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Older Coloradans who may have never been issued a birth certificate because they were born at home qualify for assistance getting vital documents, including identification cards but many cannot access Colorado's Necessary Documents Program. (Adobe Stock)

Cutting red tape to access IDs and other vital documents

Advocates are urging Colorado lawmakers to make key improvements to a state program seen as critical to helping people fleeing domestic violence or ex…

Nearly eight in 10 Coloradans say they want to age in place in their communities, rather than entering assisted living facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Community-based services for older Coloradans at risk in Legislature

Advocates for people age 65 and older urged Colorado lawmakers to fully fund a program helping people remain in their homes and avoid placement in ass…

After lawmakers passed House Bill 1232 in 2021, standardized Colorado Option health insurance was developed with extensive input from consumers, insurers, health providers, rural communities and other stakeholders. (Adobe Stock)

Tracking effectiveness of Colorado’s Public Option health coverage

Colorado's standardized health-insurance plan, known as the Colorado Option, is changing how consumers interact with insurance, according to a new …

The Colorado Avalanche and Xcel Energy are helping fundraise for Energy Outreach Colorado, a nonprofit that in 2023 helped more than 38,289 Colorado households through energy efficiency gains, connecting with community solar gardens and crisis-intervention services. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Avalanche scores an assist on energy bills

The Colorado Avalanche has teamed up with Xcel Energy to generate funds to help people struggling to pay their energy bills this winter. Every time …

In no state, metropolitan area, or county in the U.S. can a worker earning the federal or prevailing state or local minimum wage afford a modest two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour work week. (Adobe Stock)

GOP Budget Cuts Could Push a Million People Into Homelessness

Colorado's minimum wage workers would have to work 94 hours per week to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, according to a new report. Even after …

One in three Coloradans age 65 and older face significant housing cost burdens, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ranks 3rd Nationally for Senior Health Outcomes

Colorado ranks third nationally when it comes to caring for its most vulnerable adults, according to a new UnitedHealthcare report. The strong …

Some 21,134 existing housing units in Denver are currently unoccupied, more than enough to house all the estimated 10,000 people experiencing homelessness across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Colorado's Housing Affordability Crisis Calls for Strategic Investments

Housing affordability has become a top priority for Colorado lawmakers and voters, and a new report from an organization with nearly four decades of …

Single adults in Colorado can earn up to $19,392 and a family of four can earn up to $39,900 per year, and still qualify for Medicaid health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Options for 325,000 Coloradans Losing Health Insurance

After Congress rolled back a pandemic-era policy that prohibited states from dropping Medicaid recipients from their rolls, 15 million people in …

It costs taxpayers $13,400 to provide supportive housing per person each year, compared with between $21,000 and $40,000 for medical care, incarceration, detox treatment and shelter services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Denver Mayoral Candidates Off the Mark on Homeless Crisis

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are pushing back against proposals by several Denver mayoral candidates who are including forced mental…

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to more than 1,060 projects, including 22 in Colorado, through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Colorado Seeking Projects to Help Improve Communities

AARP Colorado is putting out the call for creative projects to help improve communities, by creating new public transportation and housing options…

Senate Bill 154 would require assisted facility owners to check Colorado's Adult Protective Services Data System prior to hiring an employee who is responsible for the care and welfare of residents. (Adobe Stock)

Measure to Protect Assisted-Living Residents Advances

Colorado residents in assisted-living facilities could soon have the same protections in place under federal law at nursing homes. Senate Bill 154 …

It's estimated that 85% of individuals with intellectual disabilities are not working, or are under-employed, despite their willingness and ability to contribute to the workforce. (Adobe Stock)

Disability Measures Aim to Expand Access to Higher-Education, Reduce Poverty

Two bills making their way through the Colorado General Assembly would make it easier for people with disabilities to access college and other public …

Emergency managers' CMIST checklist helps ensure that all communications, medical, independence, safety and transportation needs can be met in times of crisis. (Adobe Stock)

