Being Awake to this Moment – Message from our Executive Director
Dear Community,
In the spring, we often talk about growth or refreshing our spaces with spring cleaning. It is a time of transition when the earth wakes up again and comes to life. For many of us, this year feels heavy. Between the ongoing state budget crisis and a high-stakes political climate, the air is thick with pressure and our community is on edge. It’s a lot to carry. What would it look like for us to be awake to this moment?
“Step outside for a while – calm your mind. It is better to hug a tree than to bang your head against a wall continually.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru
There is a quiet power in waking up to this exact moment. While the systems we rely on – Medicaid, state funding, and legislative promises – may feel fragile, our ability to stay present remains our greatest strength. When we are present, we stop viewing the other side as a monolithic enemy and start seeing the chess board for what it is.
Advocacy isn’t always winning – it’s also honesty and transparency, taking small steps in a longer journey, and the courage to stay in conversation even (and especially) when we disagree. And when systems fail or falter, we can look toward what is most natural to us as human beings, community care.
All ecosystems, including humans, are social by nature. Plants, animals, climates and humans are built for interdependence, not the myth of total self-reliance. While the rugged individualism many of us learned tells us we should go it alone, nature tells us that we are strongest when we are woven into a close, supportive network. To remain grounded, we must distinguish between community strategy and individual identity.
This edition of our newsletter has some ways to practice presence and community care. By staying conscious and connected right here, right now, we can move from a place of overwhelming what-ifs to a place of purposeful action. We are still here, we are still advocating, and we are meeting this season with our eyes wide open.
We are each other’s best resource.
In community,
Sarah
Community Care – Written by Kristina Ericson, Director of Policy and Partnerships
We are proud to be advocates at the DD Council. We advocate for more accessible communities, for healthcare that actually works for us, for classrooms that support our kids. We advocate for a state, and a nation, that we can all thrive in.
Advocacy work is community work, and always has been. Systemic change does not happen overnight, and it does not happen alone. We need a lot of people working together to make our communities strong, and more inclusive. My job simply wouldn’t work if I didn’t have Councilmembers, families, and other advocates across the state helping me out. Advocacy work feels extra hard right now. There are a lot of laws being passed, funding streams being cut, and programs going away that deeply impact the disability community. Now, more than ever, we need to support the people around us. We need to work together. We need to love the people that are doing the work, and celebrate the wins and silliness that pops up within it.
When I’m not running around the Capitol and talking with legislators I have the immense privilege to spend my spare time organizing the Adaptive Climbers Festival (ACF). ACF is an annual, non-profit, rock climbing festival for (and by) the disability community. Every year we gather more than 300 climbers with disabilities, advocates, and other community members to camp, climb, party, and eat good food together. It is the ultimate example of how community and joy can change the world. At ACF we prioritize community care in a few key ways, and I think it’s time we spread the word on how we successfully do so.
The Community Care Curriculum:
- Don’t be a stranger. If you’re at a meeting, an event, a rally, or any other gathering space where there are multiple advocates in the room, introduce yourself! You can’t make friends if you don’t say hi, and advocacy work is a lot harder if you don’t have friends to do it with.
- Prioritize the small stuff. Ask someone out for coffee. Eat a meal together. Go for a walk. Go to the movies. Go dancing. The world is heavy, and it’s hard to navigate. Make room for joy, no matter how small. We can only achieve big things if we take care of those around us (and that includes being silly).
- Ask for help, and return the favor. Communities look out for each other, but we can’t read your mind. Need help with something? Ask those around you. When someone else in your circle needs help, and you’re able to help, hop on in. When you care for your community, your community will care for you.
- Rest. This is, in my opinion, the most important part of community care. Advocacy work could be a 24/7 job if we let it. However, it’s important to make time to rest our bodies and brains. To turn off our screens and refill ourselves. Remember, it’s impossible to pour from an empty cup!
May we all take care of ourselves, and those around us, today!
