Noah McCourt facts for kids
Noah McCourt (born in 1994) is an American activist who works for the rights of people with disabilities. He is also involved in politics and shares his opinions on social issues. In 2016, the United Nations recognized his important work. McCourt used to be a member of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. He also served on the State Advisory Council on Mental Health, where he led the group focused on children's mental health.
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Noah McCourt's Political Journey
Starting in Politics
In 2015, Noah McCourt started a group called the South Metro Chapter of the Minnesota Young Republicans. This group was for young people in the southwestern suburbs of Minneapolis who were interested in politics. McCourt was the first leader of this chapter.
Running for City Council
In 2016, McCourt ran for a spot on the City Council in Waconia, Minnesota. During his campaign, some people talked about how he had recently gained full independence from his father's guardianship. This story was even picked up by a major newspaper, the Minnesota Star Tribune. The newspaper called him a "trailblazer" for people with disabilities because of his courage. Even though he lost the election, his story inspired many.
Speaking at the United Nations
After his City Council campaign, Noah McCourt was invited to New York City to speak at the United Nations. He spoke on World Autism Awareness Day about how important it is for people to have control over their own lives and make their own choices.
Joining State Councils
When he returned from New York, the Governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, asked McCourt to join the Minnesota Council on Developmental Disabilities. This was a big step! A former U.S. Senator from Minnesota, David Durenberger, praised McCourt's appointment. On the Council, McCourt focused on helping people speak up for themselves and changing laws about guardianship.
Supporting Other Candidates
McCourt has supported many different political candidates over the years. In 2018, he supported Dave Hutchinson for Hennepin County Sheriff. He also backed Judy Moe for a City Council seat in Richfield, Minnesota. In 2018, McCourt left the Republican Party because his views changed. Later, in 2021, he supported Samantha Pree-Stinson and Jason Chavez-Cruz for positions in Minneapolis city government.
Advocating for Disability Rights
Improving Services and Access
Noah McCourt is a strong voice for people with disabilities. He has worked hard to improve access to services in rural parts of Minnesota. He also pushes for stronger laws that ensure equal treatment for people with disabilities. McCourt believes it's important to have better public transportation and more funding for autism research.
Standing Up for Rights
In 2017, McCourt had a difficult experience with police officers in Chaska, Minnesota. He was going through a personal crisis when officers tackled him. After this, McCourt spoke out against the police department's rules for handling people with autism and mental health conditions. The Chaska Police Department then blocked him from their social media pages. McCourt took legal action, saying this blocked his First Amendment right to free speech. In 2019, a court ordered the City of Chaska to unblock him on Twitter.
Speaking at the State Capitol
McCourt was a main speaker at the 2018 Disability Day rally at the Minnesota State Capitol. He talked about why it's so important for people with disabilities to be involved in politics and speak up for themselves.
Fighting for Website Accessibility
In 2018, McCourt filed lawsuits against Carver County and the cities of Chanhassen and Norwood Young America. He argued that their websites were not easy for people with disabilities to use. He said this went against laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Challenging Misinformation
In 2019, a group called the Minnesota Autism Council was formed. McCourt strongly criticized the decision to include leaders of the anti-vaccine movement on this council. He has continued to speak out against the anti-vaccine movement and groups that spread misinformation about vaccines.
Leading Social Justice Efforts
After the murder of George Floyd, McCourt started the Minnesota Disability Justice Network. This group helps people with disabilities have a voice in important social justice discussions and conversations about police actions. In 2020, McCourt was arrested on a highway with other activist leaders.
McCourt also led a group called the "4 cents per hour coalition." This group worked to end the practice of paying people with disabilities very low wages in Minnesota. Because of their hard work, Minnesota passed a law to stop this practice by 2025.
Renaming a Street
In 2021, McCourt and his network led a petition to rename Dight Avenue in South Minneapolis. This street was named after someone who supported harmful ideas. The petition gathered over 29,000 signatures! By the end of 2021, Minneapolis officials announced that Dight Avenue would be renamed for John Cheatham, one of the city's first Black firefighters.
Protecting Voting Rights
In 2020, McCourt filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota Secretary of State. He argued that the state's rules preventing people on probation and immigrants from participating in political meetings were unfair. In 2022, a court agreed that these rules did not apply to such meetings, which was a big win for voting rights.
Noah McCourt's Personal Life
Noah McCourt enjoys studying philosophy and classical logic. He lives in Waconia, Minnesota. He is African-American. McCourt also serves on the board of directors for the Minnesota Association on Children's Mental Health.
