It’s here! National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) kicked off on October 1. How are you celebrating? The 2019 NDEAM theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.” The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945 when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ [...]
Bre Lopuch, Program Manager, Missoula Bre Lopuch holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and has worked in a variety of social service settings for the past 8 years. She started her social work career as a resident advocate at a domestic violence shelter, then worked with children with emotional disturbances in rural Idaho. [...]
By Bronwyn Troutman, Community Living Specialist My colleague, Dr. Anna-Margaret Goldman, and I recently spent two weeks visiting and presenting workshops at several disability organizations in Hanoi, Vietnam. A trip made possible by the University of Montana, Mansfield Center professional fellowship program. Most notably, we had the opportunity to spend time with our [...]
Jessica Workman, SD-CFC/PAS Administrative Assistant, Missoula Hi! My name is Jessica Workman. Most people would describe me as a strange mix of redneck, tomboy, artist, and hippie. I’m the proud and loving mother of two children, two dogs, and two rats, and have been married to the love of my life since 2012. [...]
Jamie Baszler, Independent Living Specialist, Ronan Jamie is the newest addition to Summit Independent Living in our Ronan office. Prior to joining Summit, Ms. Baszler graduated from Salish Kootenai College with degrees in Psychology and Dental Assistance and a Certificate of Completion in Office Professions. She has applied to earn a Master’s degree [...]
A Career Dedicated to Independent Living, Thank You Jude! By: Mike Mayor A common theme throughout Summit’s entire 38-year history has been the tireless energy and enthusiasm for independent living that Jude Monson brought to work every day. We have missed that energy the past couple of months since Jude [...]
An exciting new program called Empower Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is coming to Missoula for the first time this summer! You don’t have to live in Missoula to participate by coming to visit, so please inform anyone you think might be interested in being involved – friends, coworkers, family,! In collaboration with the UM [...]
New Programs are coming to Summit’s BASE location!! This Month we are adding three new programs beginning Wednesday, April 10 with an all-abilities and all-skills Musical Exploration Group 5:45 PM-7:15 PM. The wide variety of instrumental, vocal, and improvisational skills will help everyone find something fun, familiar, unfamiliar, challenging, and/or boring – maybe all [...]
Donna Graham, Independent Living Specialist, Missoula Donna Graham has joined the Summit team this year! Donna works as an Independent Living Specialist in Summit’s Missoula office. Donna is a graduate from the University of Montana with her Bachelors degree in Social Work, and a minor in Early Childhood education. She [...]
Peter Pelchen, Independent Living Specialist, Kalispell My origins start in Wisconsin - in Yoda language, “A Cheesehead am I.” My grandfather was a cheesemaker and I’ve coined the phrase “I never met a cheese I didn’t like.” We came to Montana via England where my wife and I spent [...]