According to the Arc Minnesota “the 2% provider tax on health care services is the main source of funding for the Health Care Access Fund, which contributes nearly $450 million to Medical Assistance in Minnesota. The provider tax is scheduled to expire or “sunset” at the end of 2019, which would leave a hole of more… Continue reading Time to Act in Minnesota
Hey there, I’m BACK! Stopped taking the heavy-duty pain meds so have been able to get up to my computer again. What did I miss most? Writing. I love to crank the music and write. I’m working on a new novel now about a young woman who has cerebral palsy and her friend who is… Continue reading Quick update from ME
Guest post by Mom (Kris Schulze) Justin had his followup visit with his surgeon on Friday and all is looking good. We ended up removing part of the cast to be able to see the incision. So, now he has a cast over his entire foot since it was the only way to recast the… Continue reading Day 10
Written by Mom (Kris Schulze) Justin's surgery on Friday went well. Both of his big toes have been straightened out - 3 pins in his left toe and cut the tendons, 2 in his right and didn't cut the tendons. The doctor wants to try to keep the pins in until the end of June.… Continue reading Recovering
Here are 8 things to know when you go into surgery: Don’t eat or drink after the hospital tells you. For me – that means no food or drink after 10:30 pm on Thursday. My caregiving team (i.e. mom and dad) should bring a book because they have to wait while I’m in surgery. Mom,… Continue reading 8 things to know
Perfect paradise, tearing at the seams. - Imagine Dragons One of my favorite bands, Imagine Dragons, has this line in Bad Liar. When the song came out, I was in a place of pain and this helped me forget. This was actually last fall and the pain has been at a steady 6 with jumps… Continue reading Tearing at the seams
Amazing concert on Wednesday at the Varsity Theater! Can't even describe how awesome this concert was! The pictures say it all - this band is energizing and exciting. After the last song, the band threw t-shirts, drumsticks, guitar picks, and sheet music out to the crowd. The lead singer, Aimee, saw me and brought me… Continue reading The Interrupters up close
I watched a documentary, To Err is Human, with my mom and dad last weekend. Like Cal Sheridan, who is featured in the film, I also have kernicterus because of a medical error. Did you know that medical errors are the 3rd largest leading cause of death in our country? There are as many as… Continue reading To Err is Human
In the 2018 fiscal year, 16 percent of Minnesotans with disabilities who received state services worked in the community alongside people without disabilities. Chris Serres, Star Tribune, 3/16/19 How is this real? That number needs to be a hell of a lot higher than 16%. I am NOT one of the 16% by the way… although I… Continue reading Barriers to Inclusion Part 3: Employment
The system is stuck! Why aren’t Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS) options on a level playing field with traditional Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Services? We need to rethink the model and provide real options and choices without being penalized for choosing CDCS, even though that's the choice that provides more flexibility and choice for the… Continue reading Barriers to Inclusion Part 2: Caregivers
Justin Smith Writes 