ADA 30 - Nothing About Us Without Us: A Celebration with Judith Heumann. The Independent Living Movement on Thursday, October 29, 2020 from 8:30-10a.m. MST. Click to learn more about this free virtual event! ADA 30 - Nothing About Us Without Us: A Celebration with Judith Heumann. The Independent Living Movement on Thursday, October 29, 2020 from 8:30-10a.m. MST. Click to learn more about this free virtual event!

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Welcome to mILp.

The Montana Independent Living Project, Inc. (mILp) is a non-profit agency promoting independence for people living with disabilities who are residing in the state of Montana. We advocate for equal access and opportunities for all. mILp works to assist consumers to live and work as independently as they desire. This includes, but is not limited to, having access to the necessary services that promote a quality of life within one's own residence and community. mILp, an independent living center funded by the Centers for Independent Living Program, provides the following core independent living services:

  • Information and Referral Services
  • Independent Living Skills Training Services
  • Peer Counseling Services
  • Individual & Systems Advocacy Services
  • Transition Services

Information and Referral Services (I&Rs):

mILp maintains an information and referral database so we may best provide information to individuals and families. If we do not have the information you are looking for, we will find it or connect you with someone who can. I&Rs may include:

  • Accessibility concerns and resources;
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access and employment issues, and legal and legislative news and updates;
  • Medical, legal, social, and individualized information on understanding your disability;
  • Alternative resources and availability; and
  • Financial resource opportunities including assistance with pursuing grants and loans for acquiring necessary assistive and adaptive devices.

Our website also offers a comprehensive selection of online resources which can be found under ADA/Disability Resources under our Resources tab.

Independent Living (IL) Skills Training Services:

What is IL? At its core, IL simply means having equal access to the same opportunities as the rest of society and as specified by the ADA. mILp’s professional staff of IL Specialists provides people living with disabilities with instruction and training to assist in living independently. mILp offers the following IL skills training:

  • Daily Living Skills: mILp provides learning opportunities for: budgeting, menu and meal planning, meal preparation and cooking, and grocery shopping.
  • Community Resource Acquisition: Our staff assists consumers in researching and applying for community resources such as Medicaid services and waivers, Medicare benefits, food stamps, energy assistance, and Meals on Wheels services.
  • Support and Recreational Groups: mILp sponsors recreational and support group activities as requested by our consumers.

Peer Counseling Services:

The purpose of Peer Support is to match individuals with similar disabilities to empower each other through encouragement and support. This service assists individuals adapting to life with a disability or transitioning through different life stages. mILp also encourages individuals to seek out new opportunities.

Individual and Systems Advocacy Services:

mILp works in the community to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities by removing barriers and focusing efforts on accessibility to public services, education, and benefits. As an IL Center, we are at the forefront of advocating for access, choice, and self-determination for individuals with disabilities. mILp can help advocate for the rights of individuals living with any type of disability on both an individual and a systems level.

  • Self-advocacy: Self-advocacy services help individuals learn to advocate for their individual personal rights. These rights may include health care benefits, access to health care and housing, as well as many more essential services. Self-advocacy is one of the most important skills anyone can have in their tool kit. mILp is dedicated to helping individuals learn to advocate for themselves in order to best maximize their choices and live an independent life.
  • Systems Advocacy: Systems Advocacy involves working together to change policies and remove barriers people living with disabilities face in their everyday lives. mILp staff and consumers partner to facilitate system changes, including those related to government policies, transportation, public accommodation, and housing.

Transition Services:

mILp provides options for people living with disabilities and/or those who are aging to move from a nursing facility to a quality community setting that meets their needs and desires. The objectives of mILp transition services are:

  • to move people from a facility to the community of their choice;
  • identify and eliminate barriers that prevent people from being able to move to the community;
  • improve the ability of Montana Medicaid to provide in-home services; and
  • to ensure that there is continuous quality improvement of in-home services provided.

mILp also assists youth on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) program that are transitioning from secondary education to postsecondary life.

