May 2025 Edition - Access Press

Volume 36, Number 5

MAY 2025

WWW.ACCESSPRESS.ORG

Resources available for life with Long COVID

RESOURCES To page 3

35!

GILLETTE

Disability Advocacy Day was one of many places where the message to protect Medicaid was a focus.

Historically slow capitol progress could mean chaotic session end With an adjournment date of May 19 looming, is the 2025 Minnesota Legislature running out of time? Will a special session be called to get a state budget passed and avoid a state shutdown? Those questions are hanging

over the state capitol.

With many disability services hanging in the balance and state budget cuts on the horizon, there is growing concern about the

Celebrate With Us In Our Commemorative July Issue Advertising Opportunities Pages 7 And 12

PROGRESS To page 9

Disability advocates fight eviction from accessible home

by Jane McClure Two longtime Minnesota disability community leaders and their teenage daughter spent much of April fighting eviction from a Maplewood apartment. Nikki VillavicencioTollison, Darrell Paulsen and their daughter Alley face unique challenges when looking for a new home, due to Paulsen and Villavicencio-Tollison’s disabilities and need for accommodations.

An attorney for the Maplewood fourplex owner indicated that a lease termination and eviction were done legally and that the couple had plenty of time to relocate. A Ramsey County District Court judge ruled in owner Layers Investment Groups’ favor April 7.

Friends and disability rights advocates have rallied around the family, as have members of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa. As Access Press went to press, the family and their allies had held sit-ins and two news conference/rallies.

Villavicencio-Tollison is president of the Minnesota Council on Disability and works at Advocating Change Together (ACT). Paulsen is a longtime consultant on disability issues.

Villavicencio-Tollison also serves on the

ACT

Living with Long COVID and looking for resources to make life easier? Wanting to learn more about the condition from reliable sources?

A Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) presentation on Long COVID and lived experiences points to some useful resources. As people with disabilities face Long COVID, those types of reliable resources are critical to maintaining health and quality of care.

A key thing to remember is that as life with COVID and Long COVID goes on, resources change. An example of this is Body Politic, an early Long COVID support group and advocacy organization.

Body Politic was founded in March 2018 as a queer feminist wellness collective. In March 2020, its COVID-19 Support Group launched when founder Fiona Lowenstein and Board Member Sabrina Bleich became sick with coronavirus. It quickly became a global support group, growing to more than 15,000 members. Members were from more than 30 countries.

The group was a leader in Long COVID advocacy and research starting in 2020. But with little to no funding, its organizers faced challenges. One was how to support thousands of longhaulers. This had to be done quickly, while also balancing major limitations.

Body Politic closed its support group in spring 2023 and joined forces with MEAction. Information and printable handouts can be found at wearebodypolitic.com An important point that emerged is that while COVID and Long COVID are relatively new, post-viral illness is not.

One point is that “We cannot reinvent the wheel.” That means looking at conditions similar to Long COVID. One resource that emerged as an alternative to Body Politic is MEAction. The group and its online offerings focus on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ME/CFS is a serious and often longlasting illness that keeps people from doing their usual activities. The illness makes physical and mental exertion difficult. Symptoms include trouble thinking, severe tiredness and other problems.

The CDC estimate that up to 3.3 million people in the United States suffer from ME/CFS. More than 9 in 10 people with ME/CFS have not been diagnosed by a doctor. ME/CFS costs the U.S. economy about $18 to $51

ACCESS PRESS IS TURNING

Daughter Alley and her parents Nikki Villavicencio-Tollison and Darrell Paulsen Maplewood City Council and would lose her seat if she has to leave that city. She said being forced to move out of the city silences her ability to lead.

Both use wheelchairs; Paulsen due to cerebral palsy and Villavicencio-Tollison due to arthrogryposis, a rare congenital condition that affects joint mobility. She performs everyday tasks with her feet.

The family is using the eviction dispute to highlight state budget issues and proposed cuts to disability services. Their list of demands includes having the state restore proposed cuts to waiver services. (See related story.)

“This is not about charity,” said Villavicencio-

Tollison. “It’s about equity and survival. Our communities deserve the peace of knowing we’ll have a roof over our heads and the support we need. When the state tries to push us out of our homes, it erases our voices and our contributions.”

She and Paulsen contend that people with disabilities are losing housing and independence throughout Minnesota. She described their accessible apartment as a “lifeline.”

Difficult as the eviction is for everyone involved, it also raises hard questions for policymakers. Rep. Peter Fischer (DFLEVICTION To page 9

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MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

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EDITORIAL

Weakening longtime business protections under the ADA harms us all Maybe you have looked at a store aisle, glanced at your cane or walker, and realized that passage would be difficult if not impossible. Or you checked into a motel to find that your requested accessible room lacked a usable shower.

The federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is in place to ensure that we people with disabilities have access to businesses of all types. But that access is threatened.

The U.S. Department of Justice has removed 11 ADA compliance-related business guidelines, at ADA.gov website. Check the website and see that the information removed includes a page that outlined how retail businesses are required to have accessrelated features. Another page removed covered guest service practices for hotels, motels and lodging facilities.

Also, five of seven questions were removed from the web page tied to COVID. Those included mask requirement exemptions and resources outlining an employee with a disability’s rights to an employer during the pandemic.

The guidance was called “unnecessary and outdated” in a press release. It also stated that changes could allow businesses “to deliver price relief to consumers,” and “minimize confusion.” A focus will instead be placed on tax incentives to help businesses cover their costs of accessibility improvements.

We’re skeptical. The Department of Justice is supposed to be protecting us, not taking away from the commitments of the ADA. We worry that this is the camel’s nose under the tent in terms of weakening ADA-related business compliance and our protections as a whole.

This isn’t just a website update or a

This isn't just a website update or a simple edit. This is a systemic action that is contrary to any notion that the Department of Justice is our advocate and shield when our civil rights are on the line. simple edit. This is a systemic action that is contrary to any notion that the DOJ is our advocate and shield when our civil rights are on the line.

A key concern is this: We don’t want to see the doors opened for more frivolous ADAfocused complaints against businesses. We need a stronger ADA in terms of business access, not a weaker one. Clarity and stronger language protects all of us.

We don’t want a repeat of what happened several years ago in Minnesota, when a handful of lawyers sued businesses over access for their own personal gain. Such lawsuits minimized valid business access complaints and only served to enrich attorneys. People with disabilities became pawns for those wanting to make money.

Attorneys came up with the idea of hiring disabled folks as “testers.” Testers visited

businesses, and found access problems. Then attorneys sued under the auspices of the ADA. The litigation was not so much about access as it was about making money.

Attorneys would set up disability nonprofits as fronts for their schemes.

Testers would work under the banner of these nonprofits. Attorneys would then reach settlements, with only a small part of the settlement going to the nonprofits and testers.

Those type of cases caused some small businesses to simply shut their doors, rather than make modifications. That was the path of least resistance in the face of tens of thousands in expenses.

Other businesses made costly modifications instead of more practical and less expensive solutions that could be developed with experts including Minnesota

Council on Disability staff.

It was a very frustrating time for people dedicated to access issues and finding equitable solutions, In 2020, a Minnesota attorney behind 270 lawsuits filed under the ADA was reprimanded by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Lawsuits filed between 2016 and 2018 resulted in $411,500 in settlements.

According to the court order, this attorney entered into contingency fee arrangements that lacked needed details. The settlements didn’t go into a trust account as required.

Under the ADA, a lawsuit’s only remedy is for a business owner to be prevented from operating until the business is brought into compliance. While plaintiffs’ legal fees must be paid, there aren’t damages under the ADA that a lawyer recovers for the client and gets a percentage of.

This brought calls for change. In 2017 Republicans in Congress pushed for legislation to relax ADA compliance for businesses. The argument was to make such frivolous lawsuits more difficult, and to help businesses facing such claims. But that also meant weakening the ADA. We appreciate access challenges. We also appreciate the challenges small businesses face. There needs to be a balance and that in most cases, access solutions can be found.

The last thing we need is for people with disabilities to be portrayed as people out to ruin small businesses. That happened and we don’t want it to happen again.

The ADA and all of its protections need to be left alone, to protect everyone.

HISTORY NOTE

Access Press is part of a long and proud community newspaper tradition As Access Press nears its 35th anniversary, it’s time for a look back at how various communities have been served by news media.

Small newspapers, many of them published monthly, have provided news and information critical to readers. The papers shared a spirit of cooperation, working together on many issues.

Access Press published its first issue in July 1990. At that time it joined a large group of urban neighborhood-focused and BIPOC community newspapers in the Twin Cities.

Over the years neighborhood and BIPOC community newspapers in the Twin Cities published in the shadow of several large daily newspapers in Minneapolis and St. Paul. These smaller papers, which began appearing in the late 19th and early 20th century, focused on unique audiences of neighborhoods or ethnic groups. For example, several papers served readers of German and various Scandinavian heritages.

Fewer of these focused papers were published during much of the 20th century.

One notable exception is what is now the

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. That paper, which began in 1934 as separate papers serving Minneapolis and St. Paul, celebrated 90 years’ publication in 2024. It continues to be owned by the same family.

