K-12 Education Study for Students with
Developmental Disabilities 2013
In 2012, MarketResponse International conducted a general population survey of Minnesota households to track changes in attitudes about people with developmental disabilities over the past 50 years. A parallel survey was also done with households with a family member with developmental disabilities. Both surveys also contained questions about quality of life issues, including the future outlook of education services.
Based on findings, the surveys showed a significantly more negative outlook about education services among households with a son or daughter with developmental disabilities. As a result, education was not only selected for this year's study but a relatively new approach and methodologies, referred to as Narrative Research, were used. Rather than framing a study around a preconceived idea and testing it out, narrative methods rely solely on the stories shared by participants and their personal experiences around a specific topic.
The ADA Legacy Project celebrates the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act on disability rights, and honors the contributions of individuals with disabilities and their allies who persevered in securing the passage of this landmark civil rights legislation. More...
Moments in Disability History 5"ADA and Baby Doe"
Prior to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in hospitals around the country, doctors and parents decided against life-saving treatment, even routine medical care, for certain infants with physical or suspected intellectual disabilities. Consequently, each year hundreds, if not thousands, of newborns, who might otherwise have lived with disabilities, were allowed to die.
In 1971, the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, in cooperation with Johns Hopkins Hospital, created the film "Who Should Survive" in the hope that it would stimulate thinking and discussion about this matter of life and death. However, thirteen years later, in 1984, Carlton Sherwood, CNN Reporter for CNN Special Assignment, documented in "Oklahoma Infanticide" the lack of medical treatment for babies born with spina bifida in Oklahoma.
"Who Should Survive" and the three part series "Oklahoma Infanticide" revealed that the civil rights protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act against withholding care based on a child's sex, race, or disability were not enough.
These videos are a reminder about the importance of maintaining and advancing the ADA.
Video: "Who Should Survive" by Guggenheim Productions, Inc.
http://www.mnddc.org/ada-legacy/who-should-survive.html
Video:CNN Special Assignment: "Oklahoma Infanticide"
http://www.mnddc.org/honoring-choices/cnnReports/cnnReportsPt1.html
View Previous Moments in History >>
January 23, 2013, updated May 1, 2013
Positive Behavioral Supports
The Jensen settlement agreement called for a review of best practices related to positive support strategies. A Positive Behavioral Supports section has been created, dedicated to the class members of the Jensen Settlement Agreement.
Mike Mayer
The work of the Rule 40 committee began with a review paper of all state rules and regulations governing aversive procedures written by Michael Mayer. On February 6, 2013, Michael Mayer visited the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities and was interviewed.
Video Interview with Mike Mayer
Mike Mayer is a senior partner of Community Resource Alliance. He is also the clinical director of the ACT Process in the state of Illinois.
Derrick Dufresne
The History and Evolution of Behavioral Approaches
and Positive Behavioral Interventions
Derrick Dufresne is the founder and a Senior Partner of Community Resource Associates, Inc. (CRA), a training and management consulting firm that is dedicated to promoting full community inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
Video interview conducted February 1, 2012
The article, Human Services Restraint: Its Past and Future, authored by David Ferleger, traces this history and discusses how the past has influenced contemporary practices.
"Telling Your Story"
App Available Now for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Amazon Kindle Fire
Compose and practice your personal story to present to elected public officials or other policymakers. Learn the best ways to introduce yourself and talk about your issue, record and practice your story, and include a photo if you would like.
The iPad version of the app is available free at the iTunes Store.
NEW: The iPhone version of the app is also available free at the iTunes Store.
NEW: The Kindle Fire HD version is available free from Amazon.com
Autism 5-Point Scale EP App Receives
Digital Government Achievement Award
The Autism 5-Point Scale EP app, designed and developed as an emergency planning and preparedness tool for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has received a Digital Government Achievement Award (DGAA), in the Government-to-citizen State Government category. This app can help facilitate communications and interactions between individuals with ASD and first responders in a broad range of emergency situations.
We extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to the Autism Society of Minnesota for their leadership with the Emergency Planning and Preparedness Project that included the development of this app.
Department of Administration Press Release
DGAA announcement
Free download at the iTunes Store
August 24, 2012
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities has been named a 2012 Tekne Award finalist by the Minnesota High Tech Association for the Autism 5-Point Scale EP app. The finalist nomination is in the Mobile & Communication Technologies Award category that recognizes innovation in mobile applications and electronic communications.
Read the complete press release (PDF)
September 19, 2012
The Jobs Challenge for People With Disabilities
Competitive wages, direct employment, in Minnesota. Individuals with developmental disabilities are being directly employed in a broad range of business fields and a wide range of positions in both public and private sectors. In all instances, the experiences of employees and employers have been overwhelmingly positive – employees are in jobs of their choosing with full benefits; and the businesses are thriving, recognizing the contributions that a truly diversified workforce can bring to their customers.
Ed Roberts, Activist
Ed Roberts was a pioneering leader of the disability rights movement. Ed declared that people with disabilities are fully human; that they have a right and a responsibility to take control of their own lives, to help build a new culture in which they and all people participate fully in the leadership, the labor, and the fruits of society. Ed Roberts Day was Monday, January 23, 2012.
Professor John McKnight: Community Building
Slideshow: There are many approaches to community organizing. The heart and soul of John McKnight's approach are all of the people who live in a community, and the wealth of their combined gifts, abilities, and skills that create a welcoming and wholly inclusive environment.
Capacity Building Beyond Community Services
Anyone interested in successfully including people on the margins into neighborhood and community life needs to listen to John McKnight and study asset based community development. John is a community organizer, an academic and a brilliant story-teller...
Video Interview: Capacity Building Beyond Community Services
Videotaped Interview: August 3, 2011
A collection of John McKnight's papers, where he further explains the building blocks and assets that make for an inclusive community, can be found at John McKnight Resources and Documents.
1962/2012 Minnesota Survey of Attitudes
Regarding Developmental Disabilities
Perceptions, awareness, beliefs, and attitudes about people with developmental disabilities have changed substantially in the past 50 years. MarketResponse International has just completed a survey of the general population in Minnesota that shows these marked shifts.
Flash (PowerPoint) PDF Text Only
The Evolution of the Quality of Care
in Developmental Disabilities
Jim Conroy
Jim Conroy is the founder and President of the Center for Outcome Analysis, Inc., a non-profit firm that is devoted to evaluation, research, training, and policy analysis on quality of life issues in the developmental disabilities field. The Center is founded on the principle that service agencies should be guided by measurable quality of life outcomes regarding the services and supports received by individuals with developmental disabilities.
The video interview was conducted December 7, 2011.
New: Quality – Standards, Values, Vision:
A Paper by Bruce Kappel
The METO Lawsuit and Jensen Settlement Agreement
At the December 1, 2011 Fairness Hearing before United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank, the METO Settlement Agreement was accepted. Judge Frank issued the official Order on December 5, 2011. In this first videotaped interview with Shamus O'Meara, counsel for the Plaintiffs in the METO class action lawsuit, he talks about his decision to take the case, the legal issues involved, and some of the critical aspects of the Settlement Agreement, including the focus on staff training around person centered planning, and the establishment of both an Olmstead Committee and Rule 40 Committee.
Following the Fairness Hearing, Shamus O'Meara was interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). A related article was featured on MPR's "All Things Considered" on December 1, 2011.
Ethical Issues, End of Life Conversations
and Developmental Disabilities
Honoring Choices is a collection of stories by ordinary people about end of life conversations with family and friends, sharing perspectives from personal and professional lives.
http://honoringchoices.org/videostories/#!developmental%20disabilities
The Council thanks Bill Hanley and Pam Palan for inviting our participation in this important initiative. Please note: These stories are not closed captioned.
Congratulations to Twin Cities Public Television, recipients of the 2012 "Making a Difference" Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Upper Midwest Chapter for Honoring Choices Minnesota, a documentary about end of life conversations. The documentary was produced in partnership with the Twin Cities Medical Society. The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities worked with TPT in this public education effort and participated in 54 video stories that shared the perspectives of individuals with developmental disabilities, family members, and allies: http://midwestemmys.org/20120829/2012-slumberland-making-a-difference-award-honors
Thinking Ahead: Thank you to the California Department of Developmental Services for creating resource materials in plain language that can be used with self advocates to discuss end of life issues. This guide can be useful in assuring that self advocates express preferences about end of life decisions. Please note: this is not a legal document.
CNN Special Assignment: "Oklahoma Infanticide": A three part series by Carlton Sherwood describes the lack of medical treatment for babies born with spina bifida in Oklahoma in 1984.
The Evolution of Disability Rights Litigation
(and some stories)
David Ferleger, J.D. of Philadelphia, PA, has a national law and consulting practice, specializing in public interest, civil rights and disability law. He has litigated landmark disability cases, argued five times before the Supreme Court of the United States, assisted the courts, represented individuals and government agencies, taught law school, and has written, lectured and consulted nationally.
David Ferleger on Disability Rights Litigation>>>
Institutions to Independence
"Institutions to Independence" is a 30 minute documentary produced by TPT (public television) in cooperation with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, the law firm of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Government Training Services. This documentary tells the story of services in Minnesota from the 1860s into the 21st Century through the telling of stories of people with developmental disabilities, families, and professionals.
In addition to the documentary, the Minnesota Governor's Council worked with TPT to create "Know Your Rights", an Illustrated Essay by David Gillette regarding the Rights of People with Developmental Disabilities.
Meet the Future Face of Employment
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Technology Fields
and Families Can Take
Top 10 Actions for Educators
Top 10 Actions for Employers
Top 10 Actions for Vocational
Rehabilitation Services
2012 SABE Conference
The 2012 National SABE Conference was held in St. Paul, Minnesota from Friday, August 31 – Sunday, September 2, 2012. This year's conference, "It's All About Fairness," was hosted by SABE and Advocating Change Together, Inc. More than 650 self advocates attended.
Sharon Lewis, Commissioner, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental and Developmental Disabilities, opened the first General Session on Thursday afternoon. Regional meetings and elections were held earlier that day. In addition to more than 60 workshops, a Human Rights Fair and an art exhibition with 30 selected works of art by Minnesota artists with disabilities were some of the Conference highlights.
A collection of about 500 photos of the 2012 SABE Conference, courtesy and with the permission of Tom Olin, National Disability Rights Photographer, is be available for viewing.
Recruitment is underway for Partners in Policymaking® Class 31! The Application Booklet with session dates, topics for each weekend session, FAQs about the Partners program, and the Application itself are available at http://mngts.org/partnersinpolicymaking/index.php. We encourage Minnesotans to review the application materials, share with self advocates and parents of young children with developmental disabilities, and encourage them to apply for Class 31. The Application can be completed online; the deadline is July 15, 2013. (4/3/13)
FFY 2013 Training Conferences Cosponsorship Funds Awarded: Thirteen Minnesota organizations were recently awarded cosponsorship funds for training conferences. The conferences provide opportunities for participants to learn about best practices, and develop or strengthen their personal leadership skills. The expectation is that these training experiences will result in increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families. (2/15/13)
On January 28, 2013, Governor Mark Dayton issued an Executive Order creating a 10 member Governor appointed Sub-Cabinet to "promptly develop and implement a comprehensive Minnesota Olmstead Plan" that reflects the spirit and intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and is consistent with the Olmstead decision that interpreted Title II of the ADA. Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon will chair the Sub-Cabinet. (1/29/13)
The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) has issued its 2012 Annual Report. (1/16/13)