Issuu

"Noone can dub you with dignity. That's yours to claim "

A. 11C

Northland Page 7

bisability Parking Debate p. 6

IGHTHANNIVERSAW I

The Year In Review by Charlie Smith, Editor

s predicted,thepastyear has broughtsomeimportant changes to ACCESS PRESS. InDecemberweofficially received our 501(c)(3) non-profit status, meaning that we arenow abletoreceive grants and.donations which will be tax-deductible.

vide the concrete proof to our future funders that the disability community is solidly behind the paper's efforts. For the first time ACCESS PRE&S is being distributed state-wide, with the help of GoodwilVEasterSealsand the Centers for Independent Liv-.

providing almost $10,000 -ide support. ??

I Years o f Access Press I

AsACCESS FW%S begins to apply for %rants and. other fundingtoexpandandimplove the paper, the ongoing s u p port of the Friends will pro-

,' a

them possible!

R PRESS mntiniwrl

A-Lwf >-

portant subjects as the Metro Mobility system, and legislation at the-local, state, and nationallevel. Profilesofagencies and organizations, general news, coverage of meetings and hearings, new developments in technology and -research, as well as fuli to do - all were part of the

ye:

-mI

ered in any of the mainstream a ile, in sdhe case nttr rnvernop mav have mar

our tradition of reporting on some people or organizations - . the ongoing news in the dis- uncomfwtab1e,inmany cases ability community. Ourread- it has led to positive changes. ers to received timely &is& We have tried to maintain 'a depth coverage on such b- Review coa. w. g. 2 ,

U Of M Struggles To Comply With ADA: Employees Not Happy by Juaftrh Gibson

ccess Press received S@BW &@hack &at the

forits1ongasQenew specialneeds employee does not in-

A second tram was found with University's acconmodatim process. In this case, a &sf ~ t . a r ya c ~ o 8 a t i o was n agreed upokduringthehking prooiess. Then, a few months d e t y . "In the past, be-re wenflyand thebdgetwirs ADA, offem for accomm.oda&,axpMmg the de-ent to &stmenwe.In tke prices, the~~accommodation w a s n q h c e d - a k -

dividual departments.

