Montana Resources | National Resources
Resources on Employment
Montana Resources
Adult Community Services and Supports at The University of Montana Rural Institute offers technical assistance and training to businesses, rehabilitation service providers, consumers, and family members on best practices in supported employment, self-employment, Social Security Work Incentives, positive behavioral supports, functional vocational evaluation, leadership, and management.
AmeriCorps: Opening Doors to Community Service Helps Montanans with disabilities and their agency partners understand the opportunities that AmeriCorps programs offer, such as work experience in quality professional activities, and opportunities to make personal contacts that can lead to careers. Montanans with disabilities receive guidance in choosing the appropriate AmeriCorps experience. Montana disability organizations and service providers have access to a toll-free number, an internet site, and a one-step liaison to link persons with disabilities to all AmeriCorps state programs.
BSW, Inc. Provides individual plan coordination, intensive services, social activities, job development, community living, transportation, day services, community employment and community supports to individuals in Butte, Dillon and Anaconda who have vocational handicaps resulting from physical, developmental and/or psychological disabilities.
Community Option Resource (COR) Enterprises Career Guidance Center provides work opportunities for individuals who have difficulty obtaining or maintaining jobs due to occupational barriers. Services include assessments, training, real-work situations, supported employment, and direct placement services. For those in need of in-home support, also provides supported living and community support services.
Comprehensive Guide to Starting a Business
There are a lot of bases to cover in order to start a profitable business that will last but there are also a lot of resources available to help you along each stage. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly what you need to do before, during, and after you start your new business and will lead you to the path of success.
Counterpoint Inc. (Livingston) is a private, nonprofit corporation that has provided services to adults with disabilities in Park County since 1976. Counterpoint provides residential, vocational and transportation services to approximately 30 adults with disabilities who meet eligibility for funding through the Developmental Disabilities Program or who are referred by Vocational Rehabilitation.
Easter Seals/Goodwill, Northern Rocky Mountain (Great Falls) Provides job-training and transitional employment for people with disabilities or other barriers to employment to assist them in finding and keeping a job.
Helena Industries Offers a variety of employment options in four production and service divisions. People with and without disabilities work side by side in all facilities and services. Employees work in a bulk mail clearing house, on janitorial service crews, or in community jobs facilitated by the Montana Career Development Services. HI provides supported employment services, placement services, work experience, vocational evaluation, job readiness training, extended employment, and case management in eleven southwest Montana counties.
Job Connection (Billings) Private, non-profit corporation specializing in supported employment.
Mission Mountain Enterprises (Polson & Ronan) Provides community employment services to people with disabilities in Lake County, based on individual needs and choices. The Vocational Rehabilitation Program provides job development services, on-the-job evaluation, and transitional employment services.
Montana Community Development Corporation Services include free business counseling through its Small Business Development Center, small business loans for viable enterprises unable to obtain bank loans, and loan packaging assistance in approaching conventional lenders for financing.
Montana Department of Labor and Industry Promotes the well-being of Montana’s workers, employers, and citizens, and upholds their rights and responsibilities.
Employment Relations Division Six bureaus – Human Rights, Labor Standards, Management Services, Safety and Health, Workers’ Compensation Claims Assistance, and Workers’ Compensation Regulation – provide service and regulation related to Montana’s wage and hour laws, labor relations laws, industrial safety laws, human rights laws, and workers’ compensation laws.
Montana Career Source Network Publishes Job Hunting Guide for Montanans with Disabilities, the Career Guide, the Prospectors Portfolio, Licensed Occupations in Montana, Apprenticeable Occupations in Montana, Career Profiles, and videos.
Montana Office of Community Service supports community-based volunteer programs focused on addressing critical community needs.
Workforce Services Division Provides links to local Job Service Workforce Centers and other resources.
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Disability Services Division Provides or funds a variety of employment related services including: counseling and guidance, career training, transportation, adaptive equipment, orientation and mobility services to the blind, rehabilitation teaching services to the blind, independent living services, medical services, job placement, and supported employment.
