.- .- A

j 1 contract on " WE SIMPLY NEED TO ERASE THE S U T E America - AlVD START OVER AGAIN"

Resource Directory - 9 Page 6 - Newt Gingrich Events Calendar - 11

Access Press .- a:' --

Volume - 6, Number 1 - SOURCES RESOURCES -jonuary 10,1995 ( 5 - ADA THREATENED - NATIONAL ADVOCATE SOUNDS AN ALARM LOCAL GROUPS MOBILIZE QUICKLY by Charlie Smith r" Justin Dart, a nationally of the new coalition and Mr. ship on any entities. Senator which we were outcasts. known advocate for people and Mrs. Dart met with Sena- Grams appeared uncon- According to media re- with disabilities called Margo tor Wellstone for a two-hour vinced. but his examples were ports, they are seriously rn Imdieke of the Minnesota luncheon session. anecdotal and not a result of considering amending the State Council on Disability to actual renovations. He did ADA to make enforcement explain what he has found to Senator Wellstone agreed that say that he had no intention of a local option. be a looming crisis concern- the "Contract for America" taking away one's civil rights. Justin Dart - national advocate comes to Minnesota

r-q

ing r vital could have a destructive ef- I CANNOT BELIEVE ct the fect on present legislation On December 22nd, the new that the leaders ofour nation.

no repeal of the expanded resulted in a favorable article and I remember history. I an in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

4 far an iraitiaa session held ar-.' v&ation of the ~ e ~ u b l i c a n ffie fk l%@ @&~-c$WJL, contract which would ask w i t h o v e r 6 0 ~ h a & a w - , of the senate 60 dance representing approxi- p l e @ $ % ~ ~ ~ mately 50 organizations. The no action which neg&My result was the formation ofyet affected children, poor peo- anot6erdition"Americans ple and those with disabili- for Disability Rights Minne- ties. He also said he would sota". Members of the new work closely with Justin Dart coalition met with Senator andthat hewouldstay in touch Paul Wellstone the next day, with the coalition members. with Senator Rod Grams on

* - ' - .

. Wednesday, and met to for- On Decern 'IF"= r r I st, the repre- tnw a position p a p and sentativesofthecoalition were press conference on 'l%urs- promised a half hour audi- day. ence with Senator Grams at

his Anoka o&. Having - Mr. Dart made clear that he made the trek and assembled

Wour localgroups wouldbe at his ofice, they were in- a lagical stop in his na- formed that he had a conflict tionwide camp&g to coun- and would nut be available. A teract what he senses will Be a staff member agreed to hear potenWy disastrous attack Mr. Dart's presentation and o n ~ l a w s p r o ~ g our relay it to SenatmGrams. Part civil righfi. The reason he se- way into this procedure, Sen- lected Minnesota was that he ator Grams appeared and bWpas texpea ience( l5 agreed to sit with the group

ofnational senrice in the for five minutes. He volun- fie1ct)thatMinnewta is a lead- teered some examples of ex- er in fighting for equity and cessive costs which were im- independence for people with posed on the local school dis- disabilities. He also hoped he trict and the City of Anoka as could came away fim the examples of b u r h s which Minnesota experience with a are a result of ADA regula- madel. to be used nationwide. tion. Ms. Imd@m wd Mr.

a He wasn't disappointed. Dart explained that the law doesnot require expenditures

On December 20th members which will cause undue h d -

of Mr. D&S statement, and on page 6, a list of statements d. articles suppotting his cxs%xmS.

*** wr WWO HAVE DIS- ABILITIES ARE IN GRAVE DANGER of Ios- ing our fragile, hard won beachhead on the mainland of American life. Governors, Mayors, and media personal- ities are launching an escalat- ing chorus of assaults on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), calling it a costly h d e d m t e , and worse. The Individual Disability Ed- ucation Act (IDEA) andMed- icaid are under attack, as are SSI supports for children with disabilities. There is increas- ing public focus on the cost of keeping people with severe disabilities alive, and on their "right" to die. The new lead- ers of Congress have an- nounced their agenda, aaCon- tract with America" that, im- plemented literally, could cfrasticallycutvirhlally a l l p gramsthatempowerus. They speak of "erasing" key eoo- nmic and social progrants of the last three decades, and "reasserting American Cul.

as it has existed for thc last 300 years'' - a culture in

with deeply rooted negativc attitudes and massivc misinformation from specia inter&& - could result in su unthirdrin'g pulling ofthe plui

CHECKS IN THE MAIL on our progress, our rights the programs that empower 1 us, and, in some W s , on O n December 19th, U.S. non-economic losses will he very lives. Back to hopeles: EAa$istrate Judge Jonathan based on the number ofrick dependency, hapebss isola Le&edoB approved fmal dis- reservations each rider &a& tion, hopeless poverty. Bacl tr i iu t ion*mfUnd between October 1993 and to sub-human status. I -

created in %e M& ~ d i t y m h 1994, the period dur- elass action lawsuit. &whichMetro Mobiliiser-

