News - LIFTT

September 2026 LIFTT Connection Now Available!

The September 2026 Edition of the LIFTT Connection Newsletter is now available!

View the September 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email on the Web

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In this issue of the LIFTT Connection:

You can request to join our email list and receive the September 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter and future newsletters by sending your name and address to jedb@liftt.org. You can also find newsletter articles on liftt.org and on 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, 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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Free Seed Envelopes at Seed Saving Workshop 9/12

Garrett Mills, Chair of LIFTT’s Board of Directors, will bring several hundred practical, resealable seed envelopes to share with participants at the Community Seed Library’s Seed Saving Workshop on Saturday, September 12, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Billings Public Library. Photo courtesy of Garett Mills.

Plant a Little Knowledge Today and Grow Something Wonderful Tomorrow

Every seed carries a story. It remembers the plant from which it came, holds the promise of another growing season, and reminds us that even the smallest beginning can produce something extraordinary.

On Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, the Billings Community Seed Library will present Basic Seed Saving in the Community Room of the Billings Public Library, located at 510 North Broadway in Billings.

During this informative presentation, participants will learn how to collect, save, and properly store seeds from heirloom vegetables and native plants. The workshop will explore plant life cycles, the differences between hybrids and heirloom varieties, effective harvesting techniques, and helpful germination methods for the next growing season.

Whether you are an experienced gardener or planting your first vegetables and flowers, seed saving offers a practical, rewarding way to become more self-sufficient, preserve favorite plants, reduce future gardening costs, and share something valuable with neighbors and friends. It is also a wonderful reminder that sustainability often begins with simple actions taken close to home.

LIFTT will be represented at the workshop by Garrett Mills, Chair of LIFTT’s Board of Directors, who plans to attend and bring a special gift for participants. Garrett has obtained several hundred small seed envelopes that he will distribute at no cost while supplies last. The envelopes are practical, resealable, and made with a plastic liner and clear window, making them ideal for organizing, identifying, protecting, and storing seeds for future planting.

Gardening and seed saving reflect many of the values at the heart of Independent Living: knowledge, choice, self-direction, resourcefulness, community participation, and the confidence to create something meaningful. A handful of seeds can become food, flowers, habitat for pollinators, or a gift passed from one gardener to another. It can also become a quiet declaration of hope: there will be another season, and we are preparing for it.

Come learn something new, meet other members of the gardening community, and take home ideas that can continue growing long after the workshop ends. Be sure to find Garrett and pick up some of his seed envelopes before they are gone!

Workshop Information

Basic Seed Saving with the Billings Community Seed Library
Saturday, September 12, 2026
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Community Room, Billings Public Library
510 North Broadway, Billings, MT 59101

For the official program description and any updated information, visit the Billings Public Library event page or call the library at (406) 657-8258.

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Boiler Modernization Project on Schedule

The Boiler Modernization project at the Billings LIFTT office remains on schedule as crews remove the old boiler system and install piping and other components of the new system. Photo collage from photos by LIFTT team members.

The Boiler Modernization Project at LIFTT’s Billings office is moving forward as planned. Crews installed new copper piping throughout the building, and the project remains on schedule.

Visible progress is now evident throughout the facility as crews finish installing piping to support the new boiler system, complete electrical connections, and install the water tank and new boilers. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of staff, consumers, and visitors while this important investment in the building’s long-term safety, efficiency, and reliability continues.

Next Phase Begins Tuesday, September 8

Beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2026, crews will install the new water tank and boilers. The old boiler has been removed, and the old boiler room has been completely remodeled. A Montana-certified asbestos abatement contractor completed the asbestos abatement in the work area without incident. Required containment, access controls, and other safety measures were in place. Until the full project is complete, however, staff, consumers, and visitors should continue to follow all posted signs and remain outside restricted work areas. The work is being managed so the building can continue operating safely during this phase.

Temporary Closure of the ADA-Accessible Restroom

The ADA-accessible restroom will be unavailable while the boiler modernization project is completed. If a consumer or community member needing the accessible restroom has an appointment scheduled during this time, LIFTT team members are to coordinate with their supervisor and:

Offer to meet at another accessible location,
Arrange a phone or virtual appointment, or
Reschedule the on-site meeting until the restroom reopens.

Thank You

Thank you for your flexibility as this project moves into its next phase. These temporary disruptions are helping LIFTT complete a major facility improvement that will serve staff, consumers, and the community for years to come.

Questions or concerns?

Please contact LIFTT’s Billings Office at (406) 259-5181 or send us a message at liftt.org/contact.

