Edina Legislator Honored as Disability 'Champion'

State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina) was recently recognized as the Public Policy Champion for work done regarding Minnesotans with disabilities during the 2011 legislative session.

Downey was presented with the award by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS), whom he collaborated with on a redesign of the My Life, My Choices disability services. The program is an LSS proposal to redirect state disability funding to a flexible, family and consumer-directed model.

The organization praised Downey for his efforts to make sure "people with disabilities in Minnesota are uniquely positioned to design the best supports to assure the highest quality experience in community life."

"His leadership opened new discussion and opportunity for Minnesota to continue to innovate and envision the next right answer that will not only provide better outcomes but more cost effectiveness in supporting people with disabilities to live a full life in community," the group said, through a release.

Downey said he was humbled to be honored by LSS, but said they deserve just as much recognition for the reform.

"They are the ones serving disabled people every day," he said. "They came forward with the ideas to restructure a one-size-fits-all bureaucratic model and to deal with state funding realities in a way that actually serves people better."