He's a happy camperPage 6

Volume 24, Number 9 www.accesspress.org September 10, 2013

Kindness is thelanguage which thedeaf can hear and theblind can see.

Mark Twain

NEWS DIGEST

INSIDE

2013 Charlie Smith award winner

Access to college is one ofAppleby's many contributions

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDTwin Cities. MNPermit No. 4766

Address Service Requested

Connection to rail line celebrated by advocates

Accessible Fun, pg 13Events, pg 14People & Places,pps 6-7,10Radio Talking Book, pg 14Regional News, pgs 8-9

Campaign toincrease wagesrolled out

5% Campaign - p. 13

Activist Rick Cardenas celebrates with Metropolitan Council representatives, downtownresidents and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Council Member Dave Thune, at right, atthe groundbreaking.

Photo courtesy City of St. Paul

Cal Appleby is the 2013 Charlie Smith Award winner.Photo courtesy of Laurie Savran

by Access Press staffThe 5% Campaign is on

the march, kicking off withadvocacy during the Minne-sota State Fair and a well-attended press event inDuluth last month. Support-ers hope to continue to gainmomentum before the startof the 2014 Minnesota legis-lative session.

The coalition behind thecampaign wants a 5 percentincrease in state funding forservices people with disabili-ties and aging adults receiveat home and in their commu-nities. If successful, the cam-paign would raise the wagesof about 112,000 people whoprovide direct services to ag-ing adults and disabledpeople.

Self-advocates, their fam-ily members, caregivers and

On August 28, one of the hottest days of the summer, groundwas broken for a skyway/ground connection in downtown St.Paul. Efforts for the connection to the METRO Green Linelight rail station were led by Rick Cardenas, co-director of theadvocacy group Advocating Change Together (ACT).

Cardenas was one of those who got to wield a shovel at thegroundbreaking. With the support of ACT and Corridors of Op-portunity, the elevator will make it easier for people with dis-abilities, seniors, people pushing strollers and the general publicto get to the Xcel Energy Center, Wilkins Auditorium, Ordway,their homes, work and everything in-between protected from theelementseven the heat! said Cardenas.

Financial support for the $1.7 million connection is from an$800,000 federal grant received by Metro Transit and the bal-

ance provided by the Metropolitan Councilfrom the Central Corridor Light Rail ProjectContingency Budget. Cardenas and other advo-cates for accessibility fought for the connec-tion, saying the elevator is imperative. Theytook their request to regional and local officialsand lobbied state lawmakers before the federalfunds and council grant were obtainedTransit investments like the Green Line are

designed to better connect people to jobs andhomes around the region. This project adds tothe connections created by the light rail line andmakes it easier for all people, particularly thosewith limited mobility, to access 40 blocks ofdowntown St. Paul via skyway from the lightrail station and major bus stops, said Metro-politan Council Chair Susan Haigh. Im pleasedthat we were able to make contingency moneyfrom the Green Line project budget available toimprove access to transit services for all people.Id like to thank our project partners for helpingmake this a reality including the city of St. Paul,Advocating Change Together and theCapitolRiver Council. The council is theDowntown Neighborhood District council.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, City Council Member DaveThune, Ramsey County Commissioners Rafael Ortega and JimMcDonough, Metropolitan Councilmembers Rich Kramer andJon Commers, and Cardenas were among those at thegroundbreaking.

St. Pauls skyway system and accessible connections to andfrom street level have been under scrutiny in recent years. Oneproblem has been building owners and managers who wish tolock up skyway access, leaving people hunting for elevator con-nections. Access to the light rail line, which starts operations in2014, has been a huge concern.

I heard from many of my constituentsdowntown residents,employees and employerson how important reestablishing a

Mural about disabilityon display.Page 13

Adaptive bowling loses achampion.Page 2

Meet the 2013 CharlieSmith Awardrunnersup.Page 3

Olmstead Plan detailsdeserve more scrutiny.Page 4

New name for a long-time service provider.Page 7

Plan to attend anupcoming town hallforum, sponsored byMNCCD.Page 14

By Access Press staffCal Appleby is a man of selfless action,

who has helped many others overcome chal-lenges that he himself also faced, is the win-ner of the 2013 Access Press Charlie SmithAward. Cal Appleby is this years honoree.

My lifes purpose has been to work withpeople who may be marginalized by the restof society, said Appleby. If people arewilling to come forward and take part in hisclasses and groups, Appleby said he is will-ing to help them better themselves. He seeshimself as a catalyst in the lives of others.

For decades Appleby was part of a re-markable team that founded and shapedmany programs for students with disabilitiesat Augsburg College in Minneapolis, at theUniversity of Minnesota and beyond. Thework of Appleby, and the late Vern Bloomand Wayne Mo Moldenhauer, had im-pacts throughout the region. The three willbe recognized at the annual award banquet,set for November 1.

Bloom died in 2012 and Moldenhauer died in 2003. Charlie Smith award winner - p. 10

Rail line connection - p. 10

Pg 2 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

Minnesotan was a kingpin in adaptive bowling circlesAdaptive sports of all types help people with dis-

abilities get exercise and have fun. Adaptive bowling,which began in the 1940s, is one of the most popularforms of recreation thanks to various devices thatmake bowling enjoyable. A Minnesotan who was anational champion of adaptive bowling died recently.Garland Gar Giddings of Ramsey was 68 years old.He had initially taken up adapted bowling in 1969.

For a few years, Giddings held the third-highestbowling average in the nation. His highest series everwas 513. He bowled for Team USA in the 2007 Inter-national Blind Sports Associations Blind BowlingTournament in Australia. He won a bronze medal in asingles event for the blind and finished fourth world-wide in the all-around category.

Giddings lost his sight in a car accident at age 19.His wife Nancy Giddings told the Star Tribune that healways refused to let his blindness define him.Giddings enjoyed a long career as a computer pro-grammer with Wells Fargo.

In the community of adaptive bowling, he wasknown as one of the top blind bowlers. He belongedto the American Blind Bowling Association (ABBA).His average score was 126; his best score was 226.

Giddings was highly competitive, using his strongmemorization and mathematics skills gained throughhis work to become a champion bowler. He used thelatest technology and Braille on the job. NancyGiddings said his work was logical, and he was ahighly logical person. He used geometry as a bowlerand memorized bowling scores.

HISTORY NOTE

EDITORS DESKTim Benjamin

He also was a memberof the Twin Cities AudioDarts League.

Giddings was born inAnoka and lived on afarm in what is now CoonRapids, before his familymoved to the ChisagoCity area. Hed plannedto be a farmer until losinghis sight in a car accidentwhen he was a freshmanat the University ofMinnesotas agricultural campus in St. Paul.

After graduation from the University of Minnesotahe learned computer programming in 1969 in Cincin-nati. There he joined a blind bowling league. Hemoved back to the Twin Cities in 1970.

The bowling bug bit Giddings again years later.Eleven years ago, he borrowed bowling rails from theABBA so he could bowl with his wife, children andothers at a church outing. He joined the ABBA at thattime and became an avid bowler, finding new friends

and a new way to compete.He loved the sound of thepins falling, his wife said.He was constantly thinkingof how to do it, how to betterhis score. Giddings is survived by hiswife, four daughters, threesisters, two brothers, fivegrandchildren and manynieces and nephews. Serviceshave been held. The History Note is amonthly column sponsoredby the Minnesota GovernorsCouncil on DevelopmentalDisabilities, www.mncdd.organd www.partnersinpolicymaking.com

Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons withdisabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed. Wereserve the right to edit all submissions. Editorial material does not necessarilyreflect the view of the editor/publisher of Access Press.

Paid advertising is available at rates ranging from $12 to $28 per column inch,depending on size and frequency of run. Classified ads are $14, plus 65 centsper word over 12 words. Advertising and editorial deadlines are the last dayof the month preceding publication, except for employment ads, which aredue by the 25th.

Access Press is a monthly tabloid newspaper published for persons withdisabilities by Access Press, Ltd. Circulation is 11,000, distributed the 10th ofeach month through more than 200 locations statewide. Approximately 450copies are mailed directly to individuals, including political, business,institutional and civic leaders. Subscriptions are available for $30/yr. Low-income, student and bulk subscriptions are available at discounted rates.

Application to mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at theSt. Paul, MN 55121 facility. POSTMASTER: Send address changes toAccess Press at 161 St. Anthony Ave, Suite 901, St. Paul, MN 55103.

Inquiries and address changes should be directed to:Access Press care of The Kelly Inn Offices; 161 St. Anthony Ave; #910;

St. Paul, MN 55103; 651-644-2133 Fax: 651-644-2136email: access@accesspress.org www.accesspress.org

Co-Founder/PublisherWm. A. Smith, Jr. (1990-1996)

Co-Founder/Publisher/Editor-in-ChiefCharles F. Smith (1990-2001)

Board of DirectorsBrigid Alseth, Steve Anderson,Kristin Jorenby, Elin Ohlsson,Halle O'Falvey, Carrie Salberg,Walt Seibert and Kay Willshire

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Volume 24, Number 9 Periodicals Imprint: Pending ISSN

In a summer of unusually mild weather, it kind offigured that the end of August would bring a week ofrecord-breaking heat just in time for the State Fair.Attendance hit some record-breaking lows becauseof the heat. Then the last Sunday of the State Fairwas a beautiful day and because of the cooler tem-peratures the final two days of the Fair resulted inrecord-breaking crowds. Oh well. Normal is over-rated.

