Yes. Services include Minnesota Relay Service, Sign Language Interpreters, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), and Sound Reinforcement Systems.
The Request Capitol Access page provides information about services from The Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing.
Minnesota Relay Service
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled may contact the Senate and House via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.
Minnesota Relay Service is a free service that uses a specially trained communications assistant (CA) to facilitate the telephone conversations between a person who has a hearing loss or speech disability and the person with whom they wish to speak. All calls are confidential. To make a Minnesota Relay call dial 7-1-1.
Sign Language Interpreters
Those who are interested in requesting CART or ASL can use the Legislature's combined meeting calendar to find upcoming meetings.
In order to provide accessibility for meetings with legislators, legislative committee hearings, and House and Senate floor sessions, the Legislature contracts with Keystone Interpreting Solutions to provide legislative sign language interpreting services. Interpreting services are also available for hearings or meetings with legislators in greater Minnesota.
To request legislative ASL interpreting services, contact the Legislative Coordinating Commission at accessibility.coordinator@lcc.mn.gov, or call, 651-296-6036. Please make your request a minimum of 36 hours before the services are needed.
If you are interested in touring the Capitol building, ASL interpreters are available upon request for guided tours. Interpreter reservation must be made 14 days in advance. Call 651-259-3003.
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)
Those who are interested in requesting CART or ASL can use the Legislature's combined meeting calendar to find upcoming meetings.
To request legislative CART services, contact the Legislative Coordinating Commission at accessibility.coordinator@lcc.mn.gov, or call 651-296-6036. Please make your request a minimum of 36 hours before the services are needed.
Sound Reinforcement Systems
The Minnesota Senate has sound reinforcement systems for use in hearings rooms in the Minnesota Senate Building. The systems, for the exclusive use of people who are deaf or hard of hearing, are available for the duration of a particular meeting and must be returned immediately following the meeting. Senate receivers may be signed out during normal business hours from the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, room G-430, Minnesota Senate Building. For meetings lasting beyond normal business hours, receivers are to be returned to the committee staff. Call the Sergeant-at-Arms at 651-296-1119 for further information.
The Minnesota House has sound reinforcement systems in the 10 hearing rooms in the State Office Building. [Note: The State Office Building is temporarily closed to the public for construction.] The systems, for the exclusive use of people who are deaf or hard of hearing, are available for the duration of a particular meeting and must be returned immediately following the meeting. House receivers for State Office Building hearing rooms may be signed out during normal business hours from the House Sergeants' Office, Room G-85, State Office Building. For meetings lasting beyond normal business hours, receivers are to be returned to the committee staff. Call the House Sergeant's Office at 651-296-4860 for further information.
Capitol Hearing Rooms, including the House Hearing Room 120, and the House Gallery have a telecoil loop sound reinforcement system. House receivers for State Capitol hearing rooms may be signed out from 8:30am to 5:00pm at the Minnesota Historical Society Information Desk, Room 126, State Capitol Building.
How can I report an accessibility barrier or request an accommodation?
The Minnesota Legislature is committed to complying with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and supporting the goal that individuals with disabilities shall not be excluded from participating in or be denied the benefits of any program, service, or activity offered by the Legislature. The Legislature welcomes comments and suggestions on services that will improve communication between the Legislature and individuals with disabilities. Please direct comments to:
Legislative Coordinating Commission
Centennial Office Building, 1st Floor
658 Cedar St.
St. Paul, MN 55155.
Phone: 651-296-6036
accessibility.coordinator@lcc.mn.gov,
For information on the Legislature's website accessibility, see the Website Accessibility page. If you are having accessibility or usability problems with any Minnesota Legislative website or software, please send your comments to us by using the Accessibility & Usability Comment Form.