1October 10, 1999

nn

EMPLOYMENT SURVEY

Inside Work Incentives Update — p. 3

Meet TheMet

Council— Page 6

Volume 10, Number 10 SOURCES RESOURCES October 10, 1999

“Behold this day,it is your to make”

— Black Elk

Program ProvidesFlexible Employmentby Amy Farrar

Former Senator Bob Dole receives the National Courage Award.

Futures - cont. on p. 8

October is NationalEmployment Aware-

ness Month for people withdisabilities. In Washington,the Congressional BudgetOffice is telling Congressthat the Work Incentivelegislation they are con-sidering (the Work IncentiveImprovement Act or WIIA),will cost upwards of $5billion dollars over the next 5years. The high cost appearsto be the biggest barrier topassing this important bill.As the debate over how tofund national work incentivelegislation continues, manypolicy makers fail to considerthe savings that will resultwhen more people withdisabilities are able to work.

In the last nine months, theHouse Commerce Committeeand Ways and Means Com-mittee have held hearingsand heard testimony fromadvocates, including peoplefrom Minnesota and manyother states. Advocateshave stated time and timeagain that while the bill willcost money, it will savemoney in the long run. Now,a research study confirmswhat many people havebelieved all along. The sur-vey was recently released byNISH, and includes data onover 2000 federal employeeswith disabilities.

People with DisabilitiesWork: America Benefits isbelieved to be the firstsurvey to systematicallycalculate the actual impact ofemployment on a person’sdependence on variousgovernment entitlements. Thesurvey was funded by NISH(formerly The NationalIndustries for the SeverelyHandicapped). It is one ofNISH’s goals to expandemployment and personal

find jobs. According to a1998 Harris Poll, 71% ofpeople with severe disabilitiesare unemployed. This highrate of unemployment is instark contrast to the overallnational unemployment rateof 4.3%.

“Look at the savings weidentified among just 2000individuals working in oneprogram,” stated Greenwald.“Consider what would hap-pen if we were able to reducethe number of unemployedpeople with severe disabilitiesto say, 20%, which is fivetimes the national average.At that level the savingscould be literally in thebillions of dollars.”

People With DisabilitiesWork: America Benefitssurveyed workers employedthrough the federal govern-ment’s Javits Wagner O’Day(JWOD) Program on foodservice projects. They areemployed at Community Re-habilitation Programs thathave contracts with govern-ment agencies to providefood services. The largestnumber of the workers (44%)reported their primary dis-ability to be mental retar-dation. The majority of thefood service projects are withthe Department of Defense.

This survey is tangible proofof what advocates have beentelling Congress for years.With WIIA rumored to beheading toward a vote in thenext few weeks, Congresswould do well to consider theresults of this research, andmove for passage of thislegislation.

Information for this articlewas provided by NISH.

Research Shows America BenefitsWhen People With Disabilities Workby Charlie Smith, Editor

Finding and keeping a jobcan be a daunting, if not

impossible, task for someonewith a disability, when trans-portation, medical, and sched-uling issues come into play.Local companies are workingwith Courage Center to changethat through ‘Changing Fu-tures,’ a new program that hasbecome a separate businessentity within Courage Center.Through the program, specifictasks from local companies areoutsourced to people whohave been screened andtrained through CourageCenter’s Vocational ServicesDepartment.

All participants in ChangingFutures undergo a trainingperiod (from one to threemonths) during which theylearn computer and clericalskills and receive competitiveemployment assistance. Oncesomeone is hired into the pro-gram, a supervisor job coachoffers hands-on training andtrains participants in multiplejobs. The job coach also visitsparticipants in their homes

twice a month (or more), pro-vides phone back-up and sup-port, and offers other assis-tance, such as retraining.

Requirements for participa-tion in the program (aside fromthe prerequisite that an ap-plicant has completed thecenter’s vocational assess-ment ) include: a typing speedof 20 words per minute, theability to manipulate paper,cognitive abilities, and theavailability to work a minimumof 15 to 20 hours per week(most employees work 15 to30 hours per week). PatStrachan, Changing Futures’program manager, said par-ticipants in the program arepaid competitive wages on anhourly basis, adjusted for pro-ductivity. Specific tasks par-ticipants are hired for include:resume scanning, data entry,and Internet research.

Changing Futures currentlyemploys 11 people and thereis a waiting list of people be-ing assessed by the Center.People either work from home

(where they use their owncomputer equipment) or atCourage Center, where theyuse the center’s equipment.Whether an employee worksfrom home, at the center, or ata customer site depends onthe work that needs to be com-pleted and the employee’sabilities. The program not onlyoffers educational assistanceto participants, but serves asa device to jump-start theircareers. Many participantsexpress positive feelingsabout their work achieve-ments and themselves.

Cyndy Shober, who starteddoing data entry work throughthe program in May, summa-rized her experience so far, “Itfeels so good to get a paycheck. It feels so good to betalking with other people andjust be doing something, help-ing others, and being part of agroup.”

Shober, who has MultipleSclerosis, said looking for jobsshe could do from home was a

advancement of people withdisabilities. Mathew Green-wald and Associates (MGA),a Washington, DC-basedmarket research and surveyfirm, conducted the survey.It showed that onceemployed on food serviceprojects through the federalJ a v i t s - W a g n e r - O ’ D a y(JWOD) Program, people withdisabilities reduced depen-dence on government entitle-ments by $4.18 million an-nually. In addition, JWODemployment resulted in a$2.89 million increase inannual contributions to thetax base. Approximately30,000 people with disabilitiesare employed in NISH/JWODprograms — two thousand inthe food service industry.

“As indicated by the survey,employing people withdisabilities makes economicsense and benefits allAmericans. The mosteffective way to reducedependence on governmententitlements is to providemeaningful employment.Food service is a particularlygood industry in whichpeople with many disabilitiescan earn good wages andlearn valuable job skills forboth public and privatesector employment,” com-mented Dan McKinnon,President and CEO of NISH.

“The Javits-Wagner-O’DayProgram is one that addressesthe alarmingly high unem-ployment rate among peoplewith disabilities in ourcountry. However, with anestimated 30 million workingage Americans with disabili-ties, the need for more jobs isstill great,” stated McKinnon.

Surveys show that whilemost people with disabilitieswant to work, most cannot

October 10, 1999 n 2

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

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The Key To Y2K: Be Preparedby Donna McNamara

Seeking Nominations For Our Annual Awards

AWARD CATEGORIES• Distinguishing Service• Employer of the Year (200+ employees)• Employer of the Year (under 200 employees)• Public Personnel• Physician of the Year• Health Professional of the Year• Elected Official of the Year• Educator of the Year• Community of the Year

CALL FOR NOMINATION MATERIALS

was important to me, I chose tomove 2000 miles away fromfamily because, at that time,there were no independent liv-ing services available wherethey lived.

Since then, I have had a desireto know whether other statesprovide independent livingservices. Even though I likeliving in Minneapolis, I wantedto know if I could live some-where else. I felt trapped be-

cause after all, wasn’t Minne-sota the only state in which Icould live independently? Asmy desire to find the answer tothis question grew, I started toinvestigate services in otherstates. I searched the library inhopes of finding a guide withbasic information, such aswhether there was transporta-tion or housing in a certainarea. I came to realize that thisindependent living servicesguide was nowhere to befound, and I got the idea todevelop A Quick Glance IntoIndependence, to fill this gap.

It is my hope that volume 1 ofA Quick Glance Into Indepen-dence will increase knowledgeabout independent living ser-vices in Illinois, Indiana, Michi-gan, Minnesota, Ohio, andWisconsin. This guide will“open doors” to information.In a quick and easy format, AQuick Glance Into Indepen-dence contains such informa-tion as the hours of service fordoor-to-door transportation,how long it could take to moveinto accessible housing andhow long it could take to re-ceive personal assistance ser-vices in each state. It also pro-vides contact information andphone numbers so readers cangather additional information.

For more information,callOpening Doors at 612-378-4946.

A Quick Glance Into Inde-pendence is a user-

friendly guide that offers basicinformation about transporta-tion, housing and personal careassistance in other states. Itwas inspired out of a desire tolive closer to family whilestill remaining independent.Twenty years ago I made thehard decision of either livingindependently or living closeto family and remaining depen-dent. Since my independence

The American Red Crossplays a major role in our

country’s disaster relief activi-ties, and they have made anumber of recommendationsfor people preparing for Y2Krelated problems. Their sug-gestions, along with tips fromY2K preparedness articles andweb sites, form the basis forthis month’s column. The fo-cus is on what households cando to prepare for disruptions inutilities and essential services.

• Check with manufacturers ofany essential computer-con-trolled equipment in yourhome to see if it may be af-fected. This includes fire andsecurity alarm systems, pro-grammable thermostats, ga-rage door openers, and elec-tronic locks. If there are prob-lems, you’ll need some leadtime to get things repaired orreplaced, or to figure out away to accomplish things me-chanically or manually.

• Have some extra cash ortraveler’s checks on hand. Ifthere are temporary problemsusing ATM cards, checkcashing machines, or creditcards, it will be important tohave a supply of cash forbasic necessities. Recom-mendations regarding theamount of money to have onhand range from about $200to “enough money to pay amonth’s worth of expenses.”How much you put aside willdepend on your resourcesand needs, but don’t put yourlife savings under your mat-tress! Decide on a safe placeto keep the money, and thenwithdraw it in small amountswell in advance of Dec. 31.

• Plan ahead for what youwould do in case of a poweroutage that left you withoutelectricity and heat. If youlive in a large apartment build-ing, will backup power beavailable? Does your land-lord have a plan for makingsure the pipes don’t freeze ifthere’s no heat? If you ownyour home, do you know howto drain your pipes to pre-vent freezing? If not, can youline up a friend or neighbor tohelp?

Be sure to have flashlights,batteries and extra blanketsand clothing to keep warm,and if an outage is prolonged,be prepared to relocate. Ifyou don’t know anyone witha backup heating system(such as a wood stove) thatyou can stay with, you’ll wantto find the location of thenearest shelter. You’ll need abattery powered radio (oraccess to someone who hasone) to learn the location ofshelters and to keep up todate on the progress of re-pairs/restoration of services.If you leave your home, besure and let a close friend orfamily member know whereyou are.

• Stock up on basic necessi-ties like food and drinkingwater. Because we have be-come so used to having ev-erything at our fingertips,many of us don’t think aboutplanning ahead, even for aweek. But grocery storesrely on regular shipmentsfrom all over the world tokeep food on the shelves,and if there are disruptions inthe food production or deliv-

ery chain, there may be short-ages and price increases thatlast well beyond the first fewweeks of the new year.

