A publication of the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

Montana State Resources

Complete update · 8/2007
Partial update · 3/5/2008

The offices listed on this state sheet are primarily state-level offices. Even if an office is not close to your home, they can usually put you in touch with resources in your community, as well as provide you with information and assistance about disability issues in your state. If you find that an address or number has changed or is incorrect, please e-mail us at nichcy@aed.org and let us know.

State Agencies and Organizations

Age of Eligibility

Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under Department of Education: Special Education.

United States Senators
Honorable Max Baucus (D)
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2651; (800) 332-6106 (in MT)
(202) 228-0515 (Fax); (202) 224-1998 (TTY)
E-mail Web Form: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue
Web: http://baucus.senate.gov/

Honorable Jon Tester (D)
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2644; (800) 344-1513
(202) 224-8594 (Fax); (202) 224-8616 (TTY)
Web: http://tester.senate.gov

United States Representatives
To find the contact information for your representative in the House of the U.S. Congress, visit the House’s Web site at: www.house.gov, or call: (202) 225-3121; (202) 225-1904 (TTY).

Governor
Honorable Brian Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Building
P.O. Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-0801
(406) 444-3111; (406) 444-5529 (Fax)
E-mail Web Form: http://governor.mt.gov/contact/commentform.asp
Web: http://governor.mt.gov/

Official State Web Site
Web: http://mt.gov/

State Department of Education: Special Education
Timothy Harris, Director
Special Education Division
Montana Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-4429
E-mail: tharris@mt.gov
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us

State Coordinator for NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Nancy Coopersmith, Assistant Superintendent
Montana Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-5541
E-mail: ncoopersmith@mt.gov
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us/

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2
Jeff Sturm, Program Director
Developmental Disabilities Program
Department of Public Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-2695
E-mail: jesturm@mt.gov
Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov

Programs for Children with Disabilities: Ages 3 through 5
Dan McCarthy, Preschool Specialist
Office of Public Instruction
P. O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-4425; (888) 231-9393
E-mail: danmcc@mt.gov
Web: www.opi.mt.gov

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Joe Mathews, Administrator
Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
Department of Public Health and Human Services
P. O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-2590
E-mail: jmathews@mt.gov
Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/dsd/govt_programs/vrp/vrs/

Coordinator for Transition Services
Nikki Sandve, Coordinator - State Personnel Development Grant
Division of Special Education
Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-5661
E-mail: nsandve@mt.gov
Web: www.opi.mt.gov

Office of State Coordinator of Vocational Education for Students with Disabilities
T.J. Eyer, Division Administrator
Career, Technical and Adult Education
Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-9019
E-mail: teyer@mt.gov
Web: www.opi.mt.gov

State Mental Health Agency
Joyce DeCunzo, Administrator
Addictive and Mental Disorders Division
Department of Public Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 202905
Helena, MT 59620-2905
(406) 444-3969
E-mail: HHSAMDDMH@mt.gov
Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/

State Mental Health Program for Children
Children's Mental Health Bureau
Health Resources Division
Department of Public Health and Human Services
1400 Broadway - Cogswell Building - Room A116
P.O. Box 202951
Helena, MT 59620-2951
(406) 444-4540
Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/mentalhealth/children

Programs for People with Developmental Disabilities
Joe Mathews, Administrator
Disability Services Division
Department of Public Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-2995
E-mail: jmathews@mt.gov
Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/dsd/govt_programs/vrp/vrs/

Councils on Developmental Disabilities
Deborah Swingley, Executive Director
Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities
P.O. Box 526
Helena, MT 59624
(406) 443-4371; (866) 443-4332 (in MT only)
E-mail: deborah@mtcdd.org
Web: www.mtcdd.org

Protection and Advocacy Agency
Bernadette Franks Ongoy, Executive Director
Montana Advocacy Program
P.O. Box 1681
Helena, MT 59624
(406) 449-2344; (800) 245-4743 (V/TTY)
E-mail: advocate@mtadv.org
Web: www.mtadv.org

