Montana Career Guide – Tips for Workers with Disabilities

Tips for Workers with Disabilities starting on page 41 this publication has information on reasonable accommodation, disclosing a disability, what questions cannot be asked by an employer and resources that are available to persons with disabilities. “Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Services (MVR) helps Montanans with disabilities prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in the same high-quality jobs and high-demand careers as persons without disabilities.”

Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services Mission and Vision

Mission

Our mission is real jobs with real wages.  We maximize the potential for Montanans with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in the same high-quality jobs and high demand careers as persons without disabilities.  We deliver employment services consistent with an individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

Vision

Youth and adults with disabilities face many disadvantages in employment, including when working for others or in self-employment.  VRBS reverses those disadvantages with high quality and timely employment services. Moreover, VRBS champions competitive integrated employment, that is, quality jobs in the community for wages comparable to others performing the same work.  Very deliberately, VRBS presumes all people with disabilities, including those with the most significant disabilities, can work in competitive integrated settings In addition, VRBS cultivates many partnerships including those with Community Rehabilitation Programs, Centers for Independent Living, tribal vocational rehabilitation programs, high schools, colleges, and workforce development programs.  Our primary partner is the State Rehabilitation Council, which reviews, analyzes, and advises VRBS.  And last but not least, VRBS serves employers and Montana’s business community.  Workers with disabilities contribute a great deal to Montana’s workforce.  We seek and apply employer input and the latest labor and management information to inform people with disabilities so that they can make choices based on job-driven information.

Montana Big Sky Waiver

“Provides adult day health, big sky waiver personal assistance, case management, community adult group homes, day habilitation, homemaker, prevocational services, respite, supported employment, audiology, respiratory therapy, speech therapy, financial management services – self direction, independence advisor – self direction, adult foster care, community transition, consultative clinical and therapeutic services, dietetic-nutritionist services, environmental accessibility adaptations, family training and support, health and wellness, homemaker chore, level 1 assisted living, level 2 assisted living behavioral health modification, level 3 assisted living specialized care, member directed goods and services, money management, non-medical transportation, nurse supervision for personal care attendants, nutrition, occupational therapy, pain and symptom management, personal emergency response systems, physical therapy, post acute rehabilitation services, senior companion, service animals, skilled nursing, specialized child care for children who are medically fragile, specialized medical equipment and supplies, specially trained attendant, and vehicle modifications services to individuals ages 65 or older and individuals with physical disabilities or other disabilities ages 0-64 years who meet a nursing facility level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(b)(4) authority.”

Disability Employment and Transitions

~~“Mission and Goals
Advancing the employment, independence, and transitions of Montanans with disabilities.
•Employment in a competitive integrated setting;
•Independence grounded in self-determination, informed choice, and consumer control; and
•Transitions from high school to post-secondary education and work that are collaborative and successful……
The disability Employment and Transitions Division is comprised of two bureaus and multiple programs.
The Disability Employment and Transitions Division includes three citizen councils. They are:
• State Rehabilitation Council; and,
• Statewide Independent Living Council; and,
• The Telecommunications Access by People with Disabilities Committee..”
 

Montana HB 638: Provider Rate Increases for Direct Care Staff (2017)

“An Act appropriating money to the Department of Public Health and Human Services for a developmental disability and aging services provider rate increase for direct care worker wages; authorizing a fund transfer from the older Montanans trust fund to direct care wages account.”

Montana Cuts Contracts With Developmental Disability Caregivers

“The state health department is cutting ties at the end of March with private contractors who help people with developmental disabilities.

That’s a result of cuts to Medicaid due to the state’s budget cuts, enacted by Governor Steve Bullock because of the state bringing in lower than expected revenue.

The cuts mean that in the coming months, 2,700 people with developmental disabilities who get help from case managers will move from private organizations overseeing their care to the state health department.

The department says it was forced to make this change because of budget cuts in the 2017 legislative session and the recent special legislative session.”

Partnerships for Transitions

“Partnerships in Transition is a project to address the challenges and barriers to youth transitioning from school to the adult employment and service delivery system. The project increased transition outcomes for youth with developmental disabilities statewide through a systematic approach that included skill development, capacity building, information dissemination and the creation of community and web-based information resources.”

Montana Home and Community Based Waiver for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

“Provides day supports and activities, homemaker, residential habilitation, respite, nutritionist services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, private duty nursing, speech therapy, supports brokerage, adult foster support, assisted living, behavioral support services, caregiver training and support, community transition services, companion services, environmental modifications, individual goods and services, meals, personal care, personal emergency response system, personal supports, psychological evaluation/counseling and consultation services, remote monitoring equipment, remote monitoring, retirement services, specialized medical equipment and supplies, supported employment (co-worker support), supported employment (follow along support), supported employment (individual employment support), supported employment (small group employment support), and transportation services to individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities ages 0 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.”

 

Program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities opens at MSU

~~“The MSU LIFE Scholars Program is an inclusive post-secondary experience that opened this fall to its first seven students, according to Christy Sofianek, program director. The program consists of three main components: academics, career development and campus engagement. Students who are enrolled in the program may choose to either audit classes or take them for credit. Students this fall selected courses in meteorology, creative writing, public speaking, horse handling, aviation and tae kwon do, among other subjects, Sofianek said. LIFE Scholars also engage in extra-curricular campus activities and complete an internship in order to develop job skills and explore careers."

Disability Resources

~~“Whether you are an Employer or a Job Seeker, if you have questions related to employment and disabilities, contact us for assistance. We can connect you to resources to answer those questions….
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry Disability Consultant can assist you with information in the following topics
• Job Listings and Referrals
• Resume Assistance
• Community Resource Information
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Resource Library and Computers
• Child Care Information
• Labor Market Information
• Career Exploration
• Job Search Assistance
• Career Planning”

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