Shane B. is a 59 year old male who lives in Great Falls. After a stroke four years ago, he was unable to return to his job as an air traffic controller. Shane went to Vocational Rehabilitation for retraining. Shane's wife also has a disability and is unable to work and their only income is his pension which barely meets basic needs. The stroke affected Shane's right side and visual acuity as well as causing memory lapses. VR helped Shane obtain training to become a Luthier. A Luthier is a person who repairs guitars and other stringed instruments. Careers through Partnerships purchased numerous hand and power tools to enable Shane to practice his trade. Shane has started his own business called Rocky Mountain Guitars because he has played guitar for years and has been dissatisfied with the quality of repairs. Rocky Mountain Guitars provides repair service to or construction of custom-made guitars, violins, mandolins, dulcimers, banjoes; and sells new and used instruments. The market area includes north central Montana, Idaho, southern Canada and Wyoming. While business has had a slow start, we felt it was important to highlight Shane's endeavor as a Luthier because it is unique and promising.

Melissa C. is a 23 year old Native American woman with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome who lives in Great Falls. Melissa sought assistance from the Montana/Wyoming Careers through Partnerships Project to start business. Careers through Partnerships provided funds to Melissa to purchase baking equipment such as bowls, spoons, measuring cups, rolling pins, pastry brushes storage containers, aprons, cookie cutters, grain grinder, scale, vacuum packaging system, work tables, dehydrator, and miscellaneous office supplies to help her develop her gourmet dog biscuits. The project also provided funds to Melissa for advertising, business liability insurance and a business license. Since the business began in November, 1999, Lissie's Luv Yums has grown. Melissa plans to offer a new product which is a mix pet owners can buy to make their own dog biscuits. Melissa also plans to market her dog biscuits on the internet.

Eric, 29, has bi-polar disorder and lives in Kalispell, which is located in northwestern Montana. Eric was sponsored by Lamplighter, a mental health day treatment program and enrolled in March, 1999. His goal was to start a glass installation business and realize his dream of being a third-generation glass cutter. Because of his illness, Eric had a hard time keeping jobs. Eric is very frank about his past and has spoken about the difficult time he had before he was correctly diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. By the time he came to Lamplighter, he had been in jail and created a situation where he had bad credit. He also had undependable transportation. The demonstration project was able to help Eric purchase precision glass cutting equipment (saws, diamond drill bits), and newspaper and radio advertising. Eric was working out of a garage in very limited space. The project also provided him with rent money for a store on a busy highway south of Kalispell. The storefront was essential for him to market windows to customers. As a result of having a showroom, glass companies are now vying for his business. He is an exclusive carrier of two different types of fiberglass windows in Montana and Idaho. He has also received large custom window jobs from a local custom home builder. In 1999, Eric's business grossed just over $100,000. He has since hired three employees. In 2000, Eric is projecting sales of $800,000. The possibilities seem endless for Eric as he is also working with an out-of-state company on the possibility of manufacturing windows in Kalispell.

A client of Jewish Vocational Services' Business Career Institute (BCI) who suffered from major depression, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse was the first graduate from their program this fiscal year. The client, a 43-year-old female, lives in a recovery house and last worked in 1996 as a waitress. She attended BCI and, thanks to the help she did work of counselors, instructors and outside case managers, she graduated as a skilled clerical worker on February 25, 2000. On March 20 she began a full-time position, at $10.00 per hour plus benefits, as a receptionist at a law office in downtown Chicago.

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Edward C., a 54-year old male participant in the Montana Job Training Partnership Careers through Partnership Program, previously worked as a foreman in heavy highway construction until he became ill with Polycystic Kidney Disease. At the time of his enrollment in the MJTP program, he had not worked for over two years. His situation was so bad that doctors had advised him to take care of his personal affairs and prepare for the worst. His disease causes him to be very ill every morning as has made Edward determined to work around his illness. Before Edward entered the construction trade many years ago, he had graduated from the Career Academy of Radio and Television in California. Because of his personality and his love of music, he is pursuing self-employment as a special events mobile disc jockey. His business, Montana Special Events, began operation in December 1999. His business targets customers who are planning events for weddings, receptions, company picnics, family/class reunions, corporate parties, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Vocational Rehabilitation collaborated with MJTP to purchase sound and light equipment Edward needed. His business is off to a dynamic start; he has eight weddings and one special event scheduled so far.

D.F. came to the IAPSRS project in October, 1998. At the time of admission into the project, D.F. was very depressed, and also very confused about what he wanted out of life. Prior to his coming into the program, D.F. was considering suicide. He told staff that life had nothing to offer him and he was going nowhere. He did have a family that was supportive, especially his father and sister, and he also had support from his religious community. After being in the project for three weeks, D.F. started a job as a security officer at the airport. D.F. is still working at the airport and his one-year anniversary is coming up. Since starting work, D.F. has saved enough money to get himself an automobile that he uses to get to and from work. In addition, he has received two salary increases over the course of the year. D.F. has also advised that he has cut down on his medication with close monitoring from his doctor. He states that work has helped him greatly in his recovery. He is very happy with his life now and he is considering returning to school for some courses that will help him apply for a supervisory position.

Another participant was a client of Mainstream, Inc. in Dallas, Texas and he was seen for intake on April 9, 1999. His disabilities are numerous, including a stroke, which occurred while undergoing heart surgery. The stroke left him with only 50% heart pumping efficiency, cognitive losses and depression. He also has Adult Respiration Distress Syndrome, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and chronic pain. He left his last job due to medical problems. The participant was referred from the Texas Rehabilitation Commission. He is 52 years old and has children. The Texas Rehabiliation Commission, along with Pate Rehabilitation, evaluated his needs for optimum job performance. His needs include a voice-activated computer; because of pain and a cognitive disorder, he needs a private office with a sofa where he would be able to work and rest when needed. The participant received training on how to conduct a job search via the Internet through Mainstream's Project LINK. He also presented himself to employers on Project LINK's Business Advisory Council at the May meeting. On May 31, 1999, he obtained employment with the Arlington Girls & Boys Club as Director of Resource Development, Marketing & Public Relations with a starting salary of $42,000 per year. He is still working with Texas Rehabilitation Commission to receive the voice-activated computer and office furniture that were determined as needed for him to perform to his greatest potential.

Edith, a client who has experienced mental illness, has been receiving job training and placement services from the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI). She began a position in October working 20 hours per week at a state agency. While she had worked briefly 5 years ago, she had not held a job working 20 hours a week or more since 1989. Edith enjoys her job, particularly the professional atmosphere and working alongside her co-workers. She is learning to use e-mail, a calculator, and spreadsheets. She continues to receive support services from a local organization, and her employer is extremely pleased with Edith's work and plans to communicate with other state agencies about the succcess of the job training program at ICI.