Training & Consulting

CCDC offers training in different disability subjects and delivery methods. For specific information about training options or requesting a training program, session, or webinar, please contact our director of training, Angela Nevin, at anevin@ccdconline.org.

Training Topics (not a comprehensive list)

1. How to involve the “affected populations” or clients on your board and staff in a meaningful way.
2. Effective Communication*
   1. For policymakers
   2. For people with disabilities
   3. For front-line workers (call centers, case managers, customer service)
3. ADA and Fair Housing Regulations on Service Animals**
4. Culturally competent Healthcare Promotion and Prevention for People with Disabilities
5. How to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce for employers
6. Promises and Pitfalls—What People with disabilities should know and do when entering the workforce
7. Medicaid (speakers available to discuss consumer direction, buy-in and more)
8. Advocacy
   1. Basic advocacy techniques
   2. How to work with independent advocates (for governments and service providers)
   3. Due process and appeals
   4. Legislative process
   5. Community organizing in the disability community
9. Disability Culture and History
   1. including a variety of options on disability awareness and how to work with people with various types of disabilities.
10. ADA overview
11. ADA reasonable accommodations/reasonable modification of policy – how to do this in your organization.

* The ADA and other laws require that governments and businesses provide effective communication for people with any type of disability that impacts full comprehension, by utilizing sign language interpretation, large font formats, audio description, note-taking, mediation, etc. Effective communication streamlines processes that involve multiple health providers and system steps, resulting in greater understanding, efficiency, and less client animosity.

** New ADA regulations regarding service animals: differentiating service and companion animals; differentiating psychiatric service animal, emotional support animal, and therapy animals.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Many at CCDC are available as keynote speakers for conferences or events.

CCDC provides the following consulting services:

1. Culturally competent materials: a review of current materials to ensure relevancy for people with disabilities such as checklists, one-page fact sheets, etc.
2. Document and communication testing and audits of organizational materials to determine effectiveness and suitability for a wide range of disabilities. Final report includes recommended wording. (This process can also be used for focus group questions).
3. General review of documents (without testing including general opinion on the likely reception by the disability community).
4. Management of client advisory councils and processes to increase the involvement of affected populations.
5. Focus groups and client interviews.
6. Client engagement.

INCLUSIVE MEETINGS AND ORGANIZATIONS

1. Legal consultation for an event, meeting, or organizational process to determine legal obligations and best practices for including people with disabilities in a meaningful way.
2. Organizational inclusivity assessment with recommendations on how to recruit and retain qualified people with disabilities for staff, board, or clientele.
3. Recruitment of qualified individuals with disabilities for specific positions on staff, committees, and governing boards.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

1. Review of existing policies to determine compliance with disability civil rights law, such as a review of personnel policies. The report includes and differentiates between legal compliance and best practice.
2. Draft of organizational policies on matters related to disability civil rights and best practices such as drafting an organizational policy on reasonable accommodation.

ACCESSIBILITY ASSESSMENTS

1. Survey a physical site for accessibility.
2. Review site plans for accessibility.
3. A Site visit or “Secret Shopper” to assess compliance with accessibility.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TRAINING AND CONSULTING

WHAT IS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION?

Effective Communication (EC) is a legal requirement that ensures that people with different types of disabilities can access information. EC varies with the method of communication used by an individual with a disability and can involve auxiliary aids and/or services. The nature, length, and complexity of the communication involved and the context in which the communication is taking place, will determine what auxiliary aids and services are required. In order to be effective, communication must be provided in accessible formats, in a timely manner, and in a respectable way to protect the privacy of the individual.

WHY DO I NEED TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has strengthened existing regulations (subtitle A of title II (42 U.S. C. 12131)), regarding Effective Communication as of March 15, 2011. It is the legal obligation of any public entity providing services, programs, and activities, to provide effective communication for individuals with disabilities. This includes private companies who are in contract with public entities to serve clients. It is also sound business practice, improves the quality of care, can prevent client complaints and possible legal action.
We will also provide customized training upon request.
CCDC was founded in 1990 to implement the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) throughout Colorado. We are the leading disability civil rights organization in Colorado, staffed by people with disabilities, and serving the cross-disability (all disabilities) community. CCDC provides advocacy services, legal programs, and expertise in policy, legislation, training, and consulting honed by years of research, statewide organizing, and activism.

Contact us at 303-839-1775 for further information.

DOWNLOAD: CCDC Consulting & Training Services Brochure.pdf