Award Text: Free Our People Award to Governor Mark Dayton

ADAPT MN presents the Free Our People Award to Governor Mark Dayton

Governor Dayton has shown his commitment to supporting freedom and independence of people with disabilities by:

• Vetoing the GOP Omnibus Health and Human Services finance bill, Transportation finance bill, and Jobs and Economic Development appropriations bill, remembering that Real Cuts Hurt Real People; and,
• Recognizing that enabling people with disabilities to live in our own homes in our own communities costs less than institutionalization and improves our dignity, health and safety.

Governor Dayton is a leader that the disability community can count on to:

• Include People with Disabilities in any decisions that affect our lives;
• Raise revenue to fund vital services by ensuring that the most wealthy Minnesotans are paying their fair share; and, 
• Ensure that people with disabilities receive people-centered supports to free us from unnecessary, costly, inherently demeaning, frequently understaffed and sometimes abusive institutions and nursing homes.

Share Your Ally/Media Contacts -- Unify, Encourage, and Empower Your Community

While ADAPT Minnesota organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, which one may or may not include civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom, we are part of a much bigger community.

Please help us develop a larger, more unified, and more powerful community of individuals, families, organizations, and media that can more effectively encourage and empower equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone.  Help us by 1) sharing your ally and media contacts; 2) introducing us to them; 3) identifying opportunities where we can work together; 4) engaging them to work with us toward our common visions, promote our shared values, and work on our unique missions.

• Ally Contact Submission Form (Google Forms)
• Media Contact Submission Form (Google Forms)

If you have any problems using the Google Forms, please let us know of those challenges and your contact by simply e-mailing adapt.mn@gmail.com .

Minnesota Governor’s Identification of Essential Services during Government Shutdown

 The list of state government services that must continue during the looming Minnesota government shutdown has been released by Governor Dayton's office.

What's on the service continuation list related to the disability community?

• Access to Medical Assistance and other state health program services have been listed as essential; (Department of Human Services)
• Disability determination claims (Department of Employment and Economic Development)
• Unemployment Insurance claims processing and payments claims (Department of Employment and Economic Development)
• Workers' Compensation claims and approval of medical treatments (Department of Labor & Industry)

What's NOT on the service continuation list related to the disability community?

• Payments for ANY health care services under state health care programs (Department of Human Services)
• Metro Transit bus service (Metropolitan Council)
• Metro Mobility (Metropolitan Council)
• Vocational Services authorizations or claims (Department of Employment and Economic Development)
• The Minnesota State Council on Disability
• Most state grants or contracts through any state agency

MORE INFORMATION
More information can be found at the following agency's government shutdown information pages:

• Minnesota Department of Human Services
• Minnesota Department of Health
• MetroMobility (which indicated plans to continue operating as long as possible)

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 6/22 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, June 22 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

Description: We will finalize our planning our awards ceremony for the Governor.  Everyone is welcome!  Become part of our growing ADAPT Minnesota Metro Chapter plus be a part of upcoming actions and events to get our state leadership and citizens to focus on what matters -- assuring the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom -- instead of voting to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence.  Support equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone!

Scent-Free and Safe Spaces:  Please remember that all our activities are scent-free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

Future Meetings: We currently plan to meet every Wednesday through at least the end of June as state leaders continue to hammer out a budget resolution.  We will meet at the Griggs-Midway Building for the remaining meetings.

ASL Interpreters Wanted -- Volunteers and/or Independent Contractors

• Wednesdays through June, 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., in St. Paul (Griggs-Midway Building; 1821 University Avenue; Map)
• Thursday, June 23 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Minnesota State Capitol
• Other Opportunities Going Forward

ADAPT Minnesota is looking for several American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to help us ensure equal opportunities for equal participation exist for everyone. ASL interpreters are desired for our regularly scheduled membership meetings, activities, and events. Volunteers are fantastic, but we are able to compensate as well.

ADAPT Minnesota is statewide chapter of a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, that may or may not include civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom; equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We strive to ensure all our meetings, activities, and events are scent free and safe spaces .

Please forward this message to your family, friends, colleagues, and communities to help us develop a large and qualified pool of ASL interpretation professionals.

If you are interested in joining us as an ASL interpreter, please feel free to provide your information on our ASL interpreter roster sign-up form.  Only our communications committee will have access to the information you submit.  If you have any trouble using the form or have any questions, comments, or concerns, please e-mail adapt.mn@gmail.com with your qualifications and availability.

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 6/15 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, June 15 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

   
We will continue planning the Community Living Leadership Award Ceremony.  Become part of our growing ADAPT Minnesota Metro Chapter plus be a part of upcoming actions and events to get our state leadership and citizens to focus on what matters -- life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone -- instead of voting  to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence. Everyone is welcome!  Please remember that all our activities are scent free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

Future Meetings: We currently plan to meet every Wednesday through at least the end of June as state leaders continue to hammer out a budget resolution.  We haven't decided on meeting locations yet for June 22 or June 29.  More information will be released in the next week or so.

ANNOUNCEMENT: ADAPT Minnesota Free Our People Award Ceremony

ADAPT Minnesota Free Our People Award Ceremony

WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m.

WHERE: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda

DESCRIPTION: ADAPT Minnesota is thanking Governor Mark Dayton for vetoing several finance bills that would have created significant harm throughout our communities.  Plus, we are expressing our support for him to continue standing firm for a fair budget that isn't balanced on the backs of individuals and families experiencing disability.  ADAPT Minnesota is statewide chapter of a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, that may or may not include civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom; equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Members: Please remember to wear your red ADAPT Minnesota shirts.
Allies: Please remember to wear a red shirt.

AGENDA:
1:30 - 1:45 p.m. -- Gather in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda
1:45 - 2:00 p.m. -- Move to the Minnesota Governor's Office as a Group
2:00 - 2:15 p.m. -- Award Ceremony
2:15 - 3:00 p.m. -- Press Availability and Socializing throughout the Capitol

QUESTIONS AND PRESS INQUIRIES:
For more information, please e-mail adapt.mn@gmail.com.