This years Charlie Smith Award banquet will beon the first Friday in November as it has been for thelast nine years. This year weve received nomina-tions for a very strong mix of candidates for theCharlie Smith Award. Throughout this issue, wehave biographies and photographs of most of thenominees. As youll see after reading them, the Ac-cess Press board of directors had a difficult timechoosing the honoree. Every one of the nomineesdeserves applause from each of us for their hardwork and efforts to improve the lives of Minnesotanswith disabilities and our older adults. Each one has

made a distinct impact on the disability communityand expanded the services that are available to ourcommunity. We will be inviting each of the nomi-nees to the banquet, and I hope youll plan to come,applaud them, and help us give special recognitionto 2013 Charlie Smith Award recipient, CalAppleby. Appleby has a long record of accomplish-ments, but we want especially to recognize his con-tributions in making higher education at AugsburgUniversity more accessible to people with disabili-ties.

Sue Mattson has written a very informative com-mentary on the Olmstead plan. As youll read,Mattson has been closely following what will be alandmark change for the future of Minnesotas dis-ability community. She brings forward some chal-lenging concerns from the committee working on theOlmstead plans. She explains how this plan will af-fect the Minnesota Department of Human Servicesand how DHS interacts with all of us who use theirservices. It is very difficult to achieve both construc-tive transparency and policy oversight in such a hugestate agency, but we need both in an organizationthat manages so much taxpayer money. All of ushave responsibilities as taxpayers and clients of theDepartment of Human Services, and DHS in turn hasthe tremendous responsibility to supply social healthsupports, with swiftness and dignity as the legisla-

ture has intended. Unfortunately, sometimes the waythat legislation is ultimately written and adoptedslants one intent or philosophy over others, and theway that supports are delivered and used do not al-ways execute the same legislative intent. Its criticalthat the Olmstead plan establish clear guidelines,and well-defined appeal processes that are weightedin favor of the consumer rather than in favor of thedepartment.

Congratulations to all those self-advocates, Com-missioners, council members and St. Paul MayorChris Coleman, who worked to make the light railmore accessible to the skyway. Now with the newelevator in such close proximity to the light rail sta-tion and to the skyway, people with mobility dis-abilities will have a much easier time during thewinter to access each area. We thank you for yourhard work and dedication.

Finally, a reminder that MNCCDs 5% Campaignis in full swing. The campaign rollout in Duluth wasa huge success with Rep. Tom Huntley (DFLDuluth) signing on along with other legislators fromnorthern Minnesota. I understand also that someCongressional staffers at the state fair became ex-cited about the new campaign and will be supportingit. Now, we all have to attend one of the forums thatMNCCD is putting on for the campaign (see theEvents listing on page 12). We also have to encour-age our caregivers to support the campaign by beingat the forums and telling their stories.

Stay safe and enjoy the beautiful Septemberweather while it lasts.

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 3

Nominees - p. 5

Albright Townhomes Minneapolis (612) 824-6665 1 BRBuffalo Court Apartments Buffalo (763) 684-1907 2 BRElliot Park Apartments Minneapolis (612) 338-3106 2 BREvergreen Apartments Hutchinson 1-800-661-2501 1 BRFranklin Lane Apartments Anoka (763) 427-7650 1 & 2 BRHanover Townhomes St. Paul (651) 292-8497 1 BRLincoln Place Apartments Mahtomedi (651) 653-0640 2 BROlson Towne Homes Minneapolis (612) 377-9015 1 BRPrairie Meadows Eden Prairie (952) 941-5544 2 & 3 BRTalmage Green Minneapolis (612) 623-0247 2 BRTrinity Apartments Minneapolis (612) 721-2252 1 BR (sr)Unity Place Brooklyn Center (763) 560-7563 2 BRVadnais Highlands Vadnais Heights (651) 653-0640 3 BRWillow Apartments Little Falls (320) 632-0980 1 & 2 BRWoodland Court Apartments Park Rapids 1-888-332-9312 1 BR

We are accepting applications for ourlarge number of mobility impaired accessible units.

Please call us for more information.

BDC Management Co. is now accepting applicationsfor our waiting lists at the following affordable communities

MARY BENHARDUS,HANDI MEDICAL SUPPLY

Mary Benhardus took her experi-ences as a personal care attendant(PCA) and her business skills, andturned them into a thriving home medi-cal supply business. Benhardus foundedHandi Medical Supply in 1988, withthe vision of properly serving consum-ers who require medical equipment andsupplies. The vision for the companybegan when she was working as a PCAfor a quadriplegic friend who hadtrouble finding needed medical items.

In the late 1980s home medical ser-vices for people with disabilities werevery poor. People would call a medicalsupplier, only to often wait for weeksfor their medical equipment and sup-plies to be delivered. Suppliers had noorganized way to track prior order in-formation, which made the orderingprocess very time-consuming for con-sumers and their health care profession-als. After-hours emergency medicalequipment services were unheard of.

Benhardus believes that people withdisabilities deserve more caring consid-eration than what she had experiencedwith her friend. She made changes inhow orders are tracked and clients arecared for. She developed a personalizedafter-hour service. Benhardus made itHandi Medical Supplys mission to en-rich lives and find quality products andequipment for people with disabilities.

Under her leadership, Handi contin-ues to be dedicated to the people whoneed medical supplies and equipmentfor independence and mobility. She isthe driving force in the organizationand challenges team members to pro-vide high-quality service, care andcommitment. Her nominator and co-

Luther GranquistTom FogartyMary Benhardus Can-Do Canines

Many talents shown

Meet the other 2013 Charlie Smith Award nominees

worker Mike Bailey stated, Humanityhas always been and will continue to bean essential part of Mary Benhardusand Handis business plan.

In 2012 Handi Medical Supply wasrecognized as the Home MedicalEquipment Provider of the Year byHME News. The company also won theBetter Business Bureau IntegrityAward.

In 1997 Handi began providing anannual education and equipment refer-ral conference. It now draws more than700 attendees. Medical professionals,case managers and others can continuetheir medical education and learn aboutthe latest medical supplies and equip-ment.

CAN-DO CANINESCan-Do Canines has a long tradition

of service to people with disabilities.The New Hope-based nonprofit raises,trains and places specially trained dogswith people who need them. The dogsare trained to provide specific types ofassistance, tailored for the client. Dogsprovide assistance for people with hear-ing impairments, mobility issues, sei-zure disorders and diabetes. Childrenwith autism also benefit from the assis-tance of a service dog.

Can-Do Canines dogs help peopleachieve greater freedom, independenceand peace of mind. Matching speciallytrained dogs to a clients personal assis-tance needs creates a mutually benefi-cial partnership. The dogs are raisedfrom birth with loving care and are spe-cially trained before going to a client.Can-Do Canines staff and volunteersenvision a future in which every personwho needs and wants an assistance dogwill have one.

They are helping people who needhelp, said nominator Claudia Fuglie.She noted that the independence peoplehave thanks to a service animal is im-portant to Minnesotas disability com-munity and is worthy of considerationfor the Charlie Smith Award.

The nonprofit now serves Minnesota,Wisconsin, North Dakota and SouthDakota, and Iowa, with a few place-ments in Missouri and Illinois andadded new services, providing assis-tance dogs to people with seizure disor-ders, children with autism, and peoplewith diabetes complicated by hypogly-cemia awareness. Because the previousname no longer reflected what the non-profit had become, in 2009 Hearing andService Dogs of Minnesota becameCan-Do Canines.

All assistance dogs are provided toclients at no charge, thanks to generousdonations and the hard work offundraising that Can-Do Canines takeson. Start to finish, $25,000 typicallysponsors an assistance dog team. Theactual cost to train one team can beeven higher.

Can-Do Canines has 14 full-time em-ployees; six part-time employees and20 field trainers. There are 10 boardmembers. But it is largely a volunteer-driven group and they deserve muchrecognition. The 200-plus volunteersinclude 100 puppy raisers.

TOM FOGARTY, CAMP COURAGEFor almost 50 years, Tom Fogarty

has helped Minnesotans with disabili-ties enjoy the great outdoors indepen-dently. In December 2012 he retired asdirector of camping services for CampCourage and Courage North. Fogartyswork will benefit campers for years to

come. As a person with a significanthearing impairment, Tom has been asuperb role model for people who aredeaf and hard of hearing, said nomina-tors Jeff Bangsberg and Anita Boucher.He has worked quietly behind thescenes in developing and implementinginnovative recreational opportunitiesfor people with a wide range of physi-cal, sensory, cognitive and other typesof disabilities.

Fogarty is known for his personalwarmth and humor, and for giving ev-eryone a chance to be successful. Manycampers considered him to be a fatherfigure and a mentor.

In 1964 Fogarty attended the first ex-perimental program for deaf/hard ofhearing children at Camp Courage.Two years later he returned to theMaple Lake camp for a kitchen job. Helater was a camp crafter, riding instruc-tor and maintenance supervisor.

Fogarty attended St. Cloud StateUniversity, earning a degree in specialeducation in 1975. For two semestershe and Access Press founding editorCharlie Smith were roommates. Theybecame good friend and Fogarty wasSmiths personal care attendant.

Fogarty became camp director ofCourage North near Park Rapids in1985. Under his direction the camp ex-panded programs and facilities. Thecamp offered sessions for deaf/hard ofhearing children and teens, adults withphysical disabilities and the CourageHandi-Ham Radio Camp. Programs forchildren with Aspergers syndrome andhemophilia were added. He also coordi-nated staffing and logistics for the Cali-fornia Radio Camp held each winter.He helped the camp develop partner-

Pg 4 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

Olmstead Plan

Dont sweep aside concerns, delay plan until it is doneGUEST COMMENTARY

by Susan MattsonEditors note: Mattson is

a disability advocate, spe-cial education profes-sional, court-appointedguardian and licensed careprovider. Mattson has fol-lowed the progress of theMinnesota Olmstead com-pliance issues since 1999and has monitored the cur-rent activity on the cre-ation of the newest plan. Mattsons greatest con-cern is that this current plan effort, as past move-ments, will be swept aside and/or prolonged tosuch an extent that the necessary, significantchanges fall by the wayside. This draft proposal ofthe Olmstead Plan misses the elephant in theroom and needs to include, from the first day ofimplementation. The following is excerpted fromher comments on the most recent draft. The fullarticle can be seen at www.accesspress.org:

Transparent meaningful oversight with account-ability to consumer,

Measurable demonstration of implementation ofthe Olmstead philosophy by government agents/agencies involved and all providers acceptingMedicare and Medicaid dollars

Simplified direct means for the consumer toimpact the administration, implementation anddirect outcomes of the Plan without encounteringthe circular bureaucratic within the system.

