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The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is seeking nominations for Minnesota Businesses That Have an Innovative Approach to Employing People with Developmental Disabilities.

The winners will be profiled on the GCDD website and will be recognized in several publications.

Nominations can include entrepreneurs with disabilities and employers who hire people with developmental disabilities, provide necessary accommodations or supports, and consider an inclusive workforce an ordinary part of doing business.

Examples of employer innovation for employees with developmental disabilities could include:

•     Unique type of job or work
•     Recognition of employee’s unique skills or abilities
•     Innovative use of technologies
•     Approach to including employees as part of the greater work teams or employee groups.
•     Other creative or innovative accommodations  

All nominations are welcomed.  You can nominate your employer, yourself or others, that you know have an innovative approach to employing people with developmental disabilities.

The nomination should include the nomination form and a short description of how the entrepreneur or the employer went above and beyond expectations in some creative way to ensure that workers with disabilities have access to all of the benefits and opportunities for advancement that the business may offer.

Nominations must be submitted by August 10, 2008.   Please take time now to nominate a deserving employer.

For the nomination form and additional details please use the web address below; or call 800.943.3099 (toll free voice) and ask for Sam to request alternative formats. 

For individuals who are deaf and/or hard of hearing, please contact the Minnesota Relay Service at 800.627.3529 or dial 711.  

www.marketresponse.com/mn.html

Thank you for your Innovative Minnesota Employer nomination!

Video:
Developmental Disabilities and Equal Justice
Under the Law, Including Employment and Diversity

United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank was the program speaker for the October 3, 2007 Council meeting. He is a staunch advocate for people with disabilities, committed to change attitudes and challenge traditional notions, and willing to share personal stories and family experiences that have all contributed to his keen understanding of the issues that people with disabilities face on a daily basis.

View the video...

US Judge Donovan Frank

Video:
The Changing Face of Technology:
Document Imaging Meets the Challenge

Customer expectations,the demand for greater efficiencies, and cost control are driving businesses to rely upon advanced technologies for solutions; and an increasing number of people with developmental disabilities are filling document imaging positions.

Summit Silver AwardCommunicator AwardThe Changing Face of Technology has received two major recognitions: a 2008 Silver Award in the international Summit Creative Awards competition, which attracted entries from more than 50 countries, and a Silver Award of Distinction in the national Communicator Awards competition. The video, designed to encourage employers to consider hiring people with developmental disabilities for jobs in document imaging, was produced for the Council by The Wallace Group.

The Changing Face of Technology

View the video...

News and Information                                                      More News...

A new page has been added that will feature Council-Sponsored Grant Activities. Using words and photos, this page will include such topics as Self Advocacy, Partners in Policymaking®, Cultural Outreach Programs, Family Support 360, and Training Conferences. Self Advocacy Minnesota (SAM) is the current feature.

FFY 2008 Training Conferences Cosponsorship Funds Awarded: Fifteen Minnesota organizations were recently awarded cosponsorship funds for training conferences. The conferences provide opportunities for participants to learn about best practices, and develop or strengthen their personal leadership skills. The expectation is that these training experiences will result in increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Recruitment is underway for the Minnesota Partners in Policymaking program, Class 26, scheduled to being September 2008. Information about the Minnesota Partners program and an application for Class 26 are now available. Contact information is included for more information or questions.

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) has issued it 2007 Annual Report.

The Council's key business results for FFY 2007 (October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007) are available for review. FlashPaper Format   PDF   Text

The Council State Plan FFY 2001-2006 Executive Summary (PDF Format) has been issued. (Text version)

1962-2007 Public Opinion Poll Results: In 1962, the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare contracted with Social Issues Research, Inc. to conduct 900 face to face interviews with a sample of Minnesotans that was in close approximation to the 1960 Census. The purpose of the study was to "determine what salience does the problem of mental retardation have for the people of Minnesota?" The results were intended to be used to design a community education program to alter misconceptions about people with mental retardation. Forty five years later, the staff of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities discovered a copy of the study while creating an online archive, Parallels in Time, Part 2. The Council then contracted with MarketResponse International to conduct a similar study — 800 phone interviews were made with a sample of Minnesotans that was in close approximation to the 2005 Census. The purpose of the study was to measure attitudinal changes of the general population in Minnesota during the past 45 years. The results of the opinion poll are presented here (Flash format). Also available as PDF and text-only.

MN Dept of Admin: Partners in Policymaking® Online Learning Program Receives 2007 Digital Government Achievement Award

The Partners in Policymaking® Online Courses have received a 2007 Best of Web Digital Government Achievement Award.

Mndisability.gov Web Site Offers Easy Starting Point for State Government Disability Resources: Beginning June 21, 2007, Minnesotans have a single source on the Internet — www.mndisability.gov — for quick and easy access to state government-agency programs, products and services dedicated to disability issues.