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Billings upLIFTT Thrift Manager Sought

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is seeking an experienced, dependable, and community-minded manager to lead the Billings upLIFTT Thrift Store.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with thrift store or retail management experience who wants to support LIFTT’s mission. Revenue generated by upLIFTT helps strengthen the organization’s financial sustainability and supports programs serving people with disabilities throughout our community.

The ideal candidate will be a team player who can think like a manager, make sound decisions, solve problems, and create a welcoming environment for customers, donors, volunteers, and employees. Responsibilities will include overseeing daily store operations, organizing merchandise and donations, supporting and directing team members, providing excellent customer service, and helping the store grow.

The store is located at 1201 Grand Avenue. Regular store hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you have the experience, judgment, and leadership skills needed to manage a thrift store, and you would like your work to make a meaningful difference, we encourage you to apply.

For more information about the position or application process, please contact LIFTT’s Human Resources at (406) 259-5181.

Join the upLIFTT team and help turn donated goods into opportunities, independence, and lasting community impact.

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

LIFTT Seeks an Independent Living Specialist

A young African-American woman, sitting on a sofa talks to a white woman seated in a chair across from her. Stock photo by Vitaly Gariev via Pexels

An Independent Living Specialist listens to a consumer and helps identify goals, choices, and community resources. Stock photo by Vitaly Gariev via Pexels.

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and community-minded Independent Living Specialist to join our team in Billings.

This full-time position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by helping aging individuals and people with disabilities achieve their goals, make informed choices, and live more independently. The Independent Living Specialist will provide services rooted in self-direction, dignity, inclusion, and the belief that people with disabilities are the experts in their own lives.

As a member of LIFTT’s Independent Living Program Team, the specialist will provide the five core services of independent living: advocacy, information and referral, peer support, independent-living skills training, and transition support. This includes helping consumers develop person-centered Independent Living Plans and connecting them with housing, public benefits, healthcare, accessibility resources, transportation, employment supports, and other community services.

The Independent Living Specialist may meet with consumers in their homes, by telephone, remotely, or at a LIFTT office. The position also involves facilitating classes and workshops on topics such as daily living, budgeting, technology, wellness, disability awareness, and community participation.

Community outreach is another important part of the role. The specialist will represent LIFTT at health fairs, resource expos, community meetings, and educational events while building partnerships throughout LIFTT’s 18-county service area. The position also helps educate the public about disability rights, accessibility, and the Independent Living Philosophy.

The ideal candidate will communicate effectively, maintain accurate and confidential records, work well independently and as part of a team, and build respectful relationships with consumers, coworkers, volunteers, and community partners. Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Word and working knowledge of Excel, email, internet tools, and database systems are required.

A bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field is preferred; equivalent relevant experience will also be considered. Personal experience with disability and experience working directly with people with disabilities are highly valued.

Applicants must have a valid Montana driver’s license, proof of insurance, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel throughout LIFTT’s service area. The selected candidate must also successfully complete motor-vehicle and background checks.

This is a full-time, hourly position working approximately 40 hours per week. Compensation is based on experience, education, and tenure and is contingent upon continued grant funding.

If you believe in disability rights, consumer choice, dignity, and community inclusion, we encourage you to apply.

For more information about the position or application process, please contact LIFTT’s Human Resources at (406) 259-5181.

Join the LIFTT team and help people overcome barriers, strengthen their independence, and participate fully in their communities.

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

LIFTT Seeks an Employment Specialist

A man in a plad shirt sits a computer while a woman with short hair looks on from behind him. Stock photo by Gary Barnes via Pexels.

An Employment Specialist helps a job seeker develop skills and pursue meaningful employment. Stock photo by Gary Barnes via Pexels.

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is seeking a dedicated, dependable, and community-minded Employment Specialist to join our team in Billings to work on our Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

This full-time position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by helping people with disabilities develop independent-living skills, prepare for employment, and connect with jobs and community resources. The Employment Specialist will work directly with consumers to identify their goals, recognize their strengths, overcome barriers, and build pathways toward greater independence and meaningful employment.

Responsibilities include helping consumers prepare résumés, practice interviewing, develop workplace skills, understand their rights, request reasonable accommodations, and create individualized employment plans. The Employment Specialist will also connect consumers with housing, benefits, healthcare, and other resources while building relationships with employers, schools, workforce programs, and community partners.

The ideal candidate will be a compassionate team player who can also work independently, communicate effectively, make sound decisions, and maintain accurate records. Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and database systems, are required because much of the position’s work involves electronic documentation and reporting.

A bachelor’s degree in human services, vocational rehabilitation, counseling, or a related field is preferred; equivalent professional or lived experience will also be considered. Experience supporting people with disabilities, providing case management, or assisting with employment services is especially valuable. Lived experience with disability is strongly valued.

