What should be the relationship between the government and private sector in terms of helping disabled people?
There has to be a partnership between government and the private sector in working on programs benefiting disabled people in all walks of life. For example, the state of Minnesota recently gave a contract to Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing for Minnesotans. And, of course disabled people use this housing. I think the partnership needs to be extended into training and rehabilitation areas, and in funding the development of assistive-technology products for disabled people. The private sector can produce these products less expensively than the government and can bring them to market quicker. Q: Minnesota was one of the first states to sign into law the federal Ticket to Work and the Work Incentives Improvement Act. Why did you do it so quickly? A: Ah, those are no-brainers. We want disabled people to work. Health insurance should be a given for every citizen. And this law provides it for disabled people who want to work. In fact, far more people with disabilities have ta
