OBBB Response and How it Impacts Colorado
To our Council and Community Members, This is a statement that I hoped I would not have to write. As many of you know, the federal budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) passed through Congress and signed into law by the President. This bill, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, will cut funding […]
July 2025 Disability Pride Events – Denver Metro Area
We are happy to provide a summary of several partner events happening in our community in July. These events are in the Denver Metro area and celebrate Disability Pride Month and the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please reach out directly to the organization listed for more information or use the links […]
Community Survey Deadline Extended
The Council is excited to share that the deadline for our community survey has been extended to August 10th! We have nearly 300 individual responses so far and are incredibly thankful to all who have responded. To ensure we get the best representation we can to inform our next five year plan, we are inviting […]
Welcome New Council Members!
The Governor’s Office announced the Board and Commissions Member appointments beginning July 2, 2025, including the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. We are excited to welcome eight new members and four reappointed members to the Council. Congratulations and welcome! To learn more about CDDC membership, click here.
Community Survey Available Until July 31st
We are excited to announce that in partnership with the Colorado Office of Employment First our Community Survey for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) is live! Why: This survey will help us better understand what matters most to people with IDD in living a meaningful life of freedom, choice, joy, purpose and love. […]
2025 Legislative Session
By: Kristina Ericson The 2025 legislative session was a period of growth, successful advocacy, and community building for the Developmental Disabilities Council. We celebrated major wins for the disability community, worked with a growing number of legislators from across the State, and poured our time and effort into advocating for change for Coloradans, both here […]
Joint Statement on the Proposed Autism Registry by HHS Secretary Robert R. Kennedy Jr.
April 23, 2025 From The Arc of Colorado, the Autism Society of Colorado, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Law Colorado, Family Voices Colorado, PEAK Parent Center and Show & Tell. As leaders of Colorado statewide disability organizations, we stand in support of Autistic individuals and their families. We are deeply concerned […]
Statement on HHS Budget Leak
April 18, 2025 Plain language summary: A federal budget proposal was shared in the news during the planning process. The first round of proposed federal budget cuts includes Councils and many other important programs. These are not final decisions. There is still a lot of work that must happen and Congress must approve any budget […]
Overcoming Fears: A Parent’s Journey to Embrace Supported Decision-Making
By Marcella Schieffelin As parents, we strive to nurture, guide, and protect our children, especially those with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). When considering their future, the Supported Decision-Making (SDM) concept can feel daunting. Unlike legal guardianship, which transfers decision-making authority to another person, SDM empowers individuals with I/DD to make their own choices with […]
US House Budget Vote Response
On February 25th, the US House of Representatives voted mostly along party lines to move its budget proposal package forward, which includes deep cuts to Medicaid and safety net programs. The next step in this process is called “reconciliation”, when Congress Committees debate the specifics of what will be cut to achieve the proposed budget. Colorado is […]