Mentions of MCD in the media from 2024.
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November 10, 2024
Employment Challenges Persist for People with Disabilities
A recent Minnesota Daily article highlights persistent employment challenges faced by Minneapolis residents with disabilities. Referencing statistics on the MCD website, their unemployment rate is 7% – double that of people without disabilities. The piece features stories from local business owner Madison Rubenstein and former state employee Annika Grassl, illustrating how disabilities impact career opportunities and workplace accessibility. While programs like the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund provide some support, barriers remain, including transportation limitations and wage disparities.
Employment challenges persist for people with disabilities
October 3, 2024
Twin Cities Ranked Top Five Best City for People with Disabilities
Minneapolis and St. Paul were recently ranked among the top five best cities for people with disabilities in a new WalletHub ranking. David Fenley, ADA Director at the Minnesota Council on Disability, praised the Twin Cities’ strides in accessibility but emphasized that more work remains. Compared to other cities, Minneapolis is better, but we still have a long way to go. He added, “Use it as a rallying cry to keep on going and to keep on making spaces accessible.” The council remains committed to ensuring public spaces continue to improve accessibility for everyone.
Twin Cities Ranked Top Five Best City for People with Disabilities
September 11, 2024
NFL Stadiums: How Different Stadiums Approach Accessibility
The Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD) continues its longstanding efforts to improve accessibility in NFL stadiums, as highlighted in a recent article by The Times-Delphic. Executive Director David Dively notes that the agency has been working on stadium accessibility since the 1980s. The piece explores how accessibility features, such as assisted listening devices, have evolved from legal requirements to best practices. Dively notes, “What happens for a lot of these recommendations is they start in the disability community, as a best practice, and then people advocate [for] it. Over time, they become norms.”
NFL Stadiums: How Different Stadiums Approach Accessibility
August 29, 2024
Minnesota Needs to Help Older Adults Live Well. Is a Department on Aging the Answer?
The Minnesota Star Tribune reports on the debate surrounding how to better support Minnesota’s aging population. While some people advocate for a new Department on Aging, others suggest strengthening the existing Minnesota Board on Aging. The article highlights MCD as an inspiration for potential changes. Christina Cauble, a Minnesota Board on Aging member, noted that MCD has successfully built relationships across government departments and established itself as a sought-after advisor on disability issues. This model could inform efforts to improve statewide planning and coordination for older adults in areas like transportation, housing, employment, and healthcare.
Minnesota Needs to Help Older Adults Live Well. Is a Department on Aging the Answer?
August 24, 2024
Minnesota Re-examines Guardianships: ‘They Took Away Her Rights’
Minnesota is re-examining its guardianship system, which affects nearly 35,000 lives. A new task force, supported by the Minnesota Council on Disability, will recommend changes to increase qualified guardians, establish licensure, and expand less-restrictive alternatives. David Dively, executive director of the Minnesota Council on Disability, stated that the group aims to wrap up recommendations by summer 2026. The task force will explore ways to preserve people’s civil rights and expand alternatives to guardianship. This initiative comes as the state faces a growing number of guardianship appointments for older Minnesotans, with a 30% increase in appointments for those 65 and older since 2019.
Minnesota Re-examines Guardianships: ‘They Took Away Her Rights’
August 1, 2024
Activists Feel Hoodwinked as Police Groups Dictate Model Policy for School Cops
An article in the Minnesota Reformer highlights the ongoing debate over a new model policy for school police officers’ use of prone restraints on students. The policy, mandated by a 2024 law, aims to minimize the use of such restraints while balancing law enforcement concerns. However, some activist groups feel the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST board) is ignoring their input is being ignored as the policy is developed. MCD is among the organizations participating in the process.
Activists feel hoodwinked as police groups dictate model policy for school cops
July 30, 2024
Margot Imdieke Cross, Minnesota Disability Rights Advocate, Worked ‘to Make the World a Better Place’
Margot Imdieke Cross, a pioneering disability rights advocate who dedicated over 35 years to improving accessibility across the state, passed away on July 21, 2024. She was pivotal in ensuring major sports facilities, government buildings, and public transportation projects were accessible to all. MCD Executive Director David Dively highlighted the key to her impact: “Margot had two different kinds of roles: one was on the policy side, dealing with building code… [She] then also would work on the implementation side.” Her comprehensive approach to advocacy included legislative work, consultations with architects and builders, and giving voice to community concerns. Cross’s enduring legacy is a more accessible Minnesota for everyone.
