The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
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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.

Council-Sponsored Grant Activities

Here are a few highlighted grant related activities during the last year.

Partners in Policymaking ®

An advocacy and leadership training program for people with developmental disabilities and their families. It provides participants with the resources and skills to communicate effectively with elected officials.

Since the program began, more than 1,100 self-advocates and family members have graduated from Partners in Policymaking in Minnesota.  Class 40 is currently underway.

A group seated around a table participating in week 2 of class 40 Partners in Policymaking<

Ambassadors for Respect

The purpose of the program is to strengthen self-advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities and to enhance bullying prevention efforts in fourth grade classrooms through trainings about inclusion, acts of kindness, and being an advocate for oneself and others.

Ambassadors for Respect training students at Harambee Elementary

Customer Research

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities sponsors relevant research.

Impact of the Intersection of Developmental Disabilities and Other Population Profiles on Experiences with Discrimination

People with developmental disabilities, especially those who have intersecting identities experience discrimination in a variety of settings.

View survey results »

2022 Minnesota General Population Survey of Attitudes Towards People with Developmental Disabilities

Most Minnesotans (86%) believe the State should allocate more funds to support PCAs and related services for Minnesotans with developmental disabilities.

View survey results »

Employment

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities works with MSS (a grantee) and partners to promote key outcomes including:

  • Providing individualized, person led, and person centered supports that may include technology as necessary for a broad range of employment options, prioritizing competitive, customized, or self-employment.
  • Increasing and improving access to inclusive postsecondary education and other career focused training opportunities.
  • Educating employers and providers while building capacity for workforce development.
Three people engaging in different work activities

Cultural Outreach

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities supports the development of leadership skills in culturally diverse communities through collaborative efforts with organizations in these communities. The Council has partnered with Somali Community Resettlement Services this year. 

A culturally diverse group of people putting hands together

Self-Advocacy

The Council seeks to strengthen a state self-advocacy organization, led by individuals with developmental disabilities. It also supports various related leadership training programs. Learn more about ACT

A line of people holding self-made artwork

Self-Advocates Minnesota (SAM)

Self-Advocates Minnesota is a network of self-advocacy groups from all around the state. Each region works with its member groups to build personal power, connect to the disability rights movement and make community changes.

Woman writing on a wall of multi-colored paper

©2023 The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
 370 Centennial Office Building  658 Cedar Street   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 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.