On November 6th, I woke up to two things: the election results and my one year anniversary as Executive Director of the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. When I think about the last year, I think about the immense trust and support I have received from Council members, staff, community partners and advocates across the state who uplift the perspectives and needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Colorado. I think about their personal journeys and the stories they have trusted me with. And I think about our future.

When I was interviewed and selected for this role, I shared with Council members and staff my leadership promise to: 

• Lead in service of the Council and our community
• Listen and learn with humility
• Act boldly and with intention
• Follow through on my promises
• Build trust through my actions, behaviors and communications

I have returned to this statement many times over the past year, checking in and asking myself if I am in alignment. I believe deeply that change comes from connection, working across differences and taking meaningful action even when (especially when) it is difficult. Because for something to be different, we have to be able to imagine it; change does not exist without an idea that change is possible and a vision of what could be.  

Over the past year, the Council has rooted itself in our own values, actions and potentiality. Members have had a series of conversations to explore what a meaningful life looks like for people with IDD and what it means for our work. Across a variety of experiences and perspectives, what has echoed in every response is that each individual deserves to live a meaningful life of freedom, choice, purpose and joy of their own design.

We still run into people who believe that a meaningful life is not possible for individuals with IDD. Many people hold in their mind a basic level of humanity, based on functioning labels around communication, daily hygiene needs, mobility or otherwise. We might ignore contributions that are not economic or material in nature. Some may go so far to extend these views to others to determine if and how their lives are worth living, much less their ability to realize their dreams. Yet, we know that disability has always existed and is a normal part of the human experience, so why would its presence change an individual’s inherent worth? 

Over the last few months, the Council has been working with a cohort of organizations and Social Venture Partners Denver to design a theory of change to express our values and how we create change to our broader community. We are grounded in our values as we move into a year or more of anticipated changes. We will continue to work in partnership with our community, policy makers and stakeholders to ensure that our work is in service of creating the individual and family, societal, and systemic conditions that support people with IDD to achieve their vision of a meaningful life.

Here at the Council, our values from the Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act originally passed in 1970 still hold true. We’ve updated some of the terminology (independence → self determination, productivity → purpose) and what they mean to us to share with you here:

• Person-centered: We center lived experiences of people with IDD first, families second, professionals and community members last.
• Self-determination: We believe that each individual has the right to design their own vision of a meaningful life of their choice.
• Purpose: We value the contributions of all individuals, not dependent on economic or intellectual capital.
• Inclusion: We fully take part in learning, living, working, and other community activities of our choice, in places we choose, with people who have disabilities and those who do not.
• Integration: We have the right to the same opportunities, services, and community resources as other people. This includes access to services as well as access to supported education, employment, healthcare and community life.
• Belonging: We seek connection with each other and community and believe in our shared humanity. We honor how people show up and contribute with intersectional identities and perspectives. We have the right to feel safe in a variety of environments including our physical, emotional and psychological needs. (Connection, Intersectionality and Safety)

It has been my experience that at each step of our individual paths, we learn more from those who went before us and have more to teach those who follow behind us in the life course journey of disability. This creates a rolling wave to build capacity, advocate and create long term systems change as a collective of capable and powerful community members. The Council works in partnership and we seek to lead, partner, amplify or support projects depending on community needs. Together, we advance disability justice efforts for people with IDD.

During a time when a lot about the future remains unknown, I see and acknowledge the anxiety this uncertainty is causing within our community. And so I return again to my leadership promise, which is as true today as it was a year ago. Regardless of what is to come, the 24-member Council and our team will be here to protect the rights of people with disabilities and to promote accessibility, trust and transparency in our work. We will advocate for solutions and pathways to ensure that people have access to the services they need, experience their own vision of a meaningful life and are valued for the contributions they bring to our communities.

If you’d like to get involved in the Council, we invite you to:

• Join one of our publicly open meetings or stay up to date at the Council’s Blog.
• Follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram for opportunities to share your voice.
• Apply to be a member – applications open in early 2025 and terms start July 1, 2025.
• Reach out with other ideas – we would love to hear from you.

In this season of gratitude, I am grateful for the gifts of this community. I have learned from every obstacle I have faced and I have grown from the wisdom of those who came before me, the best of whom showed me possibility and how to see things a different way. Thank you for being part of the Council’s journey to make our collective dreams reality.

In Community,

Sarah Grazier

Executive Director