• You’ll need a minimum of agallon of water per personper day--2 quarts for drink-ing and about the same forcooking and washing. Wa-ter can be stored now, as ithas a shelf life of 6 months.The Red Cross recommendsyou have up to a week’sworth of nonperishable foodfor each person in yourhousehold, but other expertsadvise having more than that.This may pose a problem forsome people on fixed in-comes, and if food shortagesoccur, food shelves and soupkitchens will surely suffer. Ifyou are able, now would be agood time to contribute to alocal food shelf when you doyour regular grocery shop-ping. Most major supermar-kets have donation bins intheir stores, making it easy tocontribute.

Now is a good time to talk withpeople about how you willsupport each other. How willyou stay in touch if thephones are down? What kindsof things can you share andhow can you help each otherstay informed?

Being prepared includes beingconnected with others. Theseconnections play a key role inhelping us feel comfortablewith uncertainty and ensurewe are looking out for one an-other during difficult times.Strengthening our connectionswith one another may be thehidden benefit of Y2K.

soon as possible. Even if youare not thinking about going towork now, this meeting cangive you useful information.

* * * *

On page 6 you will find “Meetthe Metropolitan Council.”

The Governor has recentlyappointed many new membersto the Council. The Met Coun-cil plays an important role whenit comes to the lives of peoplewith disabilities who rely onMetro Mobility. As many ofyou know, the Metro Mobilityprogram provides paratransitfor people with disabilities whocannot use the mainline bus.

The capacity of Metro Mobil-ity is maxed out; it is gettingharder and harder to get rides.There are reports of peoplelosing their jobs or not makingit to doctor’s appointmentsbecause they are denied rides.The council is responsible forrecommending funding to thegovernor and the legislatureand we need to educate them.

The council needs to hear fromyou (the riders); they need tobe told how the program is notmeeting the needs of riders.

* * * *

I attended the Celebration ofCourage awards event lastmonth. Courage Center shouldbe commended for this year’spresentation. When the Cel-ebration of Courage beganthree years ago, Courage gaveits National Courage Award toChristopher Reeve. The Cen-ter came under criticism frommany people in the commu-nity. This year, former SenatorBob Dole received the NationalCourage Award for his yearsof advocacy for people withdisabilities. Also, for the first

time, all of the award winnerswere on stage to accept theirawards and give their accep-tance remarks. The evening’sentertainment, which featuredthe Cleveland Ballet DancingWheels, was a delight. Theyincorporated three women anda young girl in wheelchairsinto high-energy modern bal-let.

* * * *

Luke Pedersen and CraigMcClellan, our sports report-ers, are taking a break fromsports reporting for the nextfew months. They are trying toraise significant funds for theNational Electric WheelchairHockey League, with a goal ofexpanding the league around

the country. I wish them well.If anyone would like to helpthem in this venture, pleasecontact the paper. We willcontinue to publish anysports related information wereceive.

* * * *

ACCESS PRESS is seekingfreelance writers. We needpeople to do investigativereporting, profile agencies andindividuals, and write featurearticles. We are also trying toincrease our coverage ofnews and information fromacross Minnesota. If youhave experience writing orediting, we’d like to hear fromyou.

The Midwest Work Incen-tives meeting will be October18th (see page 9). This meet-ing will give you an opportu-nity to hear what is happen-ing on both a local level andnationally, with speakersfrom around the country. Iwould urge you to register as

3October 10, 1999

nn

IN BRIEF . . . .Midwest Work Incentives Meeting

Americans With Disabilities Act Training

ACT Annual Meeting

SSI And Work Incentives Seminar

Advocate Predicts WIIA ToPass With Compromisesby Amy Farrar

If you are a consumer or aprovider and know health carecan and must be done better,we need to hear from you.

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Most of the Work Incen-tives Improvement Act

of 1999 (WIIA) will remainintact as a free standing bill,with a few exceptions. Thisprediction, made by JeffBangsberg, a disability ad-vocate and director of Con-sumer Affairs at BecklundHome Health Care, mayactualize as this publicationgoes to press, said Bangsberg.Bangsberg recently returnedfrom Washington D.C., wherehe met with law makers andaides to talk about the bill.

According to Bangsberg,members of the House andSenate have assured him andother advocates that they areworking very hard behind thescenes to pass the bill (at thetime of publication, the billhad passed 99 to 0 in theSenate and had 260 co-authors in the House).Bangsberg said he believesmembers from both the Houseand Senate “realize thisbipartisan effort will berecognized by the communityas good, sound legislationduring a time when Congresshas been criticized for doingnothing in session.”

Bangsberg said he and otherdisability advocates workedvery hard on the bill last year— and lost — but werereassured by the Republicanleadership that issues raisedby the bill would be addressedand the bill would be passed.“I think we’ll see a bill thatwill have the necessary com-ponents to satisfy mostparties, with the exception ofextension of Medicare ben-efits,” he said.

Under the Senate’s version ofthe bill, continuing access toMedicare coverage would beattempted through a trialprogram allowing SocialSecurity Disability Insurance(SSDI) beneficiaries whoreturn to work to continuereceiving Medicare coverage(Medicare does not cover thelong-term costs covered byMedicaid). Congress woulddecide whether or not tocontinue the program afterthe trial period and thosealready participating wouldbe “grandfathered” in shouldthe program be discontinued,

as long as they remaineddisabled.

WIIA also attempts to removesome of the most persistentbarriers to employment forpeople with disabilities. Itwould reform three areas thathave represented traditionalsticking points for peoplewith disabilities: health care,employment services, andSocial Security work in-centives. The bill would allowstates to place limits on theamount of assets and incomea person with disabilities canhave and still remain eligiblefor Medicaid (also known asMedical Assistance, or MA).At the present time, manypeople with disabilities areprecluded from workingbecause they would lose theirMA benefits if their incomeexceeded the low levels thatare required to keep thebenefits.

WIIA has been delayed sincelast June, when the Senatepassed its own version of thebill (WIIA-331) but the Houseof Represent-atives had notacted on any portion of itsown version (HR 1180).Bangsberg said WIIA had togo through the CommerceCommittee (which passed it)to address the Medicaid buy-in features (access to MAwhile employed). The bill alsoneeded to go to the HouseWays and Means Committeeto address the Social Securityparts of the bill (continuingdisability reviews, the expe-dited re-entry process, SocialSecurity demonstration pro-jects, extension of Med-icare,etc.).

Bangsberg added, “TheHouse Ways and MeansCommittee has demonstratedstrong support for the bill andagreed to pay for the areas ofthe bill that fell under thecommittee’s jurisdiction. Thecommittee refused to addressthe Medicaid portion of thebill because it does not fallunder the committee’sgovernance.” The total costfor the bill is $869 million overthe next five years, one-half ofwhich is earmarked for theMedicaid buy-in.

The question of how the

Medicaid portion of the billwill be paid remainsunanswered after negotiationsbroke down during strategymeetings over the summer.Some members of Congresssuggested taking the moneyout of existing entitlementprograms (Medicaid, SocialSecurity, etc.); others askedfor it to be paid for by foreignaid taxes, an idea that wasrejected by the Republicans.

Disability advocates are nowpushing strongly for passageof the bill before the end ofthe legislative session. Theirconcern is that if the bill’spassage is delayed due to thelarger bills Congress has yetto address, they will have tostruggle through the entireprocess of passing the billagain next year.

“Disability advocates want tomaintain the bill’s integrityand they want it freestanding,” states Bangsberg.“They don’t want it amendedinto an appropriations bill.”He said everyone on the Hillagrees the bill will be therethrough Veteran’s Day, somespeculating as late asThanksgiving, although threeseparate aides told him thebill’s details are very close tobeing finalized.“Everyone wants to see thebill passed,” said Bangsberg.“They believe in the phil-osophical aspects of the billwith the exception of theMedicare extension.” Bangs-berg expects a number ofdisability groups and indi-viduals may be dis-appointedwith the compro-mises agreedupon to pass the bill. But, hesaid, “they must recognizethis is a tremendous policychange in Congress on theissue of health care for peoplewith disabilities and this is anincredible milestone.” Headded, “If and when the bill ispassed, we still have work todo.”

The Metropolitan Center forIndependent Living will holdits 18th Annual Meeting onWednesday, October 27,1999,at the Sheraton InnMidway Hotel, Minnesota IIRoom, 400 North Hamline Av-enue, St. Paul, (corner of 1-94and Hamline Avenue). Themeeting commences at 5:30 p.m,followed by a social hour at 6:15 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., BoardChair Ellie Emanuel and Execu-tive Director David Hancox willmake presentations, and at 7:30p.m. Rand Stenhjem, Chair ofthe Statewide IndependentLiving Council and GeneChelberg, Director of Disabil-ity Services at the U of M willspeak on Perspectives on Pre-paring for the New Milennium.

Interpreters will be present. AllMCIL events are smoke andfragrance free. Please RSVP by

MCIL Annual Meeting

The Minnesota Consortiumfor Citizens with Disabilitiesand the SSI Coalition for a Re-sponsible Safety Net are host-

ADA Minnesota will hostmonthly ADA Distance Learn-ing 2000 sessions beginning inOctober 1999 through Septem-ber 2000. Definition of Dis-ability will be offered on Tues-day, October 19 from 1- 2 p.m.at the Metropolitan Center for

Advocating Change Togetherwill celebrate its 20th year at an

This seminar will discuss So-cial Security work incentives,with a focus on PASS (Plan ForAchieving Self Support) and

ing a Midwest meeting to dis-cuss workforce developmentas it impacts people with dis-abilities. The meeting is being

held on Mon., Oct. 18, 1999, atthe Sheraton Midway Hotel inSt. Paul. For more info, contactBarbara Otto, 312-223-9600.

Independent Living, 1600 Uni-versity Avenue West, Suite16, St. Paul. This session willaddress the three ADA relatedSupreme Court decisions madein June. Future topics includeADA Implications for Man-aged Care, Interplay between

ADA and Family MedicalLeave, Principles of Univer-sal Design and Union Envi-ronments and the ADA. Formore information, contact ADAMinnesota at 651-603-2915,toll-free 1-888-845-4595, e-mail:MNADA91@aol.com.

annual meeting/dinner onTues., Oct. 19, 1999, from 4:30-

1619a and 1619b (both used tokeep MA without a spend-down once you start working).The free seminar will be held at

the Wayzata Central MiddleSchool, Tuesday, November16, 1999, 7-9 p.m. call 612-401-6837 for more information.

7 pm. For more information,contact ACT at 651-647-0291.

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A Star In The Face Of The Skyby Pete Feigal

Disability Culture

What Does It MeanTo Be An Allyby Lolly Lijewski

In last month’s column we talked about what an ally is

and this month we would liketo continue that discussion.

The place of an ally in any civilrights movement is a tenuousand delicate one at best. Wemust have allies in order tomake social change. They playa critical role, but learning thatrole can sometimes be a diffi-cult and painful road. Alliesmust develop an excellentsense of timing. They mustlearn when to walk ahead andwhen to speak for the groupthey are working with, theymust learn when to walk besideand affirm the statements oftheir compatriots, and theymust know when to walk be-hind and when to remain silent.

