Denver police officer blocks handicap spot at disability advocates’ HQ during emergency call

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A Denver police officer parked a marked patrol vehicle partially in a handicap spot at the headquarters for the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition last month, blocking access to a van driven by the coalition’s legal director, who uses a wheelchair. Continue reading “Denver police officer blocks handicap spot at disability advocates’ HQ during emergency call”

Denver officer photographed blocking handicap spot at disability advocates’ headquarters

by: Evan Kruegel for KDVR Fox 31
Posted: Mar 5, 2020 / 10:12 PM MST / Updated: Mar 5, 2020 / 10:12 PM MST

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DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Police Department has issued an apology after an officer was photographed parking in a handicap spot during an emergency call.

That handicap-accessible spot happened to be in front of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, which specializes in advocating for those with disabilities.

Photos show the officer taking up a portion of the handicap spot as well as the majority of the “access aisle,” used by many at the building to get in and out of vehicles. Continue reading “Denver officer photographed blocking handicap spot at disability advocates’ headquarters”

Denver Police Park in place for the disabled at the headquarters of the disability advocacy group

By Matilda Coleman- March 6, 2020 for Upnewsinfo.com

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A Denver police officer parked a partially marked patrol vehicle in a disabled place at the Colorado Disability Coalition headquarters last month, blocking access to a van driven by the coalition’s legal director, who uses a wheelchair.

Legal director Kevin Williams said Thursday that he wanted to draw attention to the incident because he routinely receives complaints about Denver police parking in places for disabled people. Continue reading “Denver Police Park in place for the disabled at the headquarters of the disability advocacy group”

Legislation geared toward people who register fake emotional support animals not likely to be introduced this year

Posted: 8:29 PM, Feb 27, 2020   Updated: 12:29 PM, Feb 28, 2020
By: Eric Ross

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COLORADO — We’ve shown you the stories of people trying to pass off untrained pets as emotional support animals.

Disability advocates say as time goes on, the problem is getting worse.

State Rep. Larry Liston (R-Colorado Springs) drafted legislation as a result of a News 5 investigation we aired last Spring, but we discovered the bill is unlikely to be introduced this year. The goal of the bill would have defined the process of how people can obtain letters “certifying” their pet as an emotional support animal. Continue reading “Legislation geared toward people who register fake emotional support animals not likely to be introduced this year”

Behavioral Health Task Force Public Testimony at Division of Insurance on 3/6/20

The Division of Insurance (DOI) is pleased to host a public testimony opportunity in partnership with the Behavioral Health Task Force on Friday, March 6, 2020, from 2-5 PM. We invite Colorado community members, providers, caretakers, and advocates to share their stories about their experiences interacting with the behavioral health care system. We want to know what you love, what you hate, and/or what we need as a state to ensure every single person has the opportunity to be healthy and well. Your story does not need to be related to commercial insurance. Continue reading “Behavioral Health Task Force Public Testimony at Division of Insurance on 3/6/20”

The Public Charge Rule Is Now in Effect Nationwide— What Does that Mean and What Can You Do?

Update: February 24, 2020 
From the Center for Public Representation

Today, the Department of Homeland Security’s discriminatory public charge rule goes into effect. The rule puts in place a new test for people who are applying for visas or green cards. It looks at people’s health, including whether they have a disability, and whether they have used or might one day use public benefits, including Medicaid-funded home and community-based services on which many people with disabilities rely because they are not covered by private insurance. This rule will have a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities and will discourage people already in the US from using critical public benefits to which they are legally entitled. Continue reading “The Public Charge Rule Is Now in Effect Nationwide— What Does that Mean and What Can You Do?”

CCDC wants to insure that you have your chance to provide input on RTD Service Changes

Public meetings have been scheduled between February 19 and March 5 for you to learn more about and weigh in on proposed RTD service changes.

Information, Dates, and Locations are available at https://www.rtd-denver.com/service-changes/may-2020.

You can also provide your input by emailing service.changes@rtd-denver.com or faxing comments to 303-299-2227 no later than March 5, 2020. Continue reading “CCDC wants to insure that you have your chance to provide input on RTD Service Changes”

Colorado bill would allow disabled company owners to keep working

The Colorado Senate Health and Human Services Committee will consider whether to give disabled business owners another option.

By Ed Sealover  – Reporter, Denver Business Journal, Feb 10, 2020, 10:33am EST

DENVER — Josh Winkler became paralyzed below the waist at age 17, but that didn’t stop him from getting a mechanical engineering degree in college and working for a NASCAR team until the Great Recession hit. He then launched his own company, Cripple Concepts, which makes a variety of aides for the wheelchair-bound, including joystick knobs for movement that don’t fall off and USB chargers that allow electric-wheelchair users to charge their phones without losing use of their mobility device. Continue reading “Colorado bill would allow disabled company owners to keep working”

Senate committee hearing on RTD oversight bill shines a light on services for disabled riders

Customers with disabilities say RTD needs to do a better job serving those who most need transit

By JOHN AGUILAR | jaguilar@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: February 18, 2020 at 8:31 p.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2020 at 8:42 p.m.

Legislation that would tighten state oversight of the troubled Regional Transportation District got its first hearing in front of lawmakers Tuesday, and the focus was squarely on how well the metro area’s disabled community is being served by transit. Continue reading “Senate committee hearing on RTD oversight bill shines a light on services for disabled riders”

Groups supporting public option pen a letter to Colorado lawmakers

Joey Bunch, Colorado Politics,  Feb 19, 2020, as published in coloradopolitics.com

From the American Diabetes Association to the Young Invincibles, more than two dozen Colorado groups signed on to a letter urging state lawmakers to support a public option insurance program to increase competition and, ideally, lower premiums and other health care costs.

The letter dated Jan. 22, provided to Colorado Politics Tuesday, speaks of a “true crisis” in every corner of the state and urges the General Assembly to deliver affordability, transparency and access to care through the insurance marketplace.

Continue reading “Groups supporting public option pen a letter to Colorado lawmakers”