Blog - LIFTT

LIFTT Board of Directors meets December 18

The LIFTT Board of Directors will hold an ordinary meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 4 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is invited to attend the meeting and offer comments during the public comment period.

Click here to view or download the meeting agenda and Zoom invitation for the December 18, 2025, LIFTT board of directors meeting. (Adobe PDF)

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Connecting Communities with Information & Referral

Connecting Communities: How LIFTT’s Information and Referral Services Empower Independent Living

At LIFTT, we believe that information is independence. Every day, our staff help Montanans with disabilities and those who are aging discover pathways toward autonomy, stability, and inclusion. This philosophy drives our Information and Referral (I&R) services: the heart of how we connect people with the resources that can transform daily life.

In simple terms, I&R means providing accurate, up-to-date, and accessible information about services that promote independent living. But for LIFTT, it’s more than that. We act as a liaison and curator of knowledge, bridging consumers and the complex network of agencies, nonprofits, and programs that serve our communities. From our offices and outreach events across 18 counties in South and Central Eastern Montana, our Independent Living Specialists deliver personalized guidance through in-person visits, phone calls, emails, and online conversations.

Because every person’s needs are different, we make sure our information is available in multiple accessible formats, such as large print, plain language, screen-reader-friendly electronic files, captioned calls, and interpreter support. Accessibility is not a feature; it is our foundation.

During the past year, the LIFTT team responded to hundreds of requests for information on vital topics such as:

Applying for Social Security benefits (SSI, SSDI, and appeals)
Navigating Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and other assistance programs
Finding safe and accessible housing
Locating food banks and nutrition supports
Securing home modifications and adaptive equipment
Coordinating transportation options across rural counties
Connecting with the Montana Telecommunications Access Program (MTAP) for captioned phones
Exploring resources for individuals who are Blind or Low Vision
Accessing Personal Care Assistant and Self-Directed Home Care services
Understanding IEPs, 504 Plans, and youth transition supports
Referrals to MonTECH for assistive technology
Guidance on vocational rehabilitation and employment
Mental health and suicide-prevention resources
Legal advocacy through Disability Rights Montana
Aging and veterans’ services through ADRCs and Area Agencies on Aging

Beyond providing these connections, we continually expand our outreach in creative ways. This year, LIFTT launched one of its most exciting initiatives yet: a weekly community television show. Recorded locally and shared across regional networks, each episode features a guest, sometimes a service provider, sometimes a government partner, and often a consumer, who shares insights about a specific program or resource that supports independence. Whether discussing accessible housing, mental-health supports, or assistive technology, the show makes complex systems visible and understandable to everyone, including those without reliable internet access.

By combining traditional information services with innovative media and digital outreach, LIFTT ensures that knowledge travels as widely as need does. Every referral, every call, and every television segment carries the same message: You have options. You have support. You can live independently.

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Glendive Office Holiday Open House 12/11

Join LIFTT’s Glendive Team on Thursday, December 11, from 4-6 p.m. at our office (119 S. Kendrick Ave.) to celebrate the holiday season and mark another year of service to our region with a holiday open house.

Everyone is welcome at this FREE event, which will include food, music, fun, and a chance to get your picture taken with Santa! For more information about the holiday open house, contact Tina Carter at (406) 939-4569 or tinac@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 aging and disabled members of the community 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Glendive LIFTT holding Coat Drive through 12/23

The Glendive LIFTT Office is holding a coat drive! Coats will be collected Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the office (119 S. Kendrick Ave) through December 23.

As winter arrives in Southeastern Montana, many of those LIFTT serves need warm coats and outerwear to stay safe from the cold, wet weather. To help meet that need, the Glendive LIFTT office will be holding a coat drive through December 23. If you have gently used, clean coats, gloves, scarves, hats, or other warm clothing that you no longer need, please consider donating.

You can drop off your donations Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. until December 23 at the Glendive LIFTT office, 119 S. Kendrick Avenue. For more information, contact the Glendive office at (406) 948-8500

Your generosity can make a real difference in someone’s life! Thank you for helping us bring warmth and comfort to those who need it most.

