The Minnesota Department of Education notified Minneapolis Public Schools that it’s in violation of state and federal law for overidentifying Black students in the category of “developmental cognitive disability” for the past three years.
The notification is part of an annual review process conducted by the state, as required by federal law, to determine what’s known as “disproportionality” in special education. The review compares identification, placement and discipline for students with disabilities across racial groups.
Disproportionality is particularly concerning for Black families and their children because they are more likely to be identified in disability categories that are socially stigmatized, like developmental cognitive disabilities or emotional behavior disorder. Students placed in these categories are often placed in separate classrooms or schools, which may limit their access to rigorous coursework, electives and other opportunities open to students without disabilities.
Recovery housing operators face dilemma
by Jane McClure
Under federal law, the district is now required to set aside 15 percent of its federal special education funds to address the disparities through a process called coordinated early intervention services, or CEIS. Using $1.2 million from its federal special education funds, the district’s plan must provide services to students without disabilities to prevent overidentification in the future.
The district has selected six elementary schools that account for a substantial part of the disproportionate identification. One position will be added at each school.
MDE has also notified the district that it’s at risk of violations in two other categories. For the past two years, Black students with disabilities in the district have been suspended, expelled or otherwise removed from school for disciplinary issues at more than three times the rate of other students with disabilities. And, in the 2023-24 school year, Black students with disabilities were suspended for more than 10 days more than three times as often as other students with disabilities.
The district will hire one person who will assist nine elementary schools — which the district didn’t identify — with student behavior to reduce disproportionate suspension of Black students with disabilities.
“I’m almost embarrassed that we needed to wait for MDE to tell us we needed to come up with a plan,” said Kim Ellison, vice chair, during a recent board meeting. “My guess is these numbers aren’t new.” Ellison was on the school board when the district entered voluntary agreements with the federal Office of Civil Rights in 2014 and the state Department of Human Rights in 2018 to address disproportionately high suspension rates for Black students.
In 2023, the state began requiring districts to notify the public when they
SPECIAL ED To page 4
A perfect regulatory and financial storm is leaving many sober or recovery housing operators in a bind. A key state law change, local zoning regulations and the shutdown of at least two major service providers has left many residents of sober or recovery housing without ways to pay for their housing.
Operators predict that the situation will cause many people who need assistance to become homeless and be unable to maintain sobriety. City and state officials are scrambling to find answers.
The issue has a focus on disability. Civil rights protections under the Federal Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) cover addiction, including alcohol and opioids abuse.
A state law that took effect July 1 prohibits addiction treatment providers from paying the housing costs for people in their outpatient treatment programs. That has prompted some housing operators to seek changes in their zoning status, going from sober housing to other types of supportive housing.
The changes are forced by the recent shutdowns of programs including Evergreen Recovery and NuWay Alliance. Those programs were subject to federal investigation for violation of anti-kickback laws. Most used
HOUSING To page 3
Medicaid’s 60-year mark brings
The 60-year anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid’s launch brought a mix of reflection as well as a call to action. Disability rights advocates used the anniversary as a rallying cry to call out the adverse impact federal Medicaid cuts could have on Minnesotans, especially those who live in rural areas.
Medicaid was created on July 30, 1965.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965, which also established Medicare. In Minnesota, the statespecific Medicaid program is known as Medical Assistance. It was implemented in 1966.
The This is Medicaid coalition is calling on Minnesota policymakers to protect the health care and supports of more than a million Minnesotans who get their health care through Medicaid / Medical Assistance.
The implications of the cuts are dire. More than 140,000 Minnesotans could lose medical coverage. An estimated $1.1 billion in funding could be lost for Minnesota’s health care system. Patients face higher costs as do county governments and hospitals.
PRI turns 65
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No to shift
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Learn about Medicaid Page 4
New leader
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Security changes? Page 5
calls for action
“For 60 years, Medicaid has helped Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives - it’s a lifeline for hospitals and clinics across our
state,” said Gov. Tim Walz. “Minnesota will do what we’ve always done: protect access to care, support our providers, and fight for the dignity and health of every Minnesotan - no matter their ZIP code or income."
With a giant inflatable birthday cake as a backdrop and birthday treat bags for those present, advocates used the “birthday party” July 30 as a means to draw attention to their concerns.
Those at the event stated their commitment to protecting Minnesotans’ health care as Minnesota policymakers begin to implement massive federal funding cuts and shifts,. Speakers described how Medicaid meets critical
needs for public health and well-being, and vowed to fight the cuts that were made after federal action July 4.
Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance or MA in Minnesota, is the nation’s largest provider of health insurance. Advocates said it is a shared responsibility between the federal government and states. They described how Medicaid has helped ensure people of all ages who do not get health insurance from their employers and cannot afford to pay for private health insurance can get the care and services they need, when they need them. A wide range of people benefit from
PEXEL
Activists gathered at the capitol to outline the negative impacts of Medicaid cuts.
Sober housing operators fear shutting down in the face of regulatory and financial pressures.
Handing off education to states, weakening federal oversight deserves an F
Back-to-school time is much more than store aisles filled with crayons, notebooks and backpacks. Back-to-school time for some students with disabilities and their families can be a nerve-wracking and stressful experience. That can be especially true with changes in schools or new school personnel.
Many disabled students and their families welcome the return to school in part due to a return to a routine. For others it will be a difficult time of change.
We appreciate gains made at the state level in Minnesota in terms of children and special education. But we must watch federal issues and changes closely. That is especially true with the Trump administration’s goal of dismantling the federal Department of Education. About half of its employees were recently laid off.
We contend that dismantling the department has the potential to adversely affect students with disabilities the most.
Moving special education to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is very troublesome given the controversies already swirling around that department.
Much is said about returning education responsibilities to the states. That may sound good to those who believe that states should shape their own destinies.
But placing so much educational responsibility in the hands of the states may turn out to be a terrible idea.
States’ resources and values placed on education are not equal by any means. Dismantling federal guidance and assistance has the potential to create vast inequities for all students, not just those who live and learn with disabilities.
It also could do harm to how our future workforce changes over the long term.
Media reports paint a dismal picture. Work on education-related civil rights
We contend that dismantling the department has the potential to adversely affect students with disabilities the most. Moving special education to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is very troublesome given the controversies already swirling around that department.
complaints has all but halted. The federal Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights was a major layoff target. Seven of 12 of its regional branches have already been closed.
The online publication Disability Scoop quoted Marcie Lipsitt, a Michigan special education advocate as saying, “I have told parents to buckle up because the 2025-2026 school year will be the worst since the 1950s.” Lipsett has helped many parents navigate the federal civil rights complaint system and has seen it all but shut down.
“School districts will be further emboldened to violate the rights of students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged and minorities knowing the
HISTORY NOTE
Scholarships eyed
(U.S. Department of Education) has no staff to hold them accountable,” she said. Disabled students and their families are all too often in need of civil rights-related assistance. If their states don’t have other resources, what are people to do?
An important function of the Department of Education is its oversight role. What happens when that goes away?
Here’s an example:
One worrisome trend is that more states are failing to meet requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as defined by the Department of Education’s annual review. Status is based on 2022-2023 academic year performance.
Disability Scoop tells readers that only 19
states qualify as “meets requirements” for serving students with disabilities ages 3 to 21. That is down from 20 in 2024.
All other states are labeled as “needs assistance.” While it is good news that Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota continue to meet IDEA requirements, our neighbors in Iowa and South Dakota do not.
“Needs assistance” is not the biggest red flag when it comes to IDEA evaluations. States ranked as “needs intervention” or “needs substantial intervention” have more steps to take. If states don’t meet requirements for two or more years, enforcement action is required.
Washington, D.C. received the designation of “needs intervention.” No state was identified in the “needs substantial intervention” category.
A big caveat to consider here is that experiences can vary school district by school district, and even from schools in a school district. While the federal IDEA law is meant to ensure that children with disabilities have access to good public education, that education is only as good as a student’s individualized education program (IEP) and how it is designed to meet a student’s specific needs.
