THE DISPATCH
April 2020 Issue

Calming Ourselves & Building Our Power

During any time of crisis, misinformation and rumors can cause fear and unnecessary anxiety. To help alleviate this, CCDC has created a resource page provides quick links and references to answer many of your questions and calm your concerns.

If you think there is an error in our information or have something you feel would be helpful for people with disabilities to know during this pandemic, please send your information to covid@ccdconline.org. We intend these web pages to be of value to you. Help us continue to update and improve on our start.

Every Friday morning we will send out an update to our membership containing the information added that previous week. If you would like to be updated regularly, go to Join CCDC and sign up for a free membership.

Do you need personal protective equipment (PPE)? Use this link for info about contacting your Local Emergency Managers.

If you are served by a home health agency or a PASA ask them for PPE for your self and your caregivers. If you are without an agency or use CDASS the local emergency management system is the agency that distributes these. Please note there is a shortage nationwide. Click here for face mask alternatives.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Practicing Social Distancing also means we risk isolating ourselves from others. CCDC is committed to holding regular virtual events – from educational webinars to informational Q and A’s with subject matter experts, and online celebrations of successes and wins we all experience. All events hosted by CCDC on the Zoom platform include captions provided by CART. If you require an ASL Interpreter instead of captions, please contact Shannon Secrest via email. Facebook events will have captions added once the live event ends and an ASL summary of the discussion.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Chanda Center for Health presented by Chanda Hinton

Friday 4/10 ⋅ 2:00 – 3:00 pm The Chanda Plan Foundation was created when founder, Chanda Hinton’s life was saved by integrative therapies. Spend an hour hearing Chanda’s story and how it became the Chanda Center for Health (Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 736-609-940)

CCDC: How to Get the Most Out of DVR (Part 2) – with Brenda Mosby

Monday, 4/13 ⋅ 10:00 – 11:00 am Join Brenda Mosby for part 2 of her journey through DVR and what she learned that now helps others with their journey. The recording of part 1 of this series can be found below the calendar. (Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 166 959 315)

Housing Webinar with Susan Niner

Friday 4/17 ⋅ 1:00 – 2:00 pm Susan Niner, the former Deputy Director at the Colorado Division of Housing, is one of the leading experts on subsidized housing for persons with disabilities. Although currently retired, she devoted her 25-year career in state service to ensuring affordable and accessible housing for persons with disabilities. Hear what she has to say and have the chance to ask her what you want to know. (Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 198-165-636)

CCLP Lunch-hour Webinar Series:
Public Charge – Facts and Fiction

Friday, 5/15 ⋅ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Colorado Center on Law and Policy’s Allison Neswood, Esq., will explain the public charge rules and what they mean for Colorado’s immigrant families. Join her for what is sure to be an engaging and informative session. Register now for this live webinar. You will receive confirmation and other follow-up information. They are applying for CLE credit for this webinar and hope to announce more details by early May. Click here to register for the webinar.

RECURRING VIRTUAL CONVERSATIONS

Facebook Live with Julie Reiskin:

Mon & Fri @ 12:30 – Come and share your lunch with Julie (or a CCDC Leader) offering updates, check-ins, and news for the day. (Facebook link)

OutVote Training (Relational Organizing)

Every Wednesday 3 pm – 4 pm Join Dawn Howard, CCDC’s Director of Community Organizing, in her Staying Calm & Building Community Power Event Series. Learn how to communicate vital messages to our friends and family members effectively. For example, did you know that for each person who fills out the Census, our state receives $23,000 over the next decade for Medicaid, SNAP, and more? Or engage others in the #Vote4Medicaid project in the November election. Our lives depend on it! We call our CCDC Leaders to join together in this effort by meeting on Wednesday in our Virtual Event. You are needed now more than ever. (Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 395 538 6232)

Nightcaps and Chats with CCDC

Every Wednesday at 7:00 pm – Pour yourself a cup of your favorite evening beverage and connect without the worries of social distancing. (Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 524-274-245) CART is provided
If you need an ASL interpreter please contact Dawn Howard by email at dhoward@ccdconline.org ahead of time.

CRITICAL! HCPF Webinar Series: Disability Community Webinar

Extended! Fridays (thru April) ⋅ 10:30 – 11:30 Disability community informational webinar to continue answering COVID-19 questions. (Webinar Link or Webinar Call-in Information: Local: 720-279-0026, Toll-Free: 1-877-820-7831, Participant Code: 303146#)

Coffee and Conversation with CCDC

Every Saturday at 10:00 am – Pour yourself a cup of your favorite morning beverage and connect without the worries of social distancing. (Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 318-380-521) CART and ASL are provided.

