Feature Archive
The MNDDC web site contains a number of featured presentations and online publications containing a wealth of information related to developmental disabilities and the work of the Council. The feature items here have been retired from the home page, and are listed chronologically, the most recent first.
October 2019 Disability Employment Awareness Month
Governor Tim Walz has issued a Proclamation declaring October 2019 is Employers Hiring People with Disabilities Month.
The Proclamation recognizes the 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 74th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the role that employers play in valuing the contributions of all workers, including individuals with disabilities, in a competitive global marketplace.
Employment Success Stories
Precious, employed at Red Lobster
Nick, employed at Valley Bike and Ski
Shelby, employed at Cub Foods
Robert, employed at East Side Neighborhood Services
Read about employment success stories >>
Employment Resources
Minnesota Public Attitudes Surveys: Over a ten year period, Minnesota households were surveyed on three separate occasions about their attitudes toward companies that hire people with disabilities. In each survey, Minnesotans gave high respect at the levels of 97%, 97% and 92% to companies that hired people with disabilities. Review the key findings from the Minnesota general attitudes surveys that were conducted in 2007, 2012, and 2017 at summary-public-attitude-surveys.pdf.
Executive Order 14-14 – On August 4, 2014, Governor Mark Dayton issued Executive Order 14-14, Providing for Increased State Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. From 1999 to 2013, the percentage of state employees who identified themselves as having a disability had declined from 10% to less than 4%. Governor Dayton charged all state agencies to increase that employment rate to at least 7% by August 2018. In July 2018, the 7% goal was reached.
Employment Success Stories – The Discovery Process is an information gathering tool that involves seven stages of learning about a person's interests and skills that will lead to better matches with employment opportunities, or shape job possibilities that will be successful, productive, and rewarding for the individual. Over 30 employment success stories demonstrate the results of using the Discovery Process approach.
Project SEARCH – Student interns are provided work opportunities and practical learning experiences to enhance their academic preparation and expose them to the world of work. There are currently six Project SEARCH sites in Minnesota – Medtronic, Children's Hospitals and Clinics, Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center, Fairview Lakes Medical Center, Hennepin County Medical Center, and Mayo Clinic.
Partners in Employment – This online course gives people with developmental disabilities the practical skills needed to find real, competitive employment in the community. Learn to recognize your personal strengths, skills, and interests; and how technology skills can be useful to find meaningful employment. Create a resume or portfolio that presents you and your abilities in the best light. Learn about the hiring process and how to prepare for a successful job interview.
It's My Choice – A REVISED edition, released in 2017, made significant improvements in navigation and the usability of the guides and checklists. The concept and principles of person centered planning are interwoven throughout and one of the first checklists is the Person Centered Plan. For anyone who needs and uses services and supports to meet their personal life goals, including employment and beginning with transition students, this tool encourages their involvement and active participation in planning meetings.
Moments in Disability History – The ADA Legacy Project preserved and promoted the history of the ADA and the disability rights movement. A monthly series of "Moments in Disability History" recognized the leaders in the movement and significant events that resulted in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Employment issues were specifically addressed in "Moments" about Civil Rights, Section 504 Regulations, Stories of Discrimination (including US Representative Tony Coelho's story), and Stories from No Pity.
Disability Justice Resource Center – Courts are beginning to recognize the connection between the discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities and constitutional issues. The Resource Center was created to help members of the legal community better understand complex disability justice issues for people with disabilities, and identify and eliminate biases against people with disabilities including in the area of employment. Noteworthy are US District Court Judge Donovan Frank's presentation, "Developmental Disabilities and Equal Justice Under the Law, Including Employment and Diversity," and interviews with experts in the field about the fundamental legal rights of people with disabilities that relate to the Constitution.
The 2017 Minnesota Racial & Ethnic Survey of Attitudes Towards People with Developmental Disabilities – This survey shows strong public support for employment and the high level of respect for companies that employ people with developmental disabilities. Survey results showed the importance of vocational counseling to help people with developmental disabilities get a better paying job, internships, on the job assistance so people can work in regular businesses, as well as training services for employers. The insights and perceptions of respondents can help inform policy decisions about employment, emphasizing the greater integration and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities in a broad range of businesses.
Employer Survey (2005) – A customer-focused study of 600 Minnesota employers (businesses that employed individuals with disabilities and businesses that didn't) was conducted to identify and measure issues and perceptions that constitute barriers to employment for individual with disabilities.
Historical Photographs
Photo Album 2
The Council's work continues with the Minnesota Historical Society to identify historical images that show the progress that has been made over time to change attitudes and media coverage about people with developmental disabilities.
Photo Album 2 contains 60 photos with captions that are presented by decade and date from the 1900s to the 1990s. Language changes have been made to some captions to update the terminology used.
Photo Album 2 can be accessed here > >
Olmstead Chronology Released
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to release a chronology of how the Minnesota Olmstead Plan was developed and has been implemented. This publication was produced with Legacy Funding appropriated by the Minnesota Legislature in 2017.
The chronology begins with the passage of the ADA in 1990, the US Supreme Court Olmstead decision in 1999 and then jumps to the Jensen Settlement Agreement approved in December 2011. The first Olmstead committee began in 2012 and then Governor Dayton appointed a Subcabinet in 2013 (Executive Order 13-01). The chronology summarizes on a monthly basis the actions taken, the reports that were prepared, the multiple versions of the Olmstead Plan, and the court orders.
We believe this chronology will assist individuals with disabilities, families, advocates, professionals and the general public understand the efforts of so many individuals and state agencies since 2012.
Historical Photographs
Photo Album 1 (1950s to 1970s)
For the past 20 years, the Council has been collecting and posting Minnesota history online at two separate features—With an Eye to the Past (selected images from 1950-2000) and With an Eye to the Future (2000-2018). Historical documents dating back to the 1860s are also posted on the Council's website.
This year the Council has worked with the Minnesota Historical Society to identify historical images that can be posted online.
This is the first in a series of photo albums that will be shared to illustrate progress in attitudes and media coverage. Please note that captions were changed occasionally to use more up-to-date terminology.
2018 Minnesota Racial & Ethnic Populations Survey of Attitudes and Outlook Regarding Healthcare Services and Costs
The "2018 Minnesota General Population Survey of Attitudes and Outlook Regarding Healthcare Services and Costs" was released on April 6, 2018. The results included measures of satisfaction with health care quality and costs, perceptions regarding changes in costs and payment responsibilities, and preferences for universal health care versus private health care insurance.
Survey respondents represented state demographics in terms of geographic dispersion, age, income, and race and ethnicity including representation from American Indian, African American, and Hispanic communities.
