Summit Program—Panel, sessions and presenter details
March 23, 2026: Two Pre-Summit Social Events on Monday
2:30-4:30 P.M. Campus film screening and discussion by filmmaker, Jim Warne
- Film Title: My Native America
- Location: University Theater, University Center 3rd
- Details: FREE and open to the public.
- Film is captioned.
7 – 9 P.M. Comedians with Disabilities Act: Comedy, advocacy, and health.
- Location: University Theater, University Center 3rd
- Details: FREE and open to the public. This is an added performance for the Comedians with Disabilities Act Montana tour to launch the Summit.
- Sponsored by the University of Montana Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities Program Development Funds.
- ASL and CART provided.
March 24, 2026: Day 1
Theme: Driving the health of adults with disability in Montana through partnerships, community accessibility, and innovative solutions that address healthcare access, chronic disease prevention, and nutrition.
Emcee: Joel Iverson, PhD, Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Montana
ASL and CART: Provided for all presentations and group discussions (9 A.M. – 5 P.M.)
Agenda for Day 1:
7:00 A.M. Vendors may check-in and start setting up their tables
8:00 A.M. Sign in opens, coffee and tea provided
9:00 A.M. Welcome, housekeeping, and dignitaries
- Welcome and song
Led by Zachariah Rides at the Door, Payne Family Native American Center Program and Building Manager - Overview of ASL and CART
Led by Faith Dawson, Disability Advisor, Montana Disability and Health Program and Cecily Whitworth, PhD, Disability Advisor, Montana Disability and Health Program - Housekeeping and overview of the UC emergency plans
Led by Shannon Brilz, Director of Conference and Events Services, University of Montana - Student introduction
Delivered by Skylar Tibbs, UM Equity in Action, and Opal Besaw, Campus-based Community Living Supports and Student Success - Dean Matthew Fete of the College of Health and Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor, University of Montana
9:15 A.M. Keynote
Presented by Jim E. Warne, MS, Warrior Society Development, LLC and Gen7 Productions; Community Engagement Director University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities Oyáte Circle; and Affiliate Arizona School of Medicine; introduced by Mike Beers, Comedians with Disabilities Act, Youth Advocacy Coordinator, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living
9:45 A.M. Panel: State of the Health of Montanans with Disabilities
Moderated by Noelle Kurth, MS, University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies, Life Span Institute
- The Social Determinants of Health Model and data for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
Presented by Hana Meshesha, PhD, Department of Counseling, Idaho State University – Meridian; Meg Ann Traci, PhD, Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities and School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana; and Connie Lewis, Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, University of Montana - Disability and data: Identifying quality data sources that capture the health of people with disabilities
Presented by Mackenzie Jones, MPH, CHES, Montana Disability and Health Program, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services - Data in Action: Using data to improve services for people with IDD
Presented by Shannon Cole-Merchen, Montana Developmental Disabilities Program, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services - The power of community living: Using data to inform Centers for Independent Living
Presented by Tami Hoar, MHRM, Executive Director, Summit Independent Living - Fit for life: The impact of Special Olympics Health on athlete healthy lifestyles Presented by Mallory Frank, Special Olympics Montana
10:30 A.M. Group discussion on State of the Health panel
Moderated by Noelle Kurth, MS, University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies, Life Span Institute
10:45 A.M. Break
11:00 A.M. Panel 1: State of Accessibility in Montana Communities
Changing the landscape through technology and training: Digital accessibility and accessible communications
Moderated by Ray Petty, PhD, Kansas Accessible Sports- Presented by: Jessica Weltman, Jennifer Sauer, Amy Ratto-Parks, Teressa M. Keenan, Mark Lannen, Lauren Fern, Kate Duran, Damian Chase-Begay, Jeanie Castillo, and Charity Atteberry.