Comprehensive and ongoing training and enlight-enment

Accountability to the consumer is expressly writteninto the DHS Mission Statement to the people weserve. It is the foundation of the Olmstead Act/Plan.Ombudsman Roberta Opheim covers it in her video:http://tinyurl.com/OlmsteadPlan

Other comments considered from the July 9 listen-ing session. Daniel Olson, PCA said, look at the ex-periences on the ground. Galen Smith, of ADAPT,urged the planners to be bold and take this opportu-nity to create a legacy, Chris Bell said, the plannersshould turn the system upside down. True integrationmeans being able to make decisions; get informationwithout jumping through hoops.

No effective means exist for consumer evaluationof agents/agencies and the plan has no provision.Touted safeguards are ineffective/meaningless tothe consumer and are weighted heavily in favor of theagency. Statutes grant deference to the agency in anygiven appeal situation. Government attorneys repre-sent the agency/department, while consumers fend forthemselves. The agent/agencies/department faces noadverse action for failure to adhere to deadlines orstatutes. If they fail to comply, the Ombudsmans Of-

fice and the Disability Law Center have theirown limitations.

County commissioners serving as the Human Ser-vices Board directly appointing and supervisingcase managers and providing direct oversight of theadministration of services generally minimize thoseduties to that of rubber stamping the work of theagents. Commonly, commissioners bring a constituentconcern to an agency. The commissioner is assuredthat DHS directives are followed, that confidentialitytakes precedence, and/or the agency paints the con-sumer as just trouble.

State law mandates local Human Services AdvisoryCommittees whose membership cannot include Hu-man Services employees and where one-third of themembership shall be representatives of persons re-ceiving services. Task forces shall be established andchaired by an advisory committee member. Since notall counties have advisory committees or ones thatoperated as statutorily mandated, this level of con-sumer accountability is ineffective.

Oversight is another concern. The 2004 LegislativeAudit of the Administration of the Medicaid Homeand Community Based Waiver noted concerns raisedunder Olmstead. The state auditor recognized a fail-ure to solicit the views of the consumer, made recom-mendations for close oversight by the legislature, andstated that DHS was to provide specific oversight ofthe county agencies. The 2005 update reveals DHSstarted to implement those recommendations, foundthem too time consuming, and quit. Legislatorscritical to the oversight process never knew

Opheim said in the 2005 William Mitchell Law Re-view http://tinyurl.com/Opheimtalk regarding agentswho do not follow the law and/or when agents openlypractice vendettas: History has shown that countiesare not held accountable when they fail to follow thelaw. There are few, if any, administrative, legal, orfinancial sanctions which can be applied by thestate against the counties. She adds: TheOmbudsmans Office acknowledges that there aremany conscientious workers at all levels of the socialservice system working hard every day to improve thelives of children. The stories of families and the casesreviewed by the Office, however, reveal that the de-structive practices and harmful decisions madeby counties contained within this essay are not simplyisolated cases. She concludes, that those beingharmed cannot wait for the system to slowly evolve.

A DHS Developmental Disability Supervisor, in ane-mail exchange with me stated, We havent found aspecific statutory protection against retaliation or vin-dictive behavior by a county.

Legislation introduced years ago attempted to pro-tection against retaliation and establish a Board ofDHS Oversight. The bills sit dormant.

Implementation of the philosophy is also a concern.The philosophy has been spelled out in the ADA, the

State Application for 1914 HCBS Waiver, TheOlmstead Act, and the most recent order to establishthe Olmstead Plan. The fact that the philosophy haseluded many who are in positions of administrativeauthority is disturbing.

On July 9 Joan Willshire of the Minnesota StateCouncil on Disabilities said, The Options Too reportin 2006 covered many of these same concerns . . . un-fortunately many of these same issues are discussed inthe plan today. There should be ongoing monitoringof the plan so that it is implemented and so were notlooking at these same issues again years later. Turn-ing things upside down as Bell said can happenquite quickly in a multi-disciplinary action when allare committed to practice the same philosophy andwhen those who are not are eliminated

Direct means for consumer to impact is the fourthpoint I will raise. The consumer and/or their guardian,under Chapter 256B.092 subdivision 7, (among otherstatutes, laws, and the State Application for the Waiver)are to have significant authority to direct the services.

A plan for training is the final point I will raise The consumer, their advocates, commissioners, advi-sory committees, providers and agents, and legislatorsneed training that true choice exists in matters as this new norm and that retaliation by agents will not betolerated.

Remember to get yourbanquet tickets

Want to hear more about the Charlie Smith Awardwinner and nominees? Attend the banquet Friday,Nov. 1 at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott in Bloom-ington. Tickets are on sale now and menu choiceshave been announced.

Cost is $45 per person or $325 for an 8-persontable (save $35) in advance. Tickets are $50 per per-son day of the event, at the doors.

There are several ways to reserve tickets. Go towww.accesspress.org and click on the line for theawards event. Or, Mail your check(s) to: Access Press,Attn: Dawn, 161 St. Anthony Ave., Suite 910, St.Paul, MN 55103. A third way is to call the office anddo the transaction over the phone, at 651-644-2133

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction start-Banquet tickets - p. 15

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 5

ships with Mayo Clinic, the Autism So-ciety of Minnesota and MinneapolisChildrens Hospital.

In 2005 Fogarty became director ofcamping services for both Camp Cour-age and Courage North. He receivedthe Spirit of Courage award from Cour-age Center in 2008.

LUTHER GRANQUIST,ATTORNEY AND HISTORIAN

For many years, Luther A. Granquistwas a key figure at the Minnesota Dis-ability Law Center/Mid-Minnesota Le-gal Aid. In his 36-year career, hebrought independence and dignity tothe lives of countless people with dis-abilities. He was involved in severallandmark cases that greatly improvedthe lives of Minnesotans. His legal ex-pertise, determination, work ethic andcommitment to everyones dignity andrights resulted in changed laws, policiesand practices.

He was the face of the MinnesotaDisability Law Center and Legal Aid,said nominator Mary Lou Doll. Lutherswork in Minnesota set an example forother states. Doll said that many fami-lies wouldnt have received the helpthey needed if not for Granquist.

Granquist was a leader in efforts toclose state hospitals in the 1970s, in theWelsch V. Minnesota case. He and oth-ers worked closely with families whoseloved ones were in state institutions.Granquist and the legal team docu-mented horrible conditions that peoplelived in. People were living withouthaving even their basic care and medi-cal needs met. Many lacked propermedical equipment. The lawsuit helpedstart the movement of people with de-velopmental and physical disabilitiesfrom institutions into the community.

Through the Disability Law Center,Granquist helped many people obtaintheir legal rights.

Margaret PerrymanJune LaceySam Jasmine Diana Kommer

For many years he wrote the AccessPress History Note column. His workdid much to add to the written historyof Minnesotans with disabilities. Healso gathered and organized historicaldocuments for the Governors Councilon Developmental Disabilitieswebsite. He continues to assemble ma-terial for a book he is writing on thehistory of disability in Minnesota.

Granquist also was a strong presenceat the state capitol and was well-knownamong members of the Minnesota Leg-islature, self-advocates and disabilityadvocacy groups.

The Arc Minnesota has named its an-nual systems change award after Gran-quist, to recognize his decades of workfor people with disabilities. In 2012Granquist was given a lifetime achieve-ment award by The Arc Minnesota.

SAM JASMINE, RADIO HOSTSam Jasmine has devoted years to

helping people with disabilities haveaccess to media. She volunteers for theweekly radio show Disabled and Proudon KFAI radio station, 90.3 FM Minne-apolis and 106.7 FM St. Paul.

Jasmine has been an engineer for theprogram 19 years and has been primaryhost for nine years. She has interviewedhundreds of people on topics that bringpeople insights and ideas about disabil-ity. As a radio host she is facilitator forcountless discussions about disability.

As the host of Disabled and Proudon KFAI, she has brought attention tohundreds of relevant topics concerningthe integration of people into the main-stream community through activism,giving a venue for open dialogue con-cerns the disability community, statednominator Martha H. Hage. I believethat Disabled and Proud on KFAIwould not have continued if it were not

for Sam Jasmine taking over upon myretirement from the program.

Jasmine is a talented actress and wonan award for Outstanding Achievementin Acting from the Minnesota Associa-tion of Community Theatres. She is aboard member and past president of theTwin Cities Audio Dart League. Shewas instrumental in manufacturing heonly accessible dartboard on the mar-ket. The dartboard speaks in hervoice and describes the location of theboard to the player, announces thescores and offers instructions and therules for each game.

She has been a teacher to newly visu-ally disabled individuals and childrenwith visual impairments. She gives pre-sentations about visual disabilities, useof Braille and accessibility for peoplewith disabilities in schools.

She also volunteers in University ofMinnesota experiments on visual per-ception and navigation. Hage noted thatJasmine is not only active in media, thearts and recreation, she also is a veryeffective self-advocate. Sam has suc-cessfully prosecuted a cab driver for re-fusing to let her guide dog in has cab.This has brought attention to cab com-panies that refusal under these circum-stances is unlawful.