However, the Council was again most interested in assuring that the insights and perspectives of members of racial and ethnic communities were heard so additional outreach efforts were made in the African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian, and East African communities. The results are available here:
The Future of Disability Rights, Activism, and Inclusion in the 21st Century
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce the launch of our 2018 Legacy-funded Project, entitled "With an Eye to the Future." Welcome to the future of disability rights, activism, and inclusion in the 21st Century!
"With an Eye to the Future" begins in 2000 where the previous Minnesota history feature, "With an Eye to the Past," ended.
"With an Eye to the Future" offers over 750 documents, more than 20 interviews, numerous presentations by subject matter experts, and most excitingly, a brand new story section featuring 120 segments filled with events, debuts, or descriptions of the actions that have shaped our understanding of and approach to developmental disabilities from 2000-2018.
Highlights include:
- Major media stories,
- Lawsuits,
- Legislative changes, and
- Research results.
"With an Eye to the Future" was funded by the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment. The generous funding of $55,000 allowed us to go beyond our promises to the Legislature, and deliver a true "legacy" project.
2018 Minnesota General Population Survey of Attitudes and Outlook Regarding Healthcare Services and Costs
In 2004, Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed former US Senator David Durenberger to head the 18 member Minnesota Citizens Forum on Health Care Costs. Its task was to address a "crisis of affordability" of health care. Members traveled the state for three months, conducted Town Hall meetings and listening sessions, and gathered ideas on what the state's health care system should look like.
"There's no question in my mind that we can find a great deal of common ground in health care reform," said Governor Pawlenty. "We can't afford to politicize this issue, but need to come together on real solutions designed to cut health care costs for Minnesotans."
A 20-minute telephone survey was conducted of a representative sample of 800 Minnesotans. The results included measures of satisfaction with health care quality and costs, perceptions regarding changes in costs and payment responsibilities, and preferences for universal health care versus private health care insurance.
Fourteen years later, in 2018, the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities replicated the opinion poll and surveyed over 1000 Minnesotans. The results are available here:
Medicaid: Supporting and Saving Lives of Minnesotans with Developmental Disabilities
On February 8, 2018, the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities sponsored a workshop on Medicaid. Self advocates and parents were interviewed about the importance of Medicaid in their lives.
March 12, 2018, updated April 24, 2018
It's My Choice: 2017 Edition Available
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce the 2017 edition of It’s My Choice. The concept and principles of person centered planning are interwoven throughout. All sections of the workbook have been updated and the Person Centered Plan is one of the first checklists. The format is also designed for easier navigation and to improve usability.
The online version is available at https://mn.gov/mnddc/extra/publications/Its-My-Choice.pdf. Print copies can be requested using the order form on the Publication Page.
Governor Tim Walz Proclaims March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
In celebration of the March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the Council has updated two major products about the Olmstead Plan – graphs that show progress in key areas and the month by month chronology of how the Olmstead Plan was developed, implemented and amended.
These three graphs were selected to show progress made in the areas of Employment, Transition Services, and Lifelong Learning and Education.
Employment – The number of students with developmental cognitive disabilities entering competitive integrated employment reached 684 which exceeds the goal of 651.
Transition Services – The number of people who moved from ICF settings to more integrated settings was 150 people which exceeded the goal of 72.
Lifelong Learning and Education – The number of students in the most integrated setting (80% or more in general education) was 74,274 students which exceeds the goal of 68,817.
The Olmstead Chronology has also been updated to celebrate DD Awareness Month. The Chronology was first prepared and released on June 30, 2018. The first update was completed on September 13, 2018 and the second update was finished on February 20, 2019.
The 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Part 4 DECEMBER – SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
The 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated on December 10, 2018. The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities joins this international celebration with a series of website features released on a monthly basis beginning in September as we countdown to the December 2018 anniversary.
This is the fourth segment in a series of features leading up to the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that will be celebrated on December 10, 2018. The European Union is launching a social media campaign to mark the 70th Anniversary with a series of 30 icons, each depicting a freedom or right that is expressed in the Declaration's 30 Articles.
Parts One, Two and Three may be viewed at https://mn.gov/mnddc/extra/un70th/.
Disability Rights: Voting in Minnesota
The Minnesota Disability Law Center and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid have produced the video "Disability Rights: Voting in Minnesota." Minnesota is a leader in assuring that polling places are accessible and voting equipment accommodates voters with disabilities, but barriers persist. The 2002 Help American Vote Act has contributed to improvements in the voting process for people with disabilities and identifies the responsibilities of public officials to provide access. In this video, self advocates share their experiences in exercising their right to vote and Secretary of State Steve Simon, a strong supporter of voting rights for everyone, speaks about ongoing efforts to make the voting process easier.
2018 Minnesota General Population Survey of Attitudes and Outlook Regarding Healthcare Services and Costs
In 2004, Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed former US Senator David Durenberger to head the 18 member Minnesota Citizens Forum on Health Care Costs. Its task was to address a "crisis of affordability" of health care. Members traveled the state for three months, conducted Town Hall meetings and listening sessions, and gathered ideas on what the state's health care system should look like.
"There's no question in my mind that we can find a great deal of common ground in health care reform," said Governor Pawlenty. "We can't afford to politicize this issue, but need to come together on real solutions designed to cut health care costs for Minnesotans."
A 20-minute telephone survey was conducted of a representative sample of 800 Minnesotans. The results included measures of satisfaction with health care quality and costs, perceptions regarding changes in costs and payment responsibilities, and preferences for universal health care versus private health care insurance.
Fourteen years later, in 2018, the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities replicated the opinion poll and surveyed over 1000 Minnesotans. The results are available here:
Welsch v. Likins Class Action Lawsuit 45th Anniversary
August 30, 2017 marks the 45th Anniversary of the Welsch v. Likins class action lawsuit brought on behalf of six individuals with developmental disabilities, residents of six different Minnesota State Hospitals.
The Welsch Lawsuit, according to Luther Granquist, plaintiff counsel on the case
In 1972 Richard Welsch sought help from the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis for his daughter, Patricia Marie, a resident of Cambridge State Hospital. He told Neil Mickenberg, an attorney there, that Patricia was at that “hellhole” and wondered if Neil could do anything about it.
Welsch had heard that Mickenberg and Jeffrey Hartje, another Legal Aid lawyer, had been told by state hospital professional staff that Cambridge and Faribault State Hospitals were ripe for the kind of lawsuits that had been brought in other states. On August 30, 1972, with the support of The Arc Minnesota, they sued state officials charging that the residents at Cambridge, Faribault, and four other state institutions were denied their rights to habilitation and to live in less restrictive community settings.
The lawsuit lasted seventeen years. The trials in the 1970s centered on Cambridge State Hospital. A trial in 1980 involving Faribault, Moose Lake, Brainerd and Fergus Falls State Hospitals led to a settlement that included Rochester, St. Peter, and Willmar State Hospitals. Another settlement in 1987 led to a final dismissal of the case in 1989.