A resurgence of neighborhood-focused publications began in the 1970s as communities organized around issues including urban renewal, freeway construction and “white flight” from the cities.

Access Press had an early mission to inform and organize the disability community. So, too, did many of the first neighborhood and BIPOC community newspapers that began in the 1970s. Much community organizing was done by door-knocking, leaving fliers at doorsteps and on bulletin boards, and calling through “phone trees.” It sounds quaint today.

Members of a group would each have a list of phone numbers to call if an important meeting or event was on the horizon. Having a newspaper of one’s own eliminated that need.

Community members would often a call a newspaper office and ask when the next

paper would be published, timing community meetings after the print date.

One of those papers was the West Side Voice, which served St. Paul’s West Side community.

It is believed to be the oldest, if not one of the oldest, nonprofit neighborhood newspapers in the United States.

One of the people involved in its founding was a young community organizer named Jim Scheibel. Scheibel would help found another neighborhood newspaper, the Sunrise, which served part of the city’s East Side.

He later became a St. Paul City Council member and president, going on to become mayor. Scheibel went on to work in the Bill Clinton presidential administration and has had a lengthy career as a member of the faculty at Hamline University.

In 1974, volunteers who produced neighborhood newspapers in Minneapolis and St. Paul gathered to discuss concerns. That launched the Neighborhood Press Association, which was founded in August 1975.

The name was changed in 1992 to

Neighborhood and Community Press Association, to include Access Press and BIPOC community papers. Having an association was important as the Minnesota Newspaper Association at that time didn’t admit the smaller papers as members.

When Access Press transitioned to nonprofit status, members of the press association assisted with that transition.

During the 1990s, there were more than 50 inner-city neighborhood and BIPOC papers in the Twin Cities. As more news went online, many of those papers closed up shop. So, too, did the Neighborhood and Community Press Association.

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)

CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTION: Distributed the 1st of each month through more than 200 locations statewide.

Approximately 750 copies are mailed to individuals, including political, business, institutional and civic leaders.

SUBSCRIPTION: Free and accessible to anyone in MInnesota, visit www.accesspress.org to subscribe.

ABOUT ACCESS PRESS: A monthly newspaper published for persons with disabilities by Access Press, Ltd. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Access Press, PO Box 40006, Industrial Station, St. Paul, MN 551048006.

INQUIRIES AND ADDRESS CHANGES should be directed to: Access Press, PO Box 40006, Industrial Station, St. Paul, MN 55104-8006; 651-644-2133; email: access@ accesspress.org Website: accesspress.org

MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

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by Katrina Bailey Minnesota Daily The Trump administration announced around $11 billion in cuts to COVID related grants nationwide this spring.

The Minnesota Department of Health said it is losing more than $200 million in federal grant money that funded the state’s COVID response. This affects organizations and providers across the state, including the Minneapolis Health Department, M Health Fairview and Neighborhood HealthSource.

The Minneapolis Health Department announced in a press release that this decision will limit the city’s support of vaccine clinics, immunization education and partnerships with other community organizers.

The city has contracts with M Health Fairview, Odam Medical Clinic and Neighborhood HealthSource (NHS), which were all notified on March 26 that all vaccine work is to stop immediately.

“The impact on our community is substantial. We are canceling five free vaccine clinics scheduled for April, and the future of our vaccine services in underserved communities is uncertain,” Minneapolis Health Department Commissioner Damōn Chaplin said. “Decisions at the federal level threaten public health now and in the future.”

The Minneapolis Health Department was notified on March 25 that the federal government pulled back all COVID-19 federal funds. The work supporting vaccination clinics and immunization education must cease immediately.

In 2024, the Minneapolis Health Department partnered with community organizations to hold 87 vaccine clinics

ISTOCK

Cuts to federal COVID funding put a halt to clinics and education work

in underserved communities. The clinics provided more than 800 COVID vaccines and more than 700 flu shots, among other vaccines.

“The impact on our community is substantial. We (canceled) five free vaccine clinics scheduled for April, and the future of our vaccine services in underserved communities is uncertain," said Commissioner Damōn Chaplin, Minneapolis Health Department. “Decisions

at the federal level threaten public health now and in the future.”

M Health Fairview said in a statement that vaccines remain the best way to protect people and will continue to find ways to make vaccines affordable to all.

“While the decision to eliminate these grant programs makes this work more difficult, we are committed to finding ways to extend care beyond traditional health care settings to best meet peoples’ needs and keep

our community free from illness,” an M Health Fairview spokesperson said.

The M Health Fairview website said over the past three years, about 70,000 COVID vaccinations were delivered to more than 1,800 clinics across Minnesota.

Steven Knutson, the NHS executive director, said he was frustrated by the lack of advance notice, but added that NHS has received four grant cancellations since the announcement. Anoka County and Minneapolis had awarded NHS grants to cover free vaccination clinics before they were canceled.

“We had to front-end load the costs for all of those clinics up front. We had to order all the vaccines. We had to hire the staff. We had to have all the supplies we paid for out of our bottom line. And then we would slowly get that reimbursed for each event as we held them,” Knutson said.

Now that the money was canceled, Knutson said they are out of all costs as the money was spent upfront. He added they will not receive reimbursement, which he said is an insult to the injury.

There are 14 federally qualified health centers in the Twin Cities area where people with limited financial resources get vaccinated, Knutson said. NHS specifically has four clinics nearby, with one in North Minneapolis, two in Northeast Minneapolis and one in Coon Rapids.

Editor’s note: Access Press was one of many entities that lost funding. Access Press had a partnership with the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL). The focus of the program was information and outreach for Minnesotans with disabilities facing COVID. A grant and project on Long COVID remains in place.

Loss of funding shuts down Minnesota's COVID public inquiry hotline Due to recent federal funding cuts, the public inquiry hotline that started in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic ended April 18.

The hotline was a vital service that offered a way for Minnesotans to connect with the Minnesota Department of Health to get

RESOURCES From page 1

billion annually in medical costs and lost income.

ME/CFS has no known cause or cure. Care usually means treating the symptoms that most affect a person's life, according to the CDC. It was important to integrate knowledge about ME/CFS and related conditions into Long COVID outreach, lean on existing organizations like MEAction and learn from existing research. Another point is to learn from lived experience of patients with related conditions who have walked this path before Long COVID. One issue some Long COVID patients live with is post-exertional malaise or PEM. The cardinal symptom of ME is PEM), or postexertional neuroimmune exhaustion.

While PEM is often studied in relation to physical activity, cognitive overexertion or sensory overload may also initiate PEM. Information from the Mayo Clinic explains that PEM is an increase in the severity of symptoms and/or the appearance of

information and answers about public health information and resources.

The hotline provided a way for people to receive health and safety information in other languages. Staff bilingual in Spanish, Somali and Hmong provided this service; the Language Line was also used for other

languages when needed.

From March 2020-March 2025, the public inquiry hotline handled 461,792 calls. Staff also provided information to Minnesotans via countless emails.

Contact information for various programs can be found on the About the Minnesota

Department of Health page at https://www. health.state.mn.us/about/index.html.

The general information phone number for the agency is 651-201-5000 (toll-free 1-888345-0823).

new symptoms after physical or cognitive exertion. These symptoms often manifest themselves after a 24-hour delay, but also can show up 12 to 48 hours after the fact. Symptoms can include pain, falling energy levels, cognitive difficulties and metabolism issues, sensory challenges and neuromuscular issues. Automic issues including dizziness, nausea, a pounding heart and a drop in core temperature can take place. Immune system concerns including flu-like symptoms, fevers, sore throats and swollen lymph glands can occur.

MEAction reports that susceptibility to ME may also be genetic, but the disease is triggered by infection in the majority of patients. People with disabilities, especially those with compromised immune systems, may be susceptible.

ME may be severe as 75 percent of those affected are unable to work and 25 percent are homebound or bedridden. ME is a common chronic consequence of viruses, with 10-12 people of those with serious infection going on to develop the disease. An estimated 15-30 million people live with the disease worldwide.

More is always being learned about Long COVID, ME/CFS and PEM. One resource is the website, MEAction, at https://www. meaction.net/about/ Access Press provides coverage of COVID issues with support from the Metropolitan

Center for Independent Living (MCIL). Learn more about MCIL at https://mcil-mn.org/ This activity is made possible by a grant from the Long COVID Program of the Minnesota Department of Health.

Choice Services TransitionalResponsive and HousingPCA Services Independent Living Services Independent Living Services ADA Minnesota ADAInformation Information & Referral COVID Community Coordination Covid Community Coordination Advocacy &Transitional Referral Services and Housing Services

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MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

FROM OUR COMMUNITY

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People with disabilities shouldn't have to meet criteria to be valued

by Lauren Thompson Too often, we people with disabilities, and our families have had to make lists. Lists of reasons, proof, as to why we deserve equal rights and opportunities, to do things, and be who we are.

When our needs have been ignored and/ or neglected, in favor of what is so-called ‘normal,’ we have had to literally justify our own existence.