As the members of the op-pressed group uncover layersof internalized oppression, therole of the ally in the groupchanges. As an individual allygrows personally and profes-sionally in their understand-ing of the process of socialchange, the sensibility of theally evolves over time. One canlearn how to be an ally by talk-ing with other allies as well astalking with members of theoppressed group. No socialchange movement could func-tion or make progress withoutthem.

The following are some char-acteristics of an ally adaptedby Kathleen Rice from an ar-ticle by Shawn-Eric Brooks andVernon A. Wall, 1990.

ALLIES...• Work to understand the his-

tory, culture, feelings,struggles, pride & needs ofthe group(s) for whom theyare allies.

• Understand the history, cul-ture, feelings, struggles, &

needs of groups in whichthey are members.

• Listen to members of the tar-get group(s) and respect theirexperiences as truth.

• Respond to the needs of thetarget group(s).

• Work to be allies all the time.• Believe it is in their self-inter-

est to be allies.• Do not expect rewards for

“Doing the Right Thing.”• Are committed to embarking

on the inward personal jour-ney required of allies.

• Take responsibility for initi-ating and implementing per-sonal, institutional, & soci-etal justice and equality.

• Communicate the contribu-tions and successes of thetarget group(s) to others.

• Have a good sense of humorand use it appropriately.

• Work to understand the rootof problems encountered bythe target group(s).

• Spend time immersed in thecommunities for which theyare allies.

• Expect support from, and givesupport to, other allies.

• Expect to make mistakes, butdo not use them as excusesfor non-action.

• Are aware of ways they havereceived unearned privileges.

• Recognize they always havea lot to learn and activelyseek ways to learn it.

• Understand and can articu-late how oppression has im-pacted their lives both as vic-tims and as villains.

• Recognize that they contrib-ute to an oppressive system,and do not work to deny that.

• Support members of the tar-get group(s) in dealing withissues of internalized oppres-sion.

• Recognize that using guilt tomotivate them to be alliessets up a power differentialbetween them and the targetgroup(s).

I don’t drive my car as much as I used to, but when I do,

I often drive my passengersbonkers with my automotiveequivalent of “channel surf-ing,” flipping from one radiostation to the next in search ofthe elusive, mystical “BestSong.” With the dexterity of asafe-cracker, my fingers twirlthe dial up and down the band-widths looking for old favor-ites.

In the early ’70’s, the songwriting team of Elton John andBernie Taupin wrote a beauti-ful tune called “Daniel,” and Ialways listen to it when I find itand I always get a lump in mythroat when I hear it.

Daniel is traveling tonight ona plane.

I can see the red tail lightsheading for Spain,

And I can see Daniel wavinggoodbye.

God, it looks like Daniel. Mustbe the clouds in my eyes.

Daniel my brother you areolder than me.

Do you still feel the pain of thescars that won’t heal?

Your eyes have died. Do yousee more than I?

Daniel you’re a star in the faceof the sky.

Bernie Taupin has said that thesong was written during theVietnam War. It is about ayoung soldier who is terriblywounded and blinded in thewar. When he finally returnshome, he is unable to live withthe pity and sadness of his

family, so he flies away to spendhis last days with old friends inanother country.

In 1972, I returned home at theage of 16 after being lockedaway for almost a year in aclosed mental ward in anothercity. My friends and family,not knowing what to do or say,and with no education or infor-mation to help them, seemeduncertain how to act aroundme. In their confusion, theymade things worse, and I feltisolated and alienated. I feltlike an ex-con, let out of prisonfor some unknown crime that Ihad committed, making me unfitfor human company. In mysadness and despair, unableto live with their pity andshame, I dropped out of highschool and left my family andhome town almost never toreturn, living for almost twentyyears in self-imposed exile.

Through my life I have had a lotof bitterness and anger at realand perceived injustices. Icarried grudges against thepeople that I felt were respon-sible for hurting or humiliatingme, against the multiple sclero-sis that crippled my body,against the depression thatcrippled my soul, against my-self for what I perceived asweakness, laziness and flawsof character. I’ve held on topains and wounds and neverallowed them to heal. I be-lieved that the suffering theygave me was the only thing Iwas permitted to own. As CarlySimon sang, “Suffering wasthe only thing made me feel Iwas alive...” And I’ve let songslike “Daniel’’ wound me againand again.

Many of us have been aban-doned, actually or emotionally,because of mental illness. Weknow what it feels like to havepeople we love pity us and feelashamed of us. Many of ushave spent years in exile, inprisons of our own despair,jailed by our own “Inner Ty-rants.” Like Edmund Dante,the hero of Alexandre Dumas’classic “The Count of MonteCristo,” we have been arrestedand given life sentences forcrimes we never committed.

When Edmund escapes fromprison, he uses the knowledgeand treasure he’s gained torecreate himself into the pow-erful but emotionless Count ofMonte Cristo, and dedicateshis life to exacting terrible re-venge on those who wrongedand imprisoned him, who be-trayed and abandoned him. It’sa fantasy I’ve entertained overthe years, too. But by takinghis revenge, he destroys thelast and best of himself, andlearns that vengeance, fueledby hate, is truly a double-edgedsword. “Luke, don’t give in to

the Dark Side!”

For years, I trapped myself in adance of suffering with whathad hurt me by holdinggrudges, by hanging on to oldwounds and pains. Again andagain I called up those hurts,somehow believing I couldchange or erase those oldtapes. But it never worked thatway. Each repetition onlystrengthened the habit of thepain. My anger was at timesrocket fuel that helped me tosurvive, but for me, that rocketfuel has now turned to poison,to something that holds meback.

What I’m trying to do now,(and I don’t feel this way everyday, believe me) is to forgivethose who shamed or aban-doned me in some way. I’m notdoing this to let them off thehook, but to let me off the hook.Forgiving them frees me, it al-lows me the chance for a freshbeginning. I don’t forgive theacts, but the actors. I forgivethem their clumsiness, theirdesperation, their unskillful-ness, their humanity. As I hopethey can also forgive me.

I’m also trying to forgive mybody, forgive the MS. I want tounderstand and accept all it’staught me — that my worth isnot just connected with my

Lolly Lijewski is the Managerof the Advocacy Departmentat The Metropolitan CenterFor Independent Living.

physical prowess or looks; thatby having certain physical limi-tations, my heart and eyes havebeen opened in new ways, withhopeful insights into life.

I’m trying to forgive my mentalillness, to understand that ithasn’t crippled my soul. Onthe contrary, it’s given me achance to discover my centerof courage, opened new pathsof creativity, allowed me to finddifferent ways of solving prob-lems and looking at the world,others and myself.

Mostly, I’m trying to forgivemyself and believe that I didn’tdo anything wrong by beingdepressed. I’ve done the bestI could, and all those years ofsuffering and loneliness in ex-ile were not wasted. I deservea real life--with purpose, bal-ance and happiness. And Idon’t have to buy that happi-ness with suffering. LikeDaniel, I’m important and won-derful to the world and my fam-ily, and no one needs to eitherpity me or be ashamed of me. Idon’t always have to ache ev-ery time I hear that song on theradio. I can be touched, ormoved, but I don’t have toalways relive those wounds ofmy past.

I’m not there yet, but I’m onmy way.

Accessible ArtsPerformances

ASL Interpreted10/16, Sat. 8pm, “1st Ladies ofRamsey Cty” Great Am. HstryTheatre, St. Paul, 651-292-4323

10/16, Sat. 1pm, “MartinGuerre” Guthrie Theater, Mpls,612-377-2224, 800-848-4912

10/17, Sun. 2pm, “Tale of theDancing Crane” Theater Mu,Intermedia Arts, Mpls, 612-871-4444

10/21, Thur. 7:30pm, “LobsterAlice”, Jungle Theater, Mpls,612-822-7063

10/22, Fri. 7:30pm, “MartinGuerre” Guthrie Theater, Mpls,612-377-2224, 800-848-4912

10/24, Sun. 2pm, “The LittleBird That Was Caught,” Step-pingStone Theatre, LandmarkCenter, St. Paul, 651-225-9265

10/24, Sun. 2pm, “Working”Stages Theatre Co., Hopkins,612-979-1111

10/28, Thur. 10am, “Working”Stages Theatre Co., Hopkins,612-979-1111

10/29, Fri. 7:30pm, “Lilly’s Pur-ple Plastic Purse,” Children’sTheatre, Mpls, 612-874-0400

11/5, Fri. 7:3pm,”Bubba Niel-son: Endangered Species,” In-teract Center for the Arts, Mpls,612-343-3390

*11/6, Sat. 8pm, “Cloud Nine,”Outward Spiral Theatre Hen-nepin Ctr for Arts, Mpls., 612-504-2323

11/13, Sat. 8pm, “Philanthro-fund Cabaret” Sabathani Com-munity Ctr, Mpls, 612-827-0992

11/20 Sat. 3pm, “Bubba Nielson:Endangered Species,” Inter-act Ctr for Arts, Mpls, 612-343-3390

Audio Described10/10, Sun. 2pm., “An Ameri-can Daughter” Theatre in theRound, Mpls, 612-333-3010

10/16, Sat. 1pm, “MartinGuerre” Guthrie Theater, Mpls,612-377-2224, 800-848-4912

* 10/17, Sun. 2pm, “Tale of theDancing Crane” Theater MuIntermedia Arts, Mpls, 612-871-4444

10/21, Thur. 7:30pm, “LobsterAlice,” Jungle Theater, Mpls,612-822-7063

10/22, Fri. 7:30pm, “MartinGuerre” Guthrie Theater, Mpls,612-377-2224, 800-848-4912

10/23, Sat. 2pm, “The LittleBird That Was Caught”SteppingStone Theatre, Land-mark Center, St. Paul, 651-225-9265

Arts - cont. on p. 5

5October 10, 1999

nn

Religion And Disability

What Gives Life Meaningby Rich Johnson

Hello Nicole:

Question? Complaint?Comment? Wri te toNicole: % Access Press,1821 University Ave. W, #185N; St. Paul, MN 55104

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ASI also offers shared personal care services 24 hours a day, at mostlocations, for adults with a physical disability and/or traumatic braininjury who qualify for Medical Assistance.

For more information call (651) 645-7271 or (800) 466-7722. For servicesor housing call Leigh, for employment as a personal care attendant call Al orKellie.

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Dear Nicole,

Ever since my accident fiveyears ago my relationshipwith my mother has gone frombad to worse. She alwayswants to pretend the accidentnever happened and expectsme to be the same person Iwas before. As soon as I startto accept my new life, thereshe is to tell me what I amdoing wrong. If I act differentshe says, “What’s the matterwith you? You never used tobe this way. Where is thedaughter I used to love?” Ican’t stand to be in the sameroom with her!

A year ago I changed myphone number and didn’tgive my mom the number. Shegot it from someone else andwill never stop being angryabout this! But when I didn’thave her around for a whilelife was so peaceful! Aboutthree months ago I told hernot to call me or come to seeme. I told her I didn’t wantanything to do with heranymore. She cried and gaveme a guilt trip, but I don’t feelguilty. I feel better!

I am writing now because Idon’t know what to do with allthe other family members andfriends of my mother who arealso giving me a guilt trip.They tell me how sad mymother is and how wrongwhat I’m doing is. They evenquote me out of the bible andsay I should “forgive andforget.” I wish I could justmove to another state andleave them all behind, but thatseems impossible with mynew disabled life. Whatshould I tell them? Do youthink I have to be nice to mymother because she is upsetover my disability? Thewheelchair isn’t my fault!

Sincerely, Guiltless

Dear Guiltless,

Anytime we change it cancause stress in relationshipsin which our expectations ofthe other person are alreadyset. In many ways, bothphysically and emotionally,you have changed so muchthat it sounds like yourmother is having troubleupdating her perceptions ofyou and what she expectedyour life to be like. Possiblyyour mother can’t acceptanything about your post-disability life because the factof your disability itself is too

painful for her to accept. Itwould be easier if your mothercould just be a help to you,but this is not a fair demand toplace on her. Understandingthat your mother has her ownemotional issues (disabilities)which are preventing her fromgiving you the support youneed, might help you seethings in a softer light.

If you feel better off nottalking to your mother, thenby all means, don’t talk to her.There is absolutely nothingwrong with wanting to freeyour life of unhelpful orharmful influences. However,having done this once myself,I know that cutting contactwith a close family member isnot as easy as it at first mightseem. She will probably notjust disappear painlessly for-ever. She is likely to hold agrudge; the grudge may alteryour relationship — she maynever forgive you. However,there may be a point in thefuture when you want to workon your relationship with heragain. For this reason, it’simportant to try to cut contactin as loving and respectful away as you can.

It may help your mother copemore easily if you give yourseparation some sort of timeframe. For example, you couldsay, “I need some time on myown. I’ll call you in a year andsee how you’re doing.” Thisdoesn’t mean you will let herback in your life in a year but itis a promise to call her and notabandon her. Also, it will giveyou a door you can open andpeek inside to see if anythingbetween you has changedduring the separation.

Cutting contact doesn’t haveto mean you are putting yourmother out of your heart. Youcan say, “Mother, I love you.And I want you out of my liferight now.” It is really normalto still love your mother. Youcan love her and you canknow having contact with her

is harmful to your growthright now. If you have cutcontact abruptly or withoutadequate explanation (likechanging your phone num-ber) your mother may feelangry, hurt and confusedthinking you don’t love heranymore. It’s important not toconfuse lack of love with thetensions between you. Sooften we tend to simplify ourfeelings and say, “I hate mymother” when actually it’snot hate but frustration, exas-peration, oppression, etc. thatwe feel.

It’s unfair of your mother’sfriends and relatives to judgeyou. They can’t know whatyou go through in order tointegrate your disability intoyour life and the negativeeffect your mother has on thisprocess. You don’t have tojustify yourself to thesepeople, but it might be helpfulto have some explanation ofyour separation for them. Forexample you could say, “Ilove my mother. I just needsome space to deal with mylife right now without herinfluence. I understand thatyou are concerned. I knowthis hurts my mother’s feel-ings. I wish I could do it someother way, but this is the bestthing I can think of to do atthis time. I hope you canrespect both my mother and Iin this.” Don’t bother toengage in arguments overright or wrong, the bible, or“forgive and forget” tech-niques. These are all justexcuses to make you feelguilty and sweep things un-der the rug. You want to livean honest life and living anhonest life can be very harduntil we begin to learn whattrue love can mean.

— Nicole

Occasionally I hear non-disabled people say

things like, “If I weren’t able towalk, I don’t know if I wouldwant to live.” Do they mean toimply that only walking makeslife worthwhile? Is mobility theonly measure of the meaningof life? Not too long ago I raninto a friend of mine who hadprostate surgery. I asked himhow he was doing and he re-plied, “I’m trying to find out ifthere is life after sex.” Is theability to perform sexually theultimate source of meaning inlife? Unfortunately, there arethose who have reduced life tomobility or sex or gainful em-ployment or driving a car orowning a home. But life is morethan any one of these or anycombination of them.

But if we don’t find meaning inour lives, we will most certainlyfind a way to die: by accident,by disease, or by suicide. Mean-ing is what keeps us going.When meaning is gone the willto live also dissipates.

Having been a part-time nurs-ing home chaplain for the pasttwenty years, I have oftenheard an older person say, “Ican’t see very well; I can’t hearvery well; I’m in a wheelchair;most of my friends have died.Why am I still alive? Why can’tI just die?” And although Ihear the pain and pathos ofthese pleas, I am compelled toanswer in the following way:As long as there is one otherperson on this planet whoneeds love and encourage-ment, there is a purpose foryour life and for mine. Some-times a disability or a chronicillness can lead a person intoincredible self-absorption. It isas if no one else does exist inthe world. The result is loneli-ness and the loss of meaning,

If the source of meaningless-ness and hopelessness is de-pression, I certainly wouldencourage a person to get help,

to see a doctor to get medica-tion that would relieve the de-pression so that the personcan function again. To takemedication to address depres-sion is not lack of faith, but arecognition that God works inmany ways to help us in ourtime of need.

But when the underlying de-pression is addressed, there isstill more to be done. The spiri-tual work is to invest one’s lifewith meaning. Religious peoplemay ask themselves, “Whatdoes God want me to do withthe rest of my life?” I, for one,believe that God does have apurpose for each of our lives. Ialso believe that purpose isrelated to the way we mightgive of ourselves to the people

around us — our families,friends, neighbors and mem-bers of our religious commu-nity. To close ourselves off tothe people around us, to denythe meaning of our lives, is torob ourselves of joy and hap-piness and ultimately to expe-rience spiritual death.

Regardless of what we have ordo not have, our abilities ordisabilities, there is always thepossibility of a meaningful andfulfilling life. But the choice isours. So, what keeps you go-ing? What is the source ofmeaning for you? What do youthink God wants you to do withthe rest of your life?

Rich Johnson is Chaplain atCourage Center

10/24, Sun. 2:00 p.m., “Work-ing” Stages Theatre Co.,Hopkins, 612-979-1111

10/26, Tue. 7pm, “Momix DanceCompany” Ordway MusicTheatre, St. Paul, 651-224-4222

10/28, Thur. 10am, “Working“Stages Theatre Co., Hopkins,612-979-1111

10/28, Thur. 7:30pm, “LobsterAlice,” Jungle Theater, Mpls,612-822-7063

10/29, Fri. 7:30pm, “Lilly’s Pur-ple Plastic Purse,” Children’sTheatre, Mpls, 612-874-0400

* 11/5 Fri. 8pm, “Cloud Nine,”Outward Spiral Theatre Co.,Hennepin Center for the Arts,Mpls., 612-504-2323

11/6, Sat. 8pm, “Rosencrantz& Guildenstern Are Dead”

ARTS - Cont. from p. 4Theatre in the Round, Mpls,612-333-3010

11/20, Sat. 3pm, “Mr. Peters’Connection” Guthrie Lab,Mpls, 612-377-2224

11/20, Sat., 2pm, “A FunnyThing Happened on the Wayto the Forum,” Ordway MusicTheatre, St. Paul, 651-224-4222

11/21, Sun. 2pm, “OrphanTrain”, Great Am. HistoryTheatre, St. Paul, 651-292-4323

* Asterisked performances areeligible for reduced admissionprices through the Access toTheatre project. For more infor-mation, call participating theatersor VSA arts of MN, 612-332-3888 (voice/TTY). For updatedlistings call the MACT Hotline,612-521-5692,800-290-2428;oraccess the Web sites: http://mn.vsarts.org/ or www.mact.net.

TCF

Please patronize yourAccess Press

Advertisers — andtell them where youheard about them.

They bringyou your paper.

October 10, 1999 n 6

Meet The Metropolitan Councilby Charlie Smith, Editor

The Metropolitan Councilis responsible for plan-

ning and recommending fund-ing for a variety of importantservices in the seven-countymetropolitan area. This plan-ning includes everything fromsewers and controlling urbansprawl to roads and transpor-tation, including MetroTransitand Metro Mobility. The gov-ernor appoints Council mem-bers and Governor Venturarecently announced his new

appointees. In an effort tokeep you informed, we are pro-viding the following list ofcouncil members and the geo-graphic area they represent.

Since the majority of the mem-bers are new, they have little orno knowledge of the issuessurrounding transportationand people with disabilities.We can play a role in informingnew members of the need tocontinually expand and im-

prove accessible public trans-portation.

As many readers know fromfirst-hand experience, MetroMobility continues to operatewith extremely limited funding.Council members need to hearwhat it’s like to be denied a rideto work. They may have noidea that people routinely getup at 6 a.m. (when Metro Mo-bility opens) to call for a ride (4days in advance) and still be

denied that ride due to demand.Despite improvements over theyears, Metro Mobility still doesnot have the capacity to ad-equately serve the metro area.

To get the name of the councilmember representing your area,you may call the Met Councilat 651-602-1000. If you want towrite to a council member aboutyour concerns, you may do soc/o Met Council, 230 E 5th St.,St. Paul, MN 55101-1634.

Ted MondaleChair

Vice President of StrategicRelations for Automated Intu-ition Inc.; Minnesota statesenator 1990-1996 represent-ing St. Louis Park, Hopkinsand a portion of Minnetonka;author of Livable Communi-ties Act and legislation keep-ing Minneapolis-St. Paul In-ternational Airport at currentlocation; active in nationalpolitics; a roundtable memberof Democratic LeadershipCouncil.

Saundra SpignerDistrict 1 (northwestern

Hennepin County)

Hennepin County probationofficer; Plymouth City Councilmember, 1997-1999; PlymouthPlanning Commission, 1996-1997; Plymouth Human RightsCommission, chair, 1994-1996.

Todd PaulsonDistrict 2 (Brooklyn Center,Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New

Hope, Robbinsdale)

Attorney, Suburban MiddleIncome Legal, Brooklyn Cen-ter, 1987-present; mayor,Brooklyn Center, 1990-1994;council member, Brooklyn Cen-ter, 1988-1990; chair, Metro-politan Transit Commission,1989-1994.

Mary Hill SmithDistrict 3 (Edina, Hopkins,eastern Lake Minnetonka

communities)

Wayzata School Board chair,1986-1988; Sheltering ArmsFoundation board chair, 1999-2000; executive committeemember, U of M Center forTransportation Studies, 1995-1998.

Julius C. (Jules) SmithDistrict 4 (Lakeville, Eden

Prairie, Carver County, mostof Scott County)

Private law practice; president,International Renaissance Fes-tivals, Ltd., 1977-present; presi-dent, International ConferenceFoundation, 1987-present; ad-junct professor, U of M’sHumphrey Institute of PublicAffairs, 1977-1996.

