Colorado

COLORADO

ADA Center

Rocky Mountain ADA Center

3630 Sinton Road, Suite 103

Colorado Springs, CO, 80907

(719) 444-0268 (V/TTY)

(800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)

adainfo@adainformation.org

http://www.adainformation.org


Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology Partners

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

601 E. 18th Avenue, Suite 130

Denver, CO, 80203

(303) 315-1280

(303) 837-8964 (TTY)

(800) 255-3477

http://www.assistivetechnologypartners.org


Autism

Autism Society of Colorado

550 S Wadsworth Blvd, Ste 100

Lakewood, CO, 80226

(720) 214-0794

contact@autismcolorado.org

http://www.autismcolorado.org


CHIP Program

(health care for low-income uninsured children)

Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)

P.O. Box 929

Denver, CO, 80201-0929

(800) 359-1991

http://www.cchp.org/


D D Council

Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council

1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 706

Denver, CO, 80203-2117

(720) 941-0176

cddpc.email@state.co.us

http://www.coddc.org


Developmental Disabilities

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

Division for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

1570 Grant St.

Denver, CO, 80203-1818

(303) 866-2993

https://www.colorado.gov/hcpf


Early Intervention

Early Intervention Colorado

CDHS-Division for Developmental Disabilities

4055 S. Lowell Blvd.

Denver, CO, 80236

(888) 777-4041

http://www.eicolorado.org


Epilepsy

Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado, Inc.

234 Columbine Street, Suite 333

Denver, CO, 80206-4711

(303) 377-9774

(888) 378-9779 (in CO)

gail@epilepsycolorado.org

http://www.epilepsycolorado.org


Independent Living

For your Statewide Independent Living Council, contact:

Independent Living Research Utilization

2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000

Houston, TX, 77019

(713) 520-0232 (V/TTY)

ilru@ilru.org

http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/


To learn about independent living centers in your area, contact:

National Council on Independent Living

1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, 5th Floor

Washington, DC, 20036

(202) 207-0034 (V)

(202) 207-0340 (TTY)

(877) 525-3400 (toll free)

ncil@ncil.org

http://www.ncil.org


Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

The Arc of Colorado

8000 E. Prentice Avenue, Suite D-1

Greenwood Village, CO, 80111

(303) 864-9334

(800) 333-7690

http://www.thearcofco.org


Mediation

Colorado Department of Education

Exceptional Student Services

201 E. Colfax Avenue, Room 300

Denver, CO, 80203

(303) 866-6685

http://www.cde.state.co.us


Mental Health

Mental Health America of Colorado

1120 Lincoln St., Suite 1606

Denver, CO, 80203

(720) 208-2220

info@mentalhealthcolorado.org

http://www.mentalhealthcolorado.org/


NAMI Colorado

1100 Fillmore Street

Denver, CO, 80206-3334

(303) 321-3104

nami-co@nami.org

http://www.namicolorado.org


Colorado Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health

P.O. Box 9086

Englewood, CO, 80111

(888) 569-7500

(303) 572-0302

https://disabilitylawco.org/resource/federation-families-childrens-mental-health


EMPOWER Colorado (Mental Health)

c/o Ability connection Colorado

801 S. Yosemite Street

Denver, CO, 80230

(303) 691-9339

info@abilityconnectioncolorado.org

http://www.abilityconnectioncolorado.org/empowercolorado/


Mental Health – Youth

Division of Mental Health Services

Department of Human Services

3824 W. Princeton Circle

Denver, CO, 80236

(303) 866-7400

https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs


Parent Organizations

Community Parent Resource Center

Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center

2600 S. Parker Rd., Suite 332

Aurora, CO, 80014

(303) 365-2772

info@denvermetrocprc.org

http://www.denvermetrocprc.org


Colorado PTA

7859 W. 38th Avenue

Wheat Ridge, CO, 80033

(303) 420-7820

(888) 225-8234

office@copta.org

http://www.copta.org


Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)

PEAK Parent Center

611 N. Weber, Suite 200

Colorado Springs, CO, 80903

(719) 531-9400

(800) 284-0251

(719) 531-9403 (TTY)

info@peakparent.org

http://www.peakparent.org


Parent to Parent of Colorado

801 Yosemite Street

Denver, CO, 80230

(877) 472-7201

info@p2p-co.org

http://www.p2p-co.org


Preschool Disabilities

Early Childhood Initiatives

Colorado Department of Education

201 E. Colfax Avenue, Room 305

Denver, CO, 80203

(303) 866-6709

(303) 866-6712

(888) 777-4041

http://www.cde.state.co.us


Protection & Advocacy

Disability Law Colorado

Denver Office

(800) 288-1376/(303) 722-0300

Grand Junction Office

(800) 531-2105/(970) 241-6371

https://disabilitylawco.org/


Relay Services

(800) 659-3656 (V)

(800) 659-2656 (TTY); 711 (TTY)

(877) 659-4279 (Speech to Speech)


Special Education

Exceptional Student Services Unit

Colorado Department of Education

201 E. Colfax Avenue

Denver, CO, 80203

(303) 866-6694

http://www.cde.state.co.us


Special Format Library

Colorado Talking Book Library

180 Sheridan Boulevard

Denver, CO, 80226-8097

(303) 727-9277

(800) 685-2136

ctbl.info@cde.state.co.us

http://www.cde.state.co.us/ctbl


Special Health Care Needs

Health Care Program For Children with Special Needs (HCP)

Department of Public Health and Environment

4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Room A410

Denver, CO, 80246-1530

(303) 692-2370

(800) 688-7777

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us


Family Voices Colorado

13199 East Montview Blvd, Suite 200

Aurora, CO, 80045

(303) 733-3000

(800) 881-8272

info@familyvoicesco.org

http://familyvoicesco.org


Speech, Language, and Hearing

Colorado Speech-Language-Hearing Association

P.O. Box 345

Sedalia, CO, 80135

(720) 733-9097

cshassoc@aol.com

http://www.cshassoc.org


State Web Site

Connect with your state’s official website to find all

manner of state agencies and information, including how

to contact your governor and/or your representatives in

the Senate and House:

https://www.colorado.gov/


Transition Services

Exceptional Student Leadership Unit

Colorado Department of Education

201 E. Colfax Avenue

Denver, CO, 80203

(303) 866-6799

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/transition


UCEDD

JFK Partners

University of Colorado Denver

School of Medicine

13121 E. 17th Ave, C234

Aurora, CO, 80045

(303) 724-5266

http://www.jfkpartners.org


Vocational Education & Rehabilitation

Colorado Community College System

9101 E. Lowry Boulevard

Denver, CO, 80230-6011

(303) 620-4000


Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Department of Labor and Employment

Check website for departments and local offices

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dvr/


Easter Seals Colorado

5755 W. Alameda Avenue

Lakewood, CO, 80226

(303) 233-1666 (V/TTY)

(800) 875-4732

http://www.eastersealscolorado.org


VSA Colorado

Access Gallery/Studio

909 Santa Fe Drive

Denver, CO, 80204

(303) 777-0797

info@accessgallery.org

http://accessgallery.org/

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Newborn Genetic Screenings

The Power of Newborn Genetic Screenings: How Newborn Genetic Screenings Can Change the Diagnosis

