Are you a Montanan with a developmental disability who wants to speak up, meet people, and help shape your community?
For many years, Montana had strong self‑advocacy groups led by people with developmental disabilities. Those groups helped people learn new skills, make friends, and speak up for what matters in their lives.
These groups have been gone for a while. Now we are rebuilding them with your leadership.
If you want to join a new self‑advocacy group in your area, or just want to learn more, you can sign up at this link.
What Is Self‑Advocacy?
Self‑advocacy means:
– Speaking up for yourself
– Making your own choices
– Learning your rights
– Helping make your community better for people with disabilities
A self‑advocacy club is a group of people with developmental disabilities who meet to:
– Talk about everyday life and challenges
– Support one another
– Build confidence
– Learn new skills
– Work on ideas to make Montana more inclusive
– Have fun and meet new friends
Self‑advocacy is NOT about arguing. It’s about belonging, being heard, and being respected.
Who Can Join?
Anyone in Montana who identifies as having a developmental disability. This includes people with:
– Intellectual disabilities
– Autism
– Cerebral palsy
– Epilepsy
– Down syndrome
– Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
– Brain injuries before age 22
– Other related conditions
Support people, family members, or professionals cannot lead the club, but they can help if the group asks them to. You are the leader.
Why Join the Self‑Advocacy Leadership Network?
People join for lots of reasons, including:
– “I want to meet people who understand me.”
– “I want to learn how to speak up without feeling nervous.”
– “I want to help make Montana better for people like me.”
– “I want friends.”
– “I want to practice leadership.”
– “I want to know my rights.”
You don’t need experience. You don’t need to be a public speaker. You don’t need to know anything beforehand. Just show up as you are.
What Happens Next?
You sign up here. Then, someone from Disability Rights Montana, the Montana Developmental Disabilities Council, or the University of Montana’s Rural Institute will contact you.
We will:
– Let you know if a group is forming in your area
– Ask what times work best
– Make sure meetings are accessible
– Invite you to help lead if you want to
You are welcome here.
You belong here.
Your voice matters.