Phil RivenessDistrict 5 (Shakopee, Savage,

Bloomington, Richfield)

Associate administrator,Noran Neurological Clinic,1985-present; state senator,representing Bloomington andRichfield, 1990-1996; senatemajority whip, 1990-1992; staterepresentative, 1982-1988; as-sistant house majority leader,1986-1988.

Caren DewarDistrict 6 (Golden Valley, St.

Louis Park, southwesternMinneapolis)

President, Dewar & Associ-ates, Inc., planning and devel-opment consultants, 1996-present; development coordi-nator, YWCA Community andUrban Sports Center; member,Congress for New Urbanism.

Matthew RamadanDistrict 7 (downtown and northMpls, portion of south Mpls)

Executive director, NorthsideResidents RedevelopmentCouncil, Inc., 1990-present;vice president, Citizens League,1996-present; president,American Muslim Council, MNChapter, 1995-present.

Council- cont. on p. 7

7October 10, 1999

nn

COUNCIL - Cont. from p. 6

Carol KummerDistrict 8

(eastern half of Mpls)

Management analyst, Minne-sota Dept. of Labor and Indus-try, 1997-present; chair,Hiawatha LRT Corridor Com-munity Advisory Committee;former Metropolitan WasteControl Commission member,

1983-1991.

Natalie Haas SteffenDistrict 9 (Anoka County,

except Coon Rapids, Fridley,Columbia Heights, Hilltop)

Former commissioner, Minn.Dept. of Human Services, 1991-1993; board of directors, As-

sociation of MetropolitanMunicipalities, 1997-present;member, North Star CorridorDevelopment Authority, 1997-present.

James NelsonDistrict 10 (Coon Rapids,Fridley, Hilltop, Columbia

Heights, St. Anthony, NewBrighton, Mounds View)

Owner, James W. Nelson RealEstate Co.; Reform Party chair,Legislative District 52A; Co-lumbia Heights Park and Rec-reation commissioner, 1997-present; Minneapolis ParkBoard commissioner, 1969-74.

Roger WilliamsDistrict 11

(Eleven communities innorthern Ramsey County)

Director, Minnesota Office ofDispute Resolution, 1985-present; New Brighton CityCouncil member, 1986-1997;Association of MetropolitanMunicipalities, metro gover-nance committee, 1994-1997.

Marc HuguninDistrict 12

(almost all of WashingtonCounty, North St. Paul,portion of Maplewood)

President, FastForward Mar-keting, 1998-present; GrantCity Council member, 1996-1999; board of directors, Min-nesota Parks & Trails Council,1996-present; member, Minne-sota High Tech Association,1993-present.

Fred PerezDistrict 13

(southern half of St. Paul)

President, Digit Imaging, 1993-present; board member of: St.Paul Foundation, Minn. His-torical Society, RamseyCounty Historical Society, St.Paul Riverfront Corp., Minne-sota Urban Initiative Board.

Lee Pao XiongDistrict 14

(northern half St. Paul,Lauderdale, Falcon Heights)

Director of government andcommunity relations, Concor-dia University, 1997–present;board of directors: MidwayChamber of Commerce, 1998-present; University NationalBank, 1996-present; CitizensLeague, 1998-present.

Carolyn RodriguezDistrict 15

(Mendota, Mendota Heights,Eagan, Lilydale, Burnsville,

Apple Valley)

Community Action Council co-ordinator for McKnight Fam-ily Loan Program, 1986-present; Minnesota state rep-resentative, 1981-1985; Min-nesota Campaign Finance andPublic Disclosure Board, 1992-April 1999.

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John ConzemiusDistrict 16 (south Washing-ton County, large portion of

Dakota County)

Farmer producing beef cattle,hogs and raising corn, soy-beans, alfalfa and vegetables;member, Dakota County Plan-ning Commission, 1995-present; board of directors,Norwest Bank-Hastings, 1982-present.

October 10, 1999 n 8

CHANGING FUTURES - Cont. from p. 1 Living One Day At A Timeby LeAnne Dahl

Independent DiversifiedREAL ESTATE SERVICES, INC.

6712 Upton Ave, SRichfield, MN 55423

(612) 869-6177

Lynn Kadlubowski,Broker/Realtor

This new construction home is scheduled for completion approximately March31, 2000. Developed by Greater Frogtown Community Development Corp.,

this one-story slab-on-grade style, barrier free floor plan features the living room,dining room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, one full bath and one three-quarter bath, andlaundry/furnace room all on one level. There is ample closet space, a two cardetached garage, maintenance free vinyl siding, fully landscaped yard, a 2-10warranty provided by the builder and so much more. Income restrictions (80% ofmedian), owner occupancy and a soft 2nd mortgage (from the City of St. Paul)apply. The buyer, or a member of the immediate family, must provide sufficientdocumentation displaying a need for this type of housing construction. $112,000

Proudly marketed by: Independent DiversifiedLynn Kadlubowski, Real Estate Services, Inc.Broker/Realtor Business: 612-869-6177E-MAIL: LYNSAZSOLD Fax: 612-861-7295@CITILINK.COM Cell: 612-990-6439

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nightmarish experience be-cause she could never be sureof the legitimacy or quality ofmany of the positions. Shoberfound her way to ChangingFutures through a counselorat Minnesota’s RehabilitationServices (a common route tothe program), who pointed herto Courage Center. “It was thefirst time I’d ever heard of theprogram,” she said.

Ms. Shober is currently work-ing at Courage Center (she saidshe is able take the bus) but willbe working from home as soonas her new computer becomes

available. “It’s a great programfor people with disabilities,”she said. “They can feel goodabout themselves that they canwork and participate in soci-ety. It’s wonderful.”

Nearing the completion of itsfirst year, Changing Futureswas made possible through a$100,000 grant from 3M and an$80,000 grant from United Way.3M, Green Tree Financial, theSt. Paul Companies, and theMinneapolis School Districtare doing business withChanging Futures. The Min-nesota Work Force Center also

As I write the third part ofthe story of my husband

Larry’s stroke and recovery, Ifeel it is sounding like a con-tinuing saga. I hope that if you,the reader, experience similarcircumstances, that perhapsthis will in some small way giveyou encouragement.

Without sounding disrespect-ful to Larry, I have to admit thatit was easier to have him in thenursing home where I knew hewas being taken care of. OnceLarry was home, we were onour own. I was responsible forhelping him, whereas beforehis stroke, he had helped me.Now, I was thrust into a caregiving role and I felt ill-pre-pared for it. Our friends havebeen and continue to be sohelpful and understanding, butwe don’t expect anyone to bewith us twenty-four hours aday.

It’s funny, the little things(such as my husband puttingon his socks), suddenly be-come a major daily task forboth of us. Or fixing breakfastwhile my hands perspired be-cause I worried about spillingmilk before it got to the cereal

bowl. But my constant worrywas that Larry would choke onfood. His swallowing was, andsometime still is, difficult. Therewere many frustrations duringthose first two months.

We were fortunate to have aPCA come in twice a week to dolaundry, cleaning and shop-ping. Since Larry could nolonger write out checks to paybills, we had to have help withthat. I also ordered a signaturestamp so that it would be easierfor me to sign checks. I neverwould have believed all thiscould happen so fast.

The irony of all this was that Ifelt embarrassed. I kept apolo-gizing to PCAs because weneeded help. I’m speaking frommy heart as I write my nextstatement. I really didn’t knowwhat it would be like to beresponsible for someone I love;to know that he depends on mefor everything from personalcare to taking care of all ourhousehold’s business. It’s ahuge task, especially since weboth had disabilities from thestart.

It’s been said many times thattime heals wounds and takescare of everything in its ownway. Well, to a certain extent,

has a working partnership withChanging Futures to assist theprogram with acquiring newcustomers. “We’re already ex-ceeding 3M’s expectations,”said Strachan.

The program’s technical sup-port staff writes software thatis provided to program cus-tomers. The software breaksthe work down into severaljobs to assist supervisors atCourage Center in spreadingthe work out to a greater num-ber of participants. This freescustomers such as 3M fromthe task of breaking the worktasks down themselves. “Wedecide how best to completethe work using our uniquestaff,” said Strachan.

She added that the program’sstaff (consisting of several full-time technical support person-nel, one supervisor job coach,and herself, a part-time man-ager) has shown local compa-nies how competitive the pro-gram is. “This is somethingthat’s never been tried before.The companies we’re workingwith are very supportive andopen to this. This is a veryexciting program and we’revery proud of it,” she said.

Strachan said she is hopingthe program’s successful pilot year will encourage more com-

panies to participate in it, pro-viding additional job openings.Not only does participation inthe program contribute to apositive image, but participa-tion makes the local economymore productive by puttingpeople to work who otherwisewouldn’t have been able tocontribute. Each company cur-rently participating in Chang-ing Futures has one represen-tative who sits on a BusinessAdvisory Committee. Thecommittee identifies businessopportunities for people withdisabilities.

it’s true. Nearly ten monthshave passed since Larry’sstroke. He has gained back hisability to eat, he takes dailywalks using a cane, and hisspeech has improved. We’restill learning the methods ofchoosing the right PCAs. I’vejust experienced my secondcataract surgery. I even learnedto put my own eye drops inwhen the PCA didn’t show upone night. Undoubtedly, therewill be more periods of dark-ness, but there are always dayswith rays of sunshine. Andthat’s the hope we cling to.

In closing this series I’d like toend with my philosophy as aperson with cerebral palsy. Ibelieve that we don’t learn totake responsibility for our-selves until we’re faced withsituations that call for actionsthat not only affect us, butloved ones as well. It’s thehardest way to learn, but it’sthe most effective. I also feelit’s important to know how andwhen to accept kindness fromfriends. I need to learn thislesson over and over again.Without our friends, I don’tthink we could have made itthis far. So I’d like to say“Thank You” to everyone whois a part of our lives throughthis very difficult journey.

Jerry Nadeau of New Rich-mond, Wisc. won first place

in the 18-hole championship ofthe Seventeenth Annual Sis-ter Kenny Institute Golf Tour-nament for Golfers with Physi-cal Disabilities. Nadeau fin-

ished with the lowest grossscore of 85.

John Ross of Maple Plain, MNwon first place with the lowestnet score of 95. Jim Listerud ofDuluth placed second with thelowest gross score of 87; andDuff Dorschner won a secondplace with the lowest net scoreof 98.

Emery Balts of Minnetonkawon first place on the execu-tive course with a low grossscore of 38. Jennie Smith ofMinneapolis won the ladies’division with a gross score of59. Evan Carlson of Champlinwon the junior division for thesecond year in a row with agross score of 64.

About 50 golfers, from fourstates and Canada, some us-ing one hand, playing fromsingle-rider carts, or with helpfrom a sighted guide, played inthe August 13th tournament atBraemar Golf Course in Edina.

Sister Kenny Institute andBraemar Golf Course were thefirst organizations in the coun-try to offer a golf tournamentfor people with a variety ofphysical disabilities.