DIANA KOMMER, COURAGE KENNYINTERNATIONAL ART SHOW FORPEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

On the opening night of the CourageKenny International Art Show forPeople with Disabilities, the happyfaces of the artists say it all. The personwho makes that possible is DianaKommer. She has led efforts to stagethe show for the past three years.

Kommer has worked for AllinaHealth for more than a decade. Her pri-mary job is as administrative assistant

with Courage Kenny Rehabilitation As-sociates in the outpatient clinic. she isalso coordinator of the annual art show.For 11 months out of the year she vol-unteers her personal time for the show.

The work is barely out the door be-fore she begins to prepare for the nextyears show, said Kommers nomina-tor Elizabeth Rosalind Young. Kommeris well-known for making the show anenjoyable experience for all who par-ticipate, including artists, their familymembers, visitors and what is now theCourage Kenny staff. More than 360pieces of art arrived for the 2013 show.Art that isnt sold is returned to the art-ists. When a piece is sold, the artist re-ceives 75 percent and 25 percent goesto support Courage Kenny. Artists re-ceive monetary prizes in six categories.

Diana works tirelessly to get the artshow on its feet and running without ahitch, Young wrote. Its almost toosmooth. Few people have any idea of thetremendous amount of work and energyit takes to make this show happen. Theshow is in May. But the work to orga-nize it starts the September before, withoutreach to find artists and their work.

For two months after the show Kom-mer returns artwork and closes theevent books. One facet to her work isasking employees of Courage Kenny todonate Encouragement Awards of cashto various artists in the show. Theawards give the artists a boost as wellas needed resources to buy more sup-plies and possibly enter other exhibitsand contests.

Kommer more than doubled theamount of awards this year by offeringincentives and her own contributions,without reimbursement.

Her son Alex has also volunteered asa co-coordinator.

Nominees - from p. 3

Nominees - p. 11

Pg 6 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

PEOPLE & PLACES

Camps of Courage & Friendship has added to itsofferings with a new partnership. Creative LearningIdeas for Mind and Body or CLIMB Theater wasadded this summer to the camping programs exten-sive list of activities.

The non-profit childrens theater provides program-ming once a week at each of the Camps of Courage &Friendship sites. The company presents plays and en-gages campers in fun and creative games all whiletouching on topics like respect, friendship and accep-tance of differences. The camping program can pro-vide these experiences throughout the summer be-cause of the Partner in Arts Participation grant it re-ceived through the Minnesota State Arts Board thispast spring.

CLIMB Theater started in 1975 as a theater com-pany for persons with disabilities This is our way ofgetting back to our roots, said Peter Mol of CLIMBTheater.

The program offers a unique experience that dif-fers from typical camp activities by focusing on the-ater skills and expressing themselves in a differentway. We are so pleased to add this new and fresh ex-perience to our programming, Camps of Courage &Friendship Program Director Jon Salmon said.

New program makes these campers happy

Camps of Courage & Friendship, a nonprofit, pri-vately-funded agency, enriches the lives of nearly4,000 people with developmental or physical disabili-ties and special needs annually. Camp locations in-clude Camp Friendship near Annandale, Camp Eden

Wood in Eden Prairie, Camp New Hope nearMcGregor, Camp Courage near Maple Lake andCamp Courage North near Lake George.

Peter Mol entertains campers by acting out a skit.Photo courtesy of Camp Courage & Friendship

Living Well Disability Services is the new namefor a longtime Twin Cities area service provider.Eagan-based Dakota Communities made the namechange last month. The new name reflects changes inresidential care, which allow more people with dis-abilities to live in the community.

Parents and volunteers in the West St. Paul areafounded what was originally Dakotas Children in1972. The nonprofit now offers support services to

New name for a longtime Twin Cities area service provideradults and children with physical and developmentaldisabilities. Living Well Disability Services stillowns and operates 33 group homes in 19 communi-ties. But over the years the nonprofit has expandedto offer services in a clients home. Living Well Dis-ability Services currently offers customized homeservices to about 120 people and is expected todouble by 2016.

The name change includes a new logo and the slo-

gan, TransformingLives, which repre-sents the organizations mission to de-liver exceptional services that transform the lives ofpeople impacted by disabilities.

Changing our name to Living Well Disability Ser-vices was driven by the fact that we intend to servemore families in the future and become a resource to aPeople & Places - p. 7

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 7

Diamond Hill TownhomesDiamond Hill Townhomes is a great property located near theMinneapolis International Airport. We have spacious two and threebedroom townhomes that are HUD subsidized and rent is 30% of thetotal households adjusted gross income.

Our Three Bedroom waiting list is now open and we are currentlyaccepting applications. Our non-accessible Two Bedroom waiting listis also opened.

We are always accepting applications for our large number of mobilityimpaired accessible units. Please contact us for more information.

We look forward to hearing from you!Please call (612) 726-9341.

PEOPLE & PLACEScontinued from p. 6

same commitment to excellence intended by ourfounders in 1972.

The new name also more accurately reflects thenonprofits wider service area, which has grown be-yond Dakota County.

The name Living Well Disability Services buildson our rich legacy and honors what we help people dolive well, said Julie Manworren, President andChief Executive Officer, Living Well Disability Ser-vices. Our board, volunteers and employees are ap-proaching this transition with great energy as we worktogether to extend exceptional service to families wecurrently serve and those who would benefit from ourunique approach.

Innovation in service, accessibility, wellness andtechnology are allowing more people to live as inde-pendently as possible through customized home ser-vices. The changes and added staff should be part ofaddressing a current state backlog in care. The statehas a moratorium on new group homes and restrictshow openings are filled, so home care demand contin-ues to increase. Home care is also typically less costlythan group home care.

Living Well Disability Services has a staff of morethan 600 full-time, part-time and occasional employ-ees, including direct-care providers, occupationaltherapists and medical and support staff. It also has ateam of about 250 volunteers. Its annual operatingbudget is about $19 million.

UCare adds two executives

UCare has added two executives to its leadershipteam. Gregory A. Hanley is the nonprofit healthplans new Quality Management Director in UCaresQuality Management department. John Rotilie, M.D.,is UCares new Associate Medical Director, a part-time position in UCares Clinical and Quality Man-agement area

As UCares Quality Management Director, Hanleyoversees the development, implementation, and evalu-ation of UCares member-focused clinical quality im-provement processes. His team analyzes clinically ori-ented health plan performance reports and ensuresthat UCares clinical quality performance meets orexceeds requirements set by regulatory agencies. Heprovides oversight and direction for UCares practi-tioner credentialing as well as complaints, appeals,and grievance processes, and participates in the set-ting and accomplishment of UCares strategic direc-tion as a member of the leadership team. Hanley mostrecently was the Regional Director of Quality Im-provement at Coventry Health Care in Kansas City.

Rotilie is an internal medicine physician withRotilie, Toman and McRaith, LLC, in St. Paul. In hispart-time position with UCare, he reports to MichaelLynch, M.D., UCares Medical Director, and joinsUCares team of Associate Medical Directors, CraigChristianson, M.D., and Dan Rubin, M.D. As a mem-ber of UCares Clinical and Quality Managementteam, Rotilie helps oversee the health care needs ofUCares nearly 300,000 members. He also contributesto the development, implementation, and maintenanceof UCares quality improvement, utilization review,and case management activities. Rotilie has close to30 years of health care experience.

UCare is an independent, nonprofit health plan pro-viding health care and administrative services to morethan 300,000 members. UCare serves more peoplefrom diverse cultures and more people with disabili-ties enrolled in Medical Assistance than any otherhealth plan in Minnesota.

The Youth Legacy Foundation is celebrating itsnewly obtained nonprofit status. About 80 people at-tended an August 17 celebration and ribbon-cuttingevent at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis.

The Youth Legacy Foundation empowers youthwith disabilities to lead exemplary lives in the com-munity. Youth are involved in activities centered onvolunteer service, Legacy, mentoring and peermentoring.

Youth are important to our future, so they are im-portant to us, said Mai Thor, Youth Legacy Founda-tion board chairperson. She is a well-known disabilitycommunity leader and a former Access Press writer.

For too long, society has focused on the perceiveddeficits of people with disabilities because of thestigma and discrimination attached to labels. This isreally unfair and it inhibits people with disabilitiesfrom being all they can be for themselves and theircommunities. We want to break through all of thesebarriers to make way for youth with disabilities to notonly be a part of community life, but to influence itand shape it, said Bridget Siljander. She is the found-ing executive director for the foundation and has beeninvolved in a number of disability community groups.

Organizers said the fun event energized those in-volved and captured a sense of community aroundyouth with disabilities. The foundation will continueto build momentum to unify, organize and leveragecommunity resources, networks, and programs. An-other goal is to facilitate access and negotiate accom-modations to promote personal and professional de-velopment and capitalizing on strengths, gifts, andabilities to give back to the community.

Elected officials and disability community leaderswere among those who congratulated the foundation,with many speaking during the program. Joining thespeakers were four young people who shared theirdisability experiences and what is important to them.

Brian Barnes, a recent Congressional candidatewhose last campaign had significant youth participa-tion, said, Lets look at what youth can do.

The foundation already has a long list of accom-plishments, including the formation of a youth advi-sory council and design of a new website. Membershosted a conference at Courage Center and gatheredcommunity input. They also presented at the Minne-sota Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference, on Diver-sity Day, and at the Wisconsin Youth Legacy Forum2013 annual youth retreat. The foundation has beenfeatured on KFAI Radio and on the television showDisability Viewpoints. Foundation members alsoexhibited at the ARRM Conference. Several membersspoke at a large disability rally at the capitol duringthe 2013 session.

