Staff

Julie Reiskin is the Executive Director of CCDC. Under Julie's leadership CCDC has taken a leadership role within Colorado on publicly funded long-term health care. Julie has proposed and helped to implement many solutions to create a sustainable and client friendly Medicaid program, acted as a respected advocate for individuals and has trained many others in health advocacy and health policy. Prior to becoming the Executive Director for CCDC in 1996, she served as the organizationsí policy analyst. Julie moved to Colorado from Connecticut in 1994. In Connecticut, she was a partner in a consulting firm, specializing in diversity issues throughout Southern New England. She also had a private psychotherapy practice. Previous work includes, but is not limited to, several positions working with ìhard to serveî youth and positive youth development, AIDS/HIV Education, and grassroots community organizing. Julie has taught extensively in the areas of disability rights, disability culture and disability policy, along with other areas related to diversity in human services. Julie got her Masters in Social Work from the University of CT, with a major in community organizing in 1989. She obtained a BS. in Womenís Studies from the University of CT in 1985.

Kevin Williams is the Legal Program Director for CCDC. In May of 1997, Kevin joined CCDC as counsel and, with the help of CCDC's members and a very small staff, began building the Legal Program. Kevin litigates in most areas of law protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Air Carriers Access Act, and Colorado law. Kevin has presented at conferences and seminars and has published on the topic of disability rights. Kevin chaired the Colorado Bar Association Disability Law Forum Committee for three years and hosted the Denver Disability Rights Roundtable for several years. Kevin graduated with honors from the University of Denver College of Law in 1996.

CCDC and its Legal Program are very pleased to announce our latest "addition" to our legal team. As of January 1, 2012, Andrew Montoya joined CCDC's Legal Program as a full-time, salaried associate. Many of us already know Andrew as he came to us in 2005, working as our Legal Program Assistant with some crazy notion that he wanted to become a lawyer. Usually, people who work for lawyers decide early on not to join us. Not Andrew. He was possessed of the idea that litigation would be fun. Florida Coastal College of Law stole him (and Nicky) away from us to Jacksonville, Florida for his law tour of duty. But, of course, Denver is home for Andrew, and civil rights lawyer opportunities were vast. Andrew contacted me and said something like, "How about I work as a legal assistant at CCDC helping in representing clients who can't afford lawyers until we recover some fees. If we do, then CCDC can pay me a percentage of the time I worked. I'll study for the bar exam. If I pass, we can renegotiate."

I believe I accepted the offer before he was finished. This is much like the offer I made Julie in 1996.

Of course Andrew C. Montoya, Esq. sailed through the bar exam. We are very proud to have Andrew. He has always been an asset to our Legal Program, but, beyond that, he is doing excellent work as a lawyer.

We are all pleased to have Andrew on board now as a salaried, full-time attorney, even if he does choose to live on the Wyoming boarder. We are also pleased to see and spend time with Nicky, Audrey, [?], and the rest of the family.

Tom Carter volunteers in the CCDC office several mornings a week. When not working at CCDC, Tom enjoys spending time with his friends and his new kittens.

Peter DeHaas has been working in the field of developmental disabilities for the past 17 years in many different capacities. He has advocated for individuals with developmental disabilities in supported employment, day program and residential settings. Through these experiences, Peter began studying American Sign Language (ASL) and started doing more specific advocacy for those who are deaf or hard of hearing within the DD system. In 2009 Peter completed his MA in Linguistics at the University of Colorado Boulder. In addition to his passion in the area of advocacy, Peter also teaches several ASL classes at Metropolitan State University. Peter also writes a monthly column “Peter’s Perspective” for the Deaf Coloradan publication. In his free time, Peter enjoys skiing, riding his bike and going to see live music.

Jerry Frangas is a former Colorado State Representative who worked extensively with Colorado Cross Disability Coalition on civil rights and health care issues.  While in the legislature, he served as the Vice Chair of the Committees on Health and Human Services, Finance and Transportation.  He also served on numerous boards and commissions including The Behavioral Health Transformation Committee, Minority Health Advisory Commission, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council and Tony Grampsas Youth Services Advisory Board.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Frangas worked in the field of social work serving children and families, mental health clients and the homeless.  He has organized and administered culturally competent, community based services and has extensive experience in fundraising and grants.

Upon being hired, Frangas stated, “I am proud to work for an organization that has been so essential and effective in fighting for social justice and civil rights.”

Rolf is the CCDC Mental Health Policy Liaison. For five and one half years he was the CCDC grant proposal writer. For the last five years, he has traveled to meetings on behalf of CCDC that public officials attend and report to our Executive Director on the content of the meetings. Also, at these meetings, he represents CCDC’s positions.

Jaime was a pioneer sportsman in the early 1980's. He completed and won a 62 mile ultra marathon before people recognized the new sport. Between 1998-2001 Jaime served as a city council person and Mayor for the City of Salida, Colorado.Jaime is currently the Vice President of Very Special Arts (VSA of Colorado), a non-profit that promotes and displays art for disabled artists.Jaime recently was certified as a Lay Speaker for the United Methodist Church. He serves at churches in the Denver Metro area. Jaime gained notoriety by showing up to run a relay leg in the Colfax Marathon in Summer, 2006. When his teammates did not show, Jaime ran the entire 26 miles himself!