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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-25 Correspondence - Disability Right Montana - Super Secret Group Chat, Opening for a Board Member, & The Luxury of ChoiceFrom:Disability Rights Montana - Life Beyond Compliance To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Super Secret Group Chat, Opening for a Board Member, & The Luxury of Choice Date:Friday, March 28, 2025 2:41:12 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Every paid subscription will go toward offsetting the printing cost of our quarterly publication. This will allow us to distribute vital disability information to disabled Montanans who otherwise would not receive this information. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today! Super Secret Group Chat, Openingfor a Board Member, & The Luxury ofChoice READ IN APP Written by Eva Belatski Did you choose what you wore today? How about what you ate for lunch? Are you going to stay home or head out with friends after work? These might seem like MAR 28 You Are What You Choose ordinary, even trivial, choices. Yet each decision weaves together forming the core of who you are. Our values—what we believe, what we care about, how we see ourselves—are stitched into every choice, no matter how inconsequential it might seem. Consider the people you spend time with, the career path you follow, the hobbies that spark your interest, how you use your money, your hopes for the future, and what makes you feel truly alive. Each reflects decisions made day in and day out. Some choices are quick and intuitive, others feel like major turning points, but together, they shape the person you are each morning. In some places, even the most basic decisions are stripped away. This past week I visited a group home in Montana where residents could not pick their own clothes or meals. They had zero control over their finances, minimal contact with the outside world, and barely any access to what brought them genuine joy—a simple cup of coffee or a visit to a favorite store. They spent their days sitting inside, blocked from opportunities so many of us take for granted. The fundamental freedom of choice often goes unnoticed until the day it vanishes. Without the ability to make personal decisions, a sense of self can quickly erode. Growth and learning becomes difficult and people slip from being a member of a community to a burden on society. Choice is both powerful and dignifying. Mistakes are inevitable—sometimes a job choice turns out wrong, or money is spent unwisely, or the wrong people find their way into our social circles. But every misstep is a lesson in being human, a step forward in understanding ourselves and the world. Still, many people with disabilities face micromanagement or over-protection, losing their basic right to chart their own course, to take on risks to achieve something more. Society often denies individuals with disabilities the everyday freedom it grants so readily to others. If each person is meant to grow, evolve, and flourish, then restricting that personal agency robs them of life’s essential spark. They deserve empowerment, not limitations. Across our state, we are meeting disabled Montanans who are determined to be heard. Their message is clear: the right to make everyday decisions matters. Disability Rights Montana is here to support and amplify that call because who would we be if we never got to make choices for ourselves? Support the work of Disability Rights Montana by sharing this newsletter or becoming a subscriber. Upgrade to paid Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities? Disability Rights Montana is looking for dedicated individuals to join our volunteer, non-profit board. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our organization and ensure we continue to serve our community effectively. Why Join Us? Non-profit boards are the heart of an organization. As a board member, you will: Supervise our Executive Director: Ensure our leadership is aligned with our mission and values. Review our finances: Help us maintain transparency and integrity in our financial practices. Set our priorities: Guide us in focusing on what truly matters to the community we serve. In the for-profit world, success is measured by profits. At Disability Rights Montana, success is measured by the "social good" we create. With countless ways to define Join the Board of Directors atDisability Rights Montana! social good, we need a board of individuals with personal connections to the people we serve. Your insights and experiences will help us define our goals and hold us accountable in achieving them. Time Commitment: Quarterly Board Meetings: One day-long meeting every quarter. We cover travel and lodging, but you can also attend via Zoom if needed. Our meetings are usually in Helena. Monthly Zoom Calls: One-hour call in the months we don't meet in person. Sub-Committee Meetings: Up to one hour per month via Zoom, focusing on areas like future planning, finance, public policy, governance, and the executive committee. Why You? We are experimenting and evolving, and we need your wisdom to connect with the people we serve and want to serve. Your unique perspective as a person with a disability is invaluable in helping us create meaningful change. Please consider bringing your voice to our board. You can fill out an online application or call Victoria at 1-406-449-2344 if you would like her to fill out the form with you over the phone. Together, we can make a real impact. You are accidentally invited to plan the next tactics on how to end ableism in Montana. This chat will be absolutely public, and the world will know we will not allow for the reversal of our rights as disabled Montanans. We have worked tirelessly, people dedicating their entire lives to the cause. We all have a part to play, Super-Secret Group Chat:Mission End Ableism and no part is too small. Too soon? Every week, with the distribution of this newsletter, we will post a thread in the substack chat with a prompt for the community. We encourage all readers to contribute their thoughts and questions for the greater disability community to come together in a space of understanding, growth, and action. How are we going to change the world to make it even better for people with disabilities? Ideas from helping a neighbor weed their garden to starting a new political party based on disability, the possibilities for our future are endless. Join your community in this Super-Secret Public Group Chat! NOTE: There are people who receive this newsletter who actively work against the rights of people with disabilities, both implicitly and explicitly. Eugenicists, trolls, and intolerance in the chat will be banned swiftly. Please report any hate or questionable behavior immediately. Join this week's chat now! Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. We hope these updates empower you to stay informed, engaged, and active toward actualizing true inclusion of people with disabilities. Please share this newsletter with friends, colleagues, and anyone else interested in disability justice and living beyond compliance. Let’s keep pushing for a more inclusive and equitable Montana—together! The less satirical explanation Let’s Stay Connected, grab a Coffee,and Change the World Share Life Beyond Compliance For questions, comments, or to get involved, just reply to this email or visit our website: disabilityrightsmt.org. Me ka mahalo, Kona Franks-Ongoy Director of Communications Disability Rights Montana You’re currently a free subscriber to Life Beyond Compliance. To help us build this library of content and to gain access to additional features, consider upgrading your subscription. Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe