The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
mn.gov/disability-mn
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.

US Senator David Durenberger reflects on the 30th anniversary of the ADA

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities has archived historical videos and documents since the 1990s. The latest interview features former US Senator David Durenberger reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the ADA.

He began his Senate career by addressing women's discrimination and then disability discrimination; how people with disabilities became his friends and influencers; how the ADA passed; and the impact of the ADA. To those who opposed passing this civil rights legislation, Senator Durenberger asserts, "We cannot afford not to pass the ADA and enable people with disabilities to be employed."

Senator Durenberger
US Senator David Durenberger

Remembering Al Fallenstein

Al Fallenstein became disabled in 1960. His family lived in the pre-ADA days, and he became a successful business person. When Senator Durenberger faced opposition to the ADA from the business community his friend, Al Fallenstein, assisted in getting legislation passed and was an influencer. He died while serving on the Health Care Cost Commission chaired by Senator Durenberger in 2003.

August 12, 2020, updated November 30, 2020

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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 2001MNSCDD-03, 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 $1,120,136.00 with 83 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $222,000.00 and 17 percent 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.