News:Legislator of the Year Award
Senator Betty Boyd
The legislator of the year is given to an elected official who has worked hard to support people with developmental disabilities and their issues through the legislative process. The legislator who stood out this year and was chosen to receive the honor of DDRC Legislator of the Year was State Senator Betty Boyd. First elected to the Colorado legislature in the year 2000, Senator Boyd has consistently sought to use her platform to assist people with developmental disabilities.
Most recently, she has served as vice chairperson of the major legislative interim committee dealing with Colorado’s waiting list crisis. This committee concluded its work and will be forwarding
several pieces of legislation to the regular legislative session which begins in January 2008.
While this may be Senator Boyd’s most visible role in helping people, it is far from her first. Betty is the former director of development for the Caring Connection, a local charitable organization which has long benefited DDRC and other human service organizations. Prior to that role, she assisted Lutheran Family Services and chaired numerous constructive community events including the Jefferson County Good News breakfast. One task that will stand out in particular to this audience was her service as the Red Rocks area director of the Colorado Special Olympics. Senator Boyd is a respected and powerful member of the Colorado State Senate where she continues to contribute as vice chair of the important health and human services committee. Yet, she has remained accessible, thoughtful and supportive of those who need a helping hand from state government. Because of this and her many ongoing contributions to people with disabilities, it was easy to nominate State Senator Betty Boyd as the winner of the 2007 DDRC Legislator of the Year Award
