Noah McCourt facts for kids
Noah McCourt (born in 1994) is an American activist who works for the rights of people with autism and other disabilities. He is also involved in politics and shares his opinions on society. In 2016, the United Nations recognized his important work. McCourt used to be a member of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities and the State Advisory Council on Mental Health. He even led the group that focused on children's mental health.
Getting Involved in Politics
In 2015, Noah McCourt started a group for young Republicans in the southern suburbs of Minneapolis. He was the first leader of this group.
When he ran for City Council in Waconia, Minnesota, in 2016, some people talked about how he had recently gained full control over his own life after being under his father's care. This story was shared by the Minnesota Star Tribune newspaper, which called McCourt a "trailblazer" for people with disabilities. Even though he didn't win the election, his story helped others.
After the election, McCourt was invited to New York City to speak at the World Autism Awareness Day event at the United Nations. He talked about how important it is for people to have control over their own lives and make their own choices.
When he returned to Minnesota, Governor Mark Dayton asked McCourt to join the Minnesota Council on Developmental Disabilities. This council works to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Former U.S. Senator David Durenberger supported McCourt's appointment. On the council, McCourt focused on helping people speak up for themselves and changing laws about legal guardianship.
In 2018, McCourt decided to leave the Republican Party because his ideas no longer matched theirs.
Working for Disability Rights
Noah McCourt has always spoken out about making services better for people in rural Minnesota. He also supports laws that make sure people with disabilities are treated fairly. He believes it's important to have more public transportation and more money for autism research.
In 2017, McCourt had a difficult experience with the Chaska Police Department. He felt they didn't handle the situation well, especially since he has autism and mental health needs. He criticized the police department's policies. When the police department blocked him on their social media, McCourt took legal action. He argued that blocking him violated his right to free speech under the First Amendment. In 2019, a court ordered the City of Chaska to unblock him on Twitter.
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.
In 2018, McCourt also took legal action against Carver County, the City of Chanhassen, and the City of Norwood Young America. He said their websites were not easy for people with disabilities to use, which goes against laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act.
When a report showed that more people were being diagnosed with autism, Minnesota State Senator Jim Abeler created a group called the Minnesota Autism Council. McCourt disagreed with Senator Abeler's choice to include leaders of the anti-vaccine movement on this council. McCourt has continued to speak out against the anti-vaccine movement.
After the murder of George Floyd, McCourt started the Minnesota Disability Justice Network. This group helps Minnesotans with disabilities have a voice in important conversations about social justice and police actions. In 2020, McCourt was arrested on a highway with other activists.
McCourt also led a group called the "4 cents per hour coalition." This group worked to stop the practice of paying people with disabilities less than the minimum wage in Minnesota. Because of their efforts, Minnesota passed a law to end this practice by 2025.
In 2021, McCourt and his network started a petition to rename Dight Avenue in South Minneapolis. This street was named after Charles Fremont Dight, who supported harmful ideas about eugenics and the Nazis. 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.
In 2020, McCourt challenged a state law that prevented people on probation and immigrants from participating in local political meetings called precinct caucuses. He argued that this ban was against the First Amendment's right to free speech. In 2022, the Minnesota Court of Appeals agreed with him, saying that the law did not apply to these caucuses.
About Noah's Life
Noah McCourt enjoys studying philosophy and classical logic. He lives in Waconia, Minnesota. He is African-American.
McCourt is also on the board of directors for the Minnesota Association on Children's Mental Health.
