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.
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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.
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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In an interview with Catherine Strode, the bill’s sponsor explains how the outdated language will be removed from all Colorado statutes and how the testimony of Self Advocate Connor Long made that happen.
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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.
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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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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.
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“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.
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Community Services Embraced in Medicaid Through Managed Care Plans
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Merrill Friedman leads the national Disability Policy Engagement team and advocacy strategy for Anthem and its affiliate health plans. She works with advocates to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in the company’s managed health care plans.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, she explains how the health care industry is embracing a Community First philosophy in delivering its Medicaid managed program services.
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National Health Expert Optimistic About Medicaid’s Future Services
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Health Affairs is the leading health policy journal in the country. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Alan Weil, recently gave a presentation in Denver on an overview of the evolution of the country’s Medicaid program. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and an appointed member of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Alan is recognized nationally as an expert in health care policy.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, he explains why he views the future of Medicaid services optimistically for individuals in vulnerable populations.
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Tenants’ Rights Top Colorado Arc’s 2018 Legislative Agenda
An Interview with Catherine Strode
Tenants’ rights for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities will be under review during the 2018 Legislative Session. According to Jon Labadie, Senior Associate with Mendez Consulting, Colorado state statutes are in conflict with the settings rules of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
In an interview with Catherine Strode, he says the language in Colorado statutes denies individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities basic rights. This issue, along with early childhood student discipline, will lead The Arc of Colorado’s 2018 legislative agenda.
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