I’ve seen dear friends and advocates in a frenzy over the past few days trying to process through the ableist, and inaccurate, comments that federal Health and Human

Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made about autism. Making lists about why autistic people have value, why their existence is worth it, even though it’s hard. Declaring again, the message that has been said so many times, and in so many ways, “autism makes people special.” Disabilities also come with meaningful traits/blessings. Dear friends, all of that may be true, but we shouldn’t have to say it, we shouldn’t have to make lists.

Human beings shouldn’t have to meet criteria to be valued.

I feel like the reason RFK Jr. made those comments, the reason why there is ableism

and eugenics, is because at some point society made this measuring stick that decides what makes a life worth living. This measuring stick is arbitrary, it’s imaginary, and it needs to go away, especially since it’s subjective.

What if we stopped measuring?

Because the autistic person with a photographic memory has value. The forgetful autistic person who is non speaking, and can’t live independently has value too. And so does the autistic person who has meltdowns. Also, so do the people who can’t walk, the people who can’t move their arms, etc.

No matter what kind of disability it is,

no matter what level, we are all human.

Everyone is different, but we all have an intrinsic value, by virtue of our humanity, alone. Maybe if we could agree on our intrinsic value, we wouldn’t have to fight for our survival so much?

For now, a shoutout to the dear autistic people who I love: know that you are loved and valued no matter where you are on the spectrum.

Lauren Thompson is a disability community advocate who lives in Mounds View.

Loss of Twin Cities' clubhouse funding threatens recovery and support

by NAMI Minnesota NAMI Minnesota is deeply concerned about the immediate defunding of Vail Communities' clubhouses in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Clubhouses are a single point for people with mental illnesses to access, integrate, and coordinate a range of services to work toward mental health recovery.

Members and staff work together side-byside to operate all aspects of the clubhouse.

Clubhouses help with housing, employment, education, health and wellness and offer a wide variety of social, recreational and cultural events and activities.

This defunding decision resulted from

an abrupt and unexpected directive to cease operations. Citing the rescission of federal COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) decided to discontinue Vail Communities' clubhouses in Minneapolis and St. Paul funding as of June 30.

“Clubhouses are more than just spaces or drop-in centers—they are lifelong recovery communities. Closing these programs would leave a devastating gap in support for people already navigating complex mental health challenges,” said Karina Forrest Perkins, president and executive officer of Vail Communities.

NAMI Minnesota, a long-standing partner

in mental health advocacy, has raised serious questions about the justification for this action—particularly given that most mental health programs operate with braided funding models and are not solely reliant on COVID-era or federal funds.

“Counties are legally obligated under the Adult Mental Health Act to ensure access to community support programs like Clubhouses," said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota. "Yet here we are—watching vital supports vanish when we need them the most.”

Clubhouses are a low-cost, important program that addresses a key issue:

loneliness. Providing connection and support is key to recovery. Under the Adult Mental Health Act, counties are supposed to ensure that people with serious mental illnesses have access to community support programs, which include clubhouses. But many counties, including Ramsey, do not.

At a time when we are facing an incredible mental health crisis, now is not the time to end two critical programs.

NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit organization working to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families through education, support and advocacy programs.

Two very different narratives are unfolding at Minnesota’s capitol

by Josh Berg As the Minnesota Legislature wraps up the majority of its committee work with the first, second and third deadlines behind us, much remains to be done before adjournment on May 19. In recent weeks, we’ve seen omnibus policy bills compiled, marked up and passed out of committees.

Now, their complementary budget bills have followed suit.

For those paying close attention, it’s clear that different narratives are unfolding, each promising very different conclusions to this legislative session. The proposals from the governor’s office and the House diverge significantly from those of the Senate, setting the stage for potentially contentious conference committee discussions that will require substantial negotiation, collaboration and compromise.

A key difference lies in how these proposals address the significant and looming budget deficit in the coming years.

The Senate appears to be taking a more balanced approach, spreading budget targets and cost reductions (i.e., “cuts”) equitably across various sections of the overall budget.

In stark contrast, the House and governor’s proposals take a different path.

The House’s agreed targets call for a reduction in spending of $1.011 billion in fiscal year 2028-29 (excluding inflationary adjustments), with nearly all of these cuts — $1 billion or 98.9 percent — coming from the state Department of Human Services. This is despite Human Services accounting for 30 percent of the state’s overall expenditures. In other words, House leaders have chosen to

balance the budget on the backs of individuals with disabilities, our most vulnerable Minnesotans, and the organizations that support them across the state.

These targets are set by the same legislative leaders who represent low-income individuals with disabilities, older adults and children, and families whose lives depend on these programs and services. The Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, co-chaired by Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Minneapolis) and Rep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) was then forced to build an omnibus bill to meet these targets. To say they were dealt a losing hand is an understatement.

This misguided approach is mirrored in the governor’s budget proposal, which also seeks to balance the budget at the expense of our most vulnerable populations in Minnesota.

This may seem surprising, as the governor and his team continue to question similar actions being taken at the federal level with proposed cuts to Medicaid that would have disastrous effects on countless lives and completely upend Minnesota’s budget situation even further. I would respectfully point out that it appears we are attempting to do the same thing here in Minnesota, based on the governor’s proposed budget.

The negative impact of these cuts cannot be overstated. Reducing funding for human services will not only harm those who rely on these essential services but could also lead to increased costs in the future. When funding for mental health support, disability services and other critical programs is slashed, the immediate savings are often overshadowed by long-term expenses. For instance, inadequate

mental health services can lead to higher rates of emergency room visits, hospitalizations and even incarceration, all of which are far more costly than preventive care.

Moreover, cutting funding for programs that support older adults and individuals with disabilities can result in higher costs for long-term care facilities and increased strain on family caregivers. This can lead to a cycle of increased demand for more expensive services down the line.

I urge both the House and governor’s office to stand up for and represent those who depend on these services. Try again.

Try harder. Do better. Suggesting that these targets are a fair or equitable way to balance

Got news to share?

Drop us a line or call

651-644-2133 access@accesspress.org

the budget is almost laughable. I, along with many Minnesotans, expected better from our state’s legislative leaders.

We can do better. We must do better.

Josh Berg is a nonprofit leader at Accessible Space, Inc. and a City Council member in Elko New Market.

Accessible Arts & Culture Calendar Free monthly emails of events with: ASL Interpreting Captioning Audio Description Sensory-Friendly Adaptations Artists with Disabilities Events Disability Topics Ask for the service you need or get the entire list! info@mnaccess.org https://calendar.mnaccess.org Watch for upcoming workshops on improving accessibility to the arts

Minnesota Access Alliance

Access the assistive technology (AT) you need to work, learn, connect and play.

The Minnesota STAR Program offers free resources and information about AT for all Minnesotans with disabilities and aging adults, plus: • Device demonstrations. Call or email us to schedule a demonstration to compare features and benefits of devices. We have demonstration labs around the state.

• Online AT lending library. Browse and borrow devices at mn.AT4all.com.

1-888-234-1267 or 1-800-627-3529 (TTY 7-1-1) Email: star.program@state.mn.us

mn.gov/admin/star

MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

Pg 5

PEOPLE AND PLACES

New access improvements are highlight at William O’Brien State Park and Trails Division.

Visitors will enjoy a wide range of improvements to William O’Brien State Park’s day use area, Riverway Campground and its park office. Improvements were made using universal design, which benefits all visitors.

The Walter F. Mondale Day Use Area, named for the late vice president and U.S. senator, features two new accessible restroom buildings and a new picnic shelter near Lake Alice beach.

Visitors will also see accessibility improvements to two existing picnic shelters, including accessible routes from parking, grills and new vault toilets. The parking lot has safety improvements and better beach access.

Swimmers will find a larger, more accessible swimming beach with an ADA-compliant route to the water’s edge. Yet another feature is a new accessible canoe/kayak launch on Lake Alice.

PARK To page 6 MINNESOTA DNR

A state park just outside of the Twin Cities will spotlight $5.25 million in new accessible features, starting in May. The features are in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reopened the Walter F. Mondale Day Use Area at William O’Brien State Park, effective May 1. In addition, the Riverway Campground reopened effective May 2.

The day use area and campground closed in March 2024 for construction to provide comprehensive accessibility. The park is in Washington County near Marine on St. Croix.

It is located on the St. Croix River.

Improved state park access throughout Minnesota has long been a goal of park advocates and the Minnesota Council on Disability. The latest project was funded by state bonding dollars and the Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences) initiative.

Get Out MORE is a historic, one-time investment of $150 million to help ensure Minnesotans of all abilities and interests enjoy a world-class recreation system, whichever outdoor experience they choose. Learn about the initiative at mndnr.gov/get-out-more “The improvements to the day use area at William O’Brien State Park are a prime example how DNR’s Get Out MORE initiative is modernizing outdoor recreation experiences for Minnesotans,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “This project enhances access

Accessible shelter space can make camping easier. and helps welcome new users to public lands, which helps Minnesotans of all interests and abilities better connect with the outdoors. I’m thrilled that Get Out MORE will fund more of these kinds of projects over the next few years.”

