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.

Council-Sponsored Grant Activities:

2021 – 2022 Ambassadors for Respect

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities provided a $40,000 contract with PeaceMaker Minnesota for the 2021-2022 school year. PeaceMaker Minnesota initiated the Ambassadors for Respect program on September 7, 2021 and is in the the fourth year of the program grant, which ended on July 31, 2022.

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

During the 2021-2022 budget cycle year, PeaceMaker Minnesota provided $7,138 in stipends to the 77 Ambassadors from the above agencies for creating cards and buttons, putting on In Person Trainings, and creating Virtual Training Video content.

Ambassadors for Respect

View the complete 2021-2022 Ambassadors for Respect summary (PDF) »

Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassadors from Merrick at Harambee Elementary
Ambassadors for Respect
Graduating Ambassadors from Focus House
Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassadors from Focus Beyond at Maxfield Elementary
Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassadors from Merrick at Harambee Elementary
Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassadors at Merrick, Inc during filming
Ambassadors for Respect
Ambassador from Focus Beyond preparing to be filmed
Ambassadors for Respect

©2025 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.