A publication of the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

Minnesota State Resources

Complete update · 8/2007
Partial update · 3/4/2008

The offices listed on this state sheet are primarily state-level offices. Even if an office is not close to your home, they can usually put you in touch with resources in your community, as well as provide you with information and assistance about disability issues in your state. If you find that an address or number has changed or is incorrect, please e-mail us at nichcy@aed.org and let us know.

State Agencies and Organizations

Age of Eligibility

Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under Department of Education: Special Education.

United States Senators
Honorable Norm Coleman (R)
320 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
(202) 224-1152 (Fax)
E-mail Web Form: http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
Web: http://coleman.senate.gov

Honorable Amy Klobuchar (D)
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3244
(202) 228-2186 (Fax)
E-mail Web Form: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm?contactForm=emailamy&submit=Go
Web: http://klobuchar.senate.gov

United States Representatives
To find the contact information for your representative in the House of the U.S. Congress, visit the House’s Web site at: www.house.gov, or call: (202) 225-3121; (202) 225-1904 (TTY).

Governor
Honorable Tim Pawlenty
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-3391; (800) 657-3717
E-mail: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
Web: www.governor.state.mn.us

Official State Web Site
Web: www.state.mn.us

State Department of Education: Special Education
Barbara L. Troolin, Director
Minnesota Department of Education
Special Education Policy
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266
(651) 582-8590; (651) 582-8201 (TTY)
E-mail: barbara.troolin@state.mn.us
Web: http://education.state.mn.us

State Coordinator for NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Jessie Montano, Director
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266
(651) 582-8615
E-mail: jessie.montano@state.mn.us
Web: http://education.state.mn.us

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2
Marty Smith, Part C Coordinator
Part C-Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266
(651) 582-8883; (800) 728-5420
E-mail: marty.smith@state.mn.us
Web: http://education.state.mn.us/

Programs for Children with Disabilities: Ages 3 through 5
Lisa Backer, ECSE Specialist
Early Learning Services
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55112
(651) 582-8473
E-mail: lisa.backer@state.mn.us
Web: http://education.state.mn.us

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Kimberley Peck, Director
Rehabilitation Services Branch
Department of Employment and Economic Development
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, #E200
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 296-7510; (800) 328-9095
E-mail: kim.peck@state.mn.us
Web: www.deed.state.mn.us

Coordinator for Transition Services
Jayne Spain, Transition Specialist
Office of Federal Programs/Special Education Policy
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 582-8515
E-mail: jayne.spain@state.mn.us
Web: http://education.state.mn.us

State Mental Health Agency
Wes Kooistra, Assistant Commissioner for Chemical and Mental Health Services
Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64988
St. Paul, MN 55164-0988
(651) 431-2368
E-mail: wes.kooistra@state.mn.us
Web: www.dhs.state.mn.us

State Mental Health Representative for Children and Youth
Glenace Edwall, Director
Children's Mental Health Division
Department of Human Services
Elmer Anderson Human Services Building
P.O. Box 64985
St. Paul, MN 55164-0985
(651) 431-2326
E-mail: glenace.edwall@state.mn.us
Web: www.dhs.state.mn.us

Programs for People with Developmental Disabilities
Alex Bartolic, Director
Disabilities Service Division
Department of Human Services
540 Cedar Street
P.O. Box 64967
St. Paul, MN 55164-0967
(651) 431-2381
E-mail: alex.e.bartolic@state.mn.us
Web: www.dhs.state.mn.us

Councils on Developmental Disabilities
Colleen Wieck, Executive Director
Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
370 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-4018; (877) 348-0505
(800) 627-3529 (MN Relay service)
E-mail: admin.dd@state.mn.us
Web: www.mncdd.org
Web: www.mnddc.org
Web: www.partnersinpolicymaking.com

Protection and Advocacy Agency
Pamela Hoopes, Legal Director
Minnesota Disability Law Center
430 First Avenue, North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1780
(612) 746-3711; (800) 292-4150
(612) 334-5970 (New Clients)
(612) 332-4668 (TTY)
E-mail: phoopes@midmnlegal.org
Web: www.mndlc.org

Client Assistance Program
Contact Protection and Advocacy Agency, listed above.

Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs
John Hurley, Section Manager
Minnesota Children with Special Health Needs
Minnesota Department of Health
85 E. 7th Place, Suite 400
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
(651) 201-3650; (800) 728-5420
E-mail: john.hurley@health.state.mn.us
Web: www.health.state.mn.us/mcshn

State CHIP Program
(health care for low-income uninsured children)
MinnesotaCare
P.O. Box 64838
St. Paul, MN 55164-0838
(651) 297-3862; (800) 657-3672
(800) 627-3529 (TTY)
Web: www.minnesotacare411.com

Programs for Children and Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Chuk Hamilton, Director
State Services for the Blind
Department of Employment and Economic Development
2200 University Avenue, West, Suite 240
St. Paul, MN 55114-1840
(651) 642-0500; (800) 652-9000
Web: www.mnssb.org

Jean D. Martin, State Specialist
Minnesota Resource Center: Blind/Visual Impairments
Minnesota Department of Education
P.O. Box 308
Faribault, MN 55021-0308
(507) 332-5510; (800) 657-3859 (in MN)
E-mail: Jean.Martin@state.mn.us

Programs for Children and Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Deaf-Blind
Bruce Hodek, Director
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division
(also serves people who are deaf/blind)
P.O. Box 64969
St. Paul, MN 55164-0969
(651) 296-3980 (V); (651) 297-1506 (TTY)
E-mail: Bruce.Hodek@state.mn.us
Web: http://interpreterreferral.org
Web: www.dhhsd.org
Web: www.deafblindinfo.org

Mary Hartnett, Executive Director
Minnesota Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
444 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155-3814
(612) 297-7305 (V/TTY); (888) 206-2001 (TTY)
(651) 205-4453 (Video Phone)
E-mail: mary.hartnett@state.mn.us
Web: www.mncdhh.com

Mary Cashman-Bakken, State Specialist
Minnesota Resource Center: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Minnesota Department of Education
615 Olof Hanson Drive
P.O. Box 308
Faribault, MN 55021-0308
(507) 332-5491 (V/TTY); (800) 657-3936 (V/TTY)
E-mail: mary.cashman-bakken@state.mn.us

Telecommunications Relay Services for Individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or with Speech Impairments
(800) 627-3529 (V/TTY/ASCII); 711 (V/TTY/ASCII)
(877) 627-3848 (Speech to Speech)
(877) 627-5448 (Spanish)
(900) 246-3323 (900 access)

State Education Agency Low Incidence Representative
Joan Breslin-Larson, Supervisor
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 582-8268
Web: http://education.state.mn.us

Regional ADA Technical Assistance Center
Robin Jones, Director
DBTAC - Great Lakes ADA Center
1640 W. Roosevelt Road, Room 405
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 413-1407 (V/TTY); (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)
E-mail: gldbtac@uic.edu
Web: www.adagreatlakes.org

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
David R. Johnson, Director
Institute on Community Integration (UCE)
University of Minnesota, 102 Pattee Hall
150 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 624-6300
E-mail: icimain@umn.edu
Web: http://ici.umn.edu/

Technology-Related Assistance
Chuck Rassbach, Executive Director
Minnesota STAR Program
50 Sherburne Avenue, Room 309
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 201-2640; (888) 234-1267
(800) 627-2527 (TTY)
E-mail: star.program@state.mn.us
Web: www.admin.state.mn.us/assistivetechnology

State Mediation System
Patricia McGinnis, Coordinator
Minnesota Special Education Mediation Service (MNSEMS)
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 582-8222; (866) 466-7367
E-mail: Patricia.Mcginnis@state.mn.us
Web: www.mnsems.state.mn.us

