A:  There are several online listserves for people with autism and their families that are specific to Colorado.  The Autism Society of Colorado has our own called "Autism-CO", but you might want to join several others depending on the functioning level of your child, your personal interests or if you are an adult and want to network with other adults on the spectrum.

Here are a few you might be interested in joining:
Autism-CO
This is a discussion list of the Autism Society of Colorado (ASC).  Anyone interested in autism in Colorado can join - Parents, Families and Individuals are all welcome.  Providers/Clinicians are welcome to join in order to learn, listen and provide support.  Sales and advertising by providers are prohibited.  ASC events and announcements are also updated on this list. 
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autism-co/

MASK (Mothers of Aspergers Syndrome Kids)
Despite the name, parents, not just mothers, are welcome to join this group.  It is a support group for parents, family members or caregivers of kids with Aspergers Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, PDD or similar symptoms located in Colorado.  This site is intended to provide support and is not for the purpose of advertising or soliciting clients, products, or services.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/maskas99/

P2P (Parent2Parent)
This list provides an opportunity to exchange information with other parents of sons/daughters with disabilities or special health care needs living in Colorado.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/P2P-CO/

GRASP_Colorado
GRASP stands for the Global and Regional Aspergers Syndrome Partnership and is a support group for adults with Aspergers Syndrome in Colorado.  People without Aspergers are welcome to join in order to learn more, but are not allowed to comment.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GRASP_Colorado/

GRASP_Families&Clinicians
This is the version of GRASP that Families and Clinicians are able to comment and seek support about adults with Aspergers and Autism Spectrum Disorders.  This listserve is not specific to Colorado.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GRASP_FamiliesAndClinicians/

Denver Autistic Aspergers Syndrome Mix (DAASM)
This is an inclusive support group for Autistic Spectrum Disorder people & others that support their daily lives. Our vision is to encompass and address the needs of a more homogeneous population in our community, not just a handful of a few chosen adults or autistic children...ONLY.  This group also meets in person.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/groups/DAAM1/

Denver Bio-Med
This is a list for parents interested in sharing and discussing issues about the biomedical alternatives in treating autism. This includes dietary interventions, supplements, chelation, IVIG, alternative medicine, testing, etc.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/denverbiomed/

Douglas County Moms
A collection of people touched by Autism within the Douglas County area. We meet to share stories, ideas, and support.  This group also meets in person. 
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/douglascountymoms1/

EMPOWER_Colorado
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EMPOWER_COLORADO/
This email group is available for support anywhere in Colorado. We distribute information about the upcoming meetings, speakers, and issues we have as a local community. Please join us for laughing, crying and building better paths for our children to have a better vision for tomorrow.

At any time when the life or safety of your family and/or the person with autism is in imminent danger contact the local police department.  Many departments are beginning to train their personnel in “first responder” programs aimed at people with neurological and/or psychiatric disabilities.  Tell the police that your loved one has threatened or demonstrated destructive behavior, and/or injured himself or others previously, and that you are concerned for his and your family’s safety.  Stay calm, but assertive.  Be factual and explicit in giving the details that cause you to believe that an intervention is needed.  You should ask for a welfare check.  This is a term to describe a preventative visit or other intervention by a law enforcement officer.

The police department may tell you that until the person commits an offense they cannot intervene. If this is the case, contact your local Department of Human Services child or adult abuse/welfare department.  A social services intervention will help you to access the services and supports that may be necessary to keep your loved one and your family safe and get that loved one the services and supports they may need. If the danger seems clear and immediate to you and you cannot get police protection or social services intervention bring the loved one, if possible, to the emergency room of your local hospital.  This is a last resort, but may be necessary if it is a time when the other resources are not responsive or available.

Some agencies specialize in residential treatment services for persons with developmental disabilities and autism.  ASC can assist to you to identify those resources should you be considering an out-of-home, temporary placement.  If the Department of Human Services (DHS) recommends that your child be placed temporarily in residential treatment, you may be asked to give up custody, temporarily, so as to allow the State to draw down public funding to pay for your loved one’s care.

