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Dear Friends,
July was a month full of celebrations during Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th. It served as a powerful reminder of how far we have come and the work yet to be done to ensure true accessibility.
Building on that momentum, disability equity and inclusion leaders and advocates gathered late last month for the annual Disability:IN Global Conference, leaving us deeply inspired by the work our peers and members are doing. We look forward to the new insights we will glean between now and 2027 when we meet in Denver.
As the end of summer draws near, that means one thing around here: the Minnesota State Fair! This year, state organizers and community advocates have continued expanding accessibility efforts to help make the fairgrounds a more welcoming and inclusive space for everyone. Among these enhancements is a new roving American Sign Language (ASL) program—spotlighted in a recent article by Access Press - Minnesota's dedicated disability news source. For a complete list of accommodations, schedules, and guest resources, you can explore the Minnesota State Fair Accessibility Guide.
Thank you to our members, partners, advocates, and allies for your continued leadership during this energizing season as we build a more accessible Minnesota together.
With gratitude,
Shannon Perry, Board Chair
| | ID: Headshot of Shannon Perry, a woman with shoulder-length brunette hair. Shannon is wearing a navy blue blouse and smiling at the camera. | | | | Learn how Disability:IN Minnesota member, Element Fleet Management is driving disability inclusion through partnership, belonging, and action. | ID: A vertical banner titled "Member Spotlight" features a white card on a blue-to-green gradient background with the "element" logo at the top. The card reads, “We pride ourselves on a DEI&B strategy that promotes diversity, fosters equity, supports inclusion and ultimately creates a safe environment where everyone feels like they belong,” attributed to J'Nai Buchanan, Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. | | ID: A dark blue promotional graphic features green text at the top reading, "We'd love to hear from you!" followed by large white bold text stating, "DOBE Member Spotlight & Supplier Diversity Stories Wanted!" To the right, various abstract geometric shapes, are rendered in vibrant blue and green gradient shades. | | |
DOBE Member Spotlight & Supplier Diversity Stories Wanted!
As we prepare to highlight our DOBE® members, we'd love to hear from you! A Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE®) is a business that is at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and controlled by a person with a disability.
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Interested in a Member Spotlight? Share your story and business with our community.
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Have a strong supplier diversity program? We'd love to feature your approach and successes.
Contact us to learn more about being featured in an upcoming newsletter.
info@di-mn.org
| | ID: A wide shot of a Disability Pride event on the lawn of the Minnesota State Capitol under a sunny sky. Green text across the top reads, "New Date. Same Pride. Even More to Celebrate! September 17, Minnesota State Capital, 10am-2pm." In the foreground, large cutout letters spell "DISABILITY PRIDE," with "PRIDE" styled in the colorful stripes of the Disability Pride flag. Behind the sign, two large white tents shelter a crowd of attendees gathered at tables in front of the grand, white-domed Capitol building. | |
Small to Mid-sized Minnesota Businesses!
Receive up to $30,000 in Reimbursements
Information Session
Wednesday, August 26
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Receive reimbursements of up to $30,000 for providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities.
Join the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for an informative and engaging session that will cover:
- The benefits of workplace accessibility for your business.
- How the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) can help your business thrive while fostering a more accessible workplace, simplifies providing accommodations and supports your bottom line.
- Real-world examples of accommodations that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction.
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Learn how this innovative program can position your business as a leader in accessibility and meeting your workforce needs. Don’t miss this chance to gain actionable insights and make your workplace more accessible.
Register today! https://ow.ly/OVy550Zybo6
| | ID: A wide shot of a Disability Pride event on the lawn of the Minnesota State Capitol under a sunny sky. Green text across the top reads, "New Date. Same Pride. Even More to Celebrate! September 17, Minnesota State Capital, 10am-2pm." In the foreground, large cutout letters spell "DISABILITY PRIDE," with "PRIDE" styled in the colorful stripes of the Disability Pride flag. Behind the sign, two large white tents shelter a crowd of attendees gathered at tables in front of the grand, white-domed Capitol building. | | |
Minnesota Disability Pride Festival
Rescheduled!
New Date. Same Pride. Even more to celebrate!
Thursday, September 17th
10 am-2 pm
Minnesota State Capital
Join the free, joyful, family-friendly celebration of disabled identity, culture, and community.
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Connect: Meet others and build community.
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Explore: Discover local resource tables.
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Celebrate: Enjoy a space centered on joy, visibility, and belonging. Be seen, be proud, and celebrate who you are!
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Thank you for renewing your membership!
| | ID: Logos for Barr Engineering and ECMC Group. | | Updates from Disability:IN National | | |
Join Disability:IN Research Participant Database! | | ID: A teal-to-blue gradient graphic features the white text "Scan to Join" on the left, next to a large QR code on the right with the Disability:IN logo centered inside it. | | |
You can inform the future!
Disability:IN is building a database of individuals connected to disability — people with disabilities, employees, business partners, disability-owned business leaders, investors, students, and veterans — who are willing to be contacted about opportunities to participate in research related to disability and accessibility in business.
| | 2026 Disability Index Report - Available Now! | | ID: A title graphic reads "2026 DISABILITY INDEX REPORT" in white and green text on a dark blue geometric background. | | |
Uncover the opportunities and insights in the 2026 Disability Index Report.
Of the organizations that participated in the 2026 Disability Index Report, only 6% have a Board of Directors that includes someone who openly identifies as having a disability.
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Digital Learning Modules
For Enterprise Disability Inclusion
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Digital Learning Modules are built for Learning & Development teams that need more than one‑time training moments.
On‑demand modules help organizations move toward sustained, practical capability building. Each module focuses on real‑world application in areas where teams are actively navigating complexity and change.
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Events
Holiday Observations
- Labor Day: September 7th
- Indigenous Peoples Day: October 12th
- Election Day: November 3rd
- Veterans Day: November 11th
- Thanksgiving Holiday: November 26th & November 27th
- Christmas Eve: December 24th
- Christmas Day: December 25th
| | Add Your Event to Our Calendar! | | Planning your own event? Contact us today to add your disability inclusion event to our calendar! Invite Disability:IN Minnesota members to your event and increase the visibility of your company's disability inclusion efforts. | | |
Disability:IN Minnesota is an employer-led endeavor that promotes best practices that enhance employment and career opportunities for skilled individuals who have a disability.
Our members are committed to disability-inclusive hiring practices and love to share best practices and ideas for recruiting, hiring, on-boarding and supporting candidates and employees with disabilities.
Learn more about our organization and benefits or contact us today.
| | ID: Graphic reads "Are you IN?" in dark blue and green text against a white background. | | | | |
