Local, State & National Resources
The University of Montana is located in Missoula, Montana, a city of about 70,000 people. Missoula offers several resources for people with disabilities. Disability Services assists with state, national and international resources as well. Here are just a few that students may find helpful:
First Call for Help keeps an up-to-date computerized data base of Missoula services that can benefit all people. People with disabilities can find information on housing, transportation, medical services, economic assistance and other human services available in the Missoula area. Dial 2-1-1.
Montana Vocational Rehabilitation comprises two divisions: Rehabilitation Services and Blind and Low Vision Services. MVR serves individuals whose disabilities are a substantial impediment to employment. MVR assists adults with disabilities in the achievement of vocational goals. It is within the scope of MVR to cover the costs of education, when education is encompassed in the vocational goal. Included in MVR services are the following: vocational counseling, assistive technology purchases and training and career placement services. In addition, Blind and Low Vision Services provides orientation and mobility as well as rehabilitation instruction for the blind. Take the link above to get the locations and phone numbers of MVR offices throughout Montana.
The Client Assistance Program provides advocacy and due process for Montana Vocational Rehabilitation clients. CAP's goal is to identify, explain and resolve any problems you may have with your rehabilitation program as quickly as possible. CAP publishes an excellent handbook, Understanding the Vocational Rehabilitation Process, available from any VR office.
SUMMIT Independent Living Center provides disability advocacy and services. SUMMIT's mission is to promote self-determination by people with disabilities and to advance the civil rights of access to society. Included in SUMMIT services are peer counseling, sign language interpreting services, skills training, recreation, and information and referrals.
Calling someone who uses a text telephone usually necessitates both parties having a text telephone. Montana Relay Services facilitates text telephone conversations between callers who have only one text telephone. Text telephone users often use the service to call people who do not have the devices, and those who do not have text telephones can use the service to talk with people who do.
AHEAD provides information about disability services in post-secondary education throughout the world. The University of Montana is a member of this association.
RFB&D provides recorded and computerized educational books to people with print disabilities - blindness, low vision, learning disabilities and other physical impairments that affect reading. RFB&D has a lending library of books already recorded and a recording service for new titles. Since reading is a lifetime activity, Disability Services encourages students to apply directly to RFB&D. Applications are available at Disability Services.
Montana Talking Book Library provides fiction and non fiction books and magazines to qualified borrowers on cassette tape or phonograph disk -- as well as popular movies enhanced by the Descriptive Video Service. Tape and phonograph players and auxiliaries are provided. There is no charge for materials, machines or mail services for qualified borrowers. Titles held in the Montana collection are listed on the web site. In addition, there is an on-line search engine at the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped which can be used to find titles, authors, or subject listings. A disability that limits the use of printed materials and a physician's signature is necessary to qualify for the library. Applications are available at the Disability Services office.
The American Printing House for the Blind provides technologies and textbooks for students who are blind, learning disabled or otherwise unable to read standard print. The technologies include tape recorders and Braille production equipment and textbooks in a number of different formats (Braille, large print, disk and tape).
The Brondum Foundation provides grants to people with disabilities for the purchase of anything that improves independence. For example, the foundation routinely gives students funding to buy computer equipment. The foundation board meets quarterly to review written applications for funding. Be sure to discuss the foundation with your Disability Services coordinator.
The Rural Institute provides research and assessment related to disability. The MonTECH Project houses an assistive technology lab and assessment service for people with disabilities, and a chance to borrow equipment on a short term basis for the purposes of deciding if equipment will meet an individual's requirements.
