Freedom Bus, p 7
Volume 25, Number 9
St. Paul eyeing UberX, Lyft by Jane McClure
St. Paul may become the latest city to legalize a new transportation option, a network of companies including UberX and Lyft. Disability rights advocates will be watching the process closely, due to concerns about accessible vehicles. Mayor Chris Coleman announced the need for regulation during his 2015 city budget address. “New transportation options like UberX and Lyft, while offering an innovative service to our residents, are creating a whole new demand for oversight,” he said. Lyft, UberX and similar services have grown in popularly. The transportation network companies allow people to act as drivers for others. The drivers connect with passengers through smartphone apps. The service is seen as an alternative to using taxis or city buses. New transportation - p. 10
www.accesspress.org Christine Marble and Wendy DeVore
2014 Charlie Smith award winners are dedicated to helping others
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities. MN Permit No. 4766 Address Service Requested
by Access Press staff
A desire to help people with disabilities find meaningful work and activities is what motivates Christine Marble and Wendy DeVore. The two founders of St. Paul-based Career Ventures, Inc. are the 2014 winners of the Access Press Charlie Smith Award for outstanding service to the disability community. Marble and DeVore began a collaborative effort in conjunction with DeafBlind Services of Minnesota (MDBA) in September of 2013 to resurrect the monthly DeafBlind Club meetings. Christine Marble, center, wields the scissors as Wendy DeVore stands The meetings are a place behind her at a recent grand opening where deafblind Minnesotans Photo courtesy of Career Ventures have an opportunity to socialize, play games, and share information. The club’s tance to individuals with disabilities. They both success prompted Career Ventures to launch a have a passion for helping others to achieve similar gathering in May 2014 for individuals their goals and dreams, no matter what they who are blind or have low vision, called the may be and will help them overcome any barriClub House. ers that may arise, in order to do so. Career Ventures has also helped MDBA obTheir reward is the smiles and sparkle of the tain office space, helping the organization stay individuals they help, the renewed confidence in its longtime home. The two organizations and feeling of purpose they instill in another, benefit from sharing the space. and the resulting increase in moral from honest Marble and DeVore have improved the lives and effective production that can now be acof countless deaf, blind, deafblind, low vision complished. and hard of hearing Minnesotans. They work “We are very surprised and we’re extremely tirelessly and enthusiastically to inspire and honored,” Marble said. “Work is something improve community groups, businesses partwe’re very passionate about. Getting people out ners, and provide accommodations and assis2014 Charlie Smith award winners - p. 15
Home care providers vote to unionize by Access Press staff
September 10, 2014
made possible by a 2013 Minnesota law authorizing unionizaIt’s official. Home care providers, also known as personal tion votes for in-home care and day care workers. The election, care attendants or direct support providers, have voted to form held by mail, began August 1 and ended August 25. their own union. The election results were announced by the According to the Bureau of Mediation Services, about 60 perstate August 26. The vote allows the Service Employees Internacent of 5,800 voters approved unionization. tional Union (SEIU), which organized the election, to bargain But the vote doesn’t end the controversy over forming a with state officials for wages and benefits. union. Supporters contend it will provide higher wages and benThe union election was the largest in state history. It was efits for workers, which in turn will equal better care providers for people with disabilities and the elderly. The opponents of unionization noted that just 13 percent of eligible voters supported the union. They vowed to continue fighting against the unionization efforts. The new union will represent about 27,000 workers. In Minnesota there are nearly 110,000 homecare workers who provide services to clients in the community. Only those who treat Medicare enrollees were eligible to vote in the union election. SEIU has said it won’t require eligible members to join or pay fair share dues. Workers and people with disabilities celebrated at a press conference during the Minnesota State Fair. “When workers voted yes for their union, they were voting yes for a better life not only for themselves, but also for families like mine,” said Nikki Villavicencio, a home care recipient from Maplewood who attended the press conference with her husband and daughter. “The high turnover in this field, from the low pay and lack of Home care workers and their supporters celebrated the union vote, at a press con- benefits, causes turmoil for families. When we underference at the Minnesota State Fair. value the workers, we undervalue families like mine. Photo courtsey of SEIU Home care workers unionize - p. 14
“Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons.”
— Michael Shermer
NEWS DIGEST
Perseverance is a way of life for this award winner. Page 8
Stories of discrimination are preserved for posterity. Page 2
Learn about non-verbal learning disabilities. Page 4
Judge unhappy with lack of progress Page 6
St. David’s program offers school-year programming. Page 12
INSIDE Accessible Fun, pg 10 Events, pg 11 People & Places, pps 8-9 Radio Talking Book, pg 14