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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-02-26 Correspondence - Disability Rights Montana - Montana Needs Strong Self-AdvocatesFrom:Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Montana Needs Strong Self-Advocates Date:Monday, March 2, 2026 7:31:00 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! Montana Needs Strong Self-Advocates Here’s How You Can Lead READ IN APP Hey everyone, Across Montana, people with developmental disabilities have always been a part of our communities, but too often, the leadership of Montanans with developmental Disabilities has gone unseen or unsupported. That’s why Disability Rights Montana, the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities are rebuilding something powerful: a statewide network where self-advocates learn together, lead together, and speak up together. MAR 2 If you’re a person with a developmental disability and you want to build skills, confidence, and community, this Self Advocacy Leadership Network is for you! Learn more and sign up here For years, Montana had local self-advocacy groups meeting in towns across the state. People gathered to talk about their rights, give each other support, and learn how to speak up in places where decisions get made. But like a lot of community spaces, many of those groups slowly faded. People moved. Funding changed. COVID disrupted everything. And that meant fewer opportunities for self-advocates to connect, build power, and act together. We’re fixing that. The Self Advocacy Leadership Network is bringing this work back. But this time, we want to be really clear - this is not as a top‑down program. It is a community‑built movement focused on: Leadership development Peer support Real inclusion in policy conversations Stronger voices in every Montana community And at the center of the network is a statewide are Montanans with developmental disabilities who will shape the direction of the entire movement. Maybe that new leader is you. Why This Matters We’re rebuilding this statewide network with intention. Here’s what you’ll find if you join: You’ll learn how to run effective meetings, speak confidently, advocate for yourself and others, and understand your rights. You’ll meet other people with developmental disabilities from across Montana. You will get to know people who understand your experiences and people who want to make things better. We’re creating more opportunities for self-advocates to shape decisions in the state capital, in service systems, and in local communities. You will lead. You will not be tokenized. Whether you live in Billings, Missoula, Helena, Havre, or a rural town hours from anywhere, you will have ways to participate. No one gets left out. If you are a person with a developmental disability and any of these feel true, this network is for you: You want to grow your leadership skills You’re interested in helping others You want your voice to matter in decisions that affect your life You want to build community with other self-advocates What You Can Expect ⭐ Leadership training that actually fits your life ⭐ A community that lifts each other up ⭐ Real influence in statewide disability policy ⭐ A Montana‑rooted network Who Should Apply? If you have never done something like this before, that is okay! That is why this group exists. We are here you do the advocacy YOU want to do, even if you have never done advocacy before. Anyone with the passion to learn and lead is welcome. Once you fill out the short form, you’ll be contacted by someone from the partnership team. They will: 1. Get to know you 2. Learn what kind of leadership or self‑advocacy opportunities interest you 3. Connect you with upcoming meetings, trainings, and groups in your area 4. Share opportunities to be part of the statewide leadership team There’s no pressure. No complicated process. You get to determine the role that feels right. Self-advocacy has always been about one thing: people with disabilities defining their own lives, their own power, and their own community. Montana is ready for the next generation of leaders — leaders who know their worth, their rights, and their collective strength. If you’re ready to step into that role, or even just explore what leadership could look like, we want you with us. Learn more and sign up here What Happens When You Sign Up We’re Building the Future of Self-Advocacy inMontana Let’s build something real together. —David 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 © 2026 Disability Rights Montana1022 Chestnut Street, Helena, MT 59601 Unsubscribe