The Community Leadership Academy is a six week program that provides an interactive training experience for people with disabilities interested in expanding their leadership skills and create changes within their communities.  The program will focus on various topics such as leadership, board functions, advocacy, community engagement and networking.  Through this program participants will gain the knowledge and confidence needed to serve on boards or committees within their community.

Upon completion of the program the participants will be recognized at a graduation ceremony.  If you are interested in participating in this program, please email heather@myoptions.info.  However, if you have additional questions please call Heather at Options, Resource Center for Independent Living at 218-773-6100 or 800-726-3692. 

Civil Rights for people with disabilities seek to eliminate discrimination against people based on their disabilities in employment, state and local government services, privately operated public accommodations (hotels, restaurants, stores, museums, etc.), transportation, and telecommunications.

Two very important Civil Rights for Persons with Disabilities include Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

https://www.ada.gov/resources/disability-rights-guide/#:~:text=about%20this%20topic.-,Americans%20with%20Disabilities%20Act%20(ADA),to%20the%20United%20States%20Congress.

According to the State Department, the four fundamental rights for people with disabilities are non-discrimination, access, equal opportunity, inclusion, and full participation in society.  These are the basic principles underlying the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

https://www.state.gov/promoting-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/#:~:text=Persons%20with%20disabilities%20have%20the,Rights%20of%20Persons%20with%20Disabilities.

Another great resource for Disability Rights information.

https://www.justice.gov/crt/disability-rights-section

Civil rights are legal rights that protect individuals from discrimination based on race, sex, disability, and other characteristics. Human rights are rights you are born with–you have them simply by being human, whether or not they have been put into the form of a law in the country where you reside.

You have the right to ask for an accommodation.  Please click on the link below.

https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/your-employment-rights-individual-disability

Because of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) of 1990, it is unlawful to discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability. To be a qualified person with a disability, you must have, have a record of, or be regarded as having a substantial impairment (one that significantly limits or restricts a major life activity such as hearing, seeing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, learning or working.

This part of the law of ADA is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and State and local civil rights enforcement agencies that work with the Commission; and makes it illegal for discrimination by private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, labor organizations, and labor-management committees.

If you have a disability, you must also be qualified to perform the essential functions or duties of a job, with or without reasonable accommodation, in order to be protected from job discrimination by the ADA. This means two things. First, you must satisfy the employer's requirements for the job, such as education, employment experience, skills or licenses. Second, you must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions are the fundamental job duties that you must be able to perform on your own or with the help of a reasonable accommodation. An employer cannot refuse to hire you because your disability prevents you from performing duties that are not essential to the job.

A reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that permits a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the job application process, to perform the essential functions of the job, and to enjoy all the benefits and privileges of employment equal to those without disabilities.  Some examples may include providing or modifying equipment, modified work schedules, adjusting or modifying exams or training materials, etc.

An employer is required to provide a reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show that the accommodation would be an undue hardship -- that is, that it would require significant difficulty or expense.

Employment practices that are covered include recruitment, firing, hiring, training, job assignments, promotions, pay, benefits, lay-offs, leave, and all other employment related activities.

It is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against you for asserting your rights under the ADA. 

The link below answers many questions about voting in the United States.

      Registering.

     How, when and where to vote.

     How to make informed choices on voting.

     State and local election offices.

     Congressional, state and local elections.

     Voting and election laws.

     How the President is elected.

     Inauguration of the President of the United States.

     Results from past elections.

https://www.usa.gov/voting-and-elections

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State

In Minnesota voters can register at polling places on Election Day or early voting locations before Election Day. 

https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/

Office of the North Dakota Secretary of State.

North Dakota is the only state that does not have voter registration. 

https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections/voter/voting-north-dakota/how-do-i-vote

I have a disability.  Will my polling place be accessible and will there be assistance if I need it?

Federal and state laws require polling places to be accessible and usable for voters with disabilities

https://www.disability.state.mn.us/technical-assistance/voting/

How do I go about getting an absentee ballot?  What if I need an Accessible Absentee Ballot?

Absentee ballots are available in Minnesota and North Dakota and no excuse is required.  For more information, and on other ways to vote, please see above Secretary of State links for each state.

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State

https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/

Office of the North Dakota Secretary of State.

https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections/voter/voting-north-dakota/how-do-i-vote

Minnesota Voters with print disabilities may request an accessible absentee ballot.  Print disabilities are disabilities that interfere with effective reading, writing, or use of printed materials.  People with disabilities include those who are blind or visually impaired, have learning disabilities, or have a physical disability that interferes with holding and manipulating paper or a pen or pencil. 

To request an absentee ballot, you can go to the link below and/or contact your local county election office. 

Note:  If you do not have a disability, you are not eligible to receive an accessible ballot.  For more information on accessibility, see link below from the Minnesota Council on Disability

https://www.disability.state.mn.us/technical-assistance/voting/

Minnesota Voters can also request an absentee ballot using the link below.

https://www.usa.gov/voting-and-elections

North Dakota Voters can have someone help you as you fill out your paper mail-in ballot.  They might need to sign an affidavit.  Your helper cannot be your employer, labor union official, or a candidate (or a candidate’s relative) who is on the ballot.  When you request a mail-in ballot, if you do not have an ID due to your disability you can have someone attest to your identity with their ID. 

For more information or to request an absentee ballot, you can use one of the links below or contact your local county election office.  

Secretary of State website link .(Voting Information)

https://www.sos.nd.gov/elections/voter/voting-north-dakota/how-do-i-vote

North Dakota Protection and Advocacy website link

https://www.ndpanda.org/resources/voting