WE MUST MOBILIZE rice was mod severely im- WE MUST EDUCATE Metro Mobility riders who paired. NOW. The new Congres filed claims share approxj- convenes on January 4th mately $680,000 in cash and Republican leaden have an 6155,000 worth of free ride The lawsuit was filed in No- nounced a blitz to pass thei coupons. An additional vember 1993, in theaftermat11 ''Contra& agenda during th~ $45,000 worth of free ride of disruptions in Metro Mo- first one hundred days. WI couponsalready has beendis- bility services that prampted must acttoday, beforethe hol tributed toMetroMobility rid- Gov. Arne Carlson to call out idays, during the holidays ers. Claimants should have the National Guard to help while basic positions are stil receivedtheirchecksandcou- opemite the public transporta- being formed. pons in late Decemberor ear- tion system for persons with

ADA - cont. on p. 6 I 1y January. disabilities. . - , --:z--E

&g&g t- Riders who filed claims will Charles Nauen, one of the at-

a srnall group o

I be reimbursed for their out- torneys forthe class, said pay- of-pocket expenses related to ment to class members "will ' disruption of Metro Mobility compensate riders, in some

cmmitted P ~ O P ~ service, including lost wages part, for the tqhg times that can change t h and reimbursement for alter- they went tluough. The great-

f ndeed, i native transportation. In ad- est benefit, however, isapub- is the thim dition,rihwillbe wanpn- ' lic transportation system that

that euer has." sated for "non-economic" is more sensitive to the needs losses - disruption of their and h a n d s of its ridership."

Mead lives. The reimbursement of

nicabe with the elected ofi- bers of Voices for Disability cials who represent us in the Rights (83 1-1932) would be House and in the Senate about glad to assist you Become how the breakdown of that yow own best advocate, don't system affects US (their con- give that power to someone stituents, the people who vote else, they might not have t b m into and OUT OF their YOUR best interests on offices), then we aren't hold- THEIR agenda. Venture into ing up our end of the bargain. the rituals of the Legislative No one can know what you Season (Session), beghhg need or how a decision they with that first phone call. I are about to make will impact think you'll be pleasantly sur-

9.' on you unless YOU TELL prised at how easy it is to get THEM!! into tbn spirit.

I - It's truly that simple. Nn elo-

January 31 - Pamela Armstrong & Melody Martin Febmar3' 2

Putting Theology Into Action: The Role That The &- I 1 C. a.m. ,- to 1

Religious Community Has In Furthering Justice For People With Disabilities

February 3 Minneapolis 11 am. to 1 p.m.

February 7 - Open -1 .

Sign language interptm will be available. For additional- 1 information, call Jane Fitz at

PCA TASK FORMING I the Metropolitan Council at 29 1-65 1 1 or 229-27 15 TTY.

CONSUMERS INVITED I I The Minnesota Department providers. MApersonal care services and of Human Services @HS)is representatives of consumers forming an advis~ry task force The legislature mandated the to participate on the task force. to aid in the development of a Department ofHuman Servic- Advocacy groups, providers, rulegowerningthelicensureof es to license MA providers of and professional associations Medical Assistance (MA) Per- personal care services. The will also be invited to partici- sonal Care Attendant WA) advisory task force will study pate. If you are interested in

I ACCESS PRESS Publisher ..... ,..... ......... .. ........... ..,... ....... ....................... ................................ Wm. A. Smith, Jr. I .................. ................... ................. ...... ..................... ............................. ......... Editor ....................................... .. ............ .. .. Charles FSmith

....... .................... Cartoonist .................... ............ ........, .. .. Seott Adams Production ......................... -......, .. Presentation Images, Ellen Oestrekher Staff Writer & Etliorial Assistant ...... , ......... .. ........... .... ........... .. ...... .. .......... Dawn R Doering

I ACCESS PRESS is amonthly tabloid newspaper ublished for persons withdisabilitiesby Polychme, Ltd., W.A. Smith, Jr., President. Circulation is 1 {OOO, distributed the 10. of each month through more than 120 locations statewide. A ximately 650 copies are mailed directly to political, business, institutional and civic leaders. ~u!riptions are available f a $l2/yr. I I Editorial submissions and news releases on topics of interest to persons with disabilities, or persons serving those with disabilities, are welcomed. I I Paid advertising is available at-rates wn ing from $7 to $141column inch, depedding on size and frequency. Classified ads are $7.00, p h u % ~ centdword over 35 words. I I Advertising and editorial deadlines are the 30th of the month preceding publication; special scheduling available for camera-ready art. I Inquiries should be directed to: ACCESS PRESS 3349 University Ave. S.E. Minneapolis, Mlmesota 55414 (612) 379-0989 Fax (612) 379-2730

the issue and form guidelines participating on this task force for the Department. The task please contact Carol Grant at force may take up to eighteen (61 2) 297- 12 1 7. For TDD, months to complete its work. contact Minnesota Relay Ser-

vice at (612) 297-5353 or 1- DHS is seeking consumers of 800-627-3529.

To Reach 10,000

Active and Interested Readers,

Call 379-0989

BEmm SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION

529-5019 483-9143 C A ~ ~ Y WWL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER

&INES INC.

y Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl

roposed legislation would on or off, at tht ntrel of muniGatim Act of 1995 re provide captioning for deaf the visually i m p a m persan, quire phased-in description h-d not description for blind accessibiiity &r mtaindele-

d low vision ~ m l e . ~ The technique and produdon vised prociwtim *6nhy, k of video description for TV are transmitted by sateflit%,

As closed c a p t i a a ~ m l a t e s has been available since Janu- cable, phone lines and dire& unheard spoken words into ary of 1990 on the Public broadcast. visible words for people who Broadcasting Service (PBS) are deaf, so audio description but today only four series are For more information cmt= translates unseen sights into described.

