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The
Summit Independent October 2008 | Archives of Older Newsletters Some of the documents providedon our website
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the Adobe website to download it. Adobe Acrobat 8 provides a host of features specifically designed to make PDF files accessible. To learn more about using Adobe Acrobat's accessibility features please listen to the Acrobat 8 Accessibility Tutorial. If you would like to receive a paper copy of the Summit Independent through the mail, please fill out the newsletter subscription form and we will add you to our mailing list. Remember Remember the 4th of November What
do you look for in a Leader? | Spotlight
On...David Singleton | A Voter's Bill of
Rights What do you look for in a leader and what are your leadership qualities? Here we are in the thick of the 2008 national, state and local campaign season, heading toward election day on November 4th! This newsletter is about our right and responsibility to gain enough information to vote for the leaders and issues that are important to us, our lives and ultimately our community, state and nation. I recently read an excellent article on the leadership qualities of previous Presidents’ in a Sunday Parade Magazine by Doris Kerns Goodwin called, “The Secrets of America’s Great Presidents.” This author gave the top ten strengths that she observed from a historical perspective on both Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. I don’t believe that any one elected official, or human being for that matter, will have all these ten qualities. However, looking them over helped me to reflect more deeply about our current choice of presidential candidates and Montana political leaders as I get ready to cast my ballot. I also believe we as Montanan’s with disabilities each have some of these same qualities. We each have the opportunity to build on our own strengths and build a stronger voice together. As Summit is going into its 27th year of advocacy I look back at the number of leaders within our movement who have stepped forward on a local, state and national level to build or change laws or influence policies from the perspective of Nothing About Us Without Us. I invite you to look over these ten qualities and do your own assessment of what you “bring to table” and what characteristics you believe are important in our future political leaders.
Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives Spotlight On...DavidSingleton, Sportsman It was a pleasure to meet David Singleton in July 2008. He grew up in Missoula and Big Fork and has an older brother and sister. He also has two pet ducks and wears a duck feather in his hat. David is an active young man who enjoys tubing in the Swan River, playing pool, tinkering with his car, and Cowboy Action Shooting.
Various groups around the state meet monthly to practice and compete with each other; there are active clubs in Missoula, Ronan and Bigfork. A statewide competition is held once a year with shooters attending from all over Montana. The Big Fork group that David attends has approximately 20 members. He is the youngest with most members being in their 40s to 70s.
David has completed automotive school in Laramie, Wyoming and is currently working with Vocational Rehabilitation to find a job as an auto mechanic in Kalispell or Missoula. He uses a hydraulic lift platform when needed to get him to a comfortable work level. I hope we will be hearing more from David in the future! Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives
Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives The next legislative session is getting closer. That is why Summit Independent Living Center is working with the Statewide Independent Living Council as well as the other Independent Living Centers in being proactive and preparing for the 2009 legislature now. The following is a list of legislative priorities that have been identified and that we will be focusing on throughout the year and into the legislative session.
If you are interested in becoming involved in any of these topics please email Travis Hoffman. You can also join the Montana Independent Living Action Alert System and be kept up to date on local, state, and national issues that affect people with disabilities by sending an e-mail to montana-il-action-alert-subscribe@googlegroups.com or by letting Travis Hoffman know you would like to be added to the Action Alert System. Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives IL Legislative Day: January 20, 2009 -- Save the Date! Mark your calendars and be sure to save the date. The Statewide Independent Living Council and Montana's four Independent Living Centers, Summit, NCILS, MILP, and LIFTT, are sponsoring a legislative day at the Capitol Building in Helena during the Legislative session on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The day's activities will include a morning workshop on the legislative process and current bills of concern to and priorities for people with disabilities, a noon potato bar luncheon with legislators in the rotunda of the Capitol, and an opportunity to observe the session and talk with your representatives first-hand in the afternoon. If you are interested in attending Legislative Day in January, please contact your local Independent Living Center for more information. Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives Hello all! I am Dianna Kintzler, the new Independent Living Specialist for Flathead County. I was raised in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Shortly after graduating high school I met my now husband, Brenon. He was enlisted in the Navy and was scheduled for departure to boot camp just a few short months after we met. We corresponded by mail for several months until he proposed to me (also by mail!), at which time I decided to relocate to San Diego to be with him. We married in 1999 and since have had two daughters; Mia, who is 8, and Maeve, who is 3. I graduated from college in May 2007 with a degree in general studies/pre-dentistry. I have known from a very young age that in my line of work, whatever it might be, I wanted to work with people. Our family came out to Kalispell on vacation in June 2007, and in a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants decision, we decided to relocate here. Who could say “no” to living in a place with such picturesque scenery? I am happy to be working for Summit; it is very rewarding to me because I am doing just what I have always wanted to do, work with people. Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives Congratulations to everyone involved in making the first annual Montana Youth in Transitions Conference a success. The conference was held this past week (Sept. 15-17) at the Holiday Inn in Great Falls. Keynote speakers included Anna Whiting-Sorrel from the Governors office who opened the conference; Andy Imperato, CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities; Dale Delio, author of Raymond’s Room; and finally Robert Jahner gave the closing remarks on Wednesday. The break out sessions throughout the
conference all focused on ways to improve transition outcomes for Montana
youth with disabilities the breakouts varied in the perspective in
which they view transition. Though many of the breakouts were geared
directly toward young people, there were also sessions that addressed
the transition issues that parents and service providers face. Summit
was well represented at the conference by Mary Olson, Darren Larsen,
Travis Hoffman and myself (Michael Beers) presenting the BALLS curriculum
and IL opportunities for youth at the conference. Coming up in the world of youth in Independent Living next month we have the 5th annual APRIL Youth pre-conference on October 10th, the day before the main conference starts. This years APRIL conference will be held at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Our theme this year is “CHOICES: You Choose the Change You Want!” Participants will learn about choices in their everyday lives, as well as choices in the upcoming election. We will discuss how choices can shape our lives and how each person can be confident in their decisions. And lastly, for those of you who may be wondering. What happens in Vegas…….will most definitely appear in the next addition of the youth corner. Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives As you and the rest of America gets ready to head to the polls to cast your vote on November 4th you may want to double check a few items so that when you do go, you can be sure that you will be able to vote and, more importantly, that your vote will count. First thing is first, check your registration status! In order to participate in the November 4th election, you must be a registered voter. If you are not registered to vote you will need to register. To register you can contact your local/regional independent living center for a registration card and assistance in completing it, you can go to your local County Elections Office (contact info on page 7) to fill out a voter registration card, or you can go to the website www.montanavotes.net and click on the register to vote link to download a voter registration card. Late registration is available at any time right up through the close of polls on election day, except between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM on the day before the election. However, registering early is beneficial to you and to your community. If you're not registered to vote, register as soon as possible! Now that you’ve registered to vote or made sure your registration is correct and valid you’re ready to head to the polls on November 4th. When you go to the polls, however, make sure you take your ID with you! Montana law requires that all voters have proper ID with them when they vote. The forms of ID you can use include a driver’s license, tribal or student ID, Military ID any other photo ID with your name on it, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or any other government document that has your name and address on it. Know Your Rights as a Voter As long as you are at least 18 years old, have lived in Montana for 30 days or longer, and have not been found by a judge to be of unsound mind then you have the right to vote. The ADA and Montana law also requires that polling places be accessible helping to ensure your right to access your local polling place. You also have the right to a secret ballot. If you don’t want anyone else to see your ballot but you have difficulty marking your own ballot, each polling place must be equipped with an AUTOMARK ballot-marking machine which can allow voters with various types of disabilities vote privately and independently. If you are unable to vote independently, you also have the right to request assistance. As a person with a disability, you can designate and agent to help you through the process. To designate an Agent, fill out the agent designation form and take it to your elections administrator at your local/county elections office. Should you choose to do so, you also have the right to vote by absentee ballot. To vote absentee, you must request an absentee ballot in writing by filling out an application for an absentee ballot and returning it to your elections administrator at your local/county elections office. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is noon the day before election day and the completed ballot must be returned by 8:00 PM on election day in order to be counted. If you feel that any of your voting rights have been violated or if your vote has been challenged, please contact the Disability Rights Montana Election Hotline—1-866-790-VOTE (8683). Be an Informed Voter Just as important as voting is being an informed voter. So, before Election Day (November 4), take the time to learn about the candidates and issues. There will be many opportunities between now and election day for you to learn about the candidates and issues that will be on the ballot. The media will be filled with ads and stories about the election and about the candidates, your mailbox will be filled with brochures and fliers outlining the candidates' views. There will be televised candidate debates as well as local candidate forums, like the three that Summit is involved in sponsoring, that we highly encourage you to attend. Some candidates may even come to your front door to introduce themselves and talk to you about topics that may be addressed in the upcoming legislature. You may also receive a Voter Information Pamphlet, published by the Secretary of State, in the mail or you can download one at sos.mt.gov. This will provide balanced information about the initiatives and referenda that will be on the ballot. Remember, we live in a Democracy and a Democracy is not a spectator sport, it requires participation — YOUR PARTICIPATION! Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives Invitation to a Survey for Women with Physical Disabilities Did you know that in 2006 nearly 1 out of 4 Montana women over 40 did not receive a mammogram within the past two years? A mammogram is an important tool used to help detect breast cancer. When identified and diagnosed early, the odds for surviving breast cancer are very good. The Montana Disability and Health Program is distributing a survey that asks about the experiences Montana women with disabilities have had with mammography and other breast health issues. Survey results will supplement CDC’s “Right To Know” campaign, a health promotion campaign to improve awareness about the importance of breast health screening among women with disabilities. Please consider taking the enclosed, anonymous, approximately 10-minute survey if you are a woman with a physical disability living in Montana and are either: Between the ages of 40 and 69; or Are under the age of 40 and have been told by your medical provider to have a mammogram. Completed surveys can be returned using the enclosed business reply envelope. You may also read more about the survey and/or take part online at: http://ruralinstitute.breastcancer.sgizmo.com Thank you for your consideration and help with this project! Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives Disability Rights Montana is arranging Election Day transportation to make sure Montana voters with disabilities and senior citizens can make their votes count. If you need a ride or can provide a ride, please call: Disability Rights Montana Election Hotline: (866) 790-VOTE (8683). If you can provide ride(s) for voters on Election Day (Tuesday, November 4, 2008), Disability Rights Montana will pay a stipend and reimbursement for your mileage for every voter you help. Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives How to Contact Your Elections Office For more information or questions on the upcoming election, contact your local election office. Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives Excerpts from ADA Watch , Jenny Cromie (WWJ-950 News Radio), and Mark A. Hofmann (Business Insurance) For nearly two years, disability rights advocates have traveled the Nation in a modified bus [The Road to Freedom Tour that came through Missoula and Helena in June 2007] educating citizens and policymakers alike of the pressing need to restore vital civil rights protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On September 25, 2008, President Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act into law. In recent years, the ADA - the world's first human rights law for people with disabilities - has been dramatically narrowed in the courts leaving citizens with epilepsy, diabetes, mental illness, HIV-AIDS and other disabilities unprotected from discrimination. The ADA Amendments Act clarifies the intent of Congress and reverses the "judicial activism" that has resulted in more than 95% of employment-related ADA cases being dismissed on summary judgment. The new law requires judges to interpret the law broadly and makes clear that the use of life sustaining devices, such as diabetes medication, does not remove an individual from the ADA's protections. In addition to defining a disability as an actual mental or physical impairment and one that limits one or more major life activities, the bill also provides protection in situations when someone is discriminated against because they are "regarded as" having a disability. For example, if an employer fires a person because it is believed that he or she has HIV, the employee would be protected under the law - regardless of whether an actual disability exists or not. Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives 2008: Summit
Independent - July 2008 2007:
Summit Independent - October 2007 Older (HTML versions): 2000-01 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 Return to Newsletter Index | Newsletter Archives This newsletter is funded by the U.S. Department of Education grant #H132A30808 and in part under an agreement with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Any statesments Herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Department. This page was last updated on November 3, 2008 . |
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Cowboy Action Shooting is an unusual sport
involving shooting pistol, rifle and shotgun in sequence at an array
of targets. For instance, one possible scenario might include shooting
at the first target with your rifle from about 25 yards, the second
four targets are shot with shotgun at about 15 yards and you must knock
down 2 targets on each side, the last position would use both pistols
fired at three targets about 15 yards away. These scenarios are always
different and are sometimes created using the action sequences from
cowboy movies. Speed and accuracy are the goal; misses add time to
your total. Targets for practice meets are often just a 2’ x 2’ square or circle made out of steel, but national meets use more creative targets. Some are moving targets or contraptions where hitting the target initiates a series of events. 
Cowboy Action Shooting
requires members to dress in 1870s style and to shoot with guns that
are from that period as well. Weapons used can be authentic, reproductions
or remanufactured. Clothing worn for competition can be period correct
or modeled after Hollywood movies. Pseudonyms are used in competition
and David’s is “Dark Dave” because
he always wears black or dark clothing. David had special holsters
made to fit his seated style and making it safer and easier to carry
his pistols around. They make him look just like a gunslinger with
a low-slung gun belt. 