Attention at the school level that can make the biggest difference for students. Still, state rankings are important and should be heeded. Those need to be maintained and must not go away.
Handing off oversight of IDEA and special education to a less experienced federal department, or not handing it off at all, is unacceptable. Yet that is what is happening with the move to HHS. We have more than 7.5 million special education students in this country who deserve better.
‘Civilian disabled’ were the focus of state conference a century ago
Minnesota social workers had a dilemma a century ago. What could be done to help people with disabilities find resources for training and subsequently, employment?
Providing job training and resources for Minnesotans described as “civilian disabled” was a key topic at the September 1925 Minnesota State Conference and Institute of Social Work. Social workers from around the state attended the conference. Most conference activities were held at what was referred to as the “farm campus” at the University of Minnesota.
Why refer to people as “civilian disabled”? 1925 was just a few years removed from the end of World War I. The nation was ill-prepared to help the approximately 244,000 veterans who returned from war with physical disabilities and mental health challenges.
Veterans had scholarships for job training. A similar approach was discussed at the
conference, to provide employment training scholarships for people whose disabilities weren’t war-related.
Disabilities focused on were physical. Crippling diseases were one issue. For others, disabilities were due to limb loss. In Minnesota limb loss typically meant injuries from farming, industrial work or work in the logging camps.
The scholarship idea was raised by Oscar M. Sullivan, director of what was called the “division of re-education of disabled persons” in the Minnesota Department of Education.
“The entire morning was given over to a discussion of ways in which the handicapped can be rehabilitated,” the September 24, 1925 Minneapolis Journal reported. “Discussion was part of a movement to devote as much attention to care of the disabled civilian as to care of the disabled veteran.”
Sullivan outlined several ideas for how this could be done. One focus was on
scholarships for disabled people who wanted employment training. Many of their needs went unmet.
“Provision is needed for personal maintenance of trainees,” Sullivan said, “since the public pays only for educational expenses. Artificial arms and legs can only be purchased by private funds; disabled persons could be set up in small businesses with private funds.”
Sullivan proposed naming the scholarships after prominent disabled Minnesotans, Michael Dowling and William Henry Eustis. Both were wellknown political and community leaders. Both had physical disabilities.
Dowling, who died in 1921, had limb loss due to severe frostbite. Eustis used a cane and then crutches due to a hip injury at age 15. He donated the land where Dowling School in Minneapolis was built, and also supported a children’s hospital.
Eustis was alive when the scholarship in his honor was proposed. Newspaper articles of that era describe him as a “friend to cripples” – a phrase we would not use today. He died in 1928.
There is no evidence that the scholarships ever were established to honor the men, but the conference’s attention was another step in providing job training for disabled Minnesotans.
Access Press has published several articles about Dowling and Eustis. Search at www. accesspress.org
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 https://mn.gov/mnddc
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.
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Long COVID and new onset disability are studied; merit more attention
A study led by a Michigan-Illinois team has found that people with ongoing Long COVID experienced larger increases in disability prevalence across all domains studied. Their results were compared to respondents without ongoing Long COVID. A concern called out is how Long COVID can lead to new onset disability or disabilities, conditions that impact an individual's ability to work or function and that has developed recently.
Disability prevalence is defined as the percentage or number of people in a population who report having a disability. It is calculated by dividing the number of individuals with a disability by the total population. Prevalence rates can vary depending on the definition of disability used and the specific population studied.
The study was led by the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Lansing; Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Advocate Aurora Research Institute
The study’s objective was to determine the prevalence of ongoing Long COVID symptoms and related disability in a population-based cohort nearly two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The study indicates that 10 to 20 percent of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop the persistent symptoms that are commonly referred to as Long COVID.
independent living. Self-care, vision amd hearing were also scrutinized.
Six domains of age-standardized disability were assessed by ongoing Long COVID status using cohort data from a population-based survey of adults with COVID-19 onset from March–December 2020 in Michigan. The disabilities focused on the areas of mobility, cognition, independent living, vision, hearing and self-care. The study began in mid-2020 and continued into 2025.
The respondents were asked whether or not they experienced serious difficulty with each domain four weeks before their COVID-19 illness and again at follow-up.
A key conclusion of the study is that the ongoing burden of Long COVID and related disability is substantial and warrants increased attention by the public health and medical communities.
The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Readers who like a deeper dive into statistics will find many demographic details about the respondents.
The study included work with 1,547 respondents, using a detailed database.
Of the respondents, 24 percent reported ongoing Long COVID symptoms nearly two
The study includes caveats. Long COVID is widely acknowledged as compounding disabilities or being disabling. But a report on the study notes that little is known about disability associated with persistent symptoms due to a lack of data on disability status before and after COVID-19 illness.
Summer's
years following an initial infection.
When comparing disability status for weeks prior to COVID-19 illness to followup, respondents with ongoing Long COVID experienced larger increases in disability prevalence across all domains compared to respondents without ongoing Long COVID.
Some of the greatest increases in disability prevalence were seen in the respondents who live with issues of cognition, mobility and
Read the article about the study and find other links at https://www.ajpmonline.org/ article/S0749-3797(25)00076-5/fulltext
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.
end brought forth an increasing number of COVID illnesses
The end of summer was time for back to school preparations – and precautions tied to COVID-19.
Federal information shows COVID-19 is trending up in most states, with emergency department visits up among people of all ages. The Associated Press provided an overview of the situation.
The number of people seeking medical care for three key illnesses — COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — is currently very low, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Flu is trending down. RSV has been steady. But COVID-19 is trending up in most U.S. states. Wastewater data from around the country estimates “moderate” COVID-19 activity.
CDC wastewater also shows the XFG variant — nicknamed stratus — is most common in the U.S. Stratus can cause a “razor blade” sore throat and is considered a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization. The WHO said the variant is only marginally better at evading people’s immune systems and vaccines still work against it.
The expectation is that COVID-19 will eventually settle into a winter seasonal
HOUSING
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Medicaid dollars to pay for treatment.
Last month the federal Department of Justice announced that NuWay agreed to pay an $18.5 million settlement. NuWay had 5000 clients who each received housing stipends of about $700 per month.
The state law change brought Minnesota in line with Medicaid regulations. But the result is that some smaller treatment providers have also stopped providing housing stipends.
Some housing operators have sought approvals to become different types of facilities, such as board and lodge or supportive housing. But that creates another wrinkle. Many cities have distance requirements between supportive housing facilities.
Several Minnesota cities are having to look at the issue, including St. Paul. Its City Council members August 20 approved a moratorium on new supportive housing. That gives city staff and the Planning Commission time to draft new regulations and bring them back to the City Council for final approval.
Council President Rebecca Noecker said the changes “create a state of emergency” for some housing providers.
“We need a solution for people to get services in their communities . . . We do need a policy change,” she said.
Cities are grappling with distance requirements between facilities. For example, St. Paul has a minimum distance requirement
pattern like other coronaviruses, but the past few years have brought a late summer surge, said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of California Davis Children’s Hospital.
Other viruses circulating this time of year include the one that causes “hand, foot and mouth” disease — which has symptoms similar to a cold, plus sores and rashes — and norovirus, sometimes called the stomach flu.
of 330 feet between sober houses. The minimum distance requirement between supportive housing facilities is 1,320 feet. When sober house operators seek changes to become supportive housing or board and care facilities, the greater separation requirement kicks in.
Supportive housing are facilities that cater to people with disabilities or special needs.
The intent of distance requirements is to prevent a high concentration of institutional facilities in the same neighborhood.
The supportive housing distance requirement was upheld in a lengthy and complicated legal fight between the city of St. Paul and FamilyStyle Homes, according
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Many viruses circulate seasonally, picking up as the weather cools in the fall and winter. So it’s true that fewer people get stuffy noses and coughs in the summer — but cold weather itself does not cause colds.
It’s not just about seasonality. The other factor is behavior, experts say. Nice weather means people are opening windows and gathering outside where it’s harder for germs to spread.
to assistant city attorney Josh Ladd. FamilyStyle operated more than two dozen mental health group homes near the Schmidt Brewery in the West End. In 1991 the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld state and local regulations for distance requirements between supportive housing facilities, and the FamilyStyle Homes were closed.