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

LIFTT Featured on Senior High Alumni Website

LIFTT is currently one of the featured businesses/organizations on the Billings Senior High School Alumni Website local directory.

If you are a former Bronc, or even if you are not, check out the feature piece on LIFTT here: https://billingshighschool.com/related-links.html#link49911

If your business, organization, service club, school, faith community, or community group would like some information and a link to LIFTT to place on your website/social media, please contact Public Relations Specialist Jed Barton at (406) 294-5186, jedb@liftt.org for more information.

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

LIFTT earns organizational leadership award

LIFTT was recently honored with an award for organizational leadership at the DPHHS Diabetes Professional Conference in Helena.

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) has been honored with the Organizational Leadership Award at the Montana Diabetes Program’s 28th Annual Diabetes Professional Conference in Helena. The Montana Diabetes Program, part of the Department of Public Health & Human Services, recognized LIFTT for its significant leadership, innovation, and service in diabetes care, education, and prevention. The award celebrates LIFTT’s holistic approach to improving health outcomes for Montanans living with diabetes, especially among individuals with disabilities and older adults in rural communities.

During the awards ceremony, presenters highlighted LIFTT’s creative and community-driven initiatives, including:

Advocating for an accessible bus stop near its Billings office to improve mobility for individuals managing chronic conditions.
Launching an inclusive community garden, which promotes nutritional health, education, and social connection through hands-on learning.
Developing an ADA-accessible transportation system to enhance access to healthcare, wellness programs, and community services across eastern Montana.

“This award is a reflection of the hard work, passion, and dedication of everyone at LIFTT,” said Carlos Ramalho, LIFTT’s Executive Director. “Each of our staff, volunteers, and partners plays a role in making this recognition possible. Together, we’re building healthier, more inclusive communities, one step, one ride, and one garden bed at a time.”

The Organizational Leadership Award is presented annually to a team, group, or organization that demonstrates outstanding leadership and innovation in diabetes prevention and management. This year’s recognition underscores LIFTT’s ongoing commitment to addressing the intersection of disability, transportation, nutrition, and chronic disease prevention through accessible, community-based solutions.

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Brain Thrive Starts November 5

Join LIFTT for a FREE 6-week Brain Thrive Class!

Designed to help young adults sharpen focus, improve memory, and make smarter decisions for a healthier brain and better life.

Participants will Learn How to:

Protect your brain from damage
Fuel your brain with smart food choices
Break bad brain habits
Boost mood, motivation, and memory
Thrive academically and socially

Classes will run each Wednesday from November 5 through December 16, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Billings LIFTT office (1241 Crawford Drive). For more information or to register for Brain Thrive, contact Eileen Rodrigeuz at (406) 294-5185 or eileenr@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 aging and disabled members of the community 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Extraordinary Board Meeting October 19

in the Billings LIFTT office.

The LIFTT board of directors will hold an extraordinary meeting on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 8 a.m. at the Billings LIFTT office (1241 Crawford Drive). The public is invited to attend and offer comments during the public comment period.

Click here to view or download the agenda for the October 19, 2025, Extraordinary LIFTT Board of Directors meeting. (Adobe PDF)

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Extraordinary Board Meeting October 18

in the Billings LIFTT office.

The LIFTT board of directors will hold an extraordinary meeting on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 8 a.m. at the Billings LIFTT office (1241 Crawford Drive). The public is invited to attend and offer comments during the public comment period.

Click here to view or download the agenda for the October 18, 2025, Extraordinary LIFTT Board of Directors meeting. (Adobe PDF)

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

September 2025 LIFTT Connection Now Available!

The September 2025 edition of the LIFTT Connection Newsletter is now available!

View the September 2025 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email on the Web

Download the September 2025 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email (Adobe PDF)

In this issue of the LIFTT Connection:

You can request to join our email list and receive the September 2025 LIFTT Connection Newsletter and future newsletters by sending your name and address to jedb@liftt.org. Also, look for articles from the newsletter to be posted on liftt.org and our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn feeds.

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 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.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.