Task Forces

Youth and Employment Task Force

The Youth and Employment Task Force’s (YETF) mission is to empower youth with disabilities to prepare for the workforce and build more inclusive communities within Montana by reducing barriers, providing meaningful choices, promoting self-advocacy skills, and encouraging competitive integrated employment., This meeting is held the 4th Tuesday of the month at 2pm.

If you want to join this task force, please email Kally Barlow at kbarlow@ncils.org

Native American Task Force

Native American Task Force, The statewide Native American Task Force (NATF) coordinated by Montana Centers for Independent Living (MTCIL) seeks to establish and maintain relationships with Montana Centers for Independent Living (CIL’s) and American Indian/Alaska Native communities. The NATF strives to work effectively with all Communities to promote collaboration that benefits American Indians/Alaska Natives across Montana.

Priority Areas: Access to Healthcare; Suicide Prevention; Behavioral Health

The Montana NATF is a task force of American Indians/Alaska Natives, family members and supporters thereof, and individuals interested in promoting the well-being of American Indians/Alaska Natives with and without disabilities living on and off of Montana reservations.

If you want to join this task force, please email Sophia Tanguma at stanguma@ncils.org

NATF members have identified the following current priority areas of need among American Indians/Alaska Natives: Access to Healthcare; Suicide Prevention; Behavioral Health. The NATF group focus is in those priority areas as well as anything related. Our goal is to work with and alongside American Indians/Alaska Natives to help prevent barriers to enable those with and without disabilities across Montana to take full advantage of access to society and advance their independence and civil rights. The Native American Task Force meet the first Friday of every month at 10 a.m.

Transportation Task Force

The statewide Transportation Task Force (SDTF) seeks to expand accessible Transportation options. The Transportation Task Force meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1pm.

If you want to join this task force, please email Shyla Patera at spatera@ncils.org

or Colleen Forrester at cforrester@ncils.org

Legislative Advocacy

The MTCIL Legislative Advocacy Committee is a joint effort between Montana’s four Centers for Independent Living and the Statewide Independent Living Council. Its purpose is to guide the statewide legislative efforts of Montana’s Independent Living network and to coordinate activities between the various task forces. The Legislative Advocacy Committee meets every other Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.

If you want to join this task force, please email Margaret Keener at mkeener@ncils.org

The Self-Determination Task Force is comprised of individuals with disabilities, family members, and supporters interested in promoting and advocating for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life throughout Montana.

Self Determination Task Force Mission:

The Montana statewide Self-Determination Task Force (SDTF), coordinated by Montana’s Centers for Independent Living (MTCILs), seeks to ensure that people with disabilities have a voice in the programs and services that impact their lives and are able to maintain control over their own choices, decisions, and lives. The SDTF strives to work effectively with all Communities to promote collaboration and coordination that benefits all people with disabilities across Montana.

SDTF members have identified the following priority areas: establishing a mechanism to ensure “Nothing about Us without Us” where people with disabilities are meaningfully involved in policy and program decisions; ensuring that voting remains open and accessible to all; full implementation of Olmstead; ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to home and community-based services and other benefit systems such as Medicaid and Social Security; promoting competitive integrated employment and the work first movement; and normalizing disability through public education initiatives. Self Determination Task Force meets every other Wednesday at 1:30pm, opposite of the Legislative Advocacy

If you want to join this task force, please email Travis Hoffman at thoffman@summitilc.org

Community Living Task Force, Mission Statement

The mission of the Community Living Task Force (CLTF) is to enhance the ability of and opportunity for all Montanans with disabilities to achieve full inclusion in their communities and advocate for adequate access to affordable and accessible community living options. The CLTF includes all disabilities, mental and physical.

Description: the Community Living Task Force (CLTF) is comprised of representatives from each of Montana’s four Centers for Independent living and other community advocates. As part of the Montana Independent Living Network the Community Living Task Force, primarily focuses on legislative and systemic change initiatives in the following areas:

Expanding and improving accessible and affordable housing programs that support independent living options for people with disabilities.
Eliminating barriers that limit community living opportunities for people with disabilities such as architectural and attitudinal barriers.
Increasing the accessibility of business and local, state and national government facilities/programs, by working to advocate and promote ADA compliance.
Public education of community and housing accessibility options, barriers, and the philosophy of independent living in terms of individuals’ rights to live, work, and recreate independently in the community

If you want to join this task force, please email Theresa Martinosky at tmartinosky@summitilc.org

The Community Living Task Force (CLTF) meets every third Thursday at 11:00 AM via Zoom conference call. To learn more about the CLTF or join our efforts, please contact us using the form below.