Our office will be closed from December 24, 2021 through January 2, 2022. We will respond to emails when we return.
If this is an emergency, please call the office directly (or via relay) at the numbers below and leave a voicemail on the general voicemail box (someone will be checking this for emergencies):
Voice/TDD: (406) 449-2344
Toll free: 1-800-245-4743
Disability Rights Montana is a private non-profit civil rights organization whose mission is to protect and advocate for the rights of Montanans with disabilities. Disability Rights Montana seeks to hire an experienced Paralegal. The Paralegal works under the supervision of the Attorney Work Group to support and assist staff attorneys to carry out the legal priorities, objectives, and casework of the agency.
Applicant must be self-motivated, have the ability to problem solve through research, demonstrate proficient writing skills, have fluent computer knowledge, and be able to communicate effectively with people with disabilities, family members, and providers.
Applicant must also be familiar with Federal and Montana Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal and Montana Rules of Evidence, Federal and Montana Uniform District Court Rules, local court rules, and applicable citation manuals.
Applicant must have a minimum of three years of qualifying experience, a diploma, degree, or certification in paralegal studies, or work equivalent.
Position is located in Helena, Montana. Some travel may be required. Salary is commensurate with experience. A generous benefit package includes paid time off, 403(b) retirement plan, health, life, dental, vision, long term care insurance, and professional development.
Disability Rights Montana offers excellent benefits and competitive salary. Starting salary ranges from $44,000-$48,000 DOE.
Position will be open until filled. Please submit a letter of interest and resume to:
Katherine Murfitt
Director of Finance & Administration
1022 Chestnut Street
Helena, MT 59601
or by email to: Katherine@DisabilityRightsMT.org
Disability Rights Montana is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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.
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.
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.
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:
*See application for details about eligibility requirements.
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
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/
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
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