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Independent Living Services

Who?

The philosophy of independent living promotes consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and systems advocacy in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities. Full inclusion and integration of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society is primary. This philosophy is implemented through the Montana Independent Living Council and the network of Montana centers for independent living. The four centers and their satellites provide statewide coverage with centers situated in Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Billings, Glasgow, Miles City, Glendive, Kalispell, Ronan, and Hamilton.

What?

Independent Living Centers (ILC’s) are non-residential, meaning they don’t offer places to live at the Centers. They do provide services to anyone with a disability including children, students, middle-aged adults or people who are elderly. Each center is a private non-profit corporation primarily run by people with disabilities. The IL Centers provide an array of independent living services such as:

  • Information And Referral – Includes basic information on equipment, financial assistance, recreation, housing, attendant care, support groups, legal rights and many other disability and community topics and resources.
  • Independent Living Skills Training - Training in areas such as budgeting, socialization, leisure planning, attendant care management and the use of community resources. We also provide referral services to programs providing daily living skills training.
  • Peer Helping - A person with a disability provides counseling and support on a one-to-one basis with another person who is experiencing personal problems related to a disabling condition. The peer helper functions as a role model, advocate and resource person. IL Center staff also provide referral to groups providing counseling services.
  • Individual And Systems Advocacy – We help persons with disabilities identify their independent living needs, develop an individual plan of action to meet those needs, share resource information, and facilitate problem-solving skills necessary for ensuring an independent and self-determined lifestyle.
  • American's With Disabilities Act/Accessibility Technical Assistance – Center staff provide individuals with information regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They have a broad array of information on ADA Accessibility Guidelines, regulations, violations, how to file a complaint and other pertinent information. They also provide advocacy services to a consumer in order to implement enforcement of ADA guidelines and perform assessments for businesses and agencies to determine compliance with ADA Accessibility Guidelines. There may be a charge for this service based on the complexity and scope of the assessment, however, assessments are provided to consumers at no cost.
  • Rehabilitation Technology/Adaptive Equipment Loan/Lease – We provide technical assistance and evaluations of environmental modifications and recommendations for equipment. We maintain a comprehensive database of adaptive equipment available to include manufacturer and possible financial resources as well as providing a limited amount of equipment available on a temporary loan basis.
  • Housing – We can assist in finding affordable, accessible housing by working with public assistance and low interest home loan programs.

IL Centers also help communities plan and respond to the needs of their communities' members having disabilities. Most of the community activities are around access issues. Most of the funding to the centers for independent living is federal money contracted either directly from Vocational Rehabilitation which serves as a pass-through, monitoring agency or directly from the federal government.

How?

A person must have a disability that impedes their ability to live independently and must need assistance from an independent living center to maintain their independence.

To receive service from an independent living center, contact the center and an independent living specialist will take an application for services and start to work with you. There is very little paper work involved in the whole process. The best thing to do is call the center and asks for assistance.

Where?

  Summit Independent Living Center
(800) 398-9002 		    North Central Independent Living Services
(800) 823-6245
   
   

  Montana Independent Living Project
(800) 735-6457		     Living Independently
for Today & Tomorrow
(800) 669-6319
   
   

Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT) is located in Billings and provides services to southeastern Montana. They have branch offices set up in Miles City and Glendive.

Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT)
Bobbie Becker, Director
3333 2nd Ave N, Suite 100
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 259-5181
(800) 669-6319 (toll free)
(406) 259-5259 fax
(406) 245-1225 TTY
beckerb@midrivers.com

LIFTT - Glendive Branch
Kristie Huber
115 W Valentine
Glendive MT 59330
(406) 377-4062 voice/TTY
(406) 377-4064 fax
(888) 502-9700 voice/TTY (toll-free)
lifft@midrivers.com

LIFTT - Miles City Branch
Virginia Thibault
2200 Box Elder #132
Miles City MT 59301
(406) 234-2599 voice/TTY
(888) 502-9700 voice/TTY (toll-free)
liftt2@midrivers.com

LIFTT - Northern Cheyenne Branch
Mark Small
PO Box 1146
Ashland, MT 59003
(406) 679-0063 voice
marksmall@rangeweb.net

Montana Independent Living Project is located in Helena and provides services to southwestern Montana. They have branch offices set up in Butte and Bozeman.

MILP - Montana Independent Living Project
Bob Maffit, Director
1820 11th Ave
Helena MT 59601
(406) 442-5755 voice/TTY
(406) 442-1612 fax
(800) 735-6457 (toll-free)
bmaffit@milp.us

MILP - Butte Branch Office
Tami Hoar
1941 Harrison Ave
Butte MT 59701
(406) 782-4834 voice/TTY
(406) 782-4835 fax
thoar@milp.us

MILP - Bozeman Branch Office
Rae Swenson
1185 N 14th Ave Unit 2
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 522-7300 voice/TTY
(406) 522-7302 fax
rswenson@milp.us

North Central Independent Living Services is located in Great Falls and provides services from Glacier County across the Hi-Line to the North Dakota border. A branch office is set up in Glasgow.

NCILS - North Central Independent Living Services
Tom Osborn, Director
1120 25th Avenue NE
Black Eagle MT 59414
(406) 452-9834 voice/TTY
(800) 823-6245 (toll-free)
(406) 453-3940 fax
ncils.osborn@sofast.net

NCILS - Glasgow Branch
Colleen Forrester
334 W Court
Glasgow MT 59230
(406) 228-2075 voice/TTY
ncils2@nemontel.net

NCILS - Poplar Branch
Debra Mason
PO Box 53
Poplar, MT 59255
(406) 768-3040
ncils3@nemontel.net

Summit Independent Living Center's main office is located in Missoula and has branchs in Kalispell, Ronan, and Hamilton. Summit serves northwestern Montana.

Summit Independent Living Center
Mike Mayer, Director
700 SW Higgins, Suite 101
Missoula MT 59801
(406) 728-1630 voice/TTY
(800) 398-9002 (toll-free)
(406) 829-3309 fax
mmayer@summitilc.org

Summit - Hamilton Branch
Joanne Verwolf
316 N 3rd Suite 113
Hamilton MT 59840
(406) 363-5242 voice/TTY/fax
(800) 398-9013 (toll free)
jverwolf@summitilc.org

Summit - Kalispell Branch
Flo Kiewel
275 Corporate Way Suite 901
Kalispell MT 59901
(406) 257-0048 voice/TTY/fax
(800) 995-0029 (toll-free)
flok@summitilc.org

Summit - Ronan Branch
Gary Stevens
111 2nd Ave SW
Ronan MT 59864
(406) 676-0190 voice/TTY
(866) 230-6936 (toll free)
gstevens@summitilc.org

If there is not a center in your community, an outreach worker from the main center will come to you.

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Page last updated 07/30/2008