Access Press

"I dislike the language of 'accommodations' for the same reason I dislike the language of 'tolerance' - because it implies a generosity toward that which is undeserving, unnecessary or unpleasant. In truth, we are stingy.

The latest Access Press get-together, on August 6 at Surly Brewing in Minneapolis, brought out a crowd of readers, activists, advocates and friends who enjoyed good talk in a great space, enhanced by delicious food and terrific music. Plan to be there next time! These casual meet-ups are for getting to know one another, share news and concerns, and to support the priorities of the Minnesota disability community.

An estimated four million children in the United States are caring for an adult family member who is sick or disabled or old, according to a 2025 report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. Four million. And this is the number before upcoming Medicaid cuts. Read the stories of some of these caregiving children and the parents who depend upon them in this New York Times article (it's a gift: no paywall). Within the article, there's a link to listen, if you'd prefer.

A 2024 grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services helped Dakota County expand the use of assistive technology for people with disabilities. See how the technology is creating new opportunities and changing lives.

When an Oklahoma woman and iron lung respiratory device user died earlier this summer, it brought to mind past Minnesota news coverage of polio and post-polio patients. Martha Lillard was believed to be the last U.S. polio patient who used an iron lung. The first iron lung was developed at Harvard University and made its debut in 1927. The following year, it was used at Boston Children's Hospital to save the life of an eight-year-old girl with polio.

"Disability is not a brave struggle or courage in the face of adversity. Disability is an art. It's an ingenious [...] "Disability is not a brave struggle or courage in the face of adversity. Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live." - Neil Marcus, Playwright and Disability Rights Activist "Pride is not just about feeling good about who you are.

For over 25 years, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Code of Ethics has served as a foundational guide for direct support professionals (DSPs). It outlines what it means to deliver respectful, person-centered support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now, NADSP has launched a fully revised Code of Ethics alongside a brand-new Practice Guidelines & Guidebook to reflect the modern realities of the direct support workforce.

For people with disabilities, transportation is more than just the ability to get around, it's a lifeline, and in the Greater Minnesota area, that can be hard to come by. Through the Greater Minnesota Transit Plan, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is focusing on transit systems outside the metro area, which advocates in those areas say are often overlooked.

Join us for a fun and relaxed happy hour on August 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Surly Brewing Co in Minneapolis. It'll be a great chance for Access Press readers to meet and catch up with staff, board members, and advertisers in person. This is a great way for you to learn more about Access Press and express your opinion on what challenges the disability community is facing. We love a chance to meet new people and get a fresh perspective on the issues.

This July (Disability Pride Month), I personally spent a lot of time thinking about what disability pride means to me. I looked at social media and saw that a lot of people celebrated disability pride by saluting those that helped pass laws like the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. Others discussed how they were proud of their neurodivergence or the different ways they interact with the world.