The Montana Deaf-Blind Project and the Montana Transition Resources Project are pleased to welcome Tiffany Costa for this free learning opportunity. Join this webinar to learn about different Social Security Administration (SSA) work incentives available for youth who are thinking about going to work and who receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) cash benefits.  OPI renewal unit credit is available.

Reserve your webinar seat now at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5931959099829315342

Get more information and handouts for the SSI Incentives Webinar

In 2015, the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC) established the Community Investment Fund (CIF). CIF awards support innovative projects or programs that help Montanans with disabilities live, learn, work and play alongside people without disabilities. Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) members use their leadership and advocacy skills to review each application, evaluate the merits of the proposals, and award the funds.

The 2020 CIF award goes to the Montana Independent Living Project (mILp) to continue and expand their successful Feel Great and Recreate – All-Ability Adaptive Ice Skating project. This all-ages project offers adaptive, inclusive, cross-disability recreational programming. In the 2019-20 season, over 160 people skated over 450 times!

Recent Rural Institute Diversity Fellows Helen Russette and Dr. Salena Beaumont-Hill, with Dr. Anna-Margaret Goldman, Professor of Practice, Nonprofit Administration with the Department of Public Administration and Policy, recently published an article titled “Teaching the Intersectionality of Disability, American Indians, and Rurality at Tribal Colleges”.

Everyone is talking about masks.  As the research on their effectiveness as a tool to battle the COVID-19 pandemic grows, so does the list of places requiring them.  Montana recently joined the states with a mask mandate, perhaps raising questions for many families with an individual with a disability.  I am a parent of a child with complex special needs and have had these thoughts going through my mind over the last months as well.  Could my son Charlie ever wear a mask?  How would I teach him?  What does the new normal mean for my unique family?