Planning and Reform

The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities has a history of trying to make a difference, to shape the future, rather than simply be shaped by it. The documents in this section chronicle planning and reform efforts over three decades.

Section 1.1 State Plans presents the State Plans required by Federal Law for the 22 year period 1975 to 1997. The bulk of these plans simply document the status of services and the activities of State agencies. The State Plan also describes where funds for developmental disabilities services were allocated at a particular point in time.

Section 1.2 The Big Picture contains a series of documents intended to change the way policymakers see issues facing people with developmental disabilities and the ways that the system can respond to them. These documents are about paradigm shifts and major system-wide changes in public policy.

Section 1.3 and Section 1.4 The Policy Analysis Series relates to the Welsch Consent Decree and to Minnesota's State Hospitals. These documents were developed over a decade, but particularly in the first half of the 1980s. They address the major issues of deinstitutionalization and the future of Minnesota’s State Hospitals.

Sections 1.5 to Section 1.11 Documents that address reform in specific areas – the Minnesota Academies for the Deaf and the Blind, technology, case management, family support, employment, training and staff development, and public information. Many of these documents were part of successful efforts to change policy and practice in Minnesota; other documents had nationwide impact.

1.1 State Plans
Three-Year State Plan 1995-1997 Sets directions toward leadership gt127   Text
Three-Year State Plan 1991-1994 Sets directions toward leadership gt094   Text
Two-Year State Plan 1989-1991 Sets directions toward accountability gt077
Three-Year State Plan 1986-1989 Sets directions toward case management gt042   Text
Three-Year State Plan 1983-1986 Sets directions toward employment gt027   Text
Three-Year State Plan 1980-1983 Sets directions toward respite care gc023
State Plan 1980 Sets directions toward state-wide planning gc018
State Plan 1978 Sets directions toward advocacy gc012
State Plan 1977 Sets directions toward comprehensive planning Volume 1 gc009 Volume 2 gc010
State Plan 1976 Sets directions toward deinstitutionalization Volume 1 gc008   Volume 2 gc007
1.2 The Big Picture Documents
Minnesotans Speak Out! (1998)
 State-initiated reform findings about DD structure/cost gt104   Text
1990 Report Federally required report on eligibility/consumer feedback gt084
Americans with Disability: Agenda Urges passage of 1992 Rehabilitation Act gt089   Text
A New Way of Thinking (January, 1987) Calls for "real homes, real education and real work" gt045   Text
Mental Health Commission Report Strong recommendations for reform of mental health system gt037   Text
Testimony on Medicaid Urges redirection of Medicaid toward community services gt036   Text
Early Intervention Governor's proclamation in favor of early intervention gc027
Towards a DD Policy Agenda Recommendations in six areas of services gt118   Text
Fiscal Disincentives Report Illustrates bias toward the most expensive services gt023   Text
DD and Public Policy Calls for consumer-driven system gt015   Text
Participation of Minorities in the Twin Cities Increase minority participation in employment/services gc016
A Household Survey One in seven Minnesotans have functional disabilities gc014
Community Alternatives Federally required blueprint for deinstitutionalization gc006
Progress and Promise Summarizes first year of the 1960s comprehensive plan gc004
Comprehensive Plan for MR (2 Vols.) Federally funded summary of 3 1/2 years of study
 Volume 1 gc002
Volume 2 gc003
Evaluation of Regional Developmental Disabilities Councils From DD/TAS, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 75-ERD-DDT
The Evolution and Current Status of the Minnesota Developmental Disabilities Protection and Advocacy Network From Developmental Disabilities Planning Office, MN State Planning Agency 81-ECS-MSP
1.3 Policy Analysis Series (PAS): Issues Related to Welsch Consent Decree
1. Issues surrounding Welsch List of implementation issues under the Consent Decree gt001   Text
2. The Size of Community Facilities
 List of 12 conflicting guidelines for size of group homes gt002   Text
3. Interagency Cooperation
 Discusses trust, incentives, and barriers to cooperation gt003   Text
4. Cost Function Analysis of ICF-MR
 Eight variables determine per diems gt004   Text
5. Admissions to State Hospitals
 80% of admissions were for respite care gt005   Text
6. The Financial Status of DACs
 Analysis of revenue/expenditure and per diems (from 1981 survey) gt008   Text
7. The Program Status of DACs
 Personnel and management descriptions (from 1981 survey) gt009   Text
8. The Client Status of DAC General characteristics of the people served (from 1981 survey) gt010   Text
9. Summary of Issues of DACs Lists problems and implications for the future of DACs gt011   Text
10. Admissions to State Hospitals Behavior problems were main reasons for admissions gt012   Text
