HELENA, Mont. -- A project in Montana is raising up the experiences of people with disabilities and their families.

Montana Voices Amplified provides a platform for people to speak about their daily lives.

Ed Worrell, an assistive technology teacher who is blind, wrote with a hint of sarcasm about how social media is presented to people who are visually impaired.

"I just wanted to make people aware that 32 thumbs-up emojis in a row really makes it hard for a screen reader user to navigate through the whole text," Worrell explained. "It's just one of those things that what you think you're doing might be cutesy but, for someone with a screen reader, we just skip past it."

Worrell added steps such as ensuring all web pages can be read by screen readers would make the internet more accessible for everyone.

Montana Voices Amplified is hosted by the Montana Family to Family Health Information Center, a program of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana.

Elizabeth Cummings, a special-education teacher and parent of a child with complex health needs, contributed a story to Montana Voices Amplified.

She said many people care about disability communities.

"But they may not understand our experiences just because they haven't lived them or directly known someone," Cummings remarked. "So when we can share our stories, I do find that people are often very receptive, but they may just not have heard them before."

Shawna Hanson, outreach coordinator for the Montana Family to Family Health Information Center, said the stories of people with disabilities often are told by folks outside these communities, but this project has helped get authentic voices onto a bigger stage, and even in front of state legislators.

"We have a lot of isolated, small communities, and it is hard for people with disabilities scattered around Montana to connect and to feel supported," Hanson emphasized. "And so this is one way they can share their stories and one way they can access the stories and know they're not alone."

With absentee voting under way, election season has arrived in Missouri, but voters with disabilities still face challenges.

While poll workers can assist voters with disabilities if they request help, advocates believe accessibility methods and technology should make voting more independent.

The state has a number of methods in place to help voters with disabilities access the polls.

Kara Clark Summers, president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, said poll workers are trained to offer assistance to anyone who requests it.

"We want to make sure that all people feel comfortable and be able to vote a ballot independently, or that we can assist them in whatever manner that they need assisting," Clark Summers explained.

The Missouri deadline to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 12.

Disability advocates argued the new ID restrictions around voting requiring individuals to have an unexpired ID can present both financial and logistical challenges, including having an address which affects the unhoused.

Nicole Noblet, a Missouri disability advocate who speaks through an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device, said while a mail-in ballot is an option, it is not a good one for her.

"I would have to have my mom mark my ballot, because I don't have the motor skills in my hands to be able to fill in the small circles," Noblet explained. "I like being able to have my vote be private, and being able to cast my ballot independently is important to me."

Noblet added in her experience during municipal elections, accessible voting equipment has not been available at all polling locations, and she must travel to one of two locations to use the technology. She hopes eventually Missouri will allow the use of accessible voting by mail.

"One day, maybe Missouri will allow the use of accessible vote-by-mail systems that is utilized by the US military serving overseas, several cities in California, and McLean County, Illinois," Noblet pointed out.

Accessible voting by mail consists of a ballot emailed to the voter.

In an appeal to the public as Hurricane Ian barreled toward Florida, an advocate for persons with disabilities urged everyone to consider checking in with neighbors, friends or family members who may benefit from a helping hand.

Mandy Bianchi, executive director of the group Ability1st, wrote a column in the Tallahassee Democrat published the morning before the then-Category 4 storm made landfall in Southwest Florida, explaining those who are vulnerable have a lot more to consider during hurricane preparedness, including obstacles such as getting emergency notification and transportation; evacuation; sheltering; access to medications, refrigeration, and backup power.

"For people who need oxygen or a CPAP machine or anything along those lines, if we lose power that is really a frightening situation for people who rely on those type of devices," Bianchi pointed out.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 adults in Florida has a disability, which is more than 4.5 million people.

Bianchi stressed it is important to think before, during and after the storm about any person who might be in need of help, and to check on them. She added if you are scared of what could happen during a storm, they might be even more so, and every little bit counts.

Bianchi's organization works across six Florida counties and provides services to people who are homeless. She is also shedding light on being available to assist those with mental-health needs.

"For people who have mental-health concerns, just knowing that somebody is nearby or can call and check on them, it's just a comforting feeling to know that they are not going to be forgotten about or left behind," Bianchi advised.

Almost immediately after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, the National Council on Disability estimated there were roughly 155,000 people with disabilities over the age of 5, or about 25 % of the cities' populations, living in the three cities hardest hit by the hurricane.

Federal agencies such as FEMA, as well as Florida's Division of Emergency Management, provides guidelines on the best ways to plan and support those with disabilities.

Nearly a dozen Iowa youths with disabilities are taking newly developed leadership skills out into the world. A summer academy wrapped up this month, and organizers say this year's class displayed impressive strength in self-advocacy.

The Youth Leadership Academy just saw the graduation of its third class and was able to hold closing ceremonies in-person for the first time after COVID disrupted the previous events.

In interactive sessions, students from ages 14-21 learn about things like goal-setting and civic engagement.

Francine Pace, a college student who was diagnosed with autism at a young age, said she liked the networking training.

"You want them to hear your side, and it's great to hear other people's side and combine and making teamwork happen," Pace explained. "You can overcome a lot of things."

Pace feels the program is a great approach in trying to enact change at the community and state level. She will keep pushing for policies to reduce the state's waiting list for those with disabilities seeking home- and community-based services.

Event organizers say this summer's students already had a range of advocacy experience, which allowed them to bolster the curriculum.

Sebastien Janelle, another college student and academy graduate, said the program helped him focus on personal goals as he looks ahead to his future while living with autism.

"If I want to buy a house someday or, like, if I want to get there, then it is a huge priority to live up with that moment to reach that goal," Janelle emphasized.

The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council helps lead the academy, along with several partners, including the Center for Disabilities and Development, ASK Resources, the state Department of Human Rights and Access to Independence.