Additional information can be gleaned in our Philosophy of Support and Legacy and statements.
Recent News
Below are recent articles featuring Laura Baker Services Association or discussing issues relevant to our work.
- Disability Advocates Fear Impact Of Medicaid Cuts In GOP Health Plan (Elly Yu, NPR) – June 6, 2017
- Our View: Direct care workers should get pay raise (Post Bulletin) – April 7, 2017
- Group home residents suing for right to live independently (Tory Cooney, Pioneer Press) – August 4, 2016
- Americans with disabilities: We can win together or lose together (Timothy Benjamin, Star Tribune) – August 2, 2016
- Northfield McDonald’s worker celebrates 30 years at the restaurant (Philip Weyhe, Northfield News) – August 1, 2016
- Minnesota man with disability wins round in fight for job promotion (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – July 18, 2016
- New pilot program in St. Paul aims to improve health for adults with disabilities (Sarah Horner, Pioneer Press) – June 27, 2016
- Autism can be an asset in the workplace, employers and workers find (Yuki Noguchi, MPR) – May 18, 2016
- TOPSoccer program gives opportunity for disabled athletes to play soccer (Nick Gerhardt, Northfield News) – May 13, 2016
- Minnesota is developing alternatives to segregated workshops for people with disabilities (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – February 4, 2016
- Part 5: Intimacy denied (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – November 12, 2015
- Part 4: Inclusion pays off (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – November 11, 2015
- Part 3: Epic wait for unspent aid (Chris Serres and Glenn Howatt, Star Tribune) – November 10, 2015
- Part 2: Alone and at risk in Minnesota group homes (Chris Serres and Glenn Howatt, Star Tribune) – November 9, 2015
- Part 1: How Minnesota is failing the disabled (Chris Serres and Glenn Howatt, Star Tribune) – November 8, 2015
- Achieving a better life for people with disabilities (Amy Klobuchar, Owatonna People’s Press) – August 8, 2015
- Laura Baker Services Association to build relationships with area business at ‘Morning Brew’ (Kevin Krein, Northfield News) – July 31, 2015
- Laura Baker Services dedicates new cottage during annual summer fun day (Kevin Krein, Northfield News) – August 2, 2015
- Who Decides Where Autistic Adults Live? (Amy S.F. Lutz, The Atlantic) – May 26, 2015
- Federal judge rebukes Minnesota on plan to reform disability services (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – May 7, 2015
- Judge: ‘Olmstead’ disability plan lacks ‘realistic commitments’ (Riham Feshir, MPR) – May 7, 2015
- State’s disabled asking: Where’s the money? (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – February 14, 2015
- After 85 years, Laura Baker’s Margaret Graves Hall comes down (Jerry Smith, Northfield News) – January 6, 2015
- Laura Baker Services Association 2014 Gala (Kevin Krein, Northfield News) – December 7, 2014
- Volunteers plan for 15th annual Laura Baker Thanksgiving dinner (Grace Webb, Northfield News) – November 25, 2014
- July 13: Minnesota not carrying out disability reforms, court monitor says (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – September 3, 2014
- Federal judge rejects state’s disability reform plan (Chris Serres, Star Tribune) – September 20, 2014
- Northfield’s Laura Baker Services celebrates $1.8 million building project (Jerry Smith, Northfield News) – April 4, 2014
- For disabled, one size just doesn’t fit all (Gail Rosenblum, Star Tribune) – September 25, 2013
- Photo students focus on lives of people with disabilities (Gail Rosenblum, Star Tribune) – May 9, 2013
- Minnesota releases Olmstead Plan on services to people with disabilities (Doug Belden, Pioneer Press) – November 1, 2013
Glossary of Terms
Developmental disabilities are conditions of impairment to physical, learning, language or behavior functions that begin during the earliest stages of an individual’s development. They can impact day-to-day functioning, and usually persist throughout a person’s life. About one in six children in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays.
Intellectual disabilities are disabilities originating early in life that are manifested in significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills.
Intellectual functioning—also called intelligence—refers to general mental capacity related to abilities such as learning, reasoning and problem solving.
Adaptive behavior is the collection of social and practical skills, and skills related to forming concepts and thinking creatively, that are learned and performed in everyday life.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause mild to significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. People with ASD may communicate, interact, behave and learn in ways that are different from most other people, and their intellectual functioning may range from gifted to severely challenged.
Respite care is temporary relief care—which can range from a few hours to overnight or extended care sessions—designed for families of people with special needs. Family caregivers often face serious problems and stress as a result of balancing the needs of their family member who has special needs with the needs of other family members. Respite care provides essential breaks that allow families time to tend to other needs.
Independent living skills are the skills needed for a person to live as independently as possible. Such skills include tasks like housekeeping, cooking, time management, shopping, laundry and budgeting, as well as skills related to social and recreational activities.
An Olmstead Plan is the way a state demonstrates how it intends to achieve the goal required by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Olmstead v. L.C.: to provide services to people with disabilities in the most community-integrated (as opposed to institutionalized) setting that is appropriate to their needs and wishes.
Waiver program – Minnesota has developed “waiver” agreements with the federal government to provide state residents with more choice in their services. The Developmental Disabilities (DD) waiver provides home and community-based services (HCBS) for people with developmental disabilities or related conditions who need the level of care that would otherwise be provided in an Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD) but who make an informed choice requesting home and community-based services.
Home and community-based services (HCBS) are services provided to people who prefer to get the care services and supports they need in their home or community, rather than in an institutional setting. Under Minnesota’s Developmental Disabilities waiver program, HCBS may be provided in a person’s own home, in his or her biological or adoptive family’s home, in another relative’s home, or in a family or corporate foster care home.