Getting a trusted family friend or advocate involved in the meetings with DHS personnel and other relevant parties is a recommendation that should not be underestimated.  The systems of care, once your loved one is involved with placement decisions, are complex and cumbersome.  Having an objective but caring support person by your side will help you to assimilate and digest the information that you need to understand and advocate successfully for your child.  A group ASC often refers people to for support in these matters is EMPOWER.  This group is primarily family members of loved ones with neurological and mental health diagnoses, many of whom have had relationships with law enforcement, social services, mental health centers, and residential treatment providers.  EMPOWER can be reached via its website and listserv at www.empowercolorado.com.

Most people start with the pediatrician or doctor, discussing behavioral concerns that seem different or delayed in comparison to same-age peers.  Beyond the referral of a physician, it the person you are concerned about is under the age of 21, the next step may be to the public school system. Free, developmental evaluations are available to any child residing in that school district catchment area through the district’s Childfind.   Although some offices do not serve children under age three, the evaluations are free to all children that the Childfind covers.

A multidisciplinary team (consisting usually of a physical, occupational and speech therapist, a social worker and/or nurse and possibly an autism specialist) will do a variety of assessments on the child and be able to tell whether or not that child looks like it might fall on the autism spectrum.  If the Childfind Team believes the child is showing significant signs of autism, they will recommend that the child be seen by a diagnostician.  ASC can provide you with a list of diagnosticians.  There may be a waiting list to get an evaluation and health insurance systems may not cover the cost of it.  Thus, getting the Childfind evaluation may have to suffice to begin the necessary planning (IFSP, IEP) interventions a child may need to actualize capacities.

Adults may be interested in a self assessment tool that ASC can make available to them.  A list of adult diagnosticians is also on hand at ASC offices.  720-214-0794. Two Metro area and one support group in Co Springs might also provide guidance and comfort to adults suspecting their own or another’s possible autism.  These are groups of adults who meet monthly to share their mutual experiences with autism.

You should visit the school district or BOCES website to find out what their open enrollment policies are.  They vary from district to district.  For advocacy support in open enrollment goals and other education-related issues you might try contacting your nearest Arc (or in Boulder/Broomfield Counties, the ACL, Association for Community Living, which is also a chapter of Arc).  www.thearcofco.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=1

ASC can assist you to identify specific resources for housing in Colorado.  If you or someone else is facing homelessness the following resources may be helpful:

*Most of these resources are general and are not disability or autism specific.  To our knowledge, there is no autism specific housing help.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (303) 293-2217 www.coloradocoalition.org

(includes a list of rural resources)

Catholic Charities (303) 294-0241 www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

The Family Tree (303) 467-2604 www.thefamilytree.org

Urban Peak (Co. Springs) (719) 630-3223 www.urbanpeak.org

St. Francis Center (303) 297-1576 www.sfcdenver.org

New Genesis Inc (303) 831-4910 www.centraldenver.com

Stout Street Clinic (303) 293-2220

Another list can be found at - www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/colorado.html

Resources for homeless advocates and service providers. - 
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=co&topic=homeless

For persons needing rental help in Colorado there are assistance programs described at –

www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=co&topic=renting

www.coloradohousingsearch.com

For home ownership for persons with disabilities the following resources might be helpful:

www.huduser.org/periodicals/fieldworks/0603/fworks3.html Contact Sam DeSiato, Program Coordinator, Colorado Department of Human Services, Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs Division, (303) 866-7356, Sam.Desiato@state.co.us

Colorado Housing Assistance Corp. (303) 572-9445 www.coloradohousingassistance.org

HERO Alliance (720) 941-8901 www.heroalliance.org

For information on home foreclosure assistance - (303) 868.4112 www.coloradoforeclosurehotline.org

When ASC began as a volunteer organization in 1970 the prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorders was vastly smaller (one in 10,000 people diagnosed).  Volunteers could manage the smaller client base and provide some levels of individual advocacy.  ASC has been proud of the great work of individuals, mostly knowledgeable and dedicated parents of children with autism, who provided individual advocacy support to fellow families and individuals over the course of its history

With a prevalence rate now of one in 110 children, ASC is no longer able to provide one-on-one educational advocacy.  Despite this restraint, ASC continues to “answer the call” and assist with no less than 200 inquiries per month from people who are impacted by autism and need information and support.  This role, whether it is through providing the most current information about a resource or service or by being present to listen empathically to a grieving family member, positions ASC to understand the numerous and confusing challenges faced by impacted individuals. Thus, policy work is the specialty of ASC.  Advocacy is provided by means of systems change rather than by extensive individual advocacy efforts.  ASC is proud of its reputation in having spearheaded 15 Colorado laws.

