Local News
People with disabilities make case during Willmar, Minn., event for state budget with 'least harm'
Carolyn Lange - 06/18/2011
WILLMAR - Brenda Simning, a soft-spoken woman who has disabilities, is afraid the senior companion who has taken her shopping and to doctor appointments for 12 years won't be there to help her any more. Zeppelin Peterson, a 19-year-old from Willmar, is worried that his mental health services will be cut and he could end up in the crisis hospital. Mary Rhude is concerned that if her 29-year-old son, who has Down syndrome, is no longer able to receive 10 hours a week of services, he will no longer be able to live independently. These worries and concerns, which were shared during a rally Friday afternoon at Robbins Island Park in Willmar before a handful of supporters, could become a reality if a balanced budget solution isn't reached. Services for persons with disabilities are "at great risk," said Steve Larson, public policy director for The Arc Minnesota, which advocates for people with disabilities. Larson had criticism for the budget cuts passed by the Legislature and later vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton, as well as reduced revenues proposed by Dayton. Larson said the public, legislators and the governor need to be told about the harm that could be caused to people with disabilities by reducing funding for services that help people live independently in their communities. "Our goal is to alert the public to the peril that services for persons with disabilities are in, and see if we can bring support for a balanced solution," said Larson. "Because we can't have a worse solution than what already exists right now on the table." Larson said people need to be educated "and they need to be activated." So far there "hasn't been a lot of noise" in greater Minnesota, said Larson, who is touring the state and meeting with community advocates for people with disabilities, who are telling their own stories. Rhude, who serves as executive director for Arc Kandiyohi County, said when her son was 18, he wouldn't leave the house after he came home from work and was isolated from peers. But six years ago, he started receiving the services of a personal care attendant for 10 hours a week and has been able to live independently in a home with friends. He's so busy now his parents have to make appointments to see him. If those services are cut, she worries he may revert back to his old self. She bristled when recalling comments from a local legislator - whom she did not identify - who reportedly told her that families and faith communities will have to "pick up the slack" if services for people with disabilities are cut. Simning said she does not know who she would call if she did not have her senior companion. "The state shutdown, that really scares me," said Peterson, adding that he doesn't want to end up in a state mental health facility. Larson said if pressure isn't put on legislators and the governor to protect services for people with disabilities, "we're kind of the default" and health and human services will take a big hit to balance the budget. Besides cuts to health and human services, he said people with disabilities will also be hurt by $100 million in proposed cuts to special education and reductions in transit budgets, which reduces vital transportation links for people with disabilities. He said a balanced budget is needed that will cause "the least harm possible."
Advocates to rally to protect funding for those with disabilities
- 06/16/2011
WILLMAR - Area residents with disabilities and their families will hold a rally Friday at Robbins Island in Willmar to share their concerns about the impact potential state budget cuts could have on people already struggling. Members of the advocacy group, Arc Kandiyohi County, will present data from a new nationwide survey entitled "Families and Individual Needs for Disability Support" that shows people with disabilities and their families are "finding themselves increasingly marginalized and experiencing greater uncertainty and stress about their future," according to a news release from Mary Rhude, executive director of Arc Kandiyohi County. People with disabilities and their families "were already being hit hard by budget cuts at the state and federal level," she said. The state budget vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton would have pushed "thousands of Minnesotans with disabilities back into the shadows and create a more uncertain future them," according to the release. Arc of Kandiyohi County says there's concern a budget like the one Dayton vetoed would undermine years of progress the state has made to promote services to help people with disabilities live and contribute in their communities. Cuts to the services could jeopardize the most cost-effective services currently available, Rhude said. The rally and presentations will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday at Shelter 2 at Robbins Island Park on North Business Highway 71. For additional information, call Mary at 320-231-1777.
