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Perspective leads to advocacy for Burnsville man with disability
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Thursday, 29 October 2009
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Matthew Kramer of Burnsville is a new appointee to the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. Photo by John Gessner
Matthew Kramer, 25, appointed to governor’s council
by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers
Matthew Kramer was born with spina bifida that paralyzed him from the waist down, but it’s taken most of his 25 years to gain perspective on his disability.
The maturing influence of college and a heap of literature provided by an older brother who earned advanced degrees in disability studies helped turn Kramer’s head around.
Disability became less a “flaw” and more “a part of the human condition.”
“It got me to see disability from more of a societal standpoint,” said Kramer, of Burnsville. “From the literature as a whole, I started thinking, like, if I’m going up to a building that has nothing but steps, ‘Am I disabled because I’m in a wheelchair or am I disabled because of the steps that don’t let me get into the building?’ ”
The awakening led to volunteering, policy study and, most recently, an appointment to the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Kramer is one of 12 appointees announced this month by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. He’ll fill a vacancy through January 2010 and then expects appointment to a three-year term.
“I’m interested in exploring how to empower more people to improve their own lives,” Kramer said.
The son of Paul and Shirley Kramer of Burnsville, Kramer has a fraternal twin brother, Mike, who was born with cerebral palsy and other problems. Their older brother, John, earned master’s and doctorate degrees in disability studies.
Kramer graduated in 2002 from Eastview High School in Apple Valley.
“It wasn’t bad,” he said. “I did well. I was a pretty good student. I had friends. I wasn’t a social butterfly by any stretch of the imagination. I was pretty shy – I still am pretty shy.”
Following in his older brother’s footsteps, he attended tiny Lyon College in Batesville, Ark., and earned a bachelor’s degree in English.
“Once I got there I was absolutely amazed at how much more open most people were,” said Kramer, who joined a fraternity and rose to the rank of secretary.
Living back home after college, where he had toyed with but decided against law school, Kramer scouted job and volunteer opportunities.
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