CO IDD Community Resources, Announcements, and Webinars:

• Resources:

  • PPE Resource: www.Coloradomaskproject.com (4.10.20)

  • The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities created a fact sheet regarding the rights of people with disabilities during the COVID crisis, intended to inform health care professionals. It is based on information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. Providers can share this fact sheet with health care professionals when a person they serve is seeking care to help ensure fair treatment. In addition, providers may wish to use or adapt this health passport tool created by the Ohio Association of County Boards of DD to assist health care professionals with supporting individuals with IDD.

  • Mask Request Form via CCDC and Arc (4.6.20)

  • Federal Stimulus Payment Guide Info-graphic (4.3.20)

  • Denver Metro: RTD Resources and Access-A-Ride (3.31.20)

  • Denver Recovery Funding  (03.30.20)

  • El Paso County COVID Small Business Recovery Funding (03.30.20)

  • Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC) COVID Resource Page and Mental Health Crisis Response Resources  (3.27.20)

  • The Arc of Colorado COVID-19 information and resources (03.27.20)

  • JFK Partners' COVID-19 Resources Specific for Individuals with I/DD and ASD and their Families (3.26.20)

  • Colorado Cross Disability Coalition (CCDC) COVID-19: Resources, Links, and Information for People with and without Disabilities  (3.26.20)

  • 2-1-1 is a confidential and multilingual service connecting people to vital resources across the state. No matter where you live in Colorado, you can find information about resources in your local community. (3.25.20 @4pm)

  • Colorado COVID Relief Fund (3.25.24)

    • Sign up here to receive COVID Relief Fund updates!

    • Grants are now available for the CO COVID Relief Fund!!! Through this Fund, eligible community-based organizations across Colorado may receive a general operating grant of up to $25,000. Read below for more information. (3.26.20)

  • PPE Update: Project Care 303-792-0729 might be able to offer PPE; they did a fundraiser at Mile High last weekend (3.24.20)

• Announcements: ​

  • House Passes Bill to Ease Restrictions on Paycheck Protection Program (5.29.20)

  • CCDC #More Revenue -Help us save the state and ourselves from fiscal devastation (5.13.20)​

  • COVID-19 Testing Sites for Individuals on Medicare/Medicaid or Uninsured (5.4.20)

  • Disability Law Colorado’s "Know Your Rights During COVID-19" web page. There you'll find important information about your medical treatment rights, education/IDEA rights, SNAP benefits, and more (4.29.20)

  • State of Colorado receives Battelle System to decontaminate used N95 masks: Learn how to sign up here!

  • Disability Law Colorado facilities survey: DLC is hoping to find out about how things are going in various facilities – good and bad – to help drive their advocacy efforts. ​Here are the direct links to the survey:

    • English

    • Spanish

  • Alliance joined CCDC and over 100 IDD agencies and partners in sending a letter to Governor Polis regarding “Equitable, Life-saving Care for People with Disabilities in Our State during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The COLORADO Ethics Example for our Nation” Click HERE to read that letter.

  • TO BE RESCHEDULED: Behavioral Health Task Force Public Meeting with IDD Community Partners (3.20.20)

  • The Alliance June Summit has been postponed: More information coming soon. (3.19.20 )

  • CANDD Spring Conference 2020 has been canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic (3.18.20)

  • Disability Law Colorado: DLC is generally suspending visits to facilities serving people with disabilities. DLC is still primed and ready to go into facilities or programs where there are reports of abuse or neglect. If COIDD Providers have concerns about someone, please contact DLC. They can retain legal authority to enter places, even when all visitation is closed. (3.13.20)

  • Alliance's IDD Awareness Day Avalanche Games Canceled on April 2nd. More information coming soon.

• Webinars:

  • Employment First COVID19 Response - Webinar Series: "Resources for Families and Residential Providers Supporting Job Seekers", May 13 @ 9:30am (5.11.20)

  • OEF Webinar recording: "Benefits Planning and COVID-19 (5.8.20)

  • Learn more about COVID-19 testing options for your workforce from Quest Diagnostics Webinar on May 7 (5.4.20)

  • Parents Ask the Providers: Transition to Home During COVID-19 Webinar on May 6 at 8:00pm (5.4.20)

  • Employment First COVID19 Response - Webinar Series: "Benefits Planning and COVID19" 4.30.20

  • Employment First COVID-19 - Webinar Series: "Re-framing Supported Employment: "What is the Future of Work?", Wednesday, April 29, 2020, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm MST (4.24.20)

  • Webinar recording: "Adapting Employment First Efforts to COVID-19 Situation" (4.17.20)

  • Dalby Wendland & Co. Presents: CARES Act Income Tax Provisions Summary - Planning for Businesses & Employers (4.10.20)

  • Tales from the Trenches: Updates and Practical Guidance for Employers on COVID-19 (4.10.20)

