Minnesota Olmstead Implementation Office

Two of our staff members attended the Prairie Island Health Fair last week. They had a great time connecting with people and sharing coloring sheets, stickers, buttons, cold packs, and information on the Olmstead Plan!

Metro Mobility customers and advocates are invited to join a community conversation to share their experirences and ideas for improvement. Attend either an in-person community conversation on Thursday, November 14, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, or an online conversation Thursday, November 21. Register: https://bit.ly/3BR7a5p

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) wants to improve their virtual intake process to be more welcoming, easy to navigate, and inclusive for people with disabilities. They are hosting two listening sessions on October 29 to share information and get important feedback. Register: https://lnkd.in/gpgfgQUF

The Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (OMHDD) seeks people to join their Ombudsman Committee and Medical Review Subcommittee. OMHDD helps develop policies, plans, and programs to benefit people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and chemical dependency. Minnesotans with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3XNXaBb

Free at-home COVID-19 tests are available again! Every U.S. household can order up to four nasal swab test kits at no cost. Learn more and order: https://covidtests.gov/

Today's Google Doodle honors Emerson Romero, a Deaf silent film actor born on this day in 1900. Romero appeared in more than 20 movies before the advent of talking pictures. After leaving Hollywood, he founded a Deaf theater company in New York and in 1947, Romero developed the first closed captioning for movies. His innovative techniques were improved upon and now closed captions are common, making movies and television accessible for more audiences, including those who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing. https://bit.ly/3XSrdZS

Everyone has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect. This video from the Minnesota Waiver Bill of Rights Training explains what "The Right to Courteous Treatment" means and how it applies to those receiving services. Watch the full video: https://bit.ly/4grnVnt

The next Olmstead Leadership Forum is Wednesday, September 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Leadership Forum members are people who work for state agencies with goals in the Olmstead Plan. This virtual working meeting is open to the public. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4d4ylq3

September is Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time to remember lives lost, raise awareness about suicide prevention, and share messages of hope. If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, immediate help is available. Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor offering support at any time. Learn more from NAMI Minnesota: https://bit.ly/3XFqECx

OIO staff had a fun time at the State Fair yesterday! We really enjoyed connecting with fairgoers- including Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan! Thank you Minnesota Council on Disability for sharing your booth with us. We will be back at the Fair tomorrow evening from 5 to 9!