LIFTT Media Library
LIFTT: Helping Everyone Rise
We hope you enjoy this video featuring LIFTT team members discussing how they live and thrive independently with their disabilities. LIFTT offers people of all ages with disabilities the advocacy and resources to do the same.
For more information and how LIFTT can help you or someone you know, send us a message through our contact page, download our mobile app for Apple or Android, or call our offices in Billings: (406) 259-5181 and Glendive: (406) 948-8500.
Living Well in Montana Episodes
Living Well in Montana is produced by Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) and Billings Community 7 Television and airs on Billings Community 7 TV.
Domestic Violence & Disability
On this episode of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Outreach Director John Robison and Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton discuss the problem of domestic violence and abuse, its intersection with disability, and the services available to help victims with Erin Lambert, the CEO of the Billings YWCA. The YWCA provides many services to the victims of domestic violence and abuse, including a 24-hour crisis line, which can be reached at (406) 245-4472 (voice) or (406) 702-0229 (text).
A word of caution: The subject of this video is domestic violence and abuse. We realize that some viewers may find this a difficult or even traumatic subject to view and understand if they choose to surf to a different channel or video. Still, we feel that the frank and honest discussion and information that will be presented here is of vital importance to those who choose to continue watching.
Acquiring Service Animals
On this edition of “Living Well in Montana,” LIFTT Outreach Coordinator John Robison and Independent Living Specialst Britany Hopf talk with LIFTT Independent Living Specialst Theo Wheeler about the process that people with disabilities who wish to acquire a service animal go through and how LIFTT can help them navigate through it.
Stay at Home with LIFTT’s PCA Program!
On this edition of “Living Well in Montana,” LIFTT Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton talks with LIFTT’s Finance Director Debra Acosta about how LIFTT’s Medicaid Self Direct Personal Care Assitance program can assist qualified individuals in receiving the care they need to stay in their homes and a part of their community as opposed to being forced into a nursing home or other institutional living situations.
The program ends with the “World Premier” of LIFTT’s new thirty-second commercial for our PCA program services. Thanks to the team at KTVQ and LIFTT consumer and peer Vern Anderson for their work on this. To find out more about the LIFTT PCA program, please give us a call at (406) 259-5181 (Billings) or (406) 948-4800 (Glendive)
The web post by LIFTT Team member Valerie Rowlison that Debra mentions can be found here: https://liftt.org/the-cfc-sdpas-intake-process/
Getting to know Billings MET Transit
On this edition of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Peer Program Coordinator Tanya Thomas talks with City of Billings Met Transit Manager Rusty Logan about new routes and other changes, such as designated stops that are coming for MET Transit users starting in October 2023. For more info about MET Transit, visit: https://www.billingsmt.gov/3042/MET
Youth Transitions
On this edition of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton talks with LIFTT Senior IL Specialist Jen Hawkinson about the core IL service of Youth Transitions: Helping youth with disabilities learn the skills necessary to transition from living with a parent/guardian and being in a K-12 educational setting to being out on their own in the working world or attending post-secondary education.
ADVC Vaccine Clinics
On this edition of “Living Well in Montana,” LIFTT Communications & Government Affairs coordinator Jed Barton talks with LIFTT’s John Robison and Erica Yakawich of Billings Gazette/Lee Enterprises about LIFTT’s participating in the Aging Disability Vaccine Collaborative (ADVC) led by USAging, A series of upcoming vaccine clinics, and how Lee Enterprises is working with LIFTT on our marketing strategy for the ADVC and Clinics. For more information on LIFTT & the ADVC, please visit liftt.org/programs-services/advc.
At the Intersection: The Disability & LGBTQ+ Communities
On this edition of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton talks with LIFTT Independent Living Specialst Theo Wheeler and Rev. Dwight Welch of United Campus Ministry at Montana State University Billings about their experiences as being both people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Dr. Janet Parker, Disability Rights Activist & Author
On this episode of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT executive director Carlos Ramalho talks with Dr. Janet Parker. Dr. Parker is a disability rights activist, author, and CEO of the advocacy non-profit Medical Whistleblower. Ramalho and Parker discuss the abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in institutional settings and what advocates as well as governments and international human rights organizations can do to combat it and help create more opportunities for true independent living solutions to take hold.
Making PRIDE Accessible
On this episode of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Outreach Coordinator and Community Health Worker Supervisor John Robison and Independent Living Specialist Britany Hopf talked with Independent Living Specialist Theo Wheeler. They discussed the intersection of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and being disabled, and how those experiences shape their understanding of personal identity. Additionally, they discussed the importance of finding community and having role models to look up to. They also talked about the impact of strangers’ kindness and the value of making all spaces accessible and disability friendly, as well as Pride events happening in the Billings area.
Trails as Acessiblity
On this episode of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton talks with Kristi Drake, The Executive Director of BillingsTrailNet. They discussed how paved trails provide not only access to outdoor recreational opportunities for persons with disabilities to walk, roll and ride but also how the trails play a part in the transportation network for those who cannot/do not drive to access things in the community such as employment, education, shopping, and social activities.
They also discussed the recent approval by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks of a grant proposal submitted by TrailNet with LIFTT’s assistance that will allow for the repair of a trail in the area of Grand Avenue & 28th West known as “Arnold Drain Trail.”
Independent Living in Montana
On this edition of “Living Well in Montana” LIFTT executive director Carlos Ramahlo and Communications Coordinator Jed Barton chat with Tami Hoar, Executive Director of a Missoula-based CIL called Summit Independent Living.
The discussion focuses on Tami’s observations about disability and the independent living movement in Big Sky Country from her career providing disability services across Montana. In addition to Summit Tami has previously been LIFTT’s executive director and a program director for AbiltyMontana (formerly Montana Independent Living Project).
Aging and Disability Community Collaboration: Vaccines and Beyond
On this edition of “Living Well in Montana” LIFTT Executive Director Carlos Ramalho and Communications Coordinator Jed Barton visit with Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer of USAging.
The discussion focused on the increasing collaboration between the aging and disability communities including LIFTT”s participation in the Aging & Disability Vaccine Collaborative to help ensure that seniors and persons with disabilities have accurate information about and appropriate access to vaccines for Influenza and COVID-19.
Rural Independent Living
On this episode of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Executive Director Carlos Ramalho and Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator are joined by Elissa Ellis, the Director of Operations for the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) who is out of Arkansas. LIFTT is a longtime member of APRIL.
The topic will is Rural Independent Living and how CILs, the disability community and indeed living with a disability in a rural area are different from the experiences of those in more urban settings. and the unique challenges and opportunities that disabled life in rural communities present
LIFTT & Big Sky Senior Services Working Together for You
On this edition of “Living Well in Montana,” LIFTT executive director Carlos Ramalho and Peer Program Coordinator Tanya Thomas talk with Big Sky Senior Service’s Executive Director Tyler Amundson about how the two agencies partner to serve the aging and disabled communities in our region.
You can find out more about Big Sky Senior Senior Services at their website: https://www.bigskyseniorservices.org/
Social Security Disability Basics
On this episode of “Living Well in Montana” LIFTT Communications and Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton visits with David Baier, Regional Public Affairs Specialst with the Social Security Administration.
Jed and David discuss some basic information about Social Security Disability benefits both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as well as how to register for a “My Social Security.” account.
For more information about Social Security visit: https://www.ssa.gov
Living Well in Community
On This Edition of “Living Well in Montana” LIFTT Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton talks with LIFTT IL Specialist Tara Robison and Peer Program Coordinator Tanya Thomas about their upcoming 10-session workshop entitled “Living Well in Community” Designed as part of the Healthy Community Living (HCL) program, Living Well in Community is a peer-led 10-session workshop for people with disabilities to set goals to support their overall quality of life and well-being.
Workshop participants can:
• Identify what is meaningful to them and then set quality-of-life goals around ways they want to make their lives better.
• Make progress toward the goals they set by applying problem-solving skills and managing emotions like frustration and discouragement, feelings that can get in the way of reaching goals
• Discover tools and skills that can make goal achievement easier like communicating effectively and finding important resources.
• Explore ways to improve their overall health by changing daily habits.
• Practice self-advocacy and systems advocacy to help them make changes that can support them and others in living well.
If you are interested in participating in an upcoming Living Well in Community workshop contact LIFTT at (406) 259-5181 or visit us at liftt.org
Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
On this edition of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT’s Community Health Worker/Outreach Coordinator John Robison and Peer Program Coordinator Tanya Thomas talk with RiverStone Health’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Lauren Brown about the realities of disaster preparedness for persons with disabilities in our region.
