[nfb-db] Travel

[Haben Girma]

Minnesota truly sounds awesome, especially in the downtown Twin Cities 
area. Except for one major problem for me: the weather. I grew up in 
California and have very low tolerance for cold. Arguably, the skyways 
would make it so that you rarely have to go out in teh cold during 
winter. Still, I need the warming sun on my skin every few days....

Haben

John Lee Clark wrote:
> Mussie:
>
> To answer your question:
>
> Minnesota has three main sources of SSP services.  One is through your
> county, if you are eligible for MA or MAEPD (MA for Employed People with
> Disabilities).  You can also get equipment through this, plus vouchers for
> transportation, so you ride buses and paratransit for free all the time.
> SSP hours vary from client to client, but in Hennepin County, you're
> actually required to use eight hours or MORE--you can log in TONS of hours
> if you want to.  This is a strange p-olicy, requiring you to use MORE than a
> certain amount, instead of less than or up to that amount.  Some use six
> hours a week, others sixteen,  Whatever.
>
> The second source is through the state's Department of Human Services.  The
> legislature appropriates half a million dollars each year specifically for
> SSP services.  I think it's up to seven hundred thousand dollars now.
>
> The third source is through the consumer-directed services, where you get
> seven thousand seven hundred dollars each year and with which you decide
> what to do.  You can use this for even more SSP hours on top of the above
> two sources, but since the above two are more than enough, I use this mainly
> for equipment and supplies and occasionally for interpreters so I could
> attend certain events that doesn't really have the means or appartus to
> provide interpreters or not covered by ADA requirements.  Funerals,
> homecoming and other games at my alma mater, informal literary events and
> Critical Thinking Club sessions, etc.
>
> You also should be aware that there are many other great things.  For
> example, Minnesota is number one in the nation for providing the most
> ASL-interpreted, audio-described, and accessible theater performances, with
> an average of thirty plays a month that are made accessible and interpreted,
> and that includes providing two interpreters for each DB tactile signer.
> The signing community here is good with providing DB interpreters for all
> its organizations' events--most flyers, you'll notice this line about
> requesting for interpreters.  Many of them are not even required to by ADA
> but do it anyway.  
>
> As for crowd and hassle of transportation, well, the skyways--if you live in
> either downtown--will dramatically reduce your need to ride the bus or use
> paratransit.  I love, love, love it here.  If I am suddenly in the mood for,
> say, hot chocolate from Starbucks, why, I just elevator down to the skyway
> level and walk through two buildings to where a Starbucks is.  Just that
> instant, and I just do it.  No waiting for a bus, no calling ahead for
> paratransit, none of that.  But it's not only hot chocolate, but groceries,
> clothes, shoes, hairstylists, whatever.
>
> And oh, did I tell you that Minnesota is one of two states, the other being
> Texas, that gives free college education to any deaf or blind students at
> any one of its eight state universities?  The University of Minnesota in
> Minneapolis and Metropolitan State University in St. Paul both are big on
> accessibility issues and have won awards for best accommodations.  Both will
> soon unveil tactile maps and narrative maps as part of their universal
> design efforts.  The U of M is very near downtown Minneapolis and MSU is
> just across a bridge from downtown St. Paul, both very short bus rides, and
> what's more, both bus routes are ones where you don't even have to ask if
> this is the right bus, because all buses will go there and back, and both
> routes are such that you'll know where your stop is just by the bus's
> turning.  So for those rides, you don't even need communication cards or
> anything.  
>
> We have a DB lady who just earned her MA here and another is studying for
> her Ph.D.
>
> Sorry to go on so, but I just really, really love it here!  It is only
> rarely that I remember that I am deafblind.  Most of the time, the ease and
> independence and quality of life is so high that I feel just like, well,
> just a person.  Nothing special.
>
> My twin boys are clamoring for McDonald's now.  So I'll go now, but I
> haven't decided which one of four of them on the skyways we'll go to,
> because that would depend on where I want to grab my food from, and once I
> decide that, we'll go to the McDonald's nearest to that place.  Maybe I'll
> get my favorite wrap from D. Bryan or maybe I'll go for Chipotle.  Not sure
> yet!
>
> John
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