Grantee Spotlight: Special Olympics Colorado – Athlete Leadership University
Special Olympics Colorado is an organization that has dedicated itself to empowering individuals with I/DD. Year-round, they offer sports training, athletic competitions, health education, free preventative health screenings, and a strong leadership training program. Special Olympics Colorado has dedicated itself to the profound mission of empowering individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). They achieve this through a comprehensive program that extends far beyond simple recreation.
Their core offerings include rigorous sports training and meaningful athletic competitions across a wide variety of Olympic-type sports, providing athletes with opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience the joy of achievement, and forge lasting friendships. The organization is equally committed to the holistic well-being of its participants by providing crucial health education and free, preventative health screenings. These health initiatives help address the significant health disparities often faced by individuals with I/DD, ensuring they receive the care and attention necessary to lead healthy, productive lives.
Special Olympics Colorado is deeply invested in developing future leaders through dedicated leadership training programs. These initiatives cultivate self-confidence, communication skills, and self-advocacy among the athletes, empowering them to take on meaningful roles both within the organization and in their broader communities.
The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council awarded Special Olympics Colorado a grant to support their Athlete Leadership University. The funding supported 64 athletes with I/DD. This program helps athletes to grow and develop skills in numerous ways, including:
- Communication
- Decision making
- Building relationships
- Adaptability
- Goal-focused thinking
Athletes who participate in this program can decide how and where they want to lead. Supported by volunteer mentors, they practice and advance their leadership skills through both classroom instruction and hands-on activities.
As participants gain knowledge and confidence, they take on positions of responsibility to further the mission of Special Olympics Colorado. After completing the core classes and a final capstone project, athletes are eligible to graduate. Some graduates have successfully transitioned into professional roles with Special Olympics Colorado, making meaningful changes in the community.
Community Town Hall – Save the Date
On Monday, March 30th at 12:00pm join Alliance Colorado, The Arc of Colorado, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Law Colorado, and Family Voices Colorado for a town hall on Colorado’s Medicaid cuts.
We will update you with the latest information and answer as many questions as we can in 90 minutes.
CART and ASL will be provided.
Registration is required and can be done using the QR code below, or by visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/VIYDwko4RJCFEb3D-WAtUg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Additional Budget Cut Resources
As of today, there are about 54 more days remaining in the regular Colorado legislative session and information is moving fast. To help navigate these updates and information, we have compiled a list of additional budget resources.
Events:
- April 7th at 5:00pm Developmental Pathways is hosting a virtual town hall to share important information on upcoming changes to Colorado’s Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) system. Registration is required and can be done here.
- March 27th at 9:00am Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) will host their next Medicaid Provider Rate Review public meeting. Complete meeting information can be found here. Join the virtual meeting on Zoom here.
Resources:
- Family Voices Colorado hosted their monthly Caregiver Conversations and went through the changes happening in Medicaid, including the calculator for service plans. The recording can be found on their YouTube channel
- Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) shared their March 16th Legislative Minute email with bill and budget updates.
- The JBC is currently finalizing the “Long Bill.” You can find their daily schedule and listen to audio of their deliberations on the Colorado General Assembly website.
Articles:
- Colorado Public Radio – Impact of state budget cuts gets real as lawmakers start trimming Medicaid programs
- Colorado Newsline – Colorado state budget shortfall expands to $1.5 billion
- Colorado Politics – Colorado revenue forecast worsens, pushing budget shortfall to nearly $1.5B
April Council Meetings
We have two upcoming Council meetings.
- April 2nd – The Council Retreat is an in-person meeting (hybrid available) that will start at 10:00am.
- April 22nd – Full Council Meeting will start at 9:00 am and is virtual on Zoom.
Our Council meetings are open to the public, and we welcome community members to join us; a designated time for public comment will be provided during each event to ensure your voices are heard. To ensure proper accommodations, we ask attendees to RSVP here.
For a complete list of our Council and committee meetings, please visit our website.
Contact us.
Email: ColoradoDDCouncil@gmail.com
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