Archives for November 2014

What do you have to say about the ADA? Share your point of view!

In 2015, the Americans with Disabilities Act will reach a 25-year milestone of having become law. As part of an overall effort to describe the ADA’s role in Minnesota, we want to know the impact of it on your experience as an employer or as a person with a disability who is currently employed or seeking employment.

Be a part of the future of the ADA in MN:

http://tinyurl.com/ADA25employmentMN

Please respond by January 17, 2015!

More about the survey:

Minnesota State Council on Disability contracted with the Improve Group, an external research group from Saint Paul, to study what the employment landscape in Minnesota looks like now that ADA has been law for 25 years. We are asking employers and people with a disability who are employed or seeking employment to complete this survey to inform the public’s understanding of ADA’s impact. The survey asks about the following:

·         Familiarity with ADA and laws regarding employment of people with a disability

·         Opinions about ADA and experiences with employment, job-seeking, and hiring

·         Changes and experience with employers’ Human Resources

·         Best practices regarding employing people with disabilities

·         Basic demographics

We also ask that you share this survey with everyone you know. All opinions count.

You may also request a copy of the study’s final report!

We are excited to learn about your experience with ADA,

– MSCOD

For a list of our partners in planning all 25th ADA events and activities, please click here.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the ADA, MSCOD is sponsoring a poster contest and a video contest to capture what the ADA means to people around the state of Minnesota. We are now accepting entries!

Posters and videos submitted should creatively address the following question: “How has the ADA impacted society in general or your life in particular?”

Categories for Participation:

·        Students in grades K-4

·        Students in grades 5-8

·        Students in grades 9-12

·        Students in post-secondary education

·        Adults – Professional

·        Adults – Other

Don’t wait too long; all entries must be received by December 15, 2014. For a complete list of rules, go to the 25th Anniversary ADA Poster and Video Contests page. Good luck!

CALL TO ACTION!

Were you or your organization instrumental in the passing of the ADA? Do you know someone who was? How has the ADA positively impacted your life? We want to hear your stories!

To tell us your story, or to let us know how you plan to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, contact David Shaw at david.a.shaw@state.mn.us. We hope to hear from you!

ADA SURVEY & FOCUS GROUPS

MSCOD, in collaboration with The Improve Group, is preparing surveys and focus groups to measure what people know about the ADA and how it has impacted employment opportunities for people with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability who works or is looking for work, we would love to hear from you. We would also like to hear from employers about how the ADA has affected the hiring process.

Please contact Dillon Balthaser at DillonB@theimprovegroup.com if you would like to participate in the focus groups, but hurry, space is limited! If we are unable to schedule you into a focus group, we welcome you to take the survey.

HERE’S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON NEXT

·        Seeking national speakers for an ADA Policy Conference on July 9th, 2015

·        Finalizing details for the July 26th, 2015 ADA 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Minnesota History Center

·        Conducting the ADA survey

·        Creating an historical documentary with TPT about Minnesota’s implementation of the ADA

·        Poster and video contests

MORE DETAILS TO COME!

GET INVOLVED!

Please support our exciting projects as they develop. Volunteer with one of our committees and help plan our celebrations and other activities. Committees meet monthly. Please contact Andrew Mosca at 651-361-7803 or andrew.mosca@state.mn.us for more information about how to become involved.

ABOUT THE ADA 25TH ANNIVERSARY LEGACY PROJECT

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 25 years old on July 26, 2015. The Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) is planning a number of activities leading up to and marking this historic day.

The MSCOD ADA 25 year Anniversary Legacy Project seeks to preserve and raise awareness of Minnesota’s role in the development of the ADA as well as celebrate Minnesota’s disability cultures in tandem with the 25 year anniversary of the passage of the ADA.

For more information about the Legacy Fund visit http://www.legacy.leg.mn/.

MSCOD’s Legacy Funds are administered by the Minnesota Humanities Center. Learn more about the Minnesota Humanities Center at http://www.minnesotahumanities.org/.

MSCOD’s 25th ADA Celebration Facebook Page

MSCOD’s 25th ADA Celebration Twitter Feed

MSCOD’s 25th ADA Celebration Page