(graphic above says Everyone Counts United States Census 2020)

Regardless of COVID-19, the 2020 Census is underway and the most important thing you can do is respond online, by phone, or by mail when you receive your invitation. Responding now will minimize the need for the Census Bureau to send census takers out into communities to follow up. CCDC is hosting many options to learn more plus ask questions about Census and how it affects Colorado's disability community.

CCDC Census 2020 Webinars in English

Monday, 4/13 ⋅ 6:30 – 7:30 pm Join CCDC's Census Outreach Coordinator - Lacey Stein to learn, share, and talk about the 2020 Census – why it is important, how to complete it, and what it does for all of us. (Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 193-775-580)

CCDC Census 2020 Webinars in Spanish

Friday 4/10 ⋅ 1:00 – 2:00 pm and Wednesday, April 15 ⋅ 6:30 – 7:00 pm Presented in Spanish. Join CCDC's Census Outreach (Spanish) Coordinator, Maria Guardiola to learn, share, and talk about the 2020 Census – why it is important, how to complete it, and what it does for all of us. (Link information for 4/10: Weblink or call 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 368 733 400, Password: 517804)

Free Advanced Medical Directives
with CCDC's Managing Attorney, Christopher Brock

These are trying times, especially for us in the disabled community. Many of our friends and loved ones risk serious complications, hospitalization, or even death if they were to contract COVID-19.

Therefore, it is very important for people to make their wishes known regarding their health care and end-of-life care by completing advance medical directives. Advance directives are legal documents in which you spell out your decisions about your health care ahead of time, so that family, friends, and medical personnel can make important decisions for you during a crisis.

Having advance directives in place ensures that your wishes regarding your health care are carried out, even when you are unable to communicate your wishes at the time.

At CCDC, we understand the importance of these documents. Therefore, we are offering free Medical Powers of Attorney and Living Wills to our friends in the disabled community until May 31, 2020.

Blank documents that you can complete on your own can be found HERE. If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Chris Brock, Managing Attorney of our Probate Power legal program, to discuss these advance directives, you can contact him at cdbrock@ccdconline.org.

CCDC Managing Attorney, Christopher Brock is named 2020 Social Entreprenuer of the Year by the Colorado Institute for Social Impact

Colorado Institute for Social Impact considers a Social Entrepreneur someone who achieves systemic and sustainable social change through innovation, a unique approach to a product or service, an innovative partnership or a redesign of known technologies or strategies, or a combination of these.

A Social Entrepreneur focuses first and foremost on the social and/or ecological value creation while optimizing the financial value creation.

For this award, Colorado Institute for Social Impact selected our own Christopher Brock, Managing Attorney of our social enterprise program, Probate Power because Chris has proven to innovate with direct impact to a population, cause or industry by finding a new product, a new service, or a new approach to a social problem.

Chris has excelled as a driver for change and impact. He continuously refines and adapts his approach in response to feedback and has demonstrated Social Impact that is measurable and apparent. We are so incredibly proud of Chris Brock and his steadfast contributions to our community. Congratulations Chris!

Sponsor Spotlight(s)

Arc Thrift Store Image reads - Please donate today: Non-perishable food, personal protective equipment, healthcare scrubs and gowns, 100% cotton fabric, hygiene and personal care products.

Arc Thrift Stores are Deemed an Essential Business

Arc Thrift Stores are working hard to help out during this time of need! They are in need of non-perishable food, personal protective equipment, healthcare scrubs and gowns, 100% cotton fabric, and hygiene and personal care products. You can drop off your donation from 10am - 6pm at your local Arc Thrift Store. Learn more at www.arcthrift.com/.

Graphic of Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

Please check the HCPF web page frequently for updates on COVID-19. This is a new and changing situation. HCPF has organized the information by audience to help you find what you need quickly. They will update information as the situation changes and we learn more.

How You Can Help

This is a time when we all need to do our part to protect our fellow Coloradans. Thank you to all who are stepping up already. Some ways that you can help:

Post your photos of practicing social distancing or helping your neighbors with the hashtag #DoingMyPartCO to participate in our social media challenge.
Donate to COVID-19 Relief Fund at HelpColoradoNow.org
Sign up to volunteer at HelpColoradoNow.org
Donate blood; visit vitalant.org to find a location to donate near you.
Donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the state or your local public health department.

East Colfax Community Collective
COVID-19 Relief Fund

CCDC is the fiscal sponsor of East Colfax Community Collective. This nonprofit is offering assistance to apply for TRUA and the Small Business relief program. In the midst of this crisis we are seeing a lot of opportunity to bring resources into our community. For more information follow ECCC on Facebook.

Become a CCDC Member today!

Membership in CCDC is free! To sign up for our Member Alerts and to learn more about how you and your friends can get involved, click here.

If you'd like to help support CCDC's work and offset loss of funds due to COVID-19 consider a tax-deductible donation. DONATE HERE.