Archives for October 2020

This is the Thanks to the ADA Campaign introductory video created by the Great Lakes ADA Center.

https://adaminnesota.org/thankstotheada/

Our mission at Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is removing barriers, promoting choices. The Centers for Independent Living came about as a result of the struggle and pain of the civil rights era and the newly established civil rights laws from the 1960’s through the 1980’s.  We are deeply anguished and troubled by the death of George Floyd by law enforcement in Minneapolis Minnesota.

Our hearts are filled with prayers for Mr. Floyd and his family. We acknowledge the current and historical injustices experienced by the African American community, by all diverse communities, by people with disabilities and all whose rights have been denied. We join our hope and our work, with the hope and work of all who seek that as a society, we become a more just, equitable and civil society.

Throughout my career I have worked on advancing the quality of life of marginalized people, social justice, equity, educational advancement and economic development for diverse communities, recruitment of diverse and women candidates for Minnesota’s Judicial Selection Commission,  independent living for people with disabilities and ultimately the ability of people to care for one another.

We live in a time in which affirm these truths to be self-evident, that we all are made in the image and likeness of a Supreme Being and we are therefore endowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

We remain committed to fully realize our mission of MCIL and that our work, our hope and our concerns may also contribute to the greater good in advancing freedom, safety and fairness for all as a civil society, so that ultimately we contribute to advancing the ability of people to care for one another. 

In this moment we affirm the need for healing, of care for all and of hope in realizing a better future for all.

Sincerely

Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA

Executive Director

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

530 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN 55101

Urgent action needed as people with disabilities are left out of State’s COVID-19 plans

March 18, 2020 (ST. PAUL, Minn.) The emergency package approved by the legislature earlier this week addressed hospitals, clinics and nursing facilities, but did nothing to address the needs of people with disabilities and the frail elderly who live at home. Many cannot get out of bed by themselves and need help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, eating and taking medications. Some rely on ventilators or other medical equipment, which in-home providers help them use and maintain.

Even if they do not get the virus, people with disabilities continue to need in-home services to get up every day, stay healthy and avoid costly complications that can cause them to need hospital or nursing facility care. Such care is much more expensive than in-home care and is practically unavailable due to COVID-19. For many people with disabilities, in-home services are necessary for their very survival!

The in-home care system was already facing severe workforce shortages due to low wages and low reimbursement of providers. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed further strain on critically needed in- home care services.

Disruptions that are already happening:

• Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) who are willing to work extra hours to fill staffing gaps cannot do so because of overtime limits and lack of funding for overtime.
• PCAs who have passed a background check with one provider agency, cannot go to work for another without passing a second, time-consuming background check.
• Lack of funding for supplies, such as gloves, gowns and masks for PCAs who are concerned about being unwitting carriers of the virus.
• Apartment managers fearful of COVID-19 denying access to PCAs needed by people with disabilities who live in their buildings.
• Scaling back of accessible transportation services people need in order to buy groceries, pick up medications and to get to procedures like dialysis and chemotherapy.

The Legislature must reconvene this week to include PCA and other services for people with disabilities, and the frail elderly living at home, in emergency response plans. Legislation is needed to provide regulatory flexibility and funding for overtime pay, extra staffing, protective equipment, and to ensure that unforeseen issues can be addressed as they arise.

Quick action by the legislature is critical to ensuring that people with disabilities are not abandoned as the COVID-19 crisis deepens with each passing day. Many lives depend on swift action to close this gap in emergency response laws.

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Metropolitan Center for Independent Living COVID-19 Preparedness

March 19 2020

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) continues to operate all programs and services. We assist a vulnerable population and have an important role to play in mitigating emotional isolation and expect to continue to be of service to our clients and community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are also deeply committed to the safety and security of our Employees, and Direct Support Professionals and we are therefore making a necessary change to a remote work environment with essential personnel working out of the MCIL Offices until further notice.

Though our St Paul Offices will be closed to the public effective Wednesday March 18th, our main telephone number remains as a point of contact 651-646-8342. Disability Hub MN can be reached at 1-866-333-2466.

We encourage you to contact your healthcare provider should you have an urgent need, or 911. COVID-19 concerns please note the following:

Minnesota Department of Health, Community mitigation (schools, child care, business) questions: 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-35047 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Minnesota Department of Health, Health-related questions: 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657- 3903 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Consistent with the Minnesota Department of Health Strategies to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota and CDC guidelines, MCIL encourages proper hygiene, personally and for your surrounding spaces, through increased hand washing, not touching your face, and frequent disinfecting of your spaces (phones, keyboards, door handles, etc.) and following other CDC and MN Dept. of Health recommendations as the best way to prevent the spread of illness such as social distancing.

MCIL takes these necessary social distance measures out of an abundance of caution to reduce the spread of disease, so as not to overwhelm our healthcare system, to protect all, our elderly, people with disabilities, and to protect high-risk individuals.

Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA Executive Director

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living