People needing individual advocacy are most often referred to other organizations. ASC staff members can direct you to possible people or entities that specialize in individual advocacy.  Feel free to give them a call. 720-214-0794.

Health insurance companies provide a variety of different “products” depending on who contracts to offer the plan (you or your employer), who absorbs the “risk” for costs incurred by the members and who regulates the plan (state or ERISA; see question above regarding Colorado’s autism benefits mandate).

Basically, you should list the health care needs of your child and determine whether the plan includes benefits to address those needs.  If your child needs occupational (OT) and speech therapies (SLT), look at the plan’s description of those benefits.  Look at what is covered and what is excluded within the descriptions of OT and SLT.  Also look at what the Exemptions section of the plan describes.  Look at rules regarding pre-existing conditions.  Usually, there is a waiting period for coverage of those services that address a pre-existing condition.  If you are looking for autism treatment outside of a state regulated plan that provides autism treatment coverage, look at the Network Provider List.  Identify providers that the plan does cover that have experience with autism spectrum disorders or at a minimum, experience with children or adults with disabilities.

Synthesizing

Be sure that if your company has a benefits representative (or Human Resources person) you make that person aware of your loved ones’ special health care needs.  They will influence which plans your employer chooses.  Knowing that your family needs certain kinds of care will help them to advocate on your behalf, not only in the choice of plans the employer offers, but also in assistance negotiating benefits with the plan later.

It is likely that your health insurance is regulated by Federal ERISA Law (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) and not by State of Colorado health insurance law.  Or, the plan may be regulated by another state’s health insurance law.  The legislation that created opportunities for the coverage of autism treatment (SB 09-244) is specific only to health insurance plans under Colorado’s jurisdiction.  Contact your employer’s benefits manager to find out what kind of health plan your company has.  If your plan is a Colorado regulated insurance company you will be able to utilize the state insurance commission for information and assistance regarding your rights with your plan.

http://www.dora.state.co.us/INSURANCE/consumer/HealthMainPage.htm

Currently there are no medications available that cure autism, though children and adults may be on medications for other diagnoses or co-occurring conditions. ASC does not prescribe or recommend any medication, nutritional supplement or device. These products are decisions that need to be made between you and your health care providers.

There are, however, some important things to remember when considering any medication:

Do your homework. Make sure you understand why a medication is being considered. Do some research concerning the medication.  Identify alternative brands that may be used, side effects and foods or other medications that don’t work well with that prescription. Ask specifically, why the doctor prefers that medication over similar ones used to treat the same condition. If your loved one is a child, find out if possible, what the research has been with this drug on children.

If at any time you feel you do not have enough information from the doctor to make a good decision, consider a second opinion. Oftentimes, people say they will but are afraid of offending a physician they work with. Your doctor understands and may at times themselves rely on co-workers in their field for second opinions. Do not forget to ask the doctor and pharmacist for any helpful hints about that medication including the temperature and place to store it and what forms it might come in if your loved one cannot swallow pills (liquid, suppository, capsule).  Keep the medication information sheets in a file so that you may refer back them regarding any contraindications that might occur.

Keep a log or journal. It may be very difficult to remember how things were when you started a medication, especially after some time. You may also see symptoms or side effects that do not really stand out until you or a professional looks at the whole picture. Your log should include; dose, time taken, diet changes, sleep patterns, physical differences, routine changes, behavior and anything else you may feel is important. You can take this with you to check ups and use it to help your health and intervention providers to be able to problem solve health and behavioral challenges.

Consider the dosage.  You may want to start out with very low doses and work your way up to the therapeutic level. The doctor should be in agreement with the plan, but some doctors are more knowledgeable and experienced with medication dosages for individuals with autism than others. For example, if the therapeutic dose is 100 mg, the doctor may start out with 50 mg. You might ask if you can start at 25 mg and stay at that dose as long as recommended (usually 2-3 weeks) before moving up to the 50 mg. Numerous families have reported to ASC that their loved ones  usually respond to lower doses.  Also, sometimes the full therapeutic dose increases side effects which might cancel the overall benefit of the drug. You MAY see full therapeutic benefit and fewer side-effects with lower doses.

