December 2022-January 2023 Call to Action

Advocate for Disability Rights MN

NCSI’s advocacy efforts aim to enhance the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By working together using advocacy, we aim to educate and empower the people we serve, friends, families, staff, volunteers, and other members of the community on issues impacting people with disabilities. Together, we are a powerful voice for positive change!

We need more people to understand and help alleviate the workforce crisis that the disability field is experiencing. We need people who have relationships with state legislators to contact them, share resources, and advocate for positive change.

To learn more about the importance of disability direct care staff (“Direct Support Professionals” or “DSPs”) and the urgent need for their wages to be increased, please visit the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration’s web page “Invaluable: The Unrecognized Profession of Direct Support” (Main | Invaluable (umn.edu)).  

With the Minnesota general election behind us, we now know the newly elected State Representatives and State Senators who will represent each district of the state in the upcoming MN 2023 legislative session. 

Before session starts on January 3, 2023, these newly-elected state legislators (both brand new and returning) need to hear from individuals and organizations in their districts about prioritizing disability services. 

The “Invaluable” resources referenced above could be shared with lawmakers to educate them on the workforce crisis and compel them to further action. 

You can find out how to contact the member of the MN House and Senate who represents you on the Minnesota Legislature’s “Who Represents Me? web page (LCC-GIS (mn.gov)).

For assistance with this Call to Action, please contact executive director Jennifer Freeburg at Jennifer.Freeburg@NCSIdaysupports.org or 651-636-3343 ext. 101.

Thank you!