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

Partners in Policymaking Class 40

Congratulations to Class 40 and completion of the first weekend of Partners in Policymaking. The weekend focuses on the history of developmental disabilities, the history of the parent movement, the history of the independent living movement, the history of self-advocacy, and person-centered planning and directed services.

Class 40 September Session
Class 40 September Session

Class 40 completed the second weekend of Partners in Policymaking. The topics were Inclusive Education and Civil Conversations featuring Patrick Schwarz, Kit Welchin, and a roundtable of Minnesota Department of Education experts. These photos show the Partners practicing their civil conversation skills by enacting skits from their own experiences with the disability system.

Class 40 October Session
Class 40 October Session
Class 40 October Session

Read the complete Partners Class 40 report »


2022 – 2023 Ambassadors for Respect

Ambassadors for Respect(A4R) program mid-year update

Purpose: to strengthen self-advocacy in Minnesota and bullying prevention efforts in schools.

A4R Partner Programs are in full swing with training fourth graders. There are currently 52 Ambassadors, from 8 Partner Programs, who have been preparing for and delivering trainings. These Ambassadors have gained skills in leadership, public speaking, team collaboration and violence prevention.

Read the complete Ambassador for Respect report »

Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassadors from Merrick, Inc leading a training.
Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassadors from Focus Beyond celebrate after a training.

Grant Activities Archive »

©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.