The Colorado Developmental Disabilities System is in a State of Crisis

Did you know?

• Colorado ranks 48th in the nation in fiscal effort toward providing funding for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
• There are currently more than 12,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families on a waiting list to receive services in Colorado.
• Since 2001, the number of people on the waiting list for comprehensive (24 hour) services in Colorado has increased 189%
• Since 2001, the number of people on the waiting list for Supported Living Services (used to supplement already available supports for adults who either can live independently with limited supports or are principally supported from other sources such as families) has increased by 117%.
• An estimated 8,756 people with developmental disabilities in Colorado are living with family caregivers aged 60 and older.
• The Medicaid Waiver-funded Supported Living Services fiscal year cap has not changed since the inception of Supported Living Services in Colorado. In effect, this reduces the dollar amount available to provide the same level of service to consumers across the State with every year that passes.

This is why Imagine! has created The Imagine! Initiative, a series of informational meetings and strategy sessions designed to bring families, providers and Community Centered Boards together to create solutions to the crisis facing the Developmental Disabilities system in Colorado.

Below you will find information from previous Imagine! Initiative sessions, as well as upcoming events. Please check back to this page often.

If you would like to suggest a topic for a future Imagine! Initiative event, please email Fred Hobbs

As part of the Imagine! Initiative, we are constantly working to improve our website to ensure that it provides information and resources to all of our constituents: consumers, families, providers, and the community at large. One effort we have put forth is to expand our web calendar to include events, programs, lectures and other items of interest from all around our geographical area, so visitors to our site can learn more about resources that may be available to them. Please take a moment to look around our calendar, and if you have any items you would like to add, please contact Fred Hobbs.

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Supported Living Services (SLS) Provider Information Session

On November 5, 2008, Imagine!'s Support Coordinating Agency hosted a meeting for providers of Supported Living Services, Supported Living Coordinators, and Case Managers. The meeting was designed to keep all interested parties up to date on the latest in procedure and billing issues.

For more information on the topics listed above, click here.

Teleconference Regarding the Rate Impact Study for the HCB-DD Waiver (Comprehensive Services)

On Thursday, Sept. 25, Imagine! hosted a Teleconference Regarding the Rate Impact Study for the HCB-DD Waiver (Comprehensive Services). The purpose of this initial teleconference, set up by the Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD), was to provide background on this project for those who are unfamiliar, as well as to provide status updates, and an opportunity for questions and input.

Background:
The State was required by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to develop a new uniform rate setting process for HCB-DD waiver services. DDD hired a consulting firm to develop recommendations for a method to classify consumers into new support levels as well as a rate model. Plans were originally to implement these new rates and support levels starting July 1, 2008.

However, since the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had questions about the new waiver changes, there was an opportunity to delay implementation. The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) staff believed a delay was prudent given the intensity of comments from the community and the potential negative effect on individuals of a July change to the new rate structure. This delay would provide time to further evaluate the impact of the new rate structure and support levels on individuals enrolled in the developmental disabilities system and determine what improvements might be needed. However, CMS has only agreed to this delay until January 1, 2009, by which time new rates and support levels must be in place. Two workgroups were formed (Rate Impact and Support Level) to look at the underlying assumptions and factors of these new rates and support levels. This teleconference will give you more background to this project and progress of these two workgroups. It will also afford an opportunity for some questions and input both at the end of the teleconference and via email following the teleconference.
A second teleconference is planned for late October to early November, to present results of the Workgroup studies, as well as to respond to the common themes from emailed questions and input.

View a slideshow from the teleconference

Planning for the Future of Your Special Needs Child

On August 20, a free lecture on planning for the future of your special needs child was co-sponsored by Imagine! and The Autism Society of Boulder County.

George Todd discussed how the parents of children with long-term special needs have many concerns, including, "How can I make sure my child is properly cared for when I am no longer able to do so." The answer, at least in part, is a thoughtfully drafted estate or "life plan" which makes specific and necessary provisions for that special child.

For more information on how to create a life plan for your child or loved one, click here.

Communication and Assistive Technology Workshop

On Tuesday, Tuesday, July 15, 2008, Imagine!'s C.O.R.E. Innovations presented a Communication and Assistive Technology Workshop. Also presenting were Haley O'Hare, MS, CCC-SLP of Rocky Mountain AAC Specialists LLC, and Nancy Lamb, Regional Representative of Dynavox Technologies.

