December 2024 Edition - Access Press

Volume 35, Number 12

December 2024

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Drive-through restrictions curbed

Statistics are eyed Page 4 NAMI Minnesota awards Page 7

It will be a House divided during the upcoming session As Minnesota disability advocates and their organizations eye the start of the 2025 legislative session, there is much discussion about the dynamics expected at the capitol.

Work on legislative agendas continues for many groups. The first legislative update sessions and rally days are starting to appear on the calendar.

Gov. Tim Walz is back in action after his vice presidential run with Kamala Harris.

Walz returns to a changed capitol, with the end of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) trifecta of control of the governor’s office, House and Senate.

For the first time since 1979, the House

Health leaders honored Page 9 State soccer champs Page 6

is evenly split at 67 DFL members and 67 Republican leaders. Two recounts were set after Access Press deadline.

With no clear majority for either party, talks in November focused on sharing of power.

House Public Information Service reported that DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Republican Minority Leader Lisa Demuth plan to have a DFLer and Republican co-chair all committees.

Hortman has been designated as House speaker if the DFL prevails in the recounts; DeMuth would do the same if Republicans have a slim majority.

SESSION To page 5

State academies must improve financial oversight

By Jane McClure Improved financial oversight, adherence to state policies and more internal controls are needed at the Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and Blind, according to a detailed review by the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). A 46-page report released in November makes a dozen findings and detailed recommendations for changes at the residential academies in Faribault. It also highlights large, unspent fund balances.

The state academies filed a response to let state officials know that compliance is underway. Changes have already been implemented in several processes.

“The Minnesota State Academies are committed to strengthening our internal controls and improving our documentation system to ensure we are working in accordance with state policy and the best interest of the State of Minnesota,” Minnesota State Academies (MSA) Superintendent Terry Wilding wrote in response to the audit.

Wilding indicated that on the issues cited, MSA has made or is making procedural changes to be in compliance.

FILE PHOTO

RESTRICTIONS To page 3

Gillette celebrates Page 3

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People with disabilities who rely on St. Paul drive-through services have more time to weigh in. Action on a set of major restrictions was tabled until September 23, 2025. That is meant to give city leaders more time to look at St. Paul’s commercial areas as a whole.

The St. Paul City Council voted 6-1 November 13 to postpone action on a study of drive-through services pending completion of a more comprehensive commercial corridors zoning study.

The St. Paul Planning Commission recommends that new fast-food and coffee shop drive-throughs be banned, and that new banking and pharmacy drive-throughs be allowed in specific areas of the city. Existing drivethrough of all types could remain but if a business closed for a time, it could be difficult if not impossible to restore the drive-through service.

The study has drawn frustration from some disability rights activists as they have felt their voices weren’t listened to. Many other cities in Minnesota and around the country have banned or greatly restricted drive-through, meaning disabled people have fewer options for food and other services.

“I don’t feel (this ordinance) represents every citizen in St. Paul,” said Anna Hoover. She said the viewpoints of people with disabilities need to be heard. “Please think about people with disabilities. There’s more to this than people may think.”

Hoover agrees that drive-throughs can pose risks for pedestrians as motorists enter and exit a business. But she lives near Grand Avenue and has seen the same safety hazards with other types of driveways, adding that there need to be other ways to address safety.

More than half a dozen people appeared before the council, and several letters were also received. A letter was read from Courtney Henry, whose family has owned McDonald’s restaurants in St. Paul since the 1980s. The Henrys now own seven McDonald’s restaurants.

Henry said that the Planning Commission proposal needs to be amended, to allow existing drivethrough services to be renovated for technology, environmental and safety reasons.

Hospitality Minnesota, the Minnesota Retailers Association, banks and the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce oppose the regulations.

The council received a few emails from residents seeking a total drivethrough ban.

Supporters and foes made a number of recommendations which the

NEWS DIGEST

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault.

The audit covered July 2021 through December 2023. It was conducted to determine areas where the state academies had adequate financial control, complied with legal requirements and had resolved prior audit findings.

One issue throughout the OLA report is that various financial procedures need improved monitoring and compliance with state policies.

Another red flag is that while MSA enrollment has dropped, fund balances for general operations and special funds grew by more than 700 percent.

Enrollment at both academies has

declined between 2018-2019 and 2023-2024.

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) enrollment was 108 six years ago and was at 85 pupils for the past academic year.

The Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB) enrollment has dropped during that same period, from 51 to 45.

MSA receives a general fund appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature for operations.

MSA received annual appropriations of approximately $14 million for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, and $18 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, according to the report.

OVERSIGHT To page 3

TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT NO. 4766

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DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 2

EDITORIAL

Group home resident relocation challenges deserve a look When Minnesota began closing its large state institutions years ago, community residential settings were touted as being part of the solution. People with disabilities who couldn’t live on their own or live with family members could make their homes in smaller community settings. In this mode of housing residents would receive the level of care needed.

Most of us know community residential settings as group homes. Group homes have long been seen as a way to integrate disabled people into their home communities. And for many years it worked for the most part.

That seems to be changing and not for the better. The Minnesota Legislature had to act earlier this year to protect small group homes with six or fewer residents after New Hope city officials used a local ordinance to shut down two facilities. Those closings happened in 2022 and forced almost a dozen people to scramble for new places to live. New Hope may be the most prominent example but no doubt this has happened in other communities.

Small-minded local officials create only one challenge. The ongoing dilemma of low wages creates more problems. Wellmeaning yet onerous regulations with lots of paperwork can overwhelm smaller providers. Too many have given up rather than spend so much time filling out forms.

Between fall 2021 and summer 2022 alone, statistics from the statewide residential association ARRM indicated that more than 170 group homes across Minnesota closed.

That represented more than 4 percent of the state’s facilities.

Rising costs of daily living supplies, housing and complexity of care are factors, as are state-level changes that impact the growth of licensed adult and child corporate foster care and CRS settings. That complicates the matter of having places to live.

In many cases, 60 days is just not enough time. Group homes have closed throughout Minnesota due to staffing and financial issues. Places that were available even a few years ago gone now. Family members have had to pitch in to help keep the doors open at other homes.

Added to the complications is that increasingly, people with disabilities who live in group homes are facing termination of services, according to the Minnesota Disability Law Center. These residents typically get up to 60 days to find new living arrangements.

In many cases, 60 days is just not enough time. Group homes have closed throughout Minnesota due to staffing and financial issues. Places that were available even a few years ago are gone now. Family members of residents have had to pitch in to help keep the doors open at other homes.

Losing a place in a group home can create a huge, life-changing crisis for the person asked to leave.

It’s understandable that not every group

home is a good fit for every single resident.

Personalities all too easily get involved in living situations. Daily living needs are another.

It’s also understandable that a forced relocation is incredibly stressful for the person being displaced and for their family members.

It can mean loss of a familiar community, and challenges in continuing to work, play and participate in that community.

In some cases, people wind up in to group homes that cannot meet their needs.

In worse-case scenarios people can end up in homeless shelters, in temporary living situations or in emergency rooms.

A 2025 legislative proposal under consideration by the Minnesota Disability Law Center/Legal Services Advocacy Project would provide group home residents with

protections similar to other facilities that face involuntary discharge. The proposal would require group home providers, in coordination with the county agency and waiver case manager, to identify a safe discharge location for the group home resident before an involuntary service termination can proceed.

When Minnesota nursing homes and assisted living facilities involuntarily discharge someone, the entities must identify a safe discharge location under the Coordinated Moves statute. Having that discharge location typically does ensure the health and safety of residents as well as continuity of care.

Proposed legislation would provide the same protections for group home residents. It would include an appeal process like the one that nursing home and assisted living residents have, through what is called a temporary stay of demission. Appeals would go to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Right now a group home service provider can suspend services, evicting a resident with no right of appeal and no place to go.

The Disability Law Center is meeting with stakeholders and state lawmakers to see what support there is for the proposal.

The Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM) opposes the proposal as it written, citing serious concerns due to the potential for unintended consequences. Law center and ARRM representatives have met and we hope they keep meeting to work together toward a solution that works for everyone.

We understand that group home staff and management capacity issues are likely to be raised and we appreciate those issues. But while resident relocation is a complicated, multi-faceted issue, changes in relocation process do merit scrutiny and possible change. Stay tuned.

HISTORY NOTE

Little Christmas Seals have made a big difference in fighting lung diseases Many people exchange greeting cards at this time of year, to mark Christmas and other December holidays. Sticking a stamp on an envelope gets the card to its mailed destination.

Other stamps placed on mailings at this time of year have a long history of helping people with disabilities.

Christmas Seals have been around since 1907 and are a longtime project for the American Lung Association. A history presented by the association tells readers how Christmas Seals began.

But before delving into that history, it’s striking to look at newspapers from 1907 and see how dire the situation was. Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit. While it is preventable and curable today, tuberculosis was a major early 20th century focus for health care professionals, lawmakers and community groups.

Newspaper stories deplored places that had poor air circulations and were filthy.

One 1924 Star Tribune story detailed how the sweeping of floors in Minneapolis Public Schools was poorly done.

In the early 20th century, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States.

Physicians were experiencing the first signs of success treating tuberculosis in special hospitals called sanitoriums, according to the American Lung Association. One of those facilities had fallen on tough times. The tiny Delaware sanitorium would have to close its doors if $300 could not be raised to save it.

One of its doctors explained the plight to his cousin, a volunteer named Emily Perkins Bissell. Bissell was a veteran fundraiser, and she soon came up with a plan based on one that had worked in Denmark. She would design and print special holiday seals and sell them at the post office for a penny each.

By the end of her holiday campaign (and

after an endorsement by President Theodore Roosevelt), she and a large group of committed volunteers had raised ten times the goal, and Christmas Seals were born.

A new holiday image is chosen each year.

The seals’ tradition continued and grew year after year through World War I, the Great Depression and World War II. As the American Lung Association's mission expanded to include research into other respiratory diseases, more people began to send Christmas Seals. The name Christmas Seals was quickly trademarked and the seals became a tradition for many.

Over time the association broadened its focus to cover an array of lung health issues.

The American Lung Association stepped up to protect children and families from pollution and cigarette smoke in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It is currently doing key research on lung cancer, COVID-19 and asthma. And the colorful little seals support

that mission.

And who was Emily Perkins Bissell? She was a prominent social services activist in Delaware, founding Wilmington’s first public kindergarten. She was active in issues including child labor and women’s suffrage.

A hospital in Delaware, which became a longterm care facility, was named in her honor.

The facility closed almost a decade ago.

After the Christmas Seals launch in 1907, Bissell spent the rest of her life promoting Christmas seals and fighting tuberculosis, with the help of other groups. In 1980, the U.S. Postal Service honored Bissell with her very own postage stamp.

The History Note is a monthly column produced in cooperation with the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. Past History Notes and other disability history may be found at www.mnddc.org

EDITORIAL: Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed.

We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Editorial material and advertising do not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/publisher of Access Press.

DEADLINE: 15th of each month.

Website: accesspress.org email: access@accesspress.org phone: 651-644-2133 Editor............................................................................................................................................................................................. Jane McClure Board of Directors...........................................................................................Tim S. Benjamin, Catherine Hunter, Jane Larson (Chair), .................................................................................................Brandon Miller, Lynda Milne, Manley Olson, John Tschida, Kay Willshire Business Operations and Advertising Manager.........................................................................................................Mary Graba Advertising Sales................................................................................................................................................................Rhett Lundgren Production........................................................................................................................................................................................ In-Fin Tuan Digital Production....................................................................................................................................................................Scott Stadum Co-Founder/Publisher Wm. A. Smith, Jr. (1990-96) Co-Founder/Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief Charles F. Smith (1990-2001) Editor-in-Chief/Executive Director Tim Benjamin (2001-2020)

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DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 3

Gillette Children’s supporters, employees and community members celebrated the expansion of its specialty center on November 18. The fifth-floor center, which is for patients who have complex medical conditions, features state-of-the-art outpatient exam and treatment rooms and services; rooms and support space to enhance and advance patient-facing research initiatives; expanded psychology and psychotherapy treatment areas; recreational therapy and play therapy rooms; and space for Gillette employees to collaborate and innovate.

The $7 million project drew praise from those who attended the celebration.

The center is located in St. Paul. It has many features designed for patients with disabilities.

Exam and treatment rooms are designed around the needs of patients with exam tables that are adjustable, ceiling lifts that allow for safe and comfortable movement, and large screens to review scans and x-rays.

Wall lighting serves an important purpose as sensory lighting. Colors can be changed, and the light can be dimmed to help make patients feel more comfortable during appointments.

Furniture and fixtures were selected with accessibility in mind.

Patient restrooms have adult changing tables. The adjustable changing table and accessible features make it easier for caregivers to more comfortably assist patients.

The newly opened space includes dedicated research rooms in the renovated space

RESTRICTIONS From page 1

Planning Commission and council could take up later.

Three district councils, which are set up to advise St. Paul city government, weighed in with various recommendations.

Following the public hearing, Ward Two Council Member Rebecca Noecker tabled the Planning Commission recommendations with support from Anika Bowie, Cheniqua Johnson, Saura Jost, HwaJeong Kim and Nelsie Yang. Council President Mitra Jalali cast the lone dissenting vote.

OVERSIGHT From page 1

Revenues brought in from third-party billings, tuition, orientation and mobility services and seminars can be used by MSA operations by law.

State law also allows MSA to carry balances that are appropriated for special purposes.

But the report noted that MSA hasn’t spent all of this dedicated revenue and as a result has carried balances in its accounts dating back to FY 2012. Since then, the balances have increased more than 700 percent. As of July 1, 2024, MSA had a combined balance of $3,737,000 in four accounts.

The report notes that MSA hasn’t developed policies and procedures or documented a plan regarding when to use this dedicated funding or how much dedicated funding to use per fiscal year. MSA told OLA staff it followed direction from the previous finance director regarding how much of the dedicated funds can be spent each fiscal year.

As of July 2024, MSA leaders had not made any decisions for how to spend down the balances. MSA staff indicated they were aware of the large balances and have discussed how to better manage these appropriations.

Another finding is that MSA overreported its expenditures to the Minnesota Department of Education, and was thus overpaid during the audit period by a total of $31,157. The overpayments were for management aide expenditures. The recommendation is for reimbursement to the Department of Education, and to make internal process changes. That is to be completed by January 2025.

Oversight for academies’ foundations is another concern raised, as is adherence to state policies on payroll purchasing. Financial and legal activities of affiliated academy foundations weren’t monitored, despite a prior audit calling for such action to be taken.

The OLA recommends that MSA monitor financial and legal activities of its affiliated foundations, as required by its contracts, and strengthen internal monitoring controls.

Leadership responded that it didn’t monitor the foundations because they are a separate legal entity. Leaders were unsure of their authority to review the foundations’ financial

GILLETTE CHILDREN'S

Gillette Children's celebrates $7 million expansion of its complex conditions center

Gillette patient Emilee Lund was commissioned to paint two pictures for the expanded specialty center.

Sensory lighting throughout the center can make patients feel more comfortable.

including various research laboratories.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum helped secure $1.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to support the research investigative lab in the Specialty Center. The investigative lab funded by these federal dollars will be used

to conduct research related to assessment of motor control, movement disorders, spasticity, and pain. It includes a rehabilitation research and clinical care space needed to advance the development of biofeedback, robotics and exoskeleton development.

Gillette Children’s is in St. Paul, near the state capitol complex. It was founded in 1897 and has served children who have disabilities and complicated medical conditions since then.

Noecker said that while she agrees with the proposed restrictions’ goals of pedestrian safety and reducing motor vehicle emissions, the pending commercial corridors study and conditions business face today must be considered. “This is a really hard time, especially for our small businesses,” she said, adding that the city should make it easier for businesses to invest in their properties, “rather than doing the reverse.”

While the recommendations make sense, it’s the “wrong time” to act on them, said Noecker. The proposed regulations should be looked in a broader context instead.

A majority of council members agreed, saying they’ve been hearing from business

owners and other constituents who oppose the proposed restrictions.

“How pertinent is this to our city right now? I’m not sure,” said Johnson. Her Seventh Ward borders suburbs and their business districts, another concern is that customers could all too easily drive to Woodbury, Oakdale or Maplewood to patronize drivethrough restaurants in those communities.

Yang has spoken with teenage restaurant workers who’ve dealt with people overdosing on drugs in the restrooms. Some restaurants have gone to drive-through and walkup services only for safety reasons.

Yang, who has two small children, and Bowie also spoke for parents who find it

easier to use drive-through services than to get youngsters out of their car seats and into buildings.

Jalali said she wanted to act on the Planning Commission study and recommendations in a timely manner, questioning if information would become outdated. Her Fourth Ward has been affected by two drive-throughs that sparked controversy, at Taco bell on North Snelling and the infamous Starbucks at Snelling and Marshall avenues bordering Ward Four. The Starbucks drive-through has been closed after causing many traffic tie-ups.

reports. But state officials pointed out that between the academies and the foundations explicitly require each foundation to submit their financial reports to academies’ leadership.

Several problems were found that could have been resolved with proper monitoring.

The MSAD Foundation was inactive between 2020 and 2023 because foundation board members moved out-of-state. The foundation wasn’t actively raising or disbursing funds, and had $45,000 that wasn’t reported to academies’ leadership or used. Replacement board members weren’t found right away and state reports weren’t filed. The MSAD Foundation was reestablished with a new board in 2023 but as of July 2024 it didn’t have a new contract with MSA. The MSAB Foundation submitted annual financial reports to the Attorney General as required by state law, but didn’t file as a nonprofit corporation with the Secretary of State. The MSAB Foundation was required to renew its filing in December 2020; however, it did not renew until the OLA staff inquired about its filing status in May 2024.

“By not monitoring the financial and legal activity of the foundations, (MSA) faces a higher risk of the foundations misusing funds intended for the academies, not acting in the best interest of the academies, or not filing required reports with the state. The issues enumerated above could prevent the foundations from legally soliciting money and could have a potentially negative impact on the reputation of the academies,” the report stated.

Wilding responded that each academy will be assigned to a liaison role with its foundation.

But he also pointed out that MSAB’s foundation is weighing its future and may cease operations.

Here’s a look at other issues called out: *The academies’ site councils didn’t meet in according with bylaws, which call for monthly meetings. When councils don’t meet, the audit stated that “the board makes decisions without the input of those who have a vested interest in the school or the relevant experience to guide those decisions.”

It is recommended that site councils meet in accordance with their bylaws and that the academies’ governing board makes sure that happens. MSA’s response is that the councils are meeting regularly again, and in compliance with their bylaws. *MSA didn’t process payroll in accordance

with state policy, the audit found. Several issues with employee timesheets, including how they were completed and filed, were called out. Recommendations are to process payroll documents in accordance with state policy and strengthen internal controls. *MSA needs to follow state policy on goods and services purchases. Goods and services weren’t always purchased in accordance with state policy, which calls for written approvals and retention of price quotes or bids.

Four purchases were called for noncompliance, totaling $53,194. The largest purchase was for a new vehicle for transporting students. “By not following its own procedure to obtain supervisor approval on a purchase order form, MSA is at higher risk of purchasing goods or services that are unnecessary or do not comply with state policy.” *Two recommendations center on the superintendent’s travels. Auditors found three trips in which the superintendent approved his own travel. State policy requires advance written approval for out-of-state travel. It is recommended that someone other than the superintendent to approve his travel.

The related funding and recommendations center on a lack of compliance with state policy when paying for the superintendent’s travel expenses, and on how personal travel is separated from work travel if a trip involves

both. The recommendations including following state policies and having better internal controls. *Asset management was also called out for improvements. There is a need to comply with state policy and keep accurate records of MSA’s physical inventory.

Several other recommendations are tied to financial issues and need to follow state policies, including a need for proper management of imprest or small incidental or routine expense accounts; proper documentation of timely deposit of receipts; needed approval from Minnesota Management and Budget prior to accepting donations, and proper documentation of submitted medical claims and reimbursements from the Department of Human Services.

MSA provides education and other services to students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing, including those with multiple disabilities. It serves students ranging from infants participating in early childhood services to students who are 21 years old and working to meet graduation requirements. All students are on Individual Education Programs. About 40 percent of enrolled students live on campus in dormitories, requiring supervision and services 24 hours a day.

A version of this story appeared in MyVillager, a St. Paul community newspaper.

HANDI MEDICAL SUPPLY

T

MANKATO

DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 4

FROM OUR COMMUNITY

Minnesota and disability – a look by the numbers

By Jane Larson How diverse is Minnesota? The Star Tribune recently asked that question in an article, so here’s a look.

The article, and the graphics, showed diversity by race and ethnicity. My good friend who is Syrian American speaks to these categories because she does not know where she fits in. She is white but she is not European.

She is different in many aspects. As a young girl, she completed a survey by stating she was Asian. After all, Syria is located in Asia.

I have been thinking about statistics as the board and staff at Access Press work on grants to help us bring you news about Minnesotans with disabilities. When I search for answers, my colleagues often quote statistics that differ from what I find.

This is because the numbers differ wildly, depending on the source of information.

Numbers make a difference in the grant world. Recently, I updated my biography on the Access Press website, https://accesspress. org/about/staff-board/, where I mentioned that people with disabilities represent Minnesota’s largest minority group. The feedback was swift, with comments that we don’t want to be considered a minority.

My problem is that the numbers are needed when seeking funding and advocating for representation. I spent a career advocating for inclusion of disability in diversity plans.

The numbers become important to the story. Without them, I only have anecdotal information and perceptions based on my own world view.

Statistics vary because of a number of reasons, primarily by the age of the data and the questions asked to obtain the data. Looking for data specific to Minnesota, I searched state websites. Minnesota Compass, a project of Wilder Research, reports the most recent data on the disability community in Minnesota.

As of 2023, 659,000 Minnesotans, or about 12 percent of the state’s population, have at least one disability. The share of Minnesotans with a disability tends to increase among older age groups, from less than 1 percent of preschool children to 64 percent of older adults over

age 85. 24.3 percent of Minnesotans with a disability live below poverty, more than double the statewide poverty rate.

Not everyone agrees. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, tracks data by state. Their website states that 1,095,390 Minnesotans over the age of 18 have a disability, or 25 percent of the population over age 18. I looked at these two sources but am aware that there are many discrepancies depending on the source.

I don’t remember ever being asked about disability status. Disability is not asked in the U.S Census, on college applications or employment applications. To get a better idea of where this comes from, I asked Susan Brower, State of Minnesota Demographer and got a thorough explanation of where they obtained this information.

The disability data used most often comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is the largest government survey used to collect information on disability, which allows us to look at state-level numbers, counties, cities and more. It also gives us demographic and economic characteristics of people with disabilities.

There are many other sources of data on disability as well. The source you choose to use will just depend on your needs. Other surveys measure different dimensions of disability, some in more depth, but none has the sample size of the ACS. The ACS is conducted continuously on a rolling basis, so the data is more recent than the census data.

The ACS is a rolling survey of approximately 3.5 million households that are representative of the population. The information is based on a sample of the 128+ million households in the United States. The most recent data available is from 2023.

The data is based on functional status.

ACS asks about sensory, physical, mental, self-care, go-outside from home and employment disabilities.

Asking the question by functionality makes sense, except there are many people who would not answer yes to any of these questions. The

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, in addition to people who may face discrimination because of health history or treatment as a person with a disability. The six questions may result in an undercount because they do not include many life functions.

Brower informed me that the federal Office of Management and Budget recently issued new requirements for collecting data on race and ethnicity, and among other changes the addition of a Middle Eastern North African (MENA) category will now be used. The new requirements also ensure that more detailed race data will be collected by default, so my friend would also be able to write in “Syrian” in many instances. It will take a while to roll out (years!) but it will eventually be used by state programs as well.

The disability questions were last changed in 2008. We can do better and I would like to see these changed to better reflect our community. I recommend asking if a respondent has a disability affecting a major life function, followed by a more complete list that includes an ‘other’ category to be written in. For example, the current form asks about hearing but does not ask about speech.

I spent a career working with college students and employers on accommodations. These six categories do not cover what I saw. One of the accommodations I used was flexible and/or reduced load for people living with fatigue or pain. I could think of many more examples. My job involved listening skills and creativity.

Personally, I do not volunteer information, only if there is a ‘need to know’ or when I feel safe sharing. I don’t want to face discrimination or assumptions of my capabilities. It is different when you have an unseen disability, such as my vision. I guess you all know now. I also have a chronic illness that saps my energy. I can manage volunteer work because it is flexible. There is no way I could work full-time.

Jane Larson serves as President of the Access Press Board of Directors. You can contact her at jlarson@accesspress.org or at 651-644-2133.

American Community Survey questions The data is based on functional status. ACS asks about sensory, physical, mental, selfcare, go-outside from home, and employment disabilities.

The questions are: 1. “Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?” (hearing) 2. “Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses?” (vision) 3. “Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?” (cognition) 4. “Do you have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?” (mobility) 5. “Do you have difficulty dressing or bathing?” (self-care) 6. “Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?” (independent living)

DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 5

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has secured a $19.1 million grant from the federal government to improve employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, injuries or illnesses.

The U.S. Department of Education grant will help fund two DEED programs: Evolve Employment, supporting Minnesotans who recently experienced vision loss; and MN RETAIN, to help workers stay at work or return to work as soon as medically possible after an injury or illness.

"DEED's mission is to empower the growth Minnesota's economy for everyone.

That means every Minnesotan deserves an opportunity to be included in the workforce," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek.

"We're grateful for our federal partners who are helping us support all Minnesotans, especially during October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

This is good news not only for our workers and their families, but also for employers looking to hire." $9.1 Million is for Evolve Employment.

Evolve Employment, housed at DEED's State Services for the Blind (SSB), is a fiveyear initiative to tackle unemployment and under-employment of blind, low vision and deafblind Minnesotans who recently experienced vision loss, have been unemployed for an extended period of time or are new Americans.

With the grant funding, the program will deliver specialized career services to

ISTOCK

Improved employment opportunities, disabled clients, are new grant's focus

both individuals and businesses; support businesses in the customer service and technology sectors to provide retention services and foster career development opportunities; and offer enhanced progressive employment, assistive technology, benefits counseling and sector partnerships to meet the needs of the long-term unemployed and new American job seekers.