. S a d h k w s with indiddmb at the uniw~s-rrp. re-

m m m l ~ o n . A.t this point, that same empIoyee who had voiced concerns - s r a s k t b m e d i a a n t d ~ - 8lBt-mthe sew * o n i d 7ketp14tcebAho,shce the Uni- Dr. Sue EWgstI~)jfe;cbxd hsritutian, IsjsaWity -, supporls lDsm?re~l.. , v d t y is a 1says to obtain a harmonious know Wt retribution is ille- a t i m ~ o i ~ w a e n omany t studenweducatom gre @Univer~ity's$1icies. She war&-. It alsoseemasif gal,m m r v w i t h dis- able to fdfill j i i * . $tmctPxr Eo it &ape of it's fee* positive that, while the &lack of comnication be- abilitkareM@-what ~ h a f o w e r m u c a n d e - relatively greater resources process might have a few Ween the p d e s is making it is v come ajustified.came hdig awareness. Mtcjm,the University's prodflicubtoi-ve thesitma- kn missal. cedurts and guidelines are Qn. . CW, t h e w d e r t w * C%? q e h resource on Ule effective in d d n g with a - CBSf e d 1 &at h&s am- h t h e r long term uni&ty Minneapolis campus is & majority .of the isiws @at. (Pne employee with &-tan I rent work situation wouIdbe- .sfMhnesota employee has of&c called Disability Ser- arise. She also adds Wt it is spoke thought that, while Be- cameeven more difficult if an insider's scoop in watch- vic& (DS). I33 serves both more convenient for employpartanent managers may be- she voiced camplaints di- ing the evolution of m p u s shi&nts.aad empPoyees as a ees and stden.&to a $in yrh an accommodating rectly to the manager. aMfwdes towardpgsons %rib place to va&&c a d incentntlizedphEolhme their attitdie, h i s only continues &stabilities. his ' eb+loyee and &o to needs met ratherth& relying

~~~~

not a gocldpbfiq: csmments . Kroeger. murity, emmpd &SJ&, and pi&mbitha&ier@mo~ feelings r e g d n g Uae situa~ . . h psw involved.

The University ofMian&ta . is a h w c d h s m thatreceives'fadngfnrm$re Stata: and F g m - : , . meats a d rn h m tuition I* a d M v a ht3w. In theory,tby dmuldbaheader U cp_fM-m t . on p. 6

.--

June 10, 1998

Access Press

It is not ness,meningitis,andintestinal I I

For ?#iort,itlfonntrtiow about Coocliuill/Et~sler Seal's sesryices, please c~ill612/646-2591.

to promote the develop- I I is.......-..-...--.-..--1

5 -+2H+-.g .--* :r

, 7.

!1 '

Behind The Scenes Of Access Press I by Charlie Smith, Editor -:$--* L-'?

.*iwa

.-s--

Access Press

nother year has gone by c o n t i n 6 fa provide new perA a n d ACCESS PRESS is spectives through his cardelighted to thank the many toons. The Wizard of Spatial people whose time and talents Relations, Ellen, manages to make the paper a success. take our layout ideas and turn Making time in their busy lives them intoanewspaper withthe to print their ideas about disa- help of Andy Kaufman at bility issues are the columnists: Western Printers. On the day Nicole and LeAnne on per- of publication, Bob and his sonal issues, Pete on mental staff deliver the paper to over illnesses, and Mary Jane, co- 140sitesaroundthemetro area. ordinator of the Religion cob GoodwilYEasterSealsdelivers umn. CraigMcClellanandLuke papers to 5 outstate CK's, Pederson are now covering the which then get them out to SportsBeat. Lolly is our new! other locations in their area. est columnist, covering dis; ability culture. Scott's been

IN BRIEF. . . .

Public Hearing: Independent Living

The state Independent~iving IndependentLivingPlan". The Council will holdapublichear- hearing will take place from 2 Donna McNamara takes over ing to solicit input for the de- until 6 pm on Thursday, June Cindy Bordeaux' office duties velopment of the new "State 25. Locationis theMCILConand Jeff Nygaard is back tojob share with Donna for the summer. Cindy hasmovedtoNorthem Minnesota and promises Courage Center is seeking cess in their careers. Sponnominations for the 1998 sored by the Rose and Jay to report back periodically. Phillips Awards, which honor Phillips Family Foundation, Last, but not least, I'd like to women and men with disabili- recipientsreceive a$1000cash thank everyone in the disabil- ties who have achieved suc- award. Nominations are due ity community. You provide the articles, support and contributions that keep the paper Three"H0fsepackingtheCoIo- gust by Wilderness Inquiry, a going. We look forward to rado Rockies" and two "Isle non-profit organization that hearing from yqu in the coming RoyaleSeaKayakingWtripsareprovides adventure travel for year. being offered in July and Au- people of all ages and ability

ference Room, Suite 10,1600 University Avenue West, St, Paul. For more info, call 6468342(Voice),or603-201m.

Phillips Awards Nominations Sought

4 4

4 i

July 17,1998. Formore infor4 mation, or to request an applk- 3:-3 cation, please call Andrea - , Langendorfer, 520-0553 TDD520-0245.

Wilderness Inquiry Adventure Travel

levels, including those wi disabilities. Contact them at 379-3858 or 1-800-728-0719 (voiceorTDD).

Mental Health Volunteer Program

Hennepin County's Adult adultswithmentalillness.You alinktocommunityreso Servicesis seeking volunteers canmakeadifferenceby offer- To find out more, call J ~ L N to sharetimeand activitieswith ing compassion, support, and Connolly, 34 .:c.

10th Anniversary Celebration Vyj

Minnesota Independent Liv- urday, June27 fromnoon-4pm menimenk PleaSecall379-4027 I. ' ingservice-s (M.I.L.S.)ishost- at 2010 East Hennepin, Mpls. formareinf~rmationortoFtSVP!?ingacelebrationpicnic on Sat- Come and enjoy food, fun and (RSWby June 19). - 'A I-

AnokalRamsey Arc Offers Services Bob Christensen

People First support groups, Community Connections activities, parent and grandparent support groups, and a

public libraryoftoys, adaptive Ramsey Arc. Please call 783equipment, books, tapes and 4958 formore information. videos are among the many ' -,' '.services offered by Anokal *"-x-isk&

Mary Jane Steinhagen -

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To Reach 10,000 Active and Interested Readers, Call 644-2133

Icovesi~&mitiveissues,wmd an eye on the various t e a s , the paper: extends its circula-

June 10, 1998

Access Press

Life Goes- On r

Tilting At Windmills

he Lovering's Sto

by Peter Feigal I

ne of the worst m a m e g year later, I was sure I would in eighe grade &d ani ice drive her away. O i n m g ownstrugg1ewith a4soobsmeanobjstoflaugharticle which will inspire was in seventhin Golden Valcamewhen ter and I prepared to do battle. havinga ley. They ckwi off and on When Bob grew'sthnger, he mentalillness 0, some during high school. And al- wouldreturn homeforvisits. It Iwas 15. Even though1wasn't I wm&fedkd in a way Inever arnbi- though Bob had decided by was on one of these trips home violent, or using any sub- anticipated. Thqpe was no .'ens, but one dksn't have to the age of sixteen te marry that bob found Janice visiting stames, or talking about be- abuse, no laughter, no s m . .ive up their dreams. Janice, neither of them were his mother. Mrs. Lovering pre@ for the twists and asked Janice if she would ride 've known Bob and Janice turns &&'lives would take back to the hospital with Bob overingsince 1961. Someof before it actually, happened. to make sure he arrived here ou ma? remember this capti- One of those twistk was when safely. By this time, Bob had vating couplewhen they were Bob thought he l i W another his car equipped with hand than myself. was perfectlycathe arearepresentatives forthe girl, rationalizing than Janice ~0nCTolsg~d w e of getting there on his ChristianLeaguefortheHandi- would always bethere for& capped. Now for twenty four when his flirtation was over. OW~Iand he couldn't understand why &s mother nryears they've resided in Phoenix, Arizona, where theyhave Then,in 1346,befwetheycould Janiae t@ride-& tti'ih, Bpecontinued to encourage and reconcile their differences,the cially sinceitwmalong streetinspirepeople with disabilities polio virus attacked Bob's car ride back for hcr. locally as well as around the body. Suddenly, he was paralyzed from his anns down. It It was on that drive that Bob world. ~ t k e e m o n t hforhim s to be confessed his love a d de;vaBorn in 1928, Bob was the strkgenough to sitin a wheel- tion to Janiceby admittingtbat youngest of threechildren with chair. He now weighed 110 he had deliberately tried to two older sisters to fuss over pounds - q* a &fferemaf- push her away. He told her he wanted to marry her, if she him. His parents built a new ter weighing 165Jbs. would have him after the way n G e e acres of land in n Valley in 1939. Back At this point, e m tlaou& Wd In fifieen en, it wasn't kqownas asub- Janice was a frequent visitor, ma& they wereag8gedand urb because this area had re Bob tried to disco~ageher nine months b t e ~ &.were m t l y been divided up into because he didn't want her to d a d . lorsfiwlsiZabbfarmW.EEec- come just because she pitied tricity and telephone had just him.Inhisep,.hesaw himself Next month, we will discow& been made available. as half a man and he didn't how Life is F i C ) B @Z b want to be a burdento her. So Loverings. - he did everything he could to

