Helping the Blind and Visually Impaired throughout Montana

Training Programs for Independent Living

Are you interested in learning new skills or strengthening the independent living skills you already have?
The Montana Association for the Blind (MAB) offers several programs designed to help people who are blind or have low vision gain confidence, independence, and community.

Summer Orientation Program (SOP)
An immersive, life-changing program focused on independence and confidence. Participants receive hands-on training in daily living skills, white cane travel, technology, Braille, low-vision tools, and more. Instruction is provided by experienced teachers, many of whom are blind themselves.
Location: Great Falls | Time: June 13 - July 11, 2026
Cost: Room, board, and training provided at no cost to participants
Contact: Melanie – (406) 442-9411 for information and application.
See Web Page: Click Here

Orientation Program Workshop (OPW) – Advanced Skills
A one-week workshop designed for individuals who already have basic independent living skills and want to push those skills to the next level. Training includes orientation and mobility in community environments, activities for daily living, and technology.
Location: Great Falls | Time: July 12 - 17, 2026 Cost: Room, board, and training provided at no cost to participants
Contact: Melanie – (406) 442-9411 for information and application.

Life Learner Retreat – Sponsored by the Bozeman Chapter of MAB
A supportive retreat-style learning experience covering mobility, daily living skills, Braille, budgeting and financial skills, communication, games, and leisure activities. Each retreat serves 3–6 participants for personalized instruction.
Location: Bozeman
Upcoming Dates: April 19–24 | May 17–19
Cost: $500 with housing | $250 without housing | Scholarships available
Contact Todd (406) 600-7548.

The Montana Association for the Blind (MAB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1947 to aid in the education, training, and support of individuals who are facing blindness and their families.

The mission of MAB is to promote the social and economic self-sufficiency of blind and low-vision Montanans through the facilitation of quality education, training, community, employment, and adaptive services, in addition to fostering a positive understanding of blindness. We envision a Montana in which blindness is understood to be an ordinary and respectable part of life and in which the skills and tools of blindness are readily available to all who may benefit from them.

If you want to become a member of the Montana Association for the Blind, please open this fillable form and send it by E-mail to: mabadmin@mabsop.org.

Open the MAB Membership Application Form 2026

* If form is not accessible pleaseClick Here for Accessible Membership Application

We work toward this goal by offering adaptive training programs, outreach and community, scholarships to blind college students, and programs that help individuals obtain the adaptive equipment they need. Our local chapters provide support, information, understanding and a sense of community to visually impaired people across the state, many in remote communities with zero access to blind services or community support. Our cornerstone program is our Summer Orientation Program for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SOP), an intensive independent-living training program that gives adults the skills they need to lead autonomous and satisfying lives after vision loss.

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Thank You!
We are grateful for the support given to us from the Montana DPHHS and the Montana Lions Clubs.