Tomorrow, March 7, 2023, is Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Lobby Day! The Commission has been preparing for this event for months and we are excited to spend this day with you. We would like to thank our outreach & civic engagement specialists, our partners, and our vendors for their work in making this day possible,.

What is Lobby Day?

Lobby Day happens when members of the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities and supporters will gather at the Minnesota State Capitol Complex. Together, we'll sit down with our legislators for a conversation to address pressing issues and concerns that impact our deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community.

Our day will be full of action items to tackle:

• Meeting with our legislators
• Attending informative workshops on a variety of topics
• Explore booths set up by our community for networking opportunities
• Discover the inner workings of the Capitol via an accessible tour
• Get excited and pepped up for a rally in the Rotunda followed by community awards

So who is speaking at the rally? 

The following individuals will be expected to make an appearance during the rally portion of the event, which will take place between 1:30-2:30 pm in the Capitol Rotunda:

• Governor Tim Walz
• Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan
• Secretary of State Steve Simon
• We are also hoping that a few legislators will be able to make an appearance. The first legislative deadline is this Friday, March 10, 2023 so legislators are very busy this week.

Who is being recognized for their achievements at the rally?

The following individuals will be recognized at the 1:30 - 2:30 PM rally for their contributions to the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities through advocacy, community engagement, education, improving accessibility, among other activities to improve the lives of our community members:

Youth Award

• Mujahid Zafar for advocating for captions at a local movie theater
• Justin Smith for advocating for accessible housing

Citizen Advocate Award

• Avi Rosen for advocating for improved hospital accessibility
• Jessica Eggert for advocating for Braille prescription labels at pharmacies

Civic Engagement Award

• Stephanie Steidl and Leah Henrikson, on behalf of parents who advocated for the Vivian Act, which led Minnesota to become the first state to screen all newborn babies for congenital cytomegalovirus, which can cause hearing loss in babies.

Education Excellence Award

• Debbie Golos, a professor at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and Deaf/Hard of Hearing licensure & M.Ed. coordinator
• Michele Heise, a teacher at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and sports coach

Access Award

• Kaylah Vogt for advocating for equitable employment hiring and onboarding practices

Humanitarian Award

• Wilderness Inquiry for the programs and opportunities provided to the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community, connecting them to the outdoors as well as hiring deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing individuals.

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Mary Bauer for longtime service to the community through her work at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division, now retired
• Cheryl Blue for longtime service to the community through her work at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division, now retired
• Paul Deeming for longtime service to the DeafBlind community
• Ralph Fuechtmann, for longtime service to community organizations such as Thompson Hall, Deaflympics, MinnePaul Athletic Association of the Deaf, Minnesota Deaf Senior Citizens, Minnesota Association of the Deaf, and more
• Amy McQuaid-Swanson for longtime service to the community through her work at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division

Can I still register? 

Yes! We will be accepting onsite registrations in the Capitol Vault from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm on Lobby Day (Tuesday, March 7, 2023). After 1:00 PM, it will become too late to register. Come and find us.

We are getting a lot of questions about parking. Here is information about public parking at the Minnesota State Capitol and here is a map with parking lots and Light Rail stations displayed (PDF). The earlier you arrive, the better parking you will get.