Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition

05/15/2026

While we had an incredibly difficult session that was overshadowed by really hard cuts to Medicaid, we still want to take a moment to lift up the work our team did to pass good policy this session.

CCDC 2026 Legislative Session Success:

✅Passed: HB26-1382 - Protects the community’s control of the CO Disability Funding Committee by moving it to a special purpose authority

✅Signed Into Law: HB26-189 - Regulates algorithmic decision making technology (including AI) to protect consumers and give them the right to pursue anti discrimination claims against the deployer and developer

✅Passed: HB26-1425 - Creates both a professional and facility license for ABA providers (who are currently unlicensed) to protect kids’ health and safety during this treatment

✅Passed: HB 26-1147 - Increases protections and oversight for people with disabilities living in host homes

✅Passed: SB 150 - Increases RTD accountability, including a paratransit study

✅Passed: HB 1043 - Increases penalties for ride sharing companies who discriminate against PwDs

ID: A graphic that is titled "CCDC 2026 Legislative Session Successes" and includes all of the text in this caption. A broad lined drawing of the state Capitol dome is on the right hand side of the image with a green check mark in the upper right hand corner. The CCDC logo is on the bottom right side of the graphic.

05/06/2026

If you're in the Denver metro area, don't forget to apply for the Transit Academy by May 13th!
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We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Transit Academy this May!

In a rapidly growing Denver metro area, accessible transit is the backbone of a healthy community—providing vital links to jobs, healthcare, and education. We believe that those who use the system should be the ones shaping it. As the saying goes: “If you are not at the table, you are probably on the menu.”

This academy is a unique collaboration between CCDC, Atlantis, and ADAPT designed to empower the disability community and older adults to take their seats at that table.
Our Vision

A transit system shaped by the leadership, expertise, and lived experience of the disability community at every level of decision-making.
What You’ll Gain

This six-month program will deepen your knowledge of Denver’s transportation systems and prepare you for leadership roles on boards, committees, and working groups. You will learn directly from experts at Atlantis Community, Inc., CCDC, ADAPT Colorado, and specialized guest speakers.
Program Details

Schedule: Every 4th Friday (May – Oct 2026)

First Session: May 22, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Atlantis Community, 201 South Cherokee St, Denver, CO

How to Apply

Apply Online Here Deadline: May 13, 2026

Transit Leadership Academy The Denver metro area continues to grow, making accessible and reliable transportation more important than ever. Public transit connects people to jobs, health care, education, and community life. Building a stronger transit system requires input from the people who use it...

04/20/2026

You’re Invited to Celebrate the Unsung Heroes of Disability Advocacy

Join us for an unforgettable evening at CCDC's Annual ADA Access Awards: Unsung Heroes where we honor the individuals whose behind-the-scenes work is driving real change in disability justice across Colorado.

Date: Friday, July 24, 2026
Time: 5:30–7:00 PM
Location: Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Tickets are on sale NOW!
For the month of April, get $10 off your ticket with promo code HiddenGems26.

Accessibility, equity and inclusion matters to us! We have a limited number of donated tickets available for community members facing financial hardship who want to attend. To request one, please contact Seyanna Hitt, Development Director, at [email protected].

Come celebrate. Come connect. Come honor the heroes who make this movement possible.

Buy your tickets today and be part of something powerful.

04/03/2026

CCDC is excited that Governor Jared Polis announced this afternoon that Gretchen Hammer will be the new Acting Director at HCPF. Ms. Hammer has a long track record of Medicaid advocacy in the nonprofit world and was the Medicaid director under Governor Hickenlooper. She brings both subject matter expertise and knowledge of the communities in Colorado who rely on Medicaid. We are looking forward to collaborating with her as we navigate many of the challenges facing Colorado's Medicaid program in the months to come.

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced the new acting Executive Director for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and the Behavioral Health Administration Commissioner (BHA). Stephanie Beasley will be stepping up to lead BHA, while Gretchen Hammer will lead HCPF. Hammer will s...

03/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us and our partners earlier today!

