Resources For Special Needs Families
Author: Monique Prevel
If you live in Broadwater County and have a family member with special needs, chances are you have had a hard time finding resources and information to navigate the murky waters of disability services, rights, and advocacy for both adults and children.
By the Numbers:
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 6 children between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with a developmental disability including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), Sensory Processing Disorder, Fragile-X Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome, just to name a few. Furthermore 61 million adults live with some kind of disability in the U.S. alone.
Although our lovely little county may not be the “hub of services” for special needs, our area is serviced by several nonprofit organizations worth mentioning.
Please note, the following is not a complete list of organizations providing services for our area but is a good starting point for families.
• Family Outreach of Helena: Early Intervention, Support Services, and Applied Behavioral Analysis Services. Phone: (406) 443-7370 Website: https://www.familyoutreach.org
• Montana Empowerment Center: Family Advocacy in the Educational System, Navigating IEPs, and Transitional Planning. Phone: (877) 870-1190 Website: https://www.mtempowermentcenter.org
• Disability Rights Montana: Information and Referral Services, Individual Advocacy, Legal Representation, Outreach, and Training. Phone: (406) 449-2344 Website: wwwdisabilityrightsmt.org
• West Mont: Day Programs for Adults, Supported Living and Residential Services, Vocational Training and Supportive Employment. Phone: (406) 447-3100 Website: wwwwestmonthelena.com
• Special Olympics Montana: Sports and Competition, Health and Fitness, Unified Champion School Program. Phone: (800) 242-6876 Website: https://www.somt.org
• Big Sky Autism Project: Individualized and Group Adaptive Fitness Programs, Information, Resources, and Inclusive Community Events. Phone: (406) 461-5656 Website: wwwbigskyautismproject.org
Watch for more articles on Special Needs Families in Broadwater County in MT 43 News.