The position requires reliable transportation, a valid Montana driver’s license, proof of insurance, and the ability to travel throughout LIFTT’s service area. Applicants must also successfully complete background and motor-vehicle checks.

LIFTT offers medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off and holidays; a retirement savings plan with a company match; and paid professional-development opportunities.

If you are passionate about disability inclusion and believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live independently and pursue meaningful employment, we encourage you to apply.

For more information about the position or application process, please contact LIFTT’s Human Resources at (406) 259-5181.

Join the LIFTT team and help people build skills, discover opportunities, and move toward greater independence.

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Building Momentum: Every Service, Every Connection and Every Life Matters

Photo collage created from stock photographs by Kampus Production via Pexels. The individuals pictured are not LIFTT consumers.

As we look back on the first three quarters of the 2025-2026 program year (from October 1 to June 30), one thing is abundantly clear: LIFTT continues to grow, strengthen, and transform lives across south-central and eastern Montana.

Every number in our reports represents something much more important than statistics. It represents a person who found hope, a family that received support, a barrier that was removed, or an opportunity that helped someone live more independently.

During the quarter ending June 30, LIFTT served 265 consumers, including 73 individuals who chose to develop Independent Living Plans to achieve their personal goals. These numbers reflect our continued commitment to empowering people with disabilities to make their own choices and direct their own futures.

Our team also continued providing hundreds of independent living services throughout our service area. Information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, advocacy, preventive services, mobility training, and housing assistance remained among the services consumers most frequently requested. Every one of these services represents a conversation, a solution, and a step toward greater independence.

Our work extends well beyond individual services.

Throughout the spring and early summer, LIFTT staff participated in outreach events, legislative and policy committees, the Olmstead planning process, workforce development initiatives, and community partnerships designed to improve opportunities for Montanans with disabilities. We continued educating our communities, advocating for systems change, and ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities are heard wherever important decisions are made.

At the same time, exciting new opportunities continue to move forward. Preparations for the RideWell accessible transportation program are advancing, outreach activities continue to expand across our eighteen-county service area, and our staff remains committed to developing new partnerships that will strengthen independent living throughout Montana.

None of these accomplishments happen by accident.

They are possible because of an extraordinary team of employees, volunteers, Board members, caregivers, community partners, and supporters who believe that every person deserves the opportunity to live independently, participate fully in community life, and pursue their dreams.

As we conclude the 2025- 2026 program year, we do so with optimism and determination. We know challenges will continue to arise, but we also know that LIFTT has never been defined by obstacles. We are defined by our willingness to work together, innovate, advocate, and never lose sight of the people we serve.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are not simply providing services. We are building stronger communities, expanding opportunities, and proving every day that independence is possible.

The best is yet to come.

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

From the Executive Director: New Wheels, New Doors, and a New Year of Possibility

If LIFTT’s summer could be described in one word, it would be movement.

We are moving into a new fiscal year. A new RideWell vehicle is moving toward Glendive. The Billings upLIFTT Thrift Store is preparing to reopen, and the Glendive upLIFTT Store will open on Wedensday, September 9, 2026. Our staff is moving into new training, new technology, and new ways of serving consumers. Even our Billings building is changing as the boiler modernization project moves steadily forward.

There is, quite honestly, more to report than one newsletter article can hold. In October 2026, LIFTT will publish its Annual Report for fiscal year 2025–2026, offering a fuller account of our services, accomplishments, partnerships, challenges, and community impact. For now, here are some of the stories carrying us into the months ahead.

Stronger Foundations: Seen and Unseen

Some of LIFTT’s most important work happens quietly behind the scenes.

During Summer 2026, the Board’s Executive Committee approved several policies designed to strengthen the organization and protect the people we serve. A new Waiting List Policy provides a fair and transparent contingency plan if funding or staffing ever becomes insufficient to begin services immediately for every eligible consumer. We sincerely hope it will never need to be activated, but responsible organizations prepare before a crisis arrives.

The Committee also approved a Statement of Concern supporting stable federal funding for Centers for Independent Living. The statement affirms that predictable funding allows organizations like LIFTT to retain qualified employees, build lasting community partnerships, and provide dependable services.

Two additional policies strengthened LIFTT’s internal safeguards. The Document Retention and Destruction Policy brings our legal, financial, employment, grant, Medicaid, privacy, and governance recordkeeping requirements into one clear framework. The Used Medical and Accessibility Equipment Donation Policy protects consumers from the risks associated with used equipment that has not been professionally inspected, sanitized, repaired, or fitted.

Policies may not be the most glamorous part of nonprofit life, but they form the foundation beneath every trustworthy organization. They help LIFTT act consistently, protect confidentiality, manage risk, and remain accountable to our consumers and community.

