Disability Rights Montana publishes an electronic newsletter at least quarterly. Below are links to each of the e-newsletters that has been published. To have the e-newsletter delivered to your inbox, click here to subscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time.
If you have a disability and would like to share your viewpoint, please email us your story in 250 words.
2021 Newsletters
Legislative Session Updates:
- Bill Status at End of 2021 Legislative Session
- Action Alert HB 691
- Week 17 Action Alert: HB 691
- Week 17 Action Alert: HB 223
- Week 16 Bill Alert: HB 233
- Week 15 – April 12th-16th
- Week 14 – April 6th-9th
- Week 13 Bill Alert: HB 233
- Week 13 – March 29th-April 2nd
- Week 12 Bill Alert: SB 344
- Week 12 – March 22nd-26th
- Week 11 – March 15th-19th
- Week 10 Bill Alert: HB 233
- Week 9: General Bill Transmittal List – March 2nd
- Week 8 Bill Alert: HB 233 – February 25th
- Week 8 Bill Alert: HB 233 – February 23rd
- Week 8 – February 22nd-26th
- Week 7 – February 15th – 19th
- Week 6 – February 8th – 12th
- Week 5 Update – February 3, 2021
- Week 5 – February 1-5, 2021
- Week 4 – January 25-29, 2021
- Week 3 – January 18-22, 2021
- Week 2 – January 11, 2021
- Week 1 midweek update – January 7, 2021
- Week 1 – January 4, 2021
2020 Newsletters
December 2020: Tips to participate in the 2021 Legislative Session.
May 2020: DRM helps craft first supported decision making plan to replace unnecessary guardianship for 43-year-old man, State’s appendix K waiver, and DRM’s voting initiative.
March 2020: DRM to appear in MT Department of Justice v. DPHHS, featured client: Devin McLane, committee hears about loss of services under Big Sky Waiver, and Carroll College remains inaccessible.
Past Newsletters
July 2019: Federal appeal court finds for DRM in case challenging treatment of mentally ill prisoners at Montana State Prison, closure of Acadia Montana, MSH’s Spratt Unit being used as Hospice, and state legislative interim packed with disability issues.
PABSS Newsletter October 2018- Learn about different Supplemental Security Income work incentives for individuals who are turning eighteen years old.
October 2018: Montana Disability Voter Guide, Budget Cuts and Partial Restoration of Fund and Update on Pine Hills investigation
June 1, 2018: Upcoming Montana Primary, the Law and Justice Interim Committee and the use of solitary confinement study, continued reports of abuse and neglect at the Montana Developmental Center, and inclusive playgrounds coming to Montana.
May 1, 2018: Calling on the State to restore cuts and services to people with disabilities, how the tobacco tax affects people with disabilities, protecting the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a presentation about Special Education by Attorney, Tal Goldin.
March 15, 2018: Update on the State cuts proposals, letter to the legislative finance committee, voting technology, and goodbye to Laurie Danforth who has worked with DRM for 23 years.
Here are the links to the 2017 weekly legislative updates: January 6, 2017, January 13, 2017, January 20, 2017, January 27, 2017, February 3, 2017, February 10, 2017, February 17, 2017, February 24, 2017, March 3, 2017, March 11, 2017, March 17, 2017, March 24, 2017, March 31, 2017, April 14, 2017, May 11, 2017, Legislative Wrap-up, August 11, 2017, October 16, 2017, December 15, 2017.
December 21, 2016: The 2017 Legislative Session Will Soon Be Upon Us! Happy Holidays from the staff, Board of Directors, and PAIMI Advisory Council.
September 16, 2016: Topic include: Patients challenge isolation, abuse and failed treatment at Montana State Hospital; DRM launches Education Website and Publication of its Student Rights Handbook; DRM still waiting for corner inquests of inmates who completed suicide in Montana State Prison since 2012; Legislative work; and announcements the retirement of Charlie and Sharmon and new DRM staff.
