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In response to the Covid-19 emergency, MT DPHHS has submitted a series of amendments to Montana’s Medicaid waivers to help lessen the impact of the situation upon providers and those who receive their services. The most recent of these was an Appendix K request which included various requests for alterations to the way that Medicaid waiver services are provided. This included all three disability waivers in our system: the Big Sky Home and Community Based Waiver (“Big Sky”), the Montana Behavioral Health Severe Disabling Mental Illness Home and Community Based Waiver (“SDMI”) and the Montana Home and Community Based Waiver [...]

AGENDA Board of Directors Meeting April 25, 2020 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, Montana 9:00 a.m. Call to Order Notice of Meeting Approval of January 31, 2020 Minutes Theresa Baldry, President 9:10 a.m. Governance Committee Report New member – Joel Peder’s application Kathie Waters 9:25 a.m. PAIMI Report Kathie Waters, Advisory Council Chair 9:30 a.m. Finance / Audit Committee Report Review and Approval of FY20 2nd Quarter Report FY20 Budget Revision FSA Plan Document Amendment Dave Richards / Kelli Kaufman 9:45 a.m. Fundraising Committee Report Will Warberg 9:50  a.m. Bylaws/Legislative Committee Report Bylaws [...]

Dear Friends, The COVID-19 is affecting all of us. This invisible virus is sweeping across Montana, our country and the world and is disrupting our lives and daily routines. We are all being asked to do our part to “flatten the curve” and practice “social distancing”. The virus does not discriminate. That being said, policies and practices that are implemented, though intended for the greater good, can be unintentionally discriminatory having negative and disproportionate impacts on people with disabilities. Disability Rights Montana staff is working with and monitoring city, county, and state officials as policies and practices are implemented. This [...]

Today we filed an emergency petition with ACLU of Montana to ask the Montana Supreme Court to protect prisoners with disabilities by reducing the number of people who are now in or who will enter Montana’s jails and prisons. The ACLU of Montana, together with the Beck, Amsden and Stalpes law firm filed the petition on behalf of Disability Rights Montana. The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is spreading exponentially across the country and the state. According to the petition, the Montana Supreme Court has the power to immediately reduce the number of incarcerated people in Montana in these extraordinary [...]

Disability Rights Montana is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) developments and following the recommendations published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). Information is rapidly evolving, and we are working quickly to identify how we can support our staff, their families, our clients and our community. Given the seriousness of the situation, we created the following health and safety guidelines to support and protect our staff and clients. These guidelines will be in place for the foreseeable future, but we will reassess as new information emerges. Please know [...]

Almost 50 years after the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Catholic College has failed to prioritize accessibility despite the struggles that people with disabilities face on the campus. Carroll College has included accessibility in the Master Plan for the College, but has refused to create an action plan or designate personnel to oversee this process. Students, alum, former faculty, and community members have come together to tell their stories regarding the inaccessibility of the College. We will be sharing these stories here on our website. A new story will be available each day during the week [...]