Editor’s Note: LIFTT IL Program Manager Pamela Ramirez offers these thoughts about the importance of the programs and services that LIFTT offers the disability community throughout our 18-county service area.
At LIFTT, our work is grounded in a clear and unwavering conviction: people with disabilities have the right to live full, independent, and self-directed lives. This belief is not abstract. It shapes every conversation we have, every service we provide, and every decision we make. Respect, choice, and dignity are not ideals we reference; they are principles we practice.
What distinguishes LIFTT is not only the resources we offer but the way we stand beside individuals as they navigate complex systems, pivotal life transitions, and deeply personal challenges. Whether someone is learning about their rights, exploring housing options, strengthening independent living skills, or simply seeking a place where they are heard and believed, LIFTT serves as a trusted partner. We meet people where they are, recognize the authority of their lived experience, and support goals defined by the individual, not imposed by systems.
Our work extends far beyond our offices. LIFTT reaches individuals across both urban and rural communities, where access to information and support can be limited, and barriers are often magnified by distance and isolation. For many, LIFTT is the first place they encounter genuine understanding, informed guidance, and a belief in their capacity to shape their own future. That moment matters. It is often where confidence begins to take root.
Progress does not look the same for everyone. For one person, it may mean securing stable housing. For another, it may mean learning to advocate for themselves or regaining a sense of control after a life-altering event. Each step forward, whether large or small, represents increased independence, strengthened self-determination, and renewed hope.
What we do at LIFTT matters because independence is not a single outcome or a fixed destination. It is personal. It evolves. It is built over time through trust, access, and opportunity. When individuals are supported to live life on their own terms, the impact reaches far beyond the individual. Families are strengthened. Communities become more inclusive. Systems begin to change.
As we look toward the future, LIFTT remains committed to expanding access, deepening partnerships, and responding creatively to emerging needs. Our vision is one where independence is not the exception, but the expectation, and where every person has the tools, information, and support needed to thrive.
This work matters because people matter. And when independence is possible, everything else becomes possible too.
If there is anything I can do to support you, answer questions, or help you explore options for independent living, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, Pamela Ramirez, LIFTT IL program manager at (406) 294-5189 or pamelar@liftt.org. I would welcome the opportunity to connect.
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 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.