April 6, 2009
University of Montana
Rural Institute Transition Projects
http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition
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Tracy Fillbach
Age 22
Graduate of Corvallis High School
Home Care Attendant
Active member of community
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 I live in my own apartment in Hamilton
 I plan and prepare my own meals
 I have my own car and drive places I need to go (I’ve
had my driver’s license for a long time)
 To keep connected with the world, I have a land line
telephone and a track phone (like a cell phone but I
purchase minutes every month)
 I have a computer but no Internet access
 I work out regularly at a local Health Club
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 I write appointments and other important
things on calendars
 If I can’t be somewhere I’m supposed to be, I
call ahead of time and let the other person
know
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I can call 911 if I have an emergency
My apartment has smoke detectors
Susanne, my Community
Rehabilitation Provider, joins me in
my cooking and meal planning twice a
month
My mom is supportive and helps if I
need it
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 I am currently a Home Care Attendant
I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 8:30 – 11:30
I help an individual get ready in the
mornings, assist her with her breakfast,
and feed her rabbits
 Prior to being a Home Care Attendant, I
worked as a Dietary Aide
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I volunteer at the Teller Wildlife
Refuge
My volunteering is in the summer
I weed and do other garden work
I volunteer with two ladies from the area
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 Raising and showing rabbits
 I own three rabbits
 They live at my sister’s house in Corvallis
 Breeding and showing rabbits is a family event for us
 Entering photographs at the county fair
 Going to the Ravalli County Fair
 Taking vacations with my family (my mom and I went to
Oregon…in 2001, we went to Hawaii)
 On my days off, I like to relax a bit but always work out!
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I have several friends I spend
time with
Randy and I hang out sometimes
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My mom told me I needed to start exercising, so:
 I go to the Iron Horse Health Club with friends
 I use the machines
 Twice a week for an hour at a time
 I ride my bike
 I downhill ski
 I compete in Special Olympics
 And I go horseback riding
 Once a week with Bitterroot Therapeutic Riding
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 Get ready for the day
 Drive to work (from
Hamilton to Corvallis)
 Work from 8:30 –
11:00
 Go to the Iron Horse
and work out
 Watch television
 Go visit friends
 Make and eat dinner
 Run errands
 Go for a walk
 Go home
 Watch a rented movie
 Eat lunch and relax
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 I am eligible for Community Supports funding
through the Montana Developmental Disabilities
Program
 The money is used for
*Fitness Membership
*Meal Planning, Preparation, and Budgeting
*Horse Back Riding
*Long-Term Supported Employment
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 Yes! Don’t we all?
 When I get bored, I ride my bike, watch television, or
find something else to do
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My Name is Ryan Monson
• I graduated from Hamilton High
School in May 2002. This is my
senior year picture.
• I am 27 years old now.
• I live with my parents and have 5
brothers and sisters and 12
stepbrothers and sisters, though I
am the only one living at home.
• We moved to Montana from Utah
nine years ago. Some of my
family members still live in Utah
and some live in Montana and I
have lots of nieces and nephews.
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I have a job delivering newspapers:
I deliver the Bitteroot Star every Wednesday
morning starting at nine o’clock. I deliver to
the businesses downtown and it usually takes
meInstitute
about two hours.
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People who have helped me since I
graduated:
• My family and I do fun things
together. Sometimes we go
swimming, hiking, have picnics or
barbeques and watch movies or play
chess.
• Susanne Meikle is my job coach and
also helps me in finding suitable
employment. She is my friend, too,
and helps me learn things about
working in the community and doing
things the right way. She is with
Montana Work Solutions and helps
people with disabilities and special
needs to find jobs. There is a
newspaper article about her on the
last slide.
•
Jane Shigley is my case manager
for Community Supports. She
helps me with Special Olympics,
government funding for job
supports, and helps with any
problems I encounter.
•
Jerry Zook, the counselor with