August 19, 2016: This is the time of year DRM develops its priorities for the upcoming year. The newsletter has a description of the need for the survey with links to complete it electronically or to download and complete by hand; Montana Shares Annual Raffle announcement; follow-up from DRM’s fishing raffle and trip on the Blackfoot. Raffle ticket winner Mark Kelley donated the trip back to DRM to be given to a person with a disability.
July 27, 2016, Newsletter: Topics include: Investigator Finds That CPS Discriminated Against Mother with Disabilities; Accepting All People in Our Communities; Abuse at Galen Facility; DRM Staff Attorney to Speak at MEA-MFT Conference; and We Want to Hear From YOU!
May 16, 2016, Newsletter: Topics include: Governor’s Budget Director unveils plan to MDC Transition Advisory Council; Expert consultant on community developmental disability systems comes to Helena; Montana SOS offers PDF ballots for voters with disabilities; Montana Voc Rehab likely to close another eligibility category; Access 24 hour crisis counselors via text; Feel you have been penalized by you college or University for seeking health care treatment?; Raffle Tickets are still available for river trip.
February 12, 2016, Newsletter: Topics include 1) continued abuse and neglect of MDC residents, 2) death of an inmate with mental illness in prison prompts very belated inquest, 3) new DRM newsletter regarding issues concerning transition-aged kids aged 14 – 24, 4) Run Wild Missoula discrimination judgment, 5) OPI reserves requirement of parental consent and makes changes to regulations under the IDEA, 6) DRM’s new specialty license plates are available, 7) farewell to Alexandra Volkerts and Marie Jackson.
November 13, 2015, Newsletter: The topics in this newsletter include: DRM’s concerns on proposed changes to OPI regulations, inaccessibility of Amtrak stations, concerns with reporting of abuse and neglect at MDC, introducing new DRM staff, #givingtuesday, and upcoming events.
September 18, 2015, Newsletter: Several topics were in this newsletter: Vacancy in DRM Education Unit, article from Runners’ World Magazine on a DRM client and the Missoula Marathon, BIE finding that NCTS filed to provide FAPE, MDC closure planning commission work, Counties submit proposals to DPHHS to provide adult crisis diversion services, U.S. DOJ issues Technical Assistance for state and local Child welfare agencies to comply with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehab Act, a thank you from DRM to supporters of DRM and other Montana non-profits, as well as important dates to remember around the state.
July 21, 2015, Newsletter: The topics in this newsletter include: the ADA Legacy Tour, Employment Success, announcement of the new CAP Advocate, a farewell to Stephanie, Interim Policy Work, Caregiving Economic Update, Social Skills Theatre School, and Montana Shares raffle.
May 22, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter is a wrap-up of the 2015 Montana Legislature. It also introduces Tal Goldin, DRM’s newest staff attorney, gives a heartfelt farewell to Chanda Hermanson-Dudley, CAP advocate who recently accepted a position as the Bureau Chief of Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services (VRBS), announcing the job opening with Chanda’s departure, and announcements of other events around the state.
April 25, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter gives a round-up of the bills of the 2015 Legislature as of April 25, 2015, and announcements of conferences scheduled by Brain Injury Alliance of Montana; tour of Jason DeShaw; and Give Local Helena, a 24 hour online giving event on May 5, 2015.
April 17, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter sets out the highlights from the week of April 13, 2015, at the Montana Legislature, and announcements of conferences scheduled by Brain Injury Alliance of Montana and tour of Jason DeShaw.
April 10, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter sets out the hearing scheduled at the Montana Legislature the week of April 13, 2015, and announcements of conferences scheduled by Brain Injury Alliance of Montana and tour of Jason DeShaw.
April 3, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter announces a Press Conference with Senator Caferro – Closure of Montana Developmental Center – SB 411, sets out the hearings scheduled at the Montana Legislature the week of April 6, 2015, highlights of the week of March 30, 2015, and announcement of conferences scheduled by Brain Injury Alliance of Montana.