Sober housing is regulated differently due to federal legal actions. The city adopted the 330foot minimum distance requirement in 2008.
St. Paul has denied several requests for distance variances for sober housing
But respiratory viruses are still around. When the weather gets too hot and everyone heads inside for the air conditioning, doctors say they start seeing more sickness. In places where it gets really hot for a long time, summer can be cold season in its own right.
“I grew up on the East Coast and everybody gets sick in the winter,” said Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency room doctor and Arizona State University researcher. “A lot of people get sick in the summer here. Why is that? Because you spend more time indoors.”
For people who are otherwise healthy, timing is a key consideration to getting any vaccine. You want to get it a few weeks before that big trip or wedding, if that’s the reason for getting boosted, doctors say. But, for most people, it may be worth waiting until the fall in anticipation of winter cases of COVID-19 really tick up.
“You want to be fully protected at the time that it’s most important for you,” said Dr. Costi Sifri, of the University of Virginia Health System.
People at higher risk of complications should always talk with their doctor about what is best for them, Sifri added. Older adults and those with weak immune systems may need more boosters than others, he said. This can include people with disabilities.
operators converting to supportive housing, citing the FamilyStyle case.
State lawmakers said that while there was a need to respond to fraud, the state action could have unintended consequences. Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) told the Minnesota State Tribune that he worries about people in recovery losing housing and needed supports. However, Baker said that lawmakers should have done a better job coming up with a plan to replace the housing stipends from treatment providers. It’s not likely that anything new will be in place until 2027.
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FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Concerned about Medicaid changes? Here's how to get involved
by John M. Connolly
Deputy Commissioner
State Medicaid Director
Minnesota Dept. of Human Services
I’ve travelled across the state in recent months talking with hundreds of Minnesotans about changes to Medicaid that Congress made in the legislation signed by the President on July 4. These changes will bring the largest scaling back of federal funding and enrollment in the 60-year history of the program. From enrollees to parents, health care providers to navigators, county workers to community groups, Minnesotans have expressed concern and confusion about the changes that are coming. Throughout the reconciliation process, DHS conveyed our concerns and your concerns to the public and elected officials, and while we were unsuccessful in stopping this rollback, we remain committed to serving Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid and our partners.
Although many of the federal changes to Medicaid will take years to take effect, they will present new challenges for some Minnesotans to get and keep their health coverage. In particular, some adults without dependent children will have to renew their eligibility more often and meet mandatory community engagement/work requirements, potentially creating gaps in coverage and program churn. These Minnesotans will also have new cost-sharing for many health care services. While these changes are not immediate, DHS will provide useful information now to keep you updated so that you and your community can be prepared. Impacted enrollees, their caregivers and loved ones need to understand what may change with their eligibility requirements so they can maintain access to health care. DHS will serve as your trusted guide for
these coming changes. Since the law passed recently, we don’t have all of the answers yet and await federal implementation guidance. However, the State of Minnesota will be here to help you understand the added challenges.
We have launched a new landing page on the DHS website at mn.gov/dhs/ federalchanges to serve as your one-stop shop on federal Medicaid changes. We are in the process of developing a variety of materials for you to use when working with enrollees, and we’ll engage with you as we consider how to implement these sweeping program changes. Please check back frequently for updates, including FAQs and toolkit elements.
As we move forward, DHS has several ongoing venues to engage with partners, and hopes to see you there. Make sure you are signed up to participate in one of them:
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare partner roundtables
Interactive discussion on the latest news in Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare with a focus on current issues and policy. Third Thursday of the month.
· Tribal and county social services workers from 8 to 8:45 a.m.
· Managed care organizations and associations from 9 to 9:45 a.m.
· Providers, navigators and community organizations from 10 to 10:45 a.m.
How to get involved: Email mhcp. roundtables.dhs@state.mn.us
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare communications’ partners roundtable
Workshop-style meeting to share best practices, crowdsource ideas, collaborate and discuss communications strategies and tactics for communications staff from partner organizations, e.g., navigators, Tribes, counties, providers, health plans, community groups. Fourth Thursday every quarter (January, April, July, October) from 9 to 10 a.m.
How to get involved: Email mhcp. roundtables.dhs@state.mn.us.
Health Care Eligibility Leadership meeting
Discussion of recent developments, current issues, new policies and high-level procedures related to Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare for Tribal and county eligibility directors, managers and supervisors. Third Friday of every month, noon to 2 p.m.
How to get involved: Email tamara.smith@ state.mn.us
Health Care Partner Info Exchange (PIX)
Presentations on recent developments,
current issues, new policies and in-depth procedures related to Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare for County, Tribal, and state eligibility workers and supervisors. Second and fourth Wednesday, 9 to 11 a.m.
How to get involved: Email jennifer. gerber@state.mn.us.
Health Care Eligibility Advisory Committee
Forum for eligibility partners to discuss and provide feedback to DHS on complex issues related to Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare for MACCSA-appointed county directors, managers and supervisors. Every other Friday, 10 to 11 a.m. Minnesota Medicaid Equity Partnership
Interactive discussion on Equity Efforts within Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, co-lead by community partners, with a focus on an annual collective effort to improve equity in MN’s Medicaid program for Community organizations, community health centers, navigators, I/T/U clinics, managed care and other health care partners, and others focused on equity in our Medicaid program. This partnership’s strength lies in its variety of participating organizations. Meets monthly, typically on the second Tuesday of the month from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom.
To join, subscribe to Minnesota Medicaid Equity Partnership through GovDelivery. Medicaid Matters to Minnesotans. Visit mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters to learn more about the essential role Medicaid plays in the health and wellbeing for one in five Minnesotans. Consider sharing your story. Visit mn.gov/dhs/ medicaid-matters/faces-of-medicaid to explain why Medicaid matters to you, and read the stories shared by other Minnesotans. Again, we hope to see you in the near future.
Your letters and commentary are welcomed but follow guidelines
Access Press welcomes letters to the editor and commentary pieces from readers, on topics of interest to Minnesota’s disability community. Letters should be no more than 500 words, with 750 words per commentary. Ask the editors if more space is needed. Letters and guest commentaries must be signed by the authors or authors. Unsigned letters won’t be published. With letters, a writer’s hometown is published but not a street address. Please send contact information, in the form of a phone number or email, in case the editors have questions about a letter or commentary.
From page 1
reach mandatory CEIS status, even though MDE itself does not report on its website when districts have been notified of the CEIS violations. MDE notifies districts of disproportionality in special education annually, around March.
The most recent federal data show that in the 2020-21 school year, 31 percent of Minnesota school districts had been identified for significant disproportionality in special education. This is the third highest of all fifty states, behind only Wyoming and Rhode Island. Separately, the school board has discussed an audit that found the district is failing
Contact information isn’t published unless the writer specifically requests that the newspaper do so. Pictures of the author can be published with a guest commentary but aren’t required.
Access Press asks that letters and guest commentaries be specifically written for the newspaper. Letters must have a focus on disability issues and ideally, a focus on those issues as they affect Minnesotans. Form letters will not be published. With the legislative session underway, we very much welcome letters and commentaries about legislative agendas or
students who need extra help by not providing instruction and support they need to meet grade-level academic standards.
The special education audit was conducted by the Council of Great City Schools at the request of Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams. The district received the 178-page final report five months ago, but it was shared with just a few district leaders. The report has been circulating among district families and advocates in recent weeks, and the district recently shared the report with the public in advance of a school board discussion.
The report focuses on the district’s failure to use what’s known as a multi-tiered systems of support, or MTSS, a framework commonly used by school districts to identify
individual bills. This can be a great way for an individual or advocacy group to draw attention to a bill or an issue.
Because Access Press is a non-profit publication and must follow regulations on political partisanship, political endorsement letters are not published. That is true for candidates’ endorsements as well as for ballot questions. We also don’t publish articles critical of political parties or candidates.
