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Deciding to move your child into another school in the state of Colorado could be a good option to get a student with a disability’s needs met. But, it’s important to make sure you understand the process, options for specialized schooling, and realistic expectations of the school districts.   In this THINK+change podcast episode, Austin Doyle, Child & Family Advocate from ADVOCACYDENVER (Denver chapter of The Arc), gives his perspective on what families should know about the school choice system. With many years of educating across different types of schools, Austin has some great advice for how school choice can be utilized for special education.

The Arc of Aurora’s individual advocates are here to answer all of your burning questions around your student’s IEP! Join Jeff Fernengel and Petri Brill for a myth busting and clarifying conversation around special education for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). Their combined decades of experience will give you invaluable insights into how you can handle your child’s education to help them succeed.

Students with disabilities, parents, and teachers often must navigate barriers to learning so that the student can succeed. The additional challenge of inappropriate behavior in school creates an additional barrier, not just to the student’s learning, but the entire classroom as well. With limited resources, this can be one of the biggest challenges our schools face.   Kim Kelleher, Speech Language Pathologist, brings her communication and trauma-informed experience to the THINK+change podcast this month to discuss how we can better handle behavior challenges in schools. Her analytical mind and goal-focused input gives a refreshing perspective on this difficult topic!

Beck Williers is a 23-year-old young man with an exciting life ahead of him. His transition into adulthood did not happen overnight but came through a journey of self-advocacy and community-building. Resilient from the day he was born, Beck and his family show what it takes to create a life full of endless possibilities and finding success through joy.

Our community is full of people with disabilities, caregivers, advocates, and more that give their all to fighting for a better world and quality of life. Developing resiliency and regulating our nervous systems are key skills to sustaining ourselves through obstacles and disappointment.   Xana Itzel Peña Velázquez, trauma-sensitive yoga teacher and certified Reiki Master, joins THINK+change this month to break down the important things we can do to sustain ourselves and get back to the basics of our own care!

The term “neurodiversity” (or “neurodivergent”) pops up everywhere these days! And, within the disability world, we interact with so many labels to describe people, oftentimes medical terminology and diagnoses. But, what happens when a label comes from lived experience and community opinion, rather than the medical system?

People with disabilities deserve to live in the most integrated setting in the community possible. And, they deserve to be protected and safe while doing so. From host homes to independent living options, safety and regulations look different but still have significant challenges to protecting this vulnerable population. Jack Johnson, Public Policy Liaison at Disability Law Colorado is on the front lines of fighting for legislation to improve regulation and safety of paid caregiving in the state of Colorado. Tune in for his informed perspective on these nuanced conversations!

This is the inspiring and emotional story of what can happen when a disability community comes together to use their voice for change. Through following the Colorado state legislation, HB25-1017 (Community Integration Plan for Individuals with Disabilities), this documentary features the voices of local changemakers with disabilities and allies in leadership. With lived experiences at the front-and-center, this community will motivate you to be the change you want to see!

Students in Special Education deserve to be considered and planned for in school safety operations. In this conversation, THINK+change learns about how schools can and do adapt their planning to make sure that all their students will be accounted for in an emergency.   Join us in learning from Brad Stiles, M.A., Emergency Response Outreach Consultant at Colorado Office of School Safety (OSS). He offers his take on where we are at now and what families and school staff should consider when advocating for their Special Education students.

There is a lot to consider when a child receives a new diagnosis for an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD). For caregivers, families, and even providers, the conversations and planning can be overwhelming!   If you have received a new diagnosis, or maybe you are interested in beginning the process, use this podcast episode featuring Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Lauren Mowrey, to understand the diagnosis process, next steps, and most importantly, take a deep breath!

When someone becomes a victim of a crime, a long and often overwhelming process towards justice begins. It can be extremely difficult and taxing for anyone but when people with disabilities, especially those with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), enter this process, barriers and systemic failures might mean that they never get to see the justice they deserve. This documentary exposes these failures through the lens of advocacy and victim support providers.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an often-overlooked diagnosis for many people, but it’s important to spread awareness to help those who need it get the correct supports. Hear from Marilyn Fausset, who is the Chair of the FASD Awareness Work Group at Illuminate Colorado, as she discusses her family’s journey to the diagnosis and all that she’s learned since!

When it comes to supporting people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, particularly with autism, it’s important to work hard to find the right path. A common therapy that many families and individuals utilize, ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) can be a very helpful tool in ensuring safety and success in community spaces.   However, is it the best choice (or only choice) to help someone with IDD use their voice and be their authentic selves in the world?   In this episode, Sarah Grazier, Executive Director of the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, joins THINK+change to discuss the importance of community integration and how we can support individuals with IDD in a variety of ways!

What does it really take for a medical facility to be truly accessible? Not just in design, but in attitude, system, and practice. Through the lived experiences of patients like Chris Layne, who saw her access to care shift dramatically after becoming a wheelchair user, and Dawn Russell, with a lifetime of experience with a developmental disability, who finally experienced equitable care at Tepeyac Community Health Center, we see the consequences of inaccessibility and the impact of doing better. This storytelling documentary shows a reimagining of what is possible for healthcare facilities and how they can truly become the “gold standard” of accessibility.