  • Building a Community of Support for Leaders Webinar April 15th (4.9.20)

  • MHIDD for Mobile Crisis Responders Webinar Training Course(4.9.20)

  • The Role of the Direct Support Professional and the Coronavirus: Part Three (LIVE), is now available on YouTube (4.8.20)​

  • Colorado Office of Employment First Webinar: "Adapting Employment First Efforts to COVID-19 Situation": April 9, 2020, 9:30-11:00 MST  (added 4.6.20)

  • The American Association of People with Disabilities invites you to participate in a call on Friday, April 3, at 12 pm ET focused on the legal non-discrimination obligations for healthcare providers during the COVID-19 crisis. (4.2.20)

  • WEBINAR Recording: Practical Issues for Employers in Navigating the New Federal Emergency Paid FMLA and Sick Leave Mandates (3.24.20) *you may need to register to view the recording.

    • • link to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Emergency Paid Sick & FMLA (4.1.20)

  • Upcoming HCPF Webinars: Submit questions HERE

    • Disability Community 3.27.20 @ 10:30am AND 4.3.20 @ 10:30am https://cohcpf.adobeconnect.com/r3b9fqgetn6z/

    • HCBS Residential Providers 3.27.20 @ 12:45am AND 4.3.20 @ 11:45am https://cohcpf.adobeconnect.com/rfjznsuoinn7/

    • HCBS non-residential 3.27.20 @1pm AND 4.3.20 @ 1pm https://cohcpf.adobeconnect.com/r4lt3q6a5pgb/

    • CCBs/SEPs Case Management- 3.27.20 @ 4pm AND 4.3.20 @ 4pm https://cohcpf.adobeconnect.com/r3rv7me4vhh9/

    • Past Webinars: https://www.colorado.gov/hcpf/covid-19-provider-information

  • COVID-19 Webinar: Federal and Colorado Support for Small Businesses by The Small Business Majority (3.31.20)

Tools for IDD Agencies

• Clear and Simple Coronavirus Safety Guide - Developed by TransCen, Inc.  (4.2.2.20) 

• ​​COVID-19 Picture Communication Board​ - PPT file from Julia Beems (3.23.20) 

• These six points could help to connect you to the experience of the people with developmental disabilities that you support during this pandemic (Open Future Learning-3.23.20)

• From Relias: How to Prepare for Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Influenza: Free Training & Resources​ (3.20.20)

• ANCOR Toolkit: DSPs are Essential Employees - customizable templates to identify essential personnel (3.20.20)

  • "Critical Business Self-Certification Form". The use of the form is voluntary and is not required. Click here to download a copy of the form. (3.27.20)

• ANCOR's Realistic Job Preview for  recruiting DSPs (3.20.20)

• NADSP's COVID-19 Toolkit for DSPs - free webinars: "Self-Care for DSPs in Crisis", "The Role of the DSP and the Coronavirus", + fact sheets (3.20.20)

• Plain Language COVID-19 Guide: English & Spanish

• Screening Tool Examples:

  • DHS Screening Form

  • DDRC Screening Form & Screening Log Examples

​

COVID-19 News

• News from Governor Polis ​​:

  • The Governor signed an Executive Order ​extending the disaster emergency declaration for COVID-19 for an additional 30 days (7.7.20)

  • Gov. Polis signed Executive Order D 2020 104, temporarily suspending certain statutes to maintain eligibility for Coloradans enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Basic Health Plan. Extended to July 14, 2020. (6.14.20)

  • Governor Polis Signs Updated Safer at Home Executive Order to Transition to Safer at Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors (6.1.20)

  • Gov. Polis Signs Executive Orders In Response to COVID-19 Pandemic - Extension of emergency to June 21 (5.26.20)

  • Gov. Polis Signs Executive Orders In Response to COVID-19 Pandemic -  increases Colorado’s Medicaid home health workforce and eliminates copays for COVID-19 testing for individuals who rely on Medicaid (5.26.20)

  • Governor Polis Issues Guidance for Restaurants, Summer Camps and Private Camping (5.26.20)

  • Gov. Polis Announces Expanded Testing Capacity, Including All Who Are Symptomatic (5.18.20)

  • Alternative care site update on operational dates (5.08.20)

  • Governor Extends Disaster Emergency Declaration for COVID-19 (5.07.20)

  • State announces Residential Outbreak Task Force (5.06.20)

  • State of Colorado Receives Second Battelle System (5.02.20)

  • Gov. Polis today unveiled a new interactive map of community-based testing sites that local public health departments have set up across the state. The state has been providing guidance and supplies to help local public health agencies stand up these testing sites, which are especially important in rural areas of the state where private providers are limited in number and capacity. (5.5.20)

