Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

5 Year Plan Executive Summary

October 1, 2001 – September 30, 2006

Independence…
Self Determination…
Productivity…
Integration & Inclusion…

What is a developmental disability?
A developmental disability is:

  • a severe, chronic, mental or physical impairment, or combination of both; manifested before age 22;
  • likely to continue indefinitely;
  • and resulting in a substantial, functional limitation in major life activities.

Therefore, the individual requires a combination of services and supports that is individually planned and coordinated, and of lifelong or extended duration.

Why do we have a Council?
The Developmental Disabilities Act mandates that every state and territory must have a DD Council. The Minnesota Governor’s Council on DD was established in October 1971. The job of the Council is to increase the independence, self determination, productivity, integration and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities.

INDEPENDENCE…
Personal freedom to make choices and have control over services, supports, and other assistance the individual receive

SELF DETERMINATION…
Authority to make decisions, control resources and develop personal leadership skills.

PRODUCTIVITY…
Meaningful, income-producing work or volunteer work that contributes to a household or the community.

INTEGRATION & INCLUSION…
Full participation in the same community activities as people without disabilities.

Who are we and who appoints us?
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities has 25 members from across the state who are appointed by the Governor. In accordance with the DD Act, at least 60 percent of members are individuals with developmental disabilities or family members.

What do we do and for whom?
We provide information, education and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, self determination, productivity, integration and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Our customers are people with developmental disabilities, their families, service providers, and employers.

Our strategies and respective substrategies during the next five years are as follows:

1. Partners in Policymaking®

  • Partners in Policymaking, a leadership training program designed for adults with disabilities and parents of young children with developmental disabilities, will be held annually.

  • Workshops for Partners graduates will be offered quarterly to strengthen personal leadership skills. Topics may include negotiation skills, facilitation skills, and grant writing.

  • Longitudinal studies of Partners graduates will be conducted annually.

  • Cultural outreach programs will be conducted annually in the African American, Native American, and Hispanic communities for parents of children with developmental disabilities.

  • A pilot program, Partners in Policymaking for Employers, will be tested with Minnesota businesses aligned with the Baldrige framework.

  • Self advocacy will be supported and strengthened.

2. COMMUNICATIONS AND TRAINING

  • Publications and resource materials will be available free of charge in accessible formats.

  • All products and services will be converted to web accessible formats in accordance with Electronic Government Services objectives.

  • Ten training conferences will be cosponsored annually.

3. CUSTOMER FOCUS AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

  • Customer research will be conducted on customer needs, requirements and expectations. Customer satisfaction data will be collected systematically.

  • The DD Council and suppliers will increase their knowledge, understanding and application of the Baldrige framework.

When and where do we meet?
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the even-numbered months (October, December, February, April, June and August) from 9:30am to 2:30pm. The Council meets at the Earle Brown Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus. Members may be reimbursed for lodging, meals, transportation, respite/child care, and personal care attendant services.

How can you reach us?

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Department of Administration
370 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul Minnesota 55155

PHONE:
651-296-4018

TOLL FREE:
1-877-348-0505

TTY:o651-296-9962

WEB:
www.mn.gov/mnddc
www.partnersinpolicymaking.com

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©2025 The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
Administration Building   50 Sherburne Avenue   Room G10
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651-296-4018   Toll-free number: 877-348-0505   MN Relay Service: 800-627-3529 OR 711
Email: admin.dd.info@state.mn.us    View Privacy Policy    An Equal Opportunity Employer 

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402. The federal law also provides funding to the Minnesota Disability Law Center, the state Protection and Advocacy System, and to the Institute on Community Integration, the state University Center for Excellence. The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2401MNSCDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

This website is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,152,808.00 funded by ACL/HHS and $222,000.00 funded by non-federal-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.