Blog Archives - MonTECH

Technology and Tenacity Are Keys to Tenley’s Independence

Posted on October 8, 2019, Edited October 8, 2019 by Shawna Hanson

Close-up of Tenley's face. She is smiling, with big brown eyes, dark hair pulled back in ponytail, and a bright blue headband.

Mathieu Stoker shows me a video of his eight-year-old daughter, Tenley, climbing up on a bench. Disney’s Moana plays on a television off-screen. Tenley’s progress is painstaking. She has […]

Identifying Children with Deaf-Blindness, and Raising Our Expectations for Them

Posted on July 17, 2019, Edited July 17, 2019 by Shawna Hanson

Early identification of children who are deaf-blind is a primary goal for the Montana Deaf-Blind Project (MTDB). How many kids in Montana have that dual sensory impairment? Well, it depends […]

Sarah Rates the BuzzClip

Posted on July 17, 2019, Edited July 17, 2019 by Shawna Hanson

Sarah smiles at camera, wearing hot-pink leopard-spotted hoodie, black frame glasses, and short blond hair.

Sarah Tienhaara, 13, dreams of owning and racing a dog sled team. She gets fired up just thinking about it. “Mushing isn’t a sport,” she explains. “It’s a lifestyle. You […]

Like Bikes? We need a VISTA!

Posted on May 8, 2019 by itdirector

Work with MonTECH as an Americorps VISTA starting in July! This person will be expanding and strengthening our Wheels Across Montana (WAM) program. This position is for you if you […]

Makers Make Customized Assistive Tech Affordable

Posted on April 30, 2019, Edited April 30, 2019 by Shawna Hanson

Eleni smiles, wearing black T, black rimmed glasses, short black hair. Customized bicycle in shop behind her.

Did you see the ad for Microsoft’s adapted Xbox controller during this year’s Super Bowl? You know the one, “When everybody plays, we all win” (cue happy tears). The ad […]

MontComm, MonTECH’s AAC Conference, Coming this August!

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Shawna Hanson

MontComm flyer in green and turquoise, shows mother smiling and holding laughing little boy with brown hair, communication devices spread on the table in front of them.

Don’t miss out! MonTECH’s one-day conference on augmentative and alternative communication is set for August 5th in beautiful downtown Missoula! Educators, direct support staff, family members, therapists, and other professionals […]

Community for Everett Begins with Communication

Posted on February 25, 2019, Edited February 27, 2019 by Shawna Hanson

Rebecca, in dark sweater with long hair hanging over her face, holds a laughing Everett, the sunshine coming through a window onto his white-blond hair.

Rebecca Miner thinks about community – community for her son, Everett. How will he make friends, when he cannot speak? How will he be included, if other parents are fearful […]

Annual Report FY2018

Posted on February 5, 2019, Edited February 12, 2019 by itdirector

MonTECH – Improving Lives with Technology Annual Report FY2018 Montana’s Assistive Technology Loan Program and Training Resource “We had the great pleasure of working with (MonTECH) staff this year. We […]

Temporary Relocation

Posted on February 1, 2019, Edited February 1, 2019 by itdirector

Due to the McGill Hall closure, MonTECH staff have been temporarily relocated to Corbin Hall. For assistance, please call (406) 243-5751. […]

When a Traditional Loan Is Not an Option: Hamilton Woman Purchases Van with MATL

Posted on December 28, 2018, Edited December 28, 2018 by Shawna Hanson

As a social worker, Sarah Imoe investigated allegations of child abuse for Child Protective Services. Facing parents resentful of her presence in their homes was part of the job, […]