Service areas.

mILp Service Areas Sweet Grass County consists of Big Timber, Greycliff, McLeod, and Melville. Contact the mILP Bozeman office for more information about how we serve your county. Park County consists of Chico Hot Springs, Clyde Park, Cooke City, Corwin Springs, Emigrant, Gardiner, Jardine, Livingston, Miner, Pray, Silver Gate, Springdale, and Wilsall. Contact the mILP Bozeman office for more information about how we serve your county. Gallatin County consists of Amsterdam, Belgrade, Big Sky, Bozeman, Bridger, Gallatin Gateway, Manhattan, Maudlow, Three Forks, Trident, West Yellowstone, and Willow Creek. Contact the mILP Bozeman office for more information about how we serve your county. Madison County consists of Alder, Cameron, Ennis, Harrison, Laurin, McCallister, Nevada City, Norris, Pony, Sheridan, Silver Star, Twin Bridges, and Virginia City. Contact the mILP Butte office for more information about how we serve your county. Beaverhead County consists of Bannack, Dell, Dillon, Glen, Grant, Jackson, Lima, Monida, Polaris, Wise River, and Wisdom. Contact the mILP Butte office for more information about how we serve your county. Deer Lodge County consists of Anaconda, Garrison, Opportunity, Warm Springs, and the Georgetown Lake. Contact the mILP Butte office for more information about how we serve your county. Silver Bow County consists of Butte, Divide, Melrose, Ramsay, Rocker, and Walkerville. Contact the mILP Butte office for more information about how we serve your county. Jefferson County consists of Alhambra, Basin, Boulder, Cardwell, Clancy, Corbin, Jefferson City, LaHood, Wickes, and Whitehall. Contact the mILP Helena office for more information about how we serve your county. Broadwater County consists of Radersburg, Toston, Townsend, and Winston. Contact the mILP Helena office for more information about how we serve your county. Wheatland County consists of Harlowton, Judith Gap, Shawmut, and Two Dot. Contact the mILP Bozeman office for more information about how we serve your county. Meagher County consists of Lennep, Martinsdale, Ringling, Sixteen, and White Sulphur Springs. Contact the mILP Bozeman office for more information about how we serve your county. Lewis & Clark County consists of Augusta, Canyon Creek, Canyon Ferry, Craig, East Helena, Fort Harrison, Helena, Lakeside, Lincoln, Marysville, Wolf Creek, and York. Contact the mILP Helena office for more information about how we serve your county. Powell County consists of Avon, Deer Lodge, Elliston, Galen, Garrison, Gold Creek, Helmville, and Ovando. Contact the mILP Helena office for more information about how we serve your county. Granite County consists of Bearmouth, Drummond, Hall, Maxville, and Phillipsburg. Contact the mILP Butte office for more information about how we serve your county.

How to help.

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Lastest news.

October Events

  • OCT
    5

    Virtual Bozeman Monthly Peer Support Group

    Join us from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for our monthly Bozeman peer support group on Zoom. Contact Kim Hightower at khightower@milp.us for Zoom link information or any questions.

    Virtual Chair Pilates Class

    Join us for chair pilates from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. taught by Liz Ann Kudrna owner of Body in Balance Studio. Contact Kim Hightower at khightower@milp.us for Zoom link information or any questions.

  • OCT
    6

    Virtual Bozeman Monthly Veterans Support Group

    Join us from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m for our monthly Bozeman veterans support group on Zoom. Contact Kim Hightower at khightower@milp.us for Zoom link information or any questions.

  • OCT
    12

    Columbus Day

    Observed Holiday (mILp offices closed).

  • OCT
    19

    Virtual Chair Pilates Class

    Join us for chair pilates from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. taught by Liz Ann Kudrna owner of Body in Balance Studio. Contact Kim Hightower at khightower@milp.us for Zoom link information or any questions.

  • OCT
    26

    Virtual Chair Pilates Class

    Join us for chair pilates from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. taught by Liz Ann Kudrna owner of Body in Balance Studio. Contact Kim Hightower at khightower@milp.us for Zoom link information or any questions.

  • OCT
    29

    The Independent Living Movement

    Join a panel of disability rights advocates in a conversation with Lex Frieden and Judith Heumann on the power and impact of the Independent Living Movement on the lives of individuals with disabilities, its impact on disability rights advocacy and the future advocacy of the Independent Living Movement. This free virtual event takes place at 8:30 – 10 a.m. MST. For more information, visit https://accessibility.ku.edu/judith-heumann-2020/schedule. To register for this event, visit https://deptsec.ku.edu/~hr/forms/form/51.

NoticeIn keeping with keeping with precautionary measures in response to COVID-19, all other events has been canceled until further notice.

More Details
Montana Independent Living Project (mILp)