CO Services and Support

The Arc of Colorado - Advocating for people with developmental disabilities for over 50 years...

Colorado Services and Supports for People
with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities...

The state of Colorado has many different programs available to assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The cost of most services is covered by a combination of state and federal tax dollars.

Colorado Medicaid is publicly funded health insurance for low income families, children, pregnant women, persons with disabilities or who are blind. Colorado Medicaid is often simply referred to as the State Plan.

The State Plan covers the cost of basic medical services. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities who qualify can receive Medicaid services regardless of whether or not they also receive other services specific to their developmental disability.

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is the state Medicaid agency. For information about Medicaid eligibility and benefits, contact:

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
1570 Grant Street
Denver, CO 80203-1818
Phone: (303) 866-2993
Fax: (303) 866-4411

Early Intervention Services...

Early Intervention Services provide support to infants and toddlers (birth through age two) who have developmental disabilities or are at risk for developmental disabilities. The earlier services are provided, the greater the impact.
Services can include:

Assistive technology devices and services
Audiology
Family training, counseling, and home visits
Health services
Nutrition services
Nursing services
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Psychological services
Service coordination
Social work services
Specialized instruction
Speech / language services
Transportation
Vision services

For information about Early Intervention, contact the Community Centered Board in your area or the:

Colorado Department of Human Services
Division for Developmental Disabilities
4055 S. Lowell Blvd.
Denver, CO 80236
Phone: (303) 866-7450
Fax: (303) 866-7470

Public Education Services...

Children age 3 through 21 with a disability may be eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).

Information about special education services can be obtained from local school districts or from:

Colorado Department of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 866-6600
Fax: (303) 830-0793

Home and Community Based Medicaid Waivers...

Medicaid waivers were introduced in the 1980s to allow states to use federal and state funds to pay for long term services and supports in the community rather than in institutions. Colorado was one of the first states to direct public funding away from institutions toward community programs. The array of Home and Community Based (HCBS) Medicaid Waivers varies from state to state. Colorado currently has 11 HCBS Medicaid Waivers—four of which are specifically for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

All HCBS Medicaid Waivers have limits on the number of people who can be enrolled. There are long waiting lists for these waivers.

Adult Comprehensive Services (Comp)...

Comprehensive services are provided to adults with a developmental disability who are living outside their family home and require 24-hour supervision and residential services. To be eligible, one must be at least 18 years old, have a developmental disability, and require extensive support services to live safely outside the home. Some services in this program are:

residential habilitation with 24 hour supervision;

day habilitation services which can include supported employment services, access to typical community life activities, and generalized skill development;

training and habilitation services in the areas of personal, physical, mental, and social development;

transportation;

specialized medical equipment and supplies, such as wheelchairs, wheelchair adaptation, van adaption, or toys and computers to aid with communication;

skilled nursing;

behavioral services and mental health services; and

dental and vision services

Supported Living Services (SLS)...

Supported Living Services are services and supports to assist persons with developmental disabilities to live in their own home, apartment, family home, or rental unit that qualifies as an SLS setting. Supported Living Services are provided as an alternative to institutional placement for individuals with developmental disabilities, but are not intended to provide 24 hour supervisions like Comprehensive services. To be eligible, one must either live independently with limited supports or already receive services from other resources such as family members. Services can include:

specialized medical equipment and supplies;
counseling and therapeutic services;
dental, hearing, and vision services;
day habilitation series including physical, emotional or speech therapy;
home modification;
personal assistance services including assistance with bathing, personal hygiene, eating, dressing, grooming, relief to family members who normally provide personal care, and medications;
communication services such as speech/language therapy;
counseling services including individual, group, behavioral interventions, diagnostic evaluations, occupational, and physical therapy;
transportation, and
assistance with employment (pre-vocational and supported employment)

Children's Extensive Support Services (CES)...

Children’s Extensive Support Services are provided to children who have a developmental disability, or to children under the age of five who are at risk of a developmental disability or developmental delay. To be eligible, one must have intensive behavioral or medical needs. Children’s Extensive Support Services are provided as an alternative to institutional placement for children with developmental disabilities. Services include:

personal assistance services including assistance with bathing, personal hygiene, eating, dressing, grooming, nd medications;
child care assistance;
professional services such as counseling and therapeutic services;
household services such as housekeeping tasks;
home modification services such as adaptation of showers or toilets and making the home accessible with ramps or railings;
community connection services such as providing for recreational equipment; and
specialized medical equipment and supplies including wheelchairs, wheelchair adaptation, van adaptation or toys and computers that aid in communication. For information about the above waivers, contact the Community Centered Board in your area or:

Colorado Department of Human Services
Division for Developmental Disabilities
4055 S. Lowell Blvd.
Denver, CO 80236
Phone: (303) 866-7450
Fax: (303) 866-7470

Home and Community Based Waiver for
Children with Autism (Austism Waiver)...

Autism waiver services are for children from birth to age six who have a diagnosis of autism and are at risk of institutionalization. Services can include:

occupational therapy;

speech therapy;

psychological and psychiatric services;

physical therapy; and

behavioral therapy.

For information about the Autism Waiver contact the Community Centered Board in your area (link) or:

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
1570 Grant Street
Denver, CO 80203-1818
Phone: (303) 866-2993
Fax: (303) 866-4411

Other Services and Supports...

Colorado also offers limited services and supports not covered by HCBS Medicaid waivers. One publicly funded such program is called Family Support Services. Family Support Services are intended to provide services to allow children and adults with developmental disabilities to remain in their family home and to provide support to families as the primary care givers. Referrals to the Family Support program are made through Community Service Boards. Those eligible are required to have a family member with a developmental disability living in the household. The Family Support program is not funded through a Medicaid Waiver but is funded with state dollars.

A family support plan is developed in conjunction with a person’s Individual Plan in order to avoid duplicative services. Services may include:

family support grants;

support service coordination and educational materials;

emergency and outreach services;

reimbursement for medical and dental expenses not covered by health insurance programs;

child care;

mobility aids and adaptive equipment;

therapy and family counseling;

recreation and leisure needs;

transportation; and

special diet foods, clothing, and homemaker services.

Colorado's Service Delivery System...

Developmental Disability Services—Community Centered Boards

Community based services (HCBS Medicaid waivers, Early Intervention, and Family Support) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Colorado are provided through a system of 20 Community Centered Boards (CCB). CCBs serve defined geographic areas of the state. The CCB is the Single Entry Point for eligibility determination and coordination of resources (case management.) Individuals can choose from many different service providers or receive services directly from the CCB in some areas of the state. For contact information and a map of CCB service areas see http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/ddd/CCB_Main.htm

Other Medicaid Services -- Colorado Medicaid
Single Entry Points...

In addition to services available under the Colorado Medicaid State Plan, additional long term care services may be available to people with disabilities including: personal care or homemaker services, nonemergency medical transportation, home modifications, electronic monitoring, assisted living, adult day programs, and respite care. Colorado Medicaid Single Entry Point (SEP) agencies determine eligibility for these services, provide case management for eligible service recipients and make referrals to service providers.

For a list of the Single Entry Point Agencies in Colorado, see http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/HCPF/HCPF/1205189474220

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