- Staff reports
All kids need to be safe in the water
Ashley White - 07/31/2010WILLMAR - Standing on the edge of a diving board, cautiously glancing down into the deep unknown of a swimming pool, can be a scary experience for any child - and maybe even some adults. But Michael Shimek, 9, isn't scared of the diving board. At least not any more. On Wednesday, during one of his swimming lessons at the Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center, Michael jumped off the diving board for the first time, a grin on his face and an excited "I didn't think he'd do it!" from his mother, Julie. Michael, who was diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2 years old, is one of 12 children who are participating in a three-week swimming session for children with disabilities, jointly hosted by the Willmar Community Education and Recreation and Arc Kandiyohi County. The children, ages 5 to 12, have a range of disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, paralysis, non-verbal, cerebral palsy, spina bifida and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder. This is the first year Community Education and Arc have held these swimming lessons, and the response from everyone involved has been positive, according to Mary Rhude, executive director of Arc. "This was something that was needed in the community," Rhude said. "It's hard for some of these children to participate in regular lessons." Because it would be impossible for instructors to teach one class that addresses everyone's limitations, each child works one-on-one with a lifeguard who is also a certified water safety instructor. Over the last two weeks, the children have bonded with their teachers and learned about water safety and rules. For Julie Shimek, who has written two books on autism, this class was an opportunity to teach Michael to be safe in the pool. Many autistic children have a fascination with water and no fear when it comes to the dangers of swimming. According to the National Autism Association, drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children with autism. "That's why this opportunity is a lifesaver for these kids," said Shimek, of New London. She and her family live on the water and have considered selling their house for that reason. They also took down their 6,000-gallon pool three years ago as a preventative measure. "It was just hanging over our heads," she said. "But we'd love to put (the pool) back up - and we probably will do that after this summer." Tammi Boedigheimer, of Willmar, has two children with autism: Joshua, 12, and Jessica, 11. She said she's tried to put both children in swimming lessons before, but with little results. "We've had a problem for years with swimming lessons," Boedigheimer said. "They were sort of a waste of time for them." But these lessons have been different, she said. Jessica, who has always loved the water, has learned to follow directions better, and she's started to float and kick. Even Joshua, who wouldn't get in the water at all the first week, has made progress and warmed up to his instructor, Boedigheimer said. "This is just an all-around great idea," she said. "There just isn't this opportunity for them anywhere else." Head lifeguard Jennifer Ridler, 20, of Willmar, came up with the idea to hold these swimming lessons after working at the pool at St. Cloud State University, where she attends college. She's been teaching swimming lessons for five years and said there are significant differences when teaching children with disabilities. "We work on what needs to be worked on for them," she said. "If something doesn't work, we find a different way to go about it." All the lifeguards received training at the beginning of July on working and communicating with children who have disabilities, Rhude said. The environment at these classes is calm and quiet. The instructors, 13 in all, have worked to establish a regular routine with the children. Many teach by using visuals. None of these necessities for children with disabilities would be guaranteed in a regular swimming lesson class, said LeAnne Freeman, recreation supervisor for Willmar Community Education and Recreation. "We're taking it a bit slower so that the parents and the children feel comfortable," she said. "At regular lessons, instructors might not stay back for that one kid. Here, they can really work with them one-on-one." Next summer, Community Education and Arc plan to hold at least four swimming sessions for children with disabilities, according to Freeman. "There is a need for this community to have these lessons," she said. "We're the land of 10,000 lakes, and we want to make sure all kids are safe in the water - whether they have a disability or not." Kari Goldschmidt, administrative assistant for Arc, agrees that these lessons are a priority for the community. "It's so important for these kids to feel comfortable and safe in the water," Goldschmidt said. "I think it comes down to the fact that this opportunity isn't available anywhere else." For Julie Shimek and her son, Michael - who has now conquered his fear of the diving board not once, but several times - these swimming lessons will give their family some much needed peace of mind. "To put a child in the water who doesn't know how to swim - that's fear at its height," Shimek said. "This has definitely made a difference. These lessons have done a wonderful thing for the children and their families."