In the early years, attorneys from the Minnesota Disability Law Center at Legal Aid focused on institutional conditions—lack of adequate staff, excess use of medication and restraint, and a deplorable living environment. In the 1980s, the focus was on moving people from the institution to community homes, with an emphasis as well on the quality of care provided persons discharged.
No court order or settlement agreement in the case required closing of the state institutions, but the court action coupled with funding under the home and community-based waiver, and a steadily growing commitment by state and county officials to provide community-based services, led to that result over the next eleven years.
Welsch Trial Photo Gallery
Photographs from the 1973 trial (from With an Eye to the Past). 
Welsch-related Interviews from With an Eye to the Past
Eleanor Welsch, mother of Patty Welsch, whose parents filed the landmark federal suit over lack of care at Cambridge State Hospital.
Part 1: The Beginning of the Welsch Case from a Mother’s Viewpoint
Part 2: The Cambridge Experience
Part 3: Group Homes are a “Godsend”
Luther Granquist, with Anne Henry, both of the Minnesota Disability Law Center, served as plaintiff counsel on the Welsch case.
Part 1: The 45th Anniversary of the Welsch Case Beginning
Part 2: Lack of Individual Assessment and Structured Activity at Cambridge
Anne Henry of the Minnesota Disability Law Center, worked with Luther Granquist on the Welsch case.
Part 1: Restraint and Seclusion at State Hospitals
Part 2: Dehumanization Practices
Part 3: Getting Children Out of Institutions
View more interviews about this time period
An Index of Documents Related to Welsch from With an Eye to the Past, including orders in that action in the federal district court and related documents.
The Disability Justice Resource Center has a summary of the lawsuit, the Welsch decision, and the Welsch Consent Decree.
Faribault State Hospital
At a trial in the Welsch case in 1980 involving Faribault, Moose Lake, Brainerd, and Fergus Falls State Hospitals, the plaintiffs presented small black and white photos of the four institutions as part of their case. The defendants never presented their response, because they agreed to the Consent Decree the federal court issued in September 1980. They had, however, prepared a set of color photographs of the same scenes with some added commentary.
Photos contributed to the Council by Mel Heckt.
2017 Minnesota Racial & Ethnic Survey of Attitudes Towards People with Developmental Disabilities
The 2017 General Population Survey of Attitudes Towards People with Developmental Disabilities includes representation from racial and ethnic communities. However, the Council was most interested in assuring that the insights and perspectives of members of these communities were heard. Additional outreach efforts were made in the Hispanic, American Indian, African American, East African, and Southeast Asian communities. The results are contained in this supplemental report.
2017 Minnesota General Population Survey of Attitudes Towards People with Developmental Disabilities
In 1962, a survey of the Minnesota general population was conducted to measure awareness and attitudes about developmental disabilities. The survey was updated and repeated in January 2007 (45 years post) and again in 2012 (50 years post). A 2017 survey was also conducted and the results are now available.
While attitudes changed dramatically between 1962 and 2007, those attitudes have remained unchanged over the past ten years. The 2017 study reveals that, for a majority of Minnesotans, the most important services provide access to quality, coordinated healthcare; and protection services to prevent the abuse of people with developmental disabilities. Over 70% of Minnesotans favor employment services, special education services and early childhood special education services. A majority also believe that the State should move away from corporate foster care by providing housing supports directly to individuals with developmental disabilities so they can choose where to live, their roommates, and their staff or providers.
Medicaid: Supporting and Saving Lives of Minnesotans with Developmental Disabilities
On February 8, 2018, the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities sponsored a workshop on Medicaid. Self advocates and parents were interviewed about the importance of Medicaid in their lives.
March 12, 2018, updated April 24, 2018
It's My Choice: 2017 Edition Available
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce the 2017 edition of It’s My Choice. The concept and principles of person centered planning are interwoven throughout. All sections of the workbook have been updated and the Person Centered Plan is one of the first checklists. The format is also designed for easier navigation and to improve usability.
The online version is available at https://mn.gov/mnddc/extra/publications/Its-My-Choice.pdf. Print copies can be requested using the order form on the Publication Page.
Human Trafficking of People with Disabilities
On April 4, 2017, the Diversity Committee, Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, University of Minnesota Law School Division, hosted a CLE event, a panel discussion of human trafficking of people with disabilities. United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank served as moderator for panel members who shared their professional experience with human trafficking, some of the history and evolving legal landscape, and rights and remedies for victims.
One of the panel members was Sarah Bessell, staff attorney at the Human Trafficking Pro Bono Legal Center in Washington, DC. The Legal Center believes that every trafficking victim in the United States should have access to justice.
In this video interview, MS. Bessell identifies some of the types of abuses they are seeing including forced labor (sexual servitude), commercial sexual exploitation, and extreme violence and physical abuse. She presents case law examples involving people with disabilities and trends they are seeing in the types of trafficking.
Partners In Policymaking® 30th Anniversary
1987 – 2017
In 1986, a new way of thinking demanded new leadership. Medicaid reform was the critical public policy issue. A Congressional hearing on September 19, 1986 ended with a young mother presenting testimony in favor of dramatic changes to Medicaid – changes that would keep families together and provide a range of services to support families with a child with developmental disabilities.
Communicating effectively with public officials could be taught. Self advocates and parents could learn how to best speak with their elected public officials and elected public officials could be educated about policies – in partnership with each other. At that moment, Partners in Policymaking® was born.
Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities Launches Legacy Project
With An Eye to the Past—Preserving Minnesota's History about Developmental Disabilities
The State of Minnesota held a Grand Opening of the State Capitol the weekend of August 11 – 13, 2017. The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities was invited to present a "Hot Dish" panel about the history of developmental disabilities on Sunday, August 13, 2017. Colleen Wieck, Executive Director, began the panel with a brief review of the online archive "With An Eye to the Past," followed by presentations by Class 34 Partners in Policymaking® Graduate Justin Smith and former Senator David F. Durenberger. Senator Durenberger was a cosponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Justin Smith is a beneficiary of the ADA, our nation's first comprehensive civil rights law addressing the needs of people with disabilities, prohibiting discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations, and telecommunications.
These segments will be added to "With An Eye to the Future" as part of the Council's newly funded Legacy Project.
Justin Smith, Class 34 Partners in Policymaking® Graduate
Thank you for being here today. I cannot believe that I am here presenting with one of the authors of the Americans with Disabilities Act and a woman who has done so much to improve of the lives of people with disabilities, from helping to close institutions to starting the Partners in Policymaking Program. Thanks to assistive technologies like CART captioning, which makes it easier for me to hear, my communication device that helps me speak, and power wheelchair that helps me move, I can accomplish so much more and be so much more independent than if I had been born at an earlier time.
Let me tell you some stories about my experiences living with disability and my dreams for the future. Imagine a small group of high school students sitting around their computer in my bedroom. There is laughter, sharing ideas, [inaudible],the plan for our history class presentation. I have my section about civil rights, disability rights, and sports in the 1960s ready to add to the lengthy PowerPoint. Another student was creating a Jeopardy game and two guys were figuring out what we would wear.
For me, this was an experience I will always remember because we all contributed to the project in meaningful ways to get that A. I believe that we all learned a lot more about teamwork, respecting differences, helping others and knowing that each of us has so much to offer when working together towards a goal. This was inclusion at its best. Unfortunately, that rich group experience did not happen very often for me except for my church youth group where I was accepted and included like any other teenager.
I have had positive examples of accessibility and inclusion in the real world since graduating high school. My first was with my US history course at Century College last spring. My professor was outstanding. Course materials, presentations and business were online and accessible. He noted the class discussion questions ahead of time so I had time to program responses on my communication device. For one of the first times in my life, I could fully contribute my thoughts and ideas in class. I learned so much, not just about history but how one professor can make a positive impact and difference by just taking some extra time to be organized and think ahead of time about what I needed to be successful in his class.
As we move on carving out the future I hope that educators from preschool through college or other postsecondary options can keep finding the opportunities for meaningful inclusion to happen. The teacher in my 10th grade class and professor in my college history course both talked about how to make learning work for all students, even those of us with disabilities. We need more teachers and professors who embrace inclusion and think ahead of how to make it work for all of their students. These have been some of my experiences in the educational system.
What's next up and what do I imagine for my future? I imagine a future for myself as one where I choose where I want to live, who I want to hang out with, what I will do each day and how I contribute to making the world a better place, the decisions that many of you in this room may take for granted.
As I move through the halls of the Capitol today, I know that I will be spending a lot of time here as a disability rights advocate, volunteering for the Olmstead Community Engagement Workgroup, writing my blog, and speaking about accessibility and inclusion. I need help from the government services to live the life I imagine. I need 24-hour care to help me with all my basic personal cares.
Imagine that you have to depend on another person to give you a drink of water if you're thirsty, feed you if you're hungry and help to go to the bathroom when you need to go. It is important for people to realize that I can do what I do because I have the medical care, special equipment and support staff I need to help me with these things. I know that these issues have become very politically labeled which makes it even more important than ever to make my voice heard and for you to make your voices heard in our political process. Legislation that advocates have brought forth like the IDEA for education, Medicaid, the Olmstead Plan, and more all help me live an independent productive life in my community.
When I met and interviewed Dr. Wieck for one of my high school writing assignments, I remember her telling me what it was like for people with disabilities living in institutions. Her words made a lasting impact on me. She said when you treat people differently, when you treat someone like an animal, you will get an animal. You can imagine what my future could have been like had I been born at an earlier time. It's heartbreaking. I am thankful for all the advocates who have made it possible for me to have more options now.
I graduated from Partners in Policymaking this spring and have learned so much about becoming an effective advocate to continue creating positive change for people with disabilities. John Green writes in the book, Paper Towns, "Its easy to forget how full the world is of people, full to bursting and each of them imaginable and consistently misimagined. We all want to be imagined complexly as the individuals we are, not held back because we look, move, think or speak differently."
I have the same hopes and dreams for my future that many of you aspire to. All of us are unique and face difficulties. There are many times when I feel like an outsider because I do not think people imagine me complexly or know what to say to me or how to talk to someone who uses a communication device. I expect that there are many of you here who have felt the same. I think that we still have a long way to go with inclusion in school, work and life. I want to have a longer list of examples to choose from for my positive inclusion experiences. It really should be more than a handful of positive examples in 19 years.
So what can we all do when we leave here today? Think and plan ahead to make sure people are included in meaningful ways. Go beyond the simple Minnesota nice "Hi. How are you?" and realize that I and others with disabilities have a lot to say and need people to take the time to listen.
Also, what I learned from Partners in Policymaking is the importance of showing up. Show up here and talk to your legislators. Show up to volunteer like I'm doing with the Olmstead Community Engagement Workgroup. Show up to vote. This Capitol belongs to all of us.
Above all, open your minds to new ideas, new people, and new experiences. It takes every one of us here today to choose the infinite possibilities to create a more inclusive society where we see value and dignity in all people.
Former US Senator David F. Durenberger
I didn't think anybody could top Colleen Wieck until Justin Smith. God bless him. Oh, man. I tell you. I've forgotten what I was going to say. These people are just way, way, way beyond unbelievable. I had a line that said,"Hi, I'm Dave Durenberger and I'm aging into my disabilities." But I am. I'm supposed to be in California but I've wrecked my left shoulder so I decided to stay home and be with you. But I'm so impressed and I'm also kind of choked up - I hope you can tell - because there is nothing like the gift of public service.
My son Charlie over here has been a public servant in the state of Minnesota for his whole, whole life. And I started here 50 years ago up in the Governor's office as Executive Secretary to Harold LeVander, and my learning curve began then and it's going today. It's just absolutely incredible what a gift it is to be in the profession of learning from other people. It's just amazing. And I have to say that to you because the impression you get from everybody in politics and government today is that they ain't learning anything. I mean my own party's spent seven years trying to wreck health reform by calling it repeal and replace. And they've spent six months trying to figure out what they mean. They have no idea what they're talking about. Why? Because not one of them has taken the time to master what you have mastered by your own experiences with people with developmental and other disabilities.
I found a picture that I showed Sarah, who's my oldest granddaughter, this morning. Oh, here it is. Here's a picture of the Senator with little Sarah. Little Sarah is like, in this picture, like a month old or something less than that. Now she's sitting back there, graduate of Bethel, and she's in one of the health professions.
The reason I thought I would show you this picture, and I just found it, is because on May 11 of 1994, the Senate was having its first hearing on the Clinton Health Reform bill. Long awaited. Hillary Clinton's in charge. The health reform bill. So we;re having the first hearing and Senator Ted Kennedy, the famous leader in health reform, is in the chair. And at some point in the program, he takes out his gavel. He notices that I've been going in and out periodically from the meetings. I'm the Republican on the committee. Nancy Kassebaum, my friend and colleague, is the chair and I'm the health guy on the committee. So I'm going in and out to the side room.
So the last time I come out I seem to have like tears in my eyes or something, and so the chairman hits the gavel like this. He said, "I want to call this hearing to recess. And I want to be the first in America to make this announcement. Today was born, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sarah Marie Durenberger." And he gives her weight, he gives her height, and he said, "Now we know why Senator Durenberger's been kind of grouchy about this health reform." Can you believe that happening in today's United States Senate?