Marshall Fire Tests Emergency Response for Disabled Community

People with disabilities often are left out of conversations about disaster preparedness, and the recent Marshall Fire put Colorado's emergency …

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on disability. (Adobe Stock)

All Eyes on New Douglas County School Board Over Masks

DENVER -- Students with disabilities in Douglas County won some time after a federal judge ruled last week a new county health department order making…

Valley-Wide provides medical, dental, behavioral-health, physical-therapy and pharmacy services at 15 primary health-care centers, nine dental clinics, and four physical therapy clinics, strategically located throughout multiple rural counties in Southern Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

Wheelchair-Accessible Van Connects San Luis Valley Residents to Health Care

ALAMOSA, Colo. -- The Valley-Wide Ride, a transportation service introduced last year to help San Luis Valley residents get to health centers…

Turnover for direct-care professional positions, many of which pay minimum wage with no benefits, has been as high as 60%. (Adobe Stock)

Disabled Community Urges Congress to Boost Home-Care Infrastructure

DENVER -- As infrastructure legislation makes its way through Congress, advocates for people with disabilities are urging lawmakers to boost …

People with disabilities in Colorado currently have a vaccination rate of nearly 55%, compared with 30% for the non-disabled population. (Pixabay)

Colorado’s Homebound Population Receiving COVID Vaccines

DENVER - State health agencies are continuing to help people with disabilities who are physically unable to leave their homes to get COVID-19 vaccines…

Even before COVID-19 health measures, 60% of people with disabilities reported experiencing mental-health challenges, largely due to social isolation. (Pixabay)

Groups Work to Get Vaccines to Colorado’s Disabled, Homeless

DENVER -- Colorado's disability community and supporters are applauding Gov. Jared Polis' move to prioritize COVID-19 vaccines for people with Down …

President Joe Biden's COVID relief package includes $160 billion to fund speedier vaccine distribution. (CBS4)

Colorado Children's Groups Urge U.S. Senate to Pass COVID Relief

DENVER -- Colorado advocates for children, low-income workers and other vulnerable populations are urging Congress to pass President Joe Biden's …

Medical aid-in-dying is currently available to more than one in five Americans. It is authorized in nine states, including Colorado, and the District of Columbia. (Pixabay)

Report: Medical Aid-in-Dying Law Works as Intended for Terminally Ill Coloradans

DENVER -- A new report suggests Colorado's medical aid-in-dying law, passed in 2016, is working as intended, by helping qualified terminally ill …

Advocates say people with disabilities should be prioritized for vaccinations to prevent further damage due to increased isolation. (Pixabay)

Isolation During Pandemic Takes Mental-Health Toll on People with Disabilities

DENVER - People with disabilities in Colorado are among those at greatest risk of suffering from depression or other mental-health conditions during t…

Fifty-four million Americans are projected to lack reliable access to nutritious food because of economic fallout from COVID-19 by year's end. (Pixabay)

CO Food Pantries Must Apply for Special Grants by Sunday

DENVER -- The Colorado Legislature has allocated an additional $5 million to help address an unprecedented rise in hunger across the state as part of …

Nineteen advocacy groups filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court urging the Affordable Care Act be upheld, arguing it

Disability Groups Watch SCOTUS Case Challenging Affordable Care Act

DENVER -- Advocates for people with disabilities are keeping a close eye on the U.S. Supreme Court as it considers a case calling for the elimination …

The Help America Vote Act requires jurisdictions responsible for federal elections to provide reasonable accommodations for voters with disabilities, including allowing service animals at poll sites. (Pixabay)

Ensuring Voting Access for Coloradans with Disabilities

DENVER -- With the Nov. 3 presidential election just around the corner, Colorado's disability community is working to make sure all eligible voters …

Currently 93,000 essential workers in Colorado get their health coverage through Medicaid. (Paul Sableman/Flickr)

