Montana Disability Voices (MDV) is a new statewide, non-partisan coalition of non-profit organizations, including: Summit Independent Living, Montana’s four Centers for Independent Living, Arc of Montana, Disability Right Montana, Mental Health America of Montana, the Montana Association for Behavior Analysis, the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities, Parents Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK), and the University of Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. As a coalition, MDV encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of major public issues and influences public policy regarding disabilities through education and advocacy.
MDV is committed to educating legislators on issues that are important to individuals with disabilities throughout Montana as well as ensuring that voters with disabilities know how their legislators stand on those issues.
During the month of September, MDV hosted five Montana legislative candidate forums across the state. These candidate forms were held in Kalispell, Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, and Billings. MDV also conducted a legislative candidate survey to 231 legislative candidates of which, 52 responded. Between the candidate forums and the legislative candidate survey, MDV provided an opportunity for legislative candidates to engage and share information with voters regarding issues affecting over 150,000 Montana adults and children living with disabilities.
With the general election quickly approaching, it is important that voters know where their candidates stand on issues important to them. If you would like to
view any of the candidate forms or download MDV’s Disability Voter Guide, please visit https://www.mtdisabilityvoices.org. On the MDV website you will also find ways to interact with the coalition on social media, be able to check your voter registration status, download disability population maps, and more. MDV’s goal in providing this information to both legislators and voters with disabilities is to improve the lives of adults and children living with disabilities by working together to build a movement.
