An Interview with Catherine Strode
State Senator Irene Aguilar and State Representative Dan Pabon are co-sponsoring a bill to implement a fire safety oversight system for individual residential services. House Bill 18-1376 is a response to the tragic host home fire which resulted in fatalities nearly two years ago. The bill has passed the House Public Health Care and Human Services Committee and has been referred to Appropriations.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senator Aguilar says the bill supports providers for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities by creating awareness of the need to set safety standards for vulnerable populations who receive services from the state.
[Read more…] about Legislators Tackle Fire Safety in Host Homes
Employment First: Yes!
An Interview with Catherine Strode
It’s estimated that 85 percent of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities are unemployed or underemployed. The state legislature is in the process of passing a bill (Senate Bill 18-145) to address that problem and lower that rate in Colorado. The bill implements three main recommendations of a five-year strategic plan created by a State Advisory Partnership. The bill’s sponsor, State Senator John Kefalas (Senate District 14) says the bill also supports a culture shift.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senator Kefalas says the bill supports the concept of ‘Employment First’. The concept is based on developing a culture of meaningful employment for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities which moves them out of sheltered workshops and into community-based jobs.
Property Rights For People With Developmental Disabilities Restored With Bill
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.
[Read more…] about Funding of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission Faces Final Vote
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.
[Read more…] about Bill Proposes Application Assistance for Disability Benefits
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.