Before making a submission, writers are always encouraged to contact the editor to discuss ideas or to ask questions about From Our Community submissions, at 651-644-
students who need additional academic or behavior support. When implemented correctly, district staff would review student data regularly to identify students needing support; determine appropriate supports for students; review data on the impact of the supports; and adapt supports as necessary. The review cycle can also highlight districtwide issues that need addressing.
The MTSS framework is most effective when all students have access to highquality instructional practices in regular
2133 ext. 1 or jane@accesspress.org. Let the newspaper staff know if accommodations are needed to submit a letter or commentary, and we will help you. More and more people are using AI to write letters. Let us know if that is the case Letters and commentaries reflect the view of the authors and not the views of the staff and board of directors of Access Press. Deadline for the print edition of the newspaper is the 15th of each month, with publication the following month.
classrooms. This is known as “Tier 1” or “core instruction” under the MTSS framework. Additional support will be less effective without effective core instruction.
Many of the district’s classrooms lack highquality instruction, and regular classroom instruction “is often far below grade level standards,” according to the report.
Read the complete story and learn about the audit at https://minnesotareformer. com/2025/08/14/state-minneapolis-publicschools-violating-disability-law/
John M. Connolly
Capitol security changes will impact visitors with disabilities
Disability advocacy groups are gearing up for the 2026 legislative session, drafting bills and setting agendas. They are also preparing for new capitol complex security measures. These could impact visits to hearings and events, including large-scale rallies.
Changes in security have been discussed for some time. The issue took on much more urgency after the June assassination of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the attack on Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. That tragedy was followed by an incident in which a man repeatedly breached security and entered the capitol.
Look for further measures as the Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security does its work, reviewing issues when it met August 19. It’s not clear if additional revisions will be made before state lawmakers convene in February for the 2026 session.
Challenges faced by people with disabilities in security systems are wide-ranging. The most typical experiences people cite are with airport security checkpoints. Past experiences have raised issues of personal dignity. There is also the factor of additional time needed to be screened.
People with difficulty standing or walking and have difficulties going through metal detectors, and sometimes must have pat-down searches. Many types of accommodations and medical devices can cause delays when people are screened.
Visual and auditory barriers with communication and sensory disabilities can also result in miscommunication or delays in getting through security.
As of August 6, fewer capitol doors can be used by the public, as a result of efforts by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS). More door alarms are in place. Additional security officers are being hired.
The capitol has 14 doors. Three public entrances were in place. Those are reduced to two entrances with four doors in use. The doors are on the south side of the capitol.
Access is changed for the Minnesota Senate Building ramp to and from the capitol. The ramp is where the capitol’s 20 disability
parking spaces are located.
to seek an escort from capitol security to enter through the tunnel.
The access changes were recommended by the Minnesota State Patrol and approved by DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson.
“The capitol is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of democracy and a place where Minnesotans come to be heard,” Jacobson said. “These updated security measures reflect our responsibility and commitment to protecting everyone who works at or visits the capitol while keeping the building open and accessible to all. We remain committed to continuously reviewing and improving security protocols.”
The doors, open during regular business hours, are at the main south entrance at the top of the capitol steps and at the ground-level accessible entrance beneath the capitol steps through the middle set of two doors.
access points to the capitol building during public hours are restricted to key card entry only.
Additional measures are being considered by the board. It is chaired by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
A wide range of ideas have been discussed including a ban on weapons, weapons detection technology, bag checks and metal detectors. Any changes that require funding or state law changes would have to go through a legislative review and approval process.
Gov. Tim Walz is already a proponent of banning firearms from the capitol complex and installing metal detectors in the capitol building. Most states already have metal detectors at their capitols.
Sen. Rich Draheim (R–Madison Lake) questioned how the recently enacted changes
“I support making the capitol safer, especially given everything that’s happened this summer,” said Draheim. “But we have to think carefully about how these changes affect people with mobility issues. . . Adding an escort requirement creates a new barrier for Minnesotans just trying to participate in their government.
“I’ve been trying to do something about accessibility parking at the capitol for nine years,” he said. “Everyone, regardless of physical ability, should have equal access to the capitol. I look forward to a full review of accessibility measures at the capitol to ensure safety improvements don’t come at the cost of inclusion.”
Learn more about the committee and follow changes at https://dps.mn.gov/about-dps/ associated-boards-cmtes-and-task-forces/accas
Longstanding rally rules could face changes with more safety scrutiny
Disability community rally days provide a key way to draw attention to issues and connect with policymakers. Seeing the capitol rotunda filled with advocates can be a moving experience.
Potential changes to security at Minnesota’s state capitol complex will be watched closely by those who plan and attend rallies. It’s not known yet what changes could be brought forward for the 2026 session.
Most experienced rally attendees are well aware of the rules already in place, most of which were set more than 20 years ago.
One rule most repeat attendees cite affects signs taken to rallies. An example is that signs cannot be on sticks.
Falling under the umbrella of public rallies are parades, gatherings, solicitations, concerts, speeches or rotunda ceremonies, and other such related uses of the buildings, grounds, and state-owned streets in the capitol complex.
Rules define days and times for rallies, as well as the time limits. It’s not unusual to have multiple rallies in the capitol rotunda on any given day. But that means groups must be in and out at times outlined in their permits.
Rules also define how the entire capitol complex grounds are can be used. For example, sidewalks, streets and steps cannot be used in a manner that would block access to buildings. Those planning rallies need to apply for
permits in advance of their events. Permits have to be approved before an event can be publicized.
Permits must be sought in writing at least seven days before an event. Detailed information must be provided on an application, so that state officials know who is planning the rally and what is anticipated. Proof of workers' compensation and public liability insurance shall be submitted when required by state officials.
Agreement on a permit triggers more steps. Those include agreeing upon security, police protection, liability for damages, and cleanup of the areas.
Many factors are considered before a permit is issued. Those can include a look at how a rally will be conducted and if it will substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route or location. Rallies cannot unreasonably disrupt the normal operations of state government and the public right to safe use or reasonable enjoyment of public spaces.
Another issue is the extent to which a rally would divert a large number of security personnel and potentially affect security on the rest of the area. It’s a consideration that a rally not impede public safety efforts in the area, for police and fire protection and for ambulance service.
Public policy issues coverage is by Access Press
Editor Jane McClure.
PEOPLE AND PLACES Partnership Resources Inc. celebrates 65 years'
Partnership Resources, Inc. (PRI) is celebrating 65 years’ service. The Twin Citiesbased service provider is commemorating its years of helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to thrive in inclusive communities.
“This anniversary is a celebration of the individuals we serve and the communities we help shape together,” said Julie K. Zbaracki, CEO of PRI. “Our mission of creating partnerships between people with disabilities and the community has never been more relevant. We are thankful for the dedication and work of those during the past 65 years and honored to continue it into the future.”
Since 1960, PRI has placed each unique person it serves at the center of its work. Staff partner with individuals to help them learn, grow, advocate and increase their independence in community life. Within services, each person explores their interests and goals, develops skills to help them along the way, discovers their voice and makes choices about how they want to participate in the community through vocational exploration, functional skill development, community involvement, self-advocacy and creative expression. Together with community partners, PRI works to raise awareness, help shape opportunities and ensure that people with IDD have abundant equitable choices within community life.
Founded as the School for Social Development in 1960, its initial focus was on job training, placement and independent living skills. It was a pioneer in the 1980s in developing community-based job opportunities for clients regardless of their disability.
The agency changed its name to Partnership Resources, Inc. in 1990. The change was made to reflect the focus on collaboration with community partners.
Ten years later, PRI started multidisciplinary arts programming in day services. Having arts engagement throughout all programming further empowering individuals in personal growth, goal attainment and joyful living.
PRI serves 275 adults with IDD in the Minneapolis area. Many of its clients also have physical or mental health challenges. Almost all PRI clients have experienced disability-related ableism. About 40 percent are members of BIPOC and intersecting
Bihrle named to council
Fredrikson & Byron attorney Danny A. Bihrle has been appointed to the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council. The council supports the work of the Minnesota Disability Law Center by providing independent advice and recommendations on issues impacting individuals with mental health needs. The council advises on legal advocacy, investigations into abuse or rights violations, public education and litigation to protect the rights of individuals with mental health issues.
