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Every Woman Matters
A multimedia presentation of Montana women and their compelling stories about the importance of overcoming challenges to breast cancer screening will be exhibited in Helena on May 12-16, 2009 from 9 AM - 4 PM at Carroll College in The Scola (located in Simperman Hall/Fortin Center Building). A Health/Wellness Fair will be offered in conjunction with the exhibit on Friday, May 15, 2009 from 10 AM - 3 PM.
"Every Woman Matters: Portraits of Montana Women Living with Disabilities," features black and white portraits of twelve women with disabilities from across our great state-- some of them breast cancer survivors, all of them role models and advocates. Their portraits will be augmented by written and recorded commentaries of their experiences.
Women with physical disabilities are less likely than other women to have ongoing breast cancer screening, in part because they face barriers that other women don’t encounter. Working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Right to Know campaign, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and its Disability and Health Program (MTDH) are working to change this. One effort includes partnering with Montana women living with disabilities who have the will to overcome barriers to quality early detection services, breast cancer treatment, and survivor resources.
At this event, the Montana Disability and Health Program will introduce Right To Know education materials that were developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase knowledge and awareness about the importance of breast cancer screening among women with disabilities aged 40 and older.
Our thanks go to Steven Begleiter for donating his time, photography expertise, materials and studio to take the portraits, Montana Susan G. Komen Foundation for providing support for the women to travel to Missoula for the portrait sittings, and Carroll College for sponsoring the exhibit in Helena.
All Montana women have a right to know that their health matters.
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Services for Women: Healthcare Resources Available in Montana
St. Peter’s Hospital is offering free screening mammograms for qualified uninsured and underinsured women ages 30 plus through a grant from the Montana Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the assistance of Optimal Radiology. The $5,000 Komen Foundation grant is helping to fund 50 mammograms for eligible women on a first-come, first-serve basis. To determine eligibility and receive a voucher, women should call the Lewis & Clark County Breast and Cervical Health program at 457-8923.
The mission of the Montana Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP) is to reduce breast and cervical cancer deaths among Montana women by providing ongoing quality screening services and education in a manner that is appropriate, accessible, cost effective and sensitive to women's needs.
The Montana Breast and Cervical health Program provides mammograms, clinical breast exams, pap tests and pelvic exams for the early detection of breast and cervical cancer. These services may be provided free to eligible women.
For information about low cost or free mammograms and pap tests, contact MBCHP toll free at 1-888-803-9343.
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Butte Silver Bow's (BSB) Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Advisory Board Committee Reestablished
Butte Silver Bow’s Chief Executive, Paul Babb, appointed Todd Hoar, Director of BSB Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc., as BSB’s new ADA Coordinator. Montana Independent Living Project (Butte) referred MILP Peer Advocate, Sandee Endahl, to assist Todd in reestablishing the BSB ADA Advisory Board Committee according to BSB Ordinances #153 (Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973) and #450 (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
Butte Silver Bow is undergoing exciting changes and needs the community to play an active role. The BSB ADA Committee, a diverse group of citizens, is being created to advise local government on ADA compliances in Butte Silver Bow County. Access to goods, services and recreation for "all" citizens must be a community effort. This is a great opportunity to "make a difference" and "improve the quality of life" for BSB citizens and visitors.
The BSB ADA Committee is now recruiting volunteers to form a group to help guide the Americans with Disabilities Act efforts in Butte Silver Bow. If you are interested in assisting as a volunteer, contact Todd Hoar at 406-723-2070 or Sandee Endahl at 406-494-6182 for more information.
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What is Universal Design?
Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without adaptation or specialized design. This is different from Universal Access which typically complies with the minimum guidelines for accessibility by people with disabilities. Universal Design is usable by everyone without requiring adaptation.
Sue McNicol, Advocacy Coordinator for MILP, recently attended a week long training on "Universal Approach to Interpretive Planning, Program and Design" taught by the National Center on Accessibility in Indiana. Sue explains, "simply put, Universal Design means getting it right from the beginning, not making adaptations after the fact to accommodate users."
Universal Design incorporates seven design principles:
Equitable Use—the design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities;
Flexibility in Use—the design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities;
Simple and Intuitive Use—use of the design is easy to understand regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level;
Perceptible Information—the design communicates necessary information effectively to the user;
Tolerance for Error—the design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions;
Low Physical Effort—the design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue;
Size and Space for Approach and Use—appropriate size and shape is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture or mobility.
The training not only addressed architectural designs, but also design for interpretive exhibits, presentations, trails, parks, and programs. "The key to understanding and utilizing Universal Design concepts is to always consider how the individual will obtain full participation in the event or experience," McNicol states. For example, "being able to access a nature trail is only a piece of the experience. Being able to interact with plant life, obtain written information and utilize all our senses leads to meaningful participation in an activity." . . .That’s Universal Design.
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| Helpful Facts: Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs
Is your medicine cabinet filled with expired drugs or medication you no longer use? Here are the federal guidelines for drug disposal. ollow any specific disposal instructions on the drug label or patient information that accompanies the medication. Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so. If no instructions are given, throw the drugs in the household trash, but first:
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Take them out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter.
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Put them in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent the medication from leaking out of the garbage bag.
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Before throwing out a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable.
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Do not give medications to friends. Doctors prescribe drugs based on a person’s specific symptoms and medical history. A drug that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.
When in doubt about proper disposal, talk to your pharmacist.
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Equity Outreach Project Helping Youth
Beginning in January 2009, Montana Independent Living Project launched their third year of the Equity Outreach Project in Belgrade High School. The project is focused on helping youth with disabilities explore their goals for life after high school. MILP’s Independent Living Specialist and IL Technician meet with the students twice a month.
By June 2009 they will have explored many topics: employment, housing, community resources, advocacy, and will have participated in several service learning projects at a local nursery and a local thrift store, "Sacks."
Fifteen youth are participating in the project this year. It’s exciting to watch each person learn about their rights, share their ideas and explore their goals.
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Upcoming Events
Free Dental Screening and Assessment at the Belmont Senior Center - Attention Seniors 60 Years of Age and Older in Butte Silver Bow County - Screenings offered: Friday, May 1st (10:30 - 11:30 AM); Friday, June 5th (10:30 - 11:30 AM). For more information contact Sandi (CHC Dental Case Manager) at 406-496-6021 or 406-533-9234.
DisABILITY Employment Awareness Training, May 13, 2009
(8 AM - 5 PM) Red Lion Colonial Inn - Helena, MT. For more information contact: MT Professional Development Center at 406-444-3871 or register online at
pdc.mt.gov
Every Woman Matters - Multi-Media Exhibit - May 12-16, 2009
9 am - 4 pm (Tuesday - Saturday)
Health/Wellness Fair - May 15, 2009 (10 am - 3 pm)
Carroll College, Helena, MT - The Scola (located in Simperman Hall/Fortin Center Building) www.everywomanmatters.info
Komen Race for the Cure - Saturday, May 16, 2009
State Capitol Building - 10 AM www.komenmontana.org
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