Another consideration is a medication might work at one age and then not at another.  Pharmaceutical interventions are often more complex for persons with autism therefore, take it slowly and take good notes to be the best advocate for your loved one’s health and functioning.

Medicaid Waivers are created by states to address unmet needs of people with chronic conditions who can’t find health insurance coverage suitable to their needs in the private sector or in other publicly funded programs.  They are called waivers because, for the most part, income eligibility criteria are less stringent (“waived”) than in the regular, low income Medicaid programs.

An individual may have private insurance or a regular Medicaid program and still also be eligible for a waiver program.  The waiver would cover health care costs that aren’t ordinarily covered in private insurance or regular Medicaid programs.

Clients must meet financial, medical, and program criteria to access services under a waiver. The applicant must also be at risk of placement in a nursing facility, hospital, or ICF/MR (intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded). A client who receives services through a waiver is also eligible for all basic Medicaid services. When a client chooses to receive services covered by a waiver, the services must be provided by certified Medicaid providers or by a Medicaid contracting managed care organization.

Each waiver has an enrollment limit. There may be a waiting list for any particular waiver.  Applicants may apply for more than one waiver, but may only receive services through one waiver at a time.

To see a complete list of Medicaid Waivers and eligibility criteria, please follow this link. http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/HCPF/HCPF/1213781362679 If you have additional questions, please contact ASC’s information and referral line at 720-214-0794 ext 21.

Autism Society of Colorado answers hundreds of calls annually from people asking this question. There are several steps and an advocate’s tips for finding the right school or educational setting for your child.  In the ASC’s newsletter article, Finding the Right Classroom in Colorado, you can read about - understanding your school district, parent involvement, advocacy, alternative placement processes and other tips regarding making the best match for your child to a school. Go to -

The Source – September 2009

The Source – October 2009

Families subscribed to online social networks (such as Parent to Parent of Colorado, Mothers of Asperger’s Syndrome Kids, EMPOWER and ASC’s own group – autism-co@yahoogroups.com are a few lively online groups where frequently families share their experiences with schools and districts.)

Autism may be accompanied by many other conditions that impact functioning and behavior.  Some of the common, co-occurring conditions are stomach and digestive tract issues, sensory issues, allergies, seizures, anxiety, learning disabilities, dental issues, and psychiatric disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Oftentimes, if a person has OCD or a sensory issue related to food, getting all their recommended daily nutrients into them may be extremely difficult. Allergies may also impact nutrient intake.  Some food intolerances may leave the person in pain or discomfort.  Many children and some adults on the spectrum also have difficulty with regular bowel function.

Some individuals with autism may have food allergies or intolerances. Among the most common allergies are milk, eggs, wheat, soy and peanuts. Many families have found benefit with the Gluten Free- Casein Free Diet.  Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat and other grains.  Casein is a protein in dairy products.  Some individuals have radically better learning and/or behavior when these proteins are eliminated.  The GFCF doesn’t help all individuals with autism spectrum disorders.   There are families and websites willing to share resources to help you find diagnosticians and treatment professionals who specialize in nutrition, allergies, and the GFCF Diet.  Visit this website http://autism.about.com/od/specialdietsandautism/a/startgfcf.htm If you would like to get connected to a support group of families who are actively engaged with the GFCF diet go to -

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/denverbiomed/

If you would like to connect with families who may be well-versed and/or experienced with other health impacting treatments go to the large list of Colorado support groups available online.http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=autism%2C+colorado

Logging your loved one’s diet is just as important as logging any other behavior.  The log will help you to investigate the foods that may hinder bowel function, whether certain foods increase or decrease behaviors, and what strategies may have been successful in regulating your loved one’s eating, thus maximizing nutrients. Also, be sure your loved one gets regular dental care.  A problem tooth or gum irritation may increase negative behavior substantially, especially in individuals who cannot communicate the source or strength of their pain.

Below are some ideas to help you get started.

