Volume 37, Number 2
FEBRUARY 2026
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Caught in the crossfire: Minnesota’s fraud war and ICE influx are devastating for those with disabilities
NEWS DIGEST
By Joey Carlson Recently, Minnesota was shaken by a series of fraud scandals. At first, this fraud just looked like a massive waste of taxpayer money. But now, for those of us with disabilities, we see that the impact of fraud is hitting way beyond our wallets. It is threatening our lives. The initial fraud itself was bad. But now state and federal crackdowns on fraud and immigration, while well intentioned, are compounding the pain for vulnerable Minnesotans. Here is a breakdown of how we got here.
"Toward Independence" turns 40 Page 2 Community input on Long Covid needed Page 4 Same goals, new reality Page 5 A realist's guide to AI Page 6 Making winter accessible Page 11
A Timeline of Fraud and Consequences
The current crisis didn't happen overnight. It's the result of years of systemic failures, pandemic-era funding mistakes, and shortsighted responses.
The Pandemic Surge and Feeding Our Future (2020-2022) The COVID-19 pandemic saw an influx of federal aid and a loosening of regulations to get help to people quickly. This was necessary to address the overwhelming needs of the pandemic. But it also created an opening for criminal behavior. The most well-known example was the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, a $250 million scheme centered on federal child nutrition funds. While not directly a disability service, the sheer scale of this fraud triggered a panicked, widespread
TONY WEBSTER
Early Warning Signs (Pre-2020s) For over a decade, reports from state auditors and investigative journalists have raised questions about fraud in Minnesota Medicaid programs. However, it is unclear whether these questions were ever adequately addressed or if they were mostly ignored.
Minnesota State Capitol crackdown across Minnesota.
The Crackdown Widens (2023-2024) Following the revelations of child nutrition fraud, state and federal authorities launched investigations into other Minnesota Medicaid programs. These included: • Early Intensive Developmental and
Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI): This is a program for children with autism. People were committing fraud by billing for services never provided. • Housing Stabilization Services (HSS): This program is designed to help seniors and people with disabilities find housing. CROSSFIRE To page 5
Guthrie Theater: Moving from “Accessible” to “Belonging”
GUTHRIE THEATER
By Joey Carlson For those of us spending our days on four wheels, “accessible” is a loaded word. It can mean anything from “a luxury suite with a roll-in shower” to “we have a freight elevator around back near the dumpster.” As a theater lover with a cervical-level spinal cord injury, I’ve navigated my share of tight corners. But the Guthrie Theater is a different beast entirely. It is an architectural marvel—a giant blue box cantilevered over the Mississippi River. But does Jean Nouvel’s industrial-chic masterpiece work for the entire disability community? I rolled through the theater to find out, and I sat down with Robyn DeCourcy, the Guthrie’s Accessibility Coordinator, to discuss how the theater is trying to go beyond building codes and toward true belonging.
Guthrie offers sensory tours for blind and low-vision patrons prior to select performances.
The Winter Gap If you live in Minneapolis, you know the holy grail of accessibility is the Skyway. Unfortunately, the Guthrie is an island. Most need to park at the Riverfront Municipal Ramp directly across the street. While the ramp has plenty of designated accessible spots, you have to roll outside to get to the
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theater. In July, crossing South 2nd Street is a breeze, but in January, that short roll across the plaza can feel like an arctic expedition. DeCourcy is aware of this barrier. “The most common issue that anybody cites getting to the Guthrie is parking,” she told me. While the theater doesn't own the ramp or the street, DeCourcy is currently working with the city to identify and possibly convert a street parking spot into a dedicated loading and unloading zone near the accessible entrance. It’s a work in progress, but one that would save a lot of frozen hands. Another option is taking advantage of Minneapolis's policy that allows vehicles with disability placards to park at metered street spots for free.
Getting to Your Seat Once inside, the vibe shifts. The ground floor lobby features smooth concrete floors that are a dream for manual wheelchairs—no high-pile carpet to slow you down. The elevators are massive, easily fitting my power chair with my family standing next to me. However, the design is intentionally GUTHRIE To page 4
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