Symposium A Big Success
Over 150 Montanans with disabilities, advocates, family and friends were in attendance at the 2006 Independent Living Symposium entitled “25 Years of Building Our Future.” The symposium was held August 22-24, 2006, at the University of Montana in Missoula. This event was co-sponsored by the Montana Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) and Montana’s Centers for Independent Living (CILs). “25 Years of Building Our Future” was designed as an opportunity for participants to:
- jointly develop positions on issues and legislation that affects individuals with disabilities, and
- celebrate the 25th anniversaries of Summit Independent Living Center and the Montana Independent Living Project..
Multiple speakers were in attendance to discuss issues such as youth programs, housing rights, transportation issues, Medicaid issues, accessible voting machines, emergency preparedness, and programs operated by CILs. Participants identified four areas they considered to be the most important:
- Medicaid issues
- Funding for the CILs and SILC
- Funding for the Montana Youth Leadership Forum
- Transportation Issues
Committees were formed with statewide representation to develop specific recommendations in each of these areas.
Also, each CIL will develop committees to conduct ongoing local and state advocacy in the areas of:
- Nothing about us without us
- Transportation
- Housing
- Disaster planning
- School transition
- Personal assistant background checks
Page last updated 01/03/2007