Get Out MORE dollars also cover the costs of two all-terrain track chairs. The chairs can be checked out and used on designated park trails. These will be the second and third track

chairs in the metropolitan area, joining one heavily used chair at Fort Snelling State Park.

There will be 23 track chairs in use in state parks in Minnesota by this summer, according to news reports.

“We’re excited to welcome the public back to this popular area of the park and offer improved amenities that all park visitors can enjoy,” said Ann Pierce, director of Minnesota DNR’s Parks

Dock and kayak launch planned for Detroit Lakes City Beach this summer Detroit Lakes’ City Beach will gain a floating dock and accessible kayak launch this summer, thanks to a generous donation. The City Council approved the $101,933 purchase of the equipment in April. The local Disabled American Veterans chapter raised the required funds for the equipment.

Money for the equipment was raised through private donations from individuals, businesses and organizations, as well as various fundraising events. The city is essentially

acting as a middleman, purchasing the dock on DAV’s behalf with the money raised by DAV. The dock will be placed on Detroit Lakes City Beach near Lakeside Tavern and Brewery. Lakeland DAV Commander Jason Bristlin told the Detroit Lakes Tribune said the location was recommended because of nearby disability parking spots. More are likely to be added during the West Lake Drive street improvement project next summer.

Bristlin said the goal is to have the dock and

launch installed before the Fourth of July.

Both will be accessible to anyone with mobility issues.

“We’re very appreciative of the DAV that has raised the funds for this not only going to help DL residents but other residents of the area get in on the lake, and we’re very appreciative,” council member Matt Boeke said Tuesday night.

Bristlin extended his gratitude to the city and BEACH To page 6

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MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

Pg 6

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Gloria Fahnbulleh of Hammer Residences & NER is Minnesota’s direct support professional of the year. She and other DSPs were honored in April at a ceremony in San Diego.

The ceremony was hosted by American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR). ANCOR has 2,500 members around the nation. For more than half a century the nonprofit has worked to shape policy and share solutions to strengthen the ability of community.

Hammer & NER (formerly Northeast Residence) nominated Fahnbulleh. She is one of more than 500 nominees from around the United States. Each state has an honoree. A top DSP nationwide is also honored, and other special awards are given.

Hammer & NER is a nonprofit organization with a combined 150 years of experience. It provides housing and supportive services across the Twin Cities to adults with intellectual and other disabilities. Fahbulleh supports four women at one of its homes in Plymouth.

“Hammer & NER is so proud of Gloria,” said CEO John Estrem. “We are thrilled to celebrate her award, which represents her incredible work and dedication that enables true community inclusion for the people we support. We're grateful that ANCOR has recognized Gloria with this national honor.”

Hammer & NER called Fhanbulleh a “shining example of how compassion, dedication and person-centeredness can empower those we serve to live more meaningful and self-directed lives. You have not only touched the lives of those you support – you inspire everyone around you.”

Fahnbulleh’s event biography stated: “Gloria is instrumental in helping her

Gloria Fahnbulleh Gloria with Chris, Mary and Diane program exceed expectations. Gloria engages the women she supports in productive activities and personal goals by planning outings and making them aware of community events.

She organizes experiences through Project SOAR for the ladies to participate in movie night with pizza, pop, and a picture show, and game night by playing bingo with others in the community, where they get to socialize and meet new friends. Gloria collaborates during staff meetings and makes suggestions that can better support the people she serves.

IN MEMORIAM Goldberg a committed leader at PACER Center Marge Goldberg’s experiences as the parent of a disabled child led her to help other families. She became a co-founder and coleader of PACER Center.

Goldberg died in April. She was 90 years old and lived in Richfield.

PACER Center announced her death April 18, describing her as an “extraordinary individual with incredible vision. We will miss her spirit, compassion, and wisdom.”

Marjorie “Marge” Vogel Goldberg was from Shaker Heights, Ohio. She studied at Emerson College.

Her husband Nelson, who died in 1999, was a pioneering professor of biochemistry at the University of Minnesota. They had two sons, Daniel and Peter.

PACER Center’s announcement stated: “Throughout her adult life, Marge was dedicated to serving children with disabilities and their families. At the beginning of her career, she noticed that parents were not part of the systems that helped children, and she worked tirelessly to change that. When she and her husband, Nelson, learned that their son,

Performer, author Orr was always the life of the party Leslye Susan Orr Mistry was a remarkable performer, writer, teacher and disability advocate. Orr died earlier this spring. She was 69 years old and lived in St. Paul.

Blind from birth, Orr was the fourth of eight children in the boisterous and resilient Orr family. She was blind from birth, and learned to walk by following her mother's finger snaps. After 18 eye surgeries, she gained low tunnel vision in her right eye.

She proudly referred to herself as a cyclops, and saw her disability as a gift that fostered her big imagination.

Performing was a lifelong love, from childhood to Sioux Falls Lincoln High School to the Children's Theater Company (CTC) in Minneapolis. She then studied voice and speech in New York City at the Working Theater, before returning to Minnesota, where she happily spent her last 50 years.

She was a pillar in the Twin Cities arts community. For more than a decade, she was a voice coach and actor at CTC. She performed with Ballet of the Dolls, Illusion Theater, Jungle Theater, and Dudley Riggs, and was awarded playwriting fellowships by the Jerome Foundation and Minnesota State Arts Board.

In 1992, she met Indian-born fellow theater artist Zaraawar Mistry. For 32 years, they

Peter, had a disability, Marge became an even more zealous advocate for the right of children with disabilities to have access to education. She had a tremendous influence on the expansion of Minnesota’s special education laws in the 1970s, particularly in the area of learning disabilities.”

“Marge, along with Paula Goldberg, cofounded PACER Center in 1977 and helped lead our growth as one of the first parent training and information centers in the country. In many ways, PACER’s history is a history of how Marge’s growth as a parent and advocate evolved into a catalyst for systems change at the state and federal levels. Because of Marge, PACER has provided resources, information, and training to help thousands of families navigate education, mental health, and medical systems so that their children with disabilities could receive the services and supports they need.”

Marge and Paula Goldberg weren’t related.

But they shared a strong commitment to making PACER Center a success. Marge Goldberg was involved in numerous research projects and advocacy efforts during her years at PACER. She is survived by her sons and many other family members. were partners in love and art. From 2006 to 2023, they ran Dreamland Arts, a 40seat black box theater attached to their St. Paul home. She passionately promoted the “possibilities of disabilities.”

Her picture book, The People on the Corner, taught children how to be inclusive in fun and games.

Her one-woman play, Hand in Hand, explored the bond between Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. She toured Hand in Hand in all 50 states, and internationally with the U.S. State Department.

She is survived by her husband and son Sam; her mother, three siblings and many other relatives.

In lieu of a funeral, she requested that friends and family throw parties. Memorials preferred to Springboard for the Arts, where a new fund to support artists with disabilities is being established in her name.

Gloria has received warm compliments from other residential managers that make her organization proud of her work ethic—not only here but also in the community.”

ANCOR is a national advocacy organization for the disability services community and a leading voice in Washington for communitybased disability services providers. Each year, the organization selects one nominee from each state as a DSP of the Year.

Since 2007, ANCOR’s annual DSP of the Year awards recognize outstanding workers

HAMMER & NER

Fahnbulleh is honored as national group's Minnesota DSP of the year

who deliver long-term services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The awards celebrate the important role DSPs play in ensuring people with disabilities have what they need to thrive, and be included in the community.

The awards are also intended to raise awareness about a direct support workforce in crisis. Inadequate investments in this essential workforce have led to a decades-long severe shortage of DSPs, which risks being exacerbated significantly as Congress weighs substantial cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid is the program the funds the vast majority of services delivered by the direct support workforce.

BEACH

handicap-accessible spot on the City Beach fishing pier, which is in the process of being implemented.

Another project in the works is creating a handicapaccessible swimming area, though funds have not yet been raised for that project.

“It morphed into three different locations, and rightfully so, so we don’t have to cram everything into (one location),” Bristlin said of the projects. “I think it’s amazing.”

PARK

Established in 1947, William O’Brien was the first metro area state park. Its eastern border runs along the St. Croix River, which is a migratory pathway for birds and important habitat for many mammals.

In the 1970s the park expanded westward into the grasslands and forests. Many miles of hiking and skiing trails and camping grounds lie here. The visitor center is named for one of the leaders of Minnesota Parks & Trails Council, Samuel H. Morgan, who was instrumental in the expansion effort.

Prior to white colonial occupation, Dakota and Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) peoples called this area home. Fur traders used the river for transport in the 1600s, followed by lumberjacks in the mid-1800s. The park’s namesake comes from a lumber baron who owned the land prior to passing it on to his daughter, Alice. She donated the first 180 acres that formed the nucleus of the park.

Lake Alice is named in her honor.

From page 5 the public works department Tuesday night for helping the project come to fruition. He also mentioned that the Detroit Lakes DAV chapter has other plans for improving lake accessibility on City Beach.

Funds have already been raised for adding a

From page 5 Riverway Campground now includes a renovated shower building with a redesigned layout, variety of ADA-compliant fixtures and parking. Six of the campsites are ADAcompliant. The Riverside Trail is newly resurfaced. A new accessible route has been developed to the park amphitheater Resurfacing and regrading of overflow parking and trail connections was also completed.

