SInce 1985
The History of DREAM
DREAM is celebrating over 40 years of adaptive recreation and advocacy!
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Breaking Barriers Since 1985
In 1985, five years before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, a group of Flathead Valley residents came together with a shared vision: making outdoor recreation and public spaces more accessible to people with disabilities.
Dottie Maitland, who operated a local tour company, recognized the significant accessibility barriers at hotels, parks, and recreation sites throughout the region. Alongside Jane Lopp and Larry Dominick, she traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the ADA and meet with the U.S. Access Board, learning how to advance accessibility in their own community. Their efforts helped establish DREAM's foundation in advocacy, education, and access.
Other early supporters, including Larry McMillian, Jim Oliverson, and Dennis Jones, joined the effort, helping transform that vision into meaningful action.
From Accessibility Advocacy to Adaptive Recreation
One of DREAM's earliest initiatives was collaborating with Glacier National Park to improve accessibility along the iconic Trail of the Cedars. Other projects included developing an accessible trail at Woodland Park in Kalispell, creating a statewide accessibility guide for tourism businesses, and educating the community about barriers faced by people with disabilities.
DREAM soon expanded into adaptive recreation, introducing alpine skiing at Big Mountain (now Whitefish Mountain Resort). Inspired by one of the nation's earliest adaptive ski programs at Winter Park, Colorado, Dennis Jones and a dedicated team of volunteer instructors helped establish DREAM's on-snow programming.
Over the following decades, DREAM continued to grow. In 2009, the organization expanded beyond winter sports to introduce summer adaptive recreation opportunities, laying the foundation for the year-round programs offered today.
40+ Years of Growing Possibilities
Today, DREAM provides year-round adaptive recreation opportunities throughout Northwest Montana, including skiing, snowboarding, cycling, mountain biking, paddling, fishing, and watersports. What began as a grassroots effort to improve accessibility has grown into an organization connecting hundreds of individuals with disabilities and their families to meaningful outdoor recreation experiences each year.
While our programs have expanded, our commitment to accessibility remains rooted in the vision of our founders. DREAM continues to work alongside community partners, public agencies, and land managers to break down barriers and expand access to outdoor recreation beyond our own programs.
Built by Our Community
For more than four decades, DREAM's growth has been made possible by the dedication of founders, participants, volunteers, staff, community partners, and generous supporters who believe in the power of inclusive outdoor recreation.
Above all, we celebrate the thousands of participants who have trusted DREAM to be part of their outdoor adventures. Their goals, achievements, and experiences continue to inspire us to expand opportunities, challenge barriers, and build a more inclusive outdoor community.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of DREAM's journey. Here's to the next 40 years!
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane
Explore the people, milestones, and stories that have shaped DREAM over the years. Have historical photos, videos, or memories to share? We'd love to hear from you!
For additional stories and articles, visit our Media Coverage page.
