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August 2023 NEWS

A Tail-Wagging Solution

Through the Self Determination Initiative

What do you say when the bridge to personal growth comes in the form of warm, soft, fuzzy fur? Maybe - “aawah!”

Diana, a woman with disabilities who lives in Evergreen, and receives services from DDRC, knew in her heart that she needed a puppy by her side as she continued her journey to be more fulfilled, more connected, and healthy.

Diana experiences significant struggles with her social and communication skills, leaving her feeling like she didn’t have friends. She also battled health issues, and knows she needs to keep active, to keep past health problems at bay. With this gut feeling, and the support of her sister, Diana sought out DDRC’s Self Determination Initiative (SDI) funding and SDI Coordinator who helped Diana articulate her goals to achieve a more fulfilling daily life.

Diana experiences pure joy when she interacts with dogs and wanted nothing more than to have a dog “best friend.” Walking her little friend would be a motivating way to stay active. It would also make Diana more approachable and provide a natural common conversation topic when she was crossing paths with neighbors and fellow dog-owners. Diana loves to talk about dogs! Additionally, the responsibility of a dog would create a better balance in Diana’s life, from primarily receiving care, to the experience of providing care—and the fulfillment of seeing how she was making a difference.

So, with help from DDRC’s Self Determination funding, Diana got a new Golden Retriever puppy - Daisy- and is experiencing all the vet care steps, home puppy-proofing steps, and routines of care for her new friend. Diana’s sister says that Diana is very happy and takes great pride being Daisy’s owner. It’s the beginning of Diana’s newfound confidence, connection, and meeting her personal goals, and that is what the Self Determination Initiative is all about. Julia, DDRC’s Self-Determination Coordinator says it was an honor to support Dian’s goals and that “it’s wonderful that Diana and Daisy found each other.”

Interested in learning more about how you could reach your goals with DDRC Self-Determination Initiative Funds? Email: Julia.Panucza@ddrcco.com

See: https://ddrcco.com/self-determination-initiative 

Get in the Spirit - Anyone Can Bid! 

Our summer online auction opens for bidding on August 1 and closes August 14, but don’t wait to start browsing for your shot at all the great offerings! There is something for everyone: staycations, unique adventures, self-care offerings, delicious dining, family fun, portrait photography, ski, golf, paddle board, breweries and more. These make great gifts too. Anyone can bid—so tell your friends and family.

Register today and start lining up your choices to get your bids in before the auction closes at 6:00 p.m.(mountain daylight time) on August 14.

You can feel good knowing your winning bid is supporting the important work of DDRC, and this year, helping with our Children and Family Services. 

Title Sponsor Spotlight

DDRC is thrilled to have BOK Financial as our Swingin’ With School Pride Golf Tournament Title Sponsor! Since stepping forward for this role we have come to know them more, all they have to offer, and how they care. We want to share that with you, and their answers to questions we posed to them.

What do you want people to know about BOK Financial?

At BOK Financial, we help individuals, families and businesses create a better financial future. Established more than a century ago, today BOK Financial is a top 25 U.S.-based bank with more than $46 billion in assets. In addition to the full menu of banking products and services BOK Financial offers, we also provide a broad array of services to our clients to assist them with their employee benefits and investment needs. BOKF Insurance is a full-service benefits advisor providing products and solutions to improve and protect the physical, emotional and financial health of the employers and employees we serve. In addition, BOK Intuitional Wealth offers an array of financial solutions for organizations such as corporations, foundations, nonprofits, and governmental agencies. Our services include retirement plan consulting and administration, executive compensation services, outsourced chief investment officer, investment advisory, and asset management strategies.

Our tournament benefits children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. How does this align with your company’s values?

At BOK Financial, one of our core values is to actively advance the communities we serve. We are focused on being good neighbors and creating  a positive impact in our community – it’s our culture!

DDRC wants the world to think of disability as being an important part of the diversity and inclusion equation. What thoughts do you have on this?

BOK Financial values and is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion in our communities and in our workplace. We believe that inclusion touches many people, including those with developmental disabilities. We also believe strongly that we ALL play a role in building and supporting an inclusive culture.

Recognizing the Anniversary of the ADA

July 26, 1990, marked the anniversary of the federal enactment the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In recalling that milestone, we should recognize that the fight for and movement towards access began with advocates in towns and cities, helping to set the stage for passage the ADA. So, it is fitting now that local communities are trying new ways to keep moving forward in the practice of the ADA.

In recognition of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Arvada City Council issued a proclamation to designate July 26 as ADA Awareness Day. DDRC was honored to be invited to Arvada Council proceedings to receive the proclamation and share comments. Representatives from several DDRC divisions attended and are pictured below.

Through the City of Arvada’s ADA Coordinator, their Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator, Council, and others, they continue to keep the ADA and inclusion in their focus, and in early September, the city will be organizing a “Community Conversation” about accessibility with various groups.