March 27 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter sets out the hearing scheduled at the Montana Legislature the week of March 30, 2015, highlights of the week of March 23, 2015, and announcement of conferences scheduled by Brain Injury Alliance of Montana.
March 20, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter sets out the hearings scheduled at the Montana Legislature the week of March 23, 2015, highlights of the week of March 16, 2015, and announcement of conferences scheduled by Brain Injury Alliance of Montana.
March 6, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter sets out the hearing scheduled at the Montana Legislature the week of March 9, 2015.
March 4, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter addressed the House Appropriations Committee budget hearings on March 5th and 6th, mental health bill hearings by the Senate Finance and Claims Committee scheduled for March 6th, and HB 249 entitled Create Health Montana Act to expand health care coverage to certain Montanans, which will also be held on March 6th.
February 27, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter outlined the bill activity of the general bills DRM has been tracking through the transmittal deadline of February 28, 2015.
February 20, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter outlined the bills being heard at the legislature the week of February 23, 2015, and hightlights from the previous week.
February 13, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter outlined the bills being heard at the legislature the week of February 16, 2015, and highlights from the previous week.
February 6, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter outlined the bills being heard the week of February 6, 2015, at the Montana Legislature, and highlights of the week of February 2, 2015.
January 30, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter outlined the bills being heard the week of February 2, 2015, at the Montana Legislature.
January 23, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter announces the release of the DRM 2015 Report of continued abuse, neglect, and mistreatment at Montana Developmental Center; and the upcoming week at the Montana Legislature.
January 16, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter outlined the bills being heard the week of January 19, 2015, at the legislature that effect people with disabilities.
January 12, 2015, Newsletter: This newsletter outlined the bills being heard the week of January 12, 2015, at the legislature that effect people with disabilities.
January 2, 2015, Newsletter: Topics include announcement of the release of the Ben Report and the upcoming schedule of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.
December 2014 Newsletter: Topics include MDC Update, Legislative Work, and a welcome to two new DRM staff, Bridgitt Erickson and Kryss Kuntz.
October 2014 Newsletter: Topics include MDC and the continuing abuse of residents, an update to the Special Education Symposium held in Great Falls in October, agreement on important committee bills for the upcoming legislative session, and the changes in Vocational Rehabilitiation.
August 2014 Newsletter: Topics include supporting adult forensic group homes, MDC’s use of restraints, U.S. Supreme Court rejects I.Q. only test to establish defense to death penalty, DRM priority planning survey, voter registration and training, and the Special Education, Kids, Families, School, & the Law: Working Together for Success symposium set for October 24 – 25, 2014, at Great Falls College MSU in Great Falls.
May 2014 Newsletter: Topics include a Montana Supreme Court Decision for a DRM client which reversed the appointment of a virtural stranger to be the surrogate parent of a student with a disability, the hiring by DOJ of a Residential Facility Investigator at Montana Developmental Center (MDC), an update on the review of MDC’s Sex Offender Treatment Plan, the Montana Telecommunications Access Program, Order of Selection, and eight more beds are added to Montana State Hospital.
March 2014 Newsletter: Topics include Montana State Prison Withholding Proper Mental Health Treatment from Prisoners with Mental Illness, Congress’s Attempts to Extend Unemployment Benefits May Leave SSDI Recipients Behind, A Closer Look at the Duties of Social Security Payees, Report Reviewing MDC’s Sex Offender Treatment Program Released, Experiencing Delays in Vocational Rehabilitiation Services Because of the Timing of Your Orientation?, and Important Questions about How Our Mental Health System Will Serve Medically Complicated Patients with Mental Illness.
January 2014 Newsletter: The topics in this newsletter are Montana State Hospital Overcrowding, DD Crisis Services, Order of Selection (OOS), Executive Planning Process (EPP), Voting and Late Registration, and MHA Mental Health Summit in January a Success.