Sports Beat

Golf Tournament

9October 10, 1999

nn

Mental Health Public Hearings

Ellen Houghton612-404-9981

ComputerizedDesktop publishing:

BrochuresCatalogsDirect MailingsFlyersNewslettersNewspapersProject MgmtResumesScanning ...& more!

Martha Hage’s RADIO SHOWDisabled & Proud,

It’s Not An Oxymoron

KFAI Every Tues. 7:30 p.m. 106.7 FM — St. Paul 90.3 FM — Mpls

WorkforceDevelopment Issues

ImpactingPeople with Disabilities

Midwest Regional Meeting

October 18, 1999 • 9:00am - 4:30pmSheraton Midway • St. Paul, MN

KeynoteBecky Ogle, Executive DirectorPresidential Task Force on Employmentof Adults with Disabilities

This one day conference will bring together disability advocates through-out the region to exchange the most up-to-date information about the statusof federal legislation, Workforce Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, andMedicaid Buy-In legislation passed in the states of Minnesota and Iowa.

Participants will attend workshops focusing on recent employment-relatedADA Supreme Court decisions or the impact of the federal Workforce

Investment Act on vocational programs affecting people with disabilities.

Cost: $10.00 (Lunch Included)

Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with DisabilitiesSSI Coalition for a Responsible Safety Net

For registration information and disability accommodationsBarbara Otto, SSI Coalition, 312/223/9600 (tel) or 312/223/9518 (fax)

Registration closes on October 12, 1999

Prepared and paid for by The Disability Institute, MnCCD member

Minnesota’s State Advisory Council on Mental

Health and its Subcommitteeon Children’s Mental Healthrecently began a series of pub-lic hearings on mental health.All of the hearings - the firstconvened by the council onmental health in more than adecade- are being held on Sat-urdays. The morning sessions(9 a.m. to noon) focus on chil-dren and from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.the focus is adult mental healthneeds. Hearings have alreadybeen held in Bemidji, Duluth,Alexandria and Marshall, butwritten comments may still besubmitted.

Date, location and contact forthe remaining hearings are:

Oct. 23- Owatonna, SteeleCounty Administration Cen-ter, Commissioner’s Room, 630Florence Ave. Contact: Car-olyn Wheeler, (507) 455-8 100.

Oct. 30- Rosemount, Rose-mount Community Center Ban-quet Room, 13885 S. RobertTrail. Contact: Andrea Novak(651) 450-2220, ext. 11.

Nov. 6- Minneapolis, Minne-apolis Community and Tech-nical College, 1501 HennepinAve. S. Contact: Shelley Zuzek(612) 870-0011.

Those wishing to speak at thehearings should contact EricaBuffington at the MinnesotaDepartment of Human Services

(DHS), (651) 582-1824, or thelocal contacts listed below. ForTTY communication, use theMinnesota Relay Service at 1-(800) 627-3529. Testimony mayalso be submitted by mail, tothe attention of EricaBuffington, Public Hearings,Department of Human Ser-vices, Mental Health Unit, 444Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN55155-3828, or by e-mail,www.mh.comments@state.mn.us.

After the hearings, testimonywill be compiled for the counciland subcommittee who willwrite a report and recommen-dations for the governor, theMinnesota Department of Hu-man Services and the Legisla-ture.

October 12 Sam interviews Stacy Shamblott, VisionLoss Resources’ new Community Cen-ter Coordinator

October 19 Martha interviews Lydia Howell abouther reactions to the book “Planet of theBlind”

October 26 Lolly Lijewski hosts

November 2 Martha and Sam host a unique listenerdiscussion and call-in show on provoca-tive topics such as: assisted suicide,disability as a metaphor, common usageof terms like psycho, retard,etc., andmore.

APPLICATION OPENING: SECTION 8 RENT ASSISTANCE

The Public Housing Agency of the City of St. Paul (PHA) will be accepting applications for theSection 8 Rent Assistance Program.

To Receive an Application:

Call 651-298-5108 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on October 20 or 21, 1999,and leave your name and address;

OR Leave your name and address with the receptionist at the PHA Rental Office,480 Cedar Street, Suite 300, St. Paul, MN 55101.

OR If you need special assistance, you may call the following numbers:Hearing Impaired: 651-292-7280 (TTY)Interpreter Service: 612-808-57 10 (Please specify language)

NOTE: The above telephone numbers will not be in service until October 20 and 21, 1999.

NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN IN PERSON.NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN IN PERSON.NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN IN PERSON.NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN IN PERSON.NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN IN PERSON.

THE PHA WILL MAIL APPLICATION FORMS TO ALL APPLICANTS,APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED TO THE PHA.

Your Family Income Must Not Exceed the Limits Listed Below:1 person ............. $22,250 4 persons ........... $31,800 7 persons ...... $39,4502 persons ........... $25,450 5 persons ........... $34,350 8 persons ...... $42,0003 persons ........... $28,600 6 persons .......... $ 36,900

A random drawing of all returned applica-tions will be conducted to determine anapplicant’s place on the waiting lists.Waiting list placement will be further de-termined according to an applicant’s quali-fications for a local preference. To beincluded in the random drawing, yourapplication must be received by thePHA by Nov 30, 1999. Applications re-turned after this date will be placed on thebottom of the waiting list in the orderreceived. Information on the waiting peri-ods for the Section 8 Program will bemailed to all applicants by Jan 31, 2000.

Starting January 2000, applications willcontinue to be accepted ONLY on thethird Wednesday of every month by call-ing 651-298-5108.

Equal HousingOpportunity

Equal HousingOpportunity

M.A.T.Metropolitan Area Transit, Inc.

SPECIAL TRANSPORTATIONPROVIDER

“On Time Every Timeor we will buy you lunch”

call for details

(612) 379-4107MA, U-CARE, MEDICA,

PRIVATE PAY, PRIVATE INSURANCE

**Standing Orders ** Group Charters

October 10, 1999 n 10

Lori L. GuzmánAttorney at Law

5777 - 125th Street WestApple Valley MN 55124-8390

Fax 612-953-6135email: llguzman@aol.com

Tel 612-953-4424

PNLSERVICES

Conversion Lift InstallationRaised Tops Lift RepairRaised Doors Drop Floor

300 2nd St. S.E.Mpls., MN 55414(near St. Anthony Main)

612-672-9342

Professional DirectoryMeeting Your

Transportation Needs

Northland Transportation, Inc.

Ambulatory and Wheelchair ServiceGroup Charters Available

M.A. provider plus other insurances(612) 922-6876/885-0580

M.A.T.METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT, INC.

SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER

Mn D.O.T. Certified Transportation Specialist

612-379-4107

MA, U-CARE Minnesota, Private Insurance - Pay

UNITY CARE TRANSPORTATION, INC.

Standing Order • Dial-a-RideAmbulatory • Wheelchair

Serving Metro Area

9630 Cortland Road Phone (651) 276-1625Woodbury, MN 55125 Fax (651) 714-4503

Office: (651) 645-0645 Licensed PsychologistFax (651) 645-0630 Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant

Nathaniel Stewart, Jr., M.A.Psychology & Rehabilitation Services

Griggs Midway Office Building E-Mail: stew@juno.com1821 University Ave., S-231 or/nathstewart@earthlink.netSt. Paul. MN 55104

Specializing in working with people with disabilitiesWkrs comp., personal injury, vocational/personal counseling

Private pay, most insurances accepted

Private Transportation For All Your Needs

Deb Sanchez795 7th AvenueNewport, MN 55055Tel 651/768.8989Cell 651/274.6286

Access To EmploymentEmployment ads are $14 per col. inch; Oct 29 is the deadline for the Nov 10 issue. Mail to:ACCESS PRESS • 1821 University Ave. • #185N • St. Paul, MN 55104 FAX 651-644-2136

More listings on pg 11

COMMUNICATIONSSPECIALIST

Courage, a nationally re-nowned rehab & resource cen-ter for people with disabilities,is currently seeking a Commu-nications Spec to work FT. Inthis exciting role you’ll writecommunication tools that pro-mote our programs & servicesto include brochures, flyers,newsletters, press releases,PSAs & feature articles; andhelp develop & manage PR &marketing projects. The se-lected candidate will possess abachelor’s degree in Journal-ism or PR, & 5+ yrs of generalwriting exp or equivalent;knowledge of news writing,editing & PR principles; suc-cessful track record in mediaplacements & bldg relation-ships with key media reps; ac-complished in developing mar-keting plans which supportstrategic direction of an orga-nization; & strong organiza-tion, communication, & projectmgmt skills. For consideration,please mail or fax cover letter &resume to Human Resources,CS Recruit, Courage Center,3915 Golden Valley Rd., Mpls,MN 55422. Fax: 612-520-0577.

EOE.We welcome & embrace

diversity.

COUNSELORHennepin Technical College

Full-time Counselor at theBrooklyn Park Campus. Pro-vide personal, academic andcareer counseling for studentsand prospective students ofHennepin Technical College.Work as a team member to pro-mote the mission of HennepinTechnical College and the suc-cess of students enrolled atHennepin Technical College.Must possess the credentialsand work experience to qualifyfor licensure as a counselor,license #001000, in the techni-cal college system. Computersoftware familiarity is recom-mended. Ability to communi-cate with many different cli-ents is essential. Send letter,resume with three professionalreferences by October 21, 1999,to Deb Clough, Human Re-sources, Hennepin TechnicalCollege, 9000 Brooklyn Blvd.,Brooklyn Park, MN 55445.

HTC is an AA/EOE Employer.

SUPPORT SERVICE/DISABILITY SERVICES

COORDINATORHennepin Technical College

Full-time (9 months) SupportService/Disability ServicesCoordinator at the BrooklynPark Campus. Plan, implement,and coordinate programs andservices for students identi-fied as academically disadvan-taged or as having a disabilityor handicapping condition.Provide necessary programand service modifications andaccommodations. Qualifica-tions: B.S. degree required,Masters preferred in an educa-tional major. Knowledge aboutidentification and appropriateservice for students with dis-abilities. Excellent interper-sonal skills, knowledge of fed-eral and state regulations re-garding service to studentswith disabilities. Send letter,resume with three professionalreferences by October 21,1999, to Deb Clough, HumanResources, Hennepin Tech-nical College, 9000 BrooklynBlvd., Brooklyn Park, MN55445.

HTC is an AA/EOE Employer.

ATTORNEY

So. MN Reg. Legal Servicesseeks 1 MN lic’d atty. To workin St. Paul on family law issueswith Hmong Comm. SalaryDOE. Resumes to: M. LuisaGiese; SMRLS; 46 E. 4th St.,Ste. 700; St. Paul, MN 55101.

EOE/AAE.

EXTENSION EDUCATORCommunity Resources,

Sibley County, Gaylord, MN

Required: A bachelor’s ormaster’s degree in an area suchas economics, sociology, pub-lic policy, administration, busi-ness, political science, educa-tion, or human ecology; effec-tive verbal and written commu-nication skills; teaching skills;public relations skills; and theability to work as a team mem-ber.

