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
Today, Chris Serres, reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, wrote an excellent article about how Minnesotans with disabilities are fighting barriers to inclusion and unfilled promises. I love seeing Chris Serres’ articles because he gets it. He’s able to tell the world about what it’s like to try to navigate this system and what happens… Continue reading Barriers to inclusion
Why did I write this book? It seemed like a good idea at the time I started writing, but now that I am editing, let us just say that there are moments when I feel like the book should be thrown into the garbage can and then the garbage can should be thrown into the center… Continue reading The scary part of editing
Follow up to last week’s post about Google Live Transcribe app for Android. I had another doctor’s visit with my Movement Disorder Team on Thursday, so tried out Google Live Transcribe again. We made a video while waiting for the doctors to come in to the room. “Huh, you say? Not a video!” Yes, a… Continue reading 3…2…1 Action
The toes report Met with the orthopedic specialist on Friday. Surgery in the next month or two as soon as it can be scheduled. Basically, the muscle tone and uncontrolled muscle spasms in my feet have caused my big toes to be just shy of dislocated. I have really strong muscles! And as I’ve mentioned… Continue reading Discoveries
Unfortunately, AFC Wimbledon did not win today meaning that they're not going to the quarter finals of the FA Cup. Ahhhh... My good news story for the day is even though we've had a ton of snow over the past couple weeks, downtown Minneapolis near The Local had clear sidewalks and curb cuts. It's usually… Continue reading Wheels in Winter
Last Saturday, AFC Wimbledon, a third-tier fan-owned football team, beat West Ham United, a Premier League team, in the fourth round of the FA Cup. I don’t want to alienate people who support West Ham, so I am not going to talk about the game. Instead I am going to tell a personal story about… Continue reading Never give up – GOAL!
Exciting week for me. The first draft of the book I’ve been working on for the last two years is finished and it’s exciting. I proved to myself that I can write a book. Not sure it’s a very good book or that anyone would want to read it. But, I can write a book.… Continue reading I am done with my first draft of my book!
Celebrate! Hey, how awesome was last night’s Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Inaugural Celebration? Super AWESOME! Fun music, dancers, and so much excitement! Here are some of the picture highlights. Congratulations to Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan! I loved being a delegate for them in the caucus, organizing unit convention, and at the… Continue reading What is up in my world?
Justin Smith Writes 