11. The Property values of ICF-MRs No changes in property values due to group homes gt013   Text
12 Nonformal Training for Personnel Inventory of the in-service training over a two-year period gt016   Text
13. Formal Training Programs Inventory of college coursework offerings gt017   Text
14. Training Needs Survey of managers and direct care staff about training needs gt018   Text
15. Cost Function Analysis of ICF-MRs
 Update of Analysis of variables determining per diems gt019   Text
16. Sheltered Employment Programs Survey of 25 sheltered workshops gt020   Text
17. Financial/Client/Program Status Summary of 107 DACs status in 1982 gt021   Text
18. The Family Subsidy Program Evaluation shows effectiveness of supporting families gt022   Text
19. Cost Function Analysis of ICF-MRs Update of Analysis of variables determining per diems gt024   Text
20. Respite Care
 Literature review of respite care services gt025   Text
21. RC Demonstration Project
 16 respite care projects summarized gt026   Text
22. Uses of Technology
 Calls for expanded use of technology gt029   Text
23. Financial/Client/Program Status
 Summarizes DAC survey data from 1980 - 1984 gt046   Text
24. Case Management Study
 Identifies serious problems in case management gt053
25. DACs Update
 Summarizes DAC survey data in 1985 gt054
26. Supported Employment Literature
 Reviews definitions, approaches and barriers to implement gt072
27. Supported Employment Grant Summarizes 17 grant projects in employment gt073
28. DACs 1987 Results Summary of DACs status in 1987 gt074
29. Day Training 1988 Results Summary of DACs status in 1988 gt076
30. Financing of Supported Employment Identifies strategies and literature related to financing gt085
1.4 PAS: Issues Related to Minnesota's State Hospitals
Minnesota State Hospitals Executive summary of 7 policy papers gt033   Text
1. State Hospital Facilities Describes building and alternative uses gt033A   Text
2. State Hospital Energy Use Describes energy use, efficiency and cost gt033B   Text
3. State Hospital Employees Describes employee survey results about future employment gt033C   Text
4. Economic Impact of State Hospitals Describes economic impact of each 8 state hospitals gt033D   Text
5. Public Opinions about State Hospitals Summarizes 9 town meetings and 400 letters gt033E   Text
6. Residents/Patients in State Hospitals Focuses on needs and characteristics of people served gt033F   Text
7. The Cost of State Hospitals Literature review, comparisons and needs approach to costs gt033G   Text
8. Options for St. Hospitals System Presents options and recommendations to Legislature gt033H   Text
1.5 Minnesota Academies for the Deaf and Blind
Study of Schools for the Deaf and Blind gc26A
Impact of Closure for Deaf and SSS gc26B
MN State Academy for the Blind gc26C
MN State Academy for the Deaf Report gc26E
Financial Structure Academy for Deaf and Blind gc26F
Governance Options for the Deaf and Blind gc26G
Organizational Options for the Deaf and Blind gc26H
State Board of Education Response gc26I
1.6 Technology
Disabilities and Technology (Executive Summary) Governor's Task Force Report recommendations gt040   Text
Disabilities and Technology (Full Report) gt039   Text
1.7 Case Management
Shaping Case Management Summary of case management grants and recommendation gt088
Historical, Current and Future Perspectives Edited book from a 1986 conference gt062
Case Management Study Focuses on training, funding, staff shortages, and evaluation gt052
Case Management Team Presents a primer on case management and techniques gt044
1.8 Family Support
Development of Family Program Presents 4 laws and 13 corollaries similar to Murphy's Law gt134   Text
Family Support: Preventing Harm Summarizes state-wide conference on how to prevent harm gt034   Text
Family Support Media Packet Makes the case for national family support gt119   Text
Family Support - A Check for Quality 4-page flyer to assess quality of family support gt108   Text
1.9 Employment and Training
Legislative Task Force on Employment gt055
Positive Learning gt067   Text
Communication for People with Severe Disabilities gt066   Text
How to Develop an Individual Plan gt065   Text
How to Position People with Severe Disabilities gt068   Text
Technological Adaptations to Increase Independence gt064   Text
Technical College Task Force Project gt111   Text
1.10 Public Information
Public Information   gc011
2.1 Self Determination and Person Centered Planning
Shifting Patterns (October 1992) Approaches to empowerment and self advocacy gt103   Text
Audio Version: Download Audio File (mp3)
It's Never Too Early, It's Never Too Late (October 1989) Contains basic information about personal futures planning gt075   Text
Making Futures Happen (August 1994) Facilitator manual for personal futures planning gt124   Text
Audio Version: Download Audio File (mp3)
Listen Lady, This is MY Life (1991) Presents stories presented by PFP facilitators gt082
It's My Choice (2002) Presents tools for self determination and advocacy gt110
National Conf. on Self-Determination (1989) Presents 29 recommendations from national conference gt070