Can you believe we have already reached the halfway point of 2026?
As summer arrives across South and Central Eastern Montana, many of us look forward to longer days, warmer weather, family gatherings, community events, and opportunities to spend more time outdoors. Summer gives us a chance to recharge, reconnect, and reflect on the things that matter most.
At LIFTT, summer is also a season of opportunity.
The first half of 2026 has been one of the most exciting periods in our organization’s history. Across our service area, we continue working every day to empower aging individuals and people with disabilities to live independently, participate fully in their communities, and pursue the goals that matter most to them.
This month is especially meaningful because LIFTT’s Board of Directors recently approved updated Vision and Mission Statements that reaffirm our commitment to person-centered services and respectful, inclusive language. While the wording has changed, our purpose remains the same: empowering people, removing barriers, and creating opportunities for greater independence.
We are also celebrating significant growth and expansion.
In Glendive, LIFTT has successfully transitioned into its new facility on South Douglas Street, creating new opportunities for community engagement, expanded services, and future program development. The opening of the upLIFTT Thrift Store marks another exciting milestone as we continue building innovative ways to support both our mission and our long-term sustainability.
Meanwhile, development of the RideWell ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program continues moving forward. Transportation remains one of the greatest barriers faced by many individuals living in rural communities, and we are working diligently to build solutions that will connect people to healthcare, employment, education, shopping, recreation, and community life. We were honored to receive the community’s support for this important initiative. We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 1, at the Columbia Club in Billings for “Hidden Treasures, Grand Journeys,” a dinner, silent and live auction benefiting RideWell.
Our commitment to accessibility continues to grow as well. This year, LIFTT established a permanent ADA and Section 504 Compliance Committee dedicated to strengthening accessibility across our facilities, programs, services, communications, and operations. Accessibility is not simply a legal requirement. It is a reflection of our values and our belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to participate fully in community life.
Across our organization, staff members continue pursuing professional certifications, advanced training, and continuing education opportunities. Whether teaching wellness classes, supporting consumers through Independent Living services, expanding transportation options, or helping individuals navigate complex systems, our team remains committed to providing the highest quality services possible.
Most importantly, we continue to see the impact of this work in the lives of the people we serve. Every consumer who gains confidence, learns a new skill, secures a needed resource, accesses transportation, improves their health, finds community, or achieves a personal goal reminds us why our mission matters.
The second half of 2026 promises to be even more exciting than the first.
New programs are being developed. New partnerships are being formed. New opportunities are emerging. And together, we will continue building a future where aging individuals and people with disabilities can live independently, pursue their goals, and thrive in the communities they call home.
As you enjoy the summer months ahead, please remember that LIFTT is here to help. Whether you are seeking information, advocacy, support, transportation resources, wellness programs, or opportunities to become involved in your community, we look forward to serving you.
Thank you for being part of the LIFTT family.
The future is bright, and together we are continuing to rise above the barriers of life.
Warm regards,
Carlos A. Ramalho
Executive Director
Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT
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 aging and disabled members of the community with programs, services, resources and advocacy 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 device.
Our Vision: Empowering aging individuals and people with disabilities to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.
Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow’s (LIFTT’s) mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Center for Independent Living serving Southeastern Montana is to empower aging individuals and people with disabilities to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.