Social Security Disability Programs

A youth age 18 or older may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or another Social Security Disability Program, even if he/she still lives with parents.  SSI is the program most adults who have never worked or have worked only minimally will qualify for.  These programs provide a monthly check, depending on an individual’s assets and income.   If qualified for one of these programs, he/she will also get Medicaid or Medicare.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/links_ssi.htm

Medicaid Waivers

Medicaid Waivers are publicly funded health care programs that enable a person who might not otherwise financially qualify for Medicaid to be eligible, due to a chronic condition and/or disability. This link,http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/HCPF/HCPF/1197364086675 will supply you with a list of Medicaid Waivers. Each has a description and contact person. Medicaid Waivers specific to children with autism are overseen by your area’s Community Center Board (CCB).  The CCB also has jurisdiction over adult developmental disabilities waivers.  ASC can assist you to identify who that entity is

Parents’ Health Insurance -

In most cases, a young adult may stay on his parents’ health plan as long as he/she is enrolled in an institution of higher ed. and/or he/she has a letter from his/her doctor verifying his/her disability status.

Vocational Rehabilitation –

The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation is federally funded to provide employment support to persons with disabilities.  Training and vocational assistance may not provide as much support to an adult with autism as he/she needs to be successful in the workplace, but the agency is undergoing revisions to address the “extended need intervals” for persons with autism.

Vocational Rehabilitation should be considered as an important transition planning partner for youth, ages 16 or older. http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/dvr/

Colorado Works -Workforce Centers Disability Navigators –

In the Workforce Centers run by the Department of Human Services (social services) there are disability navigators whose jobs are to assist people with disabilities to get employment.

http://www.cowinpartners.org/Consumer-navigator.asp

Families and Allies Working Together –

This group aims to help families help their young adult (or teen) with a disability to gather a group of caring and responsible people around them who make a commitment to assisting person to actualize their hopes and dreams.

www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/familiesallies

Independent Living Centers -

These are federally funded resources in a few counties in each state. In the Denver area the one people would contact is Disability Center for Independent Living.  This is a resource that might be able to help the youth or adult develop skills and find support from others who have disabilities. http://codi.buffalo.edu/archives/.cils.htm#CO

College Living Experience –

Youth that may have the aptitude to attend college can get support from this organization.  Students could attend any of a number of Metro area colleges (Emily Griffith, and some other non-traditional schools are included) http://www.cleinc.net/locations/denver.aspx

ASC does not have a bookstore or lending library but you can get excellent information from some of the following sites or local stores.

Future Horizons http://www.fhautism.com/

Autism Asperger’s Publishing Company http://www.asperger.net/

Autism Society of America – has a limited bookstore as part of their online shop http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=give_bookstore

Barnes & Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/

Borders http://www.borders.com/online/store/Home?schid=GGL|G_Borders+Brand|Borders+Books|borders+book

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/

Books for loan are available at your local library.  This site will show a location near you. http://projects.aclin.org/directory/

You may have heard from various sources that autism may be tied to vaccines, and you may have also heard that there is no connection at all between the two. This discussion can be quite confusing to many parents and providers. Where do you start and what should you know?

You have a few choices concerning vaccinations. You and your doctor may agree to any of the following - immunizing your child, breaking down the immunizations to individual strains or spacing them over time, and not immunizing your child. The best tip is to be informed.  Start with your doctor, discussing the pros and cons of each choice.  If you decide to break the immunizations down, as an example; the MMR into individual doses of Measles, Mumps and Rubella, you can order them through Hopewell Pharmacy http://www.hopewellrx.com/autism/index.shtml by sending them a prescription from your doctor written that way. To make sure there is no confusion when you visit the doctor, contact Hopewell Pharmacy ahead of time to see what they will need from you. Take that information with you to your doctor or send ahead.

For additional information about immunizations please visit the following website

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm

Making the decision to have your child receive the flu shot or mist should also be discussed with your doctor. The following website may help you with links to vaccine information, flu clinics and immunization news: http://www.immunizecolorado.com/index.asp.

If you have an autism related question, chances are, we have an answer.  If not, we know who will.  Whether your question is about services for your child or family member, information about Colorado's Medicaid waiver system, medical insurance, choosing the right school, employment programs, or fun summer camps or vacation ideas, we have resources for everything imaginable. 

 

Please call (720) 214 - 0794, 21 to speak to our Information and Referral team, or send us an email at support@autismcolorado.org.  We're here to help!

