Lead Organization: Easter Seals Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain
Contact: Laura Simonsen, Community Liaison, Easter Seals Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain: laurams@esgw.org
Partners and Collaborators Include: Billings Family YMCA, Region 3 Disability Office, Eagle Mount, parents of children with disabilities, pediatrician, Riverstone Health, Special Olympics Montana, MET Transit, Billings Parks and Recreation, Rocky Mountain Rehabilitation, Billings Clinic, School District #2, DPHHS Region 3, Healthy By Design, PLUK, St. Vincent's Healthcare, STEP, ZooMontana
Easter Seals Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain is currently serving as the lead organization for inclusive health coalitions in both Montana and Wyoming. In Montana, the IHC has quickly recruited a wide range of partners and identified some of the greatest areas of need within the community. Initial areas of IHC focus in the community include the overall accessibility of the local transit system and local zoo, as well as working with the local Parks and Recreation department to create and/or modify existing summer camp programs with activities that promote inclusion and access for all potential participants. Additionally, they are exploring a partnership with the YMCA to offer adaptive swimming lessons and/or one-on-one pool therapy with a combination of YMCA and Easter Seals facilities and staff. They have also worked with the YMCA to incorporate inclusive items into their promotional materials, and to train YMCA staff on working with individuals with disabilities.
In Sheridan, Easter Seals has conducted preliminary brainstorming sessions to determine the most prevalent barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in the community. Current initiatives and plans involve growing the Sheridan coalition partner network through the formation of a community garden. They are also participating in the Bountiful Baskets Food co-op, with individuals with disabilities engaging in both physical and social activity by distributing baskets of food throughout the community while also increasing their own access to healthy food.