At Fredrikson, Bihrle provides clients with comprehensive legal guidance to help navigate the increasingly complex landscape of federal, state and local employment laws. Bihrle focuses his practice on a broad range of labor and employment law matters, with a specific emphasis on wage and hour advice and litigation. He regularly defends employers against single-plaintiff, class and collective actions before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and
communities.
From employment support and vocational exploration to self-advocacy, functional skill-building, creative expression and community involvement, PRI’s programming reflects a deep commitment to inclusion, building partnerships and expanding opportunities.
PRI celebrates its legacy with an eye toward an uncertain future. PRI and other disability service providers are navigating an unsettled period that threatens its services. The potential impacts on federal Medicaid
dollars and state funding cuts are placing pressure on 95 percent of PRI’s operations. Essential disability services are at risk.
“Proposed cuts jeopardize the stability and sustainability of services people rely on every day,” said Zbaracki. “Now more than ever, we need the support of our community and our legislators, at both the state and national level, to protect and prioritize services for people with disabilities.”
A new campaign is a response to that uncertain future. PRI has launched a “65 for 65: Celebrate the Past, Power the Future”
arbitration panels involving claims such as wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, whistleblower actions, and leaves and accommodations.
Bihrle also works closely with employers to ensure compliance with specific areas related to employee compensation, including minimum wage, overtime compensation, incentive compensation plans and remote worker compensation. In addition to his litigation and counseling work, Bihrle regularly speaks on employment law compliance topics. He presents to legal and HR audiences on a wide range of issues, including wage and hour compliance, emerging employment law trends and practical strategies for minimizing legal risk
Appointees are announced
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan have announced the following appointments to the Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council.
The appointees are Aaron Arvig, Lonsdale; KiloMarie Granda, Morris; Max Liebl , Burnsville; Amber Madoll, Mahtowa; Tom Reed, Minneapolis; Maureen Schneider, Willmar; David Shaw,
campaign to honor its legacy and secure its future. The goal is to welcome 65 new “PRI Partners” as monthly donors by the end of the year. The campaign helps ensure that adults with disabilities continue to access meaningful day services and employment supports that ensure an abundance of opportunities to thrive in the community. To learn more about becoming a PRI Partner, visit: https://www.givemn.org/organization/ Partnership-Resources
For more information about Partnership Resources, Inc. and its 65th anniversary celebrations, visit https://www. partnershipresources.org/ or contact Jennifer Crosby Zarth, development director, at jzarth@partnershipresources.org
Apple Valley; Alma Silver, West St. Paul and Lauren Ireland, Eden Prairie.
The Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council members, who are users of assistive technology (AT) or a family member or guardian of an AT user, provide consumer-responsive, consumerdriven advice to the state for the planning, implementation and evaluation of activities carried out under the federal Assistive Technology Act grant. In addition to attending meetings, members have opportunities to provide feedback on projects and participate on committees.
State leaders are seeking qualified and diverse individuals who are passionate about using their knowledge, skills, and lived experiences to serve the state of Minnesota. A list of boards and commissions, including open positions, can be found at https:// commissionsandappointments.sos.mn.gov/Position
Several open seats on boards, commissions and committees have a disability focus, or are on groups centered on disability issues.
PRI clients regularly attend rallies at the state capitol.
Arts are a focus at PRI.
PHOTO
Danny
Bihrle
PEOPLE AND PLACES
Iowa-based Harkin Institute names Craig Owens as executive director
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement and Drake University have announced that Craig Owens will serve as the institute’s next executive director. In this role Owens will advance the institute's work of delivering high-quality public policy and civic engagement while elevating its profile, deepening its impact and delivering on its mission.
The appointment follows a national search. Drake University is in Des Moines.
Founded in 2013, the Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement serves as a nonpartisan policy research institution focused on the main policy areas that shaped Senator Tom Harkin’s career: people with disabilities, retirement security, and wellness and nutrition. The institute advances inclusive, evidence-based public policy by connecting research, civic learning, and diverse lived experiences. The Institute provides access to trusted information and empowers robust civic engagement to promote the public good.
Harkin was a leader in the passage of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He and his wife Ruth worked tirelessly on disability issues.
Harkin Institute President Marty Martin expressed great optimism for the institute’s future under Owens’ leadership. “Having
known and worked with Craig for ten years, I have the utmost confidence in him as a leader and colleague,” she said. “His competence, diligence, and enthusiastic vision for the Harkin Institute make him the right person to lead this wonderful part of Drake University in our quest to transform lives and strengthen communities.”
“In the past decade, the Harkin Institute has become a well-respected leader in our policy areas,” said Harkin. “Many of the issues our work focuses on, like disability employment, social security reform and water quality, are more prevalent than ever and crucial to the institute’s mission. Craig’s experience in leading the launch of John Dee Bright College and his work to make it a successful and thriving feature of Drake University make him the ideal leader to leverage the Harkin Institute’s strengths in taking the organization to new heights.”
Owens said he looks forward to working with institute staff to build on the Harkins’ legacy and its many accomplishments in policy development and citizen engagement. One issue he will focus on is continuing the institute’s role as a leading voice on disability issues.
Rise announces two new leadership positions
Rise, Inc. has announced two new leadership positions. Jodi Blume was promoted to vice president of life enrichment and community integration. Kassia Janezich was hired as vice president of vocational and housing services. Both will lead the strategy and ongoing development of programs that provide community, life enrichment and employment services. These are core components of Rise’s mission to support people in living their best lives.
Blume oversees 12 life enrichment programs across the Twin Cities metro area and in New Richmond, Wisc. She joined Rise in 2016 and most recently served as senior director of life enrichment programs.
She has a long career as an advocate, including medical social work and support for domestic abuse victims. She also worked
as a residential program manager for people with disabilities and later as a foster care and adoption supervisor.
“What makes Rise special is its deep commitment to person-centered programming—especially through life enrichment, which focuses on the unique goals and dreams of each person we support,” said Blume. “As our programs grow, I’m excited about the chance to lift up voices that need to be heard, support a team that genuinely cares, and continue making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
Kassia Janezich brings more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience in the Twin Cities to Rise. She will lead Rise’s community employment programs, which supported more than 1,700 people last year.
RISE To page 11
Owens joins the Harkin Institute after serving most recently as founding dean of Drake University’s John Dee Bright College. Working closely with a wide array of colleagues from across the university, Owens initiated and led curricular development, fundraising, policy, marketing, recruitment and facilities planning and implementation, as well as securing community partnerships.
"Throughout the past 22 years, I have considered myself very fortunate to work alongside so many talented people dedicated to the transformational work that only places like Drake University can accomplish,” said Owens. “I know the same will undoubtedly be true of my role as executive director at The Harkin Institute."
Owens previously served as founding director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Drake University, chair of the university’s English Department and co-coordinator of Drake’s comprehensive accreditation. He held various academic positions as a member of the English Department. He holds degrees from DePauw University and Indiana University-Bloomington.
Craig Owens
Kassia Janezich
Jodi Blume
REGIONAL NEWS
Needs for special education students on the rise
As another school year starts, Minnesota advocates point out that needs of special education students are on the rise.
“We are a state that also identifies children from birth. Not all states do that, but we have a child-find from birth through up to age 22, and so it does continue to grow, and the needs of children continue to be significant,” said Erin Toninato, Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE), executive director. Toninato was interviewed by KSTP-TV.
One example is in the capital city. St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) has seen a 17 percent increase in special needs students over the past three years.
Two hundred and forty of the SPPS special education students attend Focus Beyond Transition Services.
“We at this site serve students that are 18 up until their 22nd birthday, who all have special education needs, and have continual needs in the areas of independent living, post-secondary, which is basically what do you need to do to be an adult, and then employment,” said Micaela Smith, principal at Focus Beyond.
In the 2024-2025 school year, 6,316 students were special needs. That number made up 19 percent of students enrolled in the district.
