Legal and Advocacy Information

flag1 COLORADO ARCs
flag2 COLORADO RESOURCES

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative – Advocacy organization focused on insurance and Medicaid legislation.

Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council – Advocacy and systems change implementation support. CDDC advocates in collaboration with and on behalf of people with developmental disabilities for the establishment and implementation of public policy which will further their independence, productivity and integration. It is a 24-member body appointed by the governor to advise the governor and general assembly on matters affecting persons with developmental disabilities. Parents can apply for membership!

Citizens for Patient Safety – trains and educates consumers and healthcare professionals about the dynamic processes of Shared Decision-Making and Informed Consent and offer tools to navigate a safe healthcare journey.

Colorado Cross Disability Coalition – CCDC is Colorado’s only statewide organization run by and for people with all types of disabilities. Members consist of people with disabilities and their non-disabled allies working together to support disability rights. Cross-disability means our members have all types of disabilities. We have the most power if all disability groups work together for our common good.

Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council – CICC is a committee appointed to advise the Office of Early Childhood and the Early Intervention Colorado program on issues related to early intervention programming for children birth to age three with developmental delays. Members include parents and professionals.

Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee – CSEAC is a committee appointed to advise the Colorado Board of Education and Colorado Department of Education on issues related to students with disabilities and special education programs. Members represent communities across the state and at least 50% of the members includes parents of children with disabilities or individuals with disabilities.

Disability Law Colorado (formerly The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People) – protects and promotes the rights of people with disabilities and older people in Colorado through direct legal representation, advocacy, education and legislative analysis.

Guardianship Alliance of Colorado – The Guardianship Alliance of Colorado provides information, instruction, and guidance about guardianship of adults in Colorado. A program of Ability Connection Colorado.

PEAK Parent Center – Colorado’s Parent Training and Information Center offering education and training on IDEA. Parent advisors are available to answer questions and provide support.

Randy Chapman’s Ability Law Blog – Practical comments and information on special education, early intervention, and disability law.

Rocky Mountain ADA Center – provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to individuals and organizations in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center has a variety of legal support programs including Education Program, Caregiver Advocacy Program, and Domestic Violence Program.  Some services are provided for free to qualified clients.

SAFE2TELL – Designed to help students, teachers & parents anonymously report anything that is scaring or endangering you, your friends or your family.ual and developmental disabilities.

flag2 NATIONAL RESOURCES


ADA Home Page – U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act

Alternatives to Guardianship

American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law – Legal Resource Center to address needs of children across a variety of issues. Has a helpful section for families headed by grandparents.

The Arc – Working to improve the quality of life for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.

Be An Advocate Training Center -basic information on becoming an advocate for your child

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates – Established to improve the quality and quantity of legal assistance for parents of children with disabilities.

Council for Disability Rights – Advancing rights and enhancing lives of people with disabilities (including a section on the ADA for non-lawyers).

Council for Exceptional Children – advocates on behalf of children with exceptionalities, examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues and influences local, state, provincial and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. As a member you can receive action alerts about relevant federal issues in special education.

The Division for Early Childhood – Advocating for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs, birth through age eight, and their families.

Families USA – Families USA is dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Working at the national, state, and community levels, provides an effective voice for health care consumers.

The Jenny Hatch Justice Project supports advocacy, information, research and education, by giving people with disabilities, families, advocates, attorneys, professionals the tools they need to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities to make their own choices and determine their paths and directions in life.

National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making bringing together vast and varied partners to ensure that input is obtained from all relevant stakeholder groups including older adults, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), family members, advocates, professionals and providers.

Partners in Policymaking provides online advocacy courses to educate participants to be active partners with those who make policy.

PACER Center – Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights.  National Family Advocacy and Support Training project provides skills for effective parent advocacy.

Wrightslaw– Information about special education law and advocacy. Also publishes the following
resources: All About IEPs, From Emotions to Advocacy, and Special Education Law, 2nd Edition

801 Yosemite Street   |   Denver, CO 80230   |   303.691.9339   |   info@abilityconnectioncolorado.org