  • Colorado governor slashes state spending, outlaws evictions and keeps ski areas closed in series of late-night orders; Colorado Sun

  • Gov. Polis Announces the Office of eHealth Innovation Advancing Governor Innovation Response Efforts (4.30.20)

  • Colorado & Nevada Join California, Oregon & Washington in Western States Pact “As part of the Western States Pact, the Governors commit to working together toward… Protecting vulnerable populations at risk for severe disease if infected. This includes a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.” (4.27.20)

  • Gov. Polis Issues Executive Order on Safer at Home (4.26.20)​

  • Gov. Polis Applauds County Efforts to Combat COVID-19 (4.25.20)

  • Gov. Polis Takes Action in Response to COVID-19 (4.24.20)

  • Gov. Polis Provides Update to Coloradans on State Response to COVID-19 (4.22.20)​

  • Gov. Polis' "What Does Safer-At-Home Mean?​" Fact-Sheet (4.22.20)

  • Gov. Polis' "#doingmypart" Presentation (4.22.20)

  • Gov. Polis Announces "Safer at Home" Phase (4.20.20)

    • For more details on what the Safer at Home phase of the pandemic looks like, please view the Governor’s presentation here. 

    • The latest Colorado model report is now available to the public.

    • Watch the Governor’s news conference here.

  • Gov. Polis Takes Additional Action in Response to COVID-19 (4.19.20)

  • Gov. Polis Signs Bill Into Law (4.17.20)

  • Gov. Polis Updates Coloradans on State Response to COVID-19 (4.17.20)

  • Gardner, Bennet, and Polis Make Unified Request for CARES Act Changes to Benefit Coloradans (4.17.20)

  • Media Advisory: Gov. Polis to Provide Update on COVID-19

    • If you would like to watch the news conference remotely, please view the live-stream on the Governor’s Facebook page. (4.20.20)

  • Gov. Polis Takes Additional Action to Limit Spread of the Coronavirus (4.14.20)​

  • Gov. Polis Provides Update on State Response to COVID-19 (4.13.20)

  • Gov. Polis Urges Hotel and Motel Owners to Provide Rooms for State’s Most Vulnerable (4.13.20)

    • Polis - Letter to GA Denver CC RTD Board - COVID-19 Colorado Homelessness Response​

    • Polis - Open letter to Colorado's Hotel and Motel Owners and Operators - Colorado COVID-19 Response

  • Gov. Polis Takes Action to Limit Spread of COVID-19 in Human Services Facilities (4.11.20)

  • Gov. Polis Provides Update on Response to COVID-19 at Colorado Convention Center (4.10.20)

  • Gov. Polis Extends Emergency Disaster Declaration for an additional 30-days (4.9.20)​

  • Gov. Polis Addresses Coloradans, Extends Stay-at-Home Order (4.7.20)

  • Gov. Polis Takes Further Action To Address COVID-19 (4.7.20)

  • Gov. Polis Secures Major Disaster Status for Colorado (3.29.20)
  • Gov. Polis: COVID-19 Relief Fund Accepting Grant Applications (3.27.20)
  • Gov. Polis Issues Statewide Stay at Home Order Effective 3.26.20 at 6am (Posted: 3.25.20)
    • Watch the press conference here. 
  • Gov. Polis: Colorado is Leading by Example and Taking Action to Address COVID-19: The critical workplaces that are exempt (3.22.20)

  • Governor Polis Press Release Archive: Prior to March 20, 2020

• IDD News:

  • ​Hospitals Told To Allow Visitors For Individuals With Disabilities, by Michelle Diament, DisabilityScoop

  • Colorado sees decline in outbreaks at long-term care facilities, officials say by Richard Cote, 9News

  • Colorado Leads the Way; Tom Turner, Community Options - published by Montrose Daily Press (6.9.20)

  • Anxieties Familiar and New Persist for People Living with Disabilities During the Pandemic (by Michael Booth, The Colorado Trust) (5.28.20)

  • Babies Can't Wait; Tom Turner, Community Options - published by Montrose Daily Press (5.16.20)

  • GUEST COLUMN: Colorado leading in support of people with disabilities, Cheryl Wicks (5.18.20)

  • NEWS RELEASE: 135 groups urge lawmakers to avoid cuts, Colorado Center on Law & Policy (5.18.20)

  • Colorado leads for people with developmental disabilities during crisis; Tara Kiene, Community Connections - published by the Durango Herald (5.12.20)

  • Colorado Summer Camps Still Don’t Know When Or How They’ll Be Allowed To Open; Jenny Brundin, CPR.org (5.13.20)

  • Colorado receives money for telemedicine and health innovation projects; krdo.com (5.6.20)

  • Direct support professionals are not invisible — they are essential; roi-nj.com (5.6.20)

  • For ‘hidden heroes’ in home care, pandemic’s front lines extend into kitchens and bedrooms; pressherald.com (5.6.20)

