Many Web sites address ADA issues, explain policies, and provide help for the physically challenged. We have provided links to some key sites to help you recreate in Montana.

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that services and programs of local and state governments, as well as other nonfederal government agencies, shall operate so that when viewed in their entirety, they are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

Additional Information About ADA

• National Center on Accessibility (NCA) -The National Center on Accessibility promotes access and inclusion in parks, recreation, and tourism for people with disabilities. Based at Indiana University and established in 1992 through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service (NPS), NCA has emerged as a leading authority on access issues unique to park and recreation programs and facilities.
• National Park Service Accessibility Policy -In 1979, the NPS decided to approach accessibility in a comprehensive, organized way, rather than on a project-by-project basis. The primary goal of the program was to develop and coordinate a system-wide, approach to achieving the highest level of reasonable accessibility, while ensuring consistency with other legal mandates of conservation and protection of the resources that the NPS manages.
• ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines -The Access Board announces release of new design guidelines that cover access for people with disabilities under the ADA of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA).
• National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) -NCPAD is an information center concerned with physical activity and disability. "Physical activity is good for every body," is a message you will find many times on this site. Physical activity is an important part of becoming and staying healthy.
• Accessibility: Forest Service Recreation Accessibility Guidelines -The U.S. Forest Service has developed accessibility guidelines to provide guidance for the agency to maximize accessibility while at the same time recognizing and protecting the unique characteristics of the natural setting of outdoor recreation areas and hiker/pedestrian trails. These guidelines apply to new or reconstructed areas within the National Forest System.

Outdoors Links

• Yellowstone Accessibility Information -The information is provided by the NPS. Officials in Yellowstone are updating facilities to make them accessible on this Web site is as quickly as possible, within funding limitations.
• Montana Access to Outdoor Recreation -The MATOR program strives to increase opportunities for participation in wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, and other related activities for individuals with disabilities and those who are aging. Visit the Web site for more information.

Services and Assistance

• The Rural Institute -Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Service, is part of the national network of programs funded by the Federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) committed to increasing and supporting the independence, productivity, and inclusion of persons with disabilities into the community.
• MonTECH - The Rural Institute -MonTECH is a program of the University of Montana Rural Institute: Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Service. Specializing in Assistive Technology with the overall goal of developing a comprehensive, statewide system of assistive technology related assistance.
• Montana Disability Services Division -The mission of the Disability Services Division of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is to provide services that help Montanans with disabilities to live, work, and fully participate in their communities.

Web Accessibility Resources

• W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines -These guidelines explain how to make Web content accessible to people with disabilities. The guidelines are intended for all Web content developers (page authors and site designers) and for developers of authoring tools.
• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) -The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities. The following WAI resources are intended to provide basic information for people who are new to Web accessibility.
• Section 508
  • www.section508.gov -Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. IT Accessibility & Workforce Division, in the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Governmentwide Policy, has been charged with the task of educating Federal employees and building the infrastructure necessary to support Section 508 implementation. Using this web site, Federal employees and the public can access resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508.
  • Electronic and Information Technology -United States Access Board Web site, a federal agency committed to accessible design.
• Montana Law
  • House Bill 239 -An act providing for access to information technology for individuals who are blind or visually impaired through the purchase of technology in accordance with standards for equivalent access by both visual and nonvisual means.
  • Nonvisual Access Technology -MCA 18-5-601. Findings