Volume 36, Number 4
APRIL 2025
WWW.ACCESSPRESS.ORG
Protecting ADA rights is goal
GOAL To page 3
ACCESS PRESS
DIRECTORY FOR OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY PROACT
Personal messages stood out at Disability Services Day at the Minnesota capitol.
Proposed state budget revisions, legislative hurdles cause angst A growing state budget deficit and the prospect of more cuts to disability services are eyed warily by Minnesota’s disability community. Add to that some uncertainty for key bills and it could be a battle to the 2025 legislative session’s May 19 end.
Gov. Tim Walz released a revised budget March 21. The House is to release its budget targets April 1, with the Senate following April 5. State cuts on top of growing uncertainty REVISIONS To page 9
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Campers need to not pack up or bring home COVID Summer days are ahead. For many Minnesotans, that means packing up sack lunches, swimsuits and other items needed to join the fun. Summer camps were canceled in 2020 when the COVID pandemic shut the world down. Many day and overnight camps are only now returning to pre-pandemic levels of activities. One of those returning day camps is operated by True Friends, which has opened registration for June and July day camp at Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie. “We are thrilled to announce that day camp is back,” said John LeBlanc, President and CEO of True Friends. “This program is perfect for kids and adults with physical and developmental disabilities who want a true Minnesota camp experience without an overnight stay.” True Friends’ predecessor organizations have offered day and overnight camping experiences in Minnesota since 1938. The camps have served children and adults with an array of health conditions as well as physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities. Summer camps of all types can provide life-changing experiences. But staying safe
TRUE FRIENDS
Can the Minnesotans with Disabilities Act preserve federal protections of reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities? A bipartisan group of legislators and disability justice advocates hopes so. The bill, HF 2380, was unveiled March 18. Co-authors Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL-Rochester) and Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) released the following statement: “The disability justice movement has made our country a better place for people of all abilities. This bill reaffirms that in Minnesota, our neighbors, coworkers, classmates and family members will have the opportunities they deserve to fully participate in our schools, workplaces and communities. The Minnesotans with Disabilities Act affirms our dedication to listening to and learning from people with disabilities on our path to a just, equitable future.” The state act is brought forward in the face of Trump administration efforts to remove an array of ADA protections through executive order. HF 2380 closely mirrors Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which offers strong protections from discrimination based on disability in programs that receive federal funding. The Minnesotans with Disabilities Act is meant to offer the same protections at a state level. Rep. Danny Nadeau (R - Rogers) signed on as a co-author of the House bill. “I’m proud to stand alongside and support the heroes who find the strength to persevere despite overwhelming obstacles," he said. “We are sending a powerful message to Minnesotans with disabilities that we see each other in this space, that we believe each other in this space and that we are committed to protecting our civil rights as a state,” Hicks said. “We know that people are scared,” said May Quade. She and other lawmakers were flanked by a large group of disability rights activists as they presented the bill. Advocates agreed, emphasizing the measure is needed to protect the rights of the more than 13,000 Minnesotans with disabilities. David Dively, executive director of the Minnesota Council on Disability, said that at a time when actions affecting people with disabilities are cause for concern, “Minnesota is going in a different direction.” As Access Press went to press, the bill awaited introduction in the House and Senate. It would apply to entities receiving state as well as federal funding. The bill won approval as part of the
Going to camp is a highlight of summer. and healthy is important, especially in the face of COVID. Prospective campers, their parents and guardians need to take steps to bring home good memories, not illness. Bring and wear masks, which will be especially needed after a camper comes into contact with someone who has COVID. Wear a mask for 10 days if indoors, and take a COVID test five days after exposure. Before signing up for a camp, ask about local and state regulations that are followed. Ask about staff and volunteer training. Ask if there are mandatory vaccinations for staff. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urge anyone considering summer camp to stay home
when sick. COVID testing before heading to camp is encouraged. CDC guidance is intended to supplement state and local health measures with which camps must comply. The CDC has also noted that it is important for camp administrators to assess local levels of COVID and be aware of how transmission can quickly occur at a summer camp. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) licenses and inspects youth camp establishments. Other agencies with jurisdiction for youth camp licensing and inspection include local jurisdictions (city/ county) which have entered into a delegation COVID To page 3
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