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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-19-25 Correspondence - Disability Rights Montana - Forget ‘Fixing Problems,’ Start Build...From:Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Forget ‘Fixing Problems,’ Start Building Culture! Date:Wednesday, December 17, 2025 7:04:11 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! Forget ‘Fixing Problems,’ StartBuilding Culture! Lawsuits and legislation aren’t enough and two specific ways you canhelp us build Montana's future READ IN APP Thanks for being part of the Growth Rings newsletter community. I want to take a moment to explain what we’re doing, why it matters, and at the end of the article I have two ways you can help shape the next chapter. DEC 17 Why Today’s Disability Culture Is Everyone’sFuture Disability Rights Montana is, first and foremost, Montana’s disability civil rights law office. If you haven’t already seen it, you can check out our latest litigation win in last week’s newsletter and podcast by scrolling to the this post and clicking on the link. For nearly 50 years, our mission has been to fight discrimination and create systemic change. We’ve won lawsuits, influenced policy, and solved countless problems. But here’s what we’ve learned: Culture change doesn’t happen in courtrooms alone. It doesn’t happen through legislation alone. It doesn’t even happen through problem-solving alone. Real, lasting change that transforms how society sees disability takes all of that and more. It requires an affirmative vision. One that isn’t just about reacting to what is broken, but about creating something people want to be part of, something that feels innovative, exciting, and yes, cool. If we want to dismantle ableism, we can’t just tell people what’s wrong. We have to show them what’s possible. We need to make disability culture visible, vibrant, and influential. Disability culture isn’t a niche, it’s a force. A force that shapes mainstream culture. Because here’s the truth: disability culture isn’t just good for disabled people, it’s good for everyone. Every system, from education to healthcare, business, and government, can learn from the mindset disability culture brings: · Adaptation: The ability to pivot and innovate when life throws curveballs. · Trust in the power of experience: Creative solutions born from the deep We need more than legal wins Why Culture Work Matters wisdom of lived experience. · Acceptance of difference: A value that strengthens communities and economies alike by learning from diverse perspectives and approaches. These aren’t survival skills. They’re leadership skills. They’re the foundation of resilience and hope that allows us to lead in a world that’s constantly changing. And if disability culture helps drive that change, the future looks brighter for all of us. Here at Disability Rights Montana, we are early in our journey toward broad- based culture work. Lawsuits and advocacy will always matter, but they aren’t enough. To create a truly inclusive Montana (and country and world), we need to integrate cultural innovation with our historic advocacy work. That means storytelling. It means building spaces where disability is celebrated, not hidden. It means creating a movement that feels aspirational, not obligatory. We want to learn from others doing this work. We want to collaborate. And we want to invite you to lead alongside us. Whether you’re a self-advocate, ally, policymaker, or creator, please join us in shaping a future where disability culture isn’t just accepted, but embraced as a driver of progress. Culture change starts with connection. It isn’t just words or ideas, it’s built by actions. Where we spend our days and what we do there directly shapes our communities and our individual realities. Libraries, theaters, parks, trails - these places define our lives. To make disability culture tangible, not just an ideal, we need a space designed to help disability culture flourish. A space where culture can be learned, practiced, and built anew. That’s why we’re reimagining our building in Helena as a Disability Community Center. We want it to be a hub for events, learning, and connection. Our Next Chapter Let’s Build Culture Together, Brick by Brick We already own a building. Years ago, DRMT invested in purchasing an office building and has hosted area nonprofits and community groups in it. But since COVID, the way people use office and meeting space has changed. In light of these changes, we want to transform this building into a vibrant community space to put this building to its best possible use for the disability community. Here’s what we need: Facility Committee We need people with knowledge of buildings and their role in community life: skilled tradespeople, developers, builders, architects, engineers. If you have expertise in design, construction, or accessibility, we’d love your help on a small committee to figure out how to make the most of our building. We want to invest wisely in improvements that make this space welcoming and functional for community use. Facility Committee sign-up Event Committee What kinds of events would you love to attend? Do you have an idea for an event, workshop, or gathering? We want people to use this space in the ways they want! Whether it’s art, advocacy, education, or social connection, your creativity can help bring disability culture to life. What would make you say, ‘I want to be part of that’? Share your ideas and help us design programming that is exciting and inclusive. Event Committee sign-up This is about more than a building, it’s about building culture. Together, we can create a space where disability isn’t accommodated after the fact, disability is the first thought. A space that invites everyone to experience the wisdom and creativity disability culture brings. A place where disability Here’s How You Can Help is celebrated! Ready to help? Volunteer for one of the two committees above. Let’s make this happen! David David Carlson, J.D. Executive Director Disability Rights Montana p.s. if you haven’t see last week’s post about our most recent litigation win, check out this link. Disability Rights Montana wins in courtfor disabled kids, again! DAVID CARLSON ·DEC 12 Disability Rights Montana wins in court for disabled kids, again! Disability Rights Montana is Montana’s statewide disability civil rights law firm. We have a federal mandate to protect and advocate for the human, legal, and civil rights of Montanans with disabilities, and we are good at it. On the heals of 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! Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe doubling the years of high school available to disabled students a few months ago, I am very proud to bring you … Read full story