How did he know? I don't know, except that's who we were. We were friends. Our kids grew up together. We knew a lot more about each other than we probably thought we did. And one of the reasons was we learned to share experiences that were common to the people of our state, and those who could express those experiences with everyone else. And then you would find people just like you from another state who hadn't met people like Colleen or Justin or whoever it might be. And you'd start, okay, start coming closer and closer and closer together. And so it was a… it wasn't a magic moment. It's what the United States Senate was always intended to be. I can tell you, and I won't today, exactly what happened, how it's been torn down in the last 20-some years. I can tell you exactly why that has happened.
But it's not America. It's now who we are. It's not who we can be. It's not who Justin is. It's not who Colleen is. It's not who Mom and Dad are. It's not who any of us are, I don't think It's even the people in this building. They talk like it sometimes, but I don't think it's even them. They're living in communities just like we live in. Don't you think they hear the same thing? Don't you think they see the same thing? Don't you think they feel the same thing inside? They just haven't learned how to translate that into action, which is the gift of all the people in this room and the stories that you've heard today.
I sat here because…listening to Colleen's story because my wife Susan, who's on a plane to California today just finished a book that's going to be published next April by the Minnesota Press on how did Luther Youngdahl… was persuaded to take on these institutions… this institutionalization in Minnesota back in 1949. The victory in 1950, which was snatched away by real conservative Republicans in 1951… so he took a job in Washington as a federal judge and never came back and the whole movement started to go like this. And Susan captured in this book that Colleen was talking to you about, about who we are as Minnesotans. Who we were in 1940s, the heroes and heroines. And she captures a few of our prejudices.
Geri Joseph and Geri… what were they… Hofner. Yes, Geri Hofner was a brand-new reporter at the Minneapolis Tribune. She wanted to go to The New York Times. Can you imagine a woman at The New York Times? Wow, not in those days. But she was going to go to The New York Times.
They talked her into staying at the Tribune, they promised her this story. She went to see the Governor, and he said, "If you publish?" And she said, "I'm going to go into all seven institutions." And he said, "If you do and you publish stories, I'm going to have your job." Whew. So she goes back to her boss, Bower Hawthorne at the Trib, and he says, "Ah, forget it." So he goes with her, tells the Governor, "She's going to do these stories regardless," you know. "You'll get to see them before they go in the paper," but he can't change a word of it.
So she writes these stories. And a year and a half later she gets the highest reward for journalism in Minnesota from the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Why? Because it was a really good story, number two, and because they thought she was a he. Believe it or not, the Minnesota Newspaper Association thought Geri Joseph was a man. Okay. So we've come a long way. Right? We've got a long way to go. What happened yesterday in Charlottesville where Charlie went to school in Virginia is still happening all over America, you know? Yes, we have a long way to go. But we have built the capacity to get there. And not just in this room but in tens and hundreds of thousands of people in this state. Our capacity is still there. We are who we are. Our institutions are really unique institutions.
So that isn't exactly what I planned to say, but I'm going not to tell you the story of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It's been told and retold. I've got to tell you the greatest day in my life was that time in the third or fourth week in July sitting on the mall and watching with thousands of people as President George H. W. Bush came out to the podium and the band struck up "Hail to the Chief," whole bunch of people stood up and all you could hear in the place was, "Down in front! Down in front!" And I knew I was in the right place. I knew I was in the right place, "Down in front." Wow.
What a gift is public service. What a gift is the teaching profession, the point that Justin made. What a gift is any one of your opportunities, the fact that you're here today. And the question for all of is: What are we going to do with it? You know, are we waiting for somebody else to take the lead? You know, will we do it? When will we do it? How will we do it? How will we get started? So the future? And the last thing, because I was asked to make some reference to healthcare, I've been at this for 51 years too, which is a heck of a long time to say you didn't get any place because they're still doing R and R.
But, you know, every once in a while you come up against a crisis. When the biggest industry in America, a three-and-a-half-trillion dollar industry, is about to face the reality of wake up, find out what's wrong, and get it right. And Obamacare got most of it right. But Republicans spent seven years trying to belittle it and tear it down and make sure it didn't work. It's that simple. I'm saying that as a Republican.
It's that simple. It will work. It can work. And America is the place that it can work. Because we do believe… and I've got the data from your study back in Minnesota Citizens on Health Cost Containment that tells us that, by a fraction of 80 to 20, Minnesotans believe that it is our responsibility to make sure that all of us have access to high-quality healthcare, which only means it has to be affordable and it has to be effective. And the people that know how to do both are in the health professions today. We just need to change the incentives.
And a lot of us know what it takes to do that. Again, because it's the right thing to do. This is the right place to do it. Maybe the only place to do it. So thank you for the gift of being here today. And if there's anything I can do to add any dimension to anything I've said, I'd be glad to do it. Yeah.
With An Eye to the Past »
This work is funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities thanks the Minnesota Legislature, the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minnesota Department of Administration for assistance on this Legacy Project feature.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
The 2017 theme was "Inclusion Drives Innovation". The Council offers numerous educational materials and resources about employment and employment issues, and success stories that highlight what can be achieved when employers and delivery systems work together to increase the employment of individuals with developmental disabilities. Take advantage of the following items to review and/or refresh your knowledge and understanding about employment >>
The Ambassadors for Respect Anti-Bullying Handbook
The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to release The Ambassadors for Respect Anti-Bullying Handbook. This replication manual provides background information about the program and addresses the problem of bullying – the incidence of various types of bullying, academic studies showing the more immediate as well as the long-term effects of bullying, and comparisons between students with disabilities and students without disabilities.
Ambassadors for Respect, self advocates who experienced bullying, inspired the Anti-Bullying Program that was initiated in the St. Paul Public Schools in 2013. Over the past four years, they have successfully led 38 training sessions for 1,010 fourth grade elementary school students and 45 classroom teachers in 12 schools.
The Handbook provides details about the presentations – preparing for the training sessions, materials for activities, the on-site presentation process, take-aways for the students, and student surveys. Quality principles and a continuous quality improvement process are built into the program to measure its overall effectiveness, success in creating and reinforcing positive student attitudes, and reducing and eliminating bullying incidents.
Professor John McKnight: Community Building
All the people who live in a community can help to create a welcoming environment; one that recognizes the gifts, abilities, and skills of everyone there; and invites everyone to work together to build and strengthen their community.
Capacity Building Beyond Community Services
Asset based community development is John McKnight's approach to community organizing. John is a community organizer, an academic and a brilliant story-teller. He believes that everyone has a gift, an ability, a skill to share; and everyone, regardless of how they may identify themselves or what their personal needs may be, can help to make their community better for everyone who lives there.
Video Interview: Capacity Building Beyond Community Services
A collection of John McKnight's papers, where he further explains the building blocks and assets that make for an inclusive community, can be found at John McKnight Resources and Documents.
John McKnight, a community organizer and gifted story teller, is committed to the concepts and principles of asset based community development – discovering and enhancing the abilities, capacities, gifts and skills of every member of every neighborhood and community. In a recent conversation with Cormac Russell, Managing Director of the UK based consulting and research organization, Nurture Development, John McKnight and Peter Block speak about the renewal of communities, local living, and cooperation. (7-25-17)
Play Conversation:Abundantcommunity.com Audio Recordings Page Transcript
With an Eye to the Past
The History of Deinstitutionalization in Minnesota
With With an Eye to the Past, was first presented on February 7, 2001 at a recognition event. This event was in celebration of the dedication and commitment of leaders across the state who worked together to close Minnesota’s large state institutions and develop a respectful service delivery system for individuals with developmental disabilities. We are now pleased to release a revised edition of With An Eye to the Past. This product has been converted to a responsive design format and all videos have been updated to current technology standards.
Ed Roberts, Activist
Ed Roberts was a pioneering leader of the disability rights movement. Ed declared that people with disabilities are fully human; that they have a right and a responsibility to take control of their own lives, to help build a new culture in which they and all people participate fully in the leadership, the labor, and the fruits of society. Ed Roberts Day is January 23.
Inclusive Education
In celebration of Inclusive School's Week, December 5 – 9, 2016, Governor Mark Dayton issued a Proclamation – "Minnesota is committed to providing education in schools and classrooms that [are] welcoming… all Minnesota children… that each child is unique and learns differently… educators and families have been working hard to ensure that classrooms and schools are characterized as being high performing and inclusive… and Minnesota educators and families deserve to celebrate their successes and wish to reflect on how they can continue to further improve…"
SWIFT (School-wide Integrated Framework for Transformation) offers five evidence based domains, from Administrative Leadership to Family & Community Engagement, and each domain includes two core features (http://www.swiftschools.org/).
The Whole Schooling Consortium is an international network of school administrators and teachers, parents, and community members dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in schools based on the eight principles of whole schooling to build inclusive and democratic societies. (http://www.wholeschooling.net/)
Inclusive Schools Network is a web-based educational resource for families, schools and communities that promotes inclusive educational practices. This resource is a product of Inclusive Schools Week™ and discusses effective models of inclusive education that create an environment where all students, students with and without disabilities, have the opportunity to flourish. (http://inclusiveschools.org/together-we-learn-better-inclusive-schools-benefit-all-children/)
In Honor of Robert Perske
George Ducharme and Pat Beeman hosted the Memorial Service for Robert Perske on October 29, 2016 at the Darien Community Association in Darien, Connecticut. The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities honors Robert Perske with these archived items that demonstrate Bob's perseverance to Keep On Keeping On (KOKO). Together with a primary message from the Memorial Service to "Be Kind," this is the essence of Bob's life and his life's work. Read More >>
Forty-Five Years of History 1971-2016
October 2016 marks the 45th Anniversary of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. A series of articles will cover this history, the work completed and accomplishments made by the Council during those forty-five years.
These articles will be released in five year segments over the next several months. The first segment provides brief background material on the advocacy and legislation that preceded the establishment of the Council. Read More >>
Parallels in Time
The History of Disabilities: 1500 B.C. to the Present
In commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, we are pleased to announce the release of a revised Parallels in Time product.
This product combines the original Parallels in Time, documenting the history of disabilities from 1500 B.C to 1950 released on the 25th anniversary of the Council, and Parallels in Time 2, continuing the history of disabilities from 1950 to the present released on the 35th anniversary.
All videos have been updated to current technology standards. This product has also been converted to a responsive design format. https://mn.gov/mnddc/parallels/
Partners in Policymaking® Coordinator's Handbook
In celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, we are pleased to announce the release of the newly revised and updated Partners in Policymaking® Coordinator's Handbook.
This is the eighth edition of the Handbook, designed to help Coordinators who are starting or restarting a Partners program as well as serve as a resource for Coordinators to maintain the quality of existing programs. The online learning courses have been incorporated into the curriculum, offering participants another avenue to strengthen and enrich their classroom experience.
This version is fully accessible and incorporates all current accessibility features.
Download and Read the Handbook >>
Forms Related to Replication of the Partners Classroom Program:
Partners Profile Form
Time Match Form
Respite Care/Child Care Reimbursement Form
Participant Reimbursement Request Form
Sample Partners Application
Session Evaluation
Sample Participation Agreement
Meet Partners in Policymaking® Class 33 Graduates
Read stories from the graduates of Partners in Policymaking® Class 33
Public Media Forum
February 29, 2016
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities hosted a 2-hour Public Media Forum for Council members, Partners in Policymaking graduates and allies. Approximately 100 people were in attendance on February 29, 2016.
This Forum featured panelists from all the local television channels and the two major newspapers in Minnesota. The tables were turned and the audience asked questions of the panelists. Each question is captured as a chapter heading.
Thank you to all panelists, attendees and Robb Leer, the facilitator for the Forum for making this event a success.
Survey of Individuals for Five-Year State Plan
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is in the process of developing a new Five-year State Plan for FFYs 2017-2021. A survey of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families was recently conducted to identify important issues to be addressed.
View as Slides View as PDF View as Text Only
A Survey of Providers was also conducted to learn their opinions about a range of issues including employment, health care, quality assurance, housing, and self advocacy.
The Disability Justice Resource Center
An online resource for everyone interested in learning more about the rights of people with developmental disabilities and protection of those rights.
The Disability Justice Resource Center has been created as an educational resource to increase awareness and understanding of the unique and complex issues related to justice for people with disabilities, particularly people with developmental disabilities. For the legal community, the Resource Center could be used to identify and eliminate biases against people with disabilities, for continuing legal education courses, and by law schools and students.
This online resource is divided into several sections:
Working with People with Developmental Disabilities in the Justice System
Disability Justice Center Faculty
The Video Index covers a range of topics from an historical perspective, to continuing issues regarding segregation and discrimination, to discussions about courtroom access and accommodations. The themes of equal justice, and human and legal rights are interwoven throughout, and reflect the personal experiences of self advocates as well as members of the legal profession.
Positive Behavioral Supports
The Jensen settlement agreement called for a review of best practices related to positive support strategies. A Positive Behavioral Supports section has been created, dedicated to the class members of the Jensen Settlement Agreement.
Mike Mayer
The work of the Rule 40 committee began with a review paper of all state rules and regulations governing aversive procedures written by Michael Mayer. On February 6, 2013, Michael Mayer visited the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities and was interviewed.
PowerPoint: "Rule 40 A Brief Summary of Issues and Options."
Mike Mayer was a senior partner of Community Resource Alliance and clinical director of the ACT Process in the state of Illinois. The video interview was conducted February 6, 2013. Mike Mayer passed away on November 16, 2015 at his home in North Carolina.
