News

On March 30th, the Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD) held our Legislative Forum Listening Session, an important follow-up to our December Legislative Forum. The Listening Session was an opportunity to hear public remarks from the community on pressing issues impacting Minnesotans with disabilities. Folks shared powerful stories of their experiences and the experiences of their loved ones that will be helpful in informing our work going forward.

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.

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.

People with disabilities are invited to gather to tell stories, to connect and to make a short theater piece exploring our experiences during the pandemic, lockdown, uprising and beyond. People who live in or are connected to the Powderhorn Park neighborhood are particularly invited to participate. During the gatherings in February and March we will explore our stories and the connections between different experiences, adding in movement, musicality, play, rhythm, props and other technical elements as the community desires.

With the passing of Senator David Durenberger on January 31, our state and our nation have lost a true civil rights champion. Senator Durenberger represented Minnesota from 1978 to 1995. His role as a principal co-sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, is perhaps his greatest legacy. His deeply held commitment to ensuring equal rights for all Americans, coupled with perseverance, persuasion, bi-partisan collaboration, and encouraging an engaged citizenry, brought the landmark legislation that changed the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities.

MCD encourages you to attend the Fall/Winter Let’s Connect Event hosted by the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, and The Arc Minnesota. Did you know there’s a new COVID-19 booster for children and adults? It can help protect against serious illness from the omicron variant. Learn from MDH experts about the bivalent booster and how it works. Get answers to your questions, and gain resources to share in your community.