Minnesota Council on Disability

10/10/2026

David Dively, Minnesota Council on Disability Executive Director, met with Access Press to discuss barriers and milestones for people with disabilities in employment.

Read here: https://accesspress.org/disabled-minnesotans-face-barriers-and-celebrate-milestones-in-employment/

10/09/2026

Save the date!

Join us at the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda for the White Cane Awareness Day celebration on Tuesday, October 13, from 9:30 a.m. to noon! This year’s theme highlights transit—celebrating independent travel, getting around our communities, and getting from place to place.

Details:
9:30 to 10:15 am - Resource tables/social time in Rotunda
10:15 to 11:00 am - Proclamation/speakers in the Rotunda
11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Transportation Activities on Capitol Grounds

10/08/2026

Join Legislative Affairs Director Jillian Nelson and Government Relations Lead Axel Kylander for a cup of coffee and a conversation on Friday, October 9 in Northeast Minnesota.

Chat about government, public policy, disability services, accessibility, or whatever is on your mind. The team is excited to meet members of the community and find out what matters to you as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

Questions or accommodations? Email Jillian Nelson at [email protected].

Date: Friday, October 9, 2026

Locations and Times

Duluth
9:00–10:30 am
Caribou Coffee, 1600 Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth, MN 55811

Two Harbors
11:30 am–1:00 pm
Cedar Coffee Company, 1130 11th St County 26, Two Harbors, MN

Hibbing
3:00–4:30 pm
Caribou Coffee, 4100 9th Ave W, Hibbing, MN 55746

Grand Rapids
5:30–7:00 pm
Heroes Rising, 110 Golf Course Rd Ste 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

10/06/2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Minnesota’s Employment First policy sets competitive integrated employment (CIE) as the first consideration, built on informed choice and supports tailored to the person.

Learn more about CIE and how supported employment and customized employment empower people to get and keep jobs

Read the NDEAM feature on Employment First and CIE.

https://www.disability.state.mn.us/2026/10/06/national-disability-employment-awareness-month-and-employment-first/

10/05/2026

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is running a contest to determine the "coolest thing” made in Minnesota! One of the items selected is a Trackchair.

The Trackchair is an all-terrain wheelchair that navigates sand, snow, mud and water up to 10 inches deep. The latest model, called AXIS 30, measures 30 inches wide and was built for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts. The Trackchair has made it to the final four each year since the competition’s inception in 2024.

https://www.twincities.com/2026/09/30/coolest-thing-made-in-minnesota-final-four/?share=0nocil0cssh09ieime2w

Vote for the Trackchair here: https://www.mnchamber.com/coolest-thing-made-minnesota

09/29/2026

What accessibility barriers do you encounter in your community?

The 2026 Minnesota Community Access Survey gives you a way to identify barriers involving disability parking, community places, communication access and other aspects of accessibility.

Your responses can help identify patterns and show which accessibility issues people most want their communities to address.

Take the 2026 Community Access Survey. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=RrAU68QkGUWPJricIVmCjMtEVU_M0D9OqyAX2c3mLwhUNEdRTkRYTTU4ME9ZQVFVUUtYQ1hTVTcyTi4u&route=shorturl

09/23/2026

Join the Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Worthington community for the Sketches of Minnesota civic improv comedy tour! These free events use laughter and comedy to celebrate Minnesota communities, promote dialogue, bridge divides, and help find ways to work constructively across differences in today’s political environment.

Beginning with a catered meal, these gatherings invite audience members to share what makes their town great, what they think people get wrong about it, what local divisions concern them, and what future they imagine. An improv comedy troupe listens in on the conversations, takes everything they heard from residents, and brings it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy theater.

5:00–6:00 PM: Doors open / Community hour
6:00–7:15 PM: Dinner
7:15–8:00 PM: Improv Show
8:00–8:30 PM: Talkback

More information: https://www.mnhum.org/event/worthington-sketches-of-minnesota/

09/22/2026

We had a great time at the fourth annual Disability Pride Festival! We enjoyed spending the day celebrating and connecting with the community. The MCD booth gave out materials, answered questions, and was even joined by some of the artists who have created our new posters! We can't wait to see you again.

Thank you ACT - Advocating Change Together for hosting this important event!

09/17/2026

09/16/2026

Come celebrate disability pride, culture, and community at Minnesota’s Fourth Annual Disability Pride Festival. The festival will be held Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Hosted by Advocating Change Together (ACT), the free event was rescheduled from July to protect community health during extreme heat and hazardous air quality.

This year’s theme, “Rooted In Pride. Growing Our Future.” reflects ACT’s commitment to “honoring our history while investing in the next generation of self‑advocate leaders.” The new date also aligns with Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW), September 14 through 18, 2026. DVRW is a nonpartisan, nationwide week of action highlighting voter registration, education, and accessible participation.

Event Details
What: Fourth Annual Disability Pride Festival
When: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul

What to Expect
Enjoy a welcoming day with music, community vendors, resource tables, and ways to connect with disability‑led organizations. The festival centers joy, visibility, and belonging, celebrating disability identity and the contributions of people with disabilities across Minnesota.

MCD will be on site with Treat People Like People campaign items, new poster art by Minnesota artists with disabilities, other materials, and giveaways.

Why It Matters
Did you know: About 12% of Minnesotans report having a disability, and more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults live with a disability. Events like this honor disability culture, challenge stereotypes, and build connection. Most importantly, they remind us that disability is a natural and valuable part of human diversity.

Disability Pride Month is observed each July to mark the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990. It’s a time to reflect on progress, recognize ongoing barriers, and celebrate the leadership of people with disabilities.

More Information
Visit ACT’s Disability Pride Festival event page for more information.
https://www.selfadvocacy.org/disability-pride-festival