Derrick Dufresne: The History and Evolution of Behavioral Approaches and Positive Behavioral Interventions
Derrick Dufresne is the founder and a Senior Partner of Community Resource Associates, Inc. (CRA), a training and management consulting firm that is dedicated to promoting full community inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Video interview conducted February 1, 2012
Respect and Dignity Practices Statement (June 20, 2013) is a result of the Jensen Settlement Agreement and the work of the Rule 40 Advisory Committee to modernize Rule 40 around best practices regarding positive behavioral supports.
The article, Human Services Restraint: Its Past and Future, authored by David Ferleger, traces this history and discusses how the past has influenced contemporary practices.
Minnesota's Positive Support Rule was officially published on August 31, 2015 and is available for review at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=9544
Dr. Herbert Lovett
Dr. Herbert Lovett promoted inclusive supports and equal access in the areas of education, employment, housing, and human rights for children and adults with disabilities.
This interview was conducted with Larry Ringer, Minnesota Disability Law Center, in 1987.
The ADA Legacy Project celebrates the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act on disability rights, and honors the contributions of individuals with disabilities and their allies who persevered in securing the passage of this landmark civil rights legislation. Georgetown University has compiled a collection of historical documents related to the ADA that date back to the 1980s, the decade preceding the milestone signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, Perspectives on the 25th Anniversary
On July 26, 2015, the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) was celebrated. A number of events took place in Washington, DC where the ADA was signed into law by President George Herbert Walker Bush 25 years earlier. But a number of other reminders about the significance of this civil rights legislation for-individuals with disabilities were in the making long before the anniversary itself.
In July 2012, the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities was asked to participate in the ADA Legacy Project. Over a two and one half year time period, a monthly "Moment in Disability History" was posted on the Council website, marking important happenings and recognizing some of the many, many leaders across the country who contributed to the passage of the ADA.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, Perspectives on the 25th Anniversary is a compilation of those "Moments," an opportunity to learn about this history, gain a better understanding of the immensity of the efforts that led to July 26, 1990, and continue the work that remains in order to fully realize what was envisioned when the movement began.
Awards
Council Receives the Hervey B. Wilbur Historic Preservation Award
At the June 1-4, 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD, the Council received the Hervey B. Wilbur Historic Preservation Award for Parallels in Time and Parallels in Time, Part 2. Nearly twenty years ago, the Council decided to embark on a major archiving project that would trace the history of disabilities, the attitudes and treatment of people with developmental disabilities; and the leaders and movements (parent movement, independent living movement, and self advocacy movement) that were instrumental in bringing about dramatic changes in service delivery systems, and the services and supports available for individuals and families. Videos, photos and images, and a vast collection of historical documents , spanning more than 3,500 years are contained in Parallels in Time and Parallels in Time, Part 2.
Council Receives the Star of the North Award
At the Department of Administration's Fall Festival on November 6, 2014, the Council received the Star of the North Award for its ongoing education and training efforts with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through the Partners in Policymaking® program, the "Telling Your Story" app, and the Independence to Inclusion documentary that was co-produced with TPT public television.
TPT Documentary Nominated for 2014 Emmy
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Upper Midwest chapter, announced the 2014 Upper Midwest Regional nominees and the TPT documentary, Independence to Inclusion, was nominated under "Documentaries – Cultural." http://midwestemmys.org/
Autism 5-Point Scale EP App Receives Digital Government Achievement Award
The Autism 5-Point Scale EP app, designed and developed as an emergency planning and preparedness tool for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has received a Digital Government Achievement Award (DGAA), in the Government-to-citizen State Government category. This app can help facilitate communications and interactions between individuals with ASD and first responders in a broad range of emergency situations.
We extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to the Autism Society of Minnesota for their leadership with the Emergency Planning and Preparedness Project that included the development of this app.
Department of Administration Press Release
DGAA announcement
Free download at the iTunes Store
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities Named 2012 Tekne Award Finalist
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities has been named a 2012 Tekne Award finalist by the Minnesota High Tech Association for the Autism 5-Point Scale EP app. The finalist nomination is in the Mobile & Communication Technologies Award category that recognizes innovation in mobile applications and electronic communications.
Honoring Government Innovation Award
Congratulations to the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, winner of a 2014 State Government Innovation Award for the "Telling Your Story" policymaking app.
See all the award details at http://sgia.umn.edu.
Partners in Policymaking®: Changing Lives. Changing Policies.
Since the Partners program was created in Minnesota in 1987, more than 27,000 self advocates and parents of children with developmental disabilities have graduated nationally and internationally. They comprise a network of trained advocates and leaders, working in partnership with their elected officials to positively change the way people with disabilities live, work, and are educated; and enjoy the benefits of being actively involved in their communities.
On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this book traces the history of the Partners program. Through a collection of stories and testimonials, Partners graduates share the impact of the program on their lives as well as the many ways that the ADA has resulted in their greater inclusion and integration into the community and society at large.
Download and Read the Book (Accessible PDF when viewed with Adobe Reader)
Quality and the Baldrige Framework
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities began its quality journey in 1997 using the National Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. The Baldrige Framework, a systems approach to improving a business or organization's performance, is based on a set of core values and concepts that represent the beliefs and behaviors found in high performing businesses and organizations. Since 1998, Bill Harreld, Quality Culture Institute, has shared his experience and expertise, working with the Council on quality improvement and the application of the Baldrige Criteria to the Council's work.
"Creating the Possible" (Video Excerpt) A young adult shares his personal story, and how the services and supports that best meet his individual needs were identified through a person-centered planning approach, in this excerpt from a DVD made available from Circles Network in the United Kingdom.
Institutions to Independence
"Institutions to Independence" is a 30 minute documentary produced by TPT (public television) in cooperation with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, the law firm of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Government Training Services. This documentary tells the story of services in Minnesota from the 1860s into the 21st Century through the telling of stories of people with developmental disabilities, families, and professionals.
In addition to the documentary, the Minnesota Governor's Council worked with TPT to create "Know Your Rights", an Illustrated Essay by David Gillette regarding the Rights of People with Developmental Disabilities.
Independence To Inclusion
A TPT Documentary Produced with the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
"Independence to Inclusion," a second TPT documentary, was produced with the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities in 2014. Much has changed in terms of available services and supports, and delivery systems. However, stigma and stereotypes against people with developmental disabilities have long outlasted Minnesota's state institutions and still persist today. How will inclusion in schools, the workplace, and the community affect the lives of thousands of Minnesotans with developmental disabilities?
The Convergence of Disability Law and Policy: Core Concepts, Ethical Communities, and the Notion of Dignity
Interview with Rud Turnbull
Produced by Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
In writing a model law, in implementing the law and regulations, in discussing and explaining the intended effect and the actual effect of statutes, in confronting law and policy, in designing and delivering programs and services, there are people involved, there are lives that are affected. So the very first thing that needs to be talked about is personhood.