Congress Urged to Act on Medicaid Support as Executive Orders Come Up Short

DENVER -- Medicaid rolls are expected to increase by 500,000 people in Colorado during the pandemic, which could wreak havoc on the state budget …

The ADA requires many employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and requires accessibility improvements in public spaces. (PEDS/Flickr)

Americans with Disabilities Act Turns 30

DENVER -- It's been 30 years since disability-rights activists saw President George H.W. Bush sign the Americans with Disabilities Act into law…

La gente que experimenta la carencia de un hogar tiene dos o tres veces m�s probabilidades de necesitar atenci�n cr�tica, hospitalizaci�n, y sufrir la muerte por el COVID-19. (Peter Griffin)

Los Centros de Salud Comunitaria se vuelven móviles para atender a personas sin hogar

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Los centros comunitarios de salud calificados a nivel federal, la red de atención primaria más grande del estado…

At least 47% of private sector workers are currently excluded from accessing the emergency paid family and medical leave protections recently passed by Congress. (Pxhere)

COVID-19 Exposes Need for Paid Family and Sick Leave in Colorado

DENVER -- Longtime advocates of paid family leave and sick days for all Colorado workers are hoping state lawmakers see the coronavirus pandemic as a …

One in four households struggles with a high energy burden or energy poverty. (Pxfuel)

Immersive Exhibit at Union Station Spotlights Energy Poverty

DENVER -- A new exhibit on display this Thursday at Union Station, called "Behind These Walls" invites the public to experience energy poverty first …

Census participants will be able to respond in 13 languages online or by phone: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, French, Tagalog, Polish, Haitian, Creole, Portuguese and Japanese. (PxHere)

Census 2020: Counting People Who Speak Little English

DENVER -- Getting an accurate count in the upcoming 2020 Census could be a big factor in determining whether federally funded agencies can provide the…

In addition to logistical, social and structural barriers, people with disabilities face widespread economic inequity, cultural isolation, and discrimination in education and employment. (USAF)

Census 2020: Making Sure People with Disabilities are Counted

DENVER -- People with disabilities make up 22% of the American public, but they remain largely undercounted in the U.S. Census Bureau's once-a-decade …

Los empleados por temporada o por tiempo parcial que no son elegibles para la cobertura de salud de los empleados con base, tienen otra opci�n a trav�s de los Centros Mountain de Salud Familiar. (Visit Lakeland/Flickr)

Plan de membresía médica busca ayudar a llenar el vacío de cobertura

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. – Los Centros Mountain de Salud Familiar (“Mountain Family HealthCenters”) están ofreciendo a los …

Los expertos profesionales de la salud mental dicen que cuando la gente se abre en sus sentimientos de depresi�n y otros problemas, no se trata de �corregir� el problema o cambiar el tema, sino escuchar paciente y activamente. (Publicdomainpictures)

Tips para ayudar a los hombres a buscar y conseguir atención de salud mental

DENVER – El Centro Comunitario de Salud STRIDE (‘STRIDE Community Health Center’) se ha unido a la campaña “Hablemos…

A new guidance by the Trump administration paves the way for insurance plans that deny coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, and eliminate annual and lifetime limits on out-of-pocket costs. (Picpedia)

Open Enrollment for Health Coverage Kicks Off

DENVER – Open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act kicks off Thursday in Colorado, but recent moves by the Trump …

Los 20 centros comunitarios de salud de Colorado brindan atenci�n m�dica y dental a m�s de 740,000 colorade�os habitantes de comunidades que de otra manera no tendr�an acceso a los servicios. (Flickr) Los 20 centros comunitarios de salud de Colorado brindan atenci�n m�dica y dental a m�s de 740,000 colorade�os habitantes de comunidades que de otra manera no tendr�an acceso a los servicios. (Flickr)

El Reconocimiento Nacional podría ayudar a impulsar a la fuerza laboral

GREELEY, Colo. – Apenas un año después de que los líderes del estado se reunieron a desarrollar el “Plan de Colorado para …