Developing an ADA Accessible Website & App
On this edition of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Executive Director Carlos Ramalho and Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator Jed Barton talk with Dave Worstell CEO of the Billings Gazette/Lee Enterprises Montana, and Erica Regional Sales Manager for Lee Enterprises about the ADA accessible Website and App that LIFTT has recently launched in partnership with Lee Enterprises’s digital design firm known as Amplified.
Helping Everyone Rise
In this episode of Living Well in Montana: LIFTT team members Jed Barton and Jennifer Hawkinson provide an overview of LIFTT’s core services and introduce a new video entitled “Helping Everyone Rise” that features LIFTT team members talking about how they live and thrive independently with their disabilities and how LIFTT offers people, of all ages with all types of disabilities, the advocacy, and resources to do the same. The program concludes with a presentation of the video.
Building a Healthier Community Through Healthy by Design
On this edition of Living Well in Montana: LIFTT Community Health Worker/Outreach Coordinator John Robison and Peer Program Coordinator Tanya Thomas visit with Morgan Miller, MPH, Resilient Yellowstone Project Coordinator with the Healthy by Design Coalition about the Coalition and its work on initiatives to build Yellowstone County into a healthy community
There is a particular focus on the Resilient Yellowstone project and its focus on capturing the true impacts of COVID-19 on the county and its residents.
For more information on the Healthy by Design Coalition visit: https://www.healthybydesignyellowstone.org/
Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, & Accessibility
On this episode of “Living Well in Montana” LIFTT Executive Director Carlos Ramalho and Outreach Coordinator John Robison talk with Regina S. Dyton an Equity Consultant with the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies.
Their discussion focuses on how disability is just one identity through which people live their lives and how their disability may intersect with other identities such as class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation to shape an individual’s life experiences and how it is only possible to create a truly diverse, inclusive, equitable and accessible society when all an individual’s identities are taken into account.
Ms. Dyton is the recently retired Director of Community Health and Well Being of Trinity Health of New England at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. Her professional history includes work on behalf of underserved victims of crime from oppressed communities, gender and sexual orientation equity advocacy, activism to promote racial equity and inclusion as well as disability rights advocacy. Ms. Dyton is an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, from which she graduated in 1997 with an MSW in Community Organizing.
Maintaining Independence through Occupational Therapy
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana” LIFTT Communications & Government Affairs Coordinator, Jed Barton talks with LIFTT Board member and occupational therapist Shelly Noel. Ms. Noel is the owner and lead OT of a new mobile practice called Montana Independent OT Advantage (Montana IOTA) which aims to make occupational therapy more accessible to rural communities by bringing it into patients’ homes.
Jed and Ms. Noel discuss what exactly is occupational therapy, how it differs from physical therapy, and how it can help people to regain and maintain their independence following an injury or disability.
Health, Happiness, and the Pursuit of Inclusion
In this edition of “Living Well in Montana,” host, & LIFTT Peer Program Coordinator Tanya Thomas with Dr. Meg Traci of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana & the Montana Disability & Health Program (MTDH) about her work with MTDH to improve access to healthcare and increase positive health outcomes for people with disabilities in Montana and beyond.
For more about the UM Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities visit: https://www.umt.edu/rural-institute/ and for more about the Montana Disability and Health Program visit: https://mtdh.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/
Elevating Accessibility in Community Planning
In this edition of “Living Well in Montana” host, LIFTT Communications and Government Affairs Coordinator talks with nationally recognized planning and transportation consultant Mark Fenton and equity consultant Karin Korb about their work on spreading the message of inclusive walkable/movable community planning across the country and in particular their recent visit to Billings to present a keynote and facilitate an Inclusive Interdisciplinary Walk Audit as part of the Montana Association of Planners Conference.