By Penelope Gatlin • 05 Oct, 2023
By Penelope Gatlin October 2023 When our son was born in 2012, he was hypotonic, severely jaundiced, had feeding difficulties and features such as epicanthic folds and small low set ears. We were told immediately that doctors had suspicions of a genetic syndrome. At that time, genetic testing was limited and once abnormal karyotype, Trisomy 21, and Fragile X were ruled out, we left the hospital with an 8 day old and no diagnosis. While no testing was available at that time to identify the ultra-rare syndrome my child had, because it wouldn’t even be identified until 4 years later, I can only imagine the difference it would have made to our journey to have such an answer sooner. Instead, we were unprepared and actually unaware that just because a diagnosis hadn’t been made then that it didn’t mean there wasn’t in fact a rare disease present. Instead, we dealt with issues as they came and worried and wondered what would be next. From feeding issues and reflux and constipation, to low muscle tone and delayed walking, to speech delay, social and emotional delays, toileting delays, diagnoses of developmental delay, anxiety, situational mutism, sensory processing disorder, and autism, until finally genetic testing that revealed the diagnosis that we’d waited 7 years to find out. While receiving a diagnosis can seem scary, not having an answer but knowing there must be one is even more so. In 2019, the day I clicked onto the portal to see the test results, the largest word on the page was POSITIVE. My heart stopped for a second. For the first time, I read the words “Okur-Chung Neurodevelopmental Disorder.” A roller coaster of emotions ensued, including sadness that we hadn’t known this from birth because it would have made us as parents more prepared, and given us more understanding about what might arise next. Relief that we had an answer, grateful that this syndrome had been identified and that he was among one of the first hundred diagnosed with it in the world, and glad we had the privilege to have access to the testing. Excitement that we can participate in future research. Fright that there’s so much we don’t know about OCNDS, and happiness that there is something that we do. A feeling that we are no longer shooting in the dark and have a small but supportive community to rely on and learn from. I am hopeful that one day, all newborns with features like my child will be tested at birth, so parents can have access to the answers, support, and interventions and therapies that can best help their child as soon as possible.
Autism Diagnosis

Why I Should Have Gotten the Autism Diagnosis for My Child Early On (or Why I Did Not)

By Terri Jordan • 23 Aug, 2023
For 16 years, my child displayed numerous symptoms that left us searching for answers, but a genetic diagnosis remained elusive. I considered having my child evaluated for autism to shed light on their situation. However, when I reached out to teachers, doctors, and therapists, I received frustrating responses: “Your child is too friendly to be autistic.” This statement made me doubt the possibility of autism because my child was sociable. “Your child can transition from one activity to another – they are not autistic.” Hearing this, I questioned whether my child’s ability to shift activities invalidated the need for an autism evaluation. “Your child can look me in the eye and answer questions – they are not autistic.” Observations like this made me second-guess the idea of autism, even though my child faced various challenges. “Getting a diagnosis that does not apply to your child would be a big waste of money.” Despite my persistent concerns, this cautionary advice about the evaluation costs left me hesitant. We finally pursued an evaluation when my son turned 20, and it confirmed that he is indeed on the autism spectrum (severe side). Looking back, I regret not taking this step sooner. I should have pursued the autism diagnosis before we received the genetic diagnosis. There are several benefits we could have gained as a family if we had pursued an early diagnosis: “Early Support Is Crucial:” I now realize that early intervention could profoundly impact my child’s development. We could have accessed the right services and therapies much earlier with a diagnosis. “Understanding My Child Better:” I struggled to comprehend my child’s behaviors and communication difficulties. An earlier diagnosis could have provided insights into their unique needs and thought processes. The education could also help me explain how to react to my child’s behavior to family members. “Tailored Guidance and Resources:” A diagnosis could have opened doors to specialized resources and guidance, enabling me to provide the best possible support for my child. “Connecting with Others:” Being part of the autism community might have connected us with other parents who understand our experiences. Sharing and learning from each other could have been invaluable. “Planning for the Future:” Knowing more about my child’s strengths and challenges could have helped me better plan their future, including education, career, and overall well-being. Depending on your location, many states offer funding and support if your child has an autism diagnosis. I wish I listened to my voice instead of being swayed by experts who didn’t fully understand my child’s situation. Ultimately, I know this decision is significant, requiring careful consideration by parents. Looking back, I wish I had trusted my instincts and sought an evaluation sooner to improve my child’s life.
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