Disability Rights Montana provides information and referral, individual advocacy, legal representation, outreach and training…
Read the latest news from Disability Rights Montana; Board of Director’s meeting agenda, press releases, newsletters and other current events….
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Stop Blaming Mass Shootings on People with Mental llness
By: Roberta Zenker, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Montana Last week our president proclaimed in the wake of two mass shootings that "mental illness and hatred pull the trigger, not the gun." DJT 8/5/2019. However, doctors and psychological experts agree that no direct correlation exists between mental illness and mass shootings. "Routinely blaming mass shootings on mental illness is unfounded and stigmatizing. Research has shown that only a very small percentage of violent acts are committed by people who are diagnosed [...]
Disability Rights Montana
Disability Rights Montana is more than 40 years old.
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.