The communication in-service to explored aspects and strategies of communication implementation within the lives of people who have cognitive or developmental disabilities.

To learn more about Rocky Mountain AAC Specialists, click here.
To learn more about Dynavox Technologies, click here.

Assistive Technology Workshop

On Thursday, June 12, 2008, Imagine! presented an assistive technology workshop featuring RJ Cooper, a researcher and developer for persons with disabilities since 1984. RJ has authored many software titles and developed several hardware adaptations. This unique presentation consisted of working with a variety of people with disabilities to help develop better solutions for living.

RJ Cooper has been researching and developing computer software and hardware adaptations for people with special needs for more than eighteen years. He has written a column for Closing the Gap, a publication devoted to computer technology in special education and rehabilitation. He also lectures about adaptive technology at many conferences. You can learn more about him on his web site at www.rjcooper.com.

Imagine! Community Forum

Imagine! held its annual Community Forum on February 26, 2008. Representatives from Imagine!'s staff and Board of Directors were on hand to answer questions and receive input from families and local community members. In addition to an overview of Imagine!, the forum featured breakout sessions on key topics including:

• The Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) and Supported Living Services (SLS). Learn more about this topic here.
• Comprehensive Services and Rates. To learn more about this topic, please click here.
• Children's and Family Services. Learn more about this topic here.

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Supported Living Services (SLS) Provider Information Session

On January 23, 2008, Imagine!'s Support Coordinating Agency hosted a meeting for providers of Supported Living Services, as well as families and consumers receiving those services. The meeting covered topics including roles of case managers, SLC's and the SCA, service authorizations and billing procedures, billing for no-shows and last-minute cancellations, the SIS assessment and documentation requirements.

For more information on the topics listed above, click here.

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Exploring Community Resources: Utilizing the Disabled Workforce for a Win-Win Relationship

One way to decrease the need for services for people with developmental disabilities is to provide them with the tools they need to become contributing members of their communities, including developing job skills.

In order to make this work, Imagine! partners with businesses throughout Boulder and Broomfield counties to help with their staffing needs while at the same time helping our consumers learn from valuable life experiences.

On January 16, 2008, Imagine! hosted a "Lunch and Learn" session to provide some of the basic information on how businesses who hire people with disabilities can gain a diverse and uniquely skilled workforce and potentially increase their customer base by 40%.

To see a PDF of the main points of the presentation, click here.

Options and Alternatives for Caring for Adults With Developmental Disabilities

On November 13, 2007,Imagine! hosted a panel discussion and breakout sessions exploring various options and alternatives to meeting the ever-increasing need for services for adults with developmental disabilities.

Panelists Included:
Nancy Baesman - Vision System (more information on Vision System)
Jane Fouchey - On My Own (more information on On My Own)
Jim Hembd - Glory Community (for more information on Glory Community, visit www.glorycommunity.org)
Dianne Hitchingham - HERO Alliance (more information on HERO Alliance)
Greg Wellems - Imagine! (more information on Imagine!'s SmartHome)

For more information on additional housing assistance programs and respite care options from across the country, click here.

Family Financial Planning Workshop
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

On Tuesday, September 18, Imagine! hosted a Family Financial Planning Workshop to help families with Medicaid and financial planning specific to children with special needs. As guest presenter Hal Wright, a financial advisor for Waddell & Reed, Inc., said while emphasizing the importance of financial planning for families with children with special needs, "A financial plan is a roadmap for your financial future."

Also presenting at the event was Richard Vincent from Ridgeway, Romeo & Vincent, LLC. His talk focused on the specifics of special needs trusts. He also seconded Mr. Wright's comments about the importance of planning ahead, telling the more than 60 people in attendance, "These types of trusts need to be put in place as soon as possible-you've got to get going on these things."

To see a powerpoint slide show of Mr. Wright's presentation, click here.

To see a powerpoint slide show of Mr. Vincent's presentation, click here.

Supported Living Services Informational Meeting
Thursday, August 30, 2007

Extensive changes are being made to Supported Living Services at Imagine! and statewide. This information session included reviews of all Supported Living Services funding types, updates on services and discussions about what may happen in the future.

To see a powerpoint slide show of the main points of the meeting, click here

For more information on this topic, please contact Mark Emery.

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Please check back soon!

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