One key accomplishment was participation in Na-tional Disability Mentoring Day and activities to com-memorate National Disability Awareness Month andDisability Employment Awareness Month.

Youth Legacy Foundation would like more com-munity participation as it prepares for upcomingprojects and more public policy advocacy by its con-stituents, It included more outreach and communityvisibility, fundraising to expand the organization andrecruitment of mentors to support youth participantswith planning, goal setting, and activities. A workingpartnership with Wayzata Public Schools will connectstudents with diverse community opportunitiesaround volunteer service, mentoring and Legacy.

Help with event planning and the creation of apublic service announcement are other needs.Anyone wanting to be involved with Youth LegacyFoundation can call 612-293-7008 or emailbridgetsiljander@yahoo.com The groups website iswww.youthlegacyfoundation.org

Youth Legacy Foundation takes shape

Aaron, Bridget and Imani attended the celebration.Photos from Youth Legacy Foundation

Find more People & Places on page 10

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Pg 8 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

Security hospital faces sanctionsThe Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter was

fined $2,000 and had its conditional licensing statusextended by one year after authorities documentedtwo cases of patient maltreatment and a number of

serious record-keeping violations related to the use ofrestraints and seclusion. Commissioner of the Minne-sota Department of Human Services Lucinda Jessonissued a statement August 28 saying that state offi-cials are Deeply Concerned about the incidents.While these incidents are serious, we are encour-aged that the Licensing Division has acknowledgedthat significant improvements have taken place atthe facility over the past year, Jesson said. Weare committed to achieving continued progress to-

Brain injury treatment at riskEllie Cizek, 20, sustained a head injury while skiing

in January. Her family has dealt with considerable frus-tration over her care since then. The accident left her ina coma for days. She was in an amnesia-like state untilApril. Only four months into her recovery from a trau-matic brain injury, her health insurer denied furthercare at a rehabilitation center in Omaha. She wasbrought home to St. Paul. So like many other families,the Cizeks must raise funds for their daughters care.

Insurance is pretty mean to brain-injured patients,Cizeks sister, Josie, said. But its a common refrainfor patients like Cizek and a growing concern in theUnited States, where the concussive force of sport in-juries, car crashes and other accidents causes 1.7 mil-lion traumatic brain injuries each year, including90,000 severe enough to cause long-term disability.

Doctors often recommend cognitive rehabilitationa set of therapies to retrain patients brains and re-store lost brainpowerbeyond what insurance com-panies cover. Insurers face the dilemma of trying tohold the line on therapy costs, especially if it appearsthat patients have platituded in their recoveries

Her family told her story to the Star Tribune toraise awareness of the dilemma Cizek and so manyothers face in trying to get care. She participates ingroup therapy at Courage Center in Golden Valley,but her parents want her to return to Quality LivingInc., in Omaha, one of the only inpatient rehab centersfor traumatic brain injuries so she can receive moreintensive services during this critical period of heal-ing. But because she can walk and talk, her insurance

ward improving the care and safety of patients.The St. Peter hospital, Minnesotas largest psychi-

atric facility with roughly 400 patients, has beenroiled over the past two years with management prob-lems, turnover in key staff positions and cases of pa-tient maltreatment. That has led to more state scrutinyand work to correct problems.

State reports indicated that hospital staff failed tointervene in August 2012 as a patient repeatedly bangedhis or her head against a concrete wall over a three-hour period. In a separate incident, two members ofthe medical staff failed to obtain timely help for a pa-tient who exhibited unusual symptoms after an appar-ent seizure. The patient waited for hours for advancedmedical care and was found to have suffered a stroke.

Extension of the conditional license has resulted innew and modified requirements governing the care ofvulnerable adults and documentation of seclusion andrestraint practices.

(Source: Star Tribune)

Regional News - p. 9

REGIONAL NEWS

I have been an In Home client for at least 20 years. During that timeI have received excellent, reliable, consistent care from PCAs and

HHAs trained and supervised by In Home. - Jean T (Client)

Serving Adults and Childrenwith Long-Term Needs since 1991

At In Home Personal Care, we pride ourselves not only on the help weprovide, but also on our ability to listen. We understand that each of ourclients has different needs at different times. Our quality home careservices are formed around a plan that works for you and your

individual situation.

Your home, your independence . . . 763-546-1000

8441 Wayzata Blvd; Suite 130Golden Valley, MN 55426

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 9

carrier refused coverage. The family isnt naming theinsurance carrier. The Brain Injury Association ofAmerica believes there should be no arbitrary caps ondays of cognitive rehab because treatment of patientsis so individualized.

(Source: Star Tribune)

Confused about a court proceedings? Not clear

how Courts operate? The Minnesota Judicial Branchhas created a video to make sure citizens who are deafor hard-of-hearing have equal access in the state courtsystem. The 20-minute video called: Going to Court:Tips for Minnesotans who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Its meant to help those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing prepare for a court appearance, and request

A former online news service editor, who has Crohnsdisease, has taken action against Patch.com The law-suit was filed in late August in U.S. District Court.

Crohns is an incurable inflammatory bowel dis-ease with symptoms that include diarrhea, vomitingand abdominal pain.

Mary Vandergrift, former editor of the Golden Val-ley Patch website, claims that five hours after herbaby was delivered by Caesarian section, she wasemailed and asked to work from her hospital bed. Sheis alleging that employer AOL and Patch failed to ac-

commodate her under the Americans with DisabilitiesAct, the Family Medical Leave Act and other laws.She is also claiming that when she sought to exerciseher rights her bosses would retaliate, shorting her pay-check and not providing needed technical support.She was let go last year.

AOL and Patch have not filed a response to thelawsuit. Patch is an online news site founded in 2007and acquired by AOL in 2009. It was formed with theaim of giving readers more local news.

(Source: Pioneer Press)

communication assistance if needed. It is captioned andis in American Sign Language. It was developed withinput from persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The video was produced to help explain what canbe confusing court rules. It is posted online atwww.mncourts.gov

(Source: Minnesota Judicial Branch)

Video provides judicial access for hearing impaired, deaf

Disability leads to action

REGIONAL NEWScontinued from p. 8

Pg 10 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

New personnel at Fraserand growth of the program. He also had ongoingevaluations of program and service outcomes andcontinuous community needs assessments.

Michael Nass is the new Executive Vice President& Chief Financial Officer at Fraser. He will be re-sponsible for the overall financial, information tech-nology, facility and revenue cycle management opera-tions of Fraser. He serves as a key advisor to the chiefexecutive officer and board, providing financial lead-ership in developing and executing long-term strate-gies and goals of the organization.

Nass was previously employed at HealthEast CareSystem serving in the capacity of Vice President/Chief Financial Officer for the last two years, and for28 years previously as corporate controller, assistantcontroller and divisional controller.

Fraser, founded in 1935, is Minnesotas largest andlongest-tenured provider of autism services. Fraseralso serves children and adults with more than 60types of mental and physical disabilities.

PEOPLE & PLACEScontinued from p.7

Fraser, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit serving chil-dren and adults with special needs, has announcedthat it has received three-year accreditation fromCARF International (Commission on Accreditation ofRehabilitation Facilities). This accreditation primarilyfocuses on two areas, Fraser Career Planning and Em-ployment Services and Fraser Autism Center of Ex-cellence. Several Fraser services were also acknowl-edged as exemplary and deserving of national recog-nition.

Fraser also has two new members of its leadershipteam. Aric Jensen is now Director of Mental Health.Jensen will manage, develop, and expands FrasersMental Health Programs serving children with severeemotional and behavioral disturbances. He was previ-ously employed at Portia Bell Hume Center as Pro-gram Manager for the School Based Prevention andEarly Intervention Program. While there he developedand managed all aspects of the program from initialcommunity needs assessments to developing, imple-menting and providing service offerings to expansion

Charlie Smith award winner - from p. 1Nominator Clarence Schadegg noted he also wants

Applebys former coworkers and friends honored aswell. They were effective in changing the lives ofmany people, for the better.

What a remarkable trio, said Access Press Execu-tive Director Tim Benjamin. Their work has helpedso many people and we are pleased to present themwith the 2013 Charlie Smith Award. They have a longlegacy of service to Minnesotans with disabilities.

I am overjoyed and elated to be receiving thisaward, and to share it with my friends and colleagues,especially since the three of us worked together for somany years, Appleby said. I feel so honored that thework we did over the years is being recognized.

Working with them for so many years was the pin-nacle of my career, he added. He and Bloom collabo-rated for more than 50 years.

He and Moldenhauer developed a strong friendshipafter they had met while Moldenhauer was in prison.He was a hard case but he was able to turn his lifearound and reach so many people, Appleby said.

Appleby has been a chemical dependency treatmentcounselor since the 1970s and developed and led dis-ability awareness and sociology classes and medita-tion groups. He began teaching at Augsburg Collegein the fall of 1969. He drew on his own recovery fromalcohol addiction through yoga and meditation andhelped many others do the same thing.

He started the Beverly White Community Project,an organization that has brought meditation and yogato people facing challenging life conditions. Anotherof his projects at the University of Minnesota resultedin the Student Parent HELP Center, which helpssingle parents complete college degrees.

He has also been a pioneer in disability awarenessat Augsburg, The classes and groups were open to all,brought much-needed positive change and awarenessabout disabilities to Augsburg students, faculty andstaff. Classes were held at Augsburgs campus andthroughout Minnesota at facilities that includingTravilla in Robbinsdale, the Beverly White Founda-tion, nursing homes, treatment centers and state mensand womens correctional facilities in Stillwater, OakPark Heights, Sandstone, St. Cloud and Shakopee.

