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March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

We are honored to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness during the month of March. This month is dedicated to supporting, advocating for, and celebrating those with developmental disabilities and the families that surround them.

PASCO is honored for the opportunity to support those with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) through individualized service and support for adults or children. As a PASA, or Program Approved Service Provider, we are able to provide this assistance through various Medicaid waivers to create well-rounded assistance based on one’s unique needs. Our services focus on independence and choice with PASCO as both an advocate and advisor for you and your loved one.

Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD)  creates a social media campaign that highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live. We are honored to be a part of this campaign and to share the stories of our amazing families.

NACDD selected artwork from Art Enables to represent their DD Awareness Month campaign. Check out the amazing talents of artist Jamila Rahimi!

DDAM

Disability Rights Day at the Capitol

PASCO was honored to kick off Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by spending a day in the Colorado Capitol building on March 1st. Hosted by Disability Law Colorado, the first annual Disability Rights Advocacy Day allowed our community to show support and help strengthen the policies that aim to improve the lives of those with disabilities.

We had the chance to meet with members of both the house and senate throughout the day and share our support for upcoming disability-centric legislation, as well as discuss areas that we’d like to continue improving and changing that affect our families daily. This has created amazing opportunities for us to partner with key individuals to bring change and progress to both the local and state level. While the day was filled with promise and progress, we know that the work never stops – we have, and always will, fight for disability rights for all.

A History of Advocacy

While we look to celebrate the huge advances in disability rights, awareness, and independence that have emerged through the years, it is important to highlight those who paved the way for these advancements to become a reality. We continue to advocate to reduce and remove the barriers that people with disabilities may still face in connecting with their community.

PASCO team

With today's signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom.

Remarks of President George H. W. Bush at the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act

1876

Medical professionals come together to set up what would later become the American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, or A.A.I.D.D.

1954

School segregation is abolished, and public schools are given permission to educate children with significant intellectual disabilities.

1965

Medicaid, a cooperative federal/state entitlement program, is established to help pay medical costs for certain individuals with disabilities and families with low income.

1987

The first National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was observed after being enacted by President Ronald Reagan

1990

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is signed into law. This law prohibits the discrimination of people with disabilities in all areas of public life including jobs, schools, transportation, and all places that are open to the general public.

1992

PASCO first opened its doors and started providing care for the disability community.

2015

PASCO became a PASA, allowing us to provide I/DD services to individuals across the front range.

2021

We opened a new branch in Colorado Springs to continue serving more families across Colorado.