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) released the following data for special education in the 2024-2025 school year:
National: 14.8 percent
Minnesota: 16.18 percent
MPS: 18.6 percent
“In order to serve students, we have to
New paratransit option
Metro Mobility users who can afford to pay a bit more for a private ride and faster trips have a new transportation option.
The Metropolitan Council has entered into a partnership with Carepool to provide same-day, on-demand rides for seniors and those with disabilities, in much the same way others arrange for rides using Uber or Lyft.
Carepool joins Transportation Plus in taking riders to their destination without picking up other passengers along the way. Both companies can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters and service animals.
But as its name suggests, Carepool offers riders a “caring experience” as well as their choice of drivers, said CEO Josh Massey.
“With a taxi or other rideshare, you get something new every day,” Massey said. With Carepool, “a lot of time you get the same driver. They can have confidence in who their driver might be ... and feel safe in driving experience.”
Riders certified to use Metro Mobility may book trips on Carepool by calling 612-2845204 or online at carepool.us.
Customers will pay the first $5 for any rides, and Metro Mobility will cover the next $15. If the total fare exceeds $20, the customer pays the remainder, according to a Metro Mobility fee schedule. Fares for ondemand rides must be paid with cash, credit card or debit card.
Metro Mobility isn’t going away. In most cases, Metro Mobility trips must be booked at least a day in advance. The cost per trip ranges from $3.50 to $4 depending on the time of day, and a surcharge is added for trips of 15 miles or more.
The Metro Mobility program has more than 19,300 active riders each month.
Carepool came to the Twin Cities about 18 months ago at a time when Uber and Lyft were threatening to leave Minneapolis as drivers demanded higher pay.
Anyone can use Carepool, Massey said. Rides not covered by private insurance or the Met Council program will cost about the same as a traditional rideshare trip. Massey said he expects Carepool to provide up to 5,000 rides monthly within the next three to six months.
(Source: Star Tribune)
Guilty plea in attempted murder
Julie Louise Myhre-Schnell, former wife of Minnesota Department of Corrections commissioner Paul Schnell, has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of their vulnerable adult son in 2023. Her sentencing is scheduled for November.
Myhre-Schnell, 65, was charged with one count of premeditated first-degree attempted murder for reportedly putting anxiety medication in her son's feeding bag in hopes that he would “go to sleep forever,” according to court records.
According to court records filed on July
develop the Individual Education Plan, the IEP, and that’s with families. And so through that process and developing the program once the child qualifies. You do make sure that each area of disability or suspected disability is addressed, and that everything that the child needs is built into their school day,” Toninato said.
She’s concerned about the future funding to support special education students.
I n July, the Supreme Court ruled to allow the White House to continue efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
18, Myhre-Schnell entered a guilty plea on the attempted murder charge. As part of the plea, prosecutors have agreed to drop their aggravating factor that could have resulted in a 20-year prison sentence.
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office was alerted of an attempted homicide at a group home in Vadnais Heights involving MyhreSchnell’s vulnerable adult son.
When speaking with Myhre-Schnell, she allegedly explained to investigators that she filled her Lorazepam prescription and crushed up the pills before adding them to a container of water. She then brought that container with her to visit her son on Dec. 3, 2023, and emptied the contents into the feeding bag before leaving.
Her son was taken to the hospital the following day after experiencing symptoms of “altered mental status, decreased level of responsiveness, and hypotension.” Doctors diagnosed him with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, but they did not run a toxicology report on his blood.
The victim survived the ordeal, and after learning what his mother allegedly had done, he told investigators, “I made it, I’m still here.”
The criminal complaint explained months after the incident, Myhre-Schnell texted her son about what she had done.
(Source: Pioneer Press, Fox 9)
Housing shortages cited
It’s becoming more difficult for Minnesotans displaced from their homes to find places to stay — especially during emergencies
Areas of Minnesota received emergency declarations in recent months after tornadoes, wildfires, floods and straight-line winds damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes, displacing many Minnesotans.
And in a state where there’s already a shortage of affordable housing, it’s becoming more difficult for those displaced from their homes to find places to stay — especially during an emergency. Affordable housing is already in short supply in many parts of Minnesota. Accessible, affordable options are even more limited. The natural disasters have added to the shortages.
An example is Mankato. A June storm caused more than five inches of rain to fall in a short time. The overall rental vacancy rate in Mankato is at just 1.7 percent, according to a Mankato housing study published in April. A healthy vacancy rate is 5 percent.
There’s virtually a zero percent vacancy rate for senior housing or people with disabilities.
Chad Adams, chief executive officer of the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, said there just isn’t enough temporary housing to meet the growing demand.
“There’s always a need for more emergency shelter in housing, but there’s long-term need for more affordable housing in Mankato,” he
“Well, most certainly at risk is funding. You know, so that students with disabilities can continue to receive the service that they’re receiving, and we’re advocating hard to keep all of that funding in place. Most certainly, we are advocating for IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to remain in the Department of Ed. It is an education program. It is an education law. And so moving that into any other organization really doesn’t make sense,” Toninato said.
IDEA is a law that allows free public education to children with disabilities and
said. “We’re one of the providers that wants to continue to build more and will continue to do so.”
Mankato is not unique in having a significant lack of housing in the aftermath of disasters. In other communities residents have been displaced for more than a year due to flood damage
More people are being displaced from their homes after disasters for longer periods of time, as severe storms driven by climate change are becoming more frequent and causing greater damage.
Just between June and mid-August, the American Red Cross in Minnesota responded to 115 individual incidents involving floods, tornadoes, house fires and storms. The Red Cross assisted 481 people, including helping some find temporary shelter and longer-term housing.
Communities across Minnesota are experiencing increasing demand for temporary, emergency and longer-term housing after devastating storms, and these more frequent severe weather events are straining emergency management resources. Officials said the best way to improve disaster recovery is to invest more in planning and preparedness, including detailed plans for shelters and emergency housing solutions.
(Source: Minnesota Public Radio) Autism program makes change
As of September 1, Autism Friendly Austin will transition from the Hormel Historic Home to LIFE Mower County.
Organizers said the move will enhance services for individuals with autism and their families in Mower County.
Autism Friendly Austin has worked to provide sensory-friendly camps, recreation nights, and autism awareness training. The transition to LIFE Mower County is intended to expand these services while honoring the
related services to support those students.
“If we move to just a single stream of funding out of IDEA, that is not funded at a full level either. It’s only funded at about a 10 percent level. And what was promised in the law was a 40 percent level. And so that funding source, as inflation has increased, has continued to go down, and we most certainly can’t meet the needs of a whole child on just that single funding source,” Toninato said.
She said special education is already underfunded, so MASE is fighting to keep the money available in place.
In a statement, the Minnesota Department of Education said: “The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is still the law of the land and the Minnesota Department of Education remains committed to ensuring every student, of every ability and background, have access to a world class education.”
For Smith, working with special needs students is a calling, not just a career.
“It takes a special heart to it, but in that, you see the most joy in many of our students,” she said. “When they gain a skill, it is truly a major celebration, and that’s the joy that keeps us moving forward, because every student, especially in St Paul, deserves the ability to pursue whatever their dreams are, to be able to think critically at their own levels. And just to be able to make sure that they have access to it. So, as a staff member, those little moments really make being a part of special education meaningful,” she said.
(Source: KSTP-TV)
program's legacy at the Hormel Historic Home.
“LIFE Mower County is honored to become the new home for Autism Friendly Austin,” said Dawn Helgeson, executive director of LIFE Mower County. “We recognize the incredible work done by the Hormel Historic Home to build and grow this program, and we are committed to continuing and expanding upon that work. As an organization focused on providing inclusive programming for individuals with developmental disabilities, this is a natural and exciting fit for our mission.”
“United Way of Mower County is proud to support this thoughtful transition that will strengthen autism services in our community," said Molly Lanke, executive director of United Way of Mower County. "We deeply appreciate the Hormel Historic Home's dedicated stewardship of the Autism Friendly Austin program over the years, creating vital camps, recreation nights, and community awareness initiatives that have made a real difference for families affected by autism. We're equally excited to see LIFE Mower County take on this important work. Their mission to expand opportunities and enrich lives for individuals with developmental disabilities makes them an ideal home for the program. This transition represents a commitment to expanded impact while maintaining the quality and care participants have come to trust. We look forward to seeing how autism programming continues to grow and serve our community under LIFE's leadership.”