“Landon’s Legacy”, Accessibility for All
In this edition of Living Well in Montana, LIFTT Team members Corby Skinner and Jed Barton talk with Marcie Smith (Founder, President) and DeAnn Visser (Captial Campaign Coordinator) of the Landon’s Legacy Foundation about the foundation’s recent opening of an all-abilities baseball field on Billings West End and future plans for an all-abilities playground and water feature at the same location. To find out more or help out Landon’s Legacy visit: https://landonslegacy.com/
Seeking Support on the Pathway to Independence
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana” LIFTT Peer Program Coordinator, Tanya Thomas talks with Michael Mooney, President of the Rimrock Chapter of the Montana Association of the Blind (MAB) about MAB and how it works to support the independence of the Blind/Low Vision community in Montana. For more on the MAB visit mabsop.org
Understanding Disaster Recovery
In the edition of “Living Well in Montana” host, Corby Skinner discusses disaster recovery for people with disabilities in light of the recent flooding and ever-present threat of wildfire and other natural disasters here in Eastern Montana. Corby’s guests are Michael Houston Region 8 (MT, WY, ND, SD, CO, UT) Disability Integration Specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Anthony Mayne, Public Affairs Specialist with FEMA region 8.
Disability Rights from the Legal Perspective
In this edition of “Living Well in Montana” host Corby Skinner and LIFTT executive director, Carlos Ramalho discuss disability rights from a legal perspective with guest Melissa Marshall. In addition to her current role as Director of Operations with the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, Ms. Marshall is a member of the Connecticut Bar with many years of practice in disability rights law.
Please Note: The information provided in this program does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Viewers of this program should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter.
Exploring Adaptive Equipment & Accessible Tech
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, host Corby Skinner and LIFTT Peer Program Coordinator Tanya Thomas discuss Adaptative Equipment and Assistive Technology with Molly Kimmell, Program Director for MonTECH (montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu).
Based at the University of Montana in Missoula with a satellite office at Montana State University Billings; MonTech is the federally funded Statewide Assistive Technology Program. MonTECH provides free, confidential information about assistive technology (AT) devices and services for Montanans.
Accessibility to COVID-19 Vaccines
In this edition of “Living Well in Montana” hosts Corby Skinner and Jed Barton are joined by an executive assistant at the Partnership for Disaster Strategies (https://disasterstrategies.org/) Priya Penner to discuss LIFTT’s involvement in Project ALIVE (Accessible Life-Saving Integrated Vaccine Equity) and a survey about COVID-19 vaccines that we are asking the public to participate in.
Disasters, Emergencies, and People with Disabilities
In this edition of “Living Well in Montana” hosts Corby Skinner and Jed Barton are joined by the Co-Executive Directors of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (https://disasterstrategies.org/) Shaylin Sluzalis and Germán Parodi to discuss how the needs of the disabled community should be at the forefront of disaster and emergency management planning & response at the local, state, national and international level.
Living with Low Vision and Blindness
In this edition of “Living Well in Montana,” LIFTT Team members Tanya Thomas and Larry Ketchem along with Shannon Payne of Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Blind & Low Vision Services talk about what it is like living with blindness and low vision.
Living with a Disability on Campus
In this edition of “Living Well in Montana,” host Corby Skinner talks with LIFTT Team members Tanya Thomas (Sheridan College, Casper College) and Lexi Syme (Montana State University Billings) about their experiences attending college as students with disabilities.
Advocating for K-12 students with disabilities
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana,” host Jed Barton and Kathleen Benoit talk with Tom Lynaugh of the Montana Empowerment Center (MEC, mtempowermentcenter.org) about how parents of school-aged children with disabilities who are overwhelmed by the bureaucratic intricacies associated with the public education systems and need assistance can work with MEC to receive guidance and advocacy to ensure that their child gets the services to which they are entitled so that they can succeed in the classroom.
Employment Considerations for People with Disabilities
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana,” host Kathleen Benoit is joined by LIFTT peer program coordinator Tanya Thomas and Bob Snizek, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with Montana Employment Consultants LLC (https://www.mtemployment.net) to discuss the challenges that people with disabilities face when seeking competitive integrated employment.
Parenting Children with Autism Part I
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Kathleen Benoit is joined by LIFTT team member Dianne Booth and Liz Miller of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Miller and Booth discuss their experiences parenting children with autism.
Parenting Children with Autism Part II
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Kathleen Benoit is joined by LIFTT team member Dianne Booth and Liz Miller of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services to continue their discussion on their experiences parenting children with autism.
Disabilities in the Political Realm
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Corby Skinner is joined by LIFTT team members Lee Hoblitizell and Jed Barton to discuss the complexities of advocating as persons with disabilities in political and public policy spaces.
Garett Gaustad and Tanya Thomas’s Success Stories
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Kathleen Benoit is joined by LIFTT team members Garett Gaustad and Tanya Thomas who talk about the professional and personal growth they have experienced as part of the LIFTT peer program.
Home Modifications
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Corby Skinner is joined by LIFTT team member, Steve Woodard, and LIFTT consumer Paul Singer to discuss wheelchair ramps and other home accessibility modifications and the important part those play in keeping people with disabilities independent in their homes & communities and how LIFTT can assist consumers in finding these resources.
Consumer Stories: Robert Hamilton
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Hosts Kathleen Benoit and Corby Skinner are joined by LIFTT Consumer Robert Hamilton of Forsyth, MT, and LIFTT Team member Cheryl Riga to discuss how LIFTT has and continues to provide Robert with the assistance and services he needs in order to meet is independent living goals.
Driving with Disabilities
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Corby Skinner is joined by LIFTT team member, Lee Hoblitzell to discuss Lee’s experiences driving while disabled including transferring into the vehicle and vehicle modifications such as hand controls. The program includes a video from the series “How to with Mary Allison. produced by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability (NCHPAD).
Systems Change Advocacy
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Corby Skinner is joined by LIFTT team member, Jed Barton who tells about how LIFTT and the wider network of Centers for Independent Living work to break down the systemic barriers to the freedom and equality of persons with disabilities.
Youth Transitions Part I
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Kathleen Benoit is joined by LIFTT team members, Jennifer Hawkinson and MaKenna Andreopoulos to discuss how LIFTT works with Youth with Disabilities to help them (and their families) adjust to new realities as they exit high school and enter adult life.
Youth Transitions Part II
In this episode of Living Well in Montana, Host Corby Skinner is joined by LIFTT team members, Jennifer Hawkinson and MaKenna Andreopoulos to continue talking about how LIFTT works with Youth with Disabilities to help them make the transition from the K-12 environment to post-secondary education and jobs.
SPIRIT Club: inclusive exercise and healthy lifestyle classes
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana” host, Kathleen Benoit is joined by LIFTT team member Cheryl Riga, SPIRIT Club Founder Jared Ciner, and SPIRIT Club Operations Manager Henry Scheller to discuss the partnership between LIFTT and the Maryland-based SPIRIT Club to bring supportive inclusive virtual exercise and healthy lifestyle classes to people with disabilities free of charge across LIFTT’s 18-county service area in Eastern Montana.
Disability Etiquette and Sensitivity
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana” host, Kathleen Benoit discusses with LIFTT team members Larry Ketchem and Jed Barton their experiences navigating the world with their disabilities and how people can be cognizant and respectful of people with disabilities in their midst. Included in this program is a brief video on disability etiquette produced by the Office of Disability Rights of the District of Columbia.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Part I
In the first part of this two-part episode of “Living Well in Montana” hosts Kathleen Benoit and Corby Skinner discuss the history and purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) board member and Montana State University Billings Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Human Services Dr. Paula McMahon.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Part II
In the second part of this two-part episode of “Living Well in Montana” hosts Kathleen Benoit and Corby Skinner discuss the history and purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) board member and Montana State University Billings Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Human Services Dr. Paula McMahon.
LIFTT Board Chair Andy Fox
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana” hosts Kathleen Benoit and Corby Skinner talk with the chair of LIFTT’s Board of Directors Andy Fox about his experiences as a person living and working with a disability in Big Sky Country.
The Statewide Independent Living Council (SLIC)
In this episode of “Living Well in Montana,” host Kathleen Benoit learns more about the role of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SLIC) in leading the push for an inclusive disability policy in Montana. Kathleen’s guest is the SLIC chair and former director of the Montana Youth Transitions Project and Montana Youth Leadership Forum June Hermanson.
The LIFTT Peer Program
In the episode of “Living Well in Montana” Host Corby Skinner interviews LIFTT’s Peer Coordinator, Tanya Thomas, and Peer Garrett Gaustad about the opportunities for support and mentorship available through LIFTT’s Peer Program.
The LIFTT SDPAS Program
The topic of this episode of “Living Well in Montana” is LIFTT’s Medicaid Self-Directed Personal Care Assistance Services (SDPAS) also known as the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program and features a discussion with the program supervisor Freda Mook and program facilitator Lanette Brown moderated by Kathleen Benoit.