"The fact is that unemployment and under-employment rates for the people

we serve have been way too high for far too long," said SSB Director Natasha Jerde.

"This is a bold new initiative to rally our resources and improve employment outcomes for blind, low vision and deafblind Minnesotans." The program expects to serve at least 800 individuals and 500 businesses over the next five years. $10 Million is for MN RETAIN. MN RETAIN (Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network), a federally-

funded program administered by DEED, serves people with new disabilities as they work to find and maintain employment.

The program will use the grant to offer services related to early intervention to provide support to individuals within the first two months of disability onset; comprehensive services that offer wraparound support, accommodations and modifications for people with disabilities in the workforce, and a partnership with Mayo Clinic, leveraging the clinic's Returnto-Work case managers and the state's workforce development system to help more Minnesotans newly diagnosed with disabilities to access or maintain good jobs.

"Helping people with new disabilities get back to work is critical for workers and families. Through MN RETAIN, we're helping provide peace of mind and financial independence to people during a particularly challenging period of their lives," said Ama Akakpo, Director of Employment and Training Programs. "This funding gives us the opportunity to combine the historic expansion of the state Dislocated Worker Program provisions with RETAIN program resources to provide sustainable employment services to people with disabilities across the state."

MN RETAIN plans to assist at least 1,000 individuals who require support to remain in the workforce.

SESSION If the recounts results in a tie, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon would serve as House speaker. The last time that happened was also in 1979, Joan Growe was Secretary of State. She presided over a few sessions before the two parties reach an agreement that gave Republicans the speakers post and DFLers control of three committees - Appropriations, Rules and Taxes.

In the Senate, DFLers hold a one-vote majority, 34-33.

The dynamics will affect the upcoming session as state lawmakers hammer out the biennial budget, working against a deadline of July 1, 2025. If a budget agreement cannot be reached, Minnesotans risk a state shutdown.

The last such shutdown was in 2011.

With all of that at play, it’s going to be a very different time at the capitol, with what the Minnesota Council on Disability calls “significant implications for disability policy” in the upcoming session.

In its latest look at the session, state council leadership indicated that the close margins close margins in both chambers mean individual legislators will have significant influence over legislation. As for the impact in disability policy, “the necessity for bipartisan cooperation in 2025 aligns well with disability policy’s historical record of cross-party support.

Disability-related legislation typically attracts both DFL and GOP authors and supporters, positioning these initiatives favorably in an environment requiring broad consensus.”

Many legislative agendas are still in process, including the work of the Minnesoits Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD). As November ended the consortium was still in the process of reviewing and ranking proposals.

FILE PHOTO

From page 1

Rally days are already filling the 2025 calendar.

Advocaat groups are scheduling events, so check on group’ social media or websites to see when specific issues will be addressed.

The MCD’s 2025 Legislative Forum is noon-6 p.m. Monday, January 27. Attend in person at the Minnesota Department of Revenue Building, 600 N. Robert St., St.

245D Bill of Rights workbooks available for people receiving waiver services Minnesota's Olmstead Plan was developed to ensure that people with disabilities are living, learning, working, and enjoying life in the most integrated setting. Prevention of abuse and neglect is one of the topics included in the comprehensive Olmstead Plan. Prevention begins with educating people with disabilities, their families, mandated reporters and the general public about how to identify and report abuse. Abuse can be prevented by showing respect and dignity to everyone.

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (MNCDD) produced a package of resources around the Bill of Rights for Individuals Receiving Waver Services: 245D Easy Read Guide The Guide is a simplified version of the Minnesota Statute 245D (Sec. 245D.04 MN

Statues). The rights are presented in plain English with images that help to explain each of the rights.

245D Know Your Rights Workbook The 245D Know Your Rights Workbook explains what each right is about and includes lessons to aid in understanding.

Situational Videos In Sept 2023, The MNCDD, co-created, with people with disabilities, a series of skits illustrating the Bill of Rights for Individuals Receiving Waiver Services.

Some of these rights are similar to those described in the Supervised Living Facilities Bill of Rights Training – Minnesota Dept of Health.

Find the handbook links and watch a related video at https://mn.gov/mnddc/

Paul, or virtually via Zoom. The forum is an opportunity for the disability community to share lived experiences directly with legislators and help develop collaborative solutions. More details will be available soon at https://www. disability.state.mn.us/ A large consortium of providers will host

Disability Services Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

MNCCD and its members are planning the 2025 Disability Advocacy Day for March 25.

MNCCD also in the past has hosted Tuesdays or Wednesdays at the Capitol. No schedule has been announced.

DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 6

State adapted soccer titles won by Dakota United, Minneapolis South

Minneapolis South players congratulate each other.

For South Washington County, junior Brett Wedan struck for three goals. Juniors Jordan Nde and Logan Curtis added one goal and one assist apiece.

The St. Cloud Area Crush was the eighth team in the tournament. The MSHSL described the tournament field as the strongest it has seen, with all teams boasting winning records.

Corley, Makai Smith abd Myles Johnson led the CI All-Tournament Team for Dakota United. They were joined by Burnsville/ Lakeville/Farmington’s Kotzian, Caden Zoldy and Eric Rodriguez. Other team members are Cavness and Jemarie Wright, South Suburban; Johnson and Dylan O’Hotto, Park Center; and Logan Yannarelly, South Washington County.

Experiences Experiences Experiences and andand Experiences and Adventures Adventures Adventures for for All for All Abilities All Abilities Abilities Adventures for All Abilities

Dakota United and Park Center athletes battle for control.

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This was the state tournament debut for Buffalo/Monticello/St. Michale-Albertville.

The South Suburban Jets topped the Park Center Pirates, 6-4 for the third place honors. Sophomore Jordan Cavness paced the Jets’ offense with four goals. Senior Joseph Johnson netted two goals for Park Center and sophomore Cortez Crumble added one goal and one assist.

In the consolation final, it was an allWashington County battle. The Ponies of Stillwater/Mahtomedi topped the South Washington County Thunderbolts, 8-5.

Stillwater/Mahtomedi senior Mason MoraClark led all scorers with seven goals. Xander Hansen, a seventh-grader, tallied three assists for the Ponies.

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Programs

CI Division The Dakota United Hawks came out strong to top Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville, 3-0.

The win not only made up for three years of runner-up status, it also was the first title win for the Hawks in more than a decade. Dakota United has won three titles in program history, but the 2024 crown is the first such win since 2012.

The Hawks got goals from seventh-grader Jacob Jackson and seniors Henry Eisele and Greidin Corley. But Blazing Cats goalkeeper Zahven Kotzian made it difficult for the Hawks to score for much of the game.

Dakota United defeated Stillwater/ Mahtomedi and Buffalo/ Monticello/St. Michael-Albertville to get to the title game.

Experiences and Adventures for All Abilities

PI Division The Minneapolis South Tigers improved on their 2023 runner-up status by defeating the South Suburban Flyers and Park Center Pirates to get to the title game. The win capped an undefeated season for the Tigers.

But the Raiders of Rochester Century would not give up easily. Tigers’ senior Yonis Noor scored all five of Minneapolis South’s goals with junior David Rodriquez Rosas adding one assist. For the Raiders, senior Braxton Small and eighth-grader Jacoby Denny were a dynamic offensive duo, combining for all four goals. Small finished with three goals and Denny tallied one.

The Park Center Pirates took home the third-place title, defeating the Dakota United Hawks, 7-1. Senior Bryan Lopez paced the Pirates’ offense, scoring four goals.

Sophomore teammate Caleb Plummer had one goal and one assist to help offensively.

Eighth-grader Dylan Burns scored the lone goal for Dakota United.

The Robins of Robbinsdale/Hopkins/ Mound/Westonka/St. Louis Park took home the consolation crown, topping AnokaHennepin 6-5. Ninth-grader Hector Vergas Flores led Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound Westonka with three goals and two assists.

Ninth-grader Grady Lease added two goals for the Robins and senior Noah Mittendorf had one goal and one assist. Senior Tyler Johnson was the top scorer for Anoka-Hennepin. He finished the game with three goals.

St. Paul Humboldt was the eighth team in the tournament.

Noor is one of three Tigers on the PI AllTournament Team, joined by Eliseo Sanchez Piedra and Lindasue Anderson. Small is one three Rochester Century players on the team, along with Braeden Booth and Andrew Westerman. Lopez and Brayden Small are the Park Center honorees, joined

by Martin and Dominik Albus of Dakota United; Josh Reis of Robbinsdale/Hopkins/ Westonka/St. Louis Park and AnokaHennepin’s Johnson.

SMUGMUG

A historic adapted sports program and a perennial runnerup took home the championship hardware from the 2024 Minnesota State High School League Adapted Soccer Tournament. Minneapolis South won the PI title, with Dakota United taking the CI crown. The wins were especially meaningful for both senior-dominated winning teams.

Prep athletes with physical disabilities compete in the PI Division. Athletes with cognitive disabilities compete in the CI Division. This year’s tournament was held at White Bear Lake Area High School.

