For students with significant disabilities and their caregivers.
Services They Provide:
Who is Eligible for Services?
How to Make a Referral:
To check for new and updated services and dates/times of the following informational sessions, including updates to the Community Informational Sessions Booklet, click on www.co.hennepin.mn.us/ and enter the following in the keyword search box in the upper right corner of the page: informational sessions for people with disabilities and look for sessions related to transition:
At age 18, any person is considered a competent adult unless a petition is filed for guardianship or limited guardianship in probate court. This introductory session provides basic information on the difference between guardianship and limited guardianship and conservatorship. It will describe the individual powers assigned by the court, outline the responsibilities of the guardian, and offer options to complete the process at no cost.
Who Should Attend? Parents, legal representatives and persons with disabilities.
Transition and Developmental Disabilities – Ages 16 to 21
This is an introduction to the changes that occur at transition age from the county perspective. Transition is an exciting time for families. Many life decisions have to be made including guardianship, graduation, exploring future work and vocational plans, residential options, SSI, and other supports. Receive fact sheets and more detailed information.
Who Should Attend – Parents, legal representatives and persons with disabilities. Changes at transition focus on individuals who are between the ages 16 and 21 who have requested services through Aging & Disability Services.
Learn about various residential and vocational service options for adults with developmental disabilities. Options include Day Training and Habilitation, Adult Day Care, Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICF-MR), Foster Care, Semi-Independent Living Services (SILS), Supported Living Services (SLS), and Consumer-Controlled
Determine which services best meet your needs. We will also provide information on what to look for when choosing a provider.
Parents, legal representatives and persons with disabilities.
Community Informational Sessions are offered as a continuing effort to keep families, clients and providers informed about service options, application processes and service definitions. These sessions are free and open to the public. At these sessions you will learn about:
Circle of Friends is a Community Education partnership between Westonka and Orono Public Schools. Circle of Friends offers 1-2 activities per month. Classes and activities include dancing, plays, bowling, arts and crafts, arts and crafts, volleyball, concerts, pizza parties, parks, theater, cooking, mini-golf, computer and more.
The activities are usually held on Thursday evenings. Fees for Circle of Friends activities are usually $5 or less. Circle of Friends is a program that:
If you have questions, would like to request a schedule of the monthly activities, or wish to be put on the mailing list, please call 952.449.8350 (Orono).
Arc Greater Twin Cities offers educational sessions on many topics for Hennepin County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. For more than 60 years, Arc has been helping children and adults overcome challenges and thrive in community life. Arc connects people with resources and helps them navigate service systems so they can live, learn, work and play as they choose.
Arc offers events throughout the seven-county metropolitan Twin Cities area. Hennepin County residents are welcome to attend Arc events at any location. For a full, current calendar of events, visit the ARC Events Calendar.
Please register with Arc before you attend any event, even if you are an Arc member and the event is free. For registration or more information, call 952-920-0855 or visit https://arcminnesota.org for information.
A panel of experts outlines options available when a person with a disability completes high school and enters the adult world of post-secondary education, employment, housing, government benefits, etc. Contact Arc for costs, registration, location and dates.
Today, more and more grandparents, adult siblings, and other relatives are stepping into the role of caregiver for family members with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Arc Greater Twin Cities is expanding its programs and services for this growing group thanks to a recent grant from the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging (MAAA). For more information, contact Arc at 952-920-0855. Opportunities include:
Discover what it takes to be a super self-advocate! Empower your life by learning to speak up for choices that you want at home, work, and leisure. Contact Arc for costs, registration, location and dates. In collaboration with Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Wayzata Community Education Department’s Project SOAR Program.
Networking Groups
Networking groups offer information, support, and resources for family members of children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. All groups are free. Arc also offers additional networking groups in many locations across the metro area and Hennepin County residents may join a group at any location. Visit www.arcgreatertwincities.org for a complete list.
763-235-2200 or 800-450-6100
Curb to curb service, connection to the MTC bus lines, to medical and legal appointments, shopping, etc. 24-hr notice required. Provider for some medical insurance companies. The fee is $2.25 each way. Can book up to two weeks in advance. Driving only within the areas of Medina, Loretto, Maple Plain, Orono, Long Lake Wayzata, Delano (Hennepin County side), St. Bonifacious, Greenwood and WestHealth in Plymouth.
952 474-7441
Provides door to door public transportation for people who are unable to ride the regular route buses. Fee is $3. This service is for people with disabilities, seniors or people with injuries or temporary conditions. Call for application and more information. (Service range is geographically-based and includes Mound, Navarre, Spring Park, Orono, Long Lake.)
651-602-1111
Provides door to door public transportation in sedans or lift equipped vans, for people who are unable to ride the regular route buses. This service is for people with disabilities, seniors or people with injuries or temporary conditions. Call for application and more information. (Service range is geographically-based and ends in Long Lake. Call to check if your address is within the service range before applying.)
612-373-3333 or 612-341-4BUS
Limited times and routes available in Orono School District Boundaries. Call for 24 hour automated departure times or route/schedule information and customer relations or visit online at metrotransit.org.