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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-21-26 Correspondence - Disability Rights Montana - Thank You for Standing Up and What Comes NextFrom:Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Thank You for Standing Up and What Comes Next Date:Tuesday, April 21, 2026 8:05:43 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! Thank You for Standing Up and WhatComes Next Updates about the letter to the AG and how you can continue to helpdisabled Montanans strengthen their political muscles READ IN APP I want to start by saying this plainly: Thank you. You and a 1000+ other Montanans, along with over 60 organizations across APR 21 Thank You for Defending Section 504 Montana, took action to defend the civil rights of people with disabilities. That is an amazing number, and it matters! A lot. Your names, your voices, and your willingness to speak up sent a clear message: disability rights are not optional, and they are not up for quiet erosion, and a huge number of people know what is going on and won’t stand for it. Section 504 is foundational. It’s what guarantees access to education, health care, housing, employment, and public life for disabled people. When it is threatened, whether loudly or through backdoor policy shifts, it puts real lives at risk. By signing this letter, you helped push back against that erosion. You reminded decision‑makers that disabled Montanans are paying attention, organizing, and expecting leadership that respects our rights. If you haven’t read the letter yet or want to share it with others, you can find it here: https://disabilityrightsmt.org/save-504-again/ This kind of collective action works best when it doesn’t disappear after the moment passes. Which brings us to what’s next. Policy fights matter, but culture is what wins them. That’s The Collective Disruption, a coalition of disabled Montanans and disability- led organizations, is throwing a party on the Attorney General Office’s front lawn, to celebrate disability culture this May 4th (on 5/04 day - get it?!) and the Collective Disruption is also touring Montana with Crip Camp, the groundbreaking documentary about the disability rights movement, community, and power. You can learn about each below: Keep the Momentum Going: Attend a Partyand Host or Attend a Crip Camp Screening Join Montana’s disability community for a party! This is NOT a protest, it is a CELEBRATION! A visible, joyous celebration of disability culture. We live in the community for a reason. Let’s party to honor those who fought before us to secure our right to live, work, and play in the communities of our choosing! Let’s party on behalf of those who can’t join us from their institutional bedrooms! Let’s party to charge our batteries for the ongoing fight to defend and expand accessibility and acceptance across our great state! When our simple existence is resistance, let’s exist as big and bold as possible! When: Monday, May 4, 2026 at 12:00 noon Where: The Montana State Mazurek Justice Building 215 N Sanders St Helena, MT 59601 Who: Anyone who has a disability, anyone who loves someone with a disability, anyone who believes people who need support can and should live in the community regardless of age or disability – you are our community and you are welcome. There will be free food available, please contact DRMT at (406) 449-2344 as soon as you can to let us know of any dietary needs. 5/04 Day - celebrate 504 in the 406 We’re partnering with local individuals and organizations across the state to host screenings and conversations about what disability justice looks like here, in our towns and communities. You don’t need a big venue or a big budget. A Crip Camp screening can happen: In your living room with friends At your workplace or union hall In a classroom, library, or house of worship In a school gym, community center, or local theater For each screening, the Collective Disruption will help facilitate thoughtful conversation by sending professional advocacy staff from Montana disability organizations, including Disability Rights Montana, the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, Summit Independent Living, Ability Montana, North Central Independent Living Services, and Living Independently Today and Tomorrow. These screenings aren’t just about watching a movie. They’re about: Building shared language and values around disability rights Connecting people across differences Growing the political and social power of disabled Montanans If you’ve ever signed a letter, shown up to a meeting, or simply looked at your phone and wondered how to go deeper, this is a great next step. You can learn more about attending or sign up to host a screening here: https://disabilityrightsmt.org/crip-camp/ Crip Camp Montana: 2026 Summer Tour Defending Section 504 and building disability culture are part of the same project: making sure disabled Montanans are visible, valued, and powerful in every part of life. We’re grateful to do this work with you. In Solidarity, David David Carlson, J.D. Executive Director Disability Rights Montana 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