Systemic Advocacy

Legislative, Systemic, & Policy Advocacy

Who We Advocate For

Our advocacy is for every person with an intellectual or developmental disability in Adams County – and for the families, caregivers, and communities who support them.

We advocate for people who deserve:

The right to live where they choose – in homes and communities, not institutions

Access to meaningful work with fair pay and real opportunities

Quality supports and services that meet their needs without unnecessary barriers

Equal treatment under the law in healthcare, education, housing, and beyond

The freedom to participate fully in civic and community life

We believe that disability is a natural part of human experience and that systems, not people, need to change.

We don’t just advocate for people with IDD we advocate with them.

What Is Systemic Advocacy?

We’re Fighting for the Rights of People with IDD at Every Level

Real change doesn’t happen one person at a time. It happens when laws are fair, systems work for everyone, and the voices of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are heard in the halls of power.
The Arc of Adams County advocates at the local, state, and federal level to make that happen.

We don’t wait for change we fight for it.

We identify and respond to systemic issues affecting people with IDD in Adams County, guided by input from our members and the people we serve. We work with lawmakers, coalitions, and state agencies to shape the systems that determine how people with IDD live, work, and participate in their communities.

How We Advocate

Listen first
our advocacy priorities are driven by the experiences and input of the people we serve
Participate in state stakeholder meetings
to review Colorado rules and regulations and ensure the IDD community has a seat at the table
Communicate directly with local and state program administrators
to push for meaningful change
Evaluate priority legislation
in partnership with The Arc of Colorado and other chapters, when bills align with our mission, we take a stand, including by providing testimony at the Capitol
Partner with The Arc of Colorado and The Arc of the United States
to connect local priorities to statewide and national advocacy efforts

Beyond the Bills

Laws shape the everyday lives of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) where they live, what services they can get, and what rights they have. This is your guide to understanding how it all works, and how your voice can change things.

Ready to make your voice heard? Beyond the Bills gives you the tools, connections, and confidence to influence the issues that matter most to people with disabilities and their families. Learn how government works, meet decision makers, stay informed on key legislation, and discover practical ways to advocate for change. Together, we’re building a stronger, more engaged community – one voice, one action at a time.

Why IDD Advocacy Matters Right Now

Your voice has real power

Services like Medicaid, supported employment, and home-based support don’t just happen – they are created, funded, and protected through laws and budgets. When those laws change, real people feel it. Advocates like you help make sure those changes are fair.

How Bills Become Law in Colorado

From idea to law — here’s how it works

Every law starts as an idea. In Colorado, anyone can suggest a new law, but a state lawmaker (called a legislator) has to sponsor it. Here is what happens next.

1. A Bill is Drafted

A legislator works with legal and public policy staff to write out the proposed law in detail. Advocacy organizations, community members, and people with lived experience can help shape the bill before it is even introduced – often by meeting with legislators or their staff directly.
Your Opportunity: Meet or write to your legislator early. Share your story and what matters to your community. Ideas from advocates often become part of a bill before it is ever officially filed.

2. The Bill is Introduced

The legislator formally introduces the bill in either the Colorado House of Representatives or the Colorado Senate. The bill gets a number and becomes part of the public record. In Colorado, the legislative session runs from January through mid-May each year.

3. Committee Review

A small group of legislators (called a committee) reviews the bill closely. They can approve it, make changes to it, or stop it from moving forward. Committees often hold public hearings, where community members can speak in support of or against a bill.
Your Opportunity: This is one of the most important moments for advocates. You can sign up to give public testimony at a committee hearing. A two-minute personal story can shift a legislator’s perspective.

4. Debate and Amendments

If the committee approves the bill, it moves to the full chamber (either the full House or full Senate) for debate. Legislators can propose changes called amendments. This back-and-forth can take days or weeks, and the final version of a bill can look different from the original.
Your Opportunity: Contacting your legislator during this stage can influence how they vote on amendments. A short, clear message about what a specific change would mean for people in your community matters.