Services in Motion

LIFTT’s Personal Care Assistance Program continues to serve people who want to remain safe at home, participate in the community, and direct their own lives, while the Independent Living team continues assisting consumers, responding to information and referral requests, and preparing new wellness opportunities. An eight-session Living Well in the Community workshop begins September 9, 2026, with sessions in Roundup and Billings. Recruitment is also underway for future Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) classes.

RideWell Is Gaining Wheels

RideWell, LIFTT’s accessible rural transportation initiative, continues its journey from vision to operation. Our newest vehicle was retrieved from Helena and will receive its LIFTT identity through a new vehicle wrap before traveling to Glendive. At the same time, staff members are working through Medicaid requirements, operating costs, potential pricing, and partnerships with counties and transportation providers.

Building an accessible transportation program across rural Montana cannot happen overnight. It requires patience, careful financial stewardship, strong relationships, and plenty of miles, both literal and figurative. Every step, however, brings us closer to helping more people reach employment, healthcare, shopping, community activities, and one another.

A Fresh Chapter for upLIFTT

There is exciting news in Glendive: a new manager joined the upLIFTT Thrift Store team on August 31, 2026, and the store is preparing to open on September 9. 2026. upLIFTT is more than a place to discover an unexpected treasure. It is part of LIFTT’s effort to increase community visibility, create employment opportunities, build relationships, and pursue greater financial sustainability. We look forward to welcoming shoppers, donors, neighbors, and friends back through the doors.

Success Beyond the Dollar Sign

On August 1, 2026, LIFTT hosted Hidden Treasures & Grand Journeys, our first community event of its kind. Approximately 100 people joined us for dinner, auctions, games, conversation, and laughter. The event did not produce a true financial gain; nevertheless, its value reached beyond the balance sheet. It brought people together, introduced new community members to LIFTT, strengthened relationships, and gave us a chance to show what accessibility looks like in practice. When accessibility concerns arose at the venue, our team secured a compliant 28-foot ramp and an accessible portable restroom. That experience reminded us that inclusion is not merely something we discuss; it is something we must plan, verify, and create.

Fifty Years Strong

On August 18 and 19, 2026, the entire LIFTT team attended the 2026 Independent Living Symposium in Billings to celebrate 50 years of Independent Living in Montana.

For two days, our staff learned together about advocacy, youth transition, community living, Native American engagement, accessible transportation, employment, self-advocacy, coalition building, and the power of telling our stories. Bringing the whole team together was an investment in LIFTT’s future. We returned with new knowledge, renewed energy, and a deeper appreciation for the movement that makes our work possible.

The Road Ahead

LIFTT enters this new fiscal year with momentum and with responsibility.

We are strengthening our policies, modernizing our systems, expanding transportation possibilities, reopening upLIFTT in Billings, opening upLIFTT in Glendive, recruiting new employees, improving our facilities, and continuing to serve aging and disabled Montanans across 18 counties.

There will be challenges. There always are. But there will also be new vehicles, reopened doors, stronger partnerships, creative ideas, and people determined to turn barriers into possibilities.

That spirit is carrying LIFTT forward.

And in October 2026, we look forward to telling you even more.

Carlos A. Ramalho
Executive Director
LIFTT – Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

New Diabetes Prevention Class Starts September 10

LIFTT's Diabetes Prevention Program starts a new class on Thursday September 10 at 10 a.m. at the Billings LIFTT Office. For more information or to register contact Erin Culp at (406) 831-0017 or erinc@liftt.org

Ready to feel your best and take control of your health? Join us for a FREE, interactive Diabetes Prevention Class beginning September 10 to help you prevent diabetes and thrive through simple nutrition tips, fun physical activity ideas, and sustainable lifestyle changes.

When: Thursdays at 10 AM starting September 10

Where: Billings LIFTT Office, 1241 Crawford Dr.

What: Guided by experienced Nutritional Health Coaches, this welcoming class follows the Prevent T2 for All curriculum and empowers you with practical tools to improve your health. As the program progresses, classes are spaced out to fit your lifestyle and keep you on track.

Why?

Learn how to eat balanced meals without sacrificing flavor.
Discover easy, enjoyable ways to stay active.
Gain support from coaches and peers every step of the way.

Secure Your Spot Today! For more information and to register, please contact LIFTT Nutritional Health Coach Erin Culp at (406) 831-0017 or erinc@liftt.org.

Take the first step toward a healthier you—we can’t wait to meet you!

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 disabilites and aging indivduals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

LIFTT Board of Directors meets September 3

The LIFTT Board of Directors will hold an ordinary meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2026, 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 September 3, 2026, 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 people with disabilites and aging individuals 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

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.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.