On September 11, Montana’s Centers for Independent Living, ADAPT Montana, Disability Rights Montana, the Montana Dental Association, the Behavior Health Association of Montana, Mental Health America of Montana, the Montana Youth Leadership Forum, the Montana Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and Western Montana Mental Health Center and other disability and aging advocates, providers, and consumers held a “People Matter” rally in response to Governor Bullock and the Department of Public Health and Human Services’ proposal to cut human service budgets.
The purpose of the rally was to draw attention to the impact that budget cuts will have on the people who rely on Medicaid services. It is our hope that this rally will lead the Governor’s office, DPHHS, and legislative leadership to do the right thing and come up with a different approach for balancing the State’s budget.
The theme for the rally was “People Matter,” chosen to emphasize the role community human service programs play in facilitating Montanans with disabilities, including youth and older adults, to live in their homes and actively participate in their communities.