Blind and Low Vision Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Provides services to help eligible individuals with visual disabilities find or maintain employment.Disability Resource Center Provides links to Web sites related to disability, education, and employment.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services Provides services based on individual employment needs, including evaluation, career counseling and guidance, and medical or psychological services.
Montana Governor’s Department of Public Health and Human Services Advisory Boards and Councils Advises the Governor’s Office, the Department of Administration, and the Department of Public Health and Human Services on issues affecting the implementation of the federal American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in state government.
Montana Jobs Network This non-profit site allows jobseekers to post resumes. Provides links to Montana media, business and financial resources, universities and technical colleges, workforce training sites, and communication and technology providers.
Montana Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Programs:
Blackfeet Manpower
George Kipp, IV, Project Coordinator
Blackfeet Tribal Business Council
PO Box 1090
Browning, MT 59417
(403) 338-2111 FAX: 406-338-5540
george_kipp@yahoo.com or jowax_00@hotmail.comChippewa Cree Tribe
Evelyn Oats, Project Director
RR 1, Box 544
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 395-4733 FAX: 406-395-4489
eoats@mtintouch.netConfederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation
Department of Human Resources Development
Vocational Rehabilitation
P.O. Box 278
Pablo, MT 59855
(406) 275-2720 FAX: (406) 675-2775
dhrd@cskt.orgGros Ventre & Assiniboine Tribes, Fort Belknap
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Mavis Young Bear, Director (406) 353-8410 myoungbear@ftbelknap-nsn.gov
Red Whip Building
RR 1, Box 66
Harlem, MT 59526
(406) 353-2205, ext. 410 FAX: (406) 353-4572
Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes
Vocational Rehabilitation Program E-mail: asvrp@nemontel.net
Wilfred “Max” Bear, Project Director
Ruby Clark, VR Counselor
Judy Grayhawk, VR Counselor
Kathy Red Eagle, Secretary
P.O. Box 1027
Poplar, MT 59255
(406) 768-3485 or or 406-768-3488 or 866-768-3485
FAX: (406) 768-5668Northern Cheyenne Tribe Tribal VR
Richard Littlebear
P.O. Box 128
Lame Deer, MT 59043
406-477-6215
Montana Youth Leadership Forum Career and leadership training program for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with disabilities. By serving as delegates from their communities at a 5-day intensive training, youth with disabilities cultivate leadership, citizenship, and social skills.
Montana Youth Transitions provides information for young adults on employment, housing, transportation, education, social/recreational opportunities, money and health.
Opportunity Resources (Missoula) Provides a wide array of supports to people with disabilities, including supported employment & placement, group homes and supported living, social programs for seniors with disabilities, art and recreation opportunities, transportation, individual consultation for services, and case management.
Plan for Achieving Self-Support This University of Montana Rural Institute site describes Social Security Work Incentive PASS Plans, provides examples of successful Pass Plans, and has a searchable database of successful PASS Plans and related resources.
Quality Life Concepts (Great Falls) Serves Cascade, Chouteau, Teton, Pondera, Liberty, Glacier, Hill, Toole, and Blaine Counties. Supports a Work Activity Center and second-hand store in Conrad, and day services for retired senior consumers in Great Falls. The Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Options program is available in Great Falls, Conrad, Shelby, Belt, and can be available in all 9 counties served.
Reach, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization in Bozeman, Montana that serves adults in the Gallatin Valley with various disabilities. Reach provides vocational and residential community supports for people with developmental disabilities and survivors of traumatic brain injuries.
Resource, Support & Development, Inc. (RSD) is based in Billings and operates Billings Training Industries-West, Billings Senior Activity Program, Lake Elmo Group Home and Kathy Group Home in Billings, Recreational Adventures & Vacation Experiences (R.A.V.E.), Beartooth Industries/White Group Home and Cooper Group Home in Red Lodge, Snowy Mountain Industries/Snowy Mountain Home and Snowy Mountain Apartments in Lewistown, and Big Horn Industries/Crawford Group Home in Hardin.