The Riverway Campground and Riverside Group Camp offer a rustic camping experience with vault toilets during the month of May. The campground shower building renovations are expected to be completed by June 1.

The Park Office Building has added accessible parking, ADA-compliant outdoor service counter and windows, and new automatic door openers.

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MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

Pg 7

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Therese Davis, longtime Wingspan Life Resources executive director, is stepping down in May. Davis ends a remarkable 48 years of pouring her heart into her life’s work of supporting people with developmental disabilities.

When Davis left her job interview at Wingspan in the spring of 1977, a tiny young woman with Down syndrome waved and said, “Bye, honey!” Davis went home fervently hoping that she would get the job. She started working at Wingspan soon after and worked her way up through the nonprofit’s ranks.

“The people of Wingspan have had a profound effect on my life and of who I am,” Davis said. “Over the years, I’ve shared many stories about so many people who taught me, influenced me or took my breath away by their resilience, their strength, humor and love.”

She added, “People understandably wonder, How could anyone stay with one company for 48 years? Honestly, one year simply led to the next, each person completing my life in ways I may never imagined. I have been humbled by the life lessons I have learned from those we serve, and overwhelmed by the selflessness of the many staff, board members and donors who have continuously gone above and beyond to support our mission, which is to inspire community by empowering people impacted by disabilities to live their best lives.”

Wingspan will celebrate Davis’s legacy of advocacy and love with a retirement party May 14. Her final farewell will be May 20 at Wingspan’s annual Power of Love Gala. “On behalf of a grateful community, we thank Therese for her generous heart and tireless advocacy,” said Darolyn Gray, Wingspan development officer.

Davis has been a steadfast advocate for the disability community for almost 50 years.

She was among the pioneers of the concept of person-centered planning long before it was a central tenet of disability community best practices.

WINGSPAN LIFE RESOURCES

Longtime Wingspan Life Resources leader Davis leaves a legacy of advocacy

Therese Davis She has been involved in many task force and advocacy groups throughout her career including ARRM’s Grass Roots Advocacy Committee and Public Policy Committee.

She has met personally with legislators over the decades to advocate for client supports

and fair wages for staff. She has encouraged staff, families served, clients, donors and other constituents to write letters, make calls to legislators, and to show up at the capitol to raise their voices on behalf of the community.

She has been a champion of self-advocacy and

helping people find their voice.

Davis became Wingspan’s executive director in 2016. Before that she was a direct service provider. She then advanced to become chief operations officer.

Many improvements were made under Davis’s leadership. Under her direction in 2018, crisis respite services were added. A specialized services unit was also created to help meet the growing demand for people who require support beyond those typically provided in a four-person residential group home setting.

Wingspan had only served adults for many years, until services for youth ages 12-17 were added in 2023.

Today, Wingspan has 35 group homes throughout the Twin Cities. Wingspan’s rich history began in 1973 when two members of St. Stephen’s Church in South Minneapolis noticed that the women living across the street, at a privately-owned board and care home, were attending church as they usually did. But the women appeared to be in distress, Church members walked across the street to investigate and found 30 women residing in the home, all with developmental disabilities.

They had been abandoned by the owner and were living on their own.

The two church members, Beryl Wolney and Julie Koegle, selflessly moved in to provide care for the women. A few months later, they appealed to Catholic Charities to assume management of the home. What is now Wingspan Life Resources opened in 1973 as St. Ann's Residence under the management of Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Wolney went on to work at St. Ann’s/ Wingspan as a direct care professional for many years and was an inspiration for Wingspan’s highest employee award. The Beryl Wolney Award is for an employee who personifies the attributes of Wingspan’s core values.

Wingspan evolved into its own nonprofit. It is based in St. Paul.

Our People and Places pages are for a range of community news stories Access Press welcomes your news for People and Places. Please be mindful of our news guidelines.

Our People and Places section is for news about Minnesotans with disabilities, Minnesotans who are involved in the disability community, their organizations and their accomplishments. News items include major award winners, new or retiring organization leaders, authors, a major organization anniversary, new business owners new or retiring board members, new or relocated facilities and other similar items.

We also publish obituaries of prominent disability community members.

We ask that submissions not be more than 500 words long. We can make exceptions. One exception is for annual awards by a disability service organization, which are given more space to include all of the winners.

We welcome pictures, although for multiple award winners we ask that there either be a group photo of winners or photos that don’t have the same person handing out every award pictured. We like to feature as many different people as possible.

Remember to include names for captions.

We often receive requests to publish features about an organization, but we need

a newsworthy angle. News items for People and Places also must have a timely tie and come in as soon as possible after an event.

Our policy is to not publish news items with a “pity” focus.

Questions about People and Places can be directed to Editor Jane McClure, at jane@ accesspress.org or 651-644-2133 ext. 1.

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MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

Pg 8

REGIONAL NEWS

Lake Superior College in Duluth will provide expanded college offerings for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, thanks to a new state grant.

The Inclusive Higher Education Grant supports Minnesota public colleges and universities seeking to match federal standards and best practices in creating or developing opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

It was funded in 2023. The first grant application cycle was in 2024.

“We need some help to kind of kick-start the process, and this grant is giving us that ability to do that,” said Linda Kingston, vice president of academic and student affairs at Lake Superior College.

Around 1,000 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities graduate high school in Minnesota every year, but, as of 2023, there were only about 90 seats in the three higher education programs in the state that offer enrollment to those students and are eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Two of those three programs focus only on occupational training, without access to the kinds of major-specific college courses available to students without disabilities.

The grant aims to change that.

Kingston led the charge toward inclusive higher education at Lake Superior College with broad support from faculty and staff.

She could draw on personal experience: she has a daughter with Down syndrome who completed the BUILD program at Bethel University, a two-year residential program

Autism prevalence outlined New data from the Minnesota-Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (MN-ADDM) at the University of Minnesota shows that 1 in 28 (3.6 percent) 8-year-old children in Minnesota have autism.

The findings are based on 2022 data from 17,331 children in parts of Anoka, Hennepin, and Ramsey counties.

Minnesota is part of a 16-state network funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC found that, on average, 1 in 31 (3.2 percent) children were identified as having autism in communities where prevalence was tracked by the ADDM Network in 2022, an increase from 1 in 36 in 2020. This estimate is based on 8-year-old children living in parts of 16 states and does not represent the entire population of children in the United States.

"These latest autism prevalence numbers show that we are identifying more children with autism in our communities than ever before," said Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande, coprincipal investigator for the Minnesota project. "Behind every data point is a real child and a real family. What matters most is making sure they have access to the support and services they need to thrive."

This project does not examine what causes autism. The focus is on providing data and training that helps policymakers, educators, communities, providers, families and individuals make informed decisions and support children with autism and their families.

Read more about the program at https://ici. umn.edu/news/new-autism-prevalence-findingsin-minnesota (Source: Institute on Community Integration University of Minnesota)

Rally to save deaf studies program

Students and faculty at the University of Minnesota Duluth have rallied over a decision to cut the college’s deaf studies minor due to budget changes. Supporters have voiced frustrations over confusing messaging and a lack of communication, especially with the department's deaf staff members. They are circulating a petition and taking their case to the news media.

“I was the first person to find out that the deaf studies program was cut," Mary Soltis, coordinator for the campus American Sign Language lab, told the Duluth News Tribune through an interpreter. "The students had found it out from the school, and I think some staff members found out from the students. It just felt like a mess.”

Soltis was one of the only staff members told in advance that the program was being cut as part of the university’s efforts to reallocate $3.7

LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE

Lake Superior College to offer classes for I/DD students

in St. Paul for students with an intellectual disability.

Since her daughter was young, Kingston, a longtime employee of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, has had her eye on an affordable and accessible inclusive higher education option for Minnesotans.

She saw her chance to develop one at Lake Superior College when the inclusive higher education grant became available last year.

“The reason that you don’t see a lot of these programs, in my opinion, is it’s a very expensive program and state institutions like Lake Superior, or other institutions in the Minnesota State system, have a tuition rate that doesn’t cover it,” said Kingston.

Lake Superior College received $200,000 in one-time funding, with the possibility of long-term grant funding available. Grant applicants can apply annually for and receive awards for up to 10 years.

Kingston said their first steps with the grant include hiring a grant director to lead the process, getting certified to qualify for federal and state grants, training faculty in universal design and student-centered planning, and looking for other funding to make the program sustainable.

School officials hope the program, called the Program for Accessible College Education, will be up and running by spring 2026.

(Source: Minnesota Public Radio)

million of its budget.

As the lab coordinator, she works on a different contract than other department members. She’s been with the university for 12 years, providing a space in the ASL lab for students to practice their skills and grow more comfortable signing. In that time, she said, she never experienced a communication breakdown from administration like this, with multiple deaf faculty members receiving little or no communication about changes to the program, or whether they would be kept on staff.