Special Format Library
Catherine Durivage, Library Program Director
Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library
388 S.E 6th Avenue
Faribault, MN 55021-6340
(507) 333-4828; (800) 722-0550
E-mail: mn.btbl@state.mn.us
E-mail: catherine.durivage@state.mn.us
Web: http://education.state.mn.us/mde/Learning_Support/MN_Braille_Talking_Book_Library/index.html

Disability-Specific Organizations

Attention Deficit Disorder
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either:

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
8181 Professional Place, Suite 150
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 306-7070
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet)
Web: www.chadd.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
P.O. Box 543
Pottstown, PA 19464-0543
(484) 945-2101
Web: www.add.org

Autism
Mary Powell, Executive Director
Autism Society of Minnesota
2380 Wycliff Street, Suite 102
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 647-1083
E-mail: info@ausm.org
Web: www.ausm.org

Blind/Visual Impairments
Ken Rodgers, President
American Council of the Blind of Minnesota
P.O. Box 7341
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 730-8100
E-mail: kgr@isd.net
Web: www.acb.org/minnesota

Jaclyn Packer, Ph.D., Director of Information Center
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
(212) 502-7600; (800) 232-5463
E-mail: afbinfo@afb.net
Web: www.afb.org

Shawn Mayo, Executive Director
Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions, Inc. (BLIND, Inc.)
100 E. 22nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404-2514
(612) 872-0100
E-mail: info@blindinc.org
Web: www.blindinc.org

Brain Injury
Ardis Sandstrom, Executive Director
Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
34 13th Avenue, NE, Suite B001
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 378-2742; (800) 669-6442 (in MN)
E-mail: info@braininjurymn.org
Web: www.braininjurymn.org

Cerebral Palsy
Jo Ann Erbes, Executive Director
United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota
Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue West, Suite 219 South
St. Paul, MN 55104-2892
(651) 646-7588; (800) 328-4827, ext. 1437
E-mail: ucpmn@cpinternet.com
Web: www.ucpmn.org

Down Syndrome
Kathleen Forney, Executive Director
Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota
656 Transfer Road
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 603-0720; (800) 511-3696
E-mail: dsamn@dsamn.org
Web: www.dsamn.org

Epilepsy
Bennie Loro, Executive Director
Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota
1600 University Avenue West, Suite 205
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 287-2300; (800) 779-0777
E-mail: info@efmn.org
Web: www.efmn.org

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Steve Larson, Executive Director
The Arc of Minnesota
770 Transfer Road, Suite 26
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 523-0823; (800) 582-5256 (in MN)
E-mail: SteveL@arcmn.org
Web: www.TheArcofMinnesota.org

Learning Disabilities
Learning Disabilities Program - Children's Home Society & Family Service
2230 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
(651) 222-0311; (800) 982-2303 (in MN)
Web: www.chsfs.org

Kitty Christiansen, Executive Director
Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota
5354 Parkdale Drive, Suite 200
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
(952) 922-8374
E-mail: info@ldaminnesota.org
Web: www.ldaminnesota.org

Mental Health
Sandra Meicher, Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Minnesota
2021 E. Hennepin Avenue, Suite 412
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 331-6840
E-mail: info@mentalhealthmn.org
Web: www.mentalhealthmn.org

Sue Abderholden, Executive Director
NAMI-Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
800 Transfer Road, Suite 7A
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 645-2948; (888) NAMI-HELPS
E-mail: nami-mn@nami.org
Web: www.namimn.org

Deborah Saxhaug, Executive Director
Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health
165 Western Avenue, Suite 2
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 644-7333; (800) 528-4511
E-mail: info@macmh.org
Web: www.macmh.org

Speech, Language, and Hearing
Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association
1821 University Avenue West, Suite S256
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 999-5350
E-mail: office@msha.net
Web: www.msha.net

