Minnesota Council on Disability’s Public Policy Director, Trevor Turner, has conversations with a few disability advocates who all asked questions to the Governor and Lt. Governor at the MCD Governor’s Budget Engagement Event: Disability Communities last month. Trevor asks these advocates what their reactions were to the Governor and Lt. Governor responses to their questions. They also talk about how the disability community can hold the Governor and other elected officials accountable to the commitments they have made to protect both the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities and the state programs that many Minnesotans with disabilities rely on.
Brittanie Wilson
Brittanie, who identifies as person with a disability and is a strong disability advocate, asked the Governor and Lt. Governor about how their budget addresses the intersectionality of disability and race and the marginalization of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Minnesotans with disabilities.
Deqa Farah
Deqa, who has a son with multiple disabilities including autism & ADHD, asked the Governor about how his budget will address the needs of students with disabilities who have fallen behind because of the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning.
Amanda Adkins
Amanda, who has a son with cerebral palsy, asked the Governor about the change in rates for durable medical equipment (DMEs), which many people with disabilities rely on to maintain access to their communities.