Representatives of both organizations said they will collaborate to ensure a smooth transition for families involved in the program. For more information, contact LIFE Mower County at (507) 433-8994 or visit their website.
(Source: KIMT-TV)
Medicaid, including people with a wide range of disabilities.
Sumukha Terakanambi is a public policy consultant with the Minnesota Council on Disability and involved with the Rare Disease Advisory Council. Medicaid has provided him and others with disabilities with the support they need to pursue higher education, volunteer, maintain employment, and be part of their communities.
“Now, some lawmakers insist that the legislation they passed strengthens the program for the most vulnerable, but that is simply not true,” Terakanambi said. “The cuts will constrain state budgets, forcing states to make tough choices about what services to cover. Home and community-based services are optional and more expensive services. Any cuts could put these services on the chopping block. This would be devastating to the well-being and freedom of people with disabilities.”
NAMI Minnesota Executive Director Sue Abderholden discussed how harmful these federal changes will be for the entire health care sector, creating substantial barriers for people seeking mental health care.
“Sixty years of work to expand and improve access to Medicaid ended this year as Congress and the president wiped out nearly a century’s worth of progress in the so-called One Big Beautiful bill,” Abderholden said. “The hope and optimism felt on this day 60 years ago is gone. We are a country bursting with abundance, and yet the law cut a trillion dollars from a program providing health care to the poorest people in our country.”
Julie Sjordal is the CEO of St. David’s Developmental & Therapeutic Services, a regional center in child and family development. It offers a range of critically needed pediatric and mental health therapies and social services to more than 8,000 children, parents, caregivers and individuals with special needs across the metro area.
Many of the children served in its mental health programs struggle to make sense of what they have experienced in their young lives. Many have not yet learned how to regulate their emotions and their bodies. “And when their parents’ childhood experiences were full of hardship or their current circumstances are profoundly stressful,” Sjordal said, “access to Medicaid and the services it unlocks is simply invaluable to the entire family’s short- and long-term outcomes.”
“We are extremely concerned about the shift in funding and responsibility to the state of Minnesota, and local and tribal governments,” said Tina Rucci, policy director for Arc
forcing them to report how many hours they work, creating barriers to consistent health care. It also harms Minnesotans with specific lawful immigration statuses, restricting them from getting health care coverage.”
Rucci said that now that the policy
from the federal level to the state, the work of advocates will do so as well. “Our coalition plans to work alongside Minnesota policymakers to ensure that our policies reflect the values of Minnesotans: that all of us should be able to get to a doctor, pay for our medications, take our kids to well-child visits, manage chronic illness, and get care clinics,” Rucci said. “While it’s been a difficult year for Medicaid in its 60-year history, as long as the program is here, we will be fighting to keep it strong.”
Medicaid-related fraud cases raise red flags for program participants
Medicaid-related fraud cases have dominated Minnesota headlines in recent months, especially in services for people with disabilities. While the abuse allegations raise many red flags and calls for more oversight, an overarching concern is that many disability community members will lose needed services and supports.
Recent fraud investigations involving Minnesota's Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance, have largely focused on four service areas: Housing Stabilization Services, autism services, personal care assistance (PCA), and substance abuse treatment. All four are tied to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). Another large-scale case is that of a scheme to defraud the federal government of more than $250 million in funds earmarked for COVID pandemic food programs.
The involved the nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Several people have been charged and prosecuted in connection with that program, which was overseen but the state’s Department of Education.
Advocates for Medicaid are frustrated by the various fraud allegations, noting that allegations overshadow the needed programs and supports the federal program provides.
The latest focus is on housing assistance. This summer DHS took steps to terminate
a Medicaid-funded housing assistance program. That was done after federal officials said they were investigating a largescale fraud scheme. It is believed that the state may have lost millions of Medicaid dollars as result of the scheme.
DHS officials announced that they had contacted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asking to end the Housing Stabilization Services program. The action, which is considered to be unprecedented, was done with an eye toward future change.
Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services was started in 2018. It has been hailed as a first-of-its-kind program for the elderly, people with disabilities and people in recovery. People who are helped are at risk of homelessness, and in need of assistance to find and pay for housing. People with mental illness and addiction problems also are eligible.
DHS plans to revamp and then relaunch the program in the future, describing the move as an “unprecedented step.” The agency said it intends to redesign and relaunch the program as a means of preventing future fraud. But that decision sparked widespread questions and social media chatter about what the changes will mean.
“DHS is rooting out fraud wherever we
find it. We cannot allow one more cent of taxpayer money going out the door to providers who claim to serve Minnesotans in need of stable housing while lining their pockets for personal gain,” acting Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi said in a statement.
In the meantime almost 80 housing providers suspected of fraud have had their payments cut off in the wake of the federal investigation. DHS is using a new statute, which took effect July 1, that makes it easier to cut off payments when there is credible evidence of fraud.
The program is susceptible to fraud, according to an FBI search warrant affidavit. Dozens of companies emerged to provide state-funded services, and many claimed reimbursements for services they did not actually offer, investigators claim.
The Housing Support Services program has issued unprecedented payments for service, of more than $300 million in claims from 2021 through the first six months of 2025. That’s a much greater amount than was anticipated for the program when it began in 2018. The program had an estimated cost of $2.6 million per year but that amount skyrocketed.
Eligible providers can continue to deliver services, and individuals can continue
applying to the program. The state agency said current HSS providers will continue to receive funds “unless DHS identifies conduct in a provider that warrants additional action.” But an eye is being kept out for fraud and abuse.
Providers face added scrutiny thanks to the ongoing FBI investigation. Many companies opened after the program began, Many have failed to provide services at all.
In mi-July the FBI searched eight locations in St. Paul, Roseville and Little Canada tied to five providers.
The St. Paul Griggs Midway Building is one of the locations called out as it has offices for more than 22 operators claiming to be providing housing services.
Sumukha Terakanambi, seated,, Minnesota Council on Disability
Sue Abderholden, NAMI Minnesota
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If the book’s broadcast is no longer available in the archive, contact staff librarian Molly McGilp at 651-539-1422 or Molly. McGilp@state.mn.us
Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available for loan through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. The catalog is at www.mnbtbl.org. Call 800-722-0550, MonFri, 9 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 NFBNEWSLINE service provides access to more than 500 magazines and newspapers. To learn more, visit www.nfb.org/programsservices/nfb-newsline; 612-562-7803
Staff welcomes any feedback or suggestions. Contact Joseph Papke at 651539-2316 or joseph.papke@state.mn.us.
Contact Tom Conry at 651-642-0880 or thomas.conry@state.mn.us with comments about periodicals and newspapers programming.
Chautauqua*
Monday – Friday 6 a.m.
Fluke, nonfiction by Brian Klaas, 2024. A provocative challenge to how we think the world works—and why small, chance events can divert our lives and change everything. Read by Phil Rosenbaum. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 15. – L
Past is Prologue*
Monday – Friday 11 a.m.
A Great Disorder, nonfiction by Richard Slotkin, 2024. A look at the myths that have shaped American identity that reveals how they have brought the nation to the brink of an existential crisis today. Read by Jack Rossmann. 24 broadcasts; begins Tue, Sept. 2
Bookworm*
Monday – Friday 12 p.m.
Three Days in June, fiction by Anne Tyler, 2025. A socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding. Read by Yelva Lynfield. Seven broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 29.
The Writer’s Voice*
Monday – Friday 1 p.m.
Dancing on the Edge, nonfiction by Russ Tamblyn, 2024. An intimate and powerful story about the singular life of one of our most gifted storytellers, artists, and stars of the silver screen. Read by Carl Voss. 11 broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 8.
