 Visit us at the State Fair!
The Olmstead Implementation Office is at the State Fair again this year! We’re excited to join our partners at the Minnesota Council on Disability at their booth in the Education Building. Our Director Aisha Elmquist was at the Fair on Friday, August 23, and other OIO staff will be tabling August 27 and 29. Our materials will be available at the MCD booth throughout the Fair. Information about accessibility at the Fair can be found in their accessibility guide.
Tune in to the Paralympics starting this week!
 The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games start this week! The Paralympics will take place between August 28 and September 8. There are 549 medal events across 22 sports. The Games will bring together as many as 4,400 athletes from around the world—including Minnesota! Learn more about 10 athletes with ties to Minnesota. Watch the official promotional video for the Paralympics above!
The next Olmstead Leadership Forum is September 18
The next Olmstead Leadership Forum is Wednesday, September 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Leadership Forum members are people who work for state agencies and councils with goals in the Olmstead Plan. This virtual meeting is open to the public for viewing.
The Olmstead Implementation Office continues working with a contractor to conduct small community conversations this summer and fall. These are small, intentional conversations with communities who have had barriers to engagement with the Olmstead Plan in the past. Feedback from these conversations will help inform the next Olmstead Plan.
OIO will also host a series of larger conversations open to the public both in person and virtually to inform the next Plan. Information about these conversations will be shared in our newsletter once they are scheduled.
Unlocking Inclusivity: How the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund Can Transform Your Business webinar
 The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is hosting a virtual webinar on Wednesday, August 28 to explore the power of workplace inclusivity and the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF). ERAF is an initiative that supports small to mid-size businesses by reimbursing up to $30,000 for expenses related to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities.
A new report from the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is available. The report shares the findings from the most recent phase of their intersectionality study of life experiences of young Minnesotans. This study focuses on youth perspectives and the promise of One Minnesota.
This pilot study was completed in July 2024 and included 261 young Minnesotans ages 13 to 22. This quantitative and qualitative study divided respondents into four groups by race, ethnicity, and disability status.
Some of the results include that when respondents with disabilities go into the community they describe feeling misunderstood, excluded and frustrated, while young people without disabilities say they feel at ease, confident, and accepted.
Stories were also gathered about specific areas where young Minnesotans felt excluded. These areas include social opportunities, workplace discrimination, healthcare discrimination, and inadequate support services.
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