Montana Vocational
Rehabilitation in Hamilton,
helped me in finding work and
providing government funding.
•
My parents provide
transportation when I need it.
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Things I do for fun:
•Read books
•Go for walks or ride my bike
•Play computer games and watch TV
• Ride horses
• Attend People’s First
meetings and events
• Visit my brother’s video
store to play and trade
games.
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Things I do for fun:
• Work on my computer
• Practice typing by
copying books
• Attend Special Olympics
• Play and compose
music on my keyboard
• Play chess
• Volunteer
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I volunteered at Kids First
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Carol Monson
• I am Ryan’s stepmother. He has
lived with me since he was seven
years old.
• I help Ryan with his projects,
teach him proper use of his
computer and electronic
equipment, and encourage him
to be outgoing and participate in
things that are useful for his
growth and intellectual progress.
• His father also helps in caring for
his special needs and provides
transportation whenever he
needs it.
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Tips for other parents and
teachers:
• Find what is available in services and providers in your community.
In Ravalli County, check with the Opportunity Resources people.
• Sign up for Developmental Disability services and Community
Supports as soon as you can, even while your child is still in school.
Once your child is out of school, Community Supports funding can
help in paying for job coaching and searching for possible
employment.
• Apply for SSI for your child (and keep applying if you are initially
turned down…they always seem to turn you down at first but be
persistent and keep applying).
• Access all available work programs while your child is still in schoolsummer jobs, work experience programs, etc.
• The Rural Institute at the University of Montana in Missoula can be
of help sometimes, too.
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Tips for other parents and
teachers:
• It helps to be aware of your child’s strengths and weaknesses and
what special abilities they might have that could be marketed in
the business world. Then plan to increase their capacity.
• Start looking around for businesses that might be willing to take
on an employee with your child’s special abilities and strengths.
• While he was in high school, Ryan participated in a special “Job
Profiling” through the Rural Institute. This helped us to realize
just what he was capable of. Then we brainstormed with his
teachers to think about and find possible businesses that could be
shown how someone with Ryan’s skills could be of benefit to their
workplace. We met often to discuss and help discover further
opportunities to help Ryan. His teachers in the Special Education
Department were very helpful.
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Was it easy to build a full day?
• After Ryan graduated from high school, the Community
Supports program (Jane Shigley, case manger, and Susanne
Meikle with Montana Work Solutions) started working and
doing IP (individual planning) meetings to help Ryan. We
applied to Montana Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) for help
and they paid for some of his funding in finding a suitable
job. His Community Supports funding kicked in and paid
Susanne after funding with VR ran out.
• We met often in IP planning meetings to decide the best
businesses for Ryan to apply at and then Susanne called
them and set up appointments for interviews. She let them
know Ryan would have a job coach at first until he was
comfortable with the job enough to not need one anymore.
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Was it easy to build a full day?
• It took awhile to get things worked out because not all
businesses are willing to take a chance on people with
disabilities but they can be shown how someone with
disabilities can be of benefit in their workplace.
• It took almost a year to find something he could do. He
worked at Vann’s Appliances for awhile until they no longer
needed him and he worked at Print Works until they had
cutbacks due to various failures in their business. While he
was waiting for employment he kept busy doing volunteer
work and the fun things he likes to do.
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Introducing…
Melissa “Lissie” Clark (my Assiniboine given name is
Eya Be Washday Weya, which means Good Words
Woman)
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My Background
Gros Ventre Assiniboine Native American
from the Fort Belknap Reservation
 Born in Havre in 1976
 Graduated from CMR High School in
1996 and Secondary Life Skills in 1998
 One of the first diagnosed children with
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in the state
of Montana