Augsburg officials are adding their congratulations.

As Cal, Wayne, and Vern were keenly aware,Augsburg College exists to provide quality educationto individuals from diverse backgrounds and with anarray of capacities, said Ann Garvey, vice presidentof Student Affairs at Augsburg College. When thesemen were at Augsburg, they saw that segments of ourstudent population had unmet needs; they took action,and their influence continues to inform our work.

In the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, these menhelped Augsburg faculty and staff build a stronger un-derstanding of how students varying physical andlearning abilities influence their success in ourcourses and learning environments. Today this atten-tiveness is built into our culture and our infrastruc-ture, and thats a tradition they started.

Bloom led Augsburg College programs for de-cades, including the Continuing Education for Non-traditional Students (CENTS), Community HumanResources (CHR) and Augsburgs College of theThird Age. He also taught sociology and social workclasses for more than 25 years.

Moldenhauer had served time in prison and broughtan awareness of the challenges prison inmates face.He helped raise the funds necessary to establish a trans-portation program between Augsburg and Travilla. Hefounded the Deafness Education Advocacy Founda-tion (DEAF), the message relay system for deaf andhearing people. DEAF has grown considerably sinceit was started. Moldenhauer was also the administra-tor/fundraiser for the Northern Sign Theater, a theatri-cal program made up of people with hearing loss.

Moldenhauer also raised funds for the installationof ramps and elevators at Augsburg College for users

of wheel-chairs.

The threefounded aunique modelof support topeople withdisabilities, totransport stu-dents betweenAugsburg andTravilla forclasses. Theirwork influenced the creation of Metro Mobility whenstate planners grasped the significance of their trans-portation model.

Today there are robust programs for students with dis-abilities at Augsburg College, thanks to these three men

They helped guide generations of college studentsand inmates through the Augsburg College educationprocess. They not only taught off and on-campus theyalso helped organize Open Doors, a conference tobring faith communities together to support peoplereleased from prison.

People with disabilities have many allies, peoplewho step up and do their part to make our lives a littlebetter. Certainly, there are many people doing this kindof work who havent been recognized, Schadegg said.Cal, Wayne and Vern were but three people whowalked the talk. Many programs came about becauseof the work done by Cal, Wayne and Vern.

Appleby lives in St. Louis Park with his longtimepartner, Laurie Savran. He also has an adult son.

connection between the street and skyway at this loca-tion is to maintaining pedestrian access, comfort andsafety throughout downtown, said Thune. His wardincludes the downtown area. I am pleased that theMetropolitan Council understands this as well, and

Rail line connection - from p. 1

Vernon Marvin BloomSeptember 3, 1934-October 20, 2012

has committed its resources to making it happen.Central Station will be one of the busiest stations

along the Green Line, so connecting it to the heart ofdowntown is critical, said Coleman. Thank you tothe accessibility advocates who worked hard to makethis connection a reality, and to the Met Council forfinding the funds to construct this valuable connectionon the largest infrastructure project in Minnesota.

Everyone helped break groundPhoto courtesy of Ruby McKusick

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 11

Ruth Ulvog(Photo as requested)

Cliff Poetz Jim Thayer

Nominees - from p. 5

JUNE LACEY, LIFELONG VOLUNTEERJune Lacey has volunteered count-

less hours of community work everyweek for more than 75 years.

Daughter, Joyce Lacey, calls hermother a remarkable woman.

June Lacey co-founded Project BearHugs, which provides stuffed animalsto nursing homes, childrens and veter-ans hospitals, shelters and disasterscenes. June saw a need for an out-reach to give love, hope and compan-ionship to those individuals in hospitalbeds, those facing hardships, those whohad no one else to turn to, and whowere all alone, said Joyce Lacey.Since you cant always get a real pet,the next best thing is a stuffed animal tohug, hold and tell your troubles to.

Of Project Bear Hugs, Joyce Laceysaid, What a difference it has made!Nurses, doctors and family membershave shared hundreds of stories on howmuch happier, less fearful and more re-ceptive their patients and loved oneshave become. The stuffed animals givethem someone to love and they knowthat someone loves them.

June Lacey has been a leader withthe Midwest Walk and Roll for theChristopher and Dana Reeve Founda-tion. She volunteers with the MSWalk, 150 Bike Ride, MS Tram, MSRoot Beer Float Days, Community MSBooths, 30/60 MS Bike Ride andChallenge Walk. She served on thesteering committee for the Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer FoundationRace for the Cure. Her other cancer-related volunteer work includesAmerican Cancer Association Relayfor Life, Golf for the Cure, Bike forthe Cure and Shop for the Cure. Shealso helps with the Muscular Dystro-phy Association Telethon. She servesmeals at the Salvation Army andUnion Gospel Mission, and helps withthe annual Thanksgiving baskets andChristmas gifts. She is a Salvation

Army bell ringer and knits scarves forthe homeless.

June Lacey does volunteer work de-spite dealing with lifelong disabilities.Severe arthritis, scoliosis, heart issues,loss of vision and a seizure disordercaused by a head injury havent everslowed her down.

MARGARET PERRYMAN, GILLETTECHILDRENS SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE

During her 25 years as the Chief Ex-ecutive Officer and President ofGillette Childrens Specialty Health-care Margaret Perryman has advocatedfor public policies that meet the uniquemedical needs of persons with disabili-ties. She is retiring soon.

She has raised awareness of theunique medical problems faced by chil-dren and adults with disabilities, therange of health services needed to meetthose needs, and the crucial importancemaking health services available re-gardless of income. Anita Schermer,Luther Granquist and Deb Holtz nomi-nated Perryman. Margaret Perrymandeserves to receive the Charlie SmithAward because of the simple idea thatshe has always seen people with dis-abilities as people. That sounds so ba-sic, but most professionals do not un-derstand that, said Holtz. She has adaughter with disabilities.

Schermer and Granquist saidPerryman should be honored for herleadership in making Gillette more ac-cessible to children and adults. In1986 the future of the hospital was indoubt, they wrote. Budget deficit andstaff cuts had leaders considering affili-ation with another hospital. But in herjob interview, Perryman told hospitalleadership she didnt want to be a mor-tician for the organization, but wantedto help Gillette grow and expand. Sheled Gillette to profitability and majorfacilities expansion. For Perryman andfor Gillette, the bottom line was not

just a positive operating margin butalso provision of needed services tomeet unique needs.

Gillette has one of the nations larg-est groups of pediatric orthopedic sur-geons and the regions largest group ofpediatric rehabilitation medicine physi-cians. It has a mobile outreach clinic,clinics around Minnesota and a partnerin Chile.

Perryman recognized that when chil-dren reached adulthood they still needthe specialized services provided byGillette. In 2001 she helped establishGillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcareto meet needs of teenagers and adultswith childhood onset disabilities

Last summer Gillette Childrens Spe-cialty Healthcare joined United Cere-bral Palsy as an affiliate organization,the first childrens hospital to do so.

CLIFF POETZ,PIONEER SELF-ADVOCATE

For more than 40 years, Cliff Poetzhas been one of Minnesotas leadingchampions of human rights and social

justice for people with developmentaldisabilities. He is a founder of the self-advocacy movement, giving peoplewith disabilities a voice in decisionsthat affect their lives.

One defining moment in Poetzs call-ing as an advocate came in 1972. Hespoke to the directors of what was thenthe Minneapolis Association of Re-tarded Citizens (now The Arc GreaterTwin Cities). He explained the impera-tive for people with developmental dis-abilities to control their own lives, theabsolute necessity for equal pay forwork and the need for giving due re-spect as an equal. That was a realgroundbreaking concept then. His re-quests were groundbreaking demandsfrom someone with a developmentaldisability.

His nomination from The ArcGreater Twin Cities stated, Disabilityrights and self-advocacy are ideaswhose time would have probably comeeventually but they came sooner andwith greater impact because of CliffNominees - p. 15

Joani Werner

Pg 12 September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8

UPCOMING EVENTSFall forums are set

The Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabili-ties (MNCCD) is gearing up for its fall town hall forumseries, Breaking Through Poverty. The focus is on poli-cies that impoverish members of the disability commu-nity, and what advocates and elected officials can do tocreate change. Share stories with elected officials, de-velop advocacy skills and meet representatives ofMNCCD member organizations.

Sessions are 2:30-4:30 Wed, Sept. 18, ArrowwoodLodge, 6967 Lake Forest Road, Baxter; 1-3 p.m,. Wed,Sept. 25, Opportunity Partners Koch Campus, 5500 Op-portunity Court, Minnetonka; 5-7 p.m. Tue, Oct. 1, GreatRiver Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain Street, St.Cloud; 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thu, Oct. 10, Goodwill/EasterSeals, 553 Fairview Ave N, St. Paul; 1:30-3:30 p.m.Wed, Oct. 16, Mary T Inc., 1555 118th Lane NW, CoonRapids; 5-7 p.m. Mon, Oct. 21, RSI, 2900 Piedmont Ave,Duluth: 5-7 p.m. Mon Oct. 21, Blue Earth County Library,100 E Main St, Mankato; 5-7 p.m. Tue, Oct. 22, MainslServices, 7000 78th Ave N, Brooklyn Park; 5-7 p.m. Tue,Oct. 22, Rustic Rock Chop House, 301 Hat Trick Ave,Eveleth; 5-7 p.m. Tue, Oct. 29, Wescott Library, 1340Wescott Rd, Eagan, and 4-6 p.m. Wed, Nov. 6,Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Avenue North, Moorhead.

