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Ability Montana

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Helena, MT
Ability Montana

Ability MT is 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers services & resources to those living with disabilities.

mILp Services Include:

Information and Referral: mILp provides timely information to people with disabilities, their families, and the general public through the use of our staff's expertise and access to the internet and other information resources. Independent Living Skills Training: mILp's professional staff of Independent Living Specialists provide people with disabilities with both instruction and training to assist them with living independently. Ex: Daily living skills, Community Resource Acquisition, Support and Recreational Groups, Social Security Assistance. Individual and Group Advocacy: mILp''s staff provides our consumers with information and training regarding individual civil rights and responsibilities regarding local, state, and national issues. We assist consumers in promoting and modeling these interests to others. Peer Advocacy: A person who has experienced a disability may be available to help in a private one-on-one setting to provide peer advice and support to another individual who is experiencing similar adjustment challenges. All peer advocates are trained and supervised by mILp's professional staff members. Self Directed Personal Assistance Services Program (SDPAS): SDPAS is designed especially for consumers who wish to manage their own services by developing a long-term supportive care program in a home setting.

10/01/2025

Legislation in Montana has a direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities — shaping access to healthcare, housing, transportation, employment, and community inclusion. The policies passed can either expand independence or create new barriers.

That’s why Ability Montana created the 2025 Legislative Scorecard.

This resource tracks how legislators voted on key disability-related bills from Medicaid expansion and accessible voting to behavioral health services and protections for service animals. It makes the process more transparent, shows which lawmakers supported disability priorities, and empowers you to make informed choices in future elections.

Explore the 2025 Legislative Scorecard here: https://abilitymt.org/programs/advocacy (scroll to the bottom of the page).

09/24/2025

Another summer at Camp Bullwheel is wrapping up, and what a season it’s been. 🎣 From long days on the Madison to sunsets that stop you in your tracks, we’re grateful for every cast, laugh, and shared moment on the water.⁠
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As the fishing gear gets tucked away, we’re already dreaming of snowy trails, winter adventures, and a new season of Montana beauty. ⁠
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Photos by .hunt.fish.ski.406

09/17/2025

New to Southwest Montana? Ability Montana is here to help you feel right at home. From peer mentoring and self-directed personal care to workshops, outdoor recreation, advocacy, and information & referral services, our free programs can make a big difference when you’re building independence in a new community.⁠
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Whether you’re exploring local resources, getting involved in groups, or just figuring out what’s next — we’ve got you covered. Learn more and connect with our offerings here: abilitymt.org/programs.

09/16/2025

At Ability Montana, we believe that every life has inherent dignity and worth, and that our communities are strongest when they are built on respect, compassion, and justice. Political violence strikes at the very heart of those values. It attempts to replace dialogue with fear, democracy with intimidation, and hope with despair. We condemn it without reservation.⁠
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For people with disabilities, political violence cuts especially deep. Our community has always had to fight for a seat at the table, for the right to be heard, and for the chance to live freely. Violence—whether through words or actions—seeks to silence voices like ours and deepen the barriers that already exist. It undermines the principles of self-determination and equality that the Independent Living movement was founded upon.⁠
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We know from our history that change does not come through fear or force. It comes through solidarity, through courage, and through the persistent belief that a better future is possible. The disability rights movement itself is living proof that justice can be won without violence—through advocacy, through community, and through love of our shared humanity.⁠
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Today and always, we recommit ourselves to building a society where disagreements are met with dialogue, not destruction; where diversity is celebrated, not targeted; and where every person—including those of us with disabilities—can live, speak, and thrive without fear. We stand for peace. We stand for justice. And we stand with every community harmed by political violence, knowing that only together can we create the inclusive, compassionate world we all deserve.⁠
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We call on every leader, every policymaker, and every neighbor to join us. Reject violence. Reject hate. Choose peace. Choose justice. Choose inclusion. Choose Community. Together, we can create a society where every person—disabled or not—can live, speak, and thrive without fear.⁠
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This is our commitment. This is our pledge.

09/12/2025

Big news for Montanans: a new bill has passed that strengthens service dog access rights across the state. From restaurants and hotels to public spaces, these protections help ensure that people with disabilities — and their service dogs — can navigate daily life with dignity and independence.⁠
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And with September being National Service Dog Month, there’s no better time to learn what this means for our communities here in Montana. ⁠
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Our latest blog breaks down the bill, what the law looks like in practice, and how businesses and neighbors can help ensure equal access.⁠
Read more: https://abilitymt.org/blog/service-dog-access-montana

09/10/2025

Have you ever wanted to share how living with a disability has shaped your journey—the highs, the lows, and everything in between? Writing your story can be a powerful tool for healing and growth. Join us for a new, weekly guided storytelling workshop where we’ll explore ideas to help you reflect and express your experiences!⁠
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📅 September 8th – October 27th, 2025⁠
🕑 Mondays from 2:00 – 3:30 PM⁠
📍 The Helena Ability Montana Office at 825 Great Northern Blvd, Helena, MT⁠
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👉 To sign up or learn more, contact Maria at 406-442-5755 or mstout@abilitymt.org.