L adds audio desm@ion of key

;, visual elements of a propay -body Iangwge, ~0n.teaM,Qoa,000mov- Dr. Margaret P$mtiehl, with settings, getioas, eta. - b &r it is fidW T$aE is kr husband Cody, is co- after the production is . ~ l ~ ~ ~ t f i x p o s t - ~ - - ~ & 4 o & s c r i p l i 0 1 1 .

Descriptions are delivered a half-hour TV &ow, via the SAP channel of - ,-

FREE NOON HOUR GARDEN TALKS AT THE MINNEAPOLIS. LIBRARY

Room31O,theJanuarythro~~Marcht0pic contact Mary Maguire Lerman at 348-4448.

Jaaua 4 Winter Identification of T m s February 1 New Plant Introductions

starting seedlings ~nciom A

:A February 22 Vining Interior Plants March 29 Planting the Early Garden

I

- %;# .a URBAN LANDS PROGRAM WINTER WORKSHOPS . -F- 1

Kick offthe new year with gardening classes sponsored by the MINESOQ'S nat plan tmlored to their home. Lecture, discus- Sustainable ~ w k c e center's U& Lands U r ~ g r a m . he beautifid & hardynati~e~1ant.s into yourhome landscape. Free. sion, hands-on-Avities, and class critiques round out the Urban Lands Program promotes sus-, non:&emical course. Registration is limited to 10 participants on a first- gardening and lawn care methods throughout the Twin Cities. Thur. 1/26 7:OO-8:30pm Starting Seeds Indoors come, first-served basi ron't miss it! Series fee: $10. Classes are fiee orrequire anominal fee to cover materials, and Hillcrest Commynity Recreation Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, are open to anyone in the metro area St. Par1 M~U?% 7:OO-8:30pm Start& Seeds Indoors

F- Learn simple methods to raise your own bedding plants from Bottineau Park Center, 2000 2nd St. N. E.

.I-- . seeds. Save money and grow exactly what you want this Minneapolis summer. Wffi seed guru Betsy Wheeler. Cosponsored by the (Repeat of January 26) With Master Gardener Betsy Wheeler.

Wed. 1/18 6:3 Sound Land- City of St. Paul Division of Parks & Recreation. Free. Free. -

seape Maintenance Nokomis Park Cenreu, 2401' East Minnehaha Pkwy8 Tue. 1/31 6:30-8:30pm Gardening for Wildlife Mon. 2/13 6:30-8:3Opm Gardening for Wildlife . MiJlneMir - -.-7 -

Lr :+, 7 - . Powderhorn Park Center, 3400 15th Ave. S. Limvood Park Center, 8860 St. Clair Am, Maintain a beautiful and healthy yard and garden while saving Minneapolis St. Paul ., r r w v -

nt. With landscape architect Urban Lands Horticultural Specialist Elizabeth Foerg discuss- (Repeat' of January 3 1) With Elizabeth Foerg. ~ & e . es the birds and the bees, and how to attract and suppost them with specialty gardens 1$ habitats. It works! Free. Tue. 2/28 6:30-8:30pm Cooking Class: African & Carib-

Organic Gardening . - - *?=: - bean Specialties Mtthews Park Center, 23 18 28th Ave. S. FEBRUARY Whittier Park Center, 22600 Grand Ave. S. Minneapolis M i n M i s Master Gardener Betsy Wheeler guides you fiom planning-to 2/1,2/8,2/15,2/22 6:30-8:30pm EnvironmentalRr Sensi- Join Stephen Fanner for an evening creating and enjoying plating-to harvest! Bring along your questions and seed tire Landscape Design Workshops globally-inspired dishes using Minnewta-gmwn garden pro- catalogs. Free. Kenwood Park Center, 2101 W. Frankiin duce. Easy, inexpensive, and delicious! Free.

Minneapolis Wed. 1/25 6:30-8:30pm Native Plants in Home Landscapes Consecutive Wednesdays Fred Ronunalski leads a four- PHONE 872-3288 TO REGISTER! Van Cleve Park Center, 901 15th Ave. S. E., session workshop in which participants will design their own M m p d h environmentally-sensitive home landscapes. Participants will Child care and reasonable a c c o m m ~ n s for people with Join landscape architect, naturalist, and restoration specialist leave the series with an understanding of urban ecology; the disabilities are availableupon request Please phone 872-3288

d RommaIski fix an d colorful overview of uses of native and exotic shrubs, trees, and giasses; and a at k t me week in advanm of event.

