Home and community services
Training information
DirectCourse: Online classes
The Minnesota Department of Human Services, in partnership with the University of Minnesota and Elsevier, provides access to free and low-cost online training courses through DirectCourse. For more information about the courses offered through DirectCourse, email Minnesota’s DirectCourse learning administrator.
Disability Services Division training news and events
The department provides a variety of training opportunities for lead agency staff and other interested stakeholders. Available training focuses on the state and federal programs administered by Disability Services Division (DSD) and the human services department.
Partners in Policymaking
Partners in Policymaking is a classroom style leadership training program designed for adults with disabilities and for parents of young children with developmental disabilities. The program teaches leadership skills, and the process of developing positive partnerships with elected officials and other individuals who make the policy decisions about services that you and your family use.
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities sponsors these classes. More information is available on current classes and dates.
Online courses for disability advocacy
The following Partners in Policymaking online courses are available, at no cost, to anyone who would like to increase their knowledge and skills:
- Making Your Case helps people understand the legislative process and the essential elements of good advocacy.
- Partners in Education helps parents of children with developmental disabilities understand and maximize the special education system.
- Partners in Employment helps people with developmental disabilities find meaningful jobs and plan a career.
- Partners in Living helps people with developmental disabilities, their parents, family members and friends, educators and service providers understand the important concepts of self-determination, family support, community living and assistive technology.
- Partners in Time helps people with developmental disabilities, their parents, family members and friends, educators and service providers understand the history of society's treatment of people with disabilities from ancient times through the present.