The City of Lakewood, through Mayor Adam Paul Adams, also recognized the anniversary of the ADA by proclaiming July 26 as National Disability Independence Day. They reiterated their commitment to and support for inclusion, including their Camp Paha, their participation in Special Olympics, and hosting “Feel the Beat” at their Whitlock Recreation Center—all of which are attuned to people with disabilities.

The city is also undertaking “Access Lakewood,” an initiative to facilitate connections between residents and city staff around enhancing accessibility across the city’s programs and facilities. See the Lakewood City Council meeting (July 24, 2003).

It’s encouraging to see that these two Jeffco cities, and others, look for ways to celebrate and move forward in improving and increasing accessibility for all people with disabilities.

HCBS Settings Rule and the ADA

Paving the Path to Inclusive Care 

The HCBS Settings Rule aligns with the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was enacted 33 years ago, and prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA has paved the way for greater inclusion and accessibility, yet, there is still much work to be done to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated and valued members of society. Now, the HBCS Settings Rule moves us forward by prioritizing individual choice and community integration.

The HCBS Settings Rule sets out guidelines for providing home and community-based services to people with disabilities, with a focus on creating more inclusive and integrated environments. Specifically, the rule requires that HCBS settings provide individuals with opportunities to engage in community life, control their own schedules and activities, and receive services in the most integrated settings appropriate to their needs. People with disabilities must be given opportunities to live, work, and participate in their communities just like anyone else.

To honor the anniversary of the ADA, DDRC asks you to help us continue to work towards a more inclusive and equitable society for all by embracing the true practice and requirements of the Settings Rule. 

Stargazing and the Night Sky 

A DDRC TLC/Rec Adventure

There is something magical about the night sky- its vastness, the twinkling of stars, the glimmer of moonlight. DDRC’s Therapeutic Learning Connections/ Recreation set out to catch a glimpse of that magic, and learn something too, while on a nighttime field trip to Three Sisters Park in Evergreen. The trip was held late July, as Earth entered the Perseid Meteor Shower, when leftover bits of comet smash into the Earth’s atmosphere, burning with light. 

It was exciting and different to be out on the trails at night, and despite clouds obscuring the meteor shower, the adventurers saw stars, the moon, and moving patterns of silvery clouds. They talked about the constellations and what they enjoyed about the night sky.

Nikki, one of the participants took a practical approach when remarking about her favorite part of the sky and what it brings us. “It’s the rain. My favorite weather is rain, and I love watching the Weather Channel,” she said. Soon thereafter the sky let down a few light sprinkles of rain, reminding us that our own atmosphere is just as wonderful as those blinking far away stars.

DDRC’s TLC/Recreation offers many opportunities for individuals to participate in year-round. To learn more about these offerings, and see if there is something that you or a family member might want to try, please call TLC/ Recreation at 720-544-8150 or email Terri.Hulstrom@ddrcco.com.

Increase Mutual Understanding and Cooperation

Free Class August 24

Zach Maple, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Professional Counselor with DDRC is leading a free training to help parents, providers, and others learn ways to achieve more positive interactions with someone they care for and support.

The training is applicable to different ages and settings and uses real life examples to make the concepts more understandable and meaningful to participants. A past participant in the class said Zach is an “amazing teacher who used multitudes of different mediums to reach the audience.” 

This free class will be held on Thursday, August 24 from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., at DDRC, 11177 W. 8th Ave., Lakewood 80215. Advance registration is required by emailing your name and phone number to Zachary.Maple@ddrcco.com. Register by August 21 please.

Download the flyer.

Save the Date - Tuesday, Sept 12

Save the date of Tuesday, Sept 12 (5-7:30 pm) when awareness, advocacy, enjoyment and a tasty dinner come together for the 23rd Annual Legislative BBQ, hosted by DDRC, Family Tree, Jefferson Center, and Seniors Resource Center.

Staff, participants, supporters and friends will gather alongside elected officials /representatives from local, county, state and congressional offices to mingle and connect with meaning. Advocates and families can share their challenges and successes, officials can gain understanding and talk about their work, and the host nonprofits will present their work and thoughts of how we can work together to improve the lives of the people we serve. And of course, we’ll have a delicious BBQ too! 

We invite agency participants, families, supporters and friends to this FREE event. Advance registration is required.

Sharing Our Story in the Community

DDRC participates in various events to share what we do with the community and to provide information and resources.

We were pleased to participate in the Arvada Chamber's "Taste of Arvada" on the evening of July 13 at the Apex Center. We were able to answer questions, talk about upcoming events and services, and visit with the many attendees and vendors!

Also in mid-July, DDRC cosponsored a free swim event especially for children and people with disabilities at the Deer Creek Outdoor Pool in Littleton. To make it even more fun we handed out some fidget pop-its, along with DDRC information flyers.

Swingin' With School Pride Golf Tournament

The DDRC/Developmental Disabilities Foundation Golf Tournament is just two weeks away and we are excited to get the playing underway!

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

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