Access Pr RELIGION & DISABILITY LIFE GOES ON by Maureen Pranghofer by LeAnne Dahl

A s people withdisabilities we really what they say - not blind and also becoming a By the time you're reading another and displaying a unit- At just about the time that the receive a lot of mixed messag- much of a person." wheelchairuserinthespaceof this, we will have entered a ed fiont before elected offi- Legislature is winding up it's es. While on one hand we are less than a year I have found New Year and 1994 will just cials. It's equally important to business for the session, it n ill sometimes thought ofas being "Being a person who is not myself thinking the above be a memory. If you're like I study the issue first so that we be timetoheadfortheconfer- extra special, we are at the of much worth there isn't thoughts 6om time to time. I am, you ah same time told we are not ad- too much that I am capable have a deep desire to serve special dat equate enough to meet soci- of doing." God but wonder what it is that 1995 cale ety's standards. We are Chil- I could do. How can I let maybed dren of God but many of us "Not being able to do much people know about my faith? erperso have also been told by people also includes serving God." 1995 is sure to be a year for sible, it would be worthwhile will be held at Holiday Inn, that they would "just die" if Last June I graduated fiom a settin they were like us. We've been "And since I can't serve God rehabilitation program. While be p told that we are wonderful at very well this explains why I was there I did many things - numbers. accepting the bitter pill which I have this continuing con- work on braille, learning to With the recent November es to be an exciting day. Yo11 has come our way while at the flict in my spirit of wanting use a white cane, learning to electionresults, we must all be Undoubtedly, there will be will be hearing more about same time otherstryto heal us. to serve God but not being cook without looking, etc. It concemedabout issuesthatare muchcontroversialdiscussion this in the months to come in What this all boils down to is able to do so." was not a setting in which it importanttothedisabledcom- of taxes as there usually is on this column. that if we listen to these mes- was appropriate to discuss munity. When it comes right both the Federal and State lev- sages we can get pretty con- And on it can go - piling on issues of faith. Yet when I down fused. If I can go along my crap deeper and deeper. The graduated and the staff and battle just way and ignore all this jumble fact is, though, that the One we students were asked by the grams that of conflicting thoughts I'm desire to serve sees us in a executive director to each such as: PCA's Health Care, taxes, which will in turn lead whiz by. It'sonethingto have fme. If1 can just keep remind- whole different light and even say something they liked and Metro Mobility. Each of to cutting programs, I get very special personal occasions ing myself of who I am in when we think that we are not about me, the things they said the advocacy groups will have angry. It appears that people planned, but it's quite another God's eyes my world looks being the servants we want to all had to do with qualities of their own set of priorities that want the benefits that their to set aside time to get in- great. But, it's this remember- be God is bigger than us. In having and exhibiting faith. they will share with us, and government provides, but volved in civic duties. Each o f ing that is the internal conflict being bigger than us we fnd They werethingsabout peace, many of them were listed in aren't willing to pay for them. us needs to look ahead to the we all struggle with at times. ourselves sometimes being joy, beingunafrilid,andsome- the last issue of ACCESS I think that people with dis- coming molrths anticipating And when I fmdmyselfburied surprised at the ways in which how seeing things in a differ- PRESS. Be sure to read the abilities know betterthanmost our ability to react quickly deep within the PLUMS (Poor we serve. ent light than everyone else. following issues for the latest that increased taxes can pro- when called upon. Little Unloved Me Syndrome) And isn't that what serving is coverage of all the Capitol vide more and hopefully bet- I can tell myself some pretty So what's the point anyway? all about. Maybe leaving the happenings. At this point in ter services. We need to keep And so, LIFE GOES ON! unhealthy things like: Wel1,thepointofallthiscame worries about how we can time, let me emphasize the this in mind as we watch the

home to me personally last serve up tothe One we serve is importance of supporting one news. "I guesi%ey7re right. I'm June. Since becoming totally the answer we need most.

, ' 3M RECOGNIZED FOR t ~ ~ 4 m % = T = 1 ~ ~ . . - - . . . . _.-_ _ . .. _... _ . -. -7

HELP WITH SHELTERED W r O R K S H o v

WORKSHOPS 3M has been selected from a field of 1,300 defense contrac- tors to receive the U.S. De- partment of Defense Logistics Agency's annual Award for Excellence for the company's use of sheltered workshops. The agency provides purchas- ing and logistics services for all branches ofthe armed forc-

3M issued more than a thou- sand purchase orders worth over $5.6 million to sheltered workshops in 1993. These in-

cludedthe National hdustries for the Severely Handicapped andtheNationa1 Industries for the Blind.

In making the award, a repre- sentative fiom the Department of Defense noted that 3M's involvement goes beyond pur- chasing services: Company employees frequently serve as board members of the various workshops around the coun- try. 3 M also provides engineer- ing assistance and training for work center employees and

. donates cilities.

"3M has made a substantial cammitment to the severely handicapped," says Lloyd Al- derman, director of programs for small and disadvantaged businesses for the defense agency. "This company sets a splendid example of corpo- rate citizenship."

The award was presented to 3M in late 1994.

FvriAT IS A 4 >'

PLAN TO ACHIEVE SELF SUPPORT?

LEARN ABOUT THE SOCIAL SECURITY REGULATIiONS AND TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS!

$.T;;: ~nstructor is

Toni Watt, Director of Propose Ability, Inc. -

Hosted by United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota, Inc., J o b Erbes, Director

Thursday, January 26,1995,ll:O~am-1:OOpm Griggs Midway Building, -+*-I.

1821 University Ave., Suite 127 South, St. Paul

Bring your own lunch - Beverages provided Handicapped parking lot Cfree), and Griggs parking lot (2-3hrs

is $1.50) are on Fairview Ave.

