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Sep 21, 2021

FY22 Priorities and Objectives Draft for Comment

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-09-21T09:23:34-06:00September 21st, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Disability Rights Montana, Montana’s protection and advocacy system, is developing its priorities and objectives for the upcoming 2022 fiscal year that starts October 1, 2021. We depend on people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, and the public to tell us what disability issues are most important. Please review the draft of our 2022 Priorities and Objectives and provide comments via Advocate@DisabilityRightsMT.org or by calling 1-406-449-2344.

2022 Priorities and Objectives Draft

Sep 8, 2021

Masking in Schools

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-09-08T13:35:04-06:00September 8th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

At Disability Rights Montana, we work to protect every student’s right to safely access in-person education with their peers. Without masking in schools, many students with disabilities, and especially those with medical conditions putting them at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, are having to choose between their health and safety, and their education. Efforts to prevent masking in schools are putting children with disabilities at risk and preventing them from equally participating in their education.

The Office for Civil Rights is investigating states where governments have banned public schools from requiring students to wear masks. The bans on mask requirements, according to the OCR, may be preventing school districts from meeting the individual needs of students with disabilities or otherwise allowing discrimination based on disability, in violation of the law.[1]

If your child cannot wear a mask because of their disability, they have a right to an accommodation or modification of the school’s mask policies. You can request an accommodation from the School District for your child. We’ve provided a mask-specific request for reasonable accommodation form letter to help you with your request. If you feel your child has been discriminated against on the basis of their disability, please contact the Office for Civil Rights to file a complaint.

[1] Dear Superintendent Spearman, United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Re: OCR Docket #11-21-8901, Aug. 30, 2021.

Sep 8, 2021

FY 2022 Priorities and Objectives Survey

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-09-09T15:13:39-06:00September 8th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Disability Rights Montana is developing its priorities and objectives for the upcoming 2022 fiscal year that starts October 1, 2021. We depend on people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, and the public to tell us what disability issues are most important. This survey is one way for us to gather information. Please help us by clicking the link below and answering the questions in the survey. All questions are optional. Answer the questions that are important to you. You must click the Submit button at the end of this survey in order for us to receive your input.

We need your comments by Monday, September 20, 2021.

FY22 Priorities and Objectives Survey

If you want to give us comments by phone or request accommodations, please call 1-800-245-4743.

Aug 13, 2021

Rural Institute 2021 Community Investment Fund

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-08-13T14:55:02-06:00August 13th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

The University of Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities has announced their 2021 Community Investment Fund!

Up to $3,000 is available for innovative projects or programs that will help people with disabilities live, learn, work and play in their communities alongside people without disabilities.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any Montana organization, agency, non-profit group or individual* with a creative idea developed by/with people with disabilities to promote community inclusion for Montanans with disabilities.

Application deadline: September 1, 2021

Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by October 31, 2021. Successful applicants need to spend their Community Investment Funds by April 15, 2022.

For an application and/or more information:

visit the Rural Institute’s 2021 Community Investment Fund page, or
contact Kim Brown at brown@ruralinstitute.umt.edu or (406) 243-4852

*See application for details about eligibility requirements.

Jul 21, 2021

PAIMI Advisory Council Opening

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-07-21T14:50:34-06:00July 21st, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Disability Rights Montana is seeking a volunteer attorney to serve on its Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council (PAIMI Council). The PAIMI Council advises DRM on its priority and objectives in carrying out its responsibilities.

The PAIMI Council is comprised of mental health providers, individuals with mental illness and family members of people with mental ill. The council meets four times a year. Please contact Bernie for more information at (406) 449-2344 or email at bernie@disabilityrightsmt.org

Click here to learn more about DRM

Click here for the application to apply

Jul 20, 2021

The Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana is closing facilities because they can’t find workers!

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-07-20T14:11:03-06:00July 20th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Person opening black leather jacket to reveal black shirt that says "Mental Health Matters"

The Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana is closing facilities because they can’t find workers!

Calling all students who need a practicum in the behavioral health or developmental disability fields: Montana’s most vulnerable need your help, and there is a dire need for workers in your field right now. Below we have identified a number of our member organizations that can offer you an opportunity to work as soon as you are available. We highly encourage you to reach out to the contacts mentioned below to see what opportunities exist for you.

See opportunities here: https://montanabehavioralhealth.org/practicum-students-montana-needs-you/

Jun 18, 2021

MT Shares Annual Raffle

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-06-18T09:52:47-06:00June 18th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

The 27th annual Montana Shares raffle is now underway and the drawing will be held on September 17, 2021. Support Disability Rights Montana and other Montana non-profits and become eligible for great prizes. You need not be present to win. Winners will be notified by mail and will be posted within two weeks after the drawing on the Montana Shares website.

There are 33 fabulous prizes, including 14 prize packages this year! Raffle tickets are $10 per ticket, 3 tickets for $25, 6 tickets for $40, or 18 tickets for $100.

Money collected from the raffle helps Montana Shares’ program budget, which in turn, helps them support members with the ongoing work to invest in Montana’s human, animal, cultural and natural resources. Click on the images below for a list of prizes and printable raffle tickets. Tickets must be received by Montana Shares by September 16, 2021. To enter the raffle, print and complete the number of tickets you’d like to purchase and mail them along with payment to:

Montana Shares
PO Box 833
Helena, MT 59624

Apr 5, 2021

PAIMI Public Forum – We Want to Hear From You!

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-06-18T10:01:02-06:00April 5th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

We Want to Hear From You!

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program

PUBLIC FORUM

On April 20-22, 2021, representatives from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) will be conducting a virtual monitoring visit of Disability Rights Montana (DRM), the Protection and Advocacy System for the State of Montana.

SAMHSA/CMHS invites you to send comments about the PAIMI Program services and activities conducted by Disability Rights Montana.

Please send your comments to SAMHSA/CMHS by email to PAIMI@samhsa.hhs.gov or mail to the PAIMI Program Coordinator, SAMHSA/CMHS, 5600 Fishers Lane, Suite 14E25D, Rockville, Maryland 20857.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Bernadette Franks-Ongoy,
Executive Director
Email: bernie@disabilityrightsmt.org
Phone: (406) 449-2344

Feb 8, 2021

Opportunity for Youth with Disabilities

By Disability Rights Montana|2021-02-08T12:07:18-07:00February 8th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Alexis Reed, a Developmental Disabilities Behavior Consultant in Oregon, is currently collaborating with the University of Oregon’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities to share a research opportunity for young people (ages 14-24) with intellectual disabilities. They’ve just expanded their outreach to Montana.

The study is a great way for a young person and their parent or provider to make some money, make an important contribution, and break up the monotony of life during the pandemic!

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Dr. James Sinclair: (949) 275-6729, jamesin@uoregon.edu. See the flyer below for additional information.

Aug 4, 2020

Disability Rights Montana’s 2020 Virtual Conference

By Disability Rights Montana|2020-09-16T10:23:35-06:00August 4th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Shifting the Narrative: An Intersectional Approach to Mental Health

Montana, are you ready to Shift the Narrative? We are thrilled to announce our virtual conference on September 14-18, 2020. You will have the opportunity to engage with nationally recognized disability and mental health activists, attorneys, and mental health providers for what will be an impactful experience! The conference will include powerful visions and tools for creating culturally competent, non-discriminatory, and inclusive mental health care systems. Register today!