learned that my old hero, Don Quixote, isn't just my hero, he's become one of the most beloved figures in literature throughout the world for the last four centuries. This bat-

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else in some little way, for rAe -

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unity Player

St., Mp

he is an object of scorn out of hell. b u g k r and abuse. But @-was dear to my heart. i've ioarnedthc word "Faith," WS,

Almost every one of mg,old clasmqms wEd me about the &&e$rui&man8l i

in it's mast mcient scriptural @C.Q When I returned to school a context, is nnt a noun; it's a A ~ ~ I R R v&b. I€.M*tsomhing you mv old fkh&-arrai9 z&&h6* ' ' h * o r u d o a ' t have." Faith for we. i,s a way of being, a spiritualpractice, a way of connecting- tomy heart ofccwrage.

00 "The Liu 1.- steppingstone T I

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I've learned chat Miguel Cetvaates, .the m b r of h n Quixote, turned ta writi~gbe-

I METROPOLITAN CENTER

I F O R INDEPENDENT L M I

J U

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W D y ~TII

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COMM.UNlY MEMBERS IN T H E SEVEN-COU

h e s s grr;%s can deliver the message, but . the people ofMinnesota need to act on the message. We urge dl Minnesotans interested in disability rights to read &cess P w and to be involved in their community.

hk&P iqr p'-

Personal Assirtracc Services @LA. Su RampProjert 8 Tr&m Pmgmu @ ADA hfi~rm.tla8 MectingRooms ChqmkrLab 1 Library

A r c ~ ~ c s n g r ~ ~ e v l e r y o n e a s. m i ; atcd W ~ ~ ~ A C C EPRESS S S on a great job o f advocating and getting the news out to people with disabilities. Keep up the good work ! .-

1600 U N N R S I T Y AW., ~ . Sum16 8 SY. PA^ MN SS1043dllS IbU) 646-8342VOCIE (622)603-2001m @ (613)603-2- P ~ W

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People Of FAITH n Tuesday, October 7, they would gather again.

all." Goals include giving par- gether. ticipants the opportunity to

area congregations.

tified the need for an ecumeni- continues, they will place

people arrived, picked up with individuals in area low this model? Quite possi-

to their lives. The discussion lent support.

closing, all reassembled to sing, Lutherans and Methodistsmet

So, giveyoursey,fab+ Your friend?;'& well nieaninif'bur Happy summer! *.&Ah there is no way to tell how they -Nicole $4"

knowledge that in two weeks Rochester strengthened their 7595.

disabled, your landlord

June 10, 1998

Access Press

Disability Parking '

What Are We Willing TODO?

U OF 1-1 COInt. from p. 8 in developing policies and procedures in accordancewith

some ADA. steps In fact,inthey trying havetotaken balancetheir resources to accomby Margot lrndieke modate all employees. They provide graduate degrees in n the State of Minnesota bloclcsaway,parkatametcr, or In some communities, such as

Education, and have several disabilitycultural groups that meet regularly to discuss how The down side to free meter parking has been completely well their needs arebeing met. parking is that non-disabled eliminated. Before we reach In addition,Disability Services people have discovered that if such a crisis situation in Min- handles all funding issues for

certificates in circulation. Many individuals who have the disability plates or certificates use them to park at park-

more generously-funded departments being at an dvantage. The problem is that, while this helps to financially

states "A vehicle that promi- law. This type of abuse is so Ithinkit'simportantthatweat

certificate...or bears license neapolis has reported that in addressthisproblem. Weneed reinforces theunderlyingattiplates issued...may be parked the core downtown area one- your suggestions and com- tude that the responsibility cessible lies with Disability Servicesrather than with each out time restrictions unless timerestrictionsareseparately posted on official signs." The reasoning behind this language is sound and rational in that many individuals with mobility impairments cannot climb the curb to pay the meter or go the extra distance to get to a curbcut and back to the

hoursaday. NowIwouldlove to be an optimistand marvel at the number of people with disabilities being employed in downtown Minneapolis, but I know better. I think the real reason for this huge number is that downtown parking ramps chargean averageof $150.00a month.

put picture id on the certificate; increase fines; tighten In actuality,although'thewriteligibilityforplates andcertifi- ten policies within the system cates and eliminate a number are often satisfactory,certain ofmarginallydisabledpeople; staff choose not to follow insist that medical statements them. And this despite the are required at every renewal; existence of the Americans help ease the revenue deficit with DisabilitiesAct! by arranging for municipal on July 26,1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act

Is all this federally-mandated is still so often the norm in the equalization forcing the public workplace. This is why Title I to embrace a new perspective of the ADA is such an imporon persons with dishilities? tant subject for discussion. It While the ADA has raised has opened doors that have awarenessin somecircles,most been slammed shut and locked , people (even those in the edu- for so many years. It gives j-, cationand human servicefield) legal credence to individuals' : arenot fully aware of the law's rights at those times when so- application to them. When ciety reverts back to a 1960's they see advancementfor per- mentality. sons with disabilities, they gasp in awe over what is being Another factor to consider is *, done and raise asilent cheer in thecultural minority status that support. But when asked to accommodateor provide adap are embracing. In the past, , tive services, many often balk and refuse to comply, citing to fighting to get what they ,. the extra cost as an excuse. want. This has succeeded in . Since large businesses can become entangled in legal battles if they violate Title I, managers often have been trained in what they can and cannot do. Seemingly, this important training message is getting lost in the overwhelming barrage of other training that managers are participating in to stay in the forefront of Did many people know there their fields. To protect their was a Gallaudet University own rights, prospectiveorcur- before this revolt? rent employees must be savvy in knowing and asserting their As we have seen, opinions rightsto make these laws work differ within the University for them. When an issue does community about that arise, it is more than likely to institution's success (or lack escalatequickly, andthestakes thereof) in complyingwith the are high. +:

more accessible. This federal anti-discrimination statute has With employm of the hotly debated topics in

"welfare reform," it is readily L;,CqS

an otherwise inaccessible hugeamountsofrevenue,park;: Disability, 121East7thPlace, includingemployrnent,public tions, without fear of retribution orretaliation. Title I of the Act requires that businesses

doesn't have a disability park- clogging up meters, taking Minnesota State Council

viduals with disabilitiesin

Yatronize your Access Press Advertisers. Let them know where you heard a b u t them. They bring you your

paper*

woetation layouts, or the nodification of equipment. 4ccommodations must also w made in theapplication pro:ess, hiring, wages, benefits, md other areas.

OSTOMY URINARY MANAGEMENT J

a p p a r e n T 8'6l"ds'ely -Amencans associate self-worth with jobstatus. burculturemphasizes that "what we do for a living" dictates who we are, and this occupational hierarchy is applied to our self-esteem. When one has a disability in addition to being unemployed, many people will comment about public assistance and how "their" tax dbllars are going to support "these" .people. This can hardIy be justified when discrimination

versity insiders feel each department is a separate entity within the vast university system and that there is no s t a b workers can thus point to significant improvement in their workingconditions.Butmany at theuniversity are stillforced to stiuggle, while gently "educating the educated" ab -.11 law and it's implications.

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. >

available on a lease basis and family. advance to the Championships in Australia. The Stars played three games Project earned for C

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Committed to full

USA are membrs of Ehe Timberwolves. Josie Johnson (9.5 points per game), ChristinaRipp(6.0ppg). SusanHagel (5.5 ppg), andMary JoKittock "Even though we finishedsecond, I was pleased with the

