Guest Post

Autism Awareness Month is a time to listen, learn, and build understanding. In this post, Eden shares her experience of receiving an autism diagnosis later in life and what that journey has meant for her. We also include Minnesota events and resources for people who want to learn more or connect with support. Read Eden’s story and explore autism-related resources in Minnesota.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week, March 16-22, is a time to recognize different ways of thinking and challenge harmful stereotypes. MCD is marking the week by sharing two guest reflections from Council Chair Addyson Carpenter and Council member Abraham Tieman. They reflect on identity, self-understanding and the value of being supported as your full self.

Low Vision Awareness Month is a chance to share practical ways to make daily life more accessible for people with low vision. In a guest blog post from State Services for the Blind, you’ll find real-world strategies you can try, like using built-in smartphone features to read text, adjust contrast, and reduce glare. The post also explains how learning nonvisual skills can support independence at home, at work, and in the community.

Years of missed symptoms and rising medical costs leave many Minnesotans with rare diseases without answers or a clear path forward. In a guest blog, Gretchen Jordan describes Cushing’s disease as living in “fight or flight” mode around the clock. Her story shows how a diagnosis can turn surviving into advocating.

Mai Thor, Chief Program Officer at The Arc Minnesota, received a Champion of Change Award as part of the Governor’s Council on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebration. A disability activist and leader, Mai has advanced access and inclusion across sectors, including civic engagement and transportation. In a Q&A with MCD, she reflects on what the award means, how disability justice connects to Dr. King’s legacy, and what sustains her advocacy.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 invites communities to reflect on this year’s theme of fostering a disability inclusive society. Political participation remains a critical part of that goal, yet many candidates with disabilities still face stigma that limits their opportunities to lead. As part of this observance, MCD shares a guest article from Dr. Thomas Timothy Mtonga, an academic who is blind and a former parliamentary candidate in Zambia. His experience highlights these barriers. Read Dr. Mtonga’s article on disability inclusion in public life.