The Genius of Judy, nonfiction by Rachelle Bergstein, 2024. An intimate and expansive look at Judy Blume’s life, work and cultural impact, focusing on her most iconic—and controversial—young adult novels. Read by Pat Kovel-Jarboe. Nine broadcasts; begins Tue, Sept. 23.
Choice Reading*
Monday – Friday 2 p.m.
The Wildes, fiction by Louis Bayard, 2024. A vivid and poignant historical fiction of the secrets, loss and love in Oscar Wilde’s family. Read by Holly Sylvester. 11 broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 1.
The Spoiled Heart, fiction by Sunjeev Sahota, 2024. A vivid and multilayered exploration of the mysteries of the heart, how community is forged and broken, and the shattering impact of secrets and assumptions alike. Read by Greg Olson. Nine broadcasts; begins Tue, Sept. 16. – L
Big Time, fiction by Rus Bradburd, 2025. A hilarious and thought-provoking satire of
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college sports money mania at American universities. Read by Paul Ranelli. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 29. – L, S
Afternoon Report*
Monday – Friday 4 p.m.
The Indispensable Right, nonfiction by Jonathan Turley, 2024. A timely and brilliant original look at freedom of speech—the most basic right and the one that protects all the others. Read by John Potts. 15 broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 8.
Autocracy, Inc., nonfiction by Anne Applebaum, 2024. An alarming account of how autocracies work together to undermine the democratic world, and how people should organize to defeat them. Read by Stevie Ray. Seven broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 29.
Night Journey*
Monday –Friday 7 p.m.
The Return of Ellie Black, fiction by Emiko Jean, 2024. Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life is turned upside down when she gets the call that Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared years earlier, has resurfaced in the woods of Washington state, Her reappearance leaves Chelsey with more questions than answers. Read by Carol McPherson. 11 broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 8.
Tiger Claw, fiction by Michael Allan Mallory, 2024. A Minnesota-set police procedural thriller with plenty of kung fu to boot. Read by Tom Speich. 10 broadcasts; begins Tue, Sept. 23. – L
Off the Shelf
Monday – Friday 8 p.m.
We Burn Daylight, fiction by Bret Anthony Johnston, 2024. An epic novel of star-crossed lovers set in a doomsday cult on the Texas prairie that asks: What would you sacrifice for the person you love? Read by John Potts. 11 broadcasts; begins Tue, Sept. 2.
The Empusium, fiction by Bret Olga Tokarczuk, 2024. Set in a sanitarium on the eve of World War I, this masterwork probes the horrors that lie beneath our most hallowed ideas. Read by Rick Seime. 12 broadcasts; begins Wed, Sept. 17.
Potpurri
Monday – Friday 9 p.m.
Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions, nonfiction by Ed Zwick, 2024. An accomplished director, screenwriter, and producer recalls some behind-the-scenes drama in this goodnatured memoir of 1990s and 2000s showrunning and filmmaking. Read by Silvester Vicic. 12 broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 15.
Good Night Owl
Monday – Friday 10 p.m.
The Gathering, fiction by C. J. Tudor, 2023.
All times listed are Central Standard Time.
Abbreviations
V
– violent content
R
– racial epithets
L – strong language
S – sexual situation
G – gory descriptions
A detective investigating a grisly crime in rural Alaska finds herself caught up in the dark secrets and superstitions of a small town. Read by Laura Young. 13 broadcasts; begins Thu, Sept. 11. – L, V, G Butcher, fiction by Joyce Carol Oates, 2024. An extraordinary and arresting novel about a women’s asylum in the nineteenth century, and a terrifying doctor who wants to change the world. Read by Pat Muir. 14 broadcasts; begins Tue, Sept. 30. – S, V, G RTB After Hours*
Monday – Friday 11 p.m.
Eddie Winston is Looking for Love, fiction by Marianne Cronin, 2024. A tale of friendship and kindness that reminds us that those we love are never forgotten and it is never too late to try again. Read by Paul Ranelli. Eight broadcasts; begins Mon, Sept. 1. – L Native Love Jams (re-broadcast), fiction by Tashia Hart, 2023. A 2024 Minnesota Book Award finalist romance set in a Native American community. Read by Mary Beth Redmond. Four broadcasts; begins Thu, Sept. 11. – L, S Four Weekends and a Funeral, fiction by Ellie Palmer, 2024. When Alison finds the right guy at the dead wrong time, a little white lie spirals out of control creating a romantic comedy. Read by Holland Richner. 11 broadcasts; begins Wed, Sept. 17. – L Weekend Program Books
Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents Fight Right by Julie and John Gottman, read by Dan Sadoff.
For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer, read by Stuart Holland; followed by Fetching Dreams by Mary Bleckwehl, read by Brenda Powell.
Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents The Rose by Ariana Reines, read by Mary Beth Redmond - L,S; followed by Enter by Jim Moore, read by Stuart Holland – L. The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents They Would Not Be Moved by Bruce White, read by Yelva Lynfield; followed by Too Much Sea For Their Decks by Michael Schumacher, read by Nancy Johnson.
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Amanda and Mark Tempel
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Dan and Emily Ward
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The Made in the Shade Walk Run and Roll is a fundraiser that benefits nonprofit partners that serve people with disabilities. It is an annual celebration of relationships, fundraising and community building that makes a difference for hundreds of people.
The 2025 event is 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat, Sept. 20 at Thomas Beach on the south side of Lake Bde Maka Ska, Mpls. The event is free and open to the public. Participants can register with an organization and collected funding raising pledges. Host is Shayla Reeves of WCCO TV. The event includes a range of accommodations. Food, music and a wide range of activities are offered. Organizations served are EGH, Homeward Bound, PAI, Partnership Resources Inc., Phoenix Residence, TSE and Wingspan. All of the organizations have web links. FFI: https://www. partnershipresources.org/mits2025/
RISE
From page 7
Janezich joins Rise from Tasks Unlimited as its director of strategic and operational initiatives. There she expanded programs, increased funding and strengthened community partnerships to enhance services for the people they support.
“Rise has long been a community leader in driving innovation, ensuring service quality, and creating belonging for people supported
here, and I am thrilled to join the team,” said Janezich. “I’ve been privileged to work alongside many amazing people throughout my career and have seen the impact of our work. Stories of perseverance, joy, and belonging continue to remind me that the impossible is possible—and I look forward to continuing that work to create positive change in our communities.”
The two newly defined leadership positions will provide increased support to Rise’s program teams while allowing for more individualized attention across services.
Can Do Canines
The annual Can Do Canines Woofaroo is 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Sat, Sept. 13 at Can Do Canines, 9440 Science Center Drive, New Hope. Celebrate the amazing partnerships of assistance dogs and the people who need them at an outdoor, family-fun event includes a one-mile fundraising walk, live music, a dog costume contest, an assistance
Farewell to Upstream Arts
For 20 years, Upstream Arts has activated and amplified the voice and choice of individuals with disabilities. The organization is winding down operations, but not before a goodbye event on Thu, Sept. 25 at Whim in Mpls. The free, family-friendly and fully accessible
dog demonstration, campus tours, dog-centric vendors and more. Gather pledges for the fundraising walk at 11 a.m. Top fundraisers and winners of the dog costume contest will receive prizes. The event is held rain or shine. FFI: https:// candocanines.org/get-involved/woofaroo/
farewell celebration is a great way to salute the organization and its accomplishments. Preregister and plan to celebrate two decades’ worth of accomplishments. FFI: https:// upstreamarts.org/
Take Note! consider sponsorship
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 disabled-focused, 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. This can include disabilityfocused arts, cultural and service groups. 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
staff is getting a lot of email bounce backs from Yahoo email addresses.
Don’t miss news and information that Minnesotans with disabilities, their allies, organizations, and groups need to know.
Computers and other devices should have spam or junk blockers turned on. Make sure the Access Press emails are in the proper mailbox.
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Access Press offers advertiser spotlights!
It’s a great way for an advertiser to prepare copy, with photos, and tell readers about themselves. It’s also a great way to highlight a special month focused on a specific disability or topic. Spotlights include a page 1 promotion and a page 3 article.
Reserve your spotlight today!
Email for more details: ads@accesspress.org
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