with disabilities. Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI) offers subsidized one and two bedroom Twin Cities metropolitanare* St.Cloud, Brainerd,GrandRapids, Hibbing, Austin, Marshall, Wiltmar, andDuluth.

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One-Day Forums In Fivebcations: 7110: Duw;7117: BtIhlmo; 7/24: St. Cloud;7/3 1:Twin Cities To Examine the Moral, Ethical & Religious Isslles Surrounding Assisted Suicide

ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER Is Happy To Be A Supporter Of The Paper

June 10, 1998

Access Press

Disability Culture

Reclaimi'ngOur History by LOMYLijewski ~t is an inescapabletruththat

we must first understand where we have come from before wecan know where we're going. ASpeople with disabilities, our history has been lost to us until very recently. Unlikeracial andethnicminority communities,ourhistory isnot taught in schools. All of these factors mean that we must be intentional about learning about and reclaiming our history. The purpose of tracing our history is to give us a sense of self, adisability identity, and to help US build community. noth her impor-

~ r~ .a u~ongmore, l PHD. of San Francisco State University is a noted disability historian who believes there is a pattern of development which disability organizations have followed throughout our history. He states "that people with disabilities were brought together in school settings, someresidentialandsomeday schools, for the pUr'Pos of academic or vocational training." An inadvertent result of theircoming togetherwas that they formed social networks. They wanted to maintain their friendships and after leaving

gan addressing iss ith Disabilities Act, ployment discriminationin pri- was juxtaposedto a valid so- (ADA) which have afforded vateindustryandpublicworks cial identity of non-disabled people with disabilities the programs such as the WPA. workers." This definition of a same kinds of civil rights proencesof~~jud~~ddiscrim When i ' policies were created to disabled person is still evident tections as other disadvannation,theybecamemorepo- govemtheseprograw,ade~ in ~ ~ ~work(disl i tagedminority d ~ groups. ~ ~ ~ liticized. At apoint of crisis or .itiofl ofdisabilityidentity was incentives today. as a result of a threat from put in place which still affects But the passage of these laws society at large they became us today. h order to qualify for Longmom believes that over has not resulted in fvll much more political. An ex- p m g r a m s ~ i ~ e ~ o c i a ~ ~ e c u ~ t y , time disability organizations ~orpeoplewithdisabilities~ We ampleisthe Associationofthe a with a disability had m a ~ r e din their undersrend- must continueto organi2esnd Deaf, which was founded in t o ~ ~ e e m e ~ ~ u n e m p ~ing o y aof ~ ~ themselves e~~ and lobby for social change. Our 1880 by various members of meL~~~~~for the physically society. attitudes toward history is a rich ofrole deaf organizations to combat ~ ~ ~war one d organii ~them. ~ mey~began~ to realize d models,saatcgies and inspiraoralism (oralism was a move- LBtion of people with disa- [hatthey wouldbe moreeffs- tion for us as we srmggle for merit to force ~ P l who e are bilities who fought this defini- tiveandpowehlifhey worked justisc. TO find this history, deaf to speak instead of using (ion and local and university that re- together. Ooss-disability or- check sign language). sulted. The League said of ganizing began in earnest in librariesandbookstores.MCIL people with disabilities, "We the 1970's. Out of these also has an extensivc lending Thispattern wasevident again workem.- B~~they were collaborations has come library, in the MUswhenmanY social unsuccessful in changing this body oflaws suchas he&ha- ~~ic~on'9documentarySer~eS w e l f ~ e p r o ~ s w e ~ c r e a t edefinition. d. Says Longmore, bilitationAct,theFderalFair which recently aired on Na-

about disability which form the organizations became more basis of the policies that gov- concerned with serious issues

featuring music by artists with a dlsabillty

-----

lejreshments will be a~ailable at a nominal charge Call for informaiI6n on o~c4mmodatlons 616-8342 603-2001 tty

-.A

A C C L J ,, It's time for you and your readers to take a trip with us.

Wilderness

For the last eight years you have helped keep our community infonned about issues that impact all of us. Here's to your continued success!

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