Client Assistance Program
Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, CAP Director
Montana Advocacy Program
P.O. Box 1681
Helena, MT 59624
(406) 449-2344; (800) 245-4743 (V/TTY)
E-mail: advocate@mtadv.org
Web: www.mtadv.org

Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Carliss Scott, Outreach Coordinator
Children's Special Health Services
Health Care Resources Bureau
Department of Public Health and Human Services
P. O. Box 202951
Helena, MT 59620 -2951
(406) 444-3622
E-mail: cscott@mt.gov

State CHIP Program
(Health care for low-income uninsured children)
Montana CHIP
P.O. Box 202951
Helena, MT 59620-2951
(406) 444-6971; (877) 543-7669
E-mail: CHIP@mt.gov
Web: www.chip.mt.gov

Programs for Children and Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Beverly Berg, Program Administrator
Blind and Low Vision Services
State Vocational Rehabilitation Program for the Blind or Visually Impaired
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-2590 (V/TTY); (877) 296-1197
E-mail: bberg@mt.gov

Programs for Children and Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Deaf-Blind
Betty Van Tighem, Director
Montana Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (MDHHS)
11 38th Street North
Great Falls, MT 59405
(406) 771-9053; (406) 771-9194 (TTY)
E-mail: mdhhsmad@sofast.net

Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind
3911 Central Avenue
Great Falls, MT 59405-1697
(406) 771-6000 (V/TTY); (800) 882-6732
E-mail: bdenoma@msdb.mt.gov
Web: www.msdb.mt.gov

Telecommunications Relay Services for Individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or with Speech Impairments
(800) 253-4093 (V)
(800) 253-4091 (TTY); 711 (TTY)
(877) 253-4613 (Speech to Speech)

State Education Agency Rural Representative
Nancy Coopersmith, Assistant Superintendent
Department of Education Services
Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-5541
E-mail: ncoopersmith@mt.gov
Web: www.opi.mt.gov

Regional ADA Technical Assistance Center
Jana Copeland, Ph.D., Director
DBTAC (ADA Center)
3630 Sinton Road, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
(719) 444-0268 (V/TTY); (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)
Web: www.adaportal.org
Web: www.adainformation.org
Web: www.mtc-inc.com

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
R. Timm Vogelsberg, Executive Director
The University of Montana Rural Institute
Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Service
52 Corbin Hall
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-5467; (800) 732-0322
E-mail: rtvogels@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
Web: http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Technology-Related Assistance
Kathleen Laurin, Director
MonTECH
The University of Montana, Rural Institute, MonTECH Program
634 Eddy Avenue, CHC-009
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-5676; (800) 732-0323 (V/TTY)
E-mail: klaurin@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
Web: http://montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/

State Mediation System
Early Assistance Program
Montana Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-5664
Web: www.opi.mt.gov

Special Format Library
Christie O. Briggs, Regional Librarian
Montana Talking Book Library
1515 E. Sixth Avenue
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
(406) 444-2064; (800) 332-3400
E-mail: mtbl@mt.gov
Web: http://msl.mt.gov/tbl/tbl.asp

Disability-Specific Organizations

Attention Deficit Disorder
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either:

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
8181 Professional Place, Suite 150
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 306-7070
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet)
Web: www.chadd.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
P.O. Box 543
Pottstown, PA 19464-0543
(484) 945-2101
Web: www.add.org

Autism
To identify an autism group in your state, contact:
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0881; (800) 3-AUTISM
Web: www.autism-society.org

Blind/Visual Impairments
Jaclyn Packer, Ph.D., Director of Information Center
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
(212) 502-7600; (800) 232-5463
E-mail: afbinfo@afb.net
Web: www.afb.org

Montana Association for the Blind
P.O. Box 465
Helena, MT 59624-0465
(406) 442-9411

Brain Injury
Brain Injury Association of Montana
1280 S. 3rd West, Suite 4
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 541-6442; (800) 241-6442
E-mail: biam@biamt.org
Web: www.biamt.org

Fragile X Syndrome
Mary and Dick DeBernardis
Fragile X Resource of Montana
12345 Gooch Hill Road
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730-9707
(406) 763-4268
E-mail: debern@imt.net
Web: www.fragilex.org

