Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

245D Bill of Rights Workbooks Now Available

Minnesota's Olmstead Plan was developed to ensure that people with disabilities are living, learning, working, and enjoying life in the most integrated setting. Prevention of Abuse and Neglect is one of the topics included in the comprehensive Olmstead Plan. Prevention begins with educating people with disabilities, their families, mandated reporters and the general public about how to identify and report abuse. Abuse can be prevented by showing respect and dignity to everyone.

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities produced this package of resources around the Bill of Rights for Individuals Receiving Waver Services:

  1. 245D Easy Read Guide: The Guide is a simplified version of the Minnesota Statute 245D (Sec. 245D.04 MN Statues). The rights are presented in plain English with images that help to explain each of the rights.
  2. 245D Know Your Rights Workbook: The 245D Know Your Rights Workbook explains what each right is about and includes lessons to aid in understanding.
  3. Situational Videos: In Sept 2023, The Council, co-created, with people with disabilities, a series of skits illustrating the Bill of Rights for Individuals Receiving Waiver Services.

Some of these rights are similar to those described in the Supervised Living Facilities Bill of Rights Training – MN Dept of Health.

Dupree Edwards, hip hop artist and Council member, offers his perspective about the Bill of Rights to introduce the video series.

Life Experiences of Young Minnesotans With Disabilities Qualitative Research Report

Partners Posters

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to release this supplemental report that provides direct quotations from the respondents of the Youth Intersectionality Study.

This qualitative study was completed on August 22, 2024, and includes the responses from youth and family members who participated in a two-week online dialogue. Some of the subjects covered include experiences in the community, positive and negative educational experiences, and frustrations in accessing waivers and receiving support services. The hopes, desires, dreams, and goals of young people are also presented.

These aspirations were expressed as achieving independence and fulfillment through education, meaningful work, and personal milestones. Supportive environments are crucial to realize these goals and to feel valued in the community. This support not only benefits young Minnesotans with disabilities but also the family, friends, and the community.

Young people urged better accessibility, increased access to assistive technologies, more education and training, better access to health, wellness, and social supports. By focusing on improving these areas, Minnesota can be a place where young people with disabilities can work towards achieving their aspirations and leading quality lives, rather than having to fight for their basic rights.

Qualitative Study PDF
Qualitative Study Text as HTML
Qualitative Study as Plain Text

(8/27/24)

Life Experience of Young Minnesotans with Marginalized Identities Intersectionality Study III

Partners Posters

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce the findings from the newest phase of the intersectionality study focusing on youth perspectives and the promise of One Minnesota.

This pilot study was completed in July 2024 and included 261 young Minnesotans ages 13-22. This quantitative and qualitative study divided respondents into four groups by race and ethnicity and disability status. The control group was made up of 176 individuals without disabilities and there were 85 respondents with disabilities. These groups were then broken down into White (70%)  and BIPOC groups (30%), which closely matches the diversity of the general population of young Minnesotans.

BIPOC teens and young adults WITHOUT disabilities experience twice as many incidences of discrimination reporting dissatisfaction with the way there are treated 12% of the time, as compared to white youth without disabilities who reported dissatisfaction at a rate of 6%. Minnesota teens and young adults with disabilities experience more than twice as many incidences of discrimination, the study revealed a 19% dissatisfaction rate as compared to youth without disabilities who reported dissatisfaction 9% of the time. The relative amounts of reported discrimination experiences were highest among young white Minnesotans with disabilities at 26%.

A discrimination index was reported for each of the four groups. Young people without disabilities scored 56 while BIPOC without disabilities scored 107. The discrimination indices were notably higher for young people with disabilities. White youth with disabilities scored 158 and BIPOC with disabilities scored 142.

When respondents with disabilities go into the community they describe feeling misunderstood, excluded and frustrated, while young people without disabilities say they feel at ease, confident and accepted.

Stories were also gathered about specific areas where young Minnesotans felt excluded. These areas include social exclusion, workplace discrimination, healthcare discrimination, and inadequate support services.

