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MISSOULA - The Missoula Children's Theater has once again produced a play specifically for children with autism. Reporter Cristy Aranguiz spoke to Miss Montana, who says MCT changed her life, and that performances like the one held Tuesday night can help others as well.

MISSOULA - When getting around the house isn't easy, it's good to know people who are willing to help. Odette is a special needs child from Missoula who recently underwent a successful kidney transplant and is currently at the Children's Hospital in Seattle recovering.

KALISPELL- Hundreds of kids in Montana are diagnosed with having autism spectrum disorder each year, but that diagnosis varies largely from child to child.

"Recognize disability, promote opportunities. Our previous title-holder Alex Wiseman and she was a woman with autism and helped spread her message. It's cool being her successor. My message is more to the neuro-typical person on how they can incorporate disabilities as an opportunity and learn from one another." Her family are the ones who have shaped the path she takes as her older sister has mild to severe autism. Pope is a senior at Minnesota State University where she is studying special education. With her nomination to represent Montana, her studies will take a back seat for a year. "It's absolutely crazy the things I've learned and my friends have learned through being involved with my family. That's what I want to help promote in communities-- is that inclusion," Pope said.

GREAT FALLS- Parents of special needs children have a new source for support and rest in Great Falls at the Peace Place Respite Care facility. Paulisha Pryor is one of the people who has benefitted from the service. Her 18 month old daughter Willow suffers from a heart defect, immune deficiency, sclerosis and developmental disabilities, requiring extra attention from Paulisha to properly care for her daughter.

MISSOULA - A new software at the University of Montana and affiliated campuses will make a big difference for students with learning disabilities this spring. The Read and Write Gold software will allow students and employees to have whatever is on the computer screen read to them out loud. The Disability Services for Students department originally wanted it for students with learning disabilities and barriers to print - but found it all UM students could benefit from the program.

MISSOULA - Marcus Bartlett, a Missoula Sentinel High School student, has a passion for vacuum cleaners, and that passion is about to make him a little famous.

MISSOULA - A not so ordinary playground will be ready for students when they return to class at Jefferson School next week. Members of the Rotary Club of Missoula Sunrise spent Tuesday working on the new playground, which they've funded and built. Jefferson is the only Missoula school that serves pre-school age students and is a peer model school with both special needs and non-special needs students.

Montana State University has launched a new, multidisciplinary center that is designed to help improve diagnosis and treatment of mental illness throughout Montana. The new MSU Center for Mental Health Research and Recovery was approved today by the Montana Board of Regents. It will draw on MSU's research strength in neuroscience, electrical engineering, computer science, biochemistry, psychology and nursing, among other disciplines, to address pressing mental health challenges in the state.

TUESDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- When Connie Anderson's son was diagnosed with autism a decade ago, she scoured the Internet looking for treatments.

"I tried all sorts of things I now consider bananas," said Anderson, now community scientific liaison at Kennedy Krieger Institute's Interactive Autism Network. "At the time it didn't feel like nonsense. It was hope. People will try all sorts of things to help their child, sometimes even against their better judgment."

HELENA - Montana's Capitol joined buildings around the world to raise awareness about autism on Thursday night.

Your odds of becoming disabled before you retire are about one in three. That might be higher than you expect. You might also be surprised by the most likely causes of disability.

WEDNESDAY, March 2 (HealthDay News) -- Countering the belief that you have to be "older" to suffer from mental illness, a new report says there's actually no lowest-age limit.

Children who have a "medical home" -- that is, a pediatrician or nurse they see regularly who offers comprehensive care -- are more likely to have their medical and dental needs met, new research finds. Yet it's the sickest children -- those who have a chronic condition or special need and require the most care -- who are less likely to get the sort of care a medical home offers, the researchers said.

KALISPELL- The Flathead County Sheriff's Department is the first in the state to offer a bracelet that can track missing people that suffer from Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Down's Syndrome and brain injuries. The Glacier Pilot Club told the Flathead County Sheriff's Department about Project Lifesaver earlier this year. It's a program that consists of a person wearing a medical bracelet that sends off a specific frequency that can be detected by using two antennas.

MISSOULA - A a Sentinel High School student with autism received a once in a lifetime gift on Thursday.