Issue: For many years, the Minnesota legislature has funded training for self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn about public policy and the legislative process and tell their own personal stories. It is time to build on that training and provide funding for utilizing self-advocacy skills to organize around increasing inclusion in the community.
Our goal: By establishing microgrants for self-advocacy groups statewide, the Minnesota Inclusion Initiative aims to increase the inclusion of people with I/DD in the community, improve community integration outcomes, educate decision-makers and the general public about systemic barriers to inclusion, and provide opportunities to advocate for change.