Pleas for 'no more cuts' unlikely to be heeded
Carolyn Lange - 12/21/2009WILLMAR - Members of Arc Kandiyohi sent a strong message to elected officials about the value of programs for people with disabilities and the fear that budget cuts could reduce services and diminish their quality of life. In a skit they presented Thursday in Willmar to a panel of state lawmakers and county officials, the group read scenarios about the programs they use and repeated the chant, "no more cuts." It's unlikely the request will be granted. "I wish I could say there would be no cuts to services you need," said Sen. Gary Kubly, DFL-Granite Falls. But Kubly said the state won't be able to "work its way out of the recession" without increasing revenue and making more cuts that will likely affect all agencies. If one area was immune from budget cuts, he said, it would only increase the burden to the other agencies, like hospitals and nursing homes that are also experiencing hardships. For the next two years the state will deal with a "25 percent lack of money in our budgets," said Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar. According to State Economist Tom Stinson, the $1.2 billion deficit expected in 2010 is projected to grow to $5.4 billion in 2011. Besides increasing revenue and making more cuts, Juhnke said the state also needs to reform how it delivers services. "The world is not going to look the same in the next few years," said Juhnke. "You need to understand," he said, "there will be fewer services." Mary Rhude, executive director of Arc Kandiyohi, an advocacy organization for people with disabilities and their families, said she's afraid the reduction of services will mean a loss of independence for people like her son. He's living independently in Willmar with two other men with disabilities. They each receive about 10 hours of assistance each week. "They're healthier individuals," she said, and their independent lifestyle is "saving the county money" now and for the future. But she said if programs are cut, people with disabilities may not be able to live outside of their parents' homes. Brenda Simning told the panel she used to live in a group home and worked in a sheltered workshop. State funding got her the training she needed for a different job and she now lives in her own home. "I just hope state funding will be there for others," said Simning. Cutting programs "will only stop people like me from being independent," she said. Debb Sheehan, director of PACT 4 Families Collaborative, provided data that showed a dollar-and-cents correlation between preventive programs and future social savings. Juhnke said Kandiyohi County has more group homes per capita than any other county in the state, which makes issues about budgets and services crucial to this community. He said members of groups like Arc Kandiyohi need to make their voices heard. Steve Larson, from The Arc of Minnesota, gave the group some specific pointers about how to lobby local and state officials. Larson also told them cuts made in 2009 will have a direct impact on their lives, including fewer dentist visits, a 30 percent reduction in personal allowances and a reduction in personal care attendants. Faced with the likelihood of even more cuts, Larson encouraged the Arc members to continue to be advocates for programs, but said the programs need to be delivered more efficiently "because there won't be any new dollars."
KAT won't leave bowlers stranded in 2010
Carolyn Lange - 12/19/2009WILLMAR - A group of bowlers who depend on public transportation to get home after their Monday night games won't be left stranded in 2010. The Kandiyohi Area Transit's joint powers board agreed Friday to make a bus and driver available for two hours each Monday night for the bowlers, who are primarily individuals with disabilities. That will be welcome news for the 10 to 20 people who had been riding a KAT bus to get to the Willmar bowling alley and then using KAT's evening taxi to get home. The evening taxi service is ending at the end of the month. "It's a big concern for Arc," said Kandiyohi County Commissioner Dean Shuck, referring to Arc Kandiyohi, an advocacy group for individuals with disabilities and their families. At a meeting with local and state elected officials Thursday sponsored by Arc, several of those bowlers expressed concern about losing the taxi service and the ability to independently get home after their games. During the Arc meeting, Kandiyohi County Commissioner Richard Falk said KAT would provide some form of transportation for the Monday bowlers - a promise that was greeted with cheers and applause. Falk led the discussion Friday morning at the joint powers board meeting to fulfill that promise. Falk said there is "no reason" why KAT can't provide a bus after-hours on Monday. He said people with disabilities are the "biggest base of clients" for KAT and that the night out for bowling is important to them. "They can't afford to take a taxi." Since 2007, KAT has contracted with Care Cab to provide an evening taxi service from 5:30-9:30 p.m., when KAT buses do not operate. Care Cab notified KAT that it would not continue the contract in 2010. KAT's operations board is looking at ways to replace the taxi service, said Transit Director Tiffany Collins, but there has been no solution thus far. Last year the taxi contract cost KAT $20,000 to provide about 100 to 125 rides a month - far short of the five rides an hour that had been set as the goal. The highest ridership has been on Monday, taking people home from the bowling alley, Collins said. She said there are about 65 people that participate in the bowling program. She hopes that making the bus available each Monday will increase the number of riders who use it. Riders will pay the normal route fee to ride the bus Monday night, Collins said. It will be cheaper than the taxi. There has been no decision yet whether KAT will provide any other kind of evening public transportation. There is a private taxi service operating in Willmar, Central Minnesota Taxi Service. KAT is unable to contract with them for service because of requirements to provide handicapped-accessible vehicles. In other action: - Collins said KAT will receive a 5 percent increase in 2010 funding from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. With fuel costing less this year than last year, she said the budget is better than expected. - The board was informed that ridership on the new Job Access Reverse Commute route that was meant to service residents and employers on the west side of Willmar has been lower than expected. Collins said KAT will continue to work with Jennie-O Turkey Store to increase awareness of the route.
