 |
| Accessible Recreation Opportunities |
|
| Three Forks Trail Project
Improving access to the great outdoors is vital to the citizens of Three Forks. It’s also the reason a greater community of agencies and individuals gathered to discuss a very unique trail system located in this historic Montana town off I-90 (exit 278), between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.
The momentum for this project came from the Three Fork Mayor’s desire to ensure that the Three Forks Community Trail System is fully accessible and safe for all Montana citizens, including those with specific needs and limited mobility.
The Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (MT NAPA) and the Montana Disability and Health Program (MTDH) collaborated to conduct a series of three group interviews in the fall of 2008. The purpose of the interviews was to identify potential barriers to access and use of community trails for older adults and adults with disabilities. Montana Independent Living Project (MILP) consumers and advocates traveled from Helena, Butte and Bozeman to participate in the interviews, providing a broad representation of persons with disabilities. Three Forks community members (and avid trail users) provided input from the community perspective. A technical assessment of the Three Forks Community Trail was also conducted by MonTECH in conjunction with the group interviews.
What did we learn...PLENTY! And it’s all available online thanks to a unique pilot project underway in Montana. To view the online Three Forks Trail Project report go to: http://www.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/dbtac/index.asp
The Montana Accessible Recreation Opportunities pilot project is a joint venture provided by MonTECH at the University of Montana Rural Institute on Disabilities and funded by the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center. The goal of this project is to become a one-stop resource for comprehensive accessibility information for all Montana public recreation lands. This informational website is intended to help users plan and participate in recreational outings at public outdoor sites in order to increase opportunities and use of facilities by individuals with disabilities. To view the Montana Accessible Recreation Opportunities website, go to: http://recreation.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/
|
|
| Transportation for America
Transportation for America (T4 America) is a growing, national coalition committed to creating a new national transportation program that will take America into the 21st Century by building a modernized infrastructure and healthy communities where people can live, work and play.
Montana Independent Living Project has made a commitment to become a Transporation for America campaign partner. As a partner, MILP is committed to: supporting the goals of the campaign; educating our network of consumers and business partners regarding T4 America advocacy and events opportunities; and providing links to T4 America information and activities via MILP publications and website.
T4 America has formed a broad coalition of housing, environmental, public health, business, urban planning, transportation and other organizations that seek to align our national, state, and local transportation policies with an array of issues - economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development - that will play a key role in strengthening our nations’s foundation and give families and individuals greater, more appealing options.
Montana Independent Living Project and T4America consider the following key points to be critical as we continue to work with Congress to promote reform:
- We need federal leadership to help make critical links between health, safety and transportation policies and create communities that promote active living, reduce pollution levels, increase accessibility and ensure safety for all transportation users;
- Affordable, easy-to-use, and flexible transportation options are esssential for accessing health care services, establishing and maintaining social and family contracts, and preserving independence and general well-being;
- Americans who live in rural areas and small towns face a host of transportation challenges - including a lack of access to public transportation, high transportation costs that come with a lack of options, and isolation from various services, particularly for people with disabilities, older Americans, and low-income people.
- The 21st century transportation program should play a critical role in creating a more equitable society and economy. It should provide access for underserved populations such as seniors, people with disabilities, rural and low-income people. It should promote job opportunities for those who have been typically underrepresented in the transportation sector, and it should increase the availablity of affordable housing near public transportation and jobs.
For more information on the Transporation for America Campaign go to:
|
 |
| Watercolor by Sandee Endahl |
|
|
SPOTLIGHT - A MILP Peer with Many Passions
Sandee Endahl creates beauty using a "variety of mediums" so to speak. She may spend one afternoon painting impressions of horses using watercolors and the next advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilties.
Sandee currently serves on Butte Special Riders Board providing therapeutic riding programs for children (NAHRA), helps with the equestrian Special Olympics, and chairs the Butte Silver Bow Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee. She also advocates for people with disabilities as a MILP peer advocate and serves on the ADA Leadership Network for DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center.
Sandee’s artwork will be included in gift baskets MILP is contributing to the Montana State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign this fall. To learn more about Sandee’s journey and see her beautiful artwork, visit her website at: www.dancinghorsecreations.com
|
|
|
MILP Selected for State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign
Montana Independent Living Project (MILP) has been accepted to participate in the 2010 State
Employees’ Charitable Giving Campaign (SECGC). This campaign is the annual opportunity for all 14,000 State of Montana employees to give to the non-profit of their choice using payroll deduction or cash/check/credit card gifts.
This is an enormous effort with over 300 volunteers and a solid reputation for the legitimacy of
the non-profits included and care given to the donation process. SECGC has a history of raising extraordinary amounts - $502,000 last year with the largest single non-profit recipient receiving over $30,000 in 2009.
The campaign officially runs from September 28 – November 6, 2009. In February 2010, MILP will be
notified as to how much was committed to our organization. This is an opportunity for you to spread the news…take a minute to ask family, friends, neighbors and co-workers who are State Employees to consider supporting Montana Independent Living Project through this giving campaign.
Each agency participating in the campaign is assigned an identification number to assist donors with identifying specific agencies for giving purposes. MILP’s Agency ID# is 5348. Please share this newsletter and information about MILP with potential donors (MT State Employees). The more people
we reach, the higher the number of pledges MILP will receive.
|
|
Upcoming Events
1st Annual Break and Run Pool Tournament – September 12, 2009 – 10 am to 4 pm
Eagles’ - 4040 on Main St. in East Helena, MT
This tournament will be a benefit for Special Olympics of Montana. Pool players of all abilities and over the age of 18 are encouraged to come and play. For more information call Paper and Felt Billiard Supply at 442-0014.
Youth In Transition Conference - October 7-9, 2009 - War Bonnet Inn, Butte, MT
The MT Association on Rehabilitation and MT Youth Transitions have joined together to present this conference - "Three Legs of the Stool: Balance Equals Success" - focusing on partnerships between families, schools and supporting agencies. For registration information contact Nancy Marks at admin@cspd.net or 406-728-2400 ext. 1088.
Independent Living Symposium- October 19-20, 2009 - Holiday Inn Grand, Billings, MT
The Montana Statewide Independent Living Council in partnership with the Montana Centers for Independent Living sponsor this opportunity to discuss issues affecting Montana’s individuals with disabilities and learn ways be an effective part of positive change. For more information contact MILP at 1-800-735-6457.
|
|
|