It is important to know where we have been, in order to know where we are going.
The foundation for DCARC, The Arc of Denver (D.B.A. AdvocacyDenver) has been our Board of Directors. Over the past seven decades a countless number of parents, self-advocates, siblings, doctors, lawyers, educators, psychologists, religious leaders, politicians and white- or blue-collar workers have served on our Board of Directors and helped shape the future for our organization.
Our Current Board of Directors includes Mitch McKinney President; Daniel Rosenberg Vice President; Dr. Peggy Henninger Secretary; Peggi O’Keefe Treasurer; Dr. Shauna Casement Past President; Ricky Garcia Director; Donald Johnson Director; Raiko Johnson Director; Khoa Nguyen Director; Dr. Henrietta “Hetty” Pazos Director; Don Morales Director and Kent Olsen Director.
Each Board member brings different perspective and experience to the table, each member has been touched by disability; each member stands firm advocating for the human rights of individuals with disabilities. In 2018, Catherine Strode interviewed Board member Don Morales, husband, father, advocate and retired businessman on his golden anniversary serving on the AdvocacyDenver Board. Don remembers the years before children with disabilities were allowed to go to school. Don remembers the work of parents and community over the years to shape the future for our community, for our organization.
The Gift of a Lifetime
An Interview with Catherine Strode
For nearly 50 years, Don Morales has given his time and talent to support the needs of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. At 84 years old, Don currently serves as the Treasurer on AdvocacyDenver’s Executive Board. However, his history of service does not begin there. Nor does it end there. He has logged countless hours of volunteer time over the decades in order to raise and improve services for our community.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Don says the greatest advancements he has seen over the years have come in the public schools. His service has been based on his passion to help individuals like his own son, Danny. He says Danny, now 56 years old, has been a gift to his entire family. A gift, that in Don’s own words, “was the greatest thing that happened to us.”
Don Morales, Executive Board Member, AdvocacyDenver
How did you become involved in service for the community of individuals with disabilities?
I had my child in Hope Center, a school for children with disabilities. I was active because we were having to remodel a building, they were going to use at North Clayton Learning Center. The Secretary of the Parents Organization asked me if I would come to a meeting. I did and they talked me into joining. I knew it was going to do good for kids with disabilities. Being as I had a son; I wanted the best for him. I didn’t expect to be on the Board. But two years after I joined the Parents Organization for Hope Center, I became President. Then I went to three meetings for the Arc. (It was Arc Denver when I first started.) They talked me into being on their Board. That was in 1971. A couple of years later, I was representative from the Denver Arc to the Arc Stores Board. I stayed on the Board there for 11 years.
What changes have you seen in the field during Danny’s 56 years?
A lot of the changes I have seen were in the public schools. We filed suit against Denver Public Schools to include all kids with disabilities. That was in 1973. I’ve seen progress in that they go to public schools. When they first started, they put children with disabilities in the basement of the schools. They were segregated. Now they are actually in the regular classes. They have advanced to the point that they have transportation to take them to the public schools. I rode the bus when Danny was at Hope Center. It didn’t have a heater in the wintertime. Hope Center was wondering, how come (the kids) are getting here wet? Well, they were cold. Their feet were cold. Naturally, they wet their pants. Since then. we started getting better transportation for them.
What do you think your greatest contributions have been to AdvocacyDenver?
I’ve been able to recruit quite a few Board members and regular members to AdvocacyDenver. I’ve done a lot of fundraising. I’ve been advocating to make sure we keep the (Arc Thrift) stores going. The stores have supported us. If it hadn’t been for the Arc stores, I don’t know how we would have existed. That has been one of my biggest goals–to make sure we keep the Arc stores going. My hope is that we can keep AdvocacyDenver going forever. The state and the federal government don’t do the hands on. The advocates are active with the individuals and their families. They see them every day. They continue to try to handle whatever problems come up for them. My real hope is that we can continue doing this until, I would like to say, there’s no more need.
Is your son still the reason you continue to be involved?
He’s lived with us for 56 years. We never wanted to put him any other place. A lot of people tried to talk me into putting him in a host home. I figured we would be able to take care of him. He was pretty functional to start with. It’s been about five or six years since he started getting dementia. Now, I’m sure it’s Alzheimer’s. It’s getting harder but we want to take care of him until the good Lord takes him. We don’t want to put him in any other place.
Has having your son Danny changed your life?
Yes. It was just something that happened. We were in our 20’s. My oldest son was born, and he was in perfect health. Danny was born two years later. He was born with Down Syndrome. And it was the greatest thing that happened to us. I have no regrets whatsoever. It has kept the family together. It got me involved with AdvocacyDenver. I don’t think I would have ever been involved if it hadn’t been for him.