“I don’t know why we haven’t gotten any communication as faculty," said Michael Knapp, another deaf studies instructor. "We should know that before it gets sent out to the students. We should be in that loop. We've just kind of been left out of all of this. … That’s very offensive for us.

Like Soltis, Knapp is one of several deaf or hard of hearing staff members involved with the deaf studies and American Sign Language programs at UMD. In the original email sent by the UMD Advising and Academic Services office, students were told that “effective immediately,” The program would no longer be offered at UMD. All courses for the minor were removed from the school's registration portal for the coming fall semester. Students were told they would be given a “pathway” to complete their degree and were provided a list of colleges that would offer similar courses. The closest program is located at Pine Technical and Community College in Pine City.

(Source: Duluth News Tribune)

discovered that Madison Equities had failed to routinely test its fire suppression systems, the structural integrity of the ramp, and the water backflow prevention system, which separates contaminated water from clean water. This lack of testing poses a risk to the shared potable water supply for all nearby properties.

“Another week, another abandoned Madison Equities property,” said Mayor Melvin Carter in a press release. “Their chronic neglect has caused serious harm that will impact our city for years.”

City officials announced on April 7 that they will close direct skyway access from the Capital City ramp. The closure of skyway connections will begin at Fourth Street and end at Press House at Fifth Street. The intersecting skyway to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office on Cedar Street will also be closed.

The closing also takes about 950 parking spaces out of the downtown system.

Notices of skyway closures have been posted at the entrance points of US Bank Center, Vertical Tower, Town Square, the Lowry Building and Victory Ramp. The CapitolRiver Council and impacted residential towers have been notified of all closures.

The closing worries the downtown district council, CapitolRiver Council, and downtown residents. Residents who are disabled are especially worried about losing access to a variety of destinations.

Madison Equities has been a major downtown property owner. The company’s owner died more than a year ago. Since then, many of its properties have been sold or foreclosed upon.

Building ownership notified Alliance Bank Center tenants on March 10 that utilities would be shut off in 48 hours. The letter of notice to tenants cited financial hardships, including the “deteriorating conditions of downtown Saint

Paul.”

Carter and city staff stepped in, persuading Xcel Energy and District Energy to keep the power and heat on until the end of March. That provided time for remaining restaurants, small businesses and office tenants to pack up and relocate.

A closure of the Alliance Bank Center skyway affects anyone wanting to travel indoors to the Ordway, RiverCentre and Xcel Energy Center. It also affects anyone traveling to and from City Hall and the Ramsey County Courthouse, other downtown apartment and condo buildings, and parking ramps. One person at the meeting who is disabled questioned how he could easily get to Walgreens from his home in the Press House Apartments.

(Source: Access Press staff. A longer version of this story appears at www.accesspress.org)

Skway closures are worrisome

The closing of downtown St. Paul’s Alliance Bank Center and its attached parking ramp has skyway system users worried about access and personal safety. The building at 55 E. Fifth St. was to be vacated by April 1. City officials promise some level of security there, but skyway access through Alliance Bank Center will be limited. Skyway connections through Osborn 370 and Treasure Island Center will remain open, but all other connections to Alliance Bank Center will be closed.

“The decision to limit skyway access… will allow the city to protect the integrity of the building until a future use has been determined,” a city news release states.

Meanwhile, the closing of the Capital City Plaza Parking Ramp at 50 E. Fourth St. brings more skyway link closures. City officials inspected the ramp April 2 and posted a notice of the condemnation effective immediately.

Madison Equities owns Alliance Bank Center and the Capital City Parking Ramp.

City inspectors found several areas of concern with the parking ramp, including blocked exits, exposed electrical circuits, inoperable equipment and water leaks. The city also

Group homes drive reports Brooklyn Park police have read the comments on social media. They know people are wondering why there are suddenly a surge of missing persons reports.

“There’s a range of feedback,” said Deputy Chief Elliot Faust, “but what I’m hearing and seeing a lot of is what’s going on in Brooklyn Park? Why are there so many missing people?

Are people being snatched off of our streets?”

The answer is no. It boils down to increased transparency in a city with a growing number of group homes. Many homes house people with disabilities.

Brooklyn Park had 194 mission persons reports in 2024 from congregate living facilities, also known as group homes. These made up 45 percent of all missing and runaway reports during that year.

REGIONAL NEWS To page 11

EVICTION

From page 1 Maplewood) and Sen. John Hoffman (DFLChamplin) attended the April 15 rally. Fischer and Hoffman explained when residents with disabilities are evicted, Minnesota has no special protections under state law. Doing so would require law changes.

Nor can the state retain its investment when publicly-funded access improvements are made to rental properties. Fischer has introduced a bill allowing tenants to take any assistive device with them when they leave a rental unit.

Paulsen and Villavicencio-Tollison said their apartment had about $85,000 in accessibility accommodations.

Case history

The family has lived at the Maplewood fourplex since summer 2018. The previous owner made improvements to create an accessible home where they can live independently.

Their lease became month-to-month in July 2019, with a 60-day notice period.

Layers purchased the fourplex in June 2024 for $594,900, according to real estate records. The new owner gave the family a notice of lease termination August 23, 2024.

The lease was to end November 30, 2024, providing 99 days to vacate.

Two other tenants had leases terminated. A fourth tenant stays on as building caretaker.

The dispute was heard in Ramsey County District Court March 17 and 21. Paulsen and Villavicencio-Tollison represented themselves as defendants. Layers was represented by attorney Timothy Baland.

Judge Reynaldo Aligada’s April 7 order gave the family until April 15 to move. Aligada said the court’s scope of decision is limited as to whether Layers is entitled under state law to take the apartment. Aligada determined that the eviction is legal.

The judge ordered the family to vacate their unit by midnight April 16. But they refused, countering that they have no place to go.

The court issued a “writ of recovery of premises” April 18. That allows the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department to evict the family if necessary.

The family has asked that the court dismiss the eviction with prejudice, calling it “retaliatory, discriminatory, and procedurally defective.” They contended that the owner failed to provide proper notice, and violated the Fair Housing Act and Minnesota Human Rights Act based on the need for accommodations. The couple also sought

A rally attendee videoed a speech. about-our-public-policy/bill-tracker/ The bill tracker is not a statement of support or opposition to a bill by the council. The council has its own policy agenda, which has a link on the bill tracker web page.

More federal red flags

Continuing cuts to an array of federal agencies and their services continue to cause alarm. Two recent focuses for Minnesota activists are the threat of cuts to Medicaid and efforts by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to create an autism registry.

Kennedy has called for a sweeping study of autism as he consider it to be a “disease.” Many parents of children on the autism spectrum, autistic adults and advocates oppose the notion an investigation into potential political and disability discrimination, and an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Layers and Aligada disagreed with those claims.

A key issue in the dispute is whether or not reasonable disability accommodations were requested. Paulsen and VillavicencioTollison argued that use of extra garage space, smoking cannabis and placement of personal property in the apartment are reasonable disability accommodations.

But Aligada stated that the record doesn’t contain evidence or testimony that the family made a request for reasonable accommodations prior to the order to vacate.

The judge also didn’t find any retaliatory action.

“Property owners have rights, and those rights include the ability to do what they want with their property within the constraints of the law,” said Baland. “In this case, it meant providing notice to vacate in accordance with the lease and the law, and that is exactly what the property owner did - nothing more and nothing less.”

Baland noted that the family had several months to move out of the apartment. He did everything possible not to file an eviction. But the family gave the property owner no choice.

“Filing an eviction is seldom in the best interest of either the property owner or the tenant. In this case, the defendants left the property owner with no choice but to file an eviction,” he said.

Lease violations were cited in the court case, including Paulsen operating an illegal home business and the smoking of cannabis in the apartment. Paulsen said he has a prescription for medical cannabis.

Baland said that under Minnesota law, a property owner can prohibit a tenant from smoking or vaping in the rental premises or the area around it. The lease for the property prohibits smoking. “Yet, that is exactly what the defendants did.”

Baland added, “I don't think that being disabled or being in wheelchairs entitles the defendants to any special rights - the defendants have to follow the same laws that everyone else does. Being disabled or in a wheelchair does not entitle a person to break the law.”

A key issue in the dispute is whether or not reasonable disability accommodations were requested. Paulsen and Villavicencio argued that use of extra garage space, smoking cannabis and placement of personal property in the apartment are reasonable disability accommodations.

GILLETTE

PROGRESS

From page 1 quality of life Minnesotans with disabilities are facing. Minnesota Council on Disability, which is leading the charge on many initiatives, is focusing its energies on funding for critical services and preserving and upholding the human rights of people with disabilities.

Work on an almost $70 billion 2026-2027 budget got into full swing after the Easter/ Passover break. Walz’ budget includes severe cuts to waiver services and special education transportation, among other key issues.

State lawmakers are also playing catchup in the session’s final weeks, as they make up for time lost in the House due to early session battles over power-sharing.

Only a handful of bills had passed as of Access Press deadline. In the previous budget year of 2023, 26 bills had passed by mid-April.

The key difference is that two years ago, the DFL had control of the House and Senate. A shared agenda came forward. This session the parties’ agendas are quite different.

Key bill deadlines came and went in April.