03/16/2026

Spread the word and join Alliance Colorado, The Arc of Colorado, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Law Colorado and Family Voices Colorado for a town hall on Colorado's Medicaid cuts. We will update you with the latest information and answer as many questions as we can in 90 minutes.

CART and ASL will be provided.

You can register HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VIYDwko4RJCFEb3D-WAtUg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

03/05/2026

For the past several months, Colorado disability advocacy groups have listened to the hopes and fears of our community. We understand that legislators are in an impossible position this year; the budget must balance and there are no painless options. We strongly wish cuts were not necessary, but we also understand the fiscal constraints are real. While we may not agree on every detail, we have found many areas of agreement.

The Council along with Alliance Colorado, The Arc of Colorado, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Disability Law Colorado, and Family Voices Colorado assembled and approved a new document called Community Guide for the 2026-27 Medicaid Budget Recommendations where we have compiled suggestions and solutions for legislators. These are solutions to help find budget fixes that ensure long-term stability with the least amount of harm to people with disabilities and the state we call home.

🔗The guide can be found on our websitehttps://coddc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Community-Guide_-2026-Medicaid-Budget-Recommendations-3.4.26.pdf (PDF)

We are offering individuals and community organizations in the State of Colorado an opportunity to provide feedback or show support. Complete our Google Form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJwSMyraZmYVjBBKSDbJa0Bt_HT9qbN_WYiZO7HrBSxaZDaw/viewform.

If you prefer to speak with a staff member, or have an accommodation request, please email us at [email protected]

Image description: Alliance Logo, The Arc of Colorado Logo, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) Logo, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council Logo, Disability Law Colorado Logo, and Family Voices Colorado Logo.

03/05/2026

Please join us for our graduated income tax kickoff event from 12pm to 1pm on Tuesday, March 17 at the West Steps of the Colorado Capitol (200 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80203)!

The event is hosted by Protect Colorado’s Future, a broad coalition of nonprofits (including CCDC) that are moving a ballot measure forward that will reduce state income taxes for every Coloradan making less than $500,000 a year, and raise them for those who make more than $500,000.

Our graduated income tax will make our tax system more fair and would raise revenue to pay for healthcare, K-12 education, and childcare in Colorado.

We want to pack this event, and we ask those who come to be prepared to be among the first Coloradans to sign a petition to get the measure on the November 2026 ballot. Let's GIT it done

02/13/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for Disability Rights Advocacy Day. We had over 300 people with disabilities pack the Capitol! Our community had conversations with dozens of legislators and got to share our experiences with people making the decisions about our lives. Huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day possible, including: Representative Chad Clifford, The Arc of Colorado, Disability Law Colorado, Center for People With Disabilities, Colorado Developmental Disabilities CouncilThe Association of Colorado Centers for Independent Living, Atlantis Community, Inc., JFK Partners, PASCO (Personal Assistance Services of Colorado), Northwest Center for Independent Living, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Signal Behavioral Health, Colorado Access, North Metro Community Resources, Developmental Pathways, AdvocacyDenver, Arc Thrift Stores, Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind, The DeafBlind Action Team, Ability Connection Colorado, Connections Colorado, Parent to Parent of Colorado

02/09/2026

Dear CCDC Members,

We are writing to address a matter that has generated questions and concern within our community. Recently, a social media post attributed to a member of our Board came to light that did not reflect the values or mission of the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition.

CCDC exists to advance civil rights, dignity, and inclusion for people with disabilities across Colorado. Language that celebrates harm or undermines respect for human life is inconsistent with everything we stand for.

Once this issue was brought to the Board’s attention, we took prompt action. We reached out to the individual to understand the situation and, following his response, accepted his resignation from the Board. The individual is no longer affiliated with CCDC in any capacity.

We want to be clear:

This post does not represent the position of CCDC, its leadership, or its membership.

Our work and values remain focused on advancing equity, respect, and dignity for every person.

We understand this situation may have caused concern. We appreciate your ongoing engagement with CCDC and your commitment to our mission. If you have further questions or wish to share feedback, please reply to this message or contact us at [email protected]

With gratitude,
Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition Board of Directors