of it; lots of our business is holiday cards for corporations.”
This is art that gets out in the immediate community: coffee As our tour guide led us shops, medical facilities, U of throughout the hallways, artM buildings, and online. ists stood by their work, ready Show/sell - cont. on p. 8
Redefining American Checks coming, but... Are you eligible for the concepts of beauty ‘economic stimulus’ payment? Local writer Tiffiny Carlson on looks, love and dating by Sherry Gray
T
iffiny Carlson represents an old Minnesota stereotype: blond, tall, and athletic. She has all the beauty components to attract interest from modeling agencies and TV producers, except one: she uses a wheelchair. Because of that, she represents another stereotype: woman with a disability. But Carlson is out to change stereotypes about Minnesotans, standards of beauty, and people with disabilities. She has emerged as a fresh voice for a new generation of Americans who are determined to confront mainstream society’s outmoded images of persons with disabilities and assert a more nuanced and complex view. I met Carlson at a Minneapolis coffee shop on a cold, sunny afternoon in early February. My first impression was a blur of yellow—a bright sweater and shining hair moving fast to the ramp entrance of the
coffee shop. Up close she radiated energy and passion, with the energy of a prolific writer who told me she had, “hundreds of ideas for things to write about,” and the passion of a woman out to change the world. “People with disabiliTiffiny Carlson ties are the last minority; we have a long way to go to being Augsburg College. There she treated equally.” started writing online about her disability, and her work Carlson, 28, is a successful attracted attention from Half freelance writer living in Min- theplanet.com, which asked neapolis, known around the her to write for their Web site. world for her writing on a va- Before she graduated from riety of topics, including ar- Augsburg in 2001, her career ticles for children, a blog on as a freelance writer had albeauty tips, a column about ready begun. Since then she dating, essays about consumer has supported herself with her products and travel accessi- writing, contributing articles bility, and profiles of individu- and columns to New Mobility als living with spinal cord in- and Kids on Wheels magajuries. zines, for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and Carlson herself lives with spi- to many internet sites, includnal cord injury (SCI), the re- ing Lovebyrd.com, Access sult of a diving accident in Life.com, Ican.com, Dis 1993. She graduated from abled.gr and Disaboom.com. White Bear Lake High School in 1997 and went on to major BeautyAbility.com is Carlin communication studies at Beauty - cont. on p. 9
by the Work Incentives Connection
I
n a few weeks, Congress will be sending people money as a way to help jump start the dead economy. But will you be getting a check?
ayment Stimulus P
Approximately 130 million individuals will be receiving a federal economic stimulus payment, starting in May. There is a lot of conflicting information about who is eligible for these payments, which will range from $300 to $1,200 (or more for those with children). The IRS recently clarified that people receiving Social Security Retirement and Disability Insurance benefits, as well as people receiving some forms of veteran’s assistance, may be eligible for a stimulus payment.
from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2007 can also be considered qualifying income. Note, however, that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not qualify as income for this payment.
Even individuals who have no tax liability may qualify for a $300 rebate if their tax return shows $3,000 or more in qualifying income. This income can include wages, self-employment income, and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Veteran’s disability compensation, pensions or survivor’s benefits received
To receive the stimulus payment, you must file a 2007 tax return, even if you would not otherwise need to file one. The IRS has posted more information on their Web site. Go to www.irs.gov and click on “Rebate Questions.” The IRS Web site also has a sample version Receiving an economic stimuof IRS Form 1040A, showing lus payment will not trigger a the specific section of the form Stimulus - cont. on p. 2
you need to fill out to qualify for the stimulus payment. Your 2007 benefits can be reported on Line 14a of Form 1040A or line 20a of Form 1040. People who would not otherwise be required to file should write the words “Stimulus Payment” at the top of their tax form. Filers in this group must file a paper copy of Form 1040 or Form 1040A. The IRS will not accept these forms electronically.