July 2016

Map of metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties across America. This map of the United States depicts urban and rural counties across America using the Office of Management and Budget classifications. In general, metropolitan counties are more prevalent along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and throughout the eastern and Midwestern states. Micropolitan and noncore counties are more common in the northeast, parts of northern Midwest, the Great Plains, and Rocky Mountains.

July 2016

The map below explores the 2010-2014 ACS 5-year (table S1810) disability estimates by county type (OMB county classifications). The ACS asks a set of disability indicator questions to determine disability, if a respondent can answer “yes” to any disability question they are classified as having a disability.

View map on RTC: Rural website

 

Please join us for this 1.5 hour webinar from the National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC) at the American Association on Health Disability. Topics to include: ACA Marketplace client resources and questions, disability etiquette, and accessibility considerations throughout the enrollment process.
June 26, 2017 - 1:00PM MT/3:00PM ET

View PDF

Application deadline has expired. We hope to notify all applicants by end of June.

Applications for the 2017 Community Investment Fund are now being accepted! The Community Investment Fund is made available annually for innovative projects that help people with disabilities live, learn, work and play in their communities alongside people without disabilities. Any Montana organization, agency, non-profit group, or individual with a creative idea to promote community inclusion is eligible to apply.

By Lauren Beyer, Rural Institute Project Assistant

"Unlike most teenagers, Aaron looks forward to school every day. His favorite class is history, especially learning about the English colonies.  He does not shy away from the social aspects of school, either. He has many friends."

Read more about Aaron.

View Novelene Martin's, Bureau Chief, Developmental Disabilities Program Presentation on "Children's Autism Waiver 0667 1915(c) Waiver.

The Children’s Autism Waiver renewal was approved by CMS. A letter will be mailed to families who have children currently enrolled in the Waiver. Please see the PDF letter for more details.

Updates

1. 

   The Montana Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS) Survey was mailed to a sample of families with a child(ren) or youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in Montana. Deadline to submit the Survey is May 15th, 2017. If you intend to mail in your survey please do so no later than 4-5 business days prior to the May 15th deadline.
2. We are in our final phase of the CSHS Project and will be hosting Community Discussion Forums across Montana in April and May 2017. During these forums, parents and primary caregivers of CYSHCN will be asked to discuss and interpret the Montana Children’s Special Health Services Survey current findings.

In conjunction with National Autism Awareness Month this April, several University of Montana departments and organizations will join forces to call attention to Autism Spectrum Disorder, which affects about one in every 68 children in the U.S. and is the fastest-growing disability category in Montana’s public education system.

Students and faculty members from UM’s psychology, communicative sciences and disorders, and teaching and learning departments will highlight the University’s efforts to address ASD, as well as provide information and resources, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, on the UM Oval.

Volunteers with the UM student groups Operation Smile and Students in Communication and Hearing Working in Action (SCHWA) also will participate, and UM mascot Monte will be on hand from 1 to 2 p.m.

http://news.umt.edu/2017/03/033017atsm.php

This fun event supports a fund for educational materials for kids on the autism spectrum at the Child Development Center. Celebrate Acceptance, April 7 from 5 - 8pm at MSO Hub/Bicycle Hangar, 140 N. Higgins, Missoula, MT

Thursday, April 13, 2017

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM MDT

Free Webinar

Presenters will share ideas of activities promoting work and college readiness for students with disabilities that can be facilitated by Montana Vocational Rehabilitation staff in the classroom. In addition to suggested activities, developed curricula and free resources will be shared.

Register now