The Tigers of Minneapolis South defeated the Rochester Raiders, 5-4, in the title game.

Although South has had adapted sports since 1982, the team had never won a PI Division title until now.

The Dakota United Hawks topped defending CI champion Burnsville/ Farmington/Lakeville, 3-0. The win snapped the Blazing Cats’ three-year championship streak. In the past three years the Hawks were the runners-up.

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DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 7

NAMI Minnesota Awards Minnesotans and organizations that provide exceptional service to people affected by mental illness were honored in November by NAMI Minnesota. Outstanding contributions in advocacy, support and education were celebrated during NAMI Minnesota’s annual conference in St. Paul.

Awards were given in several categories.

NAMI Minnesota presented Linda Vukelich with the prestigious Special Board Award. The award is given to an individual who works tirelessly to help build the mental health system that ensures access to care. Vukelich has done just that. She has supported the Minnesota Psychiatric Society since 1997, the Minnesota Mental Health Community Foundation since 2006 and the Minnesota Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry since 2010.

She is responsible for creating Fast-Tracker Minnesota which went live in 2012. FastTracker is an open-source searchable database that connects individuals, families, mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers, assessors, health care providers, and others with a real-time, searchable directory of mental health and substance use disorder resources and their availability within Minnesota. It is a tool that NAMI regularly refers people to. Vukelich works quietly in the background to address barriers to access and collaborates with NAMI Minnesota and the Mental Health Legislative Network on legislation.

“Linda has been an integral part of building our mental health system,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota. “She has worked hard to make it easier to access care which is so important.”

The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative was honored with the Transforming Attitudes Award. The award recognizes an individual or organization that has promoted justice, dignity, and respect and worked to transform attitudes toward people with mental illnesses.

NAMI Minnesota commended the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative for providing Minnesota’s firefighters with the tools they need to prioritize and protect their health by focusing on the three health problems most commonly experienced by those in the fire service: cardiac, emotional trauma, and cancer.

“Firefighters are there for traumatic events but have often suffered in silence, leading to higher rates of depression, substance use, PTSD, and suicide,” said Abderholden. “The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative works to change attitudes towards treatment among firefighters and provides resources, especially to the many volunteer firefighters across our state. And they are succeeding!”

1,400 firefighters sought assistance in 2023, and more than 900 have asked for help so far this year, through August. NAMI Minnesota applauds the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative for changing attitudes and eliminating barriers to caring for our first responders.

The Mankato Free Press Editorial Board was presented with the Media Award, in recognition of an individual or organization that has been instrumental in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness, reporting on the needs of people with mental illness, or effectively portraying the stories of people with mental illness and their families.

The Mankato Free Press shows commitment to covering mental health and mental illnesses issues impacting the local and broader community. Their reporting has brought attention to critical subjects, from NAMI Minnesota’s listening tour stop in Mankato and panels on youth mental health in rural Minnesota to examining the role of cell phones in mental health. The Mankato Free Press has addressed challenging topics such as Red Flag laws to reduce suicide rates.

“The Mankato Free Press does not shy away from controversial subjects,” said Abderholden.

“They write with compassion and depict mental illnesses in a respectful and dignified way.

They are deeply attuned to the issues impacting Minnesotans’ mental health, and we greatly appreciate their work to raise awareness and shift attitudes over these many years.”

The Legislator of the Year award went to two state lawmakers, Rep. Peter Fischer – District 44A in Maplewood – and Sen. Rich Draheim – District 22 in Madison Lake. The Legislator of the Year Award recognizes legislators who have been leaders and outspoken advocates for people with mental illnesses and their families

NAMI MINNESOTA

People, organizations honored for helping Minnesotans affected by mental illness

NAMI Minnesota award winners proudly accepted their awards at the organization's state conference. in the Minnesota Legislature or Congress.

Fischer, who has represented District 44A for six terms, serves as chair of the Human Services Policy Committee and sits on the Human Services Finance and Health Finance and Policy Committees. Under his leadership, he has consistently collaborated with NAMI Minnesota and the Mental Health Legislative Network to advance policies supporting mental health.

“Representative Fischer regularly seeks NAMI Minnesota’s input and has championed several critical bills, including those on voluntary engagement, expanding respite care, increasing rates, enhancing schoollinked mental health services, and more,” said Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota. “He is a genuine advocate for children and adults with mental illnesses, fighting for change even behind closed doors in conference committees.”

Draheim, serving District 22 and now in his third term, is a member of the Jobs and Economic Development, Housing and Homeless Prevention, and Finance Committees. He has worked closely with NAMI Minnesota on legislative solutions.

“Senator Draheim has consistently supported addressing our workforce shortage, especially in rural Minnesota,” Abderholden said. “And when we raised the issue of people being evicted for calling 911 for a mental health crisis, he bluntly said that’s ridiculous and supported our bill to end this practice.”

The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) was presented with the Provider of the Year Award, which is given to an organization that provides exemplary mental health services, showcasing excellence, respect and best practices in the field.

NAMI Minnesota commended CVT for its dedication to healing the physical and emotional scars left by torture, both in Minnesota and across the globe. CVT has made significant strides in addressing the needs of individuals, families, and communities affected by torture while advocating for legislative efforts to end torture worldwide.

“Since opening in 1985, CVT has not only expanded in Minnesota and internationally, but has also worked tirelessly to advocate for policies that prevent torture and seek justice for survivors,” said Abderholden. “Their holistic

approach to healing encompasses physical and psychological care, social services, and community engagement, empowering survivors to rebuild their lives and overcome the trauma they have endured.”

The Center for Victims of Torture operates healing centers in Minnesota and Georgia, as well as in Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, and Uganda, providing vital support to those impacted by torture worldwide.

Medica was saluted with the Employer of the Year Award, given to honor an employer that has demonstrated support for hiring and retaining people living with a mental illness, has taken extraordinary measures to educate its employees about mental illness, or has created a supportive workplace for families who have a loved one with a mental illness.

NAMI Minnesota commended Medica for its significant efforts to foster an inclusive and safe work environment where mental illnesses are accepted, and people experiencing them are supported. Medica’s comprehensive mental health toolkit, which includes videos and resources, exemplifies its commitment to the well-being of its employees.

“Medica has resources available 24/7, including a program called Wellthy, which supports caregivers and addresses their mental health needs,” said Abderholden.

“They also promote mental health awareness on social media and have long supported NAMI Minnesota’s work, including raising over $330,000 through our NAMIWalks over the past 20 years!”

Samuel Simmons, Jr. was presented with the Professional of the Year Award, given to a professional or staff person who provides high quality services, exemplifies best practices and demonstrates commitment to and leadership in the field of mental health.

Simmons was feted for more than 34 years of dedicated work providing traumainformed, culturally sensitive support to the African American community. His approach emphasizes practical strategies that empower individuals and organizations to foster healing and resilience. His efforts have encouraged selfimprovement, empowerment and hope within the community, while challenging systemic barriers to healing.

“Samuel Simmons, Jr. has focused on

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collaborations to promote self-improvement, empowerment, healing, and hope while challenging systems that create barriers to healing,” said Abderholden. “Sam has had a huge impact on Minnesotans, and we are pleased to recognize his work.”

Simmons recently published his book, Just Sam: A Black Man’s Journey to Healing, which explores trauma’s impact on Black men and confronts the effects of systemic racism.

His work addresses crucial issues including historical trauma, systemic inequities, and adverse childhood experiences, highlighting a path toward community healing. He also serves as co-convener for the Mill City Kids Initiative and collaborates with the Collective Action Lab on projects centered around historical trauma, equity and inclusion, and resilience.

Kristin Lofgren was honored with the Public Service Award. The Public Service Award recognizes a local, state, or federal governmental employee who demonstrates leadership and commitment to improving the mental health system.

One of the most successful programs in Minnesota is the school-linked mental health program. Grants are provided to community mental health providers who co-locate in the schools, eliminating barriers to access. There is a fire wall between the education and mental health records. It’s not limited to students in special education and providers can bill public and private insurance and use the grant money to students who are uninsured or underinsured. The person behind this incredible program is Lofgren. She has been handling all the grants and reporting for many years. She works to ensure our advocacy efforts at the capitol for this program have access to the data needed to make our case.

“Kris is quietly behind the scenes of this effective program, never asking for recognition,” said Abderholden. “But she deserves this recognition because of her efforts we are able to help so many youth in our state.”

Rosemary and Bud Janousek were given the Volunteer of the Year Award. The Volunteer Award recognizes an individual or couple who have given generously of their time and expertise and have shown exceptional leadership as a volunteer with NAMI Minnesota.

Rosemary and Bud Janousek are dedicated volunteers who work hard to make the NAMIWalk a huge success. They send letters to their family and friends, sharing how NAMI Minnesota has helped their family and asking them to support their team for the walk. They also help families who reach out to them, sharing resources, advice, and compassion. Their walk team is called WAMIS – Walkers Against Mental Illness Stigma.

“We are so grateful for the many years Bud and Rosemary have supported NAMI Minnesota,” said Abderholden. “Their work enabled NAMI to reach nearly 50,000 people last year through our education classes, support groups and other programs.”

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DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 8

Concerns about claims backlog are raised in Ramsey County on seizure medications that cannot get in to see their doctor because they’ve fallen off their insurance.”

Hill told KSTP she has been a home health care nurse for 26 years and this is something she has never experienced. She took her concerns personally to the Ramsey County Department of Human Services.

A Ramsey County spokesperson said there has been a post-pandemic surge in applications, and staffing has been low. The county spokesperson said they were hiring part-time employees from other counties and other workers are putting in overtime to try and get caught up and ease the backlog.

“When I went there last week myself, I was told there was a three to four-month wait now,” said Hill. “Never seen anything like it.”

The county issued a statement and said there were 500 applications that were beyond 60 days in the waiting process.

“There’s been a significant post-pandemic surge throughout Minnesota for economic support programs, and backlogs are being experienced in nearly every county in the metro area. This includes backlogs in the processing of medical assistance applications and renewals, where wait times throughout the state have exceeded 30 days. This challenge is amplified in Ramsey County, where more than a third of residents now receive medical assistance and new applications have been rising every year. In 2023, there were 197,896

residents who received medical assistance at least one month of that year, which is approximately 37 percent of the county’s estimated population of 552,350 (according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey). The number of people receiving medical assistance through the county has also increased by more than 20,000 in just five years (174,195 in 2019).”

The county spokesperson also said they

have implemented several strategies to address these delays and improve processing times. There are currently 97 staff dedicated to processing medical assistance applications and renewals, and more staff are being hired.

The county spokesperson said applicants will also be eligible for reimbursement of their own expenses for up to 90 days after they had been denied coverage.

(Source: KSTP-TV)

Airport expands access for deaf, hard of hearing

announcements was brought forward to MSP’s Travelers with Disabilities Committee by its chair, Andrew Palmberg, who is deaf and also serves as the representative for the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind & Hard of Hearing.

“I've personally missed gate changes and other announcements at the gate in the past and had this same experience happen to other deaf and hard-of-hearing friends, causing them to miss their flight and be rebooked on a later flight, creating more stress and frustration,” Palmberg said. “As a traveler with a disability, I am always hyper-focused on happenings around my surroundings to ensure I am not missing any information about my flight. The talk-to-text technology reduces my stress, frustration and reliance on gate agents to inform me what is occurring around me and the flight.”

(Metropolitan Airports Commission)

limit to be lowered.

The child’s oxygen saturation dropped below the 87 percent limit before Nelson turned off the machine.

The next morning, Nelson again lowered the limit multiple times after turning the machine back on, manually silencing the machine when the alarm sounded.

At 6:43 a.m. on June 21, the machine indicated a status of “LP,” which indicates that the sensor is attached, but no pulse can be found.

Nelson did not make a call to 911 until 1:07 p.m.

The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death as being caused by bilateral bronchopneumonia related to injuries suffered during delivery and determined that because Nelson intentionally deprived care, the manner of death was a homicide.

(Source: KSTP-TV)

cost of a doctor visit, average monthly insurance premium, wheelchair-accessible restaurants per capita and share of accessible homes listed on Redfin.com.

Minneapolis finished second behind Scottsdale, Ariz., largely on health care.

Researchers found the average monthly health insurance premium in Minneapolis is $337, the second-lowest in the country.

The community also features the sixthbest public hospitals and the eighth-most hospitals per capita.

The city has also made strides with accessibility, ranking as the 22nd-best city for wheelchair-accessible grocery stores and arts and entertainment establishments per capita. Minneapolis also has the fifthmost wheelchair-accessible trails, which is important considering Minnesota's outdoor lifestyle and data indicates over 98% of residents live within half a mile of a park.

Finally, more than 27 percent of homes listed for sale in Minneapolis are wheelchairaccessible, the 11th-most in the country.

“More than one in four U.S. adults live with a disability, so it’s extremely important for cities to prioritize becoming a safe, welcoming and affordable place for this demographic," explained WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "The best cities have highlyaccessible public facilities and housing, highquality medical care, and an affordable cost of living for people on a fixed income.”

Minnesota largely gets it, as proven by the fact that St. Paul finished fifth on the list of best cities for people with disabilities. Others in the top five include Columbus, Ohio (third) and St. Louis, Mo. (fourth). WalletHub's bottom 5 cities for disabled people are Juneau, Alaska; Montgomery, Ala.; Jackson, Miss.; Pearl City, Hawaii; and Gulfport, Miss.

(Source: KARE-11)

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is expanding its internationally accredited accessibility program with two initiatives to help travelers and airport visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.

MSP is launching Aira’s pilot American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting service, Aira ASL. A separate program being rolled out is called talk-to-text, which uses technology to convert live airline announcements into text that is displayed for passengers at the gate.

“These new programs offer our passengers, visitors and customers who are deaf or hard of hearing more independence and realtime assistance across MSP terminals and facilities,” said Phil Burke, assistant director of customer experience for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates MSP. “Thanks to key technology partners and input from MSP’s Travelers with Disabilities Committee, we are able to broaden our services that help to meet the diverse needs of those who travel through the airport.”

Aira is launching its first Aira ASL pilot offering travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing secure, on-demand access to professional ASL interpreters.

Interpreters will partner with callers through their mobile phones to enhance the ease and efficiency of travel across all kinds of situations — including checking in, changing flights, making retail transactions, or finding ground transportation options. There is no charge to users who access the program while traveling through MSP. Aira has had a presence at MSP since 2018, offering on-demand professional visual interpreting for individuals who are blind or who have low-vision.

MSP has also implemented its own talk-to-text platform to improve travel communications for passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Live airline gate announcements are now displayed in real time on several gate monitors. Expansion is planned in the future.

The idea of real-time captioning for gate

Disabled child’s death brings sentence

A Paynesville mother found guilty of second-degree murder for ignoring her disabled child’s medical needs will spend more than 21 years in prison. Elise Nelson was in Stearns County Court this fall, where she was sentenced to serve 261 months in connection to the death of her child with disabilities.

She will also have to pay more than $12,000 in restitution.

The charges stem from a June 2020 incident when Nelson’s child, who had cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory failure due to aspiration and severe developmental delays, was declared dead at the hospital.

It was later determined that Nelson, who was alone with the child at the time leading up to her death, had repeatedly ignored warnings made by a pulse oximeter machine that routinely monitored her child’s blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate.

On June 20, according to charging documents, Nelson had manually dropped the oxygen alarm parameter from 90 percent to 87 percent saturation after warning alarms went off.

At-home care nurses for the child told police there was no medical reason for the

istock

In September, Lynne Kincaid retired as a Ramsey County employee. She helped process medical assistance — or Medicaid — claims for many years. Medicaid helps people who are either elderly, low-income, or disabled afford health care insurance.

This fall, 5 Eyewitness News first reported there was a backlog of processing Medicaid applications and renewals. A Ramsey County spokesperson said there were approximately 500 people waiting more than 60 days to have their Medicaid applications and renewals processed.

Kincaid told 5 Eyewitness News that she believes the number of people caught up in the backlog is “worse than that.”

“The problem is they don’t have enough workers to process these cases,” said Kincaid.

“It’s unacceptable.”

Unacceptable, Kincaid said, because delays in application processing mean that patients cannot get prescriptions renewed and, often, doctor’s appointments have to be canceled.

In October, Susan Hill, a registered nurse, told 5 Eyewitness News that she has five patients who’ve been caught up in the backlog. Hill said they had to cancel visits to their physicians and some have not had their medications renewed either.

“It’s the worst I have seen in 25 years,” said Hill.

“This is serious. They’re not getting proper medical attention and help, if they need it, because they don’t have insurance,” said Hill.

“I have other patients that are, for instance,

Minneapolis gets high marks

Disability can bring an assortment of challenges. Among them are healthcare costs, reliable transportation, lack of accessibility in and around buildings, and housing that allows people to live comfortably and safely.

When it comes to places that package the above needs, Minneapolis does a great job.

In fact, personal finance website WalletHub said Minneapolis is the second-best city in America for people with disabilities to live.

To determine the rankings, WalletHub researchers compared 182 cities - including 150 with the largest populations in the U.S. - across three key dimensions: Economy, Health Care and Quality of Life.

Each of those three categories was then broken down into 33 metrics, which included comparisons like housing affordability, median earnings for those with disabilities,

DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 9

Duluth’s Lighthouse Center for Vital Living is enjoying a new location in that city’s downtown. An open house and ribboncutting ceremony were held this fall. The new quarters are at 309 W. First St. in Duluth.

