Spring 2026 Public Comment Period for Draft Olmstead Plan

A draft of Minnesota’s next Olmstead Plan was reviewed by the Subcabinet in March 2026. State agencies and Inclusion Consultants worked together to write the plan and its goals. The draft is now available for public review.

Read the draft Olmstead Plan [PDF] Download the appendix [PDF]

The draft plan is also available in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.

If you need the draft plan or appendix in an alternative format, please contact OIO at MNOlmsteadPlan@state.mn.us or 651-296-8081.

An important next step is to get feedback about the draft plan from Minnesotans with disabilities, their supporters, and professionals. Feedback received during public comment will be shared with agency staff and Inclusion Consultants. They will work on updating the goals based on the feedback received. The Olmstead Plan will be finalized in Fall 2026.

There are two main ways to provide feedback during this public comment period: a written survey and virtual meetings.

Written Survey

The survey is now available in English. It will be open through May 8.

Take the survey now!

The survey is also available in Spanish, Hmong, Somali, and ASL (ASL videos with captions and voice over). These surveys will be open through May 23.

If you need to participate in this survey in an alternative format, please contact OIO at MNOlmsteadPlan@state.mn.us or 651-296-8081.
Virtual Meetings
We are working with the Dendros Group to host virtual public meetings.

There will be seven virtual meetings throughout April. Each meeting is focused on one goal topic area in the plan: crisis services, education, employment, health & safety, housing, transit & transportation, and transition.

These meetings will start with a presentation about the goals within this topic area. Then there will be small, facilitated breakout rooms for public feedback on the goals.

We have limited spots available in these meetings. We want to prioritize people with disabilities, however anyone is welcome to register for the meetings. We encourage family, friends, supporters, and people who work in the disability field to attend.

Register for a public comment meeting on the Dendros Group website

The meeting dates and topics are:

Topic Descriptions

Below you can find information about each topic and its goals. Guides are available for each topic in ASL, English, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.

Crisis Services
These draft goals are about crisis services. Some goal topics include institutional placements of people with disabilities, mental health crisis services, and the support staff shortage causing out of state placements.
Access the Crisis Services Public Comment Guide (PDF)

The Crisis Services Public Comment Guide is available in multiple languages:
Education
These draft goals are about education for people with disabilities. Some goal topics include integrated classrooms, schools improving engagement with families, restraint and seclusion, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), early care and education, and school suspensions.
Access the Education Public Comment Guide (PDF)

The Education Public Comment Guide is available in multiple languages:
Employment
These draft goals are about employment for people with disabilities. Some goal topics include improving competitive integrated employment, Veteran employment, and vocational rehabilitation services.
Access the Employment Public Comment Guide (PDF)

The Employment Public Comment Guide is available in multiple languages:
Health & Safety
These draft goals are about health and safety for people with disabilities. Some goal topics include health care, health insurance, and abuse and neglect of people with disabilities.
Access the Health & Safety Public Comment Guide (PDF)

The Health & Safety Public Comment Guide is available in multiple languages:
Housing
The housing draft goals are about housing for people with disabilities. Some goal topics include rental affordability, accessibility, housing satisfaction, and loan programs for people with disabilities.
Access the Housing Public Comment Guide (PDF)

The Housing Public Comment Guide is available in multiple languages:
Transit & Transportation
These goal drafts are about transportation and transit services.

Some goal topics include flex account transportation spending, on time performance of metro region transportation services, and improving transit information access.
Access the Transit & Transportation Public Comment Guide (PDF)

The Transit & Transportation Public Comment Guide is available in multiple languages:
Transition
The transition draft goals are about transition services. This includes waiver services and people with disabilities leaving segregated settings. Some goal topics include people with disabilities moving into integrated settings, Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC), Forensic Mental Health Program (FMHP), abuse and neglect, restraint and seclusion, and locked facilities.
Access the Transition Public Comment Guide (PDF)

The Transition Public Comment Guide is available in multiple languages: