Featured Items
Veterans Day: A Conversation With Nicolette Shegstad
As Veterans Day approaches, MCD recognizes and thanks the people who have served in the U.S. military. Veterans are part of every community, including Minnesota's disability community. Their experiences, perspectives, and contributions help shape the places where we live and work.
To mark Veterans Day, Legislative Affairs Director Jillian Nelson spoke with Administrative Operations Coordinator Nicolette Shegstad about her military service, what she wishes more people understood about veterans, and the connections she sees between the veteran and disability communities.
What Now? Disability Advocacy After the Election
After the votes are counted, the work of advocacy continues. In this reflection, Jillian Nelson, Legislative Affairs Director, looks to the disability community's history of resilience and solidarity while encouraging readers to focus on what comes next. She explores how community members can stay engaged, build relationships and prepare for the policy discussions and advocacy efforts that lie ahead.
Featured Resources
Public Policy
We support public policy that improves the lives of Minnesotans with disabilities. MCD helps policymakers understand how their decisions affect the disability community. To do that work, we bring together government and community members to share input on proposed legislation.
Legislative Bill Tracker
Each session, the Minnesota Legislature introduces dozens of bills that affect people with disabilities. Some bills would expand access or services, while others could reduce supports or add barriers. To help you stay informed, we maintain this bill tracker focused on disability issues.
Disability Parking
Minnesota has more than 500,000 valid disability parking certificates and plates. MCD explains disability parking rules in plain language. We cover the do’s and don’ts, plus key laws and requirements.
Service Animals
A service animal is a dog, or sometimes a miniature horse, that is trained to perform tasks for someone with a disability. Service animals are generally allowed in places open to the public, even where pets are not. MCD shares guidance about service animals and the rights of people who use them.