Spina Bifida
Wendy Swanson, President
Jim Thayer, Development Director
Spina Bifida Association of Minnesota
P.O. Box 29323
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429-0323
(651) 222-6395
E-mail: jscottthayer@msn.com
Web: www.sbamn.com

Tourette Syndrome
Maureen Kenney, Executive Director
Tourette Syndrome Association of Minnesota, Inc.
2233 University Avenue, Suite 338
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 646-0099; (866) 918-7500
E-mail: director@tsa-mn.org
Web: www.tsa-mn.org

Organizations Especially for Parents

Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)
Paula F. Goldberg, Executive Director
Virginia Richardson, PTI Manager
PACER Center, Inc.
8161 Normandale Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55437-1044
(952) 838-9000; (952) 838-0190 (TTY)
(800) 537-2237 (in MN)
E-mail: pacer@pacer.org
Web: www.pacer.org

Parent-To-Parent
Reenie Engstrom, Family Specialist and Respite Director
Arc Northland
201 Ordean Building
424 W. Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 726-4725; (800) 317-6475
E-mail: rengstrom @arcnorthland.org

Community Parent Resource Center
(Serving St. Paul area)
Ana M. Pérez de Pérez, Executive Director
discapacitados abriendose caminos
400 Southview Boulevard
South St. Paul, MN 55075
(612) 293-1748
(612) 963-1841 (Emergency cell)
E-mail: discapacitados@comcast.net

Partners in Policymaking
Carol Schoeneck, Class Coordinator
Government Training Services
2233 University Avenue West, Suite 150
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 222-7409, ext. 205
E-mail: cschoeneck@mngts.org
Web: www.mngts.org

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Rosie Loeffler-Kemp, President
Minnesota Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students
1667 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55108
(651) 999-7320; (800) 672-0993
E-mail: mnptaofc@mnpta.org
Web: www.pta.org

Other Disability Organizations

Jan Malcolm, CEO
Sue Warner, Senior Account Manager, Marketing, Communications
Courage Center
3915 Golden Valley Road
Minneapolis, MN 55422
(763) 588-0811
E-mail: courageinfo@courage.org
Web: www.courage.org

Michael Wirth-Davis, President/CEO
Goodwill/Easter Seals
553 Fairview Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 379-5800 (V/TTY); (800) 669-6719
E-mail: dtretsven@goodwilleasterseals.org
Web: www.goodwilleasterseals.org

Joan Willshire, Executive Director
Minnesota State Council on Disability
121 E. 7th Place, Suite 107
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 361-7800 (V/TTY); (800) 945-8913 (V/TTY)
E-mail: council.disability@state.mn.us
Web: www.disability.state.mn.us

Craig Dunn, Executive Director
VSA arts of Minnesota
Hennepin Center for the Arts
528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 305
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 332-3888; (800) 801-3883
E-mail: info@vsaartsmn.org
Web: www.vsaartsmn.org

Independent Living

To find out the contact information for the Statewide
Independent Living Council (SILC) in your state, contact:
Independent Living Research Utilization Project
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
2323 South Sheppard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-0232 (V); (713) 520-5136 (TTY)
E-mail: ilru@ilru.org
Web: www.ilru.org

Julia Washenberger
Nursing Home Relocation Coordinator
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living
1600 University Avenue West, Suite #16
Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 603-2019
E-mail: juliaw@mcil-mn.org
Web: www.mcil-mn.org

This information is copyright free. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY).
NICHCY State Resources are listings of selected state-wide organizations that can refer people to organizations in their area. We update our state resources continuously; however, the addresses and telephone numbers of these selected groups are constantly changing. If you find that an address or number has changed or is incorrect, please e-mail us at nichcy@aed.org and let us know.
Publication of this document is made possible through a Cooperative Agreement between the Academy for Educational Development and the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.	NICHCY P.O. Box 1492 Washington, DC 20013 (800) 695-0285 · v/tty (202) 884-8441 · fax e-mail: nichcy@aed.org web: www.nichcy.org