Members of the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD) have spent April reviewing next steps with their lobbyists, Sean Bukre and Sarah Greenfield.

If a bill is alive at this point in the session, it is likely to become part of an omnibus bill, said Burke. Bills can be organized in various ways, including separate policy and finance omnibus bills.

How the bills shake out is shaped by spending targets, which are discussed by house and Senate leadership. Conference committees will also play a key role. Those committees started meeting in April.

For disability advocates, one issue to track closely at this time in the session is if and how testimony can still be submitted or presented.

At this point, advocates have to be mindful of when and if they can still provide any kind of written or verbal testimony.

Look for bill updates on advocacy group websites. Or use the Council on Disability bill tracker, at https://www.disability.state.mn.us/

Pg 9

MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

of a registry, saying it would be an invasion of privacy. Some consider it an initial step toward the federal government collecting health data and using it to penalize people.

The ACLU has become involved in the fight to keep private medical data private.

Kennedy has also angered parents and advocates by his description of people on the spectrum as burdens to society. One parent remarked in the MN ASD Parents to parents Support Group on Facebook that, “It’s not the data collection that gets me most. It’s the way he is describing (autism spectrum disorder) people as burdens basically who won’t contribute to society.”

Medicaid is another battleground. Called Medical Assistance or MA in Minnesota, it faces the prosect of massive federal funding But Aligada stated that the record doesn’t contain evidence or testimony that the family made a request for reasonable accommodations prior to the order to vacate.

The judge also didn’t find any retaliatory

cuts. The federal program provides health coverage for low-income people. For people with disabilities, Medicaid is a lifetime because it provides access to specialized care.

MNCCD hosted a “Tuesday at the Capitol” session April 22 led by the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, focusing on staving off Medicaid cuts. Participants prepared letters to send to lawmakers and discussed strategies.

One frustration noted by Jeff Nachbar, public policy director for the alliance, is that the federal picture keeps changing. That makes it difficult to know what to respond to.

About 1.4 million Minnesotans get their health care coverage through Medicaid. Cuts would not only hurt recipients, hospitals, the health care system and state and county budgets would be impacted.

Minnesota will lose between $1.2 to $1.6 billion annually if the proposed cuts become law. About 125,000 enrollees are people with disabilities.

About 650,000 Minnesota children are enrolled in Medicaid.

At public forums, Minnesota Medicaid Director John Connolly has said that if the cuts are implemented, Minnesota will need to either cut the number of people eligible, cut provider payments or reduce benefits and services. One concern county officials have raised is that more health care costs could be shifted to the county level, where property taxpayers are already burdened.

Learn more about Medicaid and keep up with developments through disability advocacy group websites and social media, or the organization Health Care for All Minnesota (HCA-MN). The group has the This is Medicaid coalition under its umbrella. The coalition is a statewide group that has worked for several years to raise awareness of the importance of Medicaid and to expand what it can cover.

HCA-MN is dedicated to promoting comprehensive, affordable, high-quality health care for every Minnesotan through advocacy, education and community organizing.

While its main goal is achieving single-payer healthcare in Minnesota, it does provide information on a range of issues. Go to https:// www.hca-mn.org/this-is-medicad/ action. Paulsen and Villavicencio also contended that the eviction proceedings were retaliatory, citing her status as a Maplewood City Council member.

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MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

RADIO TALKING BOOK Enjoy Radio Talking Book For May, 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.

Radio Talking Book schedules can be emailed. Sign up at tinyurl.com/ RTBemail. If email is preferred over other formats, sign up and also contact Ronnie Washington at 651-539-1424 or SSB. Equipment@state.mn.us to let him know what version is desired.

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 Looking for way to get the complete update? Want to change how updates are received? Sign up for schedules by email at tinyurl.com/RTBemail. To change the format through with Radio Talking Book is received, sign up online and also contact Ronnie Washington at 651-539-1424 or SSB.Equipment@state.mn.us to let him know what version is no longer needed.

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 800722-0550, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CST. Updates are also 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 NFB-NEWSLINE service provides access to more than 500 magazines and newspapers. To learn more, visit www.nfb. org/programs-services/nfb-newsline 612-562-7803. Staff welcomes any feedback or suggestions. Contact Joseph Papke at 651-539-2316 or joseph.papke@

state.mn.us. Contact Tom Conry at 651642-0880 or thomas.conry@state.mn.us with comments about periodicals and newspapers programming.

Chautauqua* Monday – Friday 6 a.m.

The Laws of Connection, nonfiction by David Robson, 2024. A groundbreaking study revealing how social connections are far more important than people thought and showing the steps that can be taken to build better relationships and improve lives. Read by Carol McPherson.

11 broadcasts; begins Wed, May 15.

Past is Prologue* Monday – Friday 11 a.m.

Triumph of the Yuppies, nonfiction by Tom McGrath, 2024. The entertaining and insightful first history of the Yuppie phenomenon, chronicling the roots, rise, triumph and (seeming) fall of the young urban professionals who radically altered American life between 1980 and 1987.

Read by Pat Ocken. 12 broadcasts; begins Tue, May 27. – L Bookworm* Monday – Friday 12 p.m.

Playground, fiction by Richard Powers, 2024. A story of friendship, technology, oceans and an engaging, eloquent message for this fragile planet. Read by Carol McPherson. 17 broadcasts; begins Thu, May 1.

Lesser Ruins, fiction by Mark Haber, 2024.

A breathless novel of delirious obsession – a spiraling meditation on ambition, grief and humanity's ecstatic, agonizing search for meaning through art. Read by Stuart Holland. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, May 26.

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

In True Face, nonfiction by Jonna Mendez, 2024. A riveting, courageous story of being a female spy at the height of the Cold War. Read by Michelle Juntunen. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, May 5.

The Braille Encyclopedia, nonfiction by Naomi Cohn, 2024. A poignant, playful, and wry literary reckoning of the technical and emotional aspects of facing the loss of sight.

Read by Michelle Juntunen. Four broadcasts; begins Mon, May 19 The House of Hidden Meanings, nonfiction

by RuPaul, 2024. A deeply intimate memoir of discovery, found family and self-acceptance from an international drag superstar and pop culture icon. Read by Lannois Neely. Nine broadcasts; begins Mon, May 26. – L

Janice Chevrette John and Marilyn Clark Catherine Hunter and Christopher Ockwig Jane Larson Brandon Miller Lynda Milne Kay Willshire

Off the Shelf* Monday – Friday 8 p.m.

Last Acts, fiction by Alexander Sammartino, 2024. A riotous, irreverent yet big-hearted debut novel about a broke father-son duo who go all-in on some of America’s deadliest obsessions. Read by Jeffrey Weihe. Seven broadcasts; begins Tue, May 27. – L, S Potpurri Monday – Friday 9 p.m.

Doctors and Distillers, nonfiction by Camper English, 2022. A definitive guide to the medicinal origins of every bottle behind the bar: how today's tipples were the tonics of old. Read by Joseph Papke. 11 broadcasts; begins Tue, May 6.

The Blues Brothers, nonfiction by Daniel De Visé, 2024. The story of the epic friendship between John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the golden era of improv, and the making of a comedic film classic that helped shape popular culture. Read by Nathan Hunter. 14 broadcasts; begins Wed, May 21.

GOLD ($500-$999) Dena Belisle Kent Fordyce Ronna Linroth Maple Grove Women of Today Morgan Stanley Gift (anonymous) Liza Robson Tamarack Habilitation Tech on behalf of Mark Payette

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American Online Giving Mark Daly Foundation, Inc. Yoshiko S. Dart Anonymous Donor, Burnsville Dean Doering Bebe Baldwin Neil Doughty Jeff Bangsberg and Anita Kent Fordyce Boucher Mary Graba Alex Bartolic Robert P Gregory Gretchen Bratvold Kim Keprios Nancy E Casey Scott Neamy Choice, Inc. Manley Olson Tom Clark Sheila Olson

BRONZE ($75-$149) Claudia Fuglie Maggie Hanrahan Dale H. Janiszeski Julie Johnson Charlie Lakin Owen McBride Shelley Madore

Gene Martinez Thomas Mineart Jim Muckenhirn Mark Payette Ann C Roscoe Carrie Salberg Alina Schroeder

Mary Gaasch Vicki Gerrits Anne L. Henry Steve Larson Susan Lasoff Christopher J. Meyer

Margaret Miller Sue Singer John G. Smith Daniel Stein Jenna Udenberg Nikki Villavicencio

RTB After Hours* Monday – Friday 11 p.m.

Just For the Summer, fiction by Abby Jimenez, 2024. Two “cursed-in-love” people see if their curses can cancel each other out in this dramatic romance.

Read by Carol McPherson. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, May 5. – L, S Margo’s Got Money Troubles, fiction by Rufi Thorpe, 2024. A heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny story about one young woman’s attempt to navigate adulthood, new motherhood and her meager bank account in the increasingly online world. Read by Karen Ray. 13 broadcasts; begins Wed, May 21. – L, S Weekend Program Books Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents Living For Pleasure by Emily A. Austin, read

by Lannois Neely.