11:45 A.M. Panel 2: State of Accessibility in Montana Communities
Changing the landscape through policy, programs, and engagement: Community and physical accessibility
Moderated by Ray Petty, PhD, Kansas Accessible Sports
- Our Voice and Participatory Action Science
Presented by Maja Pedersen and Samantha Morigeau, UM School of Public and Community Health Sciences, Tribal Health of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - Promoting access to nutrition and food security through Inclusive Interdisciplinary Walk/Move Audits in Butte, MT
Presented by Cassie Wick, Ability Montana - Missoula Planning Organization Public Participation Plan
Presented by Ben Weiss, Glenn Ingram, and Travis Hoffman, City of Missoula Public Works and Mobility Department and Summit Independent Living - Promoting Physical Activity and Outdoor Recreation with Disability Led Organizations
Presented by Brenden Dalin, Summit Independent Living
12:30 P.M. Lunch break: Box lunch provided
*Feel free to network with peers, visit vendor tables or take a personal moment to refresh*
1:30 P.M. Group discussion on State of Accessibility in Montana Communities panels
Facilitated by Ray Petty, Jim Warne, and Joel Iverson
2:00 P.M. Presentations: Transforming Health Access with People with Developmental Disabilities
Introduced by Joel Iverson
- IntellectAbility and Clinical Pearls (30 min)
Presented by Dr. Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM, FAAIDD, IntellectAbility - Station MD: The impacts and the expansion across Montana (30 min)
Presented by Geoff Musti, PT, DPT, GCS Station MD - Q&A with IntellectAbility and Station MD
Facilitated by Joel Iverson
3:15 P.M. Break with snacks
3:30 P.M. Panel: Person-Centered Public Health and Health Promotion Initiatives
Moderated by Jae Kennedy, PhD, Elson. S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University
- It’s more than sports: Stories from athletes on how Special Olympics helps them live a healthier lifestyle (15 min)
Presented by Hilary Benjamin, Coley Stensgar-Maul, and Mallory Frank, Special Olympics Montana - Success stories from a Linkage Program: Expanding access to health promotion and peer support through wellness workshops in group homes (15 min)
Introduced by Meg Traci, PhD., Montana Disability and Health Program
Presented by Jean Morgan, Spring Meadow Resources, and Laura Kneedler, Westmont - Healthy Community Living: Person-centered workshops that empower adults with disability to live full and healthy lives (10 min)
Presented by Amy Lariviere, University of Montana, RTC Rural, Kally Barlow, North Central Independent Living Services, and Cassie Wick, Ability Montana - Overviews of the Center for Population Health Research and the Montana Clinical and Translational Research Center
Presented by Tony Ward, UM School of Public and Community Health Sciences (10 min.) - Q&A with Person-Centered Public Health Panel
Facilitated by Jae Kennedy, PhD.
4:30 P.M. Summary of Day 1
Facilitated by Joel Iverson and Jim Warne
4:50 P.M. Final words for Day 1 of the Summit and reminders for Day 2
Led by Joel Iverson
5:00 P.M. Adjourn
March 24, 2026: Tuesday night social event
5:30 P.M. Accessible Drone and related technology demonstrations
Stephen Van Marter and Tyler Stosich, Accessible Skies and Jeremy Crowley, Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO), University of Montana
- Location: The Oval, University of Montana (demonstration may relocate to the Adams Center dependent on weather).
- Details: FREE and open to Summit attendees.
- Sponsored by Summit Independent Living, Accessible Skies, and UM AASO
- ASL and CART provided.
March 25, 2026: Day 2
Theme: Planning for disability inclusive emergency management in Montana
Emcee: Joel Iverson
ASL and CART: Provided for all presentations and group discussions (9 A.M. – 5 P.M.)
Agenda of Day 2:
8:00 A.M. Registration and vendor tables open, coffee and tea provided
9:00 A.M. Welcome
Led by Joel Iverson
- Housekeeping and overview of the UC emergency plans
Led by Shannon Brilz, Director of Conference and Events Services, University of Montana
9:15 A.M. Disability Consideration and the Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management Panel
Moderated by: Mary Willard, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (Discussion questions prepared by: Dr. Lauren McKeague, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana)
- An Overview of the Whole Community Approach
Presented by Adrian Beck, Julia Goar, and Travis Hoffman - Emergency department utilization among individuals with disabilities: ‘Blue sky’ week vs. the 2024 derecho
Presented by Vanessa Whattam, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Rachel Peterson, University of Montana; and Meg Traci, University of Montana Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities - Accessible emergency management initiatives
Presented by Lucy Galarus, Montana Tech; Ricky Burns, Ability Montana; and Doug Galarus, Montana Tech - Are we prepared? Gaps and opportunities for Developmental Disabilities Providers to plan with consumers for emergencies
Facilitated by Greg Zadina, Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities; Patrick Maddison and Jean Morgan, Montana Association on Community Disability Service Providers
10:45 A.M. Break
11:00 A.M. An Overview of Public Safety Power Shut Offs
Presented by Max Rebholz, Northwestern Energy
12:00 P.M. Disability Considerations for Public Safety Power Shut Offs
Moderated by Joel Iverson and Max Rebholz
12:30 P.M. Box Lunch Provided
*Feel free to network with peers, visit vendor tables or take a personal moment to refresh*
1:30 P.M. Person Centered Emergency Preparedness with Red Cross
Introduced by Joel Iverson
- Be Red Cross Ready: Community Preparedness Presentation for People with Access and Functional Needs (60 min)
Presented by Rosemary Callahan, American Red Cross of Montana
- An Introduction to Person Centered Emergency Preparedness (30 min)
Presented by Rosemary Callahan, American Red Cross of Montana
3:00 P.M. Break
3:15 P.M. Discussion and Close Out Activities
- Getting from here to there: Close out activities (75 min)
Facilitated by Joel Iverson and Jim Warne - Health Communication 101 (15 min)
Heather Voorhees, Communication Studies, University of Montana
4:45 P.M. Wrap Up and Post-Survey
Led by Joel Iverson
5:00 P.M. Adjourn
Summit Post-Survey
Thank you for taking the Summit Post-Survey (10 multiple choice questions)
https://mdphhs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6eUge2Gl7guLezY