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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-25 Correspondence - Disability Rights Montana - The Collective Disruption and Homeless IslandFrom:Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]The Collective Disruption and Homeless Island Date:Monday, October 27, 2025 7:31:09 AM 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 supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is nowhere near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! The Collective Disruption andHomeless Island Introducing a New Era for Disability Policy in Montana and a Link to LastFriday's Live Podcast Episode About Montanan's Next Big TouristAttraction READ IN APP By David Carlson Executive Director, Disability Rights Montana Montana’s disability community has always been resilient. We’ve organized, advocated, and built culture in the face of systemic neglect. But resilience alone isn’t enough. OCT 27 We need power. We need visibility. We need coordination. That’s why I’m proud to announce a new statewide disability policy coalition: The Collective Disruption. Formed in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind, Summit Independent Living, Ability Montana, and the Montana Association of Centers for Independent Living (NCILs), this coalition is more than a collaboration - it’s a movement. Join The Collective Disruption Our Mission “To build a united, statewide voice for disability rights in Montana through cultural awareness, leadership development, civic engagement, and coordinated advocacy.” We believe that disability policy must be shaped by disabled people, not just in theory, but in practice. That means showing up where decisions are made, building leadership from within our communities, and telling stories that build and shift culture. Our Vision “A Montana where people with disabilities are fully represented where decisions are made and driving lasting systemic policy change that reflects the needs and priorities of our community.” This vision is rooted in the disability justice framework: intersectional, community- driven, and unapologetically bold. It’s about more than access. It’s about transformation. Montana is at a crossroads. From education to transportation, housing to healthcare, disabled Montanans are being left out of the conversation. Meanwhile, federal protections like IDEA and Section 504 are under threat. We need a united front to protect what we’ve fought for and to push for what’s still needed. At Disability Rights Montana, we’ve spent the last year building cultural infrastructure: launching the Growth Rings podcast and this newsletter, we have brought several systemic lawsuits, and in the background we are developing some additional culture shifting programs that will launch over the year to come. The Collective Disruption is the next ring in that growth. It is where culture meets policy. Join Us We’ve just launched our Instagram page: @thecollectivedisruption The Collective Disruption Instagram Page If you’re on Instagram, follow us and share widely. But most importantly: sign up to be part of this movement. Whether you’re a disabled Montanan, an ally, a policymaker, or someone who just wants to help build a more inclusive state - we need you. Sign Up Form Why Now? If you didn’t see last week’s livepodcast episode, check it out here Bedlam in Montana DAVID CARLSON ·OCT 26 You’re currently a free subscriber to Life Beyond Compliance. Upgrading to paid subscriptions supports Disability Rights Montana’s work across Montana. Federal funding is no where near sufficient to meet the advocacy and culture change work that is needed. You can help fund the future you want to see! Bedlam in Montana In this powerful live episode of the Growth Rings podcast, David Carlson responds to a shocking proposal from a Great Falls political candidate to turn homelessness into a tourist attraction—dubbed “Homeless Island.” Drawing parallels to the historical exploitation of patients at London’s infamous Bedlam asylum, David explores how such ideas reflect dee… Read full story Together, we can disrupt the status quo. Not for the sake of chaos, but for the sake ofjustice. Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe