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Bill would add specialist to help Montanans under 55 adjust to vision loss
Summary
Sen. Mike Yakawich introduced SB 82 to expand training and daily-living supports for Montanans who lose vision before age 55; state staff and disability advocates testified the change would fill a gap left by federal policy changes and could serve roughly 320 people.
Sen. Mike Yakawich on behalf of the sponsor opened a hearing on Senate Bill 82 in the House Health and Human Services Committee, saying the measure would create a specialist position to provide training and supports for people under 55 who experience significant vision loss.
Supporters told the committee the bill is intended to help people regain independence and return to work. "We appreciate your support to fill this gap by supporting this bill," said Chanda Hermanson, division administrator for disability employment, summarizing services that could include white-cane training, public transit instruction, medication management and meal preparation.
The bill stems from a gap supporters say emerged after the 2014 federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act narrowed vocational rehabilitation goals. Under that federal law, vocational rehabilitation must focus on competitive integrated employment, and programs that previously supported non‑vocational goals such as homemaker training were limited. Proponents said SB 82 would allow Montana to provide targeted, non‑vocational training to people who are not pursuing employment immediately but need skills to live independently.
Witnesses described a narrow slate of services and a proposed single position to coordinate training. "The vocational rehabilitation program provides services to job seekers with disabilities," Hermanson told the committee, and expanding state-managed services would "fill this gap." Ability Montana, a center for independent living, said its staff sometimes lack the specialized training needed to serve people with blindness or low vision. "Some individuals, particularly those experiencing blindness or low vision, need more specialized support than our center can provide," said the Ability Montana speaker, identified in the hearing as Ms. Witt.
Several people with lived experience urged support. "Losing your vision is not easy," said Jacob Krzyzovich, representing the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, who described retraining, confidence building and daily‑living skills that the proposed position could provide.
Committee questions and testimony included program capacity details. Hermanson said the department projects the expanded program would grow the caseload by about 320 individuals and that current instructional staff total about nine; the bill envisions funding for a single specialist position to provide training and coordination. Specific funding sources and the final staffing plan were not specified in the hearing record.
The sponsor closed by asking the committee for a do‑pass recommendation. "I ask, Mr. Chair and committee, to do pass," Yakawich said. The committee did not record a vote in the transcript.