Guardianship, also, referred to as conservatorship, is a legal process, utilized when a family recognizes that their loved one, as an adult, is not able or is no longer able to make or communicate safe or sound decisions about his/her person and/or property or has become susceptible to fraud or undue influence. Because establishing a guardianship may remove considerable rights from an individual, it should only be considered after alternatives to guardianship have proven ineffective or are unavailable. Colorado residents may find information about obtaining guardianship from the Guardianship Alliance of Colorado. http://guardianshipallianceofcolorado.org/index.html

Unlike most states in the country where a representative form of government allows elected officials to represent their constituencies and make fiscal decisions on their behalf, Colorado has decided that constitutional authority shall be in charge of tax revenues and how they are spent.

Put into the state’s constitution in 1992, the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights (popularly called TABOR) changed the way Colorado made decisions about caring for its citizenry and the beautiful state they lived in. You might compare what TABOR did to our state system of government to that of a sort of “differently functioning family.”

Imagine that the state represents a large family.  The heads of the household, in terms of leadership and budgetary decisions are not the father and mother (compare them to the state senators and representatives in the legislature), but that of the children (the citizens).  The father and mother still identify the unmet needs of the family – such as - a brother who needs his tonsils out, a sister needing braces on her teeth, twins that are ready to leave their cribs and need new beds and the house needing a new roof. Imagine also, that there are 20 or more children in this family.  This family (in 1992) decided on a different way of approving decisions.

They believed, regardless of age or worldly knowledge, that everyone in the family should have a vote regarding how much money they could keep in terms of their combined incomes (tax revenues).  Despite the level of their wages, they could only actually keep part of it. They set this part as a percentage limit.  The rest of their income (revenue) they had to give back to wherever the earnings came from. This they put in law (TABOR).

Additionally, they added another law (to TABOR) that they could only spend a certain amount of the income that they allowed themselves to retain.  They set a percentage rate for this amount too.   Thus, both their earnings and their expenditures were limited to a specific percentage rate UNLESS they all voted to change either of those amounts.

Instead of the children trusting the parents to know (in their experience and wisdom) that the family needs certain things and that getting those things will add to the health and sustainability of the family, decisions had to be made only upon the approval of all the children.

Before they could vote on changing the rules about keeping earnings or spending them at a different level, the family put in other criteria.  They required that a certain percentage of the children agree that the vote was necessary. They could voice their approval by signing their name on a petition (a ballot initiative).  Well, as you can imagine getting 24+ children in one family to agree on anything would be quite a feat  (imagine that being all of Colorado’s citizens)!

In order to convince each other that a vote should be taken, the children spent large amounts of their own money to advertise their favor or disfavor of having a vote (a ballot initiative costs upwards of $1 million dollars to get the issue being voted on, on the ballot).  And, naturally, the kids with the biggest allowances or wages have the most means to do the biggest advertising.

With the stakes being high, (the younger children wanting funds to be spent on toys and video games and the older children not agreeing with each other on anything) ballot initiatives often were defeated.  Thus, the family’s revenues and expenditures were difficult to change.  The roof continued to leak, the twins continued to sleep in their cribs, sister’s teeth “bucked” and brother bothered everyone with his awful snoring.

(Although the TABOR law was already pretty complex, the family added to it with about 156 other criteria and then,  to secure its power, they made a rule that only one part of the law could be changed per ballot initiative. This is called the Single Subject Rule.)

Thus, like this “differently functioning family,” Colorado functions a little differently.  Getting appropriate funding for services for individuals with disabilities is rather like getting braces on sister’s teeth.  It’s just one of a huge number of unmet needs, artificially thwarted, because of a rule-making system that makes it hard to break the status quo.

The state’s developmental disabilities service system receives federal and state funding to provide for individuals who up to age five have developmental delays and after age five if they have IQ’s of 70 or less.  The funds are distributed to 20 Community Centered Boards (CCB) in various counties and regions of Colorado. CCB’s serve as the single entry point for many services that people with developmental disabilities (DD) are eligible for.  The CCBs administer two of the children’s Medicaid waivers and both DD adult waivers.  A program called Family Support provides small funding allowances to eligible families on a monthly basis.  Early Intervention Programs are also administered by most CCBs also.

Click here for a list and map to the responsible Community Centered Board in your area http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/ddd/CCB_Main.htm.

Click here for Colorado’s definition of developmental disability: http://www.ddrcco.com/dddef.asp.