July 26, 2024
Margot Imdieke Cross, Disability Rights Advocate Who Made Minnesota More Accessible, Dies at 68
Margot Imdieke Cross, a fierce disability rights advocate who spent 35 years at the Minnesota Council on Disability, passed away at 68. Her impact on accessibility in Minnesota was profound, from curb cuts to state park trails. David Fenley, MCD’s ADA Director, praised her approach: “If we’re not making people mad, we’re not doing our jobs. Because we’re supposed to push for change, push for increased rights.” Margot repeated that message in a goodbye letter: “Sometimes passion pushes politeness aside.”
Margot Imdieke Cross, disability rights advocate who made Minnesota more accessible, dies at 68
Minnesota Activist Dies, Leaves Behind Legacy of Championing Disability Rights
Margot Imdieke Cross, a tireless champion for disability rights and longtime Accessibility Specialist at the Minnesota Council on Disability, passed away on July 21. For over 35 years, Imdieke Cross was instrumental in shaping accessibility across Minnesota, from state parks to major venues like U.S. Bank Stadium. Her impact extended to national policy, as she contributed to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Colleague Linda Wolford remembered her friend’s unwavering commitment: “She was always working, even when we were having fun… Margot would carry her tape measure around and measure and go like, ‘Nope, this isn’t accessible,’ and then she would talk to a manager.” Imdieke Cross’s legacy continues to inspire accessibility efforts statewide.
Minnesota Activist Dies, Leaves Behind Legacy of Championing Disability Rights
July 18, 2024
‘The Survival of Our Lives’: Accessible Voting Event Encourages Disability Community to Make Their Voices Heard
The Disability Freedom & Justice Caravan recently stopped in St. Paul, highlighting accessible voting for Minnesotans with disabilities. The event showcased various voting methods and featured demonstrations of accessible voting machines, including the new ExpressVote system in Hennepin County. At the event, Nikki Villavicencio, MCD Council Chair, emphasized the critical importance of voting: “We are marginalized by the government, probably more than any other minority group. And so having our voice at the table is really important to the survival of our lives.”
Accessible voting event encourages disability community to make their voices heard
June 21, 2024
Minneapolis Seeking Community Input to Improve Accessibility
A recent survey in Minneapolis revealed that while the city’s accessibility efforts are generally viewed positively, challenges remain for people with disabilities. The Minnesota Council on Disability’s ADA director, David Fenley, offered expert insight on the potential unintended consequences of car-free initiatives. Fenley cautioned, “Eliminating drive-thrus essentially tells these people, ‘All right, you don’t really matter to us anymore.'” The city is developing a new action plan to address concerns, focusing on improving building accessibility, language access, and digital content, while emphasizing the importance of community engagement throughout the process.
Minneapolis Seeking Community Input to Improve Accessibility
June 7, 2024
Minnesota State Fair Employee’s Case Led to New Law Expanding Definition of Disability
A recent Star Tribune article reveals how a Minnesota State Fair employee’s lawsuit led to a significant update to the state’s Human Rights Act, broadening the definition of disability. This new law, championed by MCD, now includes conditions like cancer in remission, diabetes, and epilepsy, which can be episodic but still limit major life activities when active. Minnesota Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero emphasized the need for these protections, stating, “When we get stuck on: ‘Are you technically disabled under the law,’ I think we are missing the fact that we are humans, we are families.” Read the article to discover how this new law paves the way for a more inclusive Minnesota.
Minnesota State Fair employee’s case led to new law expanding definition of disability
May 27, 2024
Metro Move Aims to Give Reliable Rides to Minnesotans with Disabilities
Metro Move, a recent initiative accessible transportation initiative, aims to increase the options for Minnesotans with disabilities. The program’s focus on providing reliable rides and improving accessibility aligns with the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Discussing the program, David Fenley, MCD’s ADA Director, emphasized the importance of such initiatives: “Accessible transportation is not just a convenience; it’s a fundamental right for people with disabilities.” The article outlines how Metro Move addresses barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing transportation, highlighting its role in promoting inclusivity and enhancing mobility options for all.
