Remember how I’ve been writing about the direct support staffing crisis? That we’re not paying caregivers enough so are having a really hard time trying to find or hire anyone? This story by Kirsten Swanson of KSTP, is more about the direct support crisis impact on group homes: From Group Home to Senior Living Staffing… Continue reading Really?!?
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) turned 32 years old last Tuesday. And, I turn 24 years old on this Tuesday. My entire life has been post-ADA. The ADA addressed some of the concerns like employment discrimination, access to buildings and more. There’s a long way to go though. In Minnesota, I’m finding it all… Continue reading ADA 32 & Me 24
I am currently at 86k words and nearing completion of the first draft of the sci-fi fantasy book I have been working on for the last year. My deadline is sometime in the first week of June. I’ll take a little time off before the rewrite process. What am I going to do before the… Continue reading 86k: what’s next?
Here are my goals for what I think is going to be a big year for me. Writing About that book I’ve been working on… I am going to finish the horror\SFF (sci-fi and fantasy) book this year. Then, I am going to edit the hell out of this book. I am about 45k words… Continue reading 2022 goals
Remember the three issues that I care about: disability rights, health care and Medicaid. I know that they are divisive issues in politics and they should not be. I want to be straight with you with what’s at stake in this election for me. You’ve heard me say it before, Medicaid services for people with… Continue reading Another Sunday
I’m honored to again be chosen as a delegate the Minnesota State DFL Convention. It’s a pretty different experience at the DFL virtual convention this year than in Rochester two years ago. It was exciting to be around all of the people, meet the candidates and other delegates, be part of the action and drama… Continue reading A New Way
I have started planning the next book and I mean that quite literally. I say that because I pantsered the last two books. Although I didn’t know this, I think that I might actually be more of a plotter. Wait, what is a pantser and plotter? Ok, when I wrote my first two books, I… Continue reading Plotter or pantser?
This is not an easy list. So many things happened that could have been the most memorable of the decade. Well, there are the DBS surgeries, I think they’ve had a huge impact on not just me, but my whole family. But, I want to focus on non-medical, non-traumatic moments. April 14th, 2016 My first… Continue reading Top Moments of the Decade
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
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
Justin Smith Writes 