For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents Roof Over Our Heads by Nicole Kronzer, read by Stuart Holland.

Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents Solutions for the Problem of Bodies in Space by Catherine Barnett, read by Mary Knatterud – L, S; followed by A History of Half-Birds by Caroline Harper New, read by Mary Knatterud.

The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents Turnout by Joan Anderson Growe, read by Michelle Juntunen; followed by They Would Not Be Moved by Bruce White, read by Yelva Lynfield.

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The Familiar, fiction by Leigh Bardugo, 2024. In 16th-century Madrid, a crypto-Jew with a talent for casting spells tries to steer clear of the Inquisition. Read by Andrea Bell. 14 broadcasts; begins Mon, May 26.

Night Journey* Monday –Friday 7 p.m.

The Wealth of Shadows, fiction by Graham Moore, 2024. An ordinary man joins a secret mission to bring down the Nazi war machine by crashing their economy in this thrilling novel based on a true story. Read

by Pat Ocken. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, May 19. – L

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by Holly Sylvester. 12 broadcasts; begins Wed, May 7. – L, S, V

Afternoon Report* Monday – Friday 4 p.m.

How Migration Really Works, nonfiction

by Hein De Haas, 2024. An authoritative guide to global migration that corrects decades of misunderstanding and misguided policy, defying orthodoxy on all sides of the debate. Read by Greg Olson.

16 broadcasts; begins Mon, May 19.

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Abbreviations V – violent content R – racial epithets L – strong language S – sexual situation G – gory descriptions

Daisy Sale Forever, fiction by Catherine Dehdashti, 2024. A charming tale of the Twin Cities institution gone by: Dayton’s.

Read by Holland Richner. 11 broadcasts; begins Wed, May 21. – L

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Choice Reading* Monday – Friday 2 p.m.

Practice, fiction by Rosalind Brown, 2024.

An astonishing novel about a day in the life of a young student who experiences her thoughts, fantasies and wishes as she writes about―or tries to write about― Shakespeare’s sonnets. Read by Jan Pettit.

Six broadcasts; begins Tue, May 13. – L, S

Good Night Owl Monday – Friday 10 p.m.

The Ministry of Time, fiction by Kaliane

Pg 10

Voices for the Disabled Rachel Wobschall

We appreciate your tax-deductible donations to Access Press.

DONATE ONLINE: www.accesspress.org 651-644-2133

MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

TAKE NOTE!

Attend Interact grand opening Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1860 and 1902 W. Minnehaha Ave, St. Paul, unveils its refurbished visual and performing arts spaces and new gallery 1- 4 p.m., Sat

Can Do Canines open house Can Do Canines hosts an open house noon-2 p.m. Sat, May 17 at its campus, 9440 Science Center Dr, New Hope.

Potential clients, volunteers or anyone who might be interested in supporting the organization is invited to attend to learn how an assistance dog changes the life of a person with a disability. Through a self-guided tour, attendees will be able to watch a trainer working with an assistance dog, talk with a dog host volunteer

Pg 11

Take Note! and consider sponsorship

May 31. Celebrate the event with live entertainment, exceptional artwork, complimentary refreshments and free parking. Free and open to the public. FFI: https://interactcenterarts.org/

and staff members from the volunteer department, pose questions to client services coordinators, and meet graduate teams from five types that Can Do Canines trains dogs: hearing, mobility, seizure, diabetes, and childhood autism. To request a sign language interpreter for this event, contact Laurie at lcarlson@candocanines. org or 763-331-3000 at least two weeks in advance. Otherwise preregistration isn’t required. FFI: https://candocanines.org/

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 disabledfocused, offer accommodations or led by a disability service organization. Please list your accommodations and complete information, such as time, date and place. That information is especially needed for users of paratransit who must often schedule rides in advance. Anyone with questions can contact Editor Jane McClure at jane@accesspress. org or 651-644-2133 ext. 1

Another option is to consider an online or print ad to get the word out.

If your organization or group isn’t in our Access Press Directory, a listing is an economical way to get the word out. Email us at ads@accesspress.org A fourth, 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

Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council seeks new members The Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council (MNSILC) is seeking new members. Members can be people with disabilities who are interested in enhancing.

The council also seeks parents, guardians or professionals enthusiastic about working with people with disabilities and the independent living philosophy.

MNSILC seeks to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by promoting the idea that they have the right to live

independently and be fully integrated into their community. Legally, at least 51 percent of MNSILC members must be people with disabilities who do not work for a center for independent living or a state agency, but any citizen in Minnesota is eligible to apply.

There are currently four vacancies for the council. The council is specifically asking for individuals with disabilities, parents or guardians of people with disabilities, business owners, advocates, and educators

to apply to serve as public members.

Upon completing an application to serve on MNSILC, candidates will be interviewed to further determine their qualifications for service. Qualified individuals will be referred to the office of the governor for final consideration. Appointment terms are one, two or three year terms. Members can serve for up to two consecutive terms.

The MNSILC meets bi-monthly on the second Thursday of every odd numbered

month from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Meetings are hybrid, held in-person at the Minnesota State Services for the Blind, 2200 W. University Ave., St. Paul or on Zoom. Members of the MNSILC serve as volunteers.

Apply at: https://commissionsandappointments.sos.state. mn.us/Agency/Details/152 Questions regarding the council should be directed to Jo Erbes at Mnsilc1215@gmail.com

REGIONAL NEWS

change in accordance with state guidelines means every report is now publicized.

“No, we don’t have this crazy problem of missing people that just cropped up in the last two weeks,” he told FOX 9. “Things are stable, we’re just telling the public. And actually, we’re asking for the public’s help now more than ever.”

The reason they didn’t publicize all the reports in the past, he said is because most people return in a matter of a few hours.

But with mental health issues or medication concerns, there is the worry that even being gone for a few hours could be a risk to their own safety.

Brooklyn Park officials are concerned about the ever rising number of group homes in the city. The reason for the rise is the city has no location restrictions where those homes can be placed, such as near schools, churches and parks.

The city is hoping to change its ordinances,

but in the meantime more group homes come to Brooklyn Park. And with that, more missing person reports among residents who wander off, even briefly, and trigger a police report, which taxes the city’s resources.

(Source: KMSP-TV News)

From page 8 They city didn’t always publicize these on social media because they were commonly residents who were not considered a danger to the public who’d simply gone for a walk. But homes are required to report regardless.

In the past five years, of 1,936 mission person and runaway cases reported to police, 61% involved individuals who’d been reported missing more than once.

In one case, there are 33 reports for a single group home resident since 2020.

Deputy Chief Elliot Faust said a recent policy

FOOD H MUSIC H FUN Join us at Kickoff to Summer at the Fair!

Slice of-the-fair fun • Accessibility services • Laid-back vibe • Free parking!

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

ACCESS PRESS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OVERVIEW

For 35 years Access Press has been a leading publication dedicated to covering disability issues and promoting inclusivity. We are searching for an Executive Director to lead us into the future.

This individual will be at the helm of the organization, responsible for overall strategic, operational, editorial, and financial leadership.

Like all news organizations and nonprofits, Access Press faces ongoing challenges in an everchanging media environment with rapidly rising costs. The competition for readers’ attention is fierce among an enormous array of news sources and social media.

Access Press offers its executive director and staff a unique place in the media landscape through its focus on the needs and interests of people with disabilities—including the growing population of seniors with acquired disability. The work is rewarding and the opportunity for voice and influence is significant. Access Press is an organization where you can collaborate with an eager community and bring to light the lives, the civil rights and vital interests of over 600,000 Minnesotans.

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Leadership and Strategy • Implement the strategic vision and mission of Access Press in partnership with the Board.

• Act as a highly visible public spokesperson, promoter and advocate for the organization’s mission and values.

• Collaborate with writers, editors, and contributors from throughout the disability community to produce high-quality, relevant, and compelling stories and features.

Editorial Oversight • Oversee content creation, editing, and publication cycles in print and online.

• Ensure that comprehensive legislative coverage and advocacy remains a cornerstone of Access Press content.

• Maintain journalistic integrity and uphold the editorial standards of Access Press.

Operational Management • Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and organizational policies.

• Develop and implement marketing strategy.

• Manage staff and contractors, supervising performance and fostering professional development.

• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring fiscal efficiency and journalistic effectiveness.

Financial Management • Develop and manage the annual budget, ensuring financial sustainability and accountability.

• Identify and actively pursue fundraising strategy and opportunities, including grants, sponsorships, and donations.

• Provide regular financial reports to the board and stakeholders.

• Oversee financial planning, analysis, and risk management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, business administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Proven experience in a leadership role, preferably in the media and/or nonprofit sector.

• Strong editorial acumen and experience in publication of print and online content.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams and manage multiple projects.

• Experience in financial management and fundraising.

• Commitment to the mission of Access Press and a deep understanding of disability issues.

PAY AND BENEFITS • $50,000+ per year • Benefits to be negotiated.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample (1-2 page essay or letter on a disability policy or social issue) to careers@accesspress.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For more information, visit accesspress.org.

Access Press is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

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MAY 2025 Volume 36, Number 5

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