Questions? Contact MNCCD at www.mnccd.org

AdvocacyAttend home visits

The Arc Greater Twin Cities invites residents of Sen-ate District 57 to discuss issues affecting people withintellectual and developmental disabilities and their fami-lies at the home of Kelly and Mike Kausel to visit withelected officials, 6:30-8 p.m. Wed, Sept. 18, 14414Everest Ave., Apple Valley. Elected officials invited to par-ticipate are Sen. Greg Clausen, Rep. Anna Wills, Rep.Tara Mack, Dakota County Commissioner Chris Gerlach,District 196 School Board Members Joel Albright and ArtCoulson, Metropolitan Council Member Wendy Wulff,Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland, and AppleValley City Council Members John Bergman, TomGoodwin, Ruth Grendahl and Clint Hooppaw.

A second meeting is for residents of Senate District37, 6:30-8 p.m. Mon, Sept. 23 at the home of hostsSheri and Murray Radoux, 3508 127th Ave. NE, Blaine.Elected officials invited to participate are Sen. AliceJohnson, Rep. Jerry Newton, Rep. Tim Sanders, AnokaCounty Commissioner Julie Braastad, Anoka-HennepinSchool Board Members Marci Anderson and Jeff Simon,and Metropolitan Council Member John Doan. The visitsare free and open to the public but space is limited, sopreregister. FFI: 952-915-3665,denafelper@thearcgtc.org

The Arc Minnesota hosts conferenceMark your calendars for The Arc Minnesotas 2013

state conference Nov. 1-2 at the Doubletree Park Placein St. Louis Park. This years theme is Raising Expecta-tions: Achieving Your Goals and Dreams. Internationalmotivational speaker and author Jonathan Friesen willkick off the conference. The Conference Planning Com-mittee is finalizing workshop topics, and workshop pre-senters, and the Awards Committee is collecting nomi-nations for outstanding Minnesotans and Minnesota or-ganizations to honor at the awards banquet during theconference. Join us for another great event that will ben-efit self-advocates, parents, direct care staff, and mem-bers of The Arc. More information coming in the weeksahead. Questions? Contact Mike Gude atmikeg@arcmn.org or 1-800-582-5256,ext.113

Fitness, fun and fundraisingRun, Walk, Roll Against Bullying

Join PACER Center to support bullying prevention inMinnesota communities and help raise funds forPACERs National Bullying Prevention Center, 9 a.m.Sat, Oct. 5 at Mt. Normandale Lake Park, NormandaleBlvd. and 84th St., Bloomington. Do the four-mile run or1.5 mile walk/roll. Registration is $20 for adults, $10 forages 7-16 and free for little ones. Pledge or gatherpledges. Food and entertainment provided. FFI:952-838-9000, bullying411@PACER.org

Made in the ShadeThe Made in the Shade walk, run and roll raises funds

for several non-profit agencies serving people with dis-abilities at 9:30 a.m. Sat, Sept. 21 at Thomas Beach,Lake Calhoun, Mpls. Register, collect pledges, walk, run,bike or roll and enjoy post event lunch, entertainment foodand receive a T-shirt. FFI: www.madeintheshade.org/

NAMI Walks this monthNational Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota is

hosting NAMIWAlks, a 5K walk to increase public aware-ness of mental illnesses, fight stigma, and raise funds.The walks are held at various locations 1 p.m. Sat, Sept.28 including Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis and theCommunity & Technical College in Rochester. More than4,000 people from around the state are expected to join.The walk supports the efforts of NAMI Minnesota, to pro-vide education, support and advocacy for children andadults with mental illnesses and their families. To regis-ter the day of the walk, please arrive by 11:30 a.m. orregister in advance online. FFI: 651-645-2948, 1-888-NAMI-HELPS, www.namihelps.org and click on theNAMIWalks logo.

Youth and familiesTransitions workshops set

Transitions is a free workshop offered by NAMI Min-nesota to help parents to assist young adult children liv-ing with a mental illness. The workshop helps parentsgain tools to prepare their teen or young adult for inde-pendence, learn about special education, employment,college, transportation, life skills and housing. It includeshelpful tips for living with young adults who arent readyto leave the nest. Registration requested. One work-shop is 6-8 p.m. Mon, Sept. 16 at Roseville Public Li-brary, 2180 N. Hamline Ave. Another is 6-8 p.m. Tue,Sept. 17 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 S. SnellingAve., St. Paul. FFI: Andrea, 651-645-2948 ext. 106.

New PACER workshop newsletterPACER Center offers many useful free or low-cost

workshops and other resources for families of childrenwith disabilities. Workshops are at PACER Center,8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, unless specified.Several are offered around the state. Check out PACERswebsite and link to a new bimonthly newsletter of work-shops that allows participants to pick and choose ses-sions catered to their needs. Advance registration re-quired for all workshops. FFI: 952-838-9000,800-537-2237 (toll free), www.PACER.org/workshops

Family fun day and open houseJoin PACERs Simon Technology Center for a free Fam-

ily Fun Day & Open House and discover the latest inassistive technology (AT) with an emphasis on early child-hood. The event is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat, Sept. 21 at PACERCenter, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. Dont missthe new mobile technology station, one of several excitingadditions for 2013, along with Ask an Advocate, and do-it-yourself AT. Children can play with a parachute, tie-dye T-shirts, dress up in costume at the photo booth, get creativewith adaptive art, or relax in the hang out room with varioussensory objects. Registration is required. FFI: 952-838-9000, (toll free) 800-537-2237 www.PACER.org.

Hope for Recovery Workshop in St. PaulNAMI Minnesota is holds a free, one-day education

workshop that provides families and individuals with in-formation on mental illnesses, practical coping strategies,and hope for recovery. It is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat, Sept. 21 atRegions Hospital, Teeter Library, 640 Jackson Street,St. Paul. Registration requested. FFI: 651-645-2948.

Information and assistanceUCare meetings

UCare hosts informational meetings about its UCarefor Seniors Medicare Advantage plan. Meetings are heldall over the region. UCare for Seniors has more than75,000 members across Minnesota and western Wis-consin. UCare serves Medicare-eligible individuals andfamilies enrolled in income-based Minnesota Health

Care Programs, such asMinnesota Care and Pre-paid Medical AssistanceProgram; adults with dis-abilities and Medicare ben-eficiaries with chronic healthconditions and Minnesotansdually eligible for MedicalAssistance and MedicareFFI: 1-877-523-1518 (tollfree), www.ucare.org

Mental Illness supportgroups NAMI-MN free supportgroups for families whohave a relative with a men-tal illness. NAMI has abouttwo dozen family supportgroups, more than 20 sup-port groups for people livingwith a mental illness, anxi-ety support groups, groupsfor veterans and other

groups. Led by trained facilitators, the various groupsprovide help and support. FFI: 651-645-2948. A full cal-endar of all events is offered online.

A free 12-week educational course is offered for thosewho have a family member living with a mental illness?Families can gain a greater understanding of mental ill-ness, discuss resources, build communication skills, re-duce stress and find support. Over 3,000 Minnesotafamilies have benefited from this course. The Family-to-Family course meets weekly on Tuesdays for 12 weeks.It starts 6:30 p.m. Tue, Sept. 10, at North HeightsLutheran Church, Roseville. Registration is required.FFI: Stacia, 651-330-1730 or Anne, 651-653-5116.Partners and Spouses support group meets 6:45 p.m.the first Tue of each month at Falcon Heights UnitedChurch of Christ, 1795 Holton St. FFI: Lois, 651-788-1920, or Donna, 651-645-2948 ext. 101. Open DoorAnxiety and Panic support, meets at 6:30 p.m. the firstand third Thu at Woodland Hills Church, 1740 Van DykeSt., St. Paul and 6:30-6 p.m. on the second and fourthThursday at Goodwill-Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave. N.,St. Paul. FFI: 651-645-2948.

NAMI Connection peer support group for adults areled by trained facilitators who are also in recovery leadNAMI Connection groups. A group meets at 6:30 p.m.,on the fourth Tuesday of the month, at Goodwill-EasterSeals, 553 Fairview Av., St. Paul (The group previouslymet at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.) FFI: Shelly,651-228-1645. Bi-weekly adult recovery groups meet at6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wed at CentennialUnited Methodist Church, 1524 Co. Rd. C-2 West,Roseville. FFI: Will, 651-578-3364.

A family support group meets in St. Paul on the sec-ond Wednesday of each month from at 6-7:30 p.m., atGoodwill-Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave. N., St. Paul, inroom 123. FFI: Sonja, 651-357-2077. A family supportgroup meets in Oakdale on the second and fourth Tues-day of each month, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at CanvasHealth, 7066 Stillwater Blvd., in the community room.FFI: Dan, 651-341-8918. A group also meets at 6:30 p.m.on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month atCentennial United Methodist Church, 1524 Co. Rd. C-2West, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of themonth. FFI: Anne Mae, 651-730-8434

Activities for adultsIndependent living classes offered

The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living offersfree and accessible classes on living independently forpeople with disabilities. Most classes are held at 1600University Ave., #16, the green tile building at Universityand Snelling, St. Paul, unless specified.

A full calendar of all events is offered online. Enjoyfield trips, knitting and crafts, wii fun, cooking, andclasses to help with everyday living. Field trips to desti-nations including the farmers market and area parks arealso offered.

Weekenders outings are for those who are tired ofsitting home all weekend. Meet other people who sharesimilar interests and want to meet new people. Guestsare welcomed. Please bring spending money for week-enders events. All other events are free of charge, ac-cessible and mostly scent-free. MCIL has an onlinenewsletter which includes event information. It is avail-able in alternate forms. Please RSVP and give twoweeks notice of needed accommodations for anyevents. FFI: Corbett Laubignat, 651-603-2028,corbettl@mcil-mn.org, Cindy, 651-603-2037,cindyl@mcil-mn.org,or www.mcil-mn.org

September 10, 2013 Volume 24, Number 8 Pg 13

ACCESSIBLE FUNMural project on display in St. Cloud and Minneapolis

More than 750 Minnesotans with disabilities areas have been busy creating art this summer as part of VSAMinnesotas Disability Mural and Story Project. The first of two exhibits is at Gallery Saint Germain, 912 W. St.Germain St., St. Cloud, Oct. 4-13. A reception is 6-8 p.m. Thu, Oct.10. Gallery hours will be announced soon.