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Living
Situation
I live in Great Falls with my foster mom
and support person, Sister Johnelle, and
my dog, Tiger (Tiger a 105-year-old
lab/Akita cross)
 My mom drives me to places I need to be
 Eventually I will be in the 10% of people
with FAS who successfully live on their
own…with proper supports in place

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Employment
I am the owner and CEO of Lissie's Luv Yums, a gourmet dog
biscuit business
 My mom provides necessary supports
 I’ve been in business for 10 years now
 Our products include “Montana Made Dog Biscuits,” “Fun to Fix
Dog Biscuit Mix” (includes directions and a cutter), and “Poochie
Snack Pack”
 We sell all over the U.S. and Canada via our web site, trade shows,
and selected stores
 I have three contracted bakers working for me and an informal
franchise in Baker, Montana
 I usually work 3-4 hours per day, 5 days per week (hours vary)
 http://www.lissiesluvyums.com/
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
My duties include:
Grinding wheat berries
 Setting up the dry mix for the contractors
 Baking
 Packaging
 Preparing products for shipping
 Recording all orders and receipts
 Bookkeeping and record keeping by hand
 And anything else that needs to be done!

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My business is fun!

The secret to success is to spend a lot of
time up front making sure the business is
something:
◦ The person can do
◦ The person wants to do
◦ The person will enjoy

A home-based business works well for
me…I work in my room, which is a safe
space and reduces stress
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Volunteering

I give presentations and interviews to interested groups about FAS
◦
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Idaho Governors DD Conference on Self-Employment
Melissa's Circle of Life at the Humility of Mary Center in Davenport, Iowa
Students Like Me in Grand Rapids, MI
High school students in Valier
“Self-Employment for People with Disabilities” at the Illinois State Transition
Conference
◦ “Meeting Ground” ½-hour radio show in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
◦ Cover of “Apostrophe” magazine winter issue
◦ Montana Made Products PBS film (in production)
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I also give talks about business development
I am a member of the SAMSHA Nationwide FASD panel (I am the
American Indian expert member)
I have been a member of the Montana Council on Developmental
Disabilities for 5-6 years and was the Vice-Chairperson for 2 years
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Volunteering
Soup kitchen
 Penny Fundraiser for AGAPE House
($1400) and now for Great Falls Rescue
Mission
 I am an associate member of the Sisters of
Humility of Davenport, Iowa

◦ Not a nun
◦ Attend all meetings, including annual assembly in
Iowa
◦ Share prayers
◦ Contract with Sisters
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Continuing Education
Teacher provides computer tutoring
every Tuesday
 I just graduated from a 10-week sign
language class and plan to go through it
again next fall (I want to be an
interpreter)

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Fun
Word searches
Puzzles
Collect pennies
Listen to music (all kinds)
Read books (Raymond’s Room, Murder She
Wrote, Long Way to Simple, The Horse
Whisperer…)
 Play the violin
 Watch movies (“Slum Dog Millionaire,”
“Grand Torino,”…)
 Attend powwows and art shows
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Friends
I have lots of friends,
including Mary, Angie, Angie from QLC, Stephanie,
and the Sisters of Humility
 I also have a boyfriend
 When my friends and I have time, we like to go out
to eat and go to movies
 Sometimes QLC staff will host a get-together at
someone’s house and we’ll have popcorn and watch
movies
 I use a cell phone and the Internet to keep in
touch…I just joined Facebook and I have a web site
for my business

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Fitness
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I work out on the machines at Gold’s Gym
for an hour every Monday and Friday (a staff
person from QLC goes with me)
My mom and I attend Gentle Yoga for an
hour every Monday at Paris Gibson Square
We have reflexology every Wednesday
When Tiger feels well enough (she has bone
cancer), we go for walks
I am at risk for diabetes, so try to eat healthy
foods (I’m an excellent cook!)
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A Typical Day
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Wake up
Make biscuit dough
Get the oatmeal water
and coffee going (on
Sundays, cook
breakfast)
Shower, dress, turn on
computer, and eat
Bake, ship biscuits
Study sign language
Cook and eat lunch
Go to Gentle Yoga
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Package and ship
biscuits
Practice violin
Do email
Walk Tiger
Housework
Reflexology, computer
class, or catch up on
paperwork
Cook and eat dinner
Read, watch a movie,
or relax before bed
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Community Supports $$$
I receive Community Supports funding
through the Montana Developmental
Disabilities Program
 The money is used for:

◦
◦
◦
◦
Computer classes to help my business
Sign language classes
Gym on Mondays and Fridays
Social activities (cooking class, safety concerns,
community independence…)
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My Mission

To educate others about FAS and give
hope to others.
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Questions?
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