Minnesota Disability History Learning Lesson Package
The struggle for disability rights in Minnesota is part of the wider civil rights movement in the United States, both of which strive for equality, justice, and inclusion in the community. Civil rights are the legal protections and freedoms people have within a society. Learning about the history of civil rights can help us understand and address unfairness, so everyone can contribute to making communities more inclusive and welcoming.
The Minnesota Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities co-created with people with disabilities, their family members, and supporters, the Minnesota Disability History Learning Lesson Package as part of the An Unfinished Journey educational project begun by the Minnesota Federal District Court in 2023.
The lesson has four main learning objectives:
- To define civil rights and explain why they matter to all people,
- To describe the history of disability rights in Minnesota and connect it to broader civil rights movements,
- To recognize ongoing challenges faced by people with developmental disabilities today, and
- To identify at least one concrete action each of us can take to support full equality for people with disabilities.
This Learning Lesson is designed to be shared by presenting it to multiple audiences including Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, Family Members and supporters; Community Groups with civic interests; and School-aged children (grades 4 – 12) as a supplement to social studies civil rights lessons. The Lesson includes a PowerPoint slide deck "Waiting for Rights: Civil Rights and Developmental Disabilities in Minnesota" with video clips, and a Facilitator Guide that supports the presentation.
PowerPoint Slide Deck with 1080P Videos (268MB Zip file) »
PowerPoint Slide Deck with 720P Videos (195MB Zip file) »
Facilitator's Guide (PDF) »