CCDC and PASCO (Personal Assistance Services of Colorado) have enjoyed a long time relationship as agencies working within Colorado’s dynamic disability landscape. For nearly thirty years, both respective organizations have collaborated and fought for; inclusion, choice, civil rights and access to much needed services. The founder of PASCO, Barry Rosenberg, (CCDC’s 2015 Lifetime Achievement ADA Access Award winner) was very active in the nascent disability rights movement, as a co-founder of Denver’s, Atlantis Community, with the late Wade Blank.

When PASCO first began providing home health services, in 1992, a traditional model was in place—A CNA or Nurse would go to a client’s house intermittently throughout the day and assist with daily living. 1999 witnessed a pretty significant change, when a mother of a child with a disability asked if she could become a CNA for her child and work with them exclusively. PASCO advocated alongside families and Colorado lawmakers to establish a program that allows family members to be paid to deliver care to their loved ones. In 2001 this idea became a reality. Since then, many family members have taken the classes, become CNA’s and benefitted from the schooling. Family members as CNA’s has also ensured that clients are in total control of who provides their care/service. People using PASCO for either CNA or Nursing services also benefit from comprehensive 24/7 on-call and back-up. Working closely with a wide coalition of state advocates, PASCO has since innovated other service delivery options to assist consumers with living their best lives possible.

As legislation, systems and policies; encroach on our respective clients, consumers, and members, quality of life, CCDC and PASCO will ally themselves together, and will fight and advocate for equity and justice. Likewise, together we will celebrate triumphs, achievements and hard fought wins. Together we are stronger!

Happy Anniversary ADA!
By Martie Lafferty, Director of the Accessibility Project

July 26, 2020 was the 30^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). During these 30 years, people with disabilities and their allies have used the ADA to reshape our society. Many people with disabilities have a place at the table and a clear path to get there both figuratively and literally. And yet much work remains to be done. This significant anniversary is a time to celebrate the many successes and renew our commitment to continued advocacy until all the barriers are gone and disability discrimination exists only as a part of history.

One of the things we at CREEC love about this area of law is the variety of issues. People with all types of disabilities are protected by the ADA. And, with a little creativity and persistence, the ADA can be applied in some way to almost every situation and barrier. Early on the focus of ADA advocacy was physical accessibility for people with mobility disabilities. And that’s still an important focus because while many barriers have been removed, more remain. And, infuriatingly, more continue to be created.

In 2020 the ADA is being used to impact issues that were largely unimaginable in 1990. Technological advances have created the ability for people with print disabilities to vote independently and the ADA is the tool for ensuring that state governments modify their voting programs so that technology can be used. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having plans in place for shortages of medical equipment, services, and supplies. The ADA is the tool for ensuring that people with disabilities are treated equally in those plans and by those implementing them. Supports and services exist now that enable people with significant disabilities to parent children. The ADA is the tool for making sure they are given the opportunity to do so.

So, here in 2020, there’s a whole array of people to advocate for and with and cases to work on to ensure accessibility and equality. Our colleagues and clients and the important issues we tackle together are the most exciting aspects of being an ADA attorney. And, yet, we can’t help but wonder why there are still so many barriers and so much discrimination 30 years after the ADA was passed. Shouldn’t everything be fixed by now? Of course, it should. This is why CREEC fights with urgency to make the promise of the ADA real. Real for everyone. Real for every situation. We look forward to working together with our clients and colleagues like CCDC to make sure that 30 years from now the ADA is a promise kept.

Martie Lafferty is the Director of CREEC’s Accessibility Project. With more than 20 years practicing disability rights law, Martie’s work has brought relief to numerous deaf and hard of hearing people who were refused effective communication in settings including housing, doctor’s offices, hospitals, courts, jails, and legislatures. She has also challenged many other accessibility issues including litigating against the State of Tennessee to eliminate barriers preventing access to the state’s court program and against a medical provider who refused to provide a diagnostic MRI to a wheelchair user. 

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) strengthens Colorado by investing in affordable housing and community development. Since 1974, CHFA’s financing has assisted Coloradans living and working in all of Colorado’s 64 counties. CHFA partners with a statewide network of participating lenders to provide Coloradans with fixed-rate home mortgage loans and down payment assistance. We also sponsor homebuyer education classes to help prepare prospective buyers for homeownership. CHFA provides loans and allocates tax credits to developers of affordable rental housing, so more Coloradans may have a place to call home. CHFA helps business owners access the capital they need to grow and support jobs. We have unique programs for small- and medium-sized businesses, manufacturers, healthy food grocers, and nonprofits.

CHFA is proud to offer the Home Access Program, which is a unique home loan and down payment assistance program designed to support low income individuals living with a disability or are the parent of a child living with a disability. CHFA’s Home Access loan program has helped 331 Colorado households achieve homeownership by investing $316 million in home mortgage loans and $6.4 million in down payment assistance.
To learn more about CHFA, or to view a list of participating lenders who offer CHFA’s Home Access loan, please visit www.chfainfo.com.