Minnesota Olmstead Implementation Office

09/22/2026

Minnesota is working with many partners to improve the children’s mental health system of care. Together, we’re working to identify what’s working, where gaps exist and what should change to make care easier for children and families to navigate.

Your experience can help shape this work. Families, providers, educators, Tribal partners, communities, advocates and others who have experience with Minnesota’s children’s mental health system of care are invited to share their perspectives through an anonymous survey. The survey is open through Oct. 1.

Learn more, take the survey and bookmark the webpage to watch for future opportunities to provide feedback: engage.dhs.state.mn.us/children-mental-health

09/17/2026

OIO staff are excited to attend Disability Pride today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the State Capitol lawn! At 2 p.m. we will be going inside to the Capitol Rotunda for a National Constitution and Citizenship Day event hosted by Metropolitan Center for Independent Living.

Learn more about today's Disability Pride Celebration: https://www.selfadvocacy.org/disability-pride-festival
Learn more about the National Constitution and Citizenship Day event: https://mcil-mn.org/celebrating-constitution-and-citizenship-day-independent-living-and-the-right-to-vote/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUYwkNwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5fcCHZWD_-d_VNzWRvcYbwlPerji30RCVcT8UvN4AAu8c7YK_jnwtFKkkl5A_aem_ckdGHY718ygUxOc8WjQG7w

09/11/2026

Over the last week there has been significant interest from community members to share additional feedback on the next Olmstead Plan. The Subcabinet meeting on September 15 will now include time for public comment. To learn more and register visit: https://bit.ly/3SVcpKf

09/08/2026

The next Olmstead Subcabinet meeting is Tuesday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. The Olmstead Subcabinet is made up of multiple state agencies and offices, plus the Metropolitan Council. This is a hybrid meeting and people are welcome to attend in-person or on Zoom. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4qY8BVb

08/31/2026

Come see us at the State Fair! The Olmstead Implementation Office is with the Minnesota Council on Disability in the Education building. OIO staff will be at the fair Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday this week. Come say hi and pick up some swag!

08/26/2026

The Minnesota State Fair starts tomorrow! OIO staff will be tabling at the Fair in the Education Building with Minnesota Council on Disability on August 27 and 31, and September 1, 3, and 4. This year's Fair accessibility guide has information about transportation, ASL, human-guide services, sensory friendly options, pre-visit stories, and lots more! Visit the Fair accessibility guide webpage: https://www.mnstatefair.org/guides/accessibility

08/24/2026

MSP Airport now has 3D tactile maps for each of their public restrooms. These maps use raised symbols, braille labels, and easy to understand layouts. They're intended to help visitors independently navigate each restroom, including the location of stalls, urinals, sinks and accessible features. One of the Olmstead Inclusion Consultants, Ken, is featured in the video below! Learn more about accessibility at MSP Airport: https://www.mspairport.com/airport/accessibility

08/20/2026

We are excited to present at the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness webinar on September 2! Learn more and register at https://mich.mn.gov/webinars

Many people facing homelessness are also people with a disability.

Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan aims to ensure that disabled Minnesotans are living full, integrated lives in their chosen communities. It is a plan for state agencies to set and meet goals that will improve the quality of life for Minnesotans with disabilities. The plan covers a variety of topics including housing, education, employment, transportation, and more.

The Minnesota Olmstead Implementation Office (OIO) supports the work of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan through administrative and technical support to state agencies, plan compliance, community engagement, and education.

On MICH’s September webinar, learn more about OIO, the work to draft a new Olmstead Plan, and what to expect as the plan rolls out this autumn.

Register for the webinar at https://mich.mn.gov/webinars - we look forward to seeing you there!

08/14/2026

The Olmstead Implementation Office is excited to welcome Dr. Amy Hebert Knopf as its new director. She brings more than 30 years of disability advocacy, policy leadership, and organizational transformation experience to the role. Dr. Knopf also has lived experience as a person with a disability, a daughter of a person with a disability, and a parent of children with disabilities.

Dr. Knopf, Ph.D., CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor), CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) has led disability inclusion work at every level, from direct service and graduate education to international policy consulting. She is the founder of AccessPlus Global LLC.

Dr. Knopf also:
- worked at St. Cloud State University, where she served as Director of Education and Research for the Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy and Graduate Director of the Rehabilitation Counselor Education programs.

- was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to the Advisory Task Force on State Employment and Retention of Employees with Disabilities.

- served as the Inter-Faculty Organization-appointed Disability Advocate for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities faculty statewide.

- was selected as the inaugural George H.W. Bush Disability Fellow at the Harkin Institute.

Dr. Knopf is deeply familiar with Minnesota's Olmstead work and is committed to leading the plan's next phase. Dr. Knopf will start Wednesday, August 26. Welcome to the Olmstead Implementation Office!

08/10/2026

The next Olmstead Leadership Forum is this Friday, August 14. This virtual meeting is from 10 a.m. to noon. Leadership Forum members work for state agencies that have goals in the Olmstead Plan. CART and ASL will be provided. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3H3EBUY