Metro Move aims to give reliable rides to Minnesotans with disabilities
May 23, 2024
State Capitol Grounds Will Take on New Look
Last autumn, the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board began exploring options to enhance the accessibility and appeal of the State Capitol Mall. Public design workshops, brainstorming sessions, and valuable input from MCD’s ADA Director David Fenley and Access Consultant Michele Severson played a role in identifying the necessary changes for improved accessibility. The familiar diagonal walkways, which pose challenges for people using wheelchairs, are slated for replacement. The new plan could feature more trees, green spaces, and picnic tables.
State Capitol grounds will take on new look
May 20, 2024
Disability Viewpoints: Olmstead Implementation Office, OLA, Legislation
MCD’s Trevor Turner recently appeared on the Disability Viewpoints. Trevor shared a comprehensive summary of the 2024 legislative session, touching upon key topics such as the Minnesota Rise Act, the ongoing rideshare debate, persistent gaps in accessible transportation options, and the need for guardianship reform. He also highlighted the positive policy changes and the work to be done in the upcoming sessions.
Disability Viewpoints: Olmstead Implementation Office, OLA, Legislation (Video)
May 16, 2024
Conferees Close Deal on Broad Transportation, Labor and Housing Package
As the 2024 legislative session ended, members of the conference committee on HF 5242 wrapped up their work, closing a deal on a broad transportation, labor, and housing package. The transportation report included several provisions, including one requiring the Minnesota Council on Disability to oversee the creation of a new, uniform disability parking sign to be deployed beginning August 1, 2025.
Conferees close deal on broad transportation, labor and housing package
March 27, 2024
For People with Invisible Disabilities, Getting Accommodations Involves a ‘Constant Calculus’
MCD Public Policy Director Trevor Turner recently spoke with Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) about what it’s like to live with an invisible disability. Trevor discussed his experiences with Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that affects both hearing and vision. It causes deafness and hearing loss, as well as retinitis pigmentosa – a group of eye diseases affecting the retina. Trevor recalled what it’s like deciding how much to disclose about his disability.
For People with Invisible Disabilities, Getting Accommodations Involves a ‘Constant Calculus’
March 22, 2024
Minnesotans with Disabilities Say Lyft, Uber Departure Would Leave Them Stranded
With debate continuing to surround the Minneapolis City Council’s ordinance to boost driver pay for Uber and Lyft drivers, the Star Tribune further examines the potential impact and concerns from the disability community. MCD’s ADA Director David Fenley reminds people that both Uber and Lyft have faced lawsuits related to ADA complaints, and neither has a strong record of accessible services.
Minnesotans with Disabilities Say Lyft, Uber Departure Would Leave Them Stranded
March 17, 2024
Group Home Rental Licenses: Tool for Oversight or Discrimination?
The Star Tribune article explores a long-simmering debate over cities’ ability to regulate group homes. Lawmakers are considering an exemption from local rental licensing regulations for assisted-living facilities and residential programs for people with disabilities with six or fewer residents. Reporter Jessie Van Berkel asks MCD’s Trevor Turner to weigh in on the proposed legislation.
Group Home Rental Licenses: Tool for Oversight or Discrimination?
March 7, 2024
Veto-proof Minneapolis City Council Approves Rideshare Driver Pay Hike
The Minneapolis City Council recently approved a pay increase for rideshare drivers, a move that Mayor Jacob Frey pledged to veto. If the council overrides the promised veto, rideshare companies Uber and Lyft said they would leave. MCD’s David Dively talks about the potential impact on the disability community if Uber and Lyft cease operations in the city.
Veto-proof Minneapolis City Council Approves Rideshare Driver Pay Hike
February 13, 2024
Meet the Folks Working to Make Minnesota More Accessible
For fifty years, MCD has advocated for disability rights and and a greater awareness of Minnesotans with disabilities. The Star Tribune’s James Walsh highlights our important work, interviewing Executive Director David Dively, Operations and Program Director Linda Gremillion, and ADA Director David Fenley. They discuss the challenges of enforcing disability law and removing barriers to inclusion.