Preferred: A master’s degree;course work or experience inschool-to-work, communitydevelopment, or economic de-velopment; experience in eco-nomic development, commu-nity leadership, government,community decision-making,trend analysis, and strategicplanning; computer user skillsin word processing and data-base management; grant writ-ing and administration; busi-ness management; volunteermanagement; and the ability tomanage multiple tasks concur-rently.

Deadline for materials:November 1, 1999.

To obtain complete positionannouncement & applicationmaterials, call U of M HumanResources at 612/624-3717,or download from Web page:www.extension.umn.edu/ex-tension/jobs.html.

The U of M is an equalopportunity educator and

employer.

POLICE OFFICERS

Eden PrairiePolice Department and

MinnetonkaPolice Department

Joint Testing Opportunity

The Eden Prairie Police De-partment and the MinnetonkaPolice Department are accept-ing applications for the posi-tion of police officer. Essentialemployee qualifications: li-censed or be eligible to be li-censed by MN POST Board bytime of appointment, but notlater than January 1, 2001; USCitizenship and possession ofa valid driver’s license. Selec-tion criteria: good interpersonalcommunication skills, demon-strable problem solving abil-ity, independent decision mak-ing while working as part of ateam effort. Successful candi-dates must also pass writtenexams, oral boards, agility, psy-chological, medical exams, anda complete background inves-tigation.

Joint testing exams are sched-uled for Nov. 6 and Nov. 9.

To obtain an application to beused for both departments, callJobline at 612.939.8212, or visitwww.ci.minnetonka.mn.us/police.htm

Application deadline:October 18, 1999.

Women and minorities are en-couraged to apply.

City of Eden Prairie andMinnetonka

14600 Minnetonka BlvdMinnetonka, MN 55345

CLERK TYPIST/LEGALSECRETARY

So. MN Regl. Legal Servicesseeks a clerk typist or legalsecretary to work in St. Paul.Fluency in English and a sec-ond language preferred. Sal-ary DOE. Resumes to: GlendaPotter; SMRLS; 529 JacksonStreet, Suite 221; St. Paul,MN 55101. EO/AAE.

PCL CONSTRUCTIONSERVICES, INC.

American ExpressClient Service Center

American Express, ownerHKS, Inc./RSP Architects, archMichaud Cooley Erickson, engPCL Construction, contractor

Project: 14 story structuralsteel office tower, approx.1,200,000 SF.

PCL encourages all diversesuppliers to submit bids forthis project. We also expectthat all bidding subcontrac-tors expend every good faitheffort to achieve maximum par-ticipation by diverse supplies.

Plans are available at PCL.

The Bid Date for each BidPackage is as follows:#09 - Architectural - 10/28/99#109 -Temperature Controls -

10/28/99#11 - Sitework – I0/28/99

PCL ConstructionServices, Inc.

Attn: Jim Mortenson905 4th Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55404PHONE 612-340-0928

FAX 612-340-0942

An Equal OpportunityEmployerM/F/V/H

11October 10, 1999

nn

Access To EmploymentEMPLOYMENT ADS ARE $14 A COL. INCH; OCT 29 IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE NOV 10 ISSUE. Mail to:

ACCESS PRESS • 1821 University Ave. • #185N • St. Paul, MN 55104 • Fax 651-644-2136

Recruiter ------------------------------------- 651-266-647624-hour Jobline ------------------------------ 651-266-6502TDD/TTY ------------------------------------ 651-266-6501Personnel Fax -------------------------------- 651-292-7656

Ramsey Cty

Name _____________________________________

Street _____________________________________

City ______________________________________

State ______________ Zip ____________________

Telephone _________________________________

Limited income subscription: $5I have an idea for editorial coverage. Please call me.I’ve enclosed my check for $15. Start my subscription.Send your advertising rates.

MAIL TO: ACCESS PRESS; 1821 University Ave. W.,#185N, St. Paul, MN 55104. (651) 644-2133

Don't Miss An Issue! Subscribe Today! $15Buys A Full Year (12 Issues) Of Access Press

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

St. Paul based glass and glaz-ing contractor is seeking moti-vated individuals to fill skilledand unskilled union positions.Equal opportunity employer.

Please submit application/re-sume to:

Human Resources18 11 Greenview Place SW

Suite 101Rochester, MN 55902

DIRECTOR OFMARKETING &

COMMUNICATIONS

Twin Cities Public Television(KTCA/2 & KTCI/17), one ofthe largest and most respectedPBS affiliates, seeks a Directorof Marketing and Communica-tions. This is an exciting andrewarding position for an ex-perienced and strategic think-ing professional who can helplead the station into the digitaltelevision age.

The Director is responsible fordeveloping a communicationsand branding plan that posi-tions the organization as ahighly valued community in-stitution and that achievesmeasurable use and value goalsas set out in the station’s stra-tegic plan. This plan will alsosupport the station’s efforts tomeet annual revenue goals.Along with a staff of produc-ers and media specialists, theDirector manages and imple-ments various communica-tions resources including on-air promotion, public relationsand editorial coverage efforts,advertising, community out-reach and TV2 (a programmagazine distributed to 105,000members). The Director servesas the primary spokespersonfor the station.

Strongest candidates will haveat least 8 years of marketingand communication leadershipexperience in planning andimplementing a comprehensivestrategic communications plan.Excellent written and oral com-munications skills are essen-tial as is a clear understandingof brand strategy. Successfulhistory of managing a staff ofdiverse talents is also critical.

Salary negotiable DOE. Sendresume and cover letter by 10/15/99 to: Box 323-0, KTCA-TV, 172 East 4th St., St. Paul,MN 55101.

EEO/AAP

Early Learning Center needsenergetic and creative indi-viduals to develop and pro-vide an educational and learn-ing environment for preschoolchildren. Experience workingwith diverse populations andspecial needs children wouldbe helpful. Positions avail-able:

LEAD TEACHER(Mentor Teacher)

Provide classroom leadershipand direction. Also, will men-tor and coach a staff of three.Must have a bachelor’s de-gree in Early Childhood Edu-cation, Child Development orSpecial Education or relatedfield. Required qualifications:supervisory experience, goodinterpersonal relations skills,demonstrated leadership andmanagement skills, familiar withAccreditation and Licensingrequirements, and knowledgeof High/Scope or relatedEarly Childhood curriculum.

TEACHER

Provide positive learning en-vironment for children. Wouldbe responsible for coordinat-ing daily learning environmentand activities and assessingchildren’s skills. Must haveMinnesota Department of Hu-man Services License or beTeacher Qualified (CDA quali-fied). Must have good inter-personal relations skills. Train-ing and experience in teachingis desirable.

We offer a competitive salaryand full benefits. If you havequestions contact Sheila at612.872.2764. Apply in person:LNB, 1925 Nicollet, Mpls.,Mon-Thurs 9-4 p.m. Agencyapplication required. Applica-tion review is ongoing andcontinues until positions arefilled. EOE

University of MinnesotaExtension Service

ACTING EXTENSIONEDUCATOR

12/1/1999 to 12/31/2000, Com-munity Resources, Washing-ton County, Stillwater, MN.

Required: A bachelor’s de-gree; superior verbal and writ-ten communications.

Preferred: A master’s degree;course work in education, so-cial sciences (economics, an-thropology, political science,geography, or public policy)and related fields; course workin applied fields such as com-munity development planningand policy and policy analy-sis; experience working withcollaborations and workingwith businesses; experience ineconomic development, com-munity leadership, govern-ment, community decision-making, trend analysis, andstrategic planning; skills inteaching methods, educationalprogram needs assessment,organization, development,design, delivery, and evalua-tion; networking; team collabo-ration; volunteer management;applied research; leadership;work with the media; work witheconomically or culturally di-verse audiences; computeruser skills in word processing;desktop publishing; e-mail, andInternet use.

Deadline for materials: Octo-ber 18, 1999.

To obtain complete positionannouncement & applicationmaterials, call U of M HumanResources at 612/624-3717or download from Web pagewww.extension.umn.edu/ex-tension/jobs.html.

The U of M is an equal oppor-tunity educator and employer.

LEAD MULTIMEDIACOURSEWARE PRODUCER

Full-time position funded forone year with possibility ofrenewal in the Communica-tions, Education and Technol-ogy Services of the U of MExtension Service, based onthe St. Paul campus. Work withclients and lead onlinecourseware development.

Required: Master’s degree intechnical communication, in-structional design or compa-rable. Coursework in documentdesign, visual communicationand related areas. Demon-strated writing, editing, andinstructional design skills;minimum 2 years experiencedesigning courseware forWeb; experience conductingusability testing and in leadingand participating on coursedesign teams.

Preferred Experience: writing,editing and instructional de-sign for multimedia (video, CD-ROM, etc.); with the U of Mcomputer network; designingand conducting training forcomputer users.

Salary commensurate with edu-cation and experience. Dead-line for app. materials: 10/25/99.

To apply: send cover letter,current resume, transcripts andthree letters of reference to:Extension Human Resources,260 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles,St. Paul MN 55108. For com-plete description call 612/624-4267 or check our web site:http://www.umn.edu/exten-sion/jobs.html/. The U of M isan equal opportunity educatorand employer.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/DEVELOPMENT

ASSOCIATE

Full time annual appointment,MN 4-H Foundation with theCenter for 4-H Youth Develop-ment to be located in the Gate-way Center, U of M East Bank,starting November 1999. Di-rect unrestricted and restrictedannual fund campaigns, ex-pand special fund raisingevents, determine needed andappropriate public relationsvehicles.

Required: Bachelor’s degree.Two years fund raising experi-ence including work in one ormore areas: direct mail, phonesolicitation, special events,corporate gifts, grant writing.Experience using word pro-cessing, electronic mail anddatabase systems; in recruit-ing, training, and managingteams of volunteers; in work-ing with or for a youth devel-opment organization. High-level proficiency in written andoral communications; demon-strated skills in interaction andcommunication with people,individually and in groups;demonstrated ability to recruit,train, manage, and reward vol-unteers; ability to organizeevents and programs; abilityto work flexible hours in a fast-paced environment; ability totravel in and out of MN ; abilityto work as a team fwithoundation staff and volun-teers, program faculty and Ex-tension staff; understandingof youth development workand outreach education of theUof M.

Preferred: Master’s degree;course work in fund raising,communications and youthdevelopment. Experience cre-ating networks of individualsas fund raising prospects; fact-to-fact funding raising experi-ence.

To apply: submit letter ad-dressing how your qualifica-tions fit the position, currentresume, college transcripts,and three letters of referenceto: Extension Human Re-sources, 260 Coffey Hall, 1420Eckles Ave., St Paul, MN55108. Deadline for receipt ofall materials: 10/22/99. For com-plete position announcementcall 612.624-4267 or check Website: http://www.extension.umn.edu/extension/jobs.html/The U of M is an equal oppor-tunity educator and employer.