5. Full Chamber Vote

The full House or Senate votes on the bill. If it passes, it moves to the other chamber, where the whole process (committee review, debate, amendments, vote) happens again.

6. The Other Chamber Reviews It

If the bill started in the House, it now goes to the Senate – and vice versa. That chamber’s committee reviews it, debate happens, and there is another vote. If both chambers pass different versions, a small group called a conference committee works to resolve the differences.

7. The Governor Decides

Once both chambers pass the same version of the bill, it goes to the Governor of Colorado. The Governor has three choices: sign it into law, veto it (reject it), or do nothing – in which case it typically becomes law anyway after a set number of days.
Your Opportunity: If a bill you care about is on the Governor’s desk, you can contact the Governor’s office directly to express your support or concerns before they sign.

Current Advocacy Priorities

Medicaid

Colorado families living with intellectual and developmental disabilities are facing one of the most difficult Medicaid moments in recent memory. The cuts are real. The confusion is real. And for families who depend on these services to keep their loved ones safe and connected to their community, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

In July 2025, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, known as H.R. 1, Colorado lost over $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding as a result. That loss didn’t stay abstract for long. The state responded with a series of service reductions that hit the IDD community hard: phased caps on caregiver hours, cuts to Community Connector services, and new annual limits on home care. Families who were already stretched thin are now being asked to do more with less.

New federal work requirements are adding another layer of fear and confusion. Most people with IDD and their caregivers are exempt. But many families don’t know that yet. Spanish-speaking families, in particular, are reporting lower awareness of these changes despite higher levels of concern. That gap is dangerous. People shouldn’t lose services they’re entitled to keep simply because the information never reached them.

This is why systemic advocacy matters so much right now. One family navigating a case manager’s inbox cannot change a state budget. But an organization that understands the systems, knows the rules, and shows up consistently (at the Capitol, in policy meetings, and alongside families in their most overwhelming moments) can move the needle.

That’s the work we do at The Arc of Adams County. We’re in your corner.

Voting Rights

Your Vote. Your Voice. Your Community.

If you have an intellectual or developmental disability, your vote matters. Not in a small way. In a real, tangible way that shapes the policies, programs, and protections that affect your daily life — and the lives of people you love.

Voting is a fundamental right. It’s how we participate in democracy, share our values, and hold elected officials accountable for the decisions they make. For people with IDD and their families, those decisions hit close to home. Disability rights. Healthcare funding. Education programs. Employment protections. These are not background issues. They are front and center — and they are decided by people we elect.

Learn more about voting

County Commissioners

Make decisions about local services, budgets, and land use including group homes and disability services.

School Boards

Set policies for special education and inclusion in your local schools.

City and Town Councils

Decide on zoning, public transportation, and accessibility in your community.

Your turn to speak.

What Happens at a Public Hearing

Public hearings are official meetings where everyday people can speak directly to lawmakers. Anyone can sign up to give public comment – including you! Most comments are 2–3 minutes. You do not have to be an expert. Your personal story matters.

Before You Go

Sign up to speak ahead of time when possible. Write down your key points. You don’t have to read word for word.

When You Speak

Say your name, where you’re from, and why you care. Keep it personal and clear. Thank the committee for their time.

Can't Attend in Person?

Many hearings allow written comments or remote testimony. Check the committee’s instructions.

How Local Government Affects Your Life

It’s not just about what happens in Denver.

State laws set the big rules, but local governments – like your county commissioners, school board, and city council – make decisions that affect your day-to-day life. They decide things like transportation, housing, and how local services are funded.

Find Your Legislators

Know who represents you.

Every Colorado resident has a state senator and a state representative in the General Assembly. You also have a U.S. senator and a U.S. representative in Congress. There are county commissioners, city and town council members, a mayor for your city, and a Governor for the state of Colorado.
Remember, they all work for you.

Learn how to contact them

Voting Basics & Registration

Voting is one of the most powerful things you can do.

In Colorado, voting is easier than in many states. You can register online, by mail, or in person and every active registered voter receives a mail-in ballot automatically. People with IDD have the right to vote. We can help you understand your options.

Learn more about voting