from the desk of Pamela Bisceglia, Executive Director
November 29, 2025, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Public Law 94-142 Education for all Handicapped Children Act and reauthorized in 1990 and 2004 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. May 12, 2025, ADVOCACYDENVER celebrated our 71st anniversary. The Denver County Chapter was established in 1954, by parents to address the lack of access for children with disabilities to public education.
We stand on the shoulders of the parents before us.
[Read more…] about 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education ActBig Beautiful Bill
from the desk of Pamela Bisceglia
When Donald Trump was elected in 2017 my daughter said she was scared because “he doesn’t like people with disabilities”. I hugged her and said I would do what I could to keep her safe. Flash forward 8 years 7 months. July 3rd my daughter walked into the kitchen, clearly upset and said that they passed “Orange’s Big Ugly”. No disrespect for the president, she calls them as she sees him “Orange”; she understands that the bill forwards deep cuts to one of her lifelines, disability benefits. I hugged her and said I would do what I can to keep her safe.
[Read more…] about Big Beautiful BillAdvocacy in Action – Medicaid Terminations Must Stop!
As you likely know, many members of our community have experienced significant harm due to the convergence of three major activities within the Medicaid world: the end of the Public Health Emergency, the implementation of Case Management Redesign, and Health Care Policy & Financing’s (HCPF) database transition.
[Read more…] about Advocacy in Action – Medicaid Terminations Must Stop!“This is Going to be Ugly”
While preparing for the rollout of the Pediatric Health Assessment Tool (PAT) in August 2012, Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) staff predicted that “…this is going to be ugly.”
[Read more…] about “This is Going to be Ugly”DPS Failed to Provide Speech Services to Over 1000 Students
On January 17, 2023, AdvocacyDenver filed a complaint against the Denver Public Schools (DPS) with the Colorado Department of Education alleging violations of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The complaint was filed on behalf of a family whose child had not received speech/language services (SLP) required by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) beginning August 2022 to the date that the complaint was filed. In addition, AdvocacyDenver provided a list of other elementary schools where children were not receiving the IEP SLP services.
[Read more…] about DPS Failed to Provide Speech Services to Over 1000 StudentsStudents Prevail in Systemic Complaint Against Denver Public Schools
It is important to know where you have been in order to know where you are going. The student pictured is a client. He is a Denver Public School (DPS) student, diagnosed with autism. In 2011 the student was assigned to an affective needs (AN) center program. The AN program is said to be designed for students with emotional disabilities, not students with autism, intellectual disabilities, other health impairments (e.g. ADHD) or other disabilities.
[Read more…] about Students Prevail in Systemic Complaint Against Denver Public SchoolsInclusive Housing Report Highlights Need for Creative Action in Denver
By Kaley Day
Affordable housing in Denver—a seemingly contradictory statement and an issue that, at the very least, causes headaches for those trying to navigate it, and at worst leads to homelessness and displacement for our most vulnerable community members. Denver’s housing market is among the fastest growing in the country, and that growth leaves behind thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are unable to keep up with rising costs and lack of inclusivity and accessibility.
[Read more…] about Inclusive Housing Report Highlights Need for Creative Action in DenverThe New Norm?
From the Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
When the Stay at Home orders were issued all persons, including AdvocacyDenver and community centered board staff transitioned from in-person to a remote workforce. We learned that for the day-to-day business or staff meetings we did not need to travel into the office, rather business could be conducted virtually. We became experts learning to access and the new social norms when meeting via Zoom, Google Meets, etc. We also learned lessons in relation to access and equity.
[Read more…] about The New Norm?Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Parent OPT Out
From the Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
Periodically AdvocacyDenver forwards concerns to the Colorado Department of Education regarding their policies, rules/guidance, including the state assessment Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS). The requirement for academic standards and a method to “measure” student progress was first defined in No Child Left Behind and remains in place under the Every Child Succeeds Act. It is said that if a state does not comply that they could lose federal funds. Some time ago California Department of Education weighed the loss of instruction time, the social emotional toll that “high states assessments” take on their students, did away with their state assessment and said keep the pennies of federal funds.
[Read more…] about Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Parent OPT OutFinding That Inspire Elementary School Principal Discriminated Against a Student Based on Race
From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
On February 6, 2020, a complaint of discrimination was filed by a member of Denver Public School (“DPS”) staff against the Principal of Inspire Elementary School. The complaint was filed in accordance with DPS Board of Education policy AC. The complainant alleged that the Principal discriminated against the student based on race (Black) and disability. AdvocacyDenver appreciates the staff that stood firm advocating for the appropriate treatment of the student and forwarded the complaint of discrimination.
[Read more…] about Finding That Inspire Elementary School Principal Discriminated Against a Student Based on Race