Kristen Newman, ADAC

ADA Accessibility Specialist

Hi! My name is Kristen Newman, and I am Ability Montana’s ADA Accessibility Specialist.

I love my role here! Nothing excites me more than demystifying the laws that ensure people with disabilities have equitable opportunities to enjoy and participate fully in our communities and live independent lives. I learn new things every day and love working through the challenges of complex real-world issues at the local level and the critical thinking and advocacy that comes with them. I believe that education and community partnership is a driver of inclusivity and access for all within our communities and great opportunities for positive change and new ways of thinking come from wisdom and expertise found in lived experience.

Here at Ability Montana, my service dog, Cricket, and I support our team in all things accessibility related from ensuring our offices are as accessible as possible for our staff and the community members that we serve, to supporting staff in their day-to-day work in barrier removal for consumers within our communities. More broadly, I work alongside state and national experts in illuminating emerging best practices, improving engagement with the disability community, and championing the concept of co-design. I am here to provide you with Information and Referral services, technical assistance and information on legislation and laws that affect people with disabilities, training support, guidance on site improvements, accessibility and inclusion and more! Don’t hesitate to reach out! In my spare time, I enjoy taking my dogs out on adventures, and exploring the backroads, geology and history that makes Montana so special.