Community Integration

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A Life in Community

Disability Law Colorado believes that individuals with disabilities should live as independent a life as possible, making their own choices and determining their own future.  Progress has been made in Colorado to ensure that individuals with disabilities who want to live, work and play in the community can do so. But there are many who still think that large institutional settings are the “safest” place for people with disabilities. We believe that segregating people with disabilities, in order for them to receive services, is wrong and dangerous.

Community Independence

We have always promoted independence in the community over institutional care for people with disabilities. Now that the state has launched Colorado Choice Transitions (CCT) to comply with the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision requiring services to be provided in the most integrated setting possible, we have expanded our efforts.

Community Partners

We partner with people in nursing homes and other facilities who wish to live in the community, serving on their CCT team and advocating for their wishes and desires. We also monitor the CCT process and continue to press for systemic change to improve the process for the many people still trapped in nursing homes.

Disability Law Colorado continues to investigate incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness living in long-term care facilities and group homes.

Please contact us if you’d like to discuss a case.

Success Stories

Grand Junction Restores Accessible Parking

When the City of Grand Junction began implementing its block-by-block civic improvement plan on Main Street, most residents were delighted, except for those...

Swimming Pool Lift

A person with disabilities called Disability Law Colorado when she was unable to access the pool at a health club.  After we wrote a letter, the health club...

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