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Lisa Ramirez, Communications Director, lramirez@mylegalaid.org

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The Controversy Surrounding Seclusion Rooms – North Star Stories

The podcast North Star Stories spoke with Attorney Jessica Webster about the impact of seclusion — the practice of isolating children with disabilities away from their classmates during the school day. Currently banned, the practice is being reconsidered under a proposed law permitting seclusion for students in grades K-3 through 2036.

Minnesota lawmakers vote to limit powers of homeowner associations – Star Tribune

Fines and threats of foreclosure by homeowner associations are expected to be curbed thanks to the newly passed “HOA Bill of Rights.” Approved with bipartisan support, this legislation provides consumer protections championed by Legal Aid Attorneys Ron Elwood and Colleen Daly.

‘Winning for thousands’ drives policy advocate – MinnLawyer

Breaking the Ice: ‘Winning for thousands’ drives policy advocateby Todd Nelson For Jessica Webster, staff attorney with the Legal Services Advocacy

Federal court backs Trump administration’s immigrant detention policy – Star Tribune

In response to the Eighth Circuit decision to uphold Trump administration policy to deny bond to undocumented immigrants, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid offered the Star Tribune this take: “We hope that Minnesota judges will follow the lead of Texas judges who are granting bond hearings, despite a similar Fifth Circuit Court opinion, because that’s the due process right people have.”

Locked In, Left Out: How Seclusion Fails Minnesota’s Kids – amplifiED

In this episode of the amplifiED podcast, hosts Margaret Sullivan and Josh Crosson sit down with Jessica Heiser, attorney at the Minnesota Disability Law Center, to talk about what seclusion — the use of solitary confinement on children — actually looks like for Minnesota students.

Punished for Disabilities: Minnesota Schoolchildren Held in Isolation – Solitary Watch

Solitary Watch reports on the use of seclusion rooms in Minnesota schools, asserting that they constitute a form of solitary confinement. Images and testimony from the Minnesota Disability Law Center’s report show these rooms are often “concrete, closet-sized, and feature thick four-inch magnetic-locking doors, like a jail cell.”

MN Disability Law Center: Seclusion rooms should never be used in MN schools – WCCO Radio

Attorney Jessica Heiser from our Minnesota Disability Law Center spoke with Chad Hartman from WCCO Radio about the stark reality of seclusion rooms and why they shouldn’t be used in Minnesota schools. Thank you, WCCO Radio, for having us!

On Thin ICE – Campanile

Mid‑Minnesota Legal Aid talks to Palo Alto High School newspaper, The Campanile.

Minnesota announces settlement with Lyft over denied rides for passengers with service animals – KARE11

Minnesota Disability Law Center Attorney Chad Wilson represented Tori Andres in her discrimination case against Lyft after drivers refused to

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