A Journey of Resilience, Innovation, and Empowerment
2024 will be remembered as a year that surprised us at every turn — a year of the unexpected. Yet, through its challenges, LIFTT found opportunities to evolve, grow, and transform. Like a river carving its way through stone, we turned obstacles into pathways, guided by our mission to empower individuals with disabilities to live independently and thrive.
This year, we took a monumental step forward by moving into our permanent headquarters at 1241 Crawford Drive, Billings, MT 59102. This new space isn’t just a building — it’s a home for innovation, a sanctuary of advocacy, and a hub for community transformation. Here, ideas take root and lives change.
A Story of Growth and Milestones
The numbers tell a compelling story. Over the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, LIFTT served 853 consumers — a 6.45% increase from the previous year. But we didn’t stop at serving more people; we served better. By refining strategies, expanding staff, and focusing on impactful service goals, we achieved an 87.55% increase in services provided and an astounding 134.78% growth in consumer goals accomplished.
These achievements reflect a deeper truth: LIFTT is a place where aspirations become reality. Our Information and Referrals (I&Rs) rose by 38.62%, a testament to our commitment to being a bridge — connecting individuals to the resources they need to overcome barriers and thrive.
New Programs, New Horizons
In 2024, we launched two groundbreaking programs that embody LIFTT’s spirit of transformation:
The Diabetes Prevention Program: This initiative addresses a growing epidemic, empowering participants with the knowledge and tools to take control of their health. Through education, support, and lifestyle changes, this program is a lifeline for those at risk of diabetes — a chronic condition that, if unmanaged, can feel like a thief stealing quality of life.
The ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program: Mobility is freedom. Yet, for many in Montana’s rural communities, transportation remains a formidable barrier. This program is a promise: no matter how remote the location, independence is within reach. By creating accessible transit options, we are redefining what it means to connect—to opportunities, to community, to life itself.
These new programs, along with initiatives, like our vaccination clinics and partnerships for digital equity, illustrate the metamorphosis LIFTT has undergone this year. We are not the same organization we were a year ago. We have grown, adapted, and risen to meet the needs of those we serve.
Celebrating Inclusion and Advocacy
July 26, 2024, marked a milestone as we celebrated the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at our new headquarters. Under the theme of Disability Inclusion Through Transportation, we brought attention to the transformative power of accessible transit. Billings MET Transit’s participation was a powerful reminder that inclusion starts with access.
Our advocacy extended beyond this celebration. We worked with Billings TrailNet to improve trail accessibility and championed initiatives in Dawson and Yellowstone counties to expand access to assistive technologies and health resources. Each effort is a brick in the foundation of a more equitable future.
Looking to 2025 with Hope and Determination
As the year draws to a close, we reflect on what it means to serve, innovate, and belong. LIFTT is here for you—not just as an organization but as a partner in your journey toward independence and inclusion.
2024 has been a year of transformation, but it’s also a year that sets the stage for what’s to come. We wish you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth and peace, and we look forward to a remarkable 2025 — a year where we will continue to rise together, building on the foundation we have laid and reaching even greater heights.
Carlos A. Ramalho, Executive Director
LIFTT – Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow
www.liftt.org
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides people with disabilities with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple or Android Device.
You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.