More Ads On Pg 10

VOLUNTEERLEADERSHIP

DEVELOPMENTEXTENSIONEDUCATOR

Assist campus and field fac-ulty and staff to develop, imple-ment, evaluate, and create pos-sibilities for volunteers in pro-grams that meet the needs ofdiverse audiences and pro-grams across the state.

Required: Master’s degree orcurrent enrollment in such aprogram; demonstrated expe-rience and success in develop-ing and maintaining qualityyouth and adult volunteers inconnection with relevant typesof programs; demonstratedcommitment to inclusivity/di-versity. Skills and abilities in-clude: excellent oral & writtencommunication, communitynetworking, leadership in vol-unteer areas, teaching, organi-zation, computer user skills,team building, recognition sys-tems, problem solving, and cre-ativity.

Preferred: Degrees appropri-ate to the position, i.e., educa-tion, college student person-nel, human resource develop-ment, adolescent develop-ment, multicultural program-ming, and/or training and de-velopment. Course work/train-ing in volunteer managementand/or youth development.Community networking expe-rience.

To apply: send cover letterdescribing how your back-ground and education relate tothe position, current resume,transcripts, and three letters ofreference to: Extension Hu-man Resources, 260 CoffeyHall, 1420 Eckles, St. PaulMN 55108. For complete po-sition announcement, call612.624.4267 or check web site.www. extension.umn.edu/ex-tension/jobs.html Materialsdue in our office 10/21/99.

The U of M is an equal oppor-tunity educator and employer.

ASSISTANTCOORDINATOR FOR

ELEMENTARY/JUNIORHIGH PROGRAM

Educational Enrichment Pro-gram needs an energetic indi-vidual to provide after schoolservices to elementary and jun-ior high students ages 8-14.Must be able to speak Span-ish, have strong public rela-tions skills and be detail ori-ented. Must possess stronginterpersonal skills and be ableto handle multiple priorities.We offer a competitive salaryand full benefits. Apply inperson: LNB, 1925 Nicollet,Mpls., Mon-Thurs 9-4 p.m.Agency application required.Application review is ongoingand continues until position isfilled. EOE.

COMPUTER TECHNICALSPECIALIST

So. MN Reg. Legal Servicesseeks a Comp. Tech. Specialistto work in St. Paul area offices.Variety of software trouble-shooting entry level exp. req’d.Salary DOE. Resumes to: SteveWolfe; SMRLS; 46 E. 4th St.,Ste. 300; St. Paul, MN 55101.

EO/AAE

October 10, 1999 n 12

CLASSIFIEDSReach 11,000 Active, Interested Readers with ACCESS PRESS Classifieds. $8

up to 20 words, 35¢/word thereafter. Mail with check to: ACCESS PRESS,1821 University Ave W, #185N, St. Paul, MN 55104; (651) 644-2133

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------------------------------------- FRIEND SPONSOR -------------------------------------

Sue Abderholden Lynda Adams Cheryl A. AndersonMary Andresen David Baldwin Kathy BallDon & Maggie Bania Marisa Bennett Patrick BilbreyMike & Karen Bjorgan Susan Blaylock Bill BlomMaynard Bostrom Anita Boucher Bob BrickSusan Bulger Deah Cain Cathy CarlsonLynne Corneli Marty Cushing LeRoy deBoomNeil Doughty Christine N. Drew Craig DunnLee Ann Erickson Tom & Mimi Fogarty Dr. Robert A. GanzCandace/David Gislason Tom Gode Robert GregoryNadine & Andy Groven Jimmie Hanson Ken HennesseyAnne Henry Ellen & Skip Houghton Judy HuntMargot Imdieke Cross Beth Jensen Cindy & Gregory JohnsonEricka Johnson Linnea Johnson Hoff Barb KaneCorbin Kidder Janet and Bill King Beth Knutson-KolodzneAnn Kranz Dianna Krogstad Sherry LampmanSue Lasoff Linda Larson Linda LattinLoRene Leikind Donna Liveringhouse Dorothy McCoyTim McMillan Senator John Marty Cliff MillerKathy Moran William O’Dowd Amy OlmscheidBarbara Proehl Virginia Puzak Julee Quarvee PetersonMary Rapson Kim Rezek Stuart RosenGinger Rudberg Mary E. Rupert Patricia RydeenArt Sauter Elizabeth Smith Adele SpavinDiane Sprague Helen Thompson Gerry and Barb TollaksonCaryl Wattman Teri Welcher Curt WiehleDavid Wood Beth WrightAccord Health Care Services All Temporaries, Inc Alliance for the Mentally Ill of MNArc of Anoka/Ramsey Cty Arc Suburban Arc MinnesotaBest Care Brain Injury Assn. of MNConsumer Council of The Alliance for the Mentally Ill Disabled DealerDuluth Consumer & Family Regional Resource Ctr East Suburban ResourcesEquity Services-St. Paul Franciscan Sisters of St. PaulForensic Alliance of Mentally Ill Fraser Community ServicesGoodwill/Easter Seals Rochester Equipment LoanHome Health Care KaposiaMankato Consumer & Family Reg. Resource Ctr MBW CompanyMental Health Assoc. of MN Mental Health Consumer Survivor Network of MNMetro Mobility Service Center Staff MN Bio Brain AssociationMN Developmental Achievement Center Assoc. (MnDACA) New DimensionsNew Ways RisePark Rapids Consumer & Family Reg. Resource Ctr ResourceS.M.I.L.E.S. St. Cloud Consumer/Family Reg. Resource CtrUnited Cerebral Palsy of MN

Since the sudden death of the publisher of ACCESS PRESS in 1996, ACCESS PRESS has beenstruggling financially. Over the past three years, The Friends of ACCESS PRESS havekept us alive. We need your continued support to keep publishing. Your gift entitles youto a one year complimentary subscription to ACCESS PRESS.

THE FRIENDS OF ACCESS PRESSSponsorship levels:Basic (low income) . $5.00 Silver .............. .$150.00 & up Benefactor ... $1,000.00 & upFriend ......... .$25.00 & up Gold ................ .$350.00 & upBronze ......... $75.00 & up Diamond ..........$500.00 & up

SPONSORS OF ACCESS PRESS:Thanks to the following sponsors for supporting ACCESS PRESS this year.

------------------------------------- BRONZE SPONSOR -------------------------------------

Susan Asplund Jeff Bangsberg Scott BeersJanet Berndt Tom Brick Rick CardenasStephanie Cunningham LeAnne & Larry Dahl Dawn Doering M. Therese Gockenbach Diane Greig Lori GuzmanJudy Haaversen Roger A. Hoffman David and Susan HoughtonJames R. House Lolly Lijewski Ronna LinrothMatt Liveringhouse Paul & Corrine McNamara Christopher MeyerJoline Gitis & Steven Miles Manley & Ann Olson Louise PattridgeMary & Henry Pattridge Rick & Debbie Ryan Dean Doering & Lisa ScribnerJohn Smith Peter & Pamela Stanfiel Mary Jane SteinhagenErica Stern Helen Thompson Julie WegscheidJerrold Wood Joe & JoAnn ZwackAC Transportation Bridgeton Healthways Co.Dept. of Occupat’l Therapy-U of M Div. MN Rehab. Assoc Job Placement & DvlpmtMerrick Companies Pat Siebert, MN Dis. Law Ctr.National Results Council

------------------------------------- SILVER SPONSOR -------------------------------------

Becky J. Bugbee-Tong Robert E. Buuck Catherine EilersDavid Grosvenor Martha HageArc Hennepin County Courage CenterHelp Yourself Job Placement and Development Division, MN Rehab AssnMental Health Consumer/Survivor Network Mpls. Advisory CommitteeMultiple Sclerosis Society Sister Kenny InstituteTwin City Transportation Vinland Center

------------------------------------- GOLD SPONSOR -------------------------------------

Shirley Larson Margaret Perryman

------------------------------------- DIAMOND SPONSOR -------------------------------------

Chris Berndt MATRIX Advocare Network North Memorial Health Care

------------------------------------- BENEFACTOR SPONSOR -------------------------------------

Deluxe Corporation Handicabs

------------------------------------- IN HONOR -------------------------------------

Anne Henry by Karen Adamson

------------------------------------- IN MEMORY-------------------------------------

Michael Graf by E. Alexandra Gray Bill Smith by Joe & Peg FigliuzziBill Smith by Kathy & Paul West

------------------------------------- FOUNDATION SPONSOR -------------------------------------

The Medtronic Foundation

ACCESS PRESS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Checks should be made out to ACCESS PRESS. Your contribution is tax deductible.Please mail your sponsorship to ACCESS PRESS, 1821 University Avenue West, Suite 185N, St. Paul, MN 55104.

Your help is crucial if ACCESS PRESS is to continue being the voice for people with disabilities! Thank you.

FOR SALE

3 and 4 Wheel Mobility Scoot-ers, Scooter lifts and ramps.New scooters from $1,975.00.Free in-home demonstration. Salesand services. FastServ Medical.(320) 654-0434 (St. Cloud) or tollfree 1-888-565-0434.

3 and 4 Wheel Scooter Repair.We repair Amigo, Bruno, ElectricMobility, most brands. New andused scooters for sale. Buy, sell& trade. FastServ Medical. (320)654-0434 (St. Cloud) or toll free 1-888-565-0434.

Amigo Electric wheelchair, dualwheels, charger, other accesso-ries, $700.00. 612-831-6973.

Tickets Wheelchair accessibleseats for October 26 LynyrdSkynyrd/ZZ Top concert at Tar-get Center. Six great seats at facevalue. Call Mike at 651-481-4062.

1984 GMC Vandura conv. van.Raised roof, crow river lift, w/extra folding platform. 98,000mi., many new parts. No rust, TXwinters. Very sharp van in exc.condition. $9000/offer, call Debat 651-459-2466.

Uni-lift, simple electric, platformis 26x36. Like new condition.$400/offer, call Deb at 651-459-2466.

Rascal convertible cart with joystick. Burgundy with grey seat.Like new. Paid $4,200 asking$3,000 or B/O. Call Pat Fox, (612)712-1023.

1997 Ford Econoline conversionvan. Hydraulic wheelchair lift.35,500 miles, excellent condition.Lots of extras, asking $22,000.Call Mike at 612-906-4000.

FOR RENT

Lewis Park Apartments: Barrierfree housing with wheelchair userin mind. Section 8 subsidized.One and two bedroom units. Formore information on availabilitycall 651/488-9923. St. Paul, MNEqual Opportunity Housing.

Seward Square Apartments: Weare currently accepting applica-tions for our waiting list at SewardSquare Apartments in Minne-apolis. Seward Square is barrier-free housing and is federally sub-sidized. For an application, pleasecall 612/338-2680. Equal Oppor-tunity Housing.

Holmes-Greenway HousingOne and two bedroom apartmentsdesigned for physically handi-capped persons. Convenient SEMinneapolis location. Call 612/378-0331 for availability infor-mation. Equal Opportunity Hous-ing.