Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for a separate FAQ regarding Waiting List and Comprehensive Services (PDF) See note below as it directly affects Comprehensive Services and Case Management.
Note that changes are being implemented in regulations in 2006 and may change some of the answers below. We will try to post changes as soon as they can be digested and understood well enough to be accurate. Read the links about New DD System on our home page to learn about what is happening currently.
- What is a developmental disability?
- How do people with developmental disabilities access services in the state of Colorado?
- What kinds of services and programs does DDRC provide?
- How are services and programs paid for?
- Who should I call for more information concerning obtaining services through DDRC?
- How long will it take to get into services?
- How are services and supports provided?
- Who do I contact if I want to volunteer or donate funds?
- Who do I contact if I want more specific information about the center?
- As a consumer of services provided by the DDRC, how do I appeal a decision made relating to services I have received or that I believe I am eligible for?
- Who should I call if I have a question or complaint about the services provided by DDRC?
- Who should I call if I have a question or complaint about the services provided by another provider under contract to DDRC?
- I've heard of a program called EBD or Elderly, Blind and Disabled and that we might qualify for that program. Can you tell me what it is and how it differs from SLS?
Q. What is a developmental disability?
A. Click here to move to a page with the full Colorado definition of a developmental disability or a developmental delay. Click on Back to return to this site.
Q. How do people with developmental disabilities access services in the state of Colorado?
A. Community developmental disabilities services are provided in Colorado through a system of 20 community centered boards. The boards (CCB) are the Single Entry Point to provide intake and Resource Coordination (Case Management) services and may either purchase from numerous other service providers, or provide services themselves. DDRC is the Community Centered Board responsible to Colorado Developmental Disabilities Services for residents of Jefferson, Summit, Clear Creek or Gilpin counties. If you want services in any other county, click here for a map with hyperlinks to the responsible Community Centered Board. Services may also be available to qualifying individuals through programs separate from the developmental disabilities system, such as the Elderly, Blind and Disabled program and you should contact the Single Entry Point at the local Department of Human Services for those programs.
Q. What kinds of services and programs does DDRC provide?
A. Our first function is to provide the CCB function of eligibility determination and Resource Coordination. DDRC directly provides some services and also contracts with Service Agencies for other services. In most cases the consumer and family have a choice of service providers. See our Services page for a listing of programs with hyperlinks to further details.
Q. How are services and programs paid?
A. DDRC receives funding from a variety of sources. Infant and toddler programs are paid for through contract with the Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) unit of Colorado Department of Human Services. Adult day and vocational programs, Family Support Services, Residential and Supported Living Services are paid for by DDS with State and Medicaid funds. Besides the primary support, funds are received from a Jefferson County dedicated mill levy to support the overall program, and from grants. Funds are also received as donations from parents and other interested citizens, service clubs, and from contract income from work centers operated in the pre-vocational program. While most programs do not require fees from the individual or family, individuals can privately pay for services while waiting for funding. The GAP Program was developed on the basis of fee for service for individuals on the waiting list. However, it has now been qualified for funding from the Elderly, Blind and Disabled and SLS programs so interested parties should ask their Resource Coordinator about SLS funding (which has a waiting list) and also evaluate the EBD program (which has no waiting list) from Department of Human Services to determine alternative methods of payment. Some of these funding streams require individuals to meet established program and financial criteria.
Q. Who should I call for more information concerning obtaining services through DDRC?
A. For persons under age 14 call Corinne Lipski at 462-6617 for information regarding Early Intervention, Family Support, Children's Extensive Support Waiver and Children's Medical Waiver. For all services for persons age 14 and over in all counties, contact Adult Intake at 462-6529. The first step in applying for services is determining eligibility.
Q. How long will it take to get into adult services?
A. It is difficult to predict how long one might wait to enter services as it depends on a number of variables. Funding limitations have resulted in very few new resources being appropriated by the Legislature. All services including CES, C-HCBS, FSSP, SLS and Comprehensive, currently have waiting lists. Early Intervention is the one exception but a waiting list is expected in the near future. A lawsuit is now in Federal court which offers some hope of more timely access to Comprehensive services for adults. It is unclear what effect this will have on the SLS waiting list.
