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Our recent happenings

Board of Directors Meeting Agenda – July 28, 2023

AGENDA Board of Directors Meeting July 28, 2023 - 9:00am - 3:00pm 9:00am Call to Order Notice of Meeting Conflict of Interest Check Approval of Minutes Donna Gleaves 9:15am Executive Committee Report Donna Gleaves 9:30am Executive Director Search [...]

July 17th, 2023|Categories: Board of Directors|

Montana Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto of SB 4

Press release in pdf format HELENA, MT – A supermajority of Montana Legislators voted to override the Governor's veto of Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), upholding the Legislature’s unanimous passage of the bill. SB4 requires the Department of Public [...]

June 9th, 2023|Categories: Uncategorized|

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.

Disability Rights Montana Executive Director focused in center of picture. She has grey hair and a purple jacket. She is sitting at a table, speaking into a microphone.

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

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