Ryan Haenze is a legal advocate with the MN Disability Law Center (MDLC). Ryan primarily works on the Youth Services team addressing issues related to special education. Ryan also works with clients who are transitioning from school to employment. In his role at MDLC, Ryan is involved in numerous community committees and workgroups focusing on special education and disability policy issues and has spoken in panels on the topic of ableism in education. Prior to his work as an advocate, Ryan was a special educator in the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public School Districts from 2016-2022. Ryan brings a unique perspective as an autistic adult who went through the special education system, a former special educator, and now as a legal advocate.