Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under Department of Education: Special Education.

State Department of Education: Special Education
Robert Runkel, Director
Special Education Division
Office of Public Instruction 
P.O. Box 202501 
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-4429 
E-mail: brunkel@state.mt.us
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us

State Coordinator for NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Nancy Coopersmith, Assistant Superintendent
Montana Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-5541
E-mail: ncoopersmith@state.mt.us
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us/

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2 
Judy LeRoux, Part C Coordinator
Developmental Disabilities Program
Department of Public Health and Human Services 
P.O. Box 4210 
Helena, MT 59604-4210 
(406) 444-5647
E-mail: jleroux@state.mt.us
Web: www.dphhs.state.mt.us/dsd

Programs for Children with Disabilities: Ages 3 through 5
Dan McCarthy, Preschool Specialist
Office of Public Instruction 
P. O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-4425
E-mail: danmcc@state.mt.us
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Joe Mathews, Administrator 
Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
Department of Public Health and Human Services
P. O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-2590
Web: www.dphhs.state.mt.us/dsd

Coordinator for Transition Services
Dick Trerise, State Transition Contact and Coordinator 
Division of Special Education 
Office of Public Instruction 
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-1579
E-mail: dtrerise@state.mt.us
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us

Office of State Coordinator of Vocational Education for Students with Disabilities
Jody Messinger, Division Administrator 
Career, Technical and Adult Education
Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501 
Helena, MT 59620-2501 
(406) 444-9019
E-mail: jmessinger@state.mt.us
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us

State Mental Health Agency 
Addictive and Mental Disorders Division
Department of Public Health and Human Services
555 Fuller Avenue
P.O. Box 202905
Helena, MT 59620-2905
(406) 444-3969

State Mental Health Representative for Children and Youth
Diane White, Mental Health Officer
Child and Adolescent Services, Addictive and Mental Disorders Division
Department of Public Health and Human Services
555 Fuller
P.O. Box 202905
Helena, MT 59620-2905
(406) 444-7064
E-mail: dwhite@state.mt.us

State Developmental Disabilities Programs
Joe Mathews, Administrator
Developmental Disabilities Program
Department of Public Health and Human Services 
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210 
(406) 444-2995
Web: www.dphhs.state.mt.us/dsd

State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council 
Deborah Swingley, Executive Director 
Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities
P.O. Box 526
Helena, MT 59624
(406) 443-4371; (866) 443-4332 (in MT only)
E-mail: deborah@mtcdd.org
Web: www.mtcdd.org

Protection and Advocacy Agency 
Bernadette Franks Ongoy, Executive Director 
Montana Advocacy Program 
P.O. Box 1681
Helena, MT 59624 
(406) 449-2344; (800) 245-4743 (V/TTY)
E-mail: bernie@mtadv.org
Web: www.mtadv.org

Client Assistance Program 
Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, CAP Director
Montana Advocacy Program 
P.O. Box 1681 
Helena, MT 59624 
(406) 449-2344; (800) 245-4743 (V/TTY)
E-mail: bernie@mtadv.org
Web: www.mtadv.org

Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Barbara Smith, Section Supervisor
Children's Special Health Services
Health Care Resources Bureau
Department of Public Health and Human Services 
P. O. Box 202951
Helena, MT 59620 -2951
(406) 444-3617
E-mail: basmith@state.mt.us

State CHIP Program
(health care for low-income uninsured children)
Montana CHIP
(877) 543-7669
E-mail: CHIP@state.mt.us
Web: www.chip.state.mt.us

Programs for Children and Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired 
Blind and Low Vision Services
111 Sanders Suite 307
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-2590 (V/TTY); (877) 296-1197

Programs for Children and Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Deaf-Blind
Montana Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (MDHHS)
3911 Central Avenue
P.O. Box 6433
Great Falls, MT 59407
(406) 771-9053; (406) 771-9194 (TTY)
E-mail: MDHHS@mtn-webtech.com

Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind
3911 Central Avenue
Great Falls, MT 59405-1697
(406) 771-6000; (800) 882-6732 (V/TTY)
Web: www.sdb.state.mt.us/

Telecommunications Relay Services for Individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or with Speech Impairments
(800) 253-4093 (V)
(800) 253-4091 (TTY); 711 (TTY)
(877) 253-4613 (Speech to Speech)

State Education Agency Rural Representative
Nancy Coopersmith, Assistant Superintendent
Department of Education Services
Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501 
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-5541
E-mail: ncoopersmith@state.mt.us
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us

Regional ADA & IT Technical Assistance Center 
Patrick Going, Director
Rocky Mountain Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
3630 Sinton Road, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
(719) 444-0268 (V/TTY); (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)
E-mail: rmdbtac@mtc-inc.com
Web: www.adainformation.org

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
R. Timm Vogelsberg, Executive Director 
The University of Montana Rural Institute
Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Service
52 Corbin Hall 
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-5467; (800) 732-0322
E-mail: rtvogels@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
Web: http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Technology-Related Assistance
Gail McGregor, Director
MonTECH
The University of Montana, Rural Institute, MonTECH Program
634 Eddy Avenue
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-5676; (800) 732-0323 (V/TTY)
E-mail: gmcgrego@selway.umt.edu
Web: http://montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/