Colorado waiting lists are prioritized on a first come, first served basis. The date used to establish a person’s placement on adult waiting lists is the date when eligibility for developmental disability services in Colorado was originally established or the person’s 14th birth date, whichever is later. Waiting list dates for adult services cannot precede the person’s 14th birth date. In cases where eligibility was originally determined prior to the person’s 14th birth date, upon referral for adult services and successful eligibility re-determination, the 14th birth date is used to establish waiting list priority. This date is “portable” and can be used when a person is placed on a waiting list in another service area in Colorado, as long as s/he remains in the state and eligible for services. It is important that you be referred for services as soon as you are able. We understand that these rules are complex so we suggest you contact Adult Intake at (303) 462-6529 or Children’s Intake at (303)-462-6617 with any questions on the intake and/or eligibility process to insure you are on the waiting list.
Q. How are service and supports provided?
A. DDRC provides Resource Coordination or Case Management for all persons served by the DD system in Jefferson, Summit, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. Services, when funding is available, are provided either by subcontract with an approved service provider or directly by DDRC. In addition, DDRC may provide reimbursement for approved expenditures under the Family Support Services Program.
Q. Who do I contact if I want to volunteer or donate funds?
A. Contact Dianne Hitchingham at (303)462-6584.
Q. Who do I contact if I want more specific information about the center?
A. Contact Dr. Art Hogling, Executive Director at 462-6506, or choose from the contacts listed on Senior Management Team Page.
Q. As a consumer of services provided by DDRC, how do I initiate an appeal of a decision made relating to services I have received or that I believe I am eligible for?
A. There are two levels of appeals to be specific. The DDRC Dispute Resolution process serves as a method to resolve issues and achieve solutions to problems concerning decisions in the following areas:
When determined not eligible for services and supports
When determined no longer eligible
When services and supports are terminated
When services and supports in the individualized plan are to be changed, reduced or denied.
Other types of concerns can be addressed through our Resolution Process for Consumers. Every effort is made to work out any concerns prior to resorting to either process. For further information on this process, please call your Resource Coordinator at 233-3363 or Pat Jefferson, Director of Resource Coordination at 462-6537.
Q. Who should I call if I have a question or complaint about the services provided by DDRC?
A. There are several approaches. It is most important that you speak to someone who you feel comfortable with. Talk to your Resource Coordinator. If you don't know who that is, call 462-6535, to find out. You are free to talk to the head of the department to discuss the problem. Chris Lawson at 462-6507 is Customer Service Coordinator and will handle and/or follow up on complaints in the event that our consumer/families have been unable to resolve them at the team level or when they choose to involve a third party. She also logs the complaints through the process to resolution so that we can analyze any patterns and proactively implement system changes as needed. Feel free to contact Dr. Art Hogling, Executive Director, or Beverly Winters in Administration. To determine phone numbers or e-mail addresses for department heads or Administration, go to our Senior Management Team page. Our process is intended to be as open and consumer friendly as we can possibly make it and we believe the broad options above should provide for someone with whom you can feel comfortable.
Q. Who should I call if I have a question or complaint about the services provided by another provider under contract to DDRC?
A. DDRC responsibility for Quality Assurance is the same for a contracted provider as it is if DDRC is providing the services themselves. We encourage discussion and resolution of an issue with the provider when ever possible. If you have been unsuccessful in resolving an issue with the service agency, please contact your Resource Coordinator at DDRC or call Pat Jefferson, Director of Resource Coordination at 462-6537. You may also contact Dr. Art Hogling at 462-6506 or Beverly Winters, 462-6510.
Q. I've heard of a program called EBD or Elderly, Blind and Disabled and that we might qualify for that program. Can you tell me what it is and how it differs from SLS?
A. The State lost a lawsuit which successfully claimed that it was not legal to have a waiting list for Supported Living Services and not for the Elderly, Blind and Disabled program. The EBD program is operated by Social Services and was aimed to be for the elderly and blind and but the waiver includes the disabled in it. To view the differences between the two programs click on SLS vs EBD to see a report on the two programs. Not clear from the document is that EBD does have a higher dollar limit than SLS and EBD has no waiting list that we are aware of. For EBD you apply through the Single Entry Point for Long Term Care, not your CCB, and eligibility is determined through use of a form ULTC-100. Some people prefer the SLS program for simplicity or other reasons and some prefer the EBD program due to the higher dollar limit and other reasons.
