With the support of the Montana Advocacy Program (Disability Rights Montana), local citizen advocacy programs came together to form the Montana Advocacy Coalition in 1986. The goal of the Coalition was to promote the rights, dignity value and full community inclusion for Montana citizens who have a developmental disability.
The first Montana People First Chapter began in Billings in 1994. In 1995, the Montana Citizen’s Advocacy Coalition (Montana Advocacy Coalition) received funding from the Developmental Disability Planning and Advisory Council for a pilot project to develop People First Chapters in Kalispell, Helena, Bozeman and Great Falls. As happens with People First everywhere, once the organization is in place, word of mouth brings in new members, activities increase, and the Chapter is sound. It was then time to reach out to other areas to assist with the formation of new Chapters.
By 1997 there were approximately 150 People First members with Chapters in Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula and Montana Developmental Center. Growth, organization and structure continued. In 2001, delegates from Chapters in Anaconda, Butte, Billings, Great Falls, Libby, Boulder, Havre, Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, and Ronan/Polson, attended the People First of Montana Constitutional Convention to develop their Constitution and form the People First Senate.
Financial support from the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities continued until 2008 with supplemental activities funded by the Montana Advocacy Coalition. Disability Rights Montana stepped in to continue funding for Advisors and Senate meetings with Montana Advocacy Coalition contributing some funding for these activities as well as fiscal and administrative expenses for the chapters.
In December, 2009, Rocky Hughes, President of the People First of Montana Board of Directors, gave a presentation to the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities. “Through thick and thin, People First has hung on and this year became a 501(c)(3). We did this so that we can be taken seriously and be recognized as an independent organization. We want to be able to have our own voice on behalf of all people with disabilities in the state of Montana.”
With the permission of the Ohio Public Images Network, in 1997 People First of Montana adapted the motto: It takes courage to believe in yourself. Find your courage! Change your world!