A Minneapolis exhibit is Oct.21-30 in the first floor atrium of CityCenter, located between Hennepin Avenue and the Nicollet Mallbetween 6th and 7th Streets. A reception is 6:30-8 p.m. Wed,Oct. 23. Exhibit hours at 8 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays noon-5 p.m.

Both exhibits are free and open to the public. Theme of the workis what art access means to individuals with disabilities and theirfamily members. Those who participated created visual art, wroteresponses or participated via video. What does arts access meanto you? They created visual art, or responded in writing or video,to illustrate why they do or dont participate in the arts. The projectreplicates a 2011 project directed by Bridget Riversmith with theArrowhead Alliance of Artists with Disabilities (AAAWD) inDuluth. Anyone wanting more information can contact VSA at612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883, or email disabilitymural@vsamn.org

Photo courtesy of VSA

representatives of a wide range of disability commu-nity organizations braced the heat and went to thestate fair to make their point to elected officials. Onegoal is to sign up legislative supporters. Many staterepresentatives and senators, along with Gov. MarkDayton, were at the fair to meet constituents.

Other opportunities to meet legislators will besought before the session begins, including home vis-its with advocacy groups and the Minnesota Consor-tium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD).MNCCD member groups voted in August to supportthe campaign. Other initiatives MNCCD voted to sup-port are the Medical Assistances Income Standard andAsset Limit campaign, the establishment of a QualitySelf-Directed Services Workforce Council, and theDSPMatch project.

Of these efforts, the 5 % Campaign is one of themost high profile. One focus for the campaign is thatnursing home workers received a 5 percent wage in-crease during the 2013 session. Expansion of the planfor other care providers would cost about $70 million.It is seen as not only providing more equitable wagesand better care, it also is seen as a way of retainingexisting workers and attracting new ones. The goal isto get the increase passed and in place on July 1, 2014.

Community-based services touch the lives of about60,000 individuals. Advocates contend that the ser-vices are also an efficient tool to ease state budgetwoes. For example, the Elderly Waiver Program isable to serve three seniors in the community for everyone individual in a nursing home with the same levelof funding. However, despite the numbers served andthe cost savings for the state, these programs have ex-perienced deep cuts over the last decade.

Services include a wide range of supports designed

to increase independence, including home-deliveredand congregate meals, homemaker and chore services,independent living skills training, direct support infoster care homes and help with personal care.

State Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) spoke be-fore a crowd of campaign supporters August 13 infront of Duluth City Hall to kick off the campaign. Hepointed out that the median wage for caregivers forpeople with disabilities and the elderly has declinedby about 10 percent over the past decade.

We got a 5 percent increase for nursing homes,but we didnt get the same for the disability commu-nity, Huntley said. Were not keeping up with infla-tion. Ive always believed that the disability commu-nity should be getting the same as what the nursinghome community is getting. Theyre doing the samejob. He conceded that the issue is one legislatorsshould have addressed during the 2013 session.

This campaign is critical for providers across thestate, said Jon Nelson, executive director at Duluth-based Residential Services, Inc. Ive see the goodthat our services do for the people we serve, but needsare being unmet and our hard working staff cant con-tinue to do so much with so little.

Steve Larson, campaign co-chair and senior policydirector for The Arc Minnesota, outlined the variousservices of the caregivers provider programs and said.All of these programs received several cuts in recentyears, during tough budget times, Larson said. Nowis the time to correct that situation. Legislators arecharged with difficult budget-balancing decisions andhave to pick their priorities. 2014 is now the time fortheir top priority to be adequately funding communitysupport for people with disabilities and older adults,he said.

5 % Campaign- from p. 1

Welcome to the Access Press Accessible Fun list-ings. Readers looking for additional opportunities to en-joy the arts have these options:

For information on galleries and theater performancesaround the state, join the Access to Performing Artsemail list at access@vsamn.org or call VSA Minnesota,612-332-3888 or statewide 800-801-3883 (voice/TTY).To hear a weekly listing of accessible performances, call612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883. The web accessibleperformance listings at www.vsamn.org/calendar.html,www.mrid.org, www.accesspress.org, or http://c2net.org(c2: caption coalition, inc.), which does most of the cap-tioned shows in Minnesota and across the country.

Performances on Facebook; sign up to connect withAudio Description Across Minnesota (www.facebook.com/pages/Audio-Description-Across-Minnesota/202035772468). Connect with ASL Interpreted and Cap-tioned Performances across Minnesota on Facebookhttp://tinyurl.com/FBcaption

The Story of LukeThe Story of Luke focuses on a 25-year-old with au-

tism who is adjusting to life with relatives after his grand-mother and long-time caretakerdies. Luke resolvesto make it on his own and embarks on a journey to find ajob and a girlfriend. The fictional account is rooted in thereal-life experiences of the films writer and director,Alonso Mayo. The film will be shown Thu, Oct. 3 at Para-mount Theatre, 915 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud.Arrive at 5:30 p.m. for a slice of pizza and can of pop,then stay for the movie at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 in ad-vance or $10 at the door. Extra pizza is $2 per slice.Tickets available at the Paramount Box Office, Indepen-dent Lifestyles, or any Disability Awareness Task Forcemember. The task force will be selling Inclusion Price-less T-shirts. FFI: 320-529-9000

DanO Golf Outing and BanquetThe fifth annual DanO Golf Outing and Banquet is

Mon, Sept.16 at the Minnesota Valley Country Club inBloomington. The fun-filled event is a celebration of lifein honor of Dan Olson who died by suicide after a longstruggle with severe anxiety. The organizers are commit-ted to keeping his legacy of having fun with family andfriends, while making a difference in the lives of thosefamilies dealing with mental illnesses and/or suicide.Proceeds from the event benefit NAMI Minnesotas sui-cide awareness and education efforts. FFI: Erin, 651-645-2948 x104, www.danofund.org

Save the date for Rise galaRise, Inc. hosts its annual gala Thu, Oct. 10 5:30-

8:30 p.m. at International Market Square. Network witharea business leaders, families, and participants inRises employment and housing programs. Enjoy greatfood and music. Proceeds support Rise programs, in-cluding the vans and buses that are taking people towork at hundreds of area companies. Emcee is WCCO-TVs Jason DeRusha. Be a table or event sponsor. FFI:Betsy Jaros, sponsorships, 763-792-2415;763-786-8334 general information; www.rise.org

The MiserRochester Repertory Theatre presents the 1950s

comedy about love and long-lost family, at 103 7th St.NE, Rochester. ASL show is 8 p.m. Fri, Sept. 13. Ticketsare $18-20. FFI: 507-289-1737;boxoffice@rochesterrep.org, www.rochesterrep.org

SchoolhouseTin Roof Theatre Company presents the regional pre-

miere of a show set in a 1938 one-room schoolhouse, atThe Stage at Island Park, 333 Fourth St. S., Fargo. ADshow is 7:30 p.m. Sat, Sept. 14, pre-show description at7:10 p.m. Tickets are reduced to $8 (regular $15, stu-dent/senior $10). FFI: 701-235-6778,www.tinrooftheatre.org or www.fmct.org

ProofBloomington Theatre and Art Center presents the

Pulitzer Prize-winning drama at Bloomington Center forthe Arts, Black Box Theater, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd,

Bloomington. AD show is 7:30 p.m. Fri, Sept. 27. ASL is7:30 p.m. Thu, Oct. 3. Tickets are reduced to to $15 forAD/ASL (regular $22, $20 senior, $17 age 25 & under).FFI: 952-563-8575; boxoffice@btacmn.org,www.btacmn.org

Uncle VanyaGuthrie Theaters first production of this classic show

in nearly 25 years of one of the worlds great plays is aversion by renowned Irish playwright Brian Friel, at theGuthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 2nd St. S.,Mpls. AD shows are 1 p.m. Sat, Sept. 28, and 7:30 p.m.Fri, Oct. 11. Captioning is 1 p.m. Wed, Oct. 2, and 7:30p.m. Fri, Oct. 25. ASL is 7:30 p.m. Fri, Oct. 18 and Thu,Oct. 24. Tickets are reduced to $20 for AD/ASL, $25 forCaptioning (regular $29-71). FFI: 612-377-2224, TTY612-377-6626, www.guthrietheater.org/visit/access_services.

Good PeoplePark Square Theatre presents a show about a colorful

south Boston neighborhood, its residents and class divi-sions, at 20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul. AD show is 2 p.m.Sun, Sept. 29, and 7:30 p.m. Fri, Oct. 4. ASL is 2 p.m.Sun, Sept. 29, 2:00 PM. An ASL promo video is online.Captioning is 2 p.m. Sun, Oct. 6. Captioning by c2. Tick-ets include a limited number of $5 and half-price ticketsfor Captioned, AD & ASL performances (regular $25-58,$48 ASL area). FFI: 651-291-7005,www.parksquaretheatre.org

Lillys Purple Plastic PurseStages Theatre Company presents the story of a

youngster who looks at things very simply and loves ev-erything, at Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main-street, Hopkins. ASL show is 1 p.m. Sat, Oct. 5, with OC1 p.m. Sat, Oct. 12. Tickets are $15, child/student $12;discount for AD/ASL/OC: $11, child/senior 60+: $9. FFI:952-979-1111 x4, www.stagestheatre.org