Montana Empowerment Center, Inc.

06/11/2026

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month

Aphasia is a communication disorder that can affect speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, often following a stroke or brain injury. It does not affect intelligence.

More than 2 million Americans live with aphasia, yet awareness remains low. This month, help spread understanding, patience, and support for those navigating communication challenges every day.

06/08/2026

One Helena principal is taking on some extra work today—caring for a student's horse! 🐎 Rumor has it that an "old Montana law" requires school principals to feed and tend students' horses, and while no such law exists, the tradition often lives on.

📸Photo courtesy of the Helena Police Department

06/08/2026

The Montana Empowerment Center (MEC) is proud to be one of over 100 Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) across the United States. PTIs are dedicated to supporting families of children with disabilities from birth through age 26, offering resources, training, and guidance tailored to each family's unique needs.

At MEC, we help parents and caregivers:

*Understand their child’s disability and educational needs.

*Learn about their rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

*Access tools and strategies to advocate for their child’s success.

Your anonymous feedback is essential to help us continue providing meaningful support and to meet the requirements for our federal grant reporting.

Please take a few moments to share your experience with MEC. Your input helps us improve our services and reach more families effectively.

-MEC Team

https://us2.list-manage.com/survey?u=ec5c42a500c0d02ed479a6588&id=cab8118879&e=

06/08/2026

This month, we recognize and support individuals and families affected by Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy that begins in infancy.

Dravet syndrome is an intractable developmental and epileptic encephalopathy that causes frequent, prolonged seizures and can lead to developmental delays, movement and balance challenges, sleep difficulties, and other lifelong health concerns. The condition affects approximately 1 in 15,700 people, making it a rare disease that often requires specialized medical care and ongoing support.

Most individuals with Dravet syndrome have a mutation in the SCN1A gene, which plays a critical role in how nerve cells communicate in the brain.

This awareness month, we honor the strength and resilience of those living with Dravet syndrome, their families, caregivers, and the healthcare professionals who support them. By increasing awareness, promoting early diagnosis, and supporting research, we can help improve outcomes and quality of life for those affected.

06/03/2026

The Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities is now entering the formal 45‑day public comment period for our draft 5‑year State Plan. This plan will guide our statewide work to strengthen advocacy, promote systems change, build capacity, and improve quality of life for Montanans with developmental disabilities.

We’re inviting community members, partners, self‑advocates, families, and service providers to review the draft plan and share feedback through a brief survey.

The survey is open for 45 days and takes about 10–15 minutes to complete.

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/68M3VYV

Please share widely—broad public participation is essential to ensuring the final State Plan reflects the needs and voices of individuals with developmental disabilities across Montana.

06/01/2026

📢 Important Update for Montana Families & Educators 📢
The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has released its updated Special Education Guidance (Chapter 1: Graduation). If you are a parent, guardian, or educator of a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), here are the key takeaways you need to know:

FAPE Extended to Age 22: Following recent federal court orders, Montana school districts must make a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) available to eligible students with disabilities until they turn 22 years old.

IEP Goals vs. Regular Diplomas: Earning a regular high school diploma requires meeting the standard state/district curriculum and credits. While students can still receive a diploma based solely on completing their IEP goals, the state clarifies that this does not count as a "regular high school diploma" under the IDEA and does not end the school's obligation to provide FAPE services.

Graduation Requirements: To earn a regular high school diploma, students with disabilities must meet the same minimum 20-unit requirement set by the Board of Public Education. Only the local School Board of Trustees (not the IEP team) has the authority to waive specific course requirements.

Protections for Transcripts & Grades: Transcripts cannot label courses as "Special Education" or "Resource" classes (descriptive terms like "Essentials" or "Practical Applications" must be used instead). Furthermore, modified grades cannot be used to arbitrarily lower a student's GPA ranking or exclude them from the Honor Roll, valedictorian, or salutatorian honors.

For the full detailed breakdown on proficiency, graduation ceremonies, and transitional documentation, you can read the official document here: Montana Special Education Guidance Chapter 1.

06/01/2026

👓June is Children's Vision Awareness Month 👓

A child's vision plays a critical role in their growth, development, education, and success. Vision challenges can be difficult to detect because children often don't realize they are seeing the world differently from others.

When vision problems go undiagnosed, children may struggle with reading, writing, learning, and social development. In some cases, vision difficulties can even be mistaken for ADHD or other learning disabilities.

For infants and young children, vision is also essential for recognizing facial expressions, interpreting body language, and developing communication skills.

05/28/2026

Celebrating Quinn Kougl: A Legacy of Love on Treacher Collins Awareness Day

Today, we honor Treacher Collins Awareness Day by celebrating the vibrant, unforgettable life of Quinn Kougl.

For many children diagnosed with Treacher Collins Syndrome, the reality often involves institutional care far away from family. But for the Kougls, separating their daughter from the warmth of home was never an option. Justine & William knew that Quinn belonged on the family cattle ranch in rural Big Horn County, growing up side-by-side with her two siblings. From day one, they chose to fight fiercely to keep their family whole.

Because of their unwavering dedication, two-year-old Quinn got to experience the ultimate freedom of ranch life—wearing her tiny chaps, exploring the outdoors, and living every day surrounded by unconditional love.

Keeping a medically fragile child at home while running a demanding cattle operation and raising young kids is an extraordinary challenge. The Kougls regularly navigated a relentless schedule of medical travel to specialists in Sheridan, Billings, and Denver. At the same time, they tackled the daunting bureaucracy of state Medicaid programs. When system shifts threatened to cut off the vital speech, feeding, and nutritional therapies Quinn needs to thrive at home, Justine and William refused to back down. They stood as her ultimate protectors, advocating fiercely for her right to a full life at home.

On this journey, community organizations played a supporting role, offering guidance and helping the family protect Quinn's access to the Big Sky Waiver for Medically Fragile Children. As Justine beautifully shares:

“We had an incredible network of resources backing us up. From finding critical information to helping us secure specialized equipment that insurance won't cover, having advocates in our corner gives us the strength to keep fighting for Quinn's rights.”

In Loving Memory: We are deeply grateful to the Kougl family for allowing us to share a glimpse into their beautiful world. While we look back on Quinn's journey with immense pride, we also carry a profound sadness. Quinn passed away at the age of three on December 17, 2017. Today, and every day, our hearts and thoughts remain with the Kougl family and everyone who continues to love and miss this sweet girl. To learn more about TCS, visit: https://ccakids.org/treacher-collins-syndrome.html

05/27/2026

"What you Should know about the 504" *FREE* webinar
June 11, 2026, at 1:00 - 2:00 PM/MST

Join COPAA and Vanderbilt University for a webinar titled "What You Need to Know About 504" and a Q&A. This session will cover eligibility criteria, the components of a plan, best practices for creating a written plan, and the significance of youth understanding and advocacy.

Click the link to register:

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