Propose Ability, Inc. was started by Toni Watt in 1991 to meet the demands ,

of the Disabled Community. Using the underadvertised Social Security

1 I Work Incentives it is possible for you to work! ?);, , ' \' ' - 1 If you have Social Security Disability Insurance (S.S.D.I.) benefits, P.A.S.S - is a must! Don't go to work without it! If you receive Supplemental Security Income (S.S.I.) due to a disability and have a job or other income, or plan to

be working, P.A.S.S. can help! - -. - - I Workshop is free to S.S.D.I. and S.S.I. recipients and family mi?mbers. Professionals' fee is $20. Registrations due by

and Consumer Sector, recognizes 3M's leadership in assistiiig sheIlered workshop. On Mon., January 23. To register or for more information lefl Is Lloyd Alderman from the Defense Logistics Agemy; at right Is Captain w h e n

'

Brooks, U.S. Navy, please call 788-9397. . . @Fig*;- -;--:.;- .; wqp+k- - r- w G - L - - - - -: -- . - 7 , - I :-::;--

::RT I' - G J --? -- 5 - - .. . . .

January IU, 1995 Access ~ S S -- -- , J - v T - -

-

I ; THREATS TO ADA, IDEA AKD -A ; EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS

ECTIONS '94. THE

, and conceivably its

lections of the New

haracterized their goal as routing contemporary liber- lism and advancing an ag-

ssive conservative agen-

ced federal budget, tax rmiddleclassand well-

edible observers agree that is plan, implemented liter- ly, without refinement, ould result drastic cuts in ograrns that empower peo-

I

WE NEED TO ERASE HE SLATE." Explaining

he Contract agenda on No- !-

~ember 1 1, future Speaker of the HouseNewt Gingrich said, "It is impossible to take the Great Society" systems for dealing with the poor, and "have any hope of fixing things ... We simply need to erase the slate and start over again." He called for methodi- cally reasserting "American civilization as it has existed for the last 300 years" - a civ- ilization in which we were outcasts. He has asked the Heritage Foundation to draw up aplan of action. Two years ago Heritage President Ed Feulner called ADA and the Civil Rights Act of 199 1 "eco- nomic and social nannyism." In their initial recommenda- tions to the Speaker, Heritage recommended the repeal of the IDEA law that gives us equal- ity in education. Congress- man Tom Delay, identified by the Washington Post as a lead- er in setting criteria for the Contract, opposed the ADA on all nine votes. The Post also mentioned staunch ADA opponent National Federation ofhdependent Businesses was as having key input into the

-.--

content of the Contract.

THE NEW CONGRES- SIONAL LEADERSHIP. Speaker Gingrich voted against our positions on ADA five votes out of nine, but he did reportedly help behind the scenes to get the landmark bill passed. New Majority Leader Richard h e y voted against the passage of the ADA on all nine votes, as did Congress- man Bill Archer, the new Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Com- mittee, and Congressman Bud Shuster, new Chairman of the Public Works and Transporta- tion Committee. We lose em- powerment crusader Major Owens as chair of the House Subcommittee on Select Edu- cation and Civil Rights. We do better in the Senate where ADA supporters Dole, Hatfield, Domenici, Chafee, Packwood, Hatch and Kassebaum are in key posi- tions. However, Senator Trent Lott, now number two Repub- lican in the Senate, has recent- ly stated that ADA should be amended. And we lose ADA

---<

heroes Ted Kennedy and Tom They're forced to cut curbs. ties Act. November23, "The Harkin as Committee chairs, I'm not against that, but why new Republican leaders of and we lose ADA author Bob tomorrow?" In November Congresstoday promisedRe- Silverstein as Director of the Rush Limbaugh blasted the publican governors greater Senate Subcommittee on Dis- ADA (again) and called on the power and freedom to solve I ability Policy. new Congress to "fix" it. problems without inter- I

I ference from Washington .... 1

ATTACKS ON OUR GINGRICH: AMENDTHE Dole and Gingrich pledged RIGHTS. This massive shift ADA TO TAKE AWAY .... to move quickly on legis- i ofpower and agenda occurs in OUR FEDERAL RIGHTS. lativerelieffrom federal man- ;' the context of increasing pub- November 13 on "This Week dates on the states. Unfund- : lic attacks - by members of with DavidBrinkley,"George ed mandates are the pass- I both parties and the major WillaskedSpeaker-electNewt along, costs of federal regu- 1. media - on the ADA, the Gingrich, "Will the Republi- lations attached to primarily I

mainstreamingofchildrenand can majorities prune that leg- environmental and social adults with disabilities, the islation (the ADA)?". legislation .... such as the rights of persons with cogni- Gingrich said, "I believe that Clean Water and Clean Air tive and psychiatric disabili- localcommunitiesshouldhave Acts, legislation requiring ties, and other foundational the opportunity to apply local easy access to public places components of our empower- common sense without a by disabled persons and 0th- ' i ment agenda. Teacher's union Washington bureaucracy. You er federal laws ..." 11 President Albert Shanker and want to maximize every Amer- AM Landers haveattacked the ican's right to participate fully NBCCABLE NEWS NET- integration of children with .... I don't think that ought to WORK DECEMBER 9. - -

severe disabilities in the class- be done by a Washington bu- "ADA will be amended, but ., room. Many Mayors and Gov- reaucracy drawing Washing- how?" emors have attacked the ADA ton lines to then be enforced as an unfunded mandate. Rick across the board everywhere REP. TOM DELAY PRESS Santorum, Senator-elect from in America." CONFERENCE DECEM- Pennsylvania was quoted re- BER 14. - "Congressman '" ' cently in the Harrisburg Patri- WASHINGTON POST, Delay, is ADAgoingtobeon :.

ot as referring to ADA regula- NOVEMBER 22. House the Republican agenda for '

tions as "fanatical." "The ADA Republicans are "reexamining change?" Absolutely, A is bankrupting municipalities. the Americans with Disabili- Clean Air, all of them." 1.- -

. . . d . . RICAN DREAM ple of profound conscieice, family. w e who have disabii- and for the people - all the

who share our passionate de- iti:5f$p&o,nee fi3ofthepop-, people - yes! Contract on E 5' T A B L I S H termination to emmcipktdi~l"liillati~n - 49 million Ameri- Americans with disabilities TRUTH TEAMS in prisoners of dependency, and cans, plus millions more, our no! Of course social and eco- every Congressional THE COMMUN~Y district, starting with at least onszfiember today .

AND SERVICES.

- you - and growing Xo 'ten members or more in the next few weeks. If our movement is to sur- vive and to achieve its

[goals in the new poli-

I tics of the nineties, we must establish a perma- . - * & , ~ j

6 , .. ". nent core of activist

b a o k ~ t ~ t o b e b i g F o ~ t b e b s s t ~ & txmba grass roots leadership ~ t ~ v m h w e a w a % y ~ ~ o ~ ~ h in every community.

? -

: I Welamaia~gtimeagottwtpur~is~~~gmiasyour REACH OUT TO

'."-k* hkp r That prmishg f"rlsndiy service isn't anougk Riverside.$er+ . ALL I YOUR

- Cr vice k d w with a w e f l u highly-motivated thatl list& tpa STATE'S MEM- - @ - ~ ~ ' $ ~ a n d w ~ t P m e # ~ ' & , BERS OF THE NEW

.- * Y " V ." - ' 1- -., b I $.;&&?+ - > I CONGRESS begin-

L ning today, while you

bate on the ADA in 1990. In too many cas-

,Riversid Bank a

es their of the ADA and disability programs come largely from the reeent ava- lanche of negative pro- pagamh Manyhillvet- erans - including old fii&inbothparties- have been influencedby the same negative mes-

empower the& in the main- families and service &vid- nomic programs need to be stream of f?ee enterprise de- _em. We vote. improved. No group is more

& *, mge?y: . - + - - z - L 9 aware of the cancerous o p

MESSAGE: ADA IS GOOD pression of paternalistic bu- DELIVER OUR M E S FOR AMERICA. ADA is reaucracythanpeoplewithdis- SAGE. Directly to the Con- notanunfbndedmandate. It is abilities. But let us take care gress, but also to the state a civil rights law that simply that in our haste to change, we house, the White House and extendstoAmmicanswithdis- do not create more welfare. government at all levels, to abilities the sameConstiMion- more paternalism, more costs, business, to labor, to groups alprotectionsthatotherAmer- more misery. Let us ensure representing minorities, wom- icans aIready enjoy. ADA will that Ghanges protect and en- en and older Americans and to- not banlaupt anyone. It spe- hance rehabilitation, DD, per- all other potential allies. De- cifically provides that no busi- sonal assistance and legal sew- liver our message face to face? ness or public entity can be ices, IDEA, independent liv- by telepholle, f 6 cmputer, ,ywuired to do anyth:mg which ing, Medicaid, Medicare, hit the mail, in the streets. U* will mult in d u e hardship. housingandallotherprograms every Christmas card. Use the ADA will open the doors of and protections that empower media. Be h n t row visible at oppommity for people with people with disabilities to be public event~withsigns~ ques- disabilities, enabling us to get productive participants in the tions and shouts. Flood talk offof welfare and into the pro- mainsream. Let us ensure that shows, TV and newspapers ductive mainstream of our changesempowerpersonswith with truth. Use newsletters, communities, ADA will pay v q severe disabilities to be faxes, computers and tele- for its tiny mst a hundred times - free fiom the fear of rationed phone trees to activate our in terms of reduced welfare life, to be emancipated from community. Collect andcom- and increased productivity. expensive, prison-like institu- municate personal stories il- tions, and to live with dignity lustrating the necessity of MESSAGE: ADA. COOP- in their communities. ADA, including the positive ERATION YES! AMEND- effects of ADA on real lives. MENT NO! We are ready to MESSAGE: THE AMERI- Sendcopies toCmcernet$Cit- cooperolte 10We to ensure irn- CAN HERITAGE at its best, izens wia Diilities (addrew plementation ofthe ADA that the magical power of Ameri- below). is sensitive to the nee& of 03's explasive success, from

individuals, businewes and 1776 to 1994, has been the MESSAGE: DISABILITY .communities. But we will fight aggressive empowerment of IMPACTS ALL OF US. any mmdment. Wewill fight traditionally appressed peo- With the advance of mcuiem for ow right to be hlly equal ples to be fully equal partici- medicine disability has be- citizens ofthe USA. Ms. Con- pants in the mainstream o f k e come a n o d characteristic gmsswoman, we want your e n t q r h e democracy. Noth- of human being. Sooner or commitment that you will be ing could more Republi- later every family - your fam- with us. can, nothing could be more ily, Mr. Congressman - is go- ADA - cont. on D. 7

Access Press January 10,1995 7

I IS YOUR HOUSE A HOMEITHE d4 .' .- KEYS ARE MINE

I e

' "' by Kevin Otley r~ a recent meeting of self- age the '"residents" care and own home. In Michigan, a ' When I lived at the Lake ldvocates in Minnesota, a comply with a slew of well- communitylivingservicespm Owasso state institution in goup thought of words that intentiod government regu- gram enables people with dis- Minnesota, you had to ask fm iescribe a home. The group lations. The power also be- abilities to either buy or lease everything: "can you let me lsed words like freedom, longs to the individuals, cor- theirownhomeand&their out?," "can I have a can of ;hoices,pride,commuuityyand gorations, or government own deksiolls about the sup pop'2,""can I stay up a little bit wxurity. These are words that agencies that own d @t ports they n d And an unorga- longer? .

ople might use to de- from the bilities. nization called A Home Of mibe what a home means. Your Own Alliance is work- When 1 moved into a group qowever, one word stood out While the movement firom in- ing on the national level to home, I had to follow all of the hat probably wouldn't com- stitutions to the community fund projects that result in rules. I had to go to bed at a

I mody make the list of words continues, the opportunity to ownership, choice, .nd con- I artahtime, and when I warin 1 to describe ahome: pow- ownorcontrolone'sownh~ trol of homes by people with be$ I had to be asleep: that

is still quite rare for persons developmental disabilities. wasthat. Ilivedwithtwoother with developmental disabili- guys. We were being watched

Ihe p h whae people in ties. There are approximately By un-ding the issues all the time, 24 horn a day, his group have or are cumat- 70,000 people with develop- and speaking out, self-&o- seven days a we&.

living are s e g q p t d , con- mtal disabWes still living cates can help themselves and ggated, highlymgukd, and in state institutions in our coun- others with disabilities to have Two years ago I got mmied. I structured. They are stdkdin ty. Ooly 38% of all people more control over where and My wife and I moved into our shifts and owned by anofher with devekpmtd disabili- how they live. Together, self- own apartment. Now that I mxm, a corporation, or tho ties live Qlace5 with six rn advocates can demand the havemy own place, Imakethe government The places are fewer pee&. People with closing ofstate institutions and decisions. I have my ownkeys. tircilities, smehesdescribed developmental dhbilities are other large facilities, and work I can let myself out, and let as "home-l?ilre," but not very still living in facilities, not toward having mare power in myself back in.

:h like %om?' if your def- homes. the place we call %me!' mutmnofhome includes chic- Now I can come and go when Kevin Otley

3, fi.eedom, and power. But t h i i are changing. In 1;Ydtw k the Commurlity Or- Iwant. Icanmakemyown several states aroundthecoua- gadzer for Advocating food, d I decide whether I when s w comes ovgl: h i n a *@*ate

w a n t t o h a ~ . e m t a I a 'I'heyhelpuswibr~otneWngs~ member of Advocating. or when I'm ready f~ a m k . but we make o w k i - Change w i w & We can invite f5ends to stay s i m . j h m Voiceprint, Fall 1984. '

~uugressman, we will work inordertogaintenpmyposi- electiam. Wesolicityourguid-

mentary mi& - -differ- overcome. N WE WIN? ABS0- ~ ~ ~ t l y c o n -

LUTELY! We will lose some flictingroles, in total harmony Justin and Yoshih Dart M e s . But we have the alti- for the same goals: equality, mate weapons to win the war independence and empower- (Justin Dart war one of the br ajust society: people, tmth, ment in the mainstream. authors of the ADA and also love ofhumanity. We have the war appointed by President moral and the economic argu- THIS IS THE MOMENT Reagan, and reappointed by rnents. We have people who OF TRUTH for each 6ne of Pred&nt Bush, to Chair the have created miracles of us. America is watching. The President's Committee to independence and justice. We world is watching. Will our Employ People with Disabil- have you. movementunite inadion? Will ities. &. Dart Ir now a nu-

we increase our advocacy tional advocate for psans IF WE CAN MULTIPLY enough to keep the Dream withdisabilities) OUR TINY ARMY OF PA- alive? We can do it, if 6 are TRIOTS, ifwe can utilize the - willing to pay the price. If we Nde: We urgently need re- coming historic policy debate are no^ if we fail or are per- ports of your activities, of to establish the principles of ceived to lkil, God help our d e v e l q m e n t s i n y o u r ~ u -

new politidclout, if we can peop

LbDARlTY! We must set acausewotf' le b~lainess, personality d y i k - l i

G- 8 January 10,1995 Access Press

The Power Of To by Gordon Gillesby

The Power of To:

Whatever its booms or busts, last year is in the record books. The con- sequences of it's decisions are now seeds for a new year's battles for all creatures great and small. Winter returns with iiigid vengeance not unlike politicians returning to their various seats of power. Forces are positioning themselves by the so- called "Contract with America". Everyone is swinging apolitical bud-

+ get-cutting ax hell bent on out-hack- ing everybody else in an unrelenting drive that lays waste anything de- fmed as "unnecessary" in daily me- dia skirmishes as ugly as they are unenlightened.

