AdvocacyDenver

Health Care Advocacy and Education | Providing active voice and supporting civil rights for people with disabilities

Home / Archives for Individual Advocacy

Arc of Colorado Executive Director Hails Wins of 2018 Sessions

Christiano Sosa, Executive Director of the Arc of Colorado
Christiano Sosa, Executive Director of the Arc of Colorado

Seven months ago, Christiano Sosa took over the helm of the Arc of Colorado. During that time, he united the state’s 14 Chapters around the 2018 legislative agenda. That agenda produced five prioritized bills that all successfully passed.

In an interview with Catherine Strode, Christiano reflects on this legislative progress and offers his vision moving forward. Part of that vision includes a statewide listening tour he will kick off this June.

[Read more…] about Arc of Colorado Executive Director Hails Wins of 2018 Sessions

Conflict Free Case Management Bill Passes Unanimously

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Colorado State Representative Dave Young (D) House District 50
Colorado State Representative Dave Young (D) House District 50

The bill implementing conflict-free case management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are eligible for home and community-based services under the medicaid program is on its way to the Governor to be signed into law. House Bill 17-1343 was sponsored by State Representative Dave Young, a member of the Joint Budget Committee. It passed both the Senate and the House on unanimous votes of 35-0 and 65-0, respectively.

In an interview with Catherine Strode, State Representative Young discusses the primary motivation for the Joint Budget Committee bill. He says the driver was not actually federal rule compliance but a long persisting human rights issue.

[Read more…] about Conflict Free Case Management Bill Passes Unanimously

Check For Employees Serving At-Risk Adults

Colorado State Senator Irene Aguilar (D), Senate District 32
Colorado State Senator Irene Aguilar (D), Senate District 32

An Interview with Catherine Strode

State legislators have the opportunity to offer protection from abuse to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The House has passed a bill (HB17-1284) to create a state data system of past offenders. The bill now moves on to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

State Senator Irene Aguilar, the parent of an adult child with disabilities, is one of the bill’s sponsors. In an interview with Catherine Strode, she explains why this bill is one of the most important of the legislative Session for individuals with disabilities and why it is so long overdue.

[Read more…] about Check For Employees Serving At-Risk Adults

Local Control Argument Rejected by Restraints Bill Sponsor

Colorado State Senator Bob Gardner (R), Senate District 12
Colorado State Senator Bob Gardner (R), Senate District 12

An Interview with Catherine Strode

Three education bills have been strongly backed this session by disability advocacy groups. Two of them, a bill restricting corporal punishment in state schools and a bill restricting suspensions of young children, were Postponed Indefinitely. A central argument in each debate over the bills was ‘local control.’ House Bill 17-1276 prohibits prone restraints on students in Colorado public schools. It has passed out of the House Education Committee.

In an interview with Catherine Strode, the bill’s Republican sponsor, State Senator Bob Gardner, says he believes in ‘local control.’ However, he says it is not an argument that applies to the student restraints issue.

[Read more…] about Local Control Argument Rejected by Restraints Bill Sponsor

AdvocacyDenver Partners with Comcast to Air Two Public Service Announcements

AdvocacyDenver’s Public Service Announcements are airing on COMCAST to celebrate our HealthMatters and Yoga 4All Abilities classes.

Many thanks to the COMCAST production team, the Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being, Mudra Yoga Studio, and our “star” students!

Watch the videos below:

[Read more…] about AdvocacyDenver Partners with Comcast to Air Two Public Service Announcements

Coming Events: Protecting Children’s Futures, a Presentation by Betty Lehman of Lehman Disability Planning

AdvocacyDenver and Denver Public Schools invite Parents, Special Education Teachers and Community Providers to:

Protecting Children’s Futures

a Presentation by Betty Lehman of Lehman Disability Planning

Lehman Disability Planning Logo

March 14, 2017
6-8:00 p.m.
DSST Stapleton High School
2000 Valentia Street

Topics: Disability and Financial Planning and Legal Considerations, ABLE Accounts Update!

Information: Pamela Bisceglia
Pbisceglia@advocacydenver.org
(303) 974-2526

 

AdvocacyDenver y las Escuelas Públicas de Denver invitan a padres, maestros de educación especial y proveedores comunitarios a

Proteger el Futuro de los Niños

una presentación de Betty Lehman de Lehman Disability Planning

Lehman Disability Planning Logo

14 de marzo 2017
6-8 p.m.
DSST Stapleton High School
2000 Valentia Street

Temas: La Discapacidad y Planificación Financial y las Consideraciónes Legales, Cuentas de la Ley “ABLE”

información: Bob McGill
bmcgill@advocacydenver.org
(303) 974-2532

Accepting applications for Advocate for Transition Services, Juvenile Justice, and Policy Development

AdvocacyDenver is now accepting resumes for our Advocate for Transition Services, Juvenile Justice, and Policy Development position

Job Description

  • Work with the courts, education system, and providers to develop positive plans for individuals with disabilities residing in Denver who are involved with those systems.
  • Provide individual advocacy for children and young adults with disabilities in Denver between the ages of 15 and 22.
  • Take the lead on initiating and participating to improve services for these individuals and maximize their civil rights.
  • Analyze and advise the Board of Directors and Staff on Legislative initiatives or rule changes in regard to these issues.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Position requirements

  • Must have the ability to work flexibly with various individual circumstances and have the judgment necessary to establish appropriate limits, as necessary.
  • Knowledge of the juvenile justice, education, Developmental Disability, and Mental Health systems.
  • Demonstrated conflict resolution skills.
  • Relevant degree, certification, or 5 years of experience; parent and client training experience is a plus.
  • Being bilingual is not required, but will be taken into consideration

Compensation

Salary range to start at $32-34k annually. Benefits include health, dental, vision, paid time off, paid holidays, 401k, and more available.

To apply:

Please send your resume to advocacy@advocacydenver.org before 12/31/13.  Interviews will be held in January.

The Waiting Period

“How much of human life is lost in waiting.”  — Ralph Waldo Emerson

In order to enroll in Medicaid waiver programs in Colorado, adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) must meet certain criteria in determining their eligibility.  This criterion, determined by the Colorado Division of Disability, is also used to determine the level of support needed by the individual in order for him or her to lead an active, quality life in our Colorado communities.  
    Medicaid waiver programs enrollment for individuals with I/DD in Colorado are in great demand.  Advocates at AdvocacyDenver oftentimes support clients with enrolling in these programs.  Once applied and approved as eligible, clients can anticipate varying wait periods for actual enrollment..  If an individual with I/DD does not apply for enrollment at age 14 –and this can be the case for a plethora of reasons- he or she will end up experiencing a waiting period where access to Medicaid services and supports is limited.  
    During this waiting period, individuals with I/DD oftentimes refer to natural supports such as friends or family to help them participate within their communities.  Community organizations can play a role in helping individuals waiting for Medicaid enrollment too.  AdvocacyDenver has a long track record of supporting such individuals with I/DD in locating safe and affordable housing, access to health care, and accommodations in employment.  Mission Supports, a new non-profit organization in Denver, is also working to specifically alleviate the barriers experienced by those waiting for Medicaid program enrollment.  The organization provides on-going monthly check-ins with adults to identify areas in daily life that they may need support.  It also is working towards providing educational opportunities to improve skills such as money management.  
    While there may not be any imminent decreases in waiting list periods in the near future we, as a community, can continue to be aware of the waiting list for Medicaid disability waiver program and provide our friends, neighbors, and family with support they need while they are waiting.