  • ‘They’re the front lines'; Staff care for adults with disabilities amid pandemic, funding challenges; Pennlive.com (5.6.20)

  • COVID-19 Safer at Home Information in ASL; The Independence Center (5.5.20)

  • Disability Service Providers Struggling To Stay Afloat Amid COVID-19 (Disability Scoop) (5.4.20)

  • Know Your Rights During COVID-19; Disability Law Colorado (4.29.20)

  • Colorado lawmakers are looking at how to close a $3 billion budget shortfall. Here’s the roadmap.(CO Sun) (4.27.20)

  • OP-ED: If state leaders love front-line workers, why do they pay them poverty wages? (4.28.20)

  • Best Laid Plans by Tom Turner, Community Options Inc in the Montrose Press (4.27.20)

  • The Crisis Before This Crisis That Can No Longer Be Ignored; Andre Floyd, medium.com (4.24.20) 

  • In responding to COVID-19, Congress must not overlook people with severe disabilities (4.21.20)

  • Providers Want To Protect Clients With Disabilities. Nobody’s Telling Them How. (4.21.20)

  • OFL Blog Post by a DSP: “Can we go out today?” (4.17.20)

  • Initial Research Brief: Potential Impacts of COVID-19 on Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Call for Accurate Cause of Death Reporting​ (4.17.20)​

  • People With Disabilities Fear Pandemic Will Worsen Medical Biases; NPR (4.15.20)

  • ​People with disabilities are the forgotten vulnerable community in the age of COVID-19 (thehill.com, BY REP. JIM LANGEVIN (D-R.I.) AND JAY RUDERMAN, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR) (4.13.20)

  • In The Face Of Ethical Aberrations In Several States Colorado Stands Strong Against Discrimination In COVID-19 Care
    NEWS PROVIDED BY Global Down Syndrome Foundation 

  • Column: COVID-19 and people with disabilities: Chicago-area care workers show how love conquers fear
    CHICAGO TRIBUNE

  • Can we go out today?, Ben Drew, Open Future Learning

  • COVID-19 Starts to Take a Toll on New Jersey’s Disabled Residents (4.9.20)

  • ‘It’s Hit Our Front Door’: Homes for the Disabled See a Surge of Covid-19 (4.9.20)

  • I’m disabled and need a ventilator to live. Am I expendable during this pandemic? By Alice Wong, Vox.com (4.6.20)

  • A time of unprecedented fear for parents of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Washington Post (4.3.20)

  • Governor's budget office directs state agencies to pare millions from 2019-20 budgets with less than three months left in fiscal year (4.2.20)

  • Colorado small businesses can apply for payroll loans (PPP) starting April 3 (4.3.20)

  • RTD riders with disabilities can now access grocery delivery service during COVID-19 crisis (ColoradoPolitics 03.30.20)

  • Coronavirus made accessibility a priority. It should stay that way when the pandemic ends. | Opinion (Philadelphia Inquirer 03.30.20)

  • HHS Warns States Not To Put People With Disabilities At The Back Of The Line For Care (NPR 3.28.20)

  • List Of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Relief Programs ( Forbes 3.27.30)

  • People With Disabilities Were Already Overlooked. Coronavirus Is Making It Worse. (Huff Post 3.27.20)

  • With Schools Closed, Kids With Disabilities Are More Vulnerable Than Ever (NPR 3.27.20)

  • " 'We want to live': At-risk adults, home health care workers fear coronavirus" by Marisa Kwiatkowski & Tricia L. Nadolny, USA TODAY (03.26.20)

  • Stay-at-home orders announced for Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas Boulder and Jefferson Counties (9 News 3.25.20)

  • Colorado’s legislature won’t resume Monday as planned. It’s an open question when they will return. (The CO Sun 3.25.20)

  • Developmentally Disabled New Yorkers Stuck in Hospital After COVID-19 Recovery (NY4 3.25.20)

  • Denver Stay at Home Order (Mayor's Office 3.23.20)

  • Colorado’s governor decided not to issue a stay-at-home order. Denver’s mayor just acted on his own (3.23.20)

  • As Congress considers its frontline defenses against COVID-19, it must remember disability service providers (The Hill 3.20.20)

  • For Kids With Autism, School Shutdown Poses Even Bigger Quandary (Disability Scoop 3.20.20)

  • Coronavirus Brings Added Worries For People With Disabilities (Disability Scoop 3.17.20)

  • Coronavirus outbreak raises tricky workplace legal questions (Denver Post 3.17.20)

  • Colorado legislature will shut down on Saturday for 2 weeks because of Coronavirus (CO Sun 3.13.20)

  • Feds Weigh In On Special Ed, Medicaid Concerns Over Coronavirus (Disability Scoop 3.13.20)

​