Two-thirds of SNAP recipients are children, the elderly and people with disabilities. (Pixabay)

Critics: Farm Bill Work Requirements Counterproductive

DENVER - The U.S. House Agriculture Committee is expected today to hear a draft Farm Bill that would require millions of people currently caring for …

A job-requirement program for Medicaid recipients, similar to SB 214 in Colorado, is expected to cost Kentucky taxpayers nearly $374 million over the next two years. (Pixabay)

Colorado Senate Pushes Work Requirements for Medicaid Coverage

DENVER – Colorado's Senate, following the lead of the Trump administration, is considering adding work requirements for people with Medicaid …

New research suggests that communities that are able to meet and interact with people from different backgrounds tend to have less hate. (Pixabay)

Study: Regional Factors Drive Hate Groups in U.S.

DENVER - Hate is a national phenomenon, but the way hate is directed varies depending on where you live, according to new research from the …

Nearly two-in-three food stamp participants in Colorado are children, elderly, or have disabilities. (Pixabay)

Congress Could Take Aim at SNAP Benefits

DENVER – Congress is expected to begin work soon on the $140 billion farm bill, but there are concerns that some conservatives are targeting …

Out of pocket costs for prescription drugs, dentures, hearing aids and more are counted as deductible medical expenses for seniors and people with disabilities in Colorado. (Pixabay)

Colorado's Medical Deduction Helps Put Food on Table

DENVER – Nearly one in five senior citizens in Colorado is turning a portion of his or her medical expenses into extra groceries. Jack …

In 2016, 235,000 SNAP recipients were Colorado children. (Pixabay)

Groups Oppose Cuts to SNAP Benefits

DENVER – Groups that advocate for children, the elderly and people with disabilities are rolling up their sleeves in the wake of the budget …

Children, seniors and people with disabilities receive almost 70 percent of SNAP benefits. (Getty Images)

Report: Trump's Budget Proposals Would Help Rich, Hurt Poor Americans

DENVER – The Trump administration's tax proposals would not benefit all taxpayers or states equally, according to new analysis from the …

Protests to save the Affordable Care Act will continue this Saturday in more than 100 cities across the U.S., including three in Colorado. (Getty Images)

Colorado Joins Saturday's National Health Care Rally

DENVER – As the U.S. Senate continues its efforts to pass some version of a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, groups in …

The average tax break for millionaires in Colorado under a health-care bill passed by the U.S. House is projected to be $40,000 a year. (Getty Images)

Millionaires to Congress: We Don't Want Tax Cuts in Health Bills

DENVER – Resistance to efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is heating up after the U.S. Senate made public its Better Care …

Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., is one of 13 senators crafting a bill that would replace the Affordable Care Act. (Getty Images)

Secretive Health Bill Promises High Costs for Colorado

DENVER -- A group of 13 U.S. senators, including Colorado's Cory Gardner, have still not made public their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable …

Proposed cuts to Medicaid would largely impact the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women and children. (Getty Images)

GOP Health Bill Would Deliver Tax Breaks to Wealthiest

DENVER – Colorado's millionaires could see an average tax cut of close to $40,000 a year if the American Health Care Act (AHCA) becomes law…

The GOP plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would cut Colorado's Medicaid funding by $14 billion, and cause 23 million people nationally to lose health coverage, according to the latest estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. (Getty Images)

CBO: Hundreds of Thousands of Coloradans Could Lose Health Coverage

DENVER – The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says 23 million Americans would lose their health insurance by 2026 if the American Health Care A…

New reports show some rulings by President Trump's Supreme Court nominee have allowed schools to use force against and to isolate students with disabilities. (Wikimedia Commons)

Reports Expose Gorsuch Record Against Students with Disabilities

DENVER – According to two new reports, Judge Neil Gorsuch – President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court – has …

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