Last Updated on August 23, 2023 by Hannah Stevens
Minnesota residents with disabilities and their families have many options to find grants for disabled people and other funding for a wheelchair van. Residents can easily locate financial assistance for acquiring a new or used handicap van, or for handicapped-accommodating equipment and conversions, such as ramps, lifts and turning seat systems.
The following state agencies and nonprofit organizations are worth your time if you want to lease or purchase a wheelchair van, or if you plan to install adaptive driving control or accessibility accessories in your vehicle. Some of them offer Minnesota disability grants, while others help residents secure these assistance. For more information on disability grants or assistance in applying for financial aid, visit the websites.
In addition to the information provided, you can also contact state chapters of organizations that support people with your particular disability. Many provide disability grants directly, and all can assist you in finding other grants that may be available for you.
Sources for Minnesota Disability Grants and Assistance
EquipALife
EquipALife is a lifeline for disabled residents of Minnesota to financial aid and other help where assistive technology, including a handicapped-accommodating vehicle, is concerned. This nonprofit should be on your top list of contacts when looking for ways to finance your accessible ride.
Contact Information:
5563 Pioneer Creek Drive, Suite A
Maple Plain, MN 55359
(763) 479-8239 or (866) 535-8239
The Great Lakes ADA Center
The Great Lakes ADA Center aims to raise awareness and knowledge with the goal of attaining voluntary compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is achieved within the targeted audiences through the provision of tailored training, expert assistance, and dissemination of information from various sources, such as federal agencies that enforce the ADA.
Contact Information:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Institute on Disability & Human Development (MC 728)
1640 West Roosevelt Road, Room 405
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 413-1407
Minnesota Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)
Contact the ADRC in your county. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services along with the US Administration on Community Living oversee the ADRCs. They help senior citizens and people with disabilities receive the support and assistance they need.
Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)
AAA offices all around Minnesota provide support for elderly people, and the facilities and groups that serve them. It’s an important resource for the state’s aging population. Contact your local agency if you require a van that you can use with your scooter or wheelchair.
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
The Minnesota DVA helps veterans and their families get all the assistance they are entitled to under Federal and State law. This often includes disability grants for wheelchair vans and accessibility modifications, in cases where a disability is a result of military service or VA care.
Contact Information:
State Veterans Service Building
20 W 12th St, Room 206
St. Paul, MN 55155-2006
(651) 296-2562 or (888) 546-5838
This is quite similar to the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board, one of the Disability Grants in Mississippi.
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD)
It is a great resource for any individual living in Minnesota with a developmental disability, or someone living with one. The CDD offers other assistance, including grant money that can be used to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families.
Contact Information:
370 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-4018 or (877) 348-0505
Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
Minnesota’s SILC supports the operation of the state’s Independent Living Centers. It informs the public about policy regarding the elderly and disabled, and supports these individuals. SILCs are located in all 50 states. They don’t offer disability grants, but can help you find the right direction.
Contact Information:
This is the same as the SILC Disability Grants in Michigan.
Minnesota System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR) Program
Minnesota’s STAR Program aims to provide assistive technology to people with disabilities. STAR provides access to exchanges, demos, device loans, and a variety of other helpful resources. For assistance in finding and applying for disability grants for a wheelchair van, talk to someone here.
Contact Information:
Positively Minnesota
Positively Minnesota offers vocational rehabilitation of the state. This agency is essential if you are disabled and wish to get employed. It will help you achieve your goal, and often, this means providing a disability grant for a vehicle that you can use to work.
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Contact Information:
1st National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite E-200
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1351
(651) 259-7114 or (800) 657-3858
