March 2, 2017
Dear Legislator;
I am writing to you this letter of support for the Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) and their mission to advocate for policies and programs in the public and private sectors that advance the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities. The Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) is a state agency providing leadership to empower and strengthen the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities. They collaborate with the public and private sectors as a policy, training and technical resource advisor. 
My name is Todd Kemery and I am the Vice President and Advocacy Director and on the Executive Board, of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Minnesota Chapter. I am also the ADA coordinator for our Veterans Service Organization and as such, I have had the opportunity to work alongside with the MSCOD. Starting with the Twins baseball organization, PVA was invited to sit on the Twins Stadium Accessibility Advisory Committee with the MSCOD and other Minnesota State Disability Advocates. PVA continues to partner with MSCOD on several Minnesota Stadium Accessibility Advisory Committees, including the current MLS Soccer Stadium and Target Center renovation projects. 
Also, I would like to mention one other corroboration that the Minnesota State Council on Disability and Paralyzed Veterans of America worked together, successfully. Three years ago, there was a small but vocal activist group that opposed the master plans to Lebanon Hills Regional Park located in Dakota County. They supported a no-build strategy including opposing Dakota County Parks and Recreation Department’s desire to upgrade accessible areas including installing an accessible multi-purpose trail. There were 42 miles of soft surface trails, throughout the 2000-acre regional park with zero accessible hardened trails. There is now 1.8 miles of bituminous, multi-purpose trail including additional, ADA compliant, access routes to those areas inside the park, that have an ADA component.
MSCOD staff demonstrated a high level of expertise, and was very knowledgeable of both the access and civil rights requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the accessibility chapter of the Minnesota State Building Code and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Staff also demonstrated a high level of commitment to achieving the greatest degree of access for the citizens of Minnesota. Businesses, non-profits, public entities and others seeking to comply with ADA requirements are informed and empowered by the services of MSCOD staff. Permanently funding MSCOD’s consultation, training and engagement around physical and digital accessibility would improve the quality of life for many Minnesotans with disabilities.   
PVA continues to look forward to working with MSCOD on these important issues for the Disability Community and the State of Minnesota.
Sincerely,
Todd Kemery
Vice President
Advocacy Director