An Interview with Catherine Strode
State Senator Bob Gardner (Senate District 12) has a long legislative history of sponsoring bills that support the rights and interests of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. He is currently the sponsor of Senate Bill 174, a bill that brings Colorado law into alignment with federal law protecting the rights of individuals living in group homes and other residential settings.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senator Gardner says Senate Bill 174 is part of an ongoing bipartisan effort in Colorado to maintain equal rights for all state citizens.
[Read more…] about Property Rights For People With Developmental Disabilities Restored With Bill
Funding of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission Faces Final Vote
An Interview with Catherine Strode
The State Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing next week on a bill to reauthorize funding for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (CCRC.) Funding the CCRC is being called one of the most contentious issues of the 2018 Legislative Session with opinions being drawn down party lines. In February, Republicans on the Joint Budget Committee voted to withhold the funding.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senate Judiciary Committee member Rhonda Fields voices her strong support of the reauthorization. She says the pending Supreme Court case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission of a Colorado baker refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple is driving the partisan debate.
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Vote “YES” on Education Funding Bill for Students With Special Needs
An Interview with Catherine Strode
This coming Monday, April 2, the House Education Committee will vote on a bill crafted by 174 Colorado Superintendents to increase resources and decrease inequities in Colorado’s public schools for students with special needs. This encompasses students with disabilities, gifted and talented, children in poverty and English language learners. House Bill 18-1232 is sponsored by State Representative Dave Young and co-sponsored by State Senator Don Coram. The bill modernizes the school finance distribution formula for all students throughout the state. The formula has not been updated for the past 24 years.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Young says the bill has strong support among the state’s school superintendents. He urges community support to get the bill passed.
[Read more…] about Vote “YES” on Education Funding Bill for Students With Special Needs
Behavioral Health Disabilities Targeted in State Aid Program
An Interview with Catherine Strode
State Representative Tony Exum is one of 11 siblings. He speaks of growing up in poverty and how that experience shapes his support of legislation. His sponsorship of House Bill 18-1196, “Applications for Aid to the Needy Disabled Program,” is representative of his commitment to serve individuals enduring chronic homelessness, unemployment, and economic need. The bill is targeted to help individuals be verified as having a disability who are homeless due to behavioral health disorders. The bill has passed with strong bipartisan support.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Exum and Advocate Jack Regenbogon discuss the bill’s importance and impact on low income Coloradans.
[Read more…] about Behavioral Health Disabilities Targeted in State Aid Program
Passage of Senate Bill Proves Words Matter
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Nationwide, the “intellectual and developmental disability” is gradually replacing the term “mental retardation”. Advocates have rightfully asserted the “R” word is offensive. Colorado lawmakers agree. They have adopted Senate Bill 18-096, which modernizes the terminology in statute, and have sent the bill to the Governor for his signature.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, the bill’s sponsor explains how the outdated language will be removed from all Colorado statutes and how the testimony of Self Advocate Connor Long made that happen.
[Read more…] about Passage of Senate Bill Proves Words Matter
Bill Fights Abuse of Vulnerable People By State Employees
An Interview with Catherine Strode
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, people with developmental disabilities are four to ten times more likely to be abused compared to their peers in the general population. They also tend to be abused by a caregiver and repeatedly abused for longer periods of time. The Colorado Department of Human Services employs nearly 3,000 direct care staff to serve our state’s most vulnerable people. A small handful of them (two or three) charged with abusing clients, are still employed by the Colorado Department of Human Services because current law does not allow them to be dismissed.
State Representative Janet Buckner (HD 40) is sponsoring a bipartisan bill, House Bill 18-1065, that allows the Colorado Department of Human Services to dismiss employees when there is suspicion of harm. In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Buckner says she has a passion for protecting vulnerable people.
[Read more…] about Bill Fights Abuse of Vulnerable People By State Employees
Bill Proposes Application Assistance for Disability Benefits
An Interview with Catherine Strode
State Representative Lois Landgraf (HD-21) talks openly about her son Todd’s brain injury and the impact it has had on her family. She has sponsored several bills during her tenure supporting individuals with disabilities. House Bill 18-1192 is one of them. The bill proposes application assistance for individuals applying for federal disability benefits.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Landgraf says her own family came close to losing all benefits for Todd due to one missing signature. She also holds this bill up as one of the most important she has ever championed.
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Prison Pipeline
From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
Denver Public Schools, the Division of Youth Corrections and the Division of Human Services all own a piece of Ridge View Academy. Ridge View Academy is a youth correction facility located in Weld County. The correction facility is in a remote area and is surrounded by fields. The facility does not have a barbed wire fence, rather the youth understand if they run they will be sent to a more secure correction facility. Ridge View houses the Denver Public Schools charter school Rite of Passage. The charter school was approved by Denver Public Schools Board of Education over a decade ago. The partnership between Denver Public Schools and the Division of Youth Corrections provides new meaning to the school-to-prison pipeline.
Bill Introduced to Tackle Affordable Housing
An Interview with Catherine Strode
According to a recent report published by the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) and the task force for the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, there is a housing affordability crisis nationwide. Here in Colorado, a bill is being proposed to put a tax on plastic bags to fund the expansion of the supply of affordable housing. If it passes, House Bill 18-1054 would go to a vote of the people in November of this year.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, the House sponsor, State Representative Paul Rosenthal (D-9) explains the bill’s design.
[Read more…] about Bill Introduced to Tackle Affordable Housing
“Vote4Medicaid” Movement Ramps Up for 2018 Elections
An Interview with Catherine Strode
A movement is underway across the state to build a broad coalition of people who will register to vote and elect pro Medicaid and pro disability candidates. The goal is to elect candidates, both at the state and national level, who will not cut vital supports that enable community living for people with disabilities.
Julie Reiskin, Executive Director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), has helped implement solutions in the state for a sustainable Medicaid program. A respected advocate and health policy analyst, she championed consumer direction as a care delivery model.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, she explains how the “Vote4Medicaid” movement got started and why it is essential for all Coloradans to support it.
[Read more…] about “Vote4Medicaid” Movement Ramps Up for 2018 Elections