The Rural Institute has three new employees working on research and training projects on employment for people with disabilities.

Roger Shelley is an Institute Organizational Consultant on the Montana Career Design Initiative (MCDI). Through this project, Roger provides technical assistance and training programs for Montana agencies engaged in supplying supported employment services to individuals with severe disabilities. Roger's background includes corporate sales and marketing, career planning for Native American populations, small business ownership, and supported employment program operations and management. He has extensive experience in the employment of people with disabilities in rural communities in the western United States. Roger works out of his home-office in Red Lodge, Montana. You may contact him at (406) 446-2065 or e-mail at r.shelley@worldnet.att.net

Michael Flaherty is the Organizational Consultant for the Montana Rural Employment Initiative, which works with Montana supported employment service providers. Mike has twenty-three years of work experience in the human services field.

He has provided direct and administrative service to populations including persons with chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, and physical disabilities. He has initiated both traditional and innovative employment practices and placement. Additionally, he has two years experience working with minority adolescent residential/community based treatment and Upward Bound. Mike received his M.S. in Rehabilitation from Drake University. Mike's phone is (406) 243-4619 and e-mail mcf@ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Helena Hoas is the Research and Evaluation Coordinator for the Rural Institute's Research in Social Security Employment Support (RISES) project and the Culpepper Foundation Bioethics project. Helena received her Filosofie Licentiat Examen (equivalent to a Ph.D.) in Educational Psychology and Evaluation from the Umeå University in Sweden. Helena's work experience includes research into secondary school reform, working with students with disabilities, and social work. As Co-Director of the IEA Pre Primary Project, Helena was responsible for establishing standard procedures for data collection, processing, and analysis of data for eleven countries participating in a study. You can reach Helena at (406) 243-5775 or e-mail her: hoas@selway.umt.edu