The Minnesota Council on Disability shares the Partners In Policymaking Class 40 Capitol Complex Building Access Survey. The survey assesses the physical access to Capitol complex buildings, including the Capitol, the State Office Building, and Minnesota Senate Building. The survey is anonymous and does not collect personally identifying information.
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Action Alert: Support MCD Legacy Funding
This year, 2023, marks the 50th Anniversary of the Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD). Charged with advising the Governor, state agencies, the state legislature, and the public, we have successfully advocated for disability rights and more inclusive public policy. To commemorate fifty years of work, we want to make sure to keep the focus where it belongs: people with disabilities in Minnesota. Tell your legislators to support the MCD Legacy Funding bill, which would enable us to document the expansion of disability rights in Minnesota by digitizing and archiving our own records and other media. The funding would also allow us to document and archive the many stories of resiliency and Disability Pride from people with disabilities across the state, with a focus on rural Minnesota.
Legislative Update from the Rare Disease Advisory Council
The newly formed state agency, the Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) is charged with providing advice on policies, access, equity, research, diagnosis, treatment, and education related to rare diseases. At our Legislative forum, citizen advocate Anne St. Martin, RDAC Executive Director Erica Barnes, and Representative Liz Reyer called for changes to insurance plans to improve care for people with rare diseases. Executive Director Barnes shares an update on this policy initiative.
Playing the Game of Life on Hard Mode
March 25th is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. Alisha Srock shares some thoughts on how having cerebral palsy can be like “playing the Game of Life on Hard Mode—more difficult, but not impossible. …[P]laying on Hard Mode means you gain the skills to overcome. I’m glad because I learned things along the way. I learned patience; I learned problem-solving; I learned confidence; I learned perseverance; I learned flexibility.”
Rare Disease Insurance Access Transcript
Transcript accompanying the video 2023 MCD Legislative Forum: Rare Disease Insurance Access on YouTube. Featured in the post People with Rare Diseases Deserve Recognition and Support.
People with Rare Diseases Deserve Recognition and Support
Maureen Alderman, member of the Rare Disease Advisory Council and mother of Caroline, a child with a rare disease writes about the need for recognition and support. From the post: On February 28, we are so excited to celebrate Rare Disease Day. A day to reflect on what these patients have overcome. A day of gratitude for every doctor, physician assistant, nurse, lab tech, and medical professional that has touched the lives and futures of Rare Disease patients. A day to celebrate the research and developments going on in the Rare Disease community to create further treatment options. And maybe most importantly, a day of awareness for those not immediately impacted by Rare Disease.