The center is more than 100 years old. It was originally known as Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind. The name change came with an expansion in mission to serve older adults and people with any disability. It has been around for over 100 years to help people with disabilities live life to the fullest.

The center was in an industrial park in West Duluth before the move. The new location is more visible and accessible.

“We are tremendously grateful,” Executive Director Mary Junnila told the Duluth NewsTribune. “This opportunity could not have come at a better time. We needed more space for our expanded services, including our new assistive technology demonstration room and device loan library.”

A group of owners of Landsmenn Energy Service Partners, the founders and leaders of Lake Superior Consulting, donated the building for the new center. Work on the donation began in 2022.

“We're proud to have donated the building,” said Ryan Swor, president of Lake Superior Consulting. “We constantly see the impact this center makes in the lives of people living with vision loss and other challenges on a daily basis.”

Originally home to Duluth's Elks Club, the structure was later renovated into offices.

Lighthouse also received a $350,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to add an elevator and create a large technology demonstration room and technology lending library.

In media reports, staff and clients praised their new building as providing more space for meetings, office and an array of activities and services. Another plus is a connection to the Duluth downtown skyway system.

DULUTH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Duluth-based Lighthouse Center for Vital Living enjoys new space

Visitors enjoyed seeing the newly renovated spaces.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota has announced the election of four new board members during its annual meeting in November The new members bring a wealth of expertise and a shared commitment to advancing mental health advocacy and services in Minnesota.

Dr. Becca Krill, a board-certified child psychiatrist who has been practicing in Minneapolis for the past nine years, joins the board with extensive experience in trauma-informed and equity-focused care.

As the outpatient mental health department chair at HealthPartners, she has worked to apply her clinical expertise to broader community advocacy.

Neerja Singh, a licensed independent clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience, has devoted her career to addressing systemic inequities and fostering community engagement in mental health policy and practice.

Larry Yang, a licensed marriage and family therapist and senior clinical supervisor at the Wilder Foundation, is dedicated to breaking down barriers to mental health services, particularly for BIPOC communities. As the

founder of the Minnesota Mental Health Providers of Color group, he has championed systemic changes to increase access to culturally responsive care.

Thomas Anderson, a former teacher and non-profit leader, brings a background in legislative advocacy, strategic planning, and governance to the board.

“We are thrilled to welcome such accomplished and passionate individuals to our board,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota. “Their diverse experiences and unwavering commitment to building our mental health system will strengthen our efforts to create a more equitable and supportive mental health system for all.”

NAMI Minnesota also marked the reelection of board members Jessica Gourneau, Julie Atella, Mary Buck, and Sonal Markanda, who will continue their impactful work supporting the organization’s mission.

Rick Lancaster and Mariah Owens, whose terms on the board spanned from 2016 to 2024, were honored as they stepped off of the board. Their dedication and contributions have significantly impacted NAMI

Behavioral health professional honored the Duluth-based National Rural Health Resource Center and the MDH Office of Rural Health and Primary Care announced three winners. Others recognized are: Maureen “Mo” Spike, public health supervisor for Isanti County Health and Human Services, given the 2024 Minnesota Rural Health Hero Practitioner Award for her work as a dedicated advocate for health and wellbeing of Isanti County residents.

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s Oral Health Task Force, Grand Marais, given the 2024 Minnesota Rural Health Team Award for its work in providing access to high-quality, patient-centered oral care to all persons throughout its service area of Cook County and the Anishinaabe Nation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Penny Messer, division director of Isanti County Health and Human Services, Minnesota Rural Health Lifetime

Dr. John Schmitz The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and its partners honored four dedicated health care professionals who have made significant contributions to the health and wellbeing of their rural communities as part of Rural Health Day in Minnesota November 21. The honorees include a dedicated behavioral health professional.

One is Dr. John Schmitz, behavioral health director for CentraCare, St. Cloud. He is honored with the 2024 Minnesota Rural Health Hero Provider Award for his work in Central Minnesota’s behavioral health community. He is recognized both for his dedicated efforts as director of behavioral health as well as his clinical efforts as a psychiatrist to bring wellness, dignity and care to the most vulnerable in society.

The Minnesota Rural Health Association,

NAMI MINNESOTA

NAMI Minnesota welcomes new board members, thanks retirees

NAMI Minnesota's new board was welcomed at the recent annual meeting.

Minnesota’s growth and success.

NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit organization that works to improve the

lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families through its education, support, and advocacy programs.

Achievement Award for her work in cultivating strong, resilient teams that thrive in rural health’s challenging environment.

Her legacy of leadership has created a ripple effect, with many of those who she has mentored now playing key roles in rural health across Minnesota.

“Innovation and ingenuity are hallmarks of our rural health teams throughout Greater Minnesota, and I could not be more proud to celebrate the accomplishments of this year's honorees," said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. "Their

selfless dedication to service and willingness to stand in the gap is a powerful reminder of the important work that takes place daily in our rural communities."

In addition to the Rural Health Day recognition, the recipients will be honored during the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Conference at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, June 9-10, 2025.

Read more about the honorees at https:// www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/ nrhd/awards/index.html

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DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 10

RADIO TALKING BOOK Holiday Programming

Radio Talking Book listeners always enjoy the traditional holiday programming broadcasts, beginning at 7 p.m. on Tue, Dec. 24. Regular programming resumes at 6 a.m. on Thu, Dec. 26.

Enjoy Radio Talking Book

For December, 20 new books will premiere.

Radio Talking Book is not just for listeners with visual disabilities. Anyone with difficulty reading or turning pages can enjoy the service.

The sampling published monthly in Access Press doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Listen to RTB’s live or archived programs online at www.mnssb. org/rtb, and learn more about programs.

Hear programming on a hand-held mobile device, for either iOS or Android.

Visit the Apple App Store for iOS, or Google Play for Android, and download the Minnesota Radio Talking Book app.

Missed a book broadcast? Access it for one week following its original broadcast in the online weekly program archive.

For help accessing the archive, contact Ronnie Washington at 651-539-1424 or SSB.Equipment@state.mn.us.

If the book’s broadcast is no longer available in the archive, contact staff librarian Molly McGilp at 651.539.1422 or Molly.McGilp@state.mn.us Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available for loan through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. The catalog is at www.mnbtbl.org. Call 800-722-0550, MonFri, 9 am - 4 pm CST. Updates are on the Facebook site Minnesota Radio Talking Book.

Audio information about the daily book listings is on the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newsline. Register for NFB Newsline by calling 651-539-1424. The NFBNEWSLINE service provides access to more than 500 magazines and newspapers. To learn more, visit www.nfb.org/programsservices/nfb-newsline; 612-562-7803 Staff welcomes any feedback or suggestions. Contact Joseph Papke at 651539-2316 or joseph.papke@state.mn.us.

Contact Tom Conry at 651-642-0880 or thomas.conry@state.mn.us with comments

about periodicals and newspapers programming.

by Michele Potts. 12 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 26. – L, S

Chautauqua* Monday – Friday 6 a.m.

Starkweather, nonfiction by Harry N. MacLean, 2023. The definitive story of Charles Starkweather, often considered to be the first mass killer in the modern age of America, and his crime spree’s lasting impact. Read by Stevie Ray. 17 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 23.

Afternoon Report* Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

The Two Parent Privilege, nonfiction by Melissa A. Kearney, 2023. The surprising story of how declining marriage rates are driving many of the country’s biggest economic problems. Read by Yelva Lynfield.

11 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 2.

American Gun, nonfiction by Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson, 2023. The epic history of America’s most controversial weapon. Read by Charles Gould. 16 broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec. 17. – L

Bookworm* Monday – Friday 12 p.m.

Christmas Karol, fiction by Faith Moore, 2023.

A modern twist on Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Karol Charles’s journey through her past, present, and future reveals it is far better to have what matters than to have it all. Read

by Mary Beth Redmond. 10 broadcasts; begins Wed, Dec. 11.

Brotherless Night, fiction by V. V. Ganeshananthan, 2023. A courageous young Sri Lankan woman tries to protect her dream of becoming a doctor in this heartbreaking exploration of a family fractured by civil war. Read by Pat Muir. 14 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 26.

Night Journey* Monday –Friday 7 p.m.

Hercule Poirot's Silent Night, fiction by Sophie Hannah, 2023. The world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot—legendary star of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile—puts his little grey cells to work solving a baffling Christmas mystery. Read by Therese Murray. 10 broadcasts; begins Wed, Dec. 10.

The Devil’s Daughter, fiction by Gordon Greisman, 2024. A noir thriller full of the best—and worst—of New York City in the 1950s. Read by Jim Tarbox. 10 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 26. – L

The Writer’s Voice* Monday – Friday 1 p.m.

The Blessing, nonfiction by Gregory Orr, 2023. An eloquent memoir giving testimony to the engaging power of art in a troubled man's life. Read by Philip Lowry. Seven broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 9. – L, R The Last Supper Club, nonfiction by Matthew Batt, 2023. A witty and humble tribute to the sometimes profane, sometimes profound world of waiting tables. Read by John Schmidt.