Small Business Administration: Montana District Office Provides links to local Business Information Centers, local Service Corps of Retired Executives chapters, local Small Business Development Centers, and local Women’s Business Centers.
Spring Meadow Resources (Helena) Provides vocational services that result in paid employment at a fair wage or in volunteer positions in the community. SMR manages six adult homes in the Helena area and provides supported living (independent living) services to people who live in their own homes. A senior day program is available for people aging with developmental disabilities. The Creative Activities Program is a component of the Day Programs for all adults with disabilities, along with a blind/low vision component, and the community volunteers component.
Westmont Independent Support Services (Helena) Provides vocational, residential, supported living, supported employment, and respite services.
National Resources
AbilityJobs Provides a dedicated system for people with disabilities to find employment and enhance their professional lives. Employers who post job opportunities with JobAccess exhibit an open door policy and demonstrate their responsiveness to affirmative action by genuinely recruiting qualified persons with disabilities.
Accessible Employment closes the gap between employers searching for qualified workers and disabled candidates searching for employment.
AgrAbility Project assists agricultural employees, farmers and ranchers with disabilities by linking Cooperative Extension Services at land-grant universities with private nonprofit disability service organizations. The Project assists people who work on small or large production agricultural operations. State AgrAbility staff provide farmers or ranchers who have disabilities with training, site visits, on-farm assessments, technical assistance, and other information.
AgriWellness, Inc. promotes accessible behavioral health services, such as addictions treatment, mental health therapy and marital and family counseling for underserved and at-risk populations of
agricultural workers, including farmers, ranchers, migrant/seasonal workers, fishers, foresters, their families and communities.
American Disability Association. Links people with disabilities to employers and helps locate disability information and resources. Fosters development of new and useful resources for people with disabilities, develops and broadcasts disability education, establishes greater cross-disability awareness, and helps people discuss disability issues.
American Occupational Therapy Association Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy helps people develop skills necessary for independent and satisfying lives.
America’s Heroes at Work provides information and tools to help returning veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) succeed in the workplace.
Association for Service Disabled Veterans stimulates economic growth, develops enterprises that provide useful goods and services at competitive prices, creates employment for service-disabled veterans; and brings service disabled veteran-owned enterprises into the mainstream of the economy.
Association of Persons in Supported Employment Improves and expands integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for persons experiencing disabilities.
Barrier Breakers Description and ordering information, ACTION ALERTS updated daily, information about PASS including the Social Security regulations (verbatim and complete), Social Security CHAT ROOM and links to other web sites.
Bender Consulting Services, Inc. Provides technology consulting services to customers while creating employment and career opportunities, independence and freedom for people with disabilities.
Disability Matters with Joyce Bender One of the first international talk radio shows with real-time captioning. Focused on the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities, Disability Matters is on http://www.voiceamerica.com every Tuesday from 2:00pm – 3:00 pm Eastern Time.
Breaking New Ground Resource Center Primary source for information and resources on rehabilitation technology for persons working in agriculture.
Career Gateway A new web-based service of Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities for employers and graduating college and university students where students can post their resumes and employers can search for qualified candidates.
Careers and the disAbled Magazine Career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels.
Career Support Center Epilepsy Foundation’s free informational online tool that gives individuals with epilepsy the support they need to get a job. Provides a variety of information, including “Identifying when to disclose your epilepsy.”
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Site includes information on “Handling Your Psychiatric Condition at Work and School” and Reasonable Accommodations for People with Psychiatric Disabilities: An On-line Resource for Employers and Educators .
Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR). Allows administrators of Native American rehabilitation projects for persons with disabilities to collaborate and cooperate to increase the quantity and enhance the quality of services.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education Champions entrepreneurship education and provides leadership, technical assistance, advocacy, networking and materials to leaders within each state for entrepreneurship education across all levels of education and across all disciplines.
Corporation for National and Community Service
Creating an Inclusive Environment: A Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National and Community Service Programs provides information on how to make national and community service programs more inclusive for persons with disabilities.
Deaf Professional Network promotes career development and networking opportunities for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Diabetes at Work can help businesses and managed care companies assess the impact of diabetes in the workplace, and provide intuitive information to help employees manage their diabetes and take steps toward reducing risks for related complications, such as heart disease. Provides information, tip sheets, tools, resources, etc. Information is also available in Spanish.
DisabilityInfo.gov One-stop online access to disability-related resources, services, and information available throughout the Federal government.
Disability Sensitivity Training Free online course helps business leaders, employees and others learn how to interact comfortably with people who are disabled. The course is a joint effort by the Georgia Governor’s Council for Developmental Disabilities and the Georgia Disability Advocate Consulting Group, Inc., a private firm that conducts seminars for businesses.
Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA) is a national 501(C)(3) nonprofit, public charity and educational organization founded in 1991 to help disabled entrepreneurs and professionals maximize their potential in the business world, and to encourage the participation and enhance the performance of the disabled in the workforce.
disABLEDperson.com Jobseekers with disabilities can post their resumes and employers can recruit individuals with disabilities at this site.
Disaboom.com Disability community site for anyone touched by a functional limitation or disability. Offers a career center, media room, discussion forums, advice on how to stay healthy and active, classifieds, accessibility reviews of businesses and restaurants, and social networking.
Diversity Business Career Center is an unique job posting service for large corporations
and small businesses that offers those focusing on diversity recruitment the largest number of
multicultural visitors on the Internet.
Diversity World. Provides online nation-wide diversity resources for Human Resources Professionals, resources to help Human Services Professionals develop and market the talents of their clients/customers with employment barriers, and provides helpful information for individuals from groups that have traditionally experienced employment barriers and/or discrimination.
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Program is based at the University of Washington. It increases the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers in science, engineering, mathematics and technology.
Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility for Your Safety. A Guide for People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations“, available in pdf, html and Word formats.
Emergency Procedures for Employees with Disabilities in Office Occupancies Publication from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
Entrepreneur Leadership Network at Virginia Commonwealth University is made up of a nationally recognized group of individuals with disabilities who have successfully become self-employed as well as family members who have supported them.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Enforces federal laws prohibiting job discrimination, and provides oversight and coordination of all federal equal employment opportunity regulations, practices, and policies.
Questions and Answers about Deafness and Hearing Impairments in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act Fact sheet from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
eSight Careers Network is a cross-disability online community addressing disability employment issues.
Healthy and Ready to Work National Center Focuses on understanding systems, access to quality health care, and increasing the involvement of youth. It also includes provider preparation plus tools and resources needed to make more informed choices.
Hire Disability Solutions national leader in bringing together top companies and qualified men and women with disabilities. Businesses can post job vacancies and tap into a pool of skilled workers, and individuals with a disability can post resumes and access thousands of jobs from companies that are specifically trying to reap the benefits of having a diverse workforce.
Institute for Child Health Policy Site offers the “SSA Work” CD-ROM, and has online streaming videos of “Ticket to Work” (2000), “Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)” (2000), and “Healthy and Ready to Work 2010“. Free VHS copies also available.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Now has Searchable On-line Accommodation Resource (SOAR) to help employers identify functional limitations of particular individuals and the appropriate accommodations.
Small Business and Self-Employment Service This service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability and Employment Policy provides information, counseling, and referrals about self-employment and small business ownership opportunities for people with disabilities. SBSES is located at the Job Accommodation Network.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies Provide individualized employment counseling and job development for individuals with disabilities. This list of contact info and links is maintained by Job Accommodation Network.
Job Central National Labor Exchange is a service of DirectEmployers Association, a nonprofit consortium of leading U.S. corporations, in alliance with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. The Association’s online services also include DirectEmployers.com, an Internet search engine dedicated exclusively to employment.
Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities:
Monster.com Diversity and Inclusion website offers a variety of information and services for jobseekers, including people with disabilities.
National Business and Disability Council Provides free national resume database, job listings from member organizations, NBDC Yellow Pages, career events, internships and job search tips.
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth. Ensures that young people with disabilities have access to high-quality services to maximize their opportunities for employment.
National Rehabilitation Information Center Resources for employment, advocacy, benefits and financial assistance, education, technology, and more.
One Stop Centers Provide job seekers with job listings, job finding workshops, and access to computers, copiers and fax machines.
Project VIEW-Plus: IBM Diversity recruitment program offers Latino, African American, Asian, Persons with Disabilities and Native American, BA, BS, MS, PhD students the opportunity to explore IBM’s national career options. This program is open to US Citizens or nationals; permanent residents, refugees, asylees or those authorized to work under the amnesty provisions of the US immigration law. Project View is open to candidates who are working toward or holding a BA, BS, MS or Ph.D. Selection is based on work experience and overall academic achievement. IBM Diversity Recruitment Program attracts experienced professionals by hosting recruiting events that target under-represented minorities, women and persons with disabilities. These recruiting events bring together IBM hiring managers and skilled, experienced professionals to fill available positions.
Proyecto Vision National Technical Assistance Center for U.S. Latinos with Disabilities. Web site is bilingual.
Social Security Administration, Office of Employment Support Programs Provides health insurance and cash benefits to qualified people with disabilities. Employed recipients can maintain some benefits.
The Work Site at the Social Security Administration’s Office of Employment Support Programs. Promotes the employment of Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities by designing policies that make work pay, promoting research and program innovation, educating the public about programs and services that facilitate entry into the workforce, and partnering with other public and private groups to remove employment barriers for people with disabilities.
Start-Up Diversity provides technical assistance and disseminate resources nationally to individuals with disabilities interested in pursuing self-employment. Successful entrepreneurs will share their secrets for success in a live web cast series during year one of the project.
Tech Connections. Assistive technology database for vocational rehabilitation and employment-related needs.
Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act (TWWIIA)The “Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999” landmark legislation modernized the employment services system for people with disabilities and made it possible for millions of Americans with disabilities to no longer have to choose between taking a job and having health care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides information to States, beneficiaries and advocacy groups on an ongoing basis concerning implementation of this important legislation.
US Business Leadership Network supports development and expansion of Business Leadership Networks across the country and serves as their collective voice. The USBLN recognizes and promotes best practices in hiring, retaining, and marketing to people with disabilities.
U.S. Department of Labor — Office of Disability and Employment Policy Provides information about the New Freedom Initiative.
Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN) Nationwide free referral and technical assistance service for employers with job vacancies. Connects employers with providers of employment services for people with disabilities.
Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP) is a database of college students and recent college graduates with severe disabilities who are looking for summer employment/full-time employment. Potential students are prescreened and interviewed by US Department of Labor personnel, and the interviewer results are included in the database. This database comes out once a year and potential employers must directly contact students.
Entering the World of Work: What Youth with Mental Health Needs Should Know about Accommodations Fact sheet provides guidance to assist with a successful transition into the workforce by answering questions regarding disclosure, accommodations and resources.
U.S. Department of Labor: Employee Benefits Security Administration Protects the integrity of pensions, health plans, and other employee benefits for more than 150 million people. Helps workers get the information they need to protect their benefit rights, helps plan officials to understand the requirements of the relevant statutes in order to meet their legal responsibilities, develops policies and laws that encourage the growth of employment-based benefits, and deters and corrects violations of the relevant statutes.
Virtual Job Shadow is a career exploration tool for students and job seekers. It uses streaming video technology to provide a behind-the-scenes look at life on the job. Each career profile comprises a “day-in-the-life” video, interactive video questions/ answers, and relevant text information so that people can make educated decisions about their future. The e-Mentor component allows users to ask questions and seek advice directly from professionals.
VSArts National organization for performing, literary, media, and visual artists with disabilities.
Workplace Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Identifies, designs, and develops devices and systems to help people with disabilities be more productive in the workplace.
Work Support.Com Information, resources and research about work and disability issues.
WorkWORLD Based at Virginia Commonwealth University, this Work Incentive Software automates the complex computations resulting from earned income, public benefits and work incentives. Downloadable free from web site after filling out user agreement.