The Montana Youth Leadership Forum is a unique leadership training program for high school students with disabilities.  Each year the program begins with the Forum that takes place for a week in July where students are brought to the campus of Carroll College for training.  During the Forum students have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of disability, self advocacy skills, and how the enhance their self esteem.

Upon completion of the Forum the alumni receive a year of follow along services.  During that year alumni are contacted on a regular basis to ensure that the skills that they learned during the Forum are being utilized.  Additionally alumni are provided the opportunity to participate in local, state and national opportunities should they choose.

The 2010 Montana Youth Leadership Forum will be held on July 13-16 on the campus of Carroll College.  Currently MYLF is recruiting delegates, staff, and presenters for the Forum this year.  Applications can be found on the web site at www.montanaylf.org

For further information contact the MYLF office at 442-2576 or by e-mailing June Hermanson at mylfjuneh@bresnan.net or Mike Beers at mylfmike@bresnan.net

She was born with cerebral palsy and myopia (visual impairment) and was expected to do her chores, go to school, get a college degree, get a job, get married, and have a family.  Shyla Patera, 40, the oldest of six children, has accomplished almost all those expectations and is now ready to consider having a family.

“I don’t know any other way of life.  Because I was born with a disability, this is my normal.  This is my life and I love it.  Growing up my siblings just knew I was in this chair, I was their sister and we just all grew-up together.”  Shyla is bright, energetic, and passionate about her life and work.  The fact that she has a disability is just “so what.”

Shyla was born and attended grade school in Great Falls.  Because of the lack of accessibility, Shyla attended all three high schools in Great Falls, graduating in 1987 from the Montana School for the Deaf and Bind.  She then attended Montana State University (MSU) in pursuit of her childhood dream of being involved with political advocacy.  In 1993, she graduated with a degree in political science.  She reflects on her days in college and says that the campus was not always accessible but for the most part she was able to work it out.

After graduating from MSU, Shyla moved to Philadelphia, where she lived for 10 years and worked for Liberty Resources, Inc., Independent Living Center.

Shyla was captivated by the independent living movement and found her calling in life.

She totally embraced the Independent Living philosophy which emphasizes consumer control, the idea that people with disabilities are the best experts on their own needs, have crucial and valuable perspective to contribute, and are deserving of equal opportunity to decide how to live, work, and take part in their communities, particularly in reference to services that powerfully affect their day-to-day lives and access to independence.

Today, Shyla works as an Independent Living Specialist for the North Cental Independent Living Center where she manages peer groups, monitors legislation, and supports and provides advocacy for others living with disabilities.  She beams when she talks politics and the change she is bringing about through her work.

In December 2005, Shyla participated in DAAM, Disability Action Alliance of Montana, a coalition of disability and advocacy organizations bringing about change in Montana.  It was at a DAAM meeting where she meet Mark, her life partner.  Mark always says “ if it wasn’t for that DAAM meeting, we would have never meet.”

When asked about how she sees her life evolving and what her future plans are, Shyla beams “I see my life’s work as an advocate for the disability community.  My work is not done until we, people with disabilities, are fully participatory in all aspects of community life.  The biggest barrier to participation is the lack of accessible, reliable, and available transportation.  My work is not done until the barrier is eliminated.”

“Having a disability does not mean that the world has to end, it just means that some things have to change and you do it differently.  Living with a disability just is.  I can do anything I want.  I have skied, surfed, and gone horseback riding.  Mark and I are like anyone else, we need some supports in our lives but we do our own laundry, grocery shopping, and pay our bills.”

When asked about whether children are in her future: “I would really love to have children; we are talking about it.”

Below are some pictures taken from the interview with Shyla. Her co-worker, George, is also pictured.

People First started in 1994 with the formation of local chapters across the state.  In 2000, representatives of local chapters came together to form a statewide organization, the People First of Montana Senate.  In April 2009, People First of Montana officially became a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

People First of Montana exists to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.  It is a network of local self-advocacy groups formed for the purpose of:

• Assisting people with disabilities to speak up for themselves and make their own decisions
• Promoting equality for people with disabilities by promoting the People First concept of people first, disability second
• Providing peer support
• Working together locally and statewide to remove barriers to people with disabilities in housing, transportation, employment and other areas of life
• Educating the public and People First members about the rights, abilities and strengths of people with disabilities

People First works collaboratively with other organizations as issues arise on a local or state level that negatively impact people with disabilities.

There are fifteen People First Chapters located in Anaconda, Billings, Boulder, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Kalispell, Libby, Livingston, Malta, Miles City, Missoula and Polson/Ronan.  Each chapter meets at least monthly.

Here is a video of Mike Schaff, a Senator member from Helena, MT, speaking about what People First of Montana is, what they do, and what it means for people with disabilities to have a job.

Click here to read the People First of Montana Constitution.

Click here to view People First of Montana’s 501(c)(3).

For more information contact Rebecca Hargis, People First of Montana Coordinator at mtrox09@gmail.com

2009 Board of Directors are:

Rocky Hughes, President – Kalispell

Stephanie Botham, Vice President – Billings

Barb Willis, Secretary – Missoula

Darwin Nelson, Treasurer – Helena

Kelly Murray, Sergeant at Arms – Anaconda

Mike Schaff, Senator member – Helena

Paula Lockhart, Senator member – Kalispell

Raylynn Van Oort, Senator advisor member (nonvoting)

2010 Board of Directors are:

Rocky Hughes, President – Kalispell

Robin Reagle, Vice President – Helena

Connie Lewis, Secretary – Missoula

Paula Lockhart, Treasurer – Kalispell

Kathy Rose, Sergeant at Arms – Kalispell

Mike Schaff, Senator member – Helena

Open position, Senator member

Raylynn Van Oort, Board of Director advisor member (nonvoting)

Here are some photos of general members and board members: