2012 Public Policy Agenda

For over 50 years, Colorado chapters of The Arc have advocated for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live independently, exercise choice and control over their lives and contribute to their communities by being fully included in educational, economic, social, spiritual, and cultural endeavors. Below is the 2012 public policy agenda for the Arc chapters of Colorado:

Adequate funding for “lifeline” Medicaid and other services and supports for people with disabilities including sufficient appropriations for:

  • Wait list placement for emergency cases, young people leaving the foster care system as well as those who age-out of the Children’s Extensive Support waiver;

  • Growth in Early Intervention services—resisting any changes that would limit or reduce the number of enrolled children;

  • Maintaining or improving levels of services and supports for all HCBS Medicaid waiver benefit, Family Support services and Special Education; and

  • Supporting families with adequate home health care services and ensuring that the Home Care allowance continues to be available for individuals receiving SLS or CES Medicaid waiver benefits.

Simplification and improvement of the long term services and support system in Colorado including:

  • Standardization of level of care requirements for all HCBS children’s Medicaid waivers;

  • Implementation of consumer directed options for HCBS Medicaid waivers for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

  • Person-centered coordination of medical services and long term supports for people who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid services recognizing the unique needs and desires of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

  • Simplification and standardization of service definitions among HCBS Medicaid waivers; and

  • Robust stakeholder input and advice process to guide the potential transition of the Division for Developmental Disabilities from the Department of Human Services to the CO Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Promotion and protection of stronger civil rights legislation for people with disabilities including:

  • Reform of school discipline policies to acknowledge behavioral issues related to disabilities including appropriate training of school resource officers and administrators;

  • Expand rules of evidence to support prosecution of crimes against people with disabilities and clarify existing criminal statutes to ensure parity for crimes committed against people with disabilities; and

  • Requiring charter schools authorized by local boards of education be structured to include students with disabilities.