11 broadcasts; begins Wed, Dec. 18. – L

Off the Shelf* Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

Martyr!, fiction by Kaveh Akbar, 2024.

A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum. Read by Brenda Powell. 13 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 4. – L, S Victim, fiction by Andrew Boryga, 2024. A fearless satire about a hustler from the Bronx who sees through the veneer of diversity initiatives and decides to cash in on the odd currency of identity. Read by Tom Speich. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 23. – L

Choice Reading* Monday – Friday 2 p.m.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas, fiction by Mary Kay Andrews, 2023. A novella celebrating love and the warm, glittering charm of the holiday season. Read by Holly Sylvester. Nine broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 12. – L Mr. Texas, fiction by Lawrence Wright, 2023.

A hilarious, sharply drawn send-up of local politics about a dark-horse candidate who risks his personal happiness for a career in the Texas House of Representatives. Read

Potpourri* Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

The Greatest Summer in Baseball History, nonfiction by John Rosengren, 2023. A rousing chronicle of one of the most defining

All times listed are Central Standard Time.

Abbreviations V – violent content R – racial epithets L – strong language S – sexual situation G – gory descriptions years in baseball history that changed the sport forever. Read by Jack Rossmann. 13 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 2.

Are You Prepared for the Storm of Love Making?, nonfiction by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, 2024. A collection of love letters

by American presidents to their wives—and lovers—revealing an intimate and deeply personal side of the nation’s leaders. Read by Carl Voss. 10 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 19.

Good Night Owl Monday – Friday 10 p.m.

The God of Endings, fiction by Jacqueline Holland, 2023. An enchanting, historyspanning novel that weaves a story of love, family, history, and myth as seen through the eyes of one immortal woman. Read by Mary Beth Redmond. 19 broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec. 3. – L RTB After Hours* Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

The Tearsmith, fiction by Erin Doom, 2024.

A dark, sexy, haunting novel of two aching young adults who are taken in by the same family and forced to reckon with a destructive love that could be the undoing of them both. Read by Michelle Juntunen. 24 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 16. – L, S, V Weekend Program Books Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents Anatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam Alter, read by Cintra Godfrey.

For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow, read by Pat Muir.

Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents Bluest Nude by Ama Codjoe, read by Mary Beth Redmond; followed by The Art of Writing by Lu Chi, read by Carl Voss; followed by Run From Your Now by Ben Westlie, read by Stuart Holland – L. The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents Winter’s Song by T. D. Mischke, read by Jim Gregorich.

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DECEMBER 2024 Volume 35, Number 12 Pg 11

TAKE NOTE!

Interact show, sale underway Interact, a progressive visual arts studio and theater company, announces its holiday show and sale. New drawings, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, fiber works, archival prints, and wearable art are in the sale, along with some finds from the archives. Work is by artists with disabilities.

Interact Center and Interact Gallery are in St. Paul near Prior and Minnehaha avenues. See items in person by appointment through Dec. 19.

FFI: gallery@interactcenter.com, calendly.com/interactgallery or gallery@interactcenter.com.

Online shopping is offered, but orders should be placed

by Dec. 6 for delivery before Christmas.

Shown is a display of paintings, drawings, fiber works, and ceramic masks installed at Interact Gallery. The artists whose work is shown are Kaia Burg, Annmarie Burns, Kramer Hegenbarth, Teazu Juah, Gary Rorby, Victor Van, Ashlea Karkula, Carol O'Connor, Caleb Nesbitt, Jesse Ferdinand, Katie Bretzman, Thomas Robinson, Bonnie Thorne and Katie Brinkman.

Take Note! of the change The longtime Opportunities and Enjoy! calendars are now Take Note! Access Press is listing fewer calendar items in print and encouraging more to be posted online.

The change allows more immediate information about upcoming events.

Online options include our free events calendar. Ways to post an event can be found at www.accesspress.

org, under the listings tab. The event must be disabilityfocused, offer accommodations or led by a disability service organization. Anyone with questions can contact Editor Jane McClure at jane@accesspress.org or 651644-2133 ext. 1 Another option is to consider an online ad to get the word out. A third, ongoing option for an interested

business or disability service organization is to sponsor our online calendar, being a sponsor is a great way to support Minnesota’s disability community and its events. Information can be obtained by emailing ads@ accesspress.org

Washington County school nurse receives national immunization award The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that Tara Goebel, a health services coordinator and licensed school nurse from South Washington County Schools, has been named Minnesota’s 2024 Immunization Champion for her incredible effort and leadership with increasing immunization rates in children. Each year, the national Immunization Champion Awards honor one person in Minnesota for their exceptional work in encouraging immunization for children or adults in their community.

“Tara has demonstrated incredible leadership and care for students and her community,” said Jessica HancockAllen, director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division at MDH. “She has used her passion to partner and collaborate with key partners to provide better access to vaccinations and protect the health of students in her school

district from vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, South Washington County Schools saw a dramatic decrease in school immunization rates in their district. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization rates dropped more than 10% for kindergartners and meningococcal immunizations rates dropped more than 40% for seventh graders in 2021.

During the 2023-24 school year, the efforts of Goebel and the South Washington County Schools team had an incredible impact on student immunization rates with approximately 4,000 students receiving vaccines they needed for school. They also saw the MMR immunization rate increase from 84.8% to 93.4% for kindergartners, which meant a larger portion of the student population was protected from this year’s measles outbreak in the Twin Cites metro area. Vaccines remain the best way to

AROUND THE DIAL Access Press is interested in listing regularly scheduled broadcast, cablecast or podcast programs by and for people with disabilities.

Programming needs to have a tie to Minnesota or the Upper Midwest.

Around the Dial is published on a space-available basis. Anyone with questions can contact jane@accesspress.org Disability and Progress KFAI Radio, 6-7 p.m. Thu. Host Sam Jasmine and her guests explore a wide range of topics that are important to people with disabilities. Shows are now available on podcast.

Ask the smart speaker to play Disability and Progress podcast for the latest episode. For easier access, download the app to a smart phone and hear shows on demand. Or hear Disability and Progress stream live, just tell the smart speaker to play KFAI radio. KFAI is at 90.3 FM in Minneapolis and 106.7 FM in St. Paul.

Listeners outside of the Twin Cities, or those looking for a past show, will find the show’s archives online at www.kfai.org Email disabilityandprogress@samjasmine. com with questions and suggestions, or call 612-341-3144. Postal mail can be sent to

KFAI, 1808 Riverside Ave. S., Disability and Progress, Box 116, Minneapolis MN 55454.

Conor’s Corner Conor’s Corner by Conor O’Meara can be heard at 10 a.m. Mon, replayed 8 a.m. Sat, at 94.1 or WFNU.org Frogtown Community Radio. The show can also be found on Spotify and Mixcloud. Find the radio station at www.wfnu.org. The on-air studio line, offered 10-11 a.m. Mon, is 651-313-5125.

O’Meara conducts a wide range of interviews HoodWave Disability Radio Daniel and Leah Hood produce HoodWave Disability Radio. Find HoodWave at https:// www.hoodwave.org/p/hoodwave-disabilityradio-live/ or www.hoodwave.org Disability Channel Minnesota Disability Landscape/Disability Channel Minnesota is available on a YouTube channel and on MCN 6. Mark Knutson, Charlie Brose and their team are regularly posting shows. They are looking for contributors to the channel. Contact them at disabilitychannelmn@gmail.com Disability Viewpoints Disability Landscape/Disability Channel Minnesota is available on a YouTube channel and on MCN 6. Mark Knutson, Charlie Brose and their team are regularly posting shows. They are looking for contributors to the channel. Contact them at disabilitychannelmn@gmail.com

protect children from highly infectious and preventable diseases, with free and low-cost vaccines for children available.

The rise in immunization numbers was driven by a personalized approach where Goebel’s team contacted every family to discuss options in getting their child up to date on vaccines needed for school. The team also provided opportunities by organizing several community immunization clinics for kids throughout the school district.

“Tara’s relationship with families in the school community was key to the success of these outreach and access activities to increase immunization rates,” said Emily Robb, a colleague from the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment. “What sets her apart from others is that she understood how to leverage the trust and sense of connection that many families have with their schools to help students access needed vaccines to protect

them against preventable diseases.”

The Immunization Champion Award is presented by the Association of Immunization Managers. Immunization Champion nominees come from a pool of health professionals, coalition members, community advocates and other immunization leaders. This award celebrates the outstanding efforts of people who go above and beyond to ensure immunization access in their communities. One winner is selected in each participating jurisdiction of the 50 states, five large cities, eight U.S territories and freely associated states, and the District of Columbia.

According to the National Library of Medicine, people with disabilities are vulnerable to complications from vaccinepreventable diseases, and every effort should be made to ensure equitable access to immunization for this population

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