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Bev Owens, Arc Treasurer
Yellowstone Arc
602 18th Street, W.
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 652-5510

Learning Disabilities
Mark Taylor, President
Learning Disabilities Association of Montana
3544 Toboggan Road
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 259-3110
E-mail: mark@learningclinic.com
Web: www.ldaofmt.org

Mental Health
Tracy Velazquez, Executive Director
Montana Mental Health Association
P.O. Box 88
Bozeman, MT 59771
(406) 589-7774; (888) 927-6642
E-mail: info@montanamentalhealth.org
Web: www.montanamentalhealth.org

Barbara Sample, Executive Director
Family Support Network (FSN)
1211 Grand, Suite 6
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 256-7783
E-mail: fsntoo@aol.com
Web: www.mtfamilysupport.org/

Speech, Language, and Hearing
Montana Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Box 215
Miles City, MT 59301
(406) 234-8727
E-mail: info@mshaonline.org
Web: www.mshaonline.org

Tourette Syndrome
(Serving Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming)
Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Region
PMB 198
837 S. Kuner Road
Brighton, CO 80601
(720) 212-7535
E-mail: tsarmr@att.net
Web: www.tsarmr.com

Organizations Especially for Parents

Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)
Roger Holt, Co-Director
Parents, Let's Unite For Kids (PLUK)
516 N. 32nd Street
Billings, MT 59101-6003
(406) 255-0540; (800) 222-7585 (MT only)
E-mail: plukinfo@pluk.org
Web: www.pluk.org

Parent-To-Parent
Contact Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) listed above

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Beth Verlanic, President
Montana Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.
P.O. Box 6448
Great Falls, MT 59406
(406) 268-7475
E-mail: montana_pta@gfps.k12.mt.us
Web: www.montanapta.org

Deanna Johnson
IDEA PTA (Individuals with Diverse and Exceptional Abilities)
P.O. Box 7724
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 728-1124
E-mail: lotus@bigsky.net

Other Disability Organizations

Michelle Belknap, President
Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountains, Inc.
4400 Central Avenue
Great Falls, MT 59405
(406) 761-3680 (V/TTY); (800) 771-2153
E-mail: michelleb@esgw.org
Web: www.esgw-nrm.easterseals.com

Marsha Sampson, Interim Director
Montana Center on Disabilities
Montana State University-Billings
1500 University Drive, CEHS Building
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 866-3822 (V/TTY)
Web: www.msubillings.edu/mtcd

Sue Dow, Executive Director
Support & Techniques for Empowering People (S.T.E.P.) Inc.
1501 14th Street West, Suite 210
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 248-2055; (800) 820-4180
E-mail: suedow@step-inc.org
Web: www.step-inc.org

Alayne O. Dolson, Executive Director
VSA arts of Montana
200 N. Adams, MCT, Broadway Studio
P.O. Box 7225
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 549-2984
E-mail: alaynusa@montana.com

Independent Living

To find out the contact information for the Statewide
Independent Living Council (SILC) in your state, contact:
Independent Living Research Utilization Project
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
2323 South Sheppard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-0232 (V); (713) 520-5136 (TTY)
E-mail: ilru@ilru.org
Web: www.ilru.org

To find out the contact information for centers for
independent living (CILs) in your state, contact:
National Council on Independent Living
1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 207-0034 (V); (202) 207-0340 (TTY)
E-mail: ncil@ncil.org
Web: www.ncil.org

This information is copyright free. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY).
NICHCY State Resources are listings of selected state-wide organizations that can refer people to organizations in their area. We update our state resources continuously; however, the addresses and telephone numbers of these selected groups are constantly changing. If you find that an address or number has changed or is incorrect, please e-mail us at nichcy@aed.org and let us know.
Publication of this document is made possible through a Cooperative Agreement between the Academy for Educational Development and the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.	NICHCY P.O. Box 1492 Washington, DC 20013 (800) 695-0285 · v/tty (202) 884-8441 · fax e-mail: nichcy@aed.org web: www.nichcy.org