Right now Summit is under a lucky star! Spring and Summer is so busy we can hardly tell when we are coming or going, but it’s been a blast!
We hosted an ADAPT board member picnic on June 26th. What is ADAPT you ask? ADAPT is a national group of disability rights activists who have championed such changes as accessible public transportation, community living language in the health care act and nursing home, transition. Thanks to Bob Liston and Marsha Katz for inviting the ADAPT board to Missoula so we could mingle outdoors in Montana’s Big Sky sunshine and learn from each others’ upcoming ADA events.
Darren and Andrea offered the Living Well with a Disability workshop. Mike Beers and Mary Olson offered an overview of Disability History and Independent Living Movement Culture along with a quick update of the Americans with Disabilities Act. These are a few of many classes we will also offer in the fall. Please call Jude at 728-1630 if you want to hear more about our fall skills training courses.
Justyn Field is our summer public relations intern and is doing a stand-up job collecting local stories about the Americans with Disabilities Act 20th year. He is gathering opinions from local disability leaders about Montana’s accomplishments and barriers we still need to work on. Thank you Justyn, we couldn’t have accomplished as much we have this summer without you!
Susan Morris was our Social Work student and has recently been hired as our Outreach Specialist. Her specialty areas will be Sanders County outreach, accessibility assessment, communicating with community resources, and nursing home transition. Welcome to Summit in your new role Susan!
There is a small, yet mighty group of advocates on the Nursing Home Transition Committee assisting people to escape from nursing homes and back to the community. Have you, or are you interested in, moving out of a nursing home? If so, please call Jude.
Mary Olson and Mike Beers just finished up a series of Building Advocacy and Leadership Skills classes as well as disability awareness for students in high school. They are already booked for next fall in Missoula, Florence, and one school in the Flathead. This summer they are working with the Statewide Youth Task Force to host a Youth IL Symposium in Missoula July 28th. Contact Mike B. or Mary for more information.
The Montana Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF) is being held at Carrol College in Helena July 12-16. MYLF brings youth from all over the state together to learn about the disability movement and resources in our state as well as to network and get to know one another.
Youth Opening Doors through Advocacy in Missoula, a group of 14 – 30 years olds, were involved in the ADAPT picnic and are assisting Summit plan for our July 26th ADA Fort Missoula social event and the Youth IL Symposium. Call Mike B. if you want more information.
The Regional Youth Forum will be held in August 18th from 10:00 am to noon at the Rural Institute conference room, down the hall from Summit. It will be a very productive time for teachers, parents and adult providers to strategize how everyone can work together.
The First Annual ZooTown Throw Down will be held at the Ogren-Allegiance Stadium early this fall. The Missoula Youth Forum and Summit are putting together a Community Resource Fair along with plenty of entertainment and music provided by local bands. Contact Darren Larson for more information.
The Montana Association for Rehabilitation (MAR) Conference is coming to Missoula October 13-15 at the Holiday Inn Downtown. For more information about the MAR conference, check out their website at http://www.mtmar.org/.