State Mediation System
Tim Harris, Program Manager
Early Assistance Program
Montana Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-5664
E-mail: tharris@state.mt.us
Web: www.opi.state.mt.us

Special Format Library
Christie O. Briggs, Librarian
Montana Talking Book Library 
1515 E. Sixth Avenue
P.O. Box 201800 
Helena, MT 59620-1800 
(406) 444-2064; (800) 332-3400 
(406) 444-3005 (TTY)
E-mail: cbriggs@state.mt.us
Web: http://msl.state.mt.us/tbl/

Disability-Specific Organizations

Attention Deficit Disorder
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either:

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
8181 Professional Place, Suite 201
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 306-7070
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet)
Web: www.chadd.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
P.O. Box 543
Pottstown, PA 19464
(484) 945-2101
Web: www.add.org

Autism
To identify an autism group in your state, contact:
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0881; (800) 3-AUTISM
Web: www.autism-society.org

Blind/Visual Impairments
Mary Ann Siller, Director
American Foundation for the Blind - Southwest
260 Treadway Plaza, Exchange Park
Dallas, TX 75235
(214) 352-7222
E-mail: dallas@afb.net
Web: www.afb.org

Brain Injury
Ian Elliot, President of the Board of Directors
Brain Injury Association of Montana
University of Montana
52 Corbin Hall, Room 25
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-5973; (800) 241-6442
E-mail: biam@selway.umt.edu
Web: www.biausa.org/Montana

Fragile X Syndrome
Mary and Dick DeBernardis
Fragile X Resource of Montana
12345 Gooch Hill Road
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730-9707
(406) 763-4268 
E-mail: debern@imt.net
Web: www.fragilex.org

Learning Disabilities
Rosie Wathen, President
Learning Disabilities Association of Montana
1438 Cascade Avenue
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 252-7716
E-mail: wathen@mcn.net

Mental Health 
Montana Mental Health Association
25 S. Ewing, Suite 206
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 442-4276 
E-mail: mham@in-tch.com
Web: www.mhamontana.org 

Barbara Sample, Executive Director
Family Support Network (FSN)
3302 4th Avenue, N., Suite 103
P. O. Box 21366
Billings, MT 59104
(406) 256-7783
E-mail: fsntoo@aol.com

Mental Retardation
Bev Owens, Arc Treasurer 
Yellowstone Arc
602 18th Street, W.
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 652-5510

Speech and Hearing 
Montana Speech-Language-Hearing Association 
Box 215
Miles City, MT 59301
(877) 747-7734
E-mail: info@mshaonline.org
Web: www.mshaonline.org

Organizations Especially for Parents and Caregivers

Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) 
Dennis Moore, Executive Director
Parents, Let's Unite For Kids (PLUK) 
516 N. 32nd Street
Billings, MT 59101-6003
(406) 255-0540; (800) 222-7585 (MT only)
E-mail: plukinfo@pluk.org
Web: www.pluk.org

Parent-To-Parent 
Contact Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) listed above

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) 
Cathy Day, President
Montana Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.
P.O. Box 6448
Great Falls, MT 59405
(406) 268-7475
E-mail: montanapta@earthlink.net
Web: www.montanapta.org

Deanna Johnson
IDEA PTA (Individuals with Diverse and Exceptional Abilities)
P.O. Box 7724
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 728-1124
E-mail: lotus@bigsky.net

Other Disability Organizations

Michelle Belknap, President
Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountains
4400 Central Avenue 
Great Falls, MT 59405 
(406) 761-3680 (V/TTY); (800) 771-2153
E-mail: michelleb@esgw.org
Web: www.goodwill.org/greatfalls

Mike Hermanson, Director
Montana Center on Disabilities
Montana State University-Billings
1500 University Drive, CEHS Building
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 866-3822 (V/TTY)
Email: mcd@msubillings.edu
Web: www.msubillings.edu/mtcd

Sue Dow, Executive Director
Support & Techniques for Empowering People (S.T.E.P.) Inc.
1501 14th Street West, Suite 210
Billings, MT 59102
(406) 248-2055; (800) 820-4180
E-mail: suedow@step-inc.org
Web: www.step-inc.org

Alayne O. Dolson, Executive Director
VSA arts of Montana
131 S. Higgins, Suite 302
P.O. Box 7225
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 549-2984
E-mail: alaynusa@montana.com

Independent Living 

To find out the contact information for the Statewide 
Independent Living Council (SILC) in your state, contact:
Independent Living Research Utilization Project
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
2323 South Sheppard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-0232 (V); (713) 520-5136 (TTY)
E-mail: ilru@ilru.org
Web: www.ilru.org

To find out the contact information for centers for 
independent living (CILs) in your state, contact:
National Council on Independent Living
1916 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 209
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 525-3406; (703) 525-4153 (TTY)
E-mail: ncil@ncil.org
Web: www.ncil.org