7

Supposedly this fiscal bloodshed is justified if you buy into all this con- tract rhetoric. Maybe it has less to do with promises thanpunishmeni. One form of revenge is giving your oppo- nent everything he asks for but in such quantities he becomes buried by it. Politicians will choke us on "fiscal responsibility" until we cry uncle. Are they a h i d of change and upset because the American elector- ate isn't good little sheepies re-elect- ing them year after year? Ultimately, they seem more interested in job securitythan what's best forthe coun- try -even if that means mortgaging q ~ 1 - future.

wants all their own programs p

served untouched. When threatened, we (whoeverthe "we" happens to be) raise the unholy specter of racial, sexual, minority-based attacks upon the under-privilege by rich, power- mongering pale mono-skin-colored gender-defective (and probably alien) life-forms. We caterwaul, protest and calculate grand media ploys for getting on the next Geraldo, Donahue, or Sally-Jesse whichever pays more. In short, they play a game, we play a game and in the end, everyone loses.

It doesn't have to be that way.

People are people howeverthey chose to communicate and Cyberspace re- flects this. The same mandates, all the same human bias, bigotry, behav- ior and ideas fiom grandiose to grand are all on display. People are no more noble, unselfish, wise or kind just because they network using comput- ers. People are people; ideas are ideas. Each should be evaluated on individual merits. If we are to get off our collective duffs and participate - it's vital to understand exactly - WHY- all this computertechno-wiz- ardry is essential to all future politi- cal (medical, religious, philosoph- ical, social, economic, etc., etc. at infinitum, ad nausea) debates. It all boils down to three things.

INTERACTIVE IDEA EX- CRANGES: online, networked communication interactive -

ing, in its second decade, is available nearly everywhere. While it isn't the same as talking with someone in the same room, it's a fast and reliable method of sending your own ideas instantly (a.k.a. "chatting") or broad- casting through conferences span- ning large geographic areas (states, regions, planets). One to one or among a much larger forum of peo- ple. You maintain an independent record of all messages. You can receive tens of thousands of messag- es each day and scan them to fmd only those you want. You can inter- link messages with outside reference sources and electronically pass along supporting documentation for you ideas, products or services to all in- terested parties. You work at your own speed, in your own time, at your own convenience.

READILY ACCESSIBLE TECH- NOLOGY: personal computers are accessible on nearly all levels. Money Tight? Costs are plurnmetingasnew- er technology becomes available. RE+PC has rehbished computers for a fraction ofthe cost of new ones. Technology Need Adapting? Lots of places provide computer adaptive technology -checkout STAR, Tam- arack, Pacer, Closing the Gap or one of the dozens of rehabilitation facil- ities in the Twin Cities. Adaptive products, while still expensive, are dropping as aresult ofincreased com- petition among vendors. Lack of

with more being created every day. become involved. van-t wait any longer. Whether your battle ground

DIRECT ACCESS TO PEOPLE; is political programs, legal issues, in the old-fashioned paper chase, corporate law, disability ethics, or there are too many gate-keepers (as- whatever-there's aplaceforyou in sistants, under-secretaries, vice pres- cyberspace. Those who would influ- identsandvariousmuddle-levelman- ence the policies of tomorrow agers) interfering with information should get online today! flow. The real power of all this inter- networking, interactive computer ****** communication is that it gets you directly to the people making deci- Thanks to the Timberwolves for the sions and influencing policy. From additional tickets!. If you are dis- the Capitol to the Captains of Indus- abled, have a disabled family mem- try, the ability to directly exchange ber or are a non-profit organization ideas and opinions without being and need a computer, please call hampered by gate-keepers is not only DRAGnet -the Disability Resourc- very real, its coverage is broadening es, Affiliates and Groups network daily. Want to sendmessages direct- office at 6 12.338.2535 - thanks! ly to the White House? Get the opinion of Corporate CEO's? Want The Power of To: is about comput- to interact with medical researchers? ers, cyberspace and communication Get in touch with various "think- for all people. Please share your tanks" to express your ideas? It's all thoughts, comments and ideas about possible and more, besides. this column with Access Press or log

on to DRAGnet Information Service The beauty here is in that ideas are with your computer and modem evaluated upon their own merit rath- (6 12.753.1943; 84-1 ; ANSI emula- er than trapped by raciallgenderlspe- tion). cia1 interest issues. If you want the ability to make a difference in the world - get online. Like it or not, it is the way information is bemg moved around and it's the way we're com- municating. That's both a promise and a warning. If you tread upon the cyberspace communication waters, you'll find people who will take your

1 ideas seriously. Good ideas survive I

Patronize your Access Press

Advertisers & let them know where you heard about thefnrr:They bring you your paper. I meaning it is not one-way communi- Access Points? Many public librar- and grow. Bad ones fall by the way-

--- 7;- ,

tmhg to your d o m reading a $ee for public use. Caznputer net- book. Interactive computermessag- works, once fare, are now plentiful The &cal point is that you haye to

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