Throughout Rud Turnbull's teachings and writings about the 18 core concepts of disability policy, and as those concepts relate to the Americans with Disabilities Act, IDEA and its predecessors, assistive technology, family support, and aversive therapies, he speaks about relationships – those that are created and those that are challenged when people are forced to confront each other.
In all of his research on United State Supreme Court decisions and federal laws, Rud Turnbull finds one ethical principle that is interwoven throughout those decisions and statutes – the notion of dignity.
Bio: Rud Turnbull, Distinguished Professor in Special Education and Courtesy Professor of Law, University of Kansas, is the Co-founder and Co-director of the Beach Center on Disability. He has authored more than 300 peer reviewed books, articles, chapters, and monographs. He has served as an officer of nearly all major national disability organizations, including AIDD, The Arc, and TASH; as well as chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Law, and Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
Bengt Nirje on Normalization
Dr. Bengt Nirje developed the normalization principle in the 1960s. The principle reflects the regular rhythm of the day and the regular routine of life. It's useful with all age groups, and adaptable to social changes and individual development. It means that the choices, wishes, and desires of the individual are considered and respected. Dr. Nirje speaks here about the principle itself and its application to all aspects of life (Video Series).
Regular Lives for Families with Children with Disabilities: Interview with Kathie Snow
Kathie Snow is an author, public speaker, trainer, and consultant. Her interest in disability issues was born in 1987 with the birth of her son, Benjamin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at four months. Before that, she had no knowledge or experience in the disability field.
The third edition of Kathie's book, Disability is Natural, Revolutionary Common Sense for Raising Successful Children with Disabilities, has just recently been released.
The Top Questions Asked About Inclusive Education: Dr. Patrick Schwarz
Dr. Patrick Schwarz, Creative Culture Consulting LLC., is a dynamic and engaging motivational speaker and leader in Inclusive Education, Special Education, General Education, Educational Leadership and Human Services. Patrick is a professor at National-Louis University in Chicago; and has authored several books with Paula Kluth - From Disability to Possibility, You're Welcome, Just Give Him the Whale, and Pedro's Whale. His newest book is From Possibility to Success. The video was recorded on June 5, 2013.
Dr. Burton Blatt: 1984 Lecture Video
Dr. Burton Blatt, Syracuse University
March 1984 Speech at Holiday Inn Airport, Pittsburgh, PA
The Evolution of the Quality of Care in Developmental Disabilities
Jim Conroy
Jim Conroy is the founder and President of the Center for Outcome Analysis, Inc., a non-profit firm that is devoted to evaluation, research, training, and policy analysis on quality of life issues in the developmental disabilities field. The Center is founded on the principle that service agencies should be guided by measurable quality of life outcomes regarding the services and supports received by individuals with developmental disabilities.
The video interview was conducted December 7, 2011.
Quality – Standards, Values, Vision: A Paper by Bruce Kappel
The Jobs Challenge for People With Disabilities
Competitive wages, direct employment, in Minnesota. Individuals with developmental disabilities are being directly employed in a broad range of business fields and a wide range of positions in both public and private sectors. In all instances, the experiences of employees and employers have been overwhelmingly positive – employees are in jobs of their choosing with full benefits; and the businesses are thriving, recognizing the contributions that a truly diversified workforce can bring to their customers.
The METO Lawsuit and Jensen Settlement Agreement
At the December 1, 2011 Fairness Hearing before United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank, the METO Settlement Agreement was accepted. Judge Frank issued the official Order on December 5, 2011. In this first videotaped interview with Shamus O'Meara, counsel for the Plaintiffs in the METO class action lawsuit, he talks about his decision to take the case, the legal issues involved, and some of the critical aspects of the Settlement Agreement, including the focus on staff training around person centered planning, and the establishment of both an Olmstead Committee and Rule 40 Committee.
Following the Fairness Hearing, Shamus O'Meara was interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). A related article was featured on MPR's "All Things Considered" on December 1, 2011.
The Evolution of Disability Rights Litigation (and some stories)
David Ferleger, J.D. of Philadelphia, PA, has a national law and consulting practice, specializing in public interest, civil rights and disability law. He has litigated landmark disability cases, argued five times before the Supreme Court of the United States, assisted the courts, represented individuals and government agencies, taught law school, and has written, lectured and consulted nationally.
Ethical Issues, End of Life Conversations and Developmental Disabilities
Honoring Choices is a collection of stories by ordinary people about end of life conversations with family and friends, sharing perspectives from personal and professional lives.
The Council thanks Bill Hanley and Pam Palan for inviting our participation in this important initiative. Please note: These stories are not closed captioned.
The documentary was produced in partnership with the Twin Cities Medical Society. The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities worked with TPT in this public education effort and participated in 54 video stories that shared the perspectives of individuals with developmental disabilities, family members, and allies.
Thinking Ahead: Thank you to the California Department of Developmental Services for creating resource materials in plain language that can be used with self advocates to discuss end of life issues. This guide can be useful in assuring that self advocates express preferences about end of life decisions. Please note: this is not a legal document.
CNN Special Assignment: "Oklahoma Infanticide": A three part series by Carlton Sherwood describes the lack of medical treatment for babies born with spina bifida in Oklahoma in 1984.
Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger: A History of Human Services, Universal Lessons, and Future Implications
In September 1998 Dr. Wolfensberger presented this two day lecture at Millersville University, Lyte Auditorium, Millersville, PA.
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act)
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act)
Since 1963, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) has made a crucial difference in the lives and futures of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Through the DD Act, federal funds support the development and operation of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Protection and Advocacy Systems, University Centers (formerly known as University Affiliated Programs), and Projects of National Significance.
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000
Allan Bergman on the Evolution of the DD Act
Allan Bergman is a nationally recognized leader in influencing the development of federal and state policy relating to best practice services and supports for persons with disabilities. At the June 2, 2010 meeting of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, Allan Bergman talked about the evolution of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act).
Video Interview: Allan Bergman on the DD Act >>
Interview with Senator Lowell Weicker and John Doyle on Institutional Abuses
Interview with Senator Lowell Weicker and John Doyle on the Education of All Handicapped Children Act
Developmental Disabilities and Equal Justice Under the Law, Including Employment and Diversity
Portions of a Presentation by U.S. Judge Donovan W. Frank (Video)
The Learning Center
10,000 pages of publications from 1976-1997
Marc Gold: "Try Another Way"
Marc Gold began his career as a special education teacher in Los Angeles. It was there that he formulated a values based systematic training approach, "Try Another Way." This approach was based on a few fundamental beliefs: Everyone can learn but we have to figure out how to teach; students with developmental disabilities have much more potential than anyone realizes; and all people with disabilities should have the opportunity to decide how to live their lives. These video segments demonstrate his philosophy, and the respect and value he placed on the abilities of each of his students.