09/02/2025

Hey, Butte! Let’s welcome September with some fun in the sunshine! Join Ability Montana this Friday, September 5th from 11am–1pm at Copper Mountain Park for games, arts and crafts, snacks, drinks, and plenty of laughs.⁠
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This is a great way to connect with friends old and new, enjoy the outdoors, and learn about recreation opportunities in our community.⁠
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📍 80 Beef Trail, Butte, MT⁠
📞 RSVP: Call 406-782-4834

08/27/2025

Pack your picnic blanket and join us for a picture-perfect day at the park! 🌤️ Ability Montana Bozeman is hosting a community picnic full of sunshine, connection, and good company.⁠
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When: Thursday, September 11th from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM⁠
Where: Bozeman Ponds – 700 S Fowler Ave⁠
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Come enjoy the fresh air and make some new friends. RSVP to ltait@abilitymt.org — we’d love to see you there!

08/20/2025

New blog! From smart wheelchairs and adaptive bikes to AI-driven glasses and custom 3D-printed utensils, the latest wave of assistive technology is opening up new levels of freedom, adventure, and independence.⁠
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Whether you're navigating your home with smart lighting, exploring Montana’s trails with an adaptive off-road bike, or using a voice assistant to simplify everyday tasks, this blog covers it all.⁠
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If you want to try before you buy, Montana’s MonTech program offers free equipment loans, consultations, and help finding funding. We can help connect you! ⁠
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Learn what’s out there, how to access it, and how Ability Montana can help you tap into these resources.

https://abilitymt.org/ability-blog

08/15/2025

Mark your calendars, Helena consumers! Ability Montana’s Consumer Appreciation Picnic is happening this month in Helena! Join us on Thursday, August 28 from 12–2 PM at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds for good food, great company, and gratitude for our community.⁠
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Please RSVP by Monday, August 18 to splona@abilitymt.org. See you there!

08/11/2025

George doesn’t just go fishing — he casts, reels, and navigates the Madison River with independence and confidence. As a C5 quadriplegic, that freedom wasn’t supposed to be possible. But at , possibilities are reimagined.⁠
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“If you’ve ever been around a C5 quad, it would be hard to believe that he does what he does,” says Peter Pauwels, the innovative force behind the adaptive equipment making it happen.⁠
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Peter’s decades of engineering — from breath-controlled sip-and-puff rods to custom-built catamarans that welcome wheelchairs — have opened Montana’s waters to people who thought they’d never fish again. What started as a college friendship has grown into a legacy of access.⁠
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Now, Camp Bullwheel is owned and operated by Ability Montana and ready to welcome the next generation of adaptive anglers.⁠
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🔗 Read the full story on our blog: https://abilitymt.org/blog/adaptive-fishing-equipment
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Reach out to David Poole at dpoole@abilitymt.org to plan your fishing trip!

Address

825 Great Northern Boulevard Ste 105
Helena, MT
59601

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 3pm
Tuesday	9am - 3pm
Wednesday	9am - 3pm
Thursday	9am - 3pm
Friday	9am - 3pm

Telephone

+14064425755

Website

https://abilitymt.org/, https://abilitymt.org/donate/

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Our Story

mILp is one of four Centers for Independent Living in the State of Montana. Section 702 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 defines a center for independent living (CIL) as a consumer‑controlled, community‑based, cross‑disability, nonresidential private nonprofit agency that is designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities to provide an array of independent living services.

mILp’s mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and as a Center for Independent Living, is to promote independence for people living with disabilities residing in 14 southwestern Montana counties. Since 1981, mILp has helped consumers live, work, and participate in leisure activities as independently as they desire. This includes, but is not limited to, having access to necessary services and recreational pursuits that promote a quality of life within an individual’s own residence and community.

mILp continues to be a leader in our communities, assuring disability rights for all Montanans by enthusiastically encouraging and effecting community inclusion, integration, and independence for people living with disabilities. To better meet the needs of our consumers, we have three offices located in Helena, Butte, and Bozeman.

mILp is governed by a consumer-controlled Board of Directors whose lives have been personally impacted by a disability. We are funded in part by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in 1992 (Title VII- Independent Living Services), and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Disability Services Division).