Governor’s Office releases Community Living Report

The Governor’s Office released the “Community Living Report” detailing efforts by state agencies to ensure all individuals with disabilities can live independently in the community of their choice.

“Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to live successfully in their community,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “Community Living is the concept that all individuals, regardless of disability, should have the opportunity to live independently and participate fully in the community of their choice. This report does a terrific job of capturing just how our state agencies support this effort.”

Highlights of the Community Living Report include:

• An overview of the efforts that have taken place in Colorado since the United States Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C.

• A review of important pilots and programs that have been conducted within the state over the last few years, such as the Cross-System Crisis Response pilot, Colorado Choice Transitions, and Home Modification benefit.

• A number of recommendations in key areas for the state agencies and the next administration to consider in the years to come, including employment, agency coordination, and community engagement.

Since the introduction of the Community Living Plan and the Community Living Advisory Group Report in 2014, a number of key programs, pilots, activities, and initiatives have been introduced across Colorado that further community living.

The report represents the State’s continued effort to ensure that all individuals with disabilities are living lives full of inclusion across the state. It addresses the changes and updates to the State’s pilots, programs, initiatives, and activities from the Community Living Plan and the Community Living Advisory Group Report. The report also expands on these two documents to include more state agencies and address more key areas. It also contains initiatives and recommendations that span workforce, education, healthcare, criminal justice, employment, housing, and transportation.

“The Olmstead Decision is the heart of the ADA obligation of state government to residents with disabilities but more importantly is that fulfilling the promise of the ADA enables the full participation by members of the disability community in all areas of Colorado life,” said Julie Reiskin, the Executive Director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. “The recommendations in this report should be seen as a starting point for the new administration and should be implemented with the full engagement of the disability community in each and every level of state government.”