Sleep challenges are common for children with autism. These simple, supportive strategies can help improve rest for both children and their families.
Transitioning from high school to adulthood can feel daunting, but with early planning and the right resources, students with I/DD and their families can build a foundation for long-term success. This guide outlines key steps for parents to support their students, from transition planning to life skills development, plus Denver-area programs offering mentorship and job training.
Advocacy takes many forms, from self-education and social media engagement to policy change and direct support. No matter your background or experience, discover meaningful ways to contribute to disability advocacy and help create a more inclusive world.
Learn the signs that could indicate your child may have a developmental delay and how early intervention can be the key to long-term success.
December 2nd is Special Education Day, marking the anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which opened doors for students of all abilities to thrive in the classroom. To celebrate, we’ve put together a list of popular sensory items that help students stay focused and engaged at school.
With the 2024 election just around the corner, understanding your rights as a voter with a disability is critical to ensuring your voice is heard.
Self-care is for everyone, but it can be even more important for differently abled individuals because self-care can help manage the challenges that come with living with a disability.
Five presidents harnessed the power of their disabilities to secure the highest office in the U.S. Six additional presidents lived with chronic pain, mental health struggles, or hearing and vision impairments. Let’s explore these little-known aspects of their backgrounds and the impact they had on their legacies.
World Braille Day— a day to commemorate the invention of the tactile language of braille and its significance for blind and visually impaired people, will be celebrated internationally on January 4. This date was selected because it is the birthday of braille’s namesake and teenage inventor.
July 24 is International Self-Care Day, a time to recognize the importance of taking action to improve and maintain your own wellbeing. Self-care is for everyone, but it can be even more important for differently abled individuals because self-care can help manage the challenges that come with living with a disability. Self-care activities can reduce stress, ease symptoms of mental health conditions, and improve overall wellbeing. Read on for targeted tips and tricks to help you feel your best.

Jose is currently the Co-Executive Director of El Grupo Vida, a member of the Developmental Disabilities Council, Chairman of the COPA board of directors, and wears other hats. For the 14 years prior he served as the Information Technology Manager, and a Volunteer Non-Attorney Advocate & Volunteer Lobbyist for the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC).
Jose brings his expertise with IT from 14 years of experience as an Independent Contractor and serving in other technical roles. With degrees in Advanced Computer & Internet Systems and International Law, certification as a Non-Attorney Advocate by CCDC, and multilingual communication in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, as well as legal language, Jose offers a strong ability to analyze and comprehend various communications. In addition, Jose has also previously served as a participant of Participant Directed Programs Policy Collaborative (PDPPC) and many other boards and commissions for different state departments.
Jose spends a great deal of time reading about politics, geopolitics, current international affairs, sociology, applied physics and quantum physics, and enjoys watching movies, especially comedy, romantic comedy, martial arts and specific action-thrillers. Jose’s family spans from Guatemala to Norway, although still remains close. His nephew has undiagnosed Autism, which he found out while collaborating as a CCDC Non-Attorney Advocate with The Autism Society of Colorado.

Lorin is the Executive Director and founding member of The Windmill School – a nonprofit, inclusive K-5 school where she is responsible for the development, launch, and implementation of school policies and procedures. Lorin received her Master’s in Education and Couples and Family Therapy from the University of Oregon. Prior to the Windmill school, Lorin worked as a project manager for the Aurora Mental Health Center.

Stewart Tucker Lundy is a graduate of Howard University, and he brings a broad and deep history of community service to the RMHS board. Mr. Lundy is a board member and actor for the Phamaly Theatre Company. He served for six years on Blueprint Denver, a city planning, land use and transportation task force. Additionally, he served as a commissioner on the Denver Commission for Persons with Disabilities for five years.
Mr. Lundy was appointed to the RMHS Board beginning April 1, 2021.

Joseph Derdzinski is a senior international development and governance adviser, an associate professor of political science, and a member of organizations that promote the support of persons with developmental disabilities. Joseph earned his Doctor of Philosophy from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, a Master of Arts in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Science in International Relations from Troy University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
His research and consulting interests center on the study of the political processes of post-authoritarian states, and how political institutions can be employed to reduce violence. Joseph served on observation missions for the recent, highly-fraught elections in Egypt and Afghanistan, and conducted and published research to help the Ukrainian government develop an accountable national guard. During the 2016-17 academic year, he taught courses on international politics, the politics of Africa, and comparative politics.
Prior to entering academe, Joseph was a U.S. Air Force officer, where he worked extensively with security service colleagues throughout northern Europe. He also led the first US military security detachment in Bosnia during NATO’s implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, where he worked with Bosnia’s security services in their post-conflict transition.

Bill is currently a partner in the Denver Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer, and previously a partner in the Denver office of Armstrong Teasdale LLP and Co-Chair of the Firm’s Higher Education practice group, specializing in resolving difficult legal, policy and compliance issues for highly regulated entities. He has tried scores of cases and made appellate arguments to federal and state courts and administrative agencies around the country and has fifteen years of experience serving as general counsel for two companies. Bill has previously served as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer for Alta Colleges, Inc., Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary for Valor Communications Group, Inc. and Corporate Counsel for US WEST Communications, Inc. In addition to his legal practice, Bill serves as Chairman of the Board of the Wayfaring Band, Inc. and is on the Board of Directors of Colorado UpLift. Bill earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, specialization in Accounting, from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law. He is married with 4 children and lives in the Greenwood Village area. Bill enjoys skiing, golfing, and cooking.

Mara Kailin is a licensed bilingual clinical psychologist with extensive experience in behavioral health treatment with underserved and diverse populations, as well as administrative and leadership experience with a large nonprofit organization. Dr. Kailin currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer at Aurora Mental Health Center with oversight of approximately 700 staff in nearly 50 different programs in dozens of clinics in the community. She has a PsyD from Rutgers University and a BA from Wesleyan.