Intersectionality Study PDF
Intersectionality Study Text as HTML
Intersectionality Study as Plain Text

(8/15/24)

An Unfinished Journey:

Civil Rights for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Role of the Federal Courts

 

On March 19, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and its Public Outreach Committee, the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Minnesota Disability Bar Association, and MSS hosted a public outreach effort that debuted a new series of 21 educational banners focused on disability rights in Minnesota.

View all Unfinished Journey banners »

View the PDF of all Unfinished Journey Banners »

An Unfinished Journey Civil Rights for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Role of the Federal Courts
Inclusion Mobile Museum

Inclusion Mobile Museum

A traveling exhibit that celebrates the journey from 1900 to the present to increase the independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion of Minnesotans with developmental disabilities and their families.

Inclusion offers visitors a deeper understanding and perspective as Minnesotans with developmental disabilities work towards greater inclusion. Through photos and time, learn about:

  • Society's perception and treatment of people with developmental disabilities for the past century
  • The important role of parents of children with developmental disabilities and self advocates in the pursuit of better living conditions, educational rights, and employment opportunities.
  • The Partners in Policymaking® program and the self-advocacy movement
  • Key legal actions and decisions that work to ensure the Constitutional rights of people with developmental disabilities
  • What can be done to support people with developmental disabilities to enjoy the same rights as everyone

Upcoming locations:

The Mobile Museum is on display at Southwest Minnesota State University at Marshall Minnesota from September 9-20, 2024.

The Mobile Museum will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Stout from November 11, 2024 to December 9, 2024 in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The exhibit is serving as a prelude to Patient No More: People with Disabilities Securing Civil Rights from February 2, 2025 to March 30th 2025.

Download the Mobile Museum flier (PDF), and watch for additional dates and information.

(09/11/24)

In Their Own Words

From Treat People Like People: Listen to members within the disability community share their stories, experiences, and thoughts about how we can all work to treat people with respect and dignity.

Meet Josh: Watch Josh's story and learn how he engages with the world.

Meet Debbi: Watch Debbi share about the importance of not labeling people.

Meet Jon: Learn how Jon supports and cares for his brother, Josh.

(02/20/24)

The One Minnesota Baseline Quantitative Survey

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce the results from a baseline study of intersectionality and the promise of One Minnesota.

Intersectionality Study Research Report

This survey was completed in September 2023 and included a total of 593 respondents divided into four groups by race and ethnicity and disability status. Individuals with disabilities from racial and ethnic communities are more likely to report negative experiences in public situations; are less likely than all other groups to feel welcomed in public serving businesses; and more likely to experience negative treatment in financial dealings. White individuals with disabilities are most likely to feel unfair treatment, barriers, and restrictions from privileges; are more likely to report negative experiences in dealing with healthcare and health insurance; and give the lowest rating to the One Minnesota promise of any group.

One Minnesota Study PDF
One Minnesota Study as Word PDF
One Minnesota Study as Plain Text

(11/01/23)

Bending the Arc of Disability History Toward Rights, Freedom, Social Justice, and Belonging

Presented by Allan Bergman

Alan Bergman

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to present Allan Bergman offering a video training series "Bending the Arc of Disability History Toward Rights and Freedom". For over 6 ½ hours Mr. Bergman covers more than two centuries of progress in disability history and policy. The series is divided into nine sections and allows the user to browse by topic. The nine sections are:

View Allan Bergman's presentation on Disability History »

(6/27/23)

©2024 The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
Administration Building   50 Sherburne Avenue   Room G10
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651-296-4018   Toll-free number: 877-348-0505   MN Relay Service: 800-627-3529 OR 711
Email: admin.dd.info@state.mn.us    View Privacy Policy    An Equal Opportunity Employer 

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402. The federal law also provides funding to the Minnesota Disability Law Center, the state Protection and Advocacy System, and to the Institute on Community Integration, the state University Center for Excellence. The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2401MNSCDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

This website is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,152,808.00 funded by ACL/HHS and $222,000.00 funded by non-federal-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.