News

The Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD) is seeking a passionate and experienced leader to join our team as Legislative Affairs Director.

In this role, you will lead MCD’s legislative strategy—shaping public policy that advances the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities. You’ll manage the agency’s legislative priorities, guide our budget advocacy efforts, and help secure funding for our mission. You’ll also develop policy positions, prepare reports and briefings for lawmakers, testify in front of committees, and build strong working relationships with the Legislature and the Governor’s Office. Join us in making a difference at the Capitol.

Submit your application by April 15, 2025!

The newly formed Legislative Task Force on Guardianship is working to reform Minnesota’s guardianship system and explore less-restrictive alternatives like supported decision-making. With input from guardians, advocates, and individuals with lived experience, the task force aims to promote self-determination while strengthening protections for those under guardianship. MCD and Wilder Research are collaborating to assess current challenges and identify best practices. Monthly meetings, open to the public, will help shape the future of guardianship in Minnesota.

At the recent Forward Together: Rally for Equal Rights, MCD’s Public Policy Director, Trevor Turner, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of including disability rights in Minnesota’s Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). As someone who is DeafBlind, Trevor emphasized that disability transcends all identities and can impact anyone at any time. His message was clear: protecting disability rights in the state constitution is essential for true equality.

The Department of Labor has proposed phasing out Section 14(c) certificates, which currently allow some employers to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. Minnesota has already taken steps to end the practice here. The federal government has also sought input for this nationwide proposal.

MCD is proud to collaborate with the state’s One Dream, One Minnesota celebration. Join us at the Community Conference to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and the Civil Rights Movement. Stop by our booth for posters, buttons, and resources, and connect with others who share our message: Disability rights are civil rights. Join us in honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as we work together toward a more inclusive Minnesota.

The Minnesota Council on Disability welcomes Linda Wolford as its new Government Relations Director. Linda’s appointment brings her full circle: she began her career in 1988 with MCD. With extensive experience at the University of Minnesota’s Disability Resource Center and the Department of Human Services, Linda combines professional expertise with lived experience in disability rights. Her experience in policy, education, and direct services—plus her dedication to advocacy—will help her advance MCD’s mission through collaboration with state agencies across Minnesota.