Access Press

06/03/2026

With the support of some Minnesota legislators, parents are suing Medica for drastic cuts in coverage: "Chase qualifies for 4,400 hours of home care nursing per year. Medica is now covering 240 hours per year."

Parents of Minnesota's most vulnerable children say lawmakers let them down, and now they're going to extremes to fight an insurance company that's denying coverage.

06/03/2026

Is your organization interested in improving inclusive disaster planning and response? Free virtual event July 7-8.

We are happy to uplift an upcoming event.

Join emergency management, disability, aging, healthcare, public health, and community leaders from across the nation for the 5th Annual National AFN Symposium.

This free virtual event will explore innovative strategies, emerging issues, and promising practices for advancing inclusive emergency management and supporting the whole community before, during, and after disasters.

July 7-8, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time
100% Virtual and Free

Register today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of inclusive emergency management.:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiJYY7_UQatS1vjJ3f0I5ax-lb82EUkaSleP_bYRWdKe_RuA/viewform

06/02/2026

Get ready, Minnesota! The Twin Cities are gearing up to host one of the biggest athletic events of the year: the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

From June 20 to June 26, 2026, over 3,000 athletes from all 50 states will gather to compete, celebrate inclusion, and show the world what true athletic greatness looks like. We are especially proud the 189 incredible competitors who will be representing our home state.

The competition will feature 16 sports taking over the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and the National Sports Center in Blaine. The week kicks off with a massive Opening Ceremony at Huntington Bank Stadium, featuring performances by Demi Lovato and Jon Batiste.

All sporting events are free and open to the public. If you want to be a hands-on part of the action, the Games are currently looking for thousands of volunteers to help make this an unforgettable week for the athletes.

Want to know which events are absolute must-sees or how you can get involved? Read the full feature from Access Press here:
https://accesspress.org/minnesota-prepares-to-host-the-2026-special-olympics-usa/

The Twin Cities are getting ready to host one of the biggest athletic events of the year: The 2026 Special […]

06/01/2026

In-depth reporting by journalist Sonali Gupta at Disabled Journalists Association on the sad state of disaster preparedness for disabled people in rural America.

This reporting was supported by a grant from the nonprofit media organization Grist. You can see more of our climate package here.

05/31/2026

Real question: in the context of billions of dollars in NIH budget cuts, how much disability health research will actually occur?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/197bQNL7gP/

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released its Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research. This agency-wide plan outlines a comprehensive roadmap to support innovative and responsible research aimed at improving the health and well-being of Americans with disabilities.

Learn more: bit.ly/nihplan.

The plan seeks to achieve four primary goals:
- Advance the science of disability health by supporting innovative, rigorous, person-centered research.
- Foster a highly skilled, multidisciplinary, and sustainable disability health research workforce.
- Support accessible, state-of-the-art disability health research resources and infrastructure.
- Engage in collaborative, responsible, and ethical management of disability health research activities.

05/30/2026

Immerse yourself in Minnesota's greatest asset: nature. Accessible nature. Forest bathing, anyone?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E7YTyPLLQ/

May is National Mobility Awareness Month, a time to recognize how transportation, adaptive equipment, and accessible spaces support independence for people with disabilities. https://impactful.ninja/mobility-awareness-month/

At MCD, mobility access is part of public policy, transportation planning, and community participation. During the legislative session, MCD tracks transportation-related bills that may affect Minnesotans with disabilities. These include bills related to disability parking, public transit, transportation network companies, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and autonomous vehicles. https://metrocouncil.org/Council-Meetings/Committees/Transportation-Accessibility-Advisory-Committee.aspx

MCD also works with the Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee (TAAC) to bring riders’ experiences into regional transportation planning. TAAC advises the Met Council on public transportation services in the region from the perspective of riders with disabilities. At TAAC meetings, members share feedback and lived experience with staff working on transit projects, helping make public transportation more accessible for more people.

Outdoor recreation shows how planning and design choices can expand access in everyday places. At William O’Brien State Park, accessibility improvements described in DNR’s 2025 Get Out MORE report (PDF) include accessible campsites, an accessible canoe and kayak launch, trail upgrades that better accommodate mobility devices, and new accessible restrooms and shower facilities. The late Margot Imdieke-Cross, a former MCD staff member and disability advocate, greatly contributed to the design process for these updates.

At McCarthy Beach State Park, visitors can use an adaptive beach chair to get into the water. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also offers all-terrain track chairs at more than 20 state parks. These powered chairs use tracks instead of wheels, making it possible to explore some trails and natural surfaces that may not be accessible with many standard mobility devices. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/track-chairs.html

Together, these examples show that access is shaped by the choices advocates, planners, and policymakers make. During National Mobility Awareness Month, MCD recognizes progress across Minnesota and the continued work needed to make transportation, recreation, and community life more accessible for people with disabilities.

Follow MCD’s legislative session work and explore DNR’s accessible recreation options to learn more about mobility access in Minnesota. https://www.disability.state.mn.us/about-our-public-policy/legislative-sessions-archives/2026-legislative-session/

05/30/2026

Sidney Kuechle is one of 200+ athletes on the Minnesota team roster in the Special Olympics USA Games June 20-26. The Games will include 4,000 athletes from all 50 states, competing right here in the North Star State.

05/29/2026

Good summer read for kiddos and families. Levi Lifts Off, by Minnesota author Daniel Bot.

MARSHALL — Everyone has their own unique set of superpowers and should be something you embrace. That’s exactly the message, partnered with the theme of bravery, that former Marshall resident Daniel Bot shared with numerous classes at Park Side Elementary and Holy Reedemer on Monday with his new...

05/28/2026

Testing continues. Airbus delivery target: 2032, but all airlines, all planes? It'll take a long time. We also wonder: premium fares?

In April, John Morris of Wheelchair Travel traveled to the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Germany to test two new in-cabin seating systems. He found the designs functional for his Permobil F3 and he even got Airbus to answer one all-important question: When will we start seeing these systems on actual flights?

https://newmobility.com/testing-two-new-seat-designs-that-will-let-you-fly-in-your-wheelchair/