Our recent happenings
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda – April 27, 2024
AGENDA Board of Directors Meeting April 27, 2024 - 9:00am - 3:00pm 9:00am Call to Order Notice of Meeting Conflict of Interest Check Approve Minutes Donna Gleaves 9:15am Governance Committee Report • Reappoint Board Members Paula McMahon 9:30am [...]
Nonprofits Bring Suit to Block Destructive School Voucher Bill
Nonprofits Bring Suit to Block Destructive School Voucher Bill This afternoon, Disability Rights Montana filed a lawsuit to block a destructive and misleading “disability education savings account” program that was created under the guise of helping students with [...]
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda – January 27, 2024
AGENDA Board of Directors Meeting January 27, 2024 - 9:00am - 3:00pm 9:00am Call to Order Notice of Meeting Conflict of Interest Check Annual Confidentiality Agreement and Conflict of Interest Disclosure Approve Minutes Donna Gleaves 9:15am Governance Committee [...]
Protecting and advocating on behalf of Montanan’s
with disabilities for over 40 years.
Before 1977, the rights of people with disabilities were being largely ignored in insititutions and were removed from the community. In 1977, the Protections and Advocacy system was established in each state to overlook and protect the rights of these citizens. In the beginning, we had only one funding source. In those early years, DD MAP – as we were then known – contracted its legal services with two Helena attorneys, and concentrated solely on providing advocacy and legal services to people with developmental disabilities.
Today, Disability Rights Montana employs an executive director, four attorneys, five advocates, a paralegal, a data coordinator, a finance/administration director, and an office coordinator. In March 2008, we changed our name from Montana Advocacy Program to Disability Rights Montana. The change better reflects what we do and whom we serve.
Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, executive director of Disability Rights Montana, center, speaks during a special meeting of the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Committee regarding the Montana State